Federal prosecutors issue ‘clearance letters’ for three state officials accused by Mayor Dawn Zimmer
The New York Times confirmed in a story on Saturday, May 2, that the office of U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman had issued three “clearance letters” saying they had closed an investigation into three state officials accused by Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer of having tied Hurricane Sandy aid to the progress of a private development in Hoboken.
In early 2014, Zimmer said that the state’s lieutenant governor and two other officials had implied to her that the city’s receiving more Hurricane Sandy aid would be linked to her ability to shepherd a proposed commercial development at the city’s northern border.
The development was proposed by the Rockefeller Group of New York, a company whose consultant was attorney David Samson, a close associate of Gov. Christopher Christie. There were concerns that officials were tying public funds to the success of a project meant to make a profit for private entities.
Zimmer said at the time that she had told several colleagues about the officials’ words to her soon afterward, and also presented diary entries saying Christie was “cut from the same corrupt cloth” as those whose misdeeds she had tried to clean up in Hoboken.
The federal government investigated Zimmer’s claims but did not bring charges, as they did in Christie’s George Washington Bridge closure scandal.
It is rare for federal investigators to issue “clearance letters” for anyone, as they often refuse to comment on whether a case is still open. However, sometimes officials request the letters if they believe their personal or political reputation will suffer from the ongoing questions.
CarePoint opens new Women and Children’s Center in downtown Hoboken
This past Wednesday, CarePoint Health CEO Dennis Kelly and Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of CarePoint Health Medical Group’s new Comprehensive Women’s and Children’s Center at 5 Marine View Plaza in Hoboken.
The center is conceived as a one-stop shop for women and families, allowing busy modern mothers to maximize their time. It will operate on extended hours to accommodate working women, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
On most days, the new Hoboken center will host five of CarePoint’s 150 physicians on site, around two pediatric specialists and two to three maternity specialists or gynecologists, according to CarePoint Executive Vice President Kirat Kharode. At least one of the pediatricians will also be a cardiologist with the skills to address heart-related issues in children.
The facility can do mammography, bone density scans, fetal echocardiograms, ultrasounds, and other diagnostic tests.
Later in the month of May, CarePoint will open two more similar locations in Edgewater and Jersey City’s Newport district.
Following the ribbon cutting, CarePoint Health hosted an open house that included guided tours, face painting, mini massages, live music, raffles and giveaways.
“CarePoint Health is so pleased to offer Hudson County even more opportunities to receive quality comprehensive women’s and children’s care,” said CarePoint Health CEO Dennis Kelly. “We’ve designed these centers with input from many women in the area who’ve asked for a ‘one stop shop’ for the healthcare needs of themselves and their children. By offering three convenient locations with same-day appointments to primary care physicians and specialists, as well as diagnostics, we are improving the healthcare experience for our patients and their families.”
“I congratulate CarePoint on opening the first comprehensive Women’s and Children’s Center in Hudson County,” said Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “As the fastest growing city in the state, Hoboken is seeing a dramatic increase in children, and this facility will provide our growing families with convenient access to high-quality healthcare.”
Zimmer to speak before Hoboken Chamber of Commerce
On Tuesday, May 19, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer will be the featured speaker at a Hoboken Chamber of Commerce roundtable discussion on zoning and land use ordinances, transportation, and business at Amanda’s Restaurant, located at 908 Washington St. The event will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. Entry to the event is $15 for members and $25 for future members. All members are invited to bring a future member at the member price of $15. Register online at http://members.hobokenchamber.com/events/details/763.
Join United Synagogue of Hoboken in celebration of 100th anniversary of its home
The Hoboken Jewish community will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its historic synagogue, the Star of Israel, with a weekend of events from May 15 to 17.
One of New Jersey’s oldest synagogues, the Star of Israel was dedicated on May 16, 1915, and has been an active synagogue continuously since that time. It was placed on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places in June 2008.
During the 1970s, prior to Hoboken’s revitalization, few Jews remained in the city and the Star of Israel opened only during the High Holy Days. In disrepair and costly to maintain, the synagogue was almost sold.
The anniversary weekend celebrates the Star of Israel as a symbol of the revival of Jewish life in Hudson County, the resilience of the Jewish people, and America’s welcoming embrace and respect for all communities.
Each day of the coming weekend, a different aspect of the synagogue will be emphasized. On Friday, May 15 from 6 to 9 p.m., the celebration begins with a musical religious service and a program devoted to the community and architectural history of the Star of Israel.
On Saturday, May 16 from 9:30 to 1:30 p.m., students from the synagogue’s Learning Center lead a Shabbat morning of prayer and song to celebrate their year of experiential learning in and out of the synagogue. A light brunch will follow.
On Sunday, May 17 from 1 to 6 p.m., the block of Park Avenue in front of the synagogue will close for a block party that recalls the period a century ago when the neighborhood was home to recently arrived immigrants and First Street was lined with kosher markets.
The block party features supervised 1915-period games for children of all ages, plus stained glass crafts, face painting, bounce house amusements, Israeli dancing and mitzvoth opportunities. Kosher food includes hot dogs and hamburgers and vegetarian options, along with a pickle barrel and other Jewish specialties evoking the days of pushcarts and street vendors.
Guided tours of the Star of Israel will be conducted, and Israeli singer and songwriter and former Hoboken resident Paula Valstein will give a concert.
The Friday night and Saturday services and hospitality are free of charge. All block party activities and the synagogue tour are free. Block party food tickets will be sold at the event.
Ticket prices for Sunday’s concert: Adults $20, Members $15, Age 18 and under $10
For further information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.hobokensynagogue.org.
All activities take place at the Star of Israel, 115 Park Avenue, Hoboken. All are welcome.
‘Whisper! Shout! Sing!’ with Hoboken’s own Cantiga Women’s Choir May 16
Hoboken’s own Cantigas Women’s Choir presents its 13th annual spring concert titled WHISPER! SHOUT! SING! on Saturday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church (707 Washington Street at 7th Street) in Hoboken, N.J. The suggested donation for the concert is $15 ($5 for seniors and students).
“I hope the imagination of the audience will be fired up from the wide spectrum of the vocal ensemble experience,” Cantigas artistic director Joan Litman said. “They will leave inspired by classical beauty, captivating Arabic rhythms, and global songs.”
The diverse international repertoire spans from Mexico and Brazil to Syria and American gospel, including Imant Ramish’s Missa Brevis in C Minor, Pablo Casals’ Eucaristica, Keith Hampton’s Praise His Holy Name, Aaron Copland’s Zion’s Walls, and Marcos Leite’s Tres Cantos Nativos Dos Indios Krao.
The concert marks the debut of Syrian composer Wassim Ibrahim’s Damascus Breeze, which he wrote specifically for Cantigas after meeting Litman in Damascus five years ago. “I remembered the Damascus lights in Joan’s eyes when she told me about the choir — they were brimful of happiness. This piece sends the smell of the jasmine from Damascus to shed light on the full confidence of the future and the light which is waiting for us after this grief.” Ibrahim will be traveling from his current home in Poland for the premiere.
In addition to assistant director Erasmia Voukelatos accompanying on piano, four young guest artists will also perform: 14-year-old blind piano prodigy Matthew Whitaker, percussionist Elias Charchar, originally from Syria, and New Jersey Youth Chorus Boys Choir members Alexi Horne and Carl Steffens. The choir will also be accompanied by several professional musicians.
If individual assistance is needed to attend a concert, please contact cantigaschoir@gmail.com 10 days in advance.
Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition to hold public forum on zoning
Did you know that you can have a voice in how certain construction projects get approved in Hoboken? Do you know when a home improvement project requires Zoning Board approval? Do you want to help shape development projects around the city? Do you know how people become Board members? The Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition is hosting a special public forum, “Planning and Zoning Board Fundamentals,” on May 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the back room at Willie McBride’s, 616 Grand St., to help explain the Zoning and Planning Board processes.
David White, Esq., of Counsel, Pashman Stein, P.C., will explain how the boards operate, when property owners need to seek approvals for their construction projects, how neighbors are notified, who can present testimony, how appeals process works, and much more. The Hoboken QLC has a long track record of helping rally citizens to attend Zoning and Planning Board meetings, which has resulted in saving important buildings like the Neumann Leathers factory, and influencing decisions about building heights and density. Everyone can play a role — this is your opportunity to learn how. The forum is free. For more information, visit www.qlchoboken.org.
Mile Square Theatre and Hoboken Children’s Theater launch merger with new musical for children
Hoboken Children’s Theater has merged with the Mile Square Theatre to form a new omnibus theater company for Hoboken, and their first joint collaboration is a production of a wonderful new musical for kids, “Princess K.I.M. The Musical,” based on Maryann Cocca-Leffler’s popular book, “Princess K.I.M. and the Lie That Grew.”
The creative team for this production is led by Hoboken Children’s Theater founder and Mile Square Theatre Education Director Chase Leyner.
“Kids will love following the journey of this little girl who lets her imagination get away from her and tells a little lie that turns into a big problem,” said Leyner. “Our wonderful cast of professional actors will make this a show our family audience will not want to miss.” Directed by Broadway veteran Don Brewer with musical direction by Scott Pearson, this production will be professional theatre for the whole family.
“Princess K.I.M. The Musical” will be presented at The Edge Lofts, located at 14th and Clinton streets on Saturdays from May 16 to June 27 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Due to the Hoboken Hooplah Parade and Carnival, there is no performance on June 20 at 1 p.m.
Recommended for audiences 4 years and up. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at www.milesquaretheatre.org.
On May 16, “Princess K.I.M.” author Maryann Cocca-Leffler will be on hand at the theater to sign books after both performances and will give a talk back after the 1 p.m. performance.
On May 17 at 11 a.m, Cocca-Leffler will be at Little City Books, located at100 Bloomfield St., doing a reading and book signing, and cast members will be on hand to do a musical number.
Jewish community celebrates Lag Bomer
The Jewish community celebrated the festival of Lag Bomer last week. More than 350 people young and old from Hoboken and Jersey City enjoyed a petting zoo, pony rides, moon bounces, and a BBQ, at Pier A Park.
The celebration was organized by the Chabad Jewish Center and culminated in a beautiful bonfire by the waterfront with traditional singing.
Lag Bomer marks the day of passing of a great sage and mystic, Rabbi Shimon, who authored the Zohar. He spent the day of his passing teaching deep secrets of torah and advised his students to celebrate this day since it brought to completion the culmination of his life’s work. It also marks the day of the cessation of a terrible plague that had stricken many great rabbis. This day is traditionally spent by taking children out to parks and fields and playing with bows and arrows which symbolizes the power of inwardness — the power unleashed by the mystic soul of Torah It is also customary to celebrate with bonfires commemorating the immense light that Rabbi Shimon introduced into the world via his teachings. Photo by Tbish Photo.
Movies coming to county parks
The Hudson County Board of Freeholders have approved a contract for the Washington Park Association to provide the screening of twelve movies at six county parks. The screenings will take place during the months of July and August at the following parks: Lincoln Park, Jersey City, Stephen R. Gregg Park, Bayonne, West Hudson Park, Harrison and Kearny, Washington Park, Jersey City and Union City, JJ Braddock/ North Hudson Park, North Bergen and Columbus Park, Hoboken. Popcorn will be provided while supplies last.
See the Washington Park Association website for more details.