West New Yorker Cosmo Cirillo actually began his municipal career through the High Tech High School’s Office Systems Technology Program in North Bergen at the Hudson County Schools of Technology, a.k.a. the Hudson County Area Vocational-Technical Schools. Before graduating in 2005, Mr. Cirillo, 23, received a referral from Guttenberg’s athletic living legend Brian Guaschino about internships being offered at the West New York Town Hall. Thus, around 2003, Mr. Cirillo obtained an application, and then went to his school guidance counselor – who at the time was this columnist – who then secured for him the internship position through student counseling and correspondence with Town Hall. Thus, he had his “Working Papers” certified and went to work in the Department of Parks and Public Property as an intern under the watchful eye of then-elected Commissioner Silverio “Sal” Vega. Then a year after Cirillo’s graduation in 2006, Commissioner Vega was now the Mayor of the Town of West New York, and Mr. Cirillo was moved into the mayor’s office. The rest is professional history for Cosmo Cirillo!
Born in Secaucus, Mr. Cirillo was raised in West New York, and after high school, he achieved a Bachelor’s of Science degree at Seton Hall University in South Orange in 2009. He is currently studying for a Master’s of Arts degree in public administration at the same university. After achieving his bachelor’s degree, he was promoted from his internship at Town Hall, and was appointed as assistant town clerk and clerk typist in August of 2010. Thus, his internship helped push him into a higher level of government professionalism, of which he is thankful, and Mr. Brian Guaschino and this columnist are very proud of! Furthermore, Mayor Vega is youthful in his thinking, too, and his youthful appointments in his administration now will shape the future of West New York into a brighter future!
Mr. Cirillo’s proud father Onofrio and proud mother Debbie both live in West New York, and his grandmother Marta now lives in Italy, and his grandfather Cosmo is now deceased. He has a sister Angela, who is currently a senior at Memorial High School in West New York.
Mr. Cirillo is also currently a trustee/member of the West New York Board of Education, and recently, in May of 2010, became its president, making him the youngest in town history. Serving on the Board since 2007, he also became the vice president in 2009. This columnist also made a few telephone calls, and thus far, it seems that Mr. Cirillo is also the youngest in New Jersey State history! Mr. Cirillo is also a member of the New Jersey School Boards Association.
In his off-hours, he is the president and founding member of the Union City-West New York Rotary Club, and is involved in community-oriented projects, such as the delivery of dictionaries to 3rd graders in area elementary schools for educational use. He is also a sports fan, and he likes New York Yankees baseball and soccer. His father Onofrio is a certified referee for the State of New Jersey for the sport of soccer. He is also a coin collector, and enjoys reading about United States history. He played the clarinet in grammar school, and likes current popular music. He also enjoys Broadway Plays with his girlfriend Vanessa Treus from his high school days, and he tells us that marriage has been talked about in the future. His lovely girlfriend, he says, is now attending Caldwell College in Morris County, and is studying psychology, and will graduate in May of 2011. Ms. Treus is a resident of North Bergen, he said.
Aside from receiving the Student Service Award in 2005 during his high school days, Mr. Cirillo tells us that he enjoys getting involved in all town municipal parades and meeting people! He further tells us that he made a personal promise to Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega, that he wants to do anything he can for the betterment of West New York! Mayoral Aide Neil Carroll tells us that he has nothing but high praise for Mr. Cirillo, who has shown great maturity in his daily municipal duties, and is truly an asset to the municipal government of West New York!
There is an old saying that “Youth Shall Be Served!” Well here is a young man who wants to serve his municipality, and serve it well! Mr. Cosmo Cirillo, All the best!
Oneida’s Dance Studio of Guttenberg will be celebrating their 44th Anniversary on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. at The Park Performing Arts Center at 506 32nd St. in Union City. At this graduation, they will be performing The Wizard of Oz. This will truly be a proud day for Mrs. Oneida Quevedo Cueto, who is the owner and director of the academy. Best of luck!
Former Secaucus Mayor Paul Amico tells us that he is 97 years young and feels he is in great shape. He says he still remains as active as he can and still has an interest in local news and activities. Wonder if his nephew Danny Amico finds it hard to keep-up with him! Great going, Mayor Amico!
The Reverend Dominick Dellaporte was appointed part-time parochial vicar at Saint Lawrence Roman Catholic Church in Weehawken, announced Archbishop John J. Myers of the Newark, New Jersey Archdiocese. Best wishes!
For all you lottery players out there, here are a few birth stats you may want to dabble with: North Bergen Police Chief William Galvin and his lovely wife, Adamarys, are the recent proud parents of a bouncing baby boy they named William III. The bundle of joy came into the world on Sept. 28 at 7:35 a.m., weighing in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Congratulations to all The Galvin Family!
Hudson County Surrogate-Judge Donald W. DeLeo of North Bergen, tells us that he has two new seminars coming up regarding “New Information on Wills, Living Wills, Living Trusts, and Stories from your Hudson County Surrogate’s Court.” The first seminar will take place on Monday, Nov. 1 at p.m. at the Saint Aedan’s Parish Golden Club located at 41 Tuers Ave. in Jersey City. The second seminar will be held at the Concerned Citizens of Bayonne on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at 18 West 23rd St. in Bayonne. Readers, these are very popular seminars, don’t miss them!
And so it goes…Until next time…See you around town…MATT.
Readers who want to contribute to this column can do so by mailing your news items and photographs, along with your name, address, and telephone number to “Matthew Amato,” c/o The Hudson Reporter, 1400 Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030. “Thank You!”