Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno served subpoena related to “Hoboken issues”
The New Jersey Department of State, which is run by Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, has been served with a subpoena by the state attorney general related to “Hoboken issues,” a spokesman for the attorney general’s office told NorthJersey.com.
Earlier this year, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer accused officials from the administration of Gov. Chris Christie, including Guadagno, of tying Hurricane Sandy aid to the city’s help with a private development desired by the Rockefeller Group in Hoboken’s northern end. At the time, the Rockefeller Group was represented by a Christie-linked law firm.
Guadagno has strongly denied making threats to Zimmer. An investigation into the allegations by a New York law firm hired by the Christie administration exonerated her of wrongdoing.
The subpoena to Guadagno’s office came to light in a legal bill filed by the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, which helped prepare the document.
Christie’s spokesman declined to comment when contacted by NorthJersey.com.
A joint committee of the New Jersey legislature is also investigating the accusations against Christie, but its co-chair State Sen. Loretta Weinberg told NorthJersey.com that the subpoena had not come from them.
Zimmer turned over diary entries allegedly recounting the threats delivered by Guadagno and others to investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in January.
When asked this week if there were updates on the investigation, Zimmer declined to comment.
In April, the Hoboken City Council voted to waive its attorney-client privilege with Joseph Maraziti, who represented the city in negotiations surrounding the redevelopment study area where the proposed Rockefeller development would be built, so he could speak with investigators.
Zimmer has said in the past that she discussed Guadagno’s alleged threats with Maraziti.
Since April, Zimmer has consistently declined to comment on any of the ongoing investigations into Christie’s Bridgegate scandal or alleged linking of Sandy money to development projects.
New Jewish Center in Hoboken opens Sept. 14
History will be made in Hoboken this coming Sunday as for the first time in over 50 years, a new Jewish Center opens in Hudson County.
The Chabad Jewish Center, one of over 4,000 such centers around the world, established itself in Hoboken 13 years ago under the auspices of Rabbi Moshe and Shaindel Schapiro. But now for the first time they will be dedicating a center to continue their important work.
Join the community, elected officials, and other guests for a grand opening ceremony in conjunction with the dedication of a brand new Torah scroll, written for the occasion in Israel.
Sunday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m. conclusion of the writing, 12 p.m. grand procession of Torah through streets of Hoboken with live music and float followed by ribbon cutting and affixing of Mezuzah. 1 p.m luncheon at 80 Park Ave. (entrance Newark Street).
For more information, visit www.JewishHoboken.com or call (201) 386-5222.
Hoboken arts festival starring Darlene Love
Actress and ‘60s singer Darlene Love will headline the fall Hoboken Arts & Music Festival on Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fair runs from Observer Highway to Seventh Street and features more than 300 vendors, artists, and musicians, with a special area for kids. Concerts take place all day on three stages.
For more information, contact Geri Fallo at 201-420-2207 or gfallo@hobokennj.org.
The Hoboken Reporter is a co-sponsor of the event.
New weekly drawing classes for adults at hob’art cooperative gallery
Illustrator Frank Pariso will be hosting a new weekly drawing class for adults at the hob’art cooperative gallery in the Monroe Center for the Arts. “Learning How To Draw” will be held every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. beginning on Sept. 10. The Sept. 10 class will be free; there will be a $20 fee for each future class.
Students will be taught the fundamentals of drawing with graphite or charcoal in a laid-back, noncompetitive atmosphere. They will learn how to properly use materials, measure proportions, and render objects using light and shadow. Pariso will also teach the difference between working from a still life and from a photograph.
Pariso is an illustrator from New Jersey whose work can best be described as “imaginative realism.” His inventive characters ranging anywhere from wild animals to dinosaurs. Pariso works primarily in acrylic paint, but also uses watercolor, oil paint, and other materials.
Formed in 2002, hob’art gallery is Hoboken’s only artists’ collective. It is located in gallery E208 at the Monroe Center for the Arts at 720 Monroe St. Free parking is available in the back of the building on Jackson Street.
For more information, go to http://hob-art.org/ or contact Frank Pariso at fpariso@ymail.com or (862) 354-0585.
Urban obstacle course race returns to Hoboken Sept. 20
The City Challenge Obstacle Race returns to Hoboken for the second year this Sept. 20. The first Obstacle Race was held in Hoboken last October and attracted nearly 1,500 challengers.
“We have all of the obstacles that people want, without barbed wire, mud, water or fire pits; and without having to throw away a good pair of sneakers,” says founder and New Jersey native Elvi Guzman.
Guzman decided to create City Challenge when his 29-year-old sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer charity Susan G. Komen will receive proceeds from City Challenge, which has raised over $10,000 for the organization to date.
The Challenge will give out “Excellence Awards” to participants who conquer major personal trials to become City Challenge Obstacle Race finishers. Recent award winners include a man who lost 90 pounds training for his first City Challenge and a woman who trained while fighting Chron’s Disease and became a top race finisher.
“My hope is that this race provides additional motivation for local residents to live a fit and healthy lifestyle, and telling these success stories helps us do that,” says Guzman. “I wanted to find a way to encourage [my sister] to fight for her health, and that was when I thought about creating an event right on our own city streets to encourage local residents to train and fight for their health as well.”
Free legal advice and more for Sandy victims
If you live in Hudson County and have a legal issue(s) arising out of Superstorm Sandy, you may be eligible to receive free legal counsel, advice, or brief services from attorneys from Northeast New Jersey Legal Services (NNJLS), a nonprofit legal services organization. They handle cases including FEMA appeals, contractor fraud, insurance denials, home repair, and more.
A free legal clinic will be held on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Northeast New Jersey Legal Services, 574 Summit Ave., 2nd floor, Jersey City. Please call Meredith Gemeiner at (201) 792-6363 ext. 3248 to schedule an appointment. (Appointments are not necessary, but highly encouraged.)
‘Skinny Chef’ author Jennifer Iserloh to speak at Hoboken Public Library
Best-selling author and Hoboken resident Jennifer Iserloh will be visiting the Hoboken Library Saturday, Sept.13 at 2 p.m. to speak about her books, discuss making healthy food and provide some special treats for attendees. Iserloh is a leader in promoting healthy, vibrant lifestyles through a diet of delicious and nutritious easy-to-prepare meals. A classically trained chef, certified yoga teacher and a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Iserloh is the best-selling author of “50 Shades of Kale” and “Secrets of the Skinny Chef.” She has also written thousands of articles, blog posts and recipes for publications such as SELF, Health Monitor, Prevention, In Style, People, and AOL/Huffington Post. In addition, Iserloh regularly appears on Fox News, and The Today Show discussing nutrition, healthy eating, superfoods and related issues. Interested parties can RSVP at (201) 420-2347 or on Eventbrite by visiting the Hoboken Public Library website at www.hobokenlibrary.org.
Upcoming public meetings to cover parking, Sinatra Drive, Washington Street
For the next three weeks, the city of Hoboken will hold public meetings to present proposed changes to the parking and transportation system, Sinatra Drive, and Washington Street. All meetings will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Multi Service Center at 124 Grand Street.
At the Parking & Mobility Master Plan Community Meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, the city will present its policy and legislative recommendations for a new Parking Master Plan. More information can be found at www.hobokennj.org/parkingplan.
At the Sinatra Drive Visioning & Design Community Meeting on Monday, September 15, 2014, the city will present alternatives for the design of Sinatra Drive. More information can be found at www.hobokennj.org/sinatradrive.
At the Washington Street Complete Street Redesign Community Meeting on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, the city will present its final design concept for the redesign of Washington Street. More information can be found at www.hobokennj.org/washingtonstreet.
Meeting materials will be available online following the meetings for those that cannot attend.
Volunteers needed for HRHC medical reserve corps
The Hudson Regional Health Commission (HRHC) is seeking new volunteers for its Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The unit is made of locally based volunteers (with and without a medical background) who assist their communities during emergencies, such as staffing shelters, setting up Points of Dispensing Sites (PODS) during a pandemic or terrorist attack and community outreach when called upon.
You don’t have to have a special skill to volunteer – many roles are needed during an event response or after during recovery. HRHC MRC volunteers only need to share a minimal amount of time prior to a disaster; attending meetings and free trainings that are offered throughout the year.
Our volunteers participate in various trainings and drills throughout the year, enhancing their preparedness skills and heightening their ability to respond to many different types of events.
For more information on the Hudson Regional Health Commission, please visit the Hudson Regional Health Commission website at www.hudsonregional.org and then click on “Medical Reserve Corps”. Interested individuals can also contact Christina Butieb-Bianco, MRC Coordinator at 201-223-1133 or email mrc@hudsonregionalhealth.org.
Seven new Hoboken Class II police officers sworn in
This past Tuesday, seven new Class II Officers in the Hoboken Police Department were appointed and sworn in following their successful completion of the Essex County Police Academy. Hoboken now has 16 Class II Special Law Enforcement Officers who supplement the force during high activity times like weekends and evenings. The new officers are Jordan Descafano, James Dillon, Brian Kapp, Timothy Kealy, Jonathan Rodriguez, Jonathan Sabatini, and Sam Sukool.
Hoboken seeks volunteers for Community Emergency Response Team
The city of Hoboken is seeking applications for new members of its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), to be inducted through a series of classes with state-certified trainers this fall.
The program, which picked up speed after Superstorm Sandy, seeks to train citizens in basic emergency response skills so that they can assist others in the event of a disaster and serve as the bridge between first responders and the general populace.
“We invite interested residents to join our nationally-recognized Community Emergency Response Team,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “They are a model for how volunteers can make communities more resilient not just as first responders after emergencies, but also by helping our residents to be better prepared.”
With the graduation of its fourth class in February 2014, CERT now boasts 100 trained volunteers. The new round of classes can take up to 60 more participants.
If interested in joining CERT, please download and complete the application (www.hobokennj.org/docs/publicsafety/CERT-application.doc) and return by email to certteam@hobokennj.gov. Participation in CERT requires the successful completion of a training course on a range of subject matter specific to emergency response and disaster relief.
All classes will be held at the Multi Service Center, 124 Grand Street starting at 9:30am sharp and concluding at 4:00pm. The first session will be held on October 18.