25th Annual Hoboken St. Patrick’s Day Parade slated for March 5
On March 5, thousands of party-goers will descend upon Hoboken for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The city schedules the parade two weeks ahead of the traditional March 17 date in order to avoid competing with other towns for bands. As a result, people from all over the area looking for something to do on that Saturday descend on Hoboken to enjoy the festivities.
This year’s parade kick-off is at 1 p.m. from the corner of 14th and Washington streets and proceeds south on Washington Street to the viewing stand at City Hall.
As in past years, the city will issue maximum fines of up to $2,000 plus community service for certain quality of life violations. These are the four violations for which law enforcement will enforce a zero tolerance policy: consumption of alcohol/open container in public, urinating in public, maintaining a nuisance (disorderly and unsafe house parties), and disorderly conduct and improper behavior.
The city of Hoboken issued more than 500 summonses during the 2010 St. Patrick’s Day, with more than 200 of those required to perform community service.
Parking is limited that day, so the city urges visitors to take public transportation. The city has three municipal garages. The taxi stand near the PATH station will be temporarily relocated to Vezzetti Way at 8 a.m.
The entire length of Washington Street and traversing streets will close to all traffic beginning at 12:30 p.m. and will remain closed until all bands and groups pass the reviewing stand. The northern end of Washington Street (from 12th Street to 15th Street) will close around 11 a.m., providing an opportunity for bands and groups to assemble for the parade.
Between 7 a.m. and midnight on March 5, there will be no parking on various streets. Check the city’s website for more information.
Construction Official Al Arezzo no longer working for city of Hoboken
City spokesperson Juan Melli confirmed a report that Construction Official Al Arezzo is no longer employed with the city of Hoboken.
In January, a city press release revealed that Hoboken retained Tom Shannon to serve as acting construction official in the Construction Office on a part time basis and Mario Patruno, the electrical subcode official, to serve as acting construction official when Shannon is not in the office.
One source close to City Hall said Arezzo had been suspended in January, but the city would not confirm nor deny any suspicion. The city has a policy of not commenting on “personnel matters.” Melli would not provide any other comment about why Arezzo’s employment with the city ended.
Hoboken Planning Board releases ‘final draft’ of 2010 Master Plan Reexamination Report
The Hoboken Planning Board has released a final draft of the 2010 Master Plan Reexamination Report, and will hold a special informational meeting on March 7 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, according to a city release.
The report “evaluates the community’s planning and development regulation documents, identifies whether the community’s policies or objectives have changed since the completion of the last Master Plan, and makes recommendations accordingly,” according to a city release.
No formal action will be taken at the March 7 meeting.
WSJ columnist will be ‘Guest of Honor’ at Hoboken Republicans Speaker Series Dinner on March 1
Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund will be the guest of honor at the Republicans of Hoboken’s Second Annual Speaker Series on March 1 at the Madison Restaurant, 1316 Washington St. The event begins at 6 p.m.
Christopher Walen, the co-founder of Institutional Risk Analytics, provider of bank and company ratings, will be the featured guest speaker at the event. Whalen is also the author of the new book: “Inflated: How Money and Debt Built the American Dream.” The book will be available for purchase at the dinner.
Spokesperson Sue Pregibon said even though the event is held by the Republicans of Hoboken, people of all political backgrounds attended last year and are welcome once again this year.
The price is $65. For information, contact Sue Pregibon at susanpregibon@gmail.com.
Observer Highway street re-design community meeting scheduled for March 3
A community meeting for the re-design of Observer Highway has been scheduled for March 3 from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m. in the conference room in the basement of City Hall, 94 Washington St.
The city has $2 million in federal funding to improve Observer Highway. The funding was secured by Sen. Robert Menendez (D- NJ).
Based on feedback from an August 2010 community meeting regarding Observer Highway, engineers and planners have developed three alternative designs that will be presented for additional public input at the upcoming meeting.
Correction
A caption that ran in several of our editions last week with a story about accreditation for the county’s psychiatric hospital inadvertently labeled a photo of Freeholder Doreen DiDomenico, who chairs the freeholders’ Health Committee, as County Health and Human Services Director Carol Ann Wilson.