Census Bureau: Hudson County remains fastest growing county in state
For at least the seventh year running, Hudson County is the fastest growing county in New Jersey, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual population estimates.
Between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014, the population of Hudson County rose by 0.8 percent or 5,209 people to a new estimated total of 665,491 people.
Hudson County’s leading growth was followed by Bergen County, Middlesex County, Union County, and Ocean County. Bergen County is the most populous county in New Jersey, with 933,572 residents, and grew by 0.7 percent over the 2013-14 period, adding 6,138 people.
Hudson County’s surge is part of a nationwide trend of migration to urban areas. Jersey City saw 3.9 percent population growth between 2010 and 2013, and Mayor Steven Fulop has predicted that it will overtake Newark to become the most populous city in the state by the end of 2016.
Between 2010 and 2013, Hoboken grew by 5.1 percent to an estimated total of 52,575.
State official mentioned in Hoboken allegations steps down
A state official at the center of Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s 2013 allegations against the administration of Gov. Chris Christie will step down at the end of the week, Christie’s office announced in a press release on Monday. After three years, Richard Constable III will leave his post as commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs for an unspecified job in the private sector.
Along with Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, Constable was one of the high-ranking administration officials Zimmer accused of linking increased Sandy relief aid to her support of a development project in northern Hoboken.
Constable denied Zimmer’s claims, and a Christie-commissioned investigative report by the law firm of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher found the claims to be “demonstrably false.”
Zimmer presented journal entries she said were written after her conversation with Constable, and she was interviewed by representatives of the U.S. Attorney’s office in January 2014.
Since then, Zimmer has declined to answer questions about the U.S. Attorney’s investigation, which has yet to produce any indictments.
This past January, the Hoboken City Council approved a one year extension to the city’s contract with Gerald Krovatin, the lawyer appointed to represent city officials in the U.S. Attorney’s investigation. Zimmer explained that the move was a mere housekeeping measure in case additional services were required of Krovatin.
Constable also serves as chairman of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA), the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA) and the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).
“Rich has served me extraordinarily well for more than a decade and I appreciate his service to this state and the country,” said Christie. “I thank him for his service and his friendship and wish him well in his new endeavors.”
DCA Deputy Commissioner Charles A. Richman will step in as acting DCA commissioner.
Jersey City and Hoboken businesswomen honored
Daria Foster, managing partner, of Lord Abbett & Company in Jersey City, Margaret Serravalli, excutive vice president of Fidelity Investments of Jersey City, and Rita Gurevich, founder and president of SPHERE Technology Solutions in Hoboken were among the 50 business women honored this week.
Celebrating the important role of women in the state’s business community, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno last night joined NJBIZ for its 10th annual 50 Best Women in Business Awards in Somerset.
During her remarks, Lt. Governor Guadagno shared her best tips for women in business, including developing a supportive circle of women colleagues and writing your own rulebook for the business you know best. She challenged the leaders in the room and other businesswomen throughout the state to tweet their own best advice @LtGovGuadagno using #Best50WomenNJ.
“To always be at the top of one’s game is a challenge we all aim for, and this year’s awardees have met that challenge head on,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno. “Their example will encourage the next generation of young women to push themselves and work hard to achieve their goals. Congratulations to each of these outstanding women for their leadership and their drive to succeed.”
The annual awards ceremony honors women business leaders in healthcare, technology, higher education, finance and every industry in between who are influential in shaping the economic future of New Jersey. Nominees are selected based on their professional accomplishments, community involvement and advocacy for women in business.
“We are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to recognize this outstanding group of women.” said Thomas Curtin, publisher of NJBIZ. “As business and community leaders, they are constantly redefining success within and outside the business arena. On behalf of NJBIZ, we would like to thank and congratulate the 2015 Best 50 Women for their dedication to New Jersey’s future.”
Lt. Governor Guadagno leads the Partnership for Action (PFA), New Jersey’s four-pronged public-private approach to economic development that works to strengthen New Jersey’s economy and create sustainable jobs. Currently, women run each of the agencies associated with the PFA, which include the New Jersey Business Action Center (Lt. Governor Guadagno), the Economic Development Authority (CEO Melissa Orsen), the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (Secretary Rochelle Hendricks) and Choose New Jersey (President and CEO Michele Brown).
Passover seders scheduled
Chabad of Hoboken will host two seders and is also distributing hand-made Shmurah Matzah in honor of the upcoming festival of Passover which begins this year on April 3. For more information please visit www.JewishHoboken.com or call (201) 386-5222.
Historical Museum planning afternoon of poetry to celebrate state’s 351st birthday
Last year the Hoboken Historical Museum and CavanKerry Press hosted Something Old, Something New (Jersey), a celebration of our state’s rich poetic heritage in honor of the state’s 350th birthday. New Jersey however, boasts such a wealth of poetic talent, that this year there will be a second installment, featuring a new group of vibrant NJ Poets, on Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m. All are welcome.
This two-hour public event will feature 10 contemporary New Jersey poets reading poems written by iconic NJ poets, as well as a poem of their own. The iconic poets include: Stephen Crane, Toi Derricotte, Maggie Estep, W.S. Merwin, Bob Rixon, Ntozake Shange, Patti Smith, and C.K. Williams. The contemporary poets reading at the event will be Renee Ashley, Teresa Carson, Reg E. Gaines, Carmelo Garcia, Frank Messina, James Richardson, Magdalena Alagna Schmidt, Danny Shot, Joe Weil, Gretna Wilkinson, and the 2015 NJ Poetry Out Loud State Champion.
The organizers of the event are Teresa Carson, Associate Publisher of CavanKerry Press, and Danny Shot, Poet-in Residence, Hoboken Historical Museum, along with Robert Foster, Executive Director of the Hoboken Historical Museum. Carson is a poet as well as publisher at the not-for-profit literary press, which has been based in Fort Lee, NJ, since its inception in 2000. She has coordinated events such as poetry readings, book parties and fundraising events, including statewide community outreach programs for CavanKerry Press. Danny Shot teaches English at Brooklyn Tech High School. He co-founded Long Shot Magazine with Eliot Katz in the early 1980s. He has performed at, as well as coordinated, events throughout the region.
Egg-cellent egg hunts all around this weekend
Several towns are hosting egg hunts this weekend, and several non-profits are running them. At least three are coming to Hoboken.
Among them, Hoboken Grace will host its fifth annual free Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, March 28th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Mama Johnson Field at 4th and Jackson in Hoboken, NJ.
Hoboken Grace, a nondenominational Christian Church in Hoboken, NJ is providing fifteen-thousand candy-stuffed eggs for children ages 1-12.
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, bouncy houses, music and games. Four bunnies will be ready to take picture with the kiddos; Flopsy, Mopsy, Peter, and Cottontail!
“It’s an awesome event for everyone involved,” said Anthony Reimer, Outreach Director of Hoboken Grace. “As a church, Hoboken Grace is always looking for ways to serve and love people in and around our communities.”
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. They can also preregister or volunteer on line. To learn more about Hoboken Grace visit hobokengrace.com.