City clerk honored for 30 years of service
Mayor Dawn Zimmer and the Hoboken City Council issued a proclamation on Wednesday night honoring James Farina, who is celebrating his thirtieth year as the city clerk. Joined by former Mayors Pat Pasculli and David Roberts, Zimmer issued the following statement about Farina:
“Jimmy was hired by the City of Hoboken as a Recreation Leader within the Department of Public Works, Health & Welfare on Sept. 6, 1973 and was employed as a Coordinator by Hoboken’s Community Development Agency from March 3, 1975 through June 30, 1977.
“Upon the recommendation of Mayor Steve Cappiello, Jimmy was appointed by resolution of the Hoboken City Council as Director of the Department of Health & Welfare on July 1, 1977 and he served in that position until March 31, 1984.
“On April 1, 1984, Farina was appointed to the position of City Clerk for the City of Hoboken.
“Jimmy was elected to the Hoboken Board of Education in 1974 and served continuously, as a trustee, chairman of athletics, vice-president and president, for 36 years until his retirement from the Board on April 13, 2010.
“Jimmy’s extensive record of public service also includes his service in the United States Army, his pioneering efforts to change Little League Baseball in America by sponsoring Maria Pepe, the first female player, and his leadership in rebuilding Hoboken High School Stadium into one of the best athletic stadiums in the State of New Jersey.
“I, Dawn Zimmer, Mayor of the City of Hoboken, do proudly issue this proclamation to James J. Farina, in honor of his 30th Anniversary as City Clerk of the City of Hoboken and gratefully acknowledge his many contributions and accomplishments on behalf of our city and its residents.”
Former Hoboken mayor Cammarano waiting on disbarment verdict, report says
Former Mayor Peter Cammarano will soon find out if his 2010 guilty plea to corruption charges will earn him a lifelong ban from practicing law, according to a report on NJ.com. A lesser sentence would see him disbarred for a shorter period of three years.
Cammarano, who was arrested in 2009 after serving 23 days in City Hall as part of the statewide Bid Rig sting that resulted in the convictions of dozens public officials, pleaded guilty to accepting $25,000 in bribes from informant Solomon Dwek.
Now, the N.J. Supreme Court Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) will rule on Cammarano’s future. The former mayor was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 2002, but his license was temporarily suspended in April 2010. According to NJ.com, the decision lies solely with the DRB, though the state Office of Attorney Ethics has recommended full disbarment.
Cammarano’s attorney, Joseph Hayden Jr., told NJ.com a three-year suspension would be “fair and balanced.”
Hudson Theatre Ensemble to debut “As Bees in Honey Drown”
The Hudson Theatre Ensemble of Hoboken, New Jersey is set to kick of a series of performances of “As Bees in Honey Drown,” the group announced last week. A stinging comedy romp by award-winning playwright Douglas Carter Beane (“The Little Dog Laughed”; “The Nance”), the show is wry and entertaining. A fable skillfully and playfully lampoons a culture hopelessly in love with illusions in an age that always seems to choose razzle-dazzle image over actual substance. It satires our obsession with getting one’s 15 minutes of fame at any cost. What good is sitting alone in your room when you can come to the cabaret– and what a cabaret it is!
The play was set to debut at the Hudson School Performance Space, 601 Park Avenue, on Friday April 4 at 8 p.m. Additional performances will be held April 5, 11, and 12 at 8 p.m. and April 6 and 13 at 2 p.m.
The ground-floor theater is completely barrier-free and accessible to persons with disabilities.
Tickets cost $20 general admission and $15 for seniors and students. For information and reservations call 201-377-7014 or email reservations@hudsontheatreensemble.com.
Hoboken Grace to hold Easter Egg hunt
Hoboken Grace, a nondenominational Christian Church in Hoboken is just two weeks away from hosting the biggest free Easter Egg Hunt in the Hudson County. Hoboken Grace’s forth annual free Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Mama Johnson Field at 4th and Jackson streets in Hoboken.
It was decided that 10,000 Easter eggs just wouldn’t cut it this year, so the ante was upped to 15,000 stuffed Easter eggs ready to be found. The hunt will be divided into four age groups for children and will start sharply at 11 a.m. In addition to the hunt, people of all ages will be able to participate in face painting, crafts, four bouncy houses, music and games.
There will also be four special Easter Bunnies, Flopsy, Mopsy, Peter and Cottontail, on hand to take pictures with families.
The free event is open to everyone. All participants should arrive at Mama Johnson Field at 10 a.m. to register in time for the hunt. If you would like to pre-register, visit http://hobokengrace.com/egghunt/ to sign up.
The church is also looking for volunteers. Give back and help make this the best Easter Egg Hunt ever by signing up at http://hobokengrace.com/easter-egg-hunt-volunteer/.
Sandy recovery grants available to Hoboken non-profits
The Rebuild Hoboken Relief Fund has additional funds for distribution to aid the community in the lingering aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The organization announced that a second round of grants would go to Hoboken-based nonprofit organizations with still unmet needs that arose from the storm. Deadline for applications for assistance is April 30.
Applications are available on the Rebuild Hoboken website at http://rebuildhoboken.org/#aid. Completed forms should be sent to Info@rebuildhoboken.org or mailed to 518 Park Avenue, Suite 1-R, Hoboken, NJ 07030.
The review process will be conducted once again by the Hoboken Clergy Coalition. This new round of funds will be divided equally among nonprofits qualifying for aid.
The money to be distributed was received after the initial allocation of aid last March, which went to residents and businesses meeting the criteria for assistance. Nearly a million dollars was issued at that time.
Rebuild Hoboken Relief Fund is a 501 (3)(c) charitable organization created to help individuals, families, small businesses and charities recover from losses suffered as a result of the storm and fill the gap between FEMA assistance and insurance reimbursement.