About this special issue
This special annual “Year in Review 2011” edition of the Hudson Reporter newspapers replaces your regular Sunday editions in Guttenberg, Hoboken, North Bergen, Jersey City, Secaucus, Union City, West New York, and Weehawken. Watch for another special “Year in Photos” edition next weekend, Jan. 1, 2012!
We are still publishing breaking news continuously on our website, hudsonreporter.com, and in our briefs (below).
See further down in briefs for our holiday deadlines and closures. Call 201-798-7800 if you have questions. Happy holidays!
Holiday Hudson Reporter advertising, editorial deadlines
Because of the holidays, the Hudson Reporter newspapers will have special advertising and editorial deadlines.
The office will be closed on Monday, Dec. 26. It will reopen Tuesday, Dec. 27. The office also will be closed on Monday, Jan. 2, and will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
For the Wednesday, Dec. 28 edition of the Bayonne Community News and the Thursday, Dec. 29 edition of the Midweek Reporter, the editorial deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. The classified and display advertising deadline is noon on Thursday, Dec. 22.
For the Sunday, Jan. 1 editions of the Reporter newspapers, the editorial deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 9 a.m., and the advertising and classified deadline is noon.
For the Wednesday, Jan. 4 edition of the Bayonne Community News and the Thursday, Jan. 5 Midweek Reporter the editorial deadline is Friday, Dec. 30 at 9 a.m. and the classified and display advertising deadline is noon.
If you have questions about these deadlines or any other issue, please call (201) 798-7800. Also check www.hudsonreporter.com for continuously updated breaking news.
Former freeholder, Democratic leader Maurice Fitzgibbons passes away
Former Hudson County Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons died late Sunday night, Dec. 18, at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City at the age of 57.
A Hoboken native, Fitzgibbons worked in government for two decades before he decided to run for freeholder in 1993, a job in which he eventually served for 15 years.
Fitzgibbons became Hoboken’s recreation director at age 20 and was the Hoboken Democratic chairman twice, from 1994 to 1998 and then again in 2008.
Over the years, he also served as a trustee at the Jersey City Performing Arts Center in the Loew’s Theater.
A proponent of the arts and local tourism, Fitzgibbons pushed for funding for the Hoboken Museum and for restoration of the Hoboken YMCA, as well as for the Boys and Girls Club, improvements to Columbus Park, and the now-ongoing reconstruction of the 14th Street Viaduct.
Fitzgibbons was also recently renominated by Gov. Chris Christie for a role on the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Fitzgibbons ran a local public relations firm and went to great lengths each summer to publicize the popular St. Ann’s Festival in western Hoboken.
Assemblyman Ruben J. Ramos (D – Hoboken) released a statement on Monday morning: “Maurice was like family to me, but more so than anything, he was a mentor and a true guide. Maurice’s reputation as a freeholder extends far outside our city’s limits. Since I was elected to the Assembly, I haven’t met anyone in the State House who hasn’t experienced Maurice’s random acts of kindness and generosity. His loss is one that will ring throughout the state. Maurice … fought relentlessly for the city of Hoboken.”
Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer expressed her condolences to the family and friends of Fitzgibbons on behalf of the city of Hoboken. Among family members, Fitzgibbons was the brother of longtime city housing inspector Jude Fitzgibbons.
Zimmer said of Fitzgibbons, “He was a strong advocate of the arts, with a long history of service to our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Freeholder Anthony Romano said it was an honor to succeed Fitzgibbons in office. Romano was elected in 2008 after Fitzgibbons surprisingly decided not to seek another term as freeholder.
“Maurice was a big influence in Hoboken all of his life,” Romano said on Monday morning. “He was always thinking of the people of Hudson County.”
A funeral mass was held Thursday at St. Ann’s Church in Hoboken. Burial was in North Arlington.
After two red-light cameras in JC record 16,000 violations, third one installed
JERSEY CITY – Officials from the Jersey City Police Department have announced that a third red-light camera began its trial phase at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at the intersection of Merseles and Montgomery streets. The camera, which is part of a New Jersey Department of Transportation program, will take video and photos of motorists who run through red lights.
The camera will be given a four-week trial until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19. During this period motorists who run the red lights at Merseles and Montgomery will only receive written warning notices in the mail. Once the trial ends, however, motorists cited for running the red light will receive an $85 citation.
Jersey City’s road safety program has been in effect since April 2011 and has already recorded over 16,000 violations at two other locations. The cameras are located at the intersection of Kennedy Boulevard and Communipaw Avenue and at the intersection of Jersey Avenue and 18th Street.
Intersection safety cameras operate 24 hours a day and capture still images and video of red-light running violations.
The road safety program is administered by American Traffic Solutions, Inc. (ATS) with each violation reviewed and approved by Jersey City’s Police Department prior to being issued.
Former Hoboken parking director pleads guilty
HOBOKEN – John Corea, the ex-director of the Hoboken Parking Utility, pleaded guilty on Dec. 16 to official misconduct, according to a release from the New Jersey Attorney General’s office. Corea was indicted in 2009.
Corea was implicated in an alleged scam in which $600,000 was allegedly taken by a Toms River contractor whose company was hired by the city to collect coins from city parking meters, according to the release.
Corea admitted that while he was the HPU director, “he steered three separate no-bid contracts” to the company “to collect, count, and manage the coins from the city’s parking meters. He admitted that he made false statements to the City Council about the qualifications and experience of the company, which is a coin-operated arcade game manufacturer.”
The owner of the company already pleaded guilty in 2009, the release says.
The state will recommend under the plea agreement that Corea be sentenced to eight years in state prison, including three years of parole ineligibility, according to the release.
He must pay $300,000 in restitution to the city of Hoboken, and will be barred from public employment in New Jersey.
Corea is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2012.
The city has since switched to multi-space meters, which provide for greater accountability of parking meter funds, city officials said.
Union City kid suffers machete attack, in ongoing trend
UNION CITY – Last January, an article in The Reporter noted that eight of 11 homicide victims in Union City were killed by machetes, and that in the four years before that, there were an additional 129 victims of machete violence. This prompted Union City’s Board of Commissioners to introduce an ordinance on Jan. 4 that prohibited the sale of machetes within the city. It stated that any store, individual, facility, or entity that attempted the sale of the weapon would receive up to a $1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail, up to 90 days of community service, or any combination thereof as punishment for violating the ordinance.
But the rules did not stop a Union City machete attack last week, according to a newspaper article.
A 15-year-old was taken to Jersey City’s Christ Hospital after being cut by a machete found in the possession of a 19-year-old Union City man, according to NJ.com. The man has been charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, obstruction of administration of the law and resisting arrest.
Jersey City school board member calls for prez to resign after e-mail from state
JERSEY CITY – Outgoing Board of Education member Sean Connors continues to raise questions about an e-mail sent earlier this month to Board President Sterling Waterman by the state’s Acting Commissioner of Education, Chris Cerf.
In an e-mail dated Dec. 2, Cerf wrote: “It is now abundantly clear to me that this board is not interested in pursuing an agenda of transformational change for the children of Jersey City. You are presented with a unique moment in time in which courageous leadership would make an extraordinary difference. Parochial concerns, interest group influence, and personal political ambitions need to give way to boldness and willingness to accept the inevitably challenging [consequences] of real reform.”
Cerf encouraged Waterman to share his e-mail with the other members of the board, which Waterman did.
The Jersey City school board is currently conducting a national search to replace School Superintendent Charles Epps, who will leave his position on Dec. 31.
Cerf’s e-mail has raised questions among parents and several members of the board for two reasons.
First, in his e-mail Cerf appears to be alluding to some problem regarding the candidate search for a new school superintendent.
Second, as first reported by the Jersey City Independent, Waterman circulated two versions of Cerf’s e-mail to the remaining eight members of the board, one version of which was apparently altered. One version of the e-mail included the sentence, “Feel free to pass this on to your board and to Mr. Fulop,” referring to Ward E City Councilman and 2013 mayoral candidate Steven Fulop, who is allied with the new board majority. The other circulated version of Cerf’s e-mail had the Fulop reference removed.
At the Dec. 15 school board meeting Waterman said he didn’t know what Cerf was referring to in his e-mail and did not know how the Fulop reference was removed from some versions of the correspondence.
All of which has parents and board members scratching their heads.
In a Dec. 18 letter addressed to Waterman and circulated to the school board, School Trustee Connors wrote: “It has become evident that you are clearly not the person who came to the public Board of Education expounding the needs of the children in Jersey City as a parent representative. You spoke transparency, yet you are the most secretive school board president in the history of our Jersey City Public School System. I still do not know what Acting Commissioner Cerf is talking about, but obviously you and he know exactly what he has communicated in an e-mail. It seems the commissioner is speaking in code to you, President Waterman.”
Connor adds that several attempts by board members to get clarification on Cerf’s e-mail have not been fruitful.
“If you are going to be a detriment to good relations in Trenton and the state Board of Education, for the sake of the children and residents of Jersey City, I suggest you resign from your post immediately,” Connors concluded.
The controversy over the e-mail threatens to undermine the search for a new school superintendent. Epps’ supporters were already unhappy with the superintendent’s resignation, which was forced by the Fulop-backed majority. And parents often question the motives of Fulop’s allies on the board, who include Waterman, Carol Lester, Suzanne Mack, Carol Harrison-Arnold, and Marvin Adames. Any superintendent candidate backed by this quintet could face an uphill battle winning the support of parents.
The board has appointed Franklin Walker to be the interim school superintendent beginning Jan. 1.
Connors’ tenure as a trustee also ends Dec. 31. Next month he will be sworn in as a state assemblyman for New Jersey’s 33rd District.
Fundraiser scheduled for Hoboken fire victims
HOBOKEN – A fundraiser will be held on Friday, Dec. 30 at Room 84 (84 Washington St.) from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the five Hoboken residents who lost their homes and belongings in the downtown fire on Dec. 17.
The fundraiser will offer various silent auction items and raffle prizes, and all those who attend will be asked to make an unspecified monetary donation at the door.
The organizers of the event are accepting new or gently worn clothing, new or used shoes, computers, laptops, household sundries, and electronics.
According to a release: “We are searching for generous Hoboken residents who work in a field where they might be able to acquire items for our silent auction. Sporting event tickets, concert tickets, handbags, consumer goods and more are sought by the people of Hoboken. The more items we can auction and raffle off, the more money the victims of the fire will have.
If you are unable to attend the event and have an item to donate please bring to the following locations. This list will expand as we await others to help participate as drop off centers.”
Midtown Authentic: 728 Washington St. Tuesday, Dec. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 25 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
H-Mag: 80 River St, Penthouse North – Monday, Dec. 19 to Friday, Dec. 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Case dismissed against Hoboken man who refused to give officer country of origin
HOBOKEN – With little fanfare, the case against Vesselin Dittrich, a Hoboken man who said he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after refusing to tell a Port Authority police officer what country he was from, was dismissed on Tuesday morning in Hoboken court because a key witness did not appear.
After Dittrich’s case was covered in The Hoboken Reporter, the case was also covered in The New York Times.Dittrich said he believes the media attention also led to the dismissal.
Dittrich was arrested in August, 2010 in the Hoboken PATH station after he says he was staring at a woman with many tattoos. Dittrich said he has poor eyesight, and thought the woman looked blue. Dittrich said she took offense to the staring, and after a brief argument, police became involved. Dittrich said the Port Authority police officer asked for pedigree information, but said there would be no charges.
However, after Dittrich was asked what country he was from, and he declined to tell, he says he was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Dittrich speaks with an eastern European accent and is from Bulgaria. He is an American citizen.
The woman with the tattoos was the key witness who did not attend the case on Tuesday morning, despite being asked to appear.
The prosecutor and attorneys for the Port Authority, as well as police officers in the court, said they were ready to prosecute if the witness had appeared. However, Prosecutor Ron Venturi said the case would be dismissed based on the fact that the key witness was not present. Court transcripts show that Dittrich was told he could face jail time for the offense after he refused to plead guilty and accept a lower charge.
Venturi referred questions to a city spokesperson following the dismissal on Tuesday morning.
For Dittrich, a 16-month court battle has come to an end, and he was full of smiles as he exited the courtroom.
“I can’t say I feel vindicated, because I didn’t have my day in court,” Dittrich said outside City Hall following the dismissal. He said there was no reason for him to be arrested in the first place, and that he wanted to prove it in court.
Dittrich is a member of People for Open Government, a local government activist group. He said he believes his involvement in POG led to an aggressive case against him.
Former CEO of Hoboken payroll company pleads guilty to attempted tax evasion
HOBOKEN – The former chief executive officer of First Priority Pay, a payroll company based in Hoboken, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of attempting to evade taxes, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Jerry Carter Jr., 32, of Hillsborough, admitted to trying to evade almost $500,000 in tax payments, according to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman. Carter admitted, according to the release, that from 2007-2009, “He intentionally failed to provide the Internal Revenue Service with true, correct, and complete information” regarding income that he received in connection with his position.
This is not the first time Carter has been in the news. In a bizarre case reported here and in other media, Carter was arrested by Hoboken police in 2009 facing allegations of kidnapping and harassment of a female employee, but the charges were dropped by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in 2010 after a legal review led to an administrative dismissal of the case.
Carter had been praised as a self-made millionaire after he left a top payroll firm to start his own company in Hoboken. New Jersey Business Magazine named him one of their top “Movers and Shakers” in the state two years ago.
Carter faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 27, 2012. Carter has agreed to make full restitution to the IRS, plus interest and penalties to be determined, according to the release.
Secaucus lights first menorah in the center of town
SECAUCUS – A small crowd of residents along with Mayor Michael Gonnelli and Town Council members gathered near the town center to light the first menorah on Dec. 20, the first day of Hanukkah. Children played in front and some were on hand to turn on the first light of the large outdoor menorah.
Siblings Jonathan and Samantha Seelinger, 5 and 7 years old respectively, along with Alex Marra, 6, and Lia-Rose Caroll, 6, all students of Jewish faith from Clarendon Elementary school, stood in front of the large metal menorah for a picture before the ceremony.
“This is wonderful. That is what I like about living in Secaucus – it is an ecumenical town,” said resident Jeri Garfield about the significance of having a menorah publicly displayed in the center of town for the first time. “It is nice for the children to celebrate all religions,” said Jodi Seelinger. “It is another representation of the holidays,” said Margot Steinberg, a resident of Harmon Cove that invited Jewish friends to join her for the ceremony. Resident Joe Israel said blessings read from the Book of Maccabees before the first candle was lighted. Hanukkah is also referred to as the Festival of Lights, and is observed for eight days. The menorah was provided by Jeremy Halpern, head of Fraternity Meadows, and the developer for the Xchange in Secaucus.
Santa brings toys to UC WIC Center patients
NORTH HUDSON – Families and their children who visited the Women, Infants, and Children Center in Union City eagerly waited in line to see Santa on Monday, Dec. 15. North Hudson Community Action Center donated around 1,300 toys for infants and toddlers that were distributed and given out at the WIC Center and several other NHCAC centers throughout the week.
According to NHCAC Director Rosemary Lavagnino, since the WIC Center opened nine months ago, enrollment has increased by three percent to around 12,600. This accounts for about 88 percent of those eligible for the center’s services. “We’re looking to serve the other 12,” Lavagnino said.
Danny McDermott wins bout at Schuetzen Park with fourth round TKO
NORTH BERGEN – Danny McDermott, a North Bergen native and lightweight boxer, ended his two-fight losing streak after a fourth round technical knockout Thursday, Dec. 15 over Bryan Abraham in Schuetzen Park. The fight was the main event of the boxing series, “Tommy Gallagher’s Winners Have Scars.”
McDermott, now 9-3 (4KO), had been working with veteran Tommy Gallagher out of Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn.
Guttenberg holds council meeting Monday
GUTTENBERG – Guttenberg Township will hold two meetings on Monday. A council meeting will take place Monday, Dec. 26 in Town Hall. An Alcohol Beverage Control Board meeting will also take place Monday, Dec. 26. Both meetings are scheduled for 8 p.m.
Library sets fee for Notary Services beginning in January
SECAUCUS – Effective Jan. 1, the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center will be instituting a fee for individuals requesting notary services. Prior to this date, all notary services were provided at no charge.
Library director Jenifer May said that the volume of notary requests at the library has increased tremendously, and due to the number of notarizations required per request the library has incurred the cost of having more staff certified as notaries and allotted more time to providing the service. May noted that the level of responsibility and liability to the notary has also increased, which requires additional time to gather more information from the applicant and to record it.
The “first page” requiring the notarization of one or more signatures will continue to be free of charge. However, each additional page requiring that one or more signatures be notarized will cost $1. For more information, call Director Jenifer May at (201) 330-2083 or contact the director at may@bccls.org.
Hoboken council votes for capital improvements bond
HOBOKEN – The council didn’t all come to them, so environmental service workers in Hoboken arrived with their outdated equipment parked in front of City Hall hoping to convince a supermajority (six of nine council members) to vote in favor of a $3 million capital improvement bond that had failed at two other meetings. On Wednesday night, they got their wish.
The bond ordinance had previously been voted down at two other meetings by the four council opponents of Mayor Dawn Zimmer.
After a brief plea from Police Chief Anthony Falco and a presentation by Environmental Services Director Leslie Shenkler, Councilwoman Theresa Castellano became the required sixth vote to jump on board and approve the measure aimed at updating outdated equipment for city workers and improving city facilities.
Council members Beth Mason and Tim Occhipinti were not present for the vote. Council President Ravinder Bhalla and council members Jen Giattino, David Mello, Peter Cunningham, and Carol Marsh (Zimmer’s allies) voted in favor of the capital improvement bond with Castellano. Councilman Michael Russo voted no, and said he thinks the upgrades should be done with a large scale capital improvement plan, not by bonding.
Falco said before the vote that the bond ordinance would “considerably help [him] in the Police Department.”
To read more of the 2011 Year in review click HERE.