Of 23 who filed for school board and council elections, two names not on ballots
The ballot drawing for the upcoming Nov. 3 elections for Hoboken’s Board of Education and City Council was conducted Friday, Sept. 11. Two candidates who originally filed to run in August will not appear on the ballots.
Of the eight residents to file for the Hoboken Board of Education, Diane Rubino will not appear on the ballot. The Hudson County Clerk’s office confirmed that Rubino withdrew from the election. She did not return a phone call for comment.
The candidates currently on the ballot for the three out of nine school board seats are Patricia Waiters, Sheillah Dallara, Addys Velez, Britney Montgomery, Alanna Kauffmann, and John Madigan.
The school board, which sets budgets and selects the superintendent for Hoboken’s traditional public schools, will be up for grabs in the Nov. 3 general election.
After trustees Ruth Tyroler and Jean Marie Mitchell opted not to file to defend their seats – since their terms are set to expire this year – Trustee Tom Kluepfel will be the only incumbent running this year.
As for City Council, the ballot for six out of nine seats on the City Council, include all 15 previously-reported names with the exception of Melissa Blanco.
Blanco, who originally filed for the 5th Ward, was removed from the ballot after not meeting the requirement of 59 valid signatures, or 1 percent of the registered voters in her ward, which is necessary to make the ballot, Hoboken Deputy Clerk Jerry Lore said.
Melissa Blanco did not return phone calls for comment.
Clarification on boathouse issue
Last week’s “Still no 9/11 memorial in Hoboken” story should have stated that during the council meeting, the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance for the design of a $4.4 million boathouse – rather than a bond to design or build the boathouse. The council was not voting on a bond.
Chess and Bingo coming up at Elks Lodge
New Jersey Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia will host Hoboken Senior Oktoberfest Bingo on Sunday, Oct. 4 for seniors, and the Hoboken Chess Open for anyone, on Sunday, Oct. 18.
The Bingo game, which will be held at 3 p.m. at Hoboken Elks Lodge at 1005 Washington St., is free and open to all Hoboken seniors. Prizes will include gift cards from local businesses and refreshments will be served.
The chess open, which is free, will be held at 1 p.m.
For information on the bingo game call 201-714-4690. To register for the chess event, email HobokenChess@yahoo.com.
Little City Books hosts author of ‘Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day’
Leanne Brown, author of “Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day” will be in conversation with Ora Welch of HOPES at Hoboken’s Little City Books, Bloomfield and First streets, on Friday Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. To purchase a copy of the book please show up in advance of the event. The publisher will donate books 1:1 to the Hoboken Shelter, where they will be used in the cooking classes.
When Leanne Brown moved to New York from Canada to earn a master’s degree in food studies at New York University, she couldn’t help noticing the big problem of food insecurity: 46 million Americans have to survive on only $4 a day, the amount provided through SNAP (the US government’s food stamps program). In addition, millions more live under similar constraints, from students, to grads entering the job market, to young families, and even retirees.
Struck by these alarming numbers, she asked herself a critical question: How well can someone really eat on $4 a day? To determine the answer, she took to her kitchen, developing resourceful recipes made of whole, unprocessed foods that promote the joy of cooking and that show just how delicious and inspiring a cheap meal can be when cooked at home.
“Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day” is a cookbook demonstrating why kitchen skill, not budget, is the key to great food.
In addition to sharing tasty, nutritious recipes that maximize every ingredient and use economical cooking methods, Brown will give tips on shopping, setting up a basic pantry, mastering staples, and even repurposing last night’s dinner.
Leanne Brown wrote “Good and Cheap” as the capstone for her master’s in food studies from New York University. After it went viral online as a PDF that has been downloaded over 700,000 times, Leanne launched a Kickstarter campaign to self-publish the book. Hundreds of thousands of viewers watched her video and donated $145,000, funding a 40,000-copy print run. The edition she published as a result of the campaign won the 2015 IACP Judge’s Choice Award. She and her husband live in New York City.
HCCDFC will take back unwanted prescription drugs on Sept. 26
On Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Hudson County Coalition for a Drug-Free Community (HCCDFC) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will partner to launch the 10th Take Back Day event.
Take Back Day is an opportunity for the public to dispose of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs, further preventing pill abuse and theft.
Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Bring your pills for disposal at the following locations:
• Hoboken Police Department, 400 1st St., Hoboken
• Hoboken Police Department, 106 Hudson St., Hoboken
• Hoboken Police Department, 221 Jackson St., Hoboken
• Hoboken Police Department, 311 13th St., Hoboken
• Kearny Police Department, 237 Laurel Ave., Kearny
• Bayonne Police Department, 630 Avenue C, Bayonne
The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
“Preventing prescription drug abuse is a high priority for Hudson County,” said Robin F. James, Administrator of Behavioral Health and Addiction Services at the Hudson County Department of Health & Human Services. “The Hudson County Department of Health and Human Services encourages residents to help us prevent the abuse or misuse of prescription drugs by properly disposing of your unused or expired prescriptions on Sept. 26. Taking the time to drop off unused or expired prescriptions could potentially save a life and ensure the health of the community.”
Last September, Americans turned in 309 tons of prescription drugs at nearly 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in its eight previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 4.8 million pounds of pills.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control site or visit www.hudsoncountycoalition.org.
Hoboken Police to pedal ahead with bicycle education campaign
The Hoboken Police Department announced Thursday, Sept. 17 plans to begin the next phase in its bicycle education and enforcement campaign.
“With the increase in bicycling in Hoboken, kids back at school, and the upcoming launch of a bike share program, we want to remind the community about the rules of the road and make sure that everyone is riding safely,” said Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante, who noted the campaign was done in partnership with the unit’s waterfront and parks unit patrol officers and traffic bureau.
The initiative comes off the heels of a major decrease in complaints regarding bicycle delivery people over the summer following the Hoboken Police Department’s focus on the possibly hazardous service.
According to the announcement, New Jersey state law governs cyclists under the same laws faced by automobile drivers, with the exception of Hoboken law allowing them on sidewalks: bicyclists must yield to pedestrians, ride no faster than pedestrians are walking, and those under 17 must wear a helmet.
“Police officers on bicycles will focus education and enforcement efforts on those who are riding recklessly on sidewalks, riding the wrong way on one-way streets, and ignoring red lights and stop signs,” the announcement continues.
The Police Department and Parking Utility will also enforce illegal parking that obstructs bicycle lanes which creates safety hazards by forcing bicyclists into traffic. Earlier this year, the HPD partnered with local restaurants to educate the delivery riders on bicycle rules, as well as provide them with reflective vests.
Workers at construction site for seven-story luxury complex protest wages
Over two dozen protesters, with picket signs in hand, have been rallying at 14th Street and Willow Avenue in Hoboken against receiving low wages.
Organized by the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Local 253, the protest continued at the end of this past week.
“We’re having a peaceful demonstration because the contractor in question is not paying his employees the area standards wages,” said union council representative William Haase.
Haase, who stood by the protest for the Advanced at Hoboken LLC project which consists of 140-units of residential space with retail space as well, referred additional questions to Senior Council Representative, Bob Satriano.
Satriano told The Hoboken Reporter that workers on the site, which has also been referred to as Willow14, were receiving lower than $20 in wages when standard wages are $44 plus benefits per hour.
The site is managed by Legacy 7 and contracted by Progress Railing – who did not immediately respond for comment.
The protest, Satriano said, will likely continue in the fall.
The union’s local 253 chapter, which includes 3,700 members, makes up Hudson, Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties.
Bridgewater, N.J.-based Advance Realty acquired the site in 2009 and construction on a below-grade parking garage was completed in April of this year. The property is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2016, according to published reports
Gallery at Garden Street Lofts showcase
After a successful debut series of hand cut paper stencil screen prints series from artist Ricardo Roig, the Gallery at Garden Streets Lofts will hold an opening reception for its second artist on Tuesday Sept 29.
Alice Harrison, a painter who uses a variety of mediums including oil, acrylic, water, prints, found papers and image transfer, will be on display from September to January.
The opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gallery located at 1425 Garden St.
“The opening was one of the best nights of my life and memories I will treasure forever,” said Roig. “The residents of the Garden Street Lofts are really special people and I am very grateful to have collectors within this artful community.”
For information visit www.gardenstreetlofts.com.
Student receives award from Stevens Institute
Hoboken resident and student Luca Conetta received an $850 award from the Stevens Institute of Technology this past week to attend the institute’s summer pre-college STEM program.
The award was made possible by a grant provided to Steven’s by Walmart to 30 New Jersey students.
“Walmart is proud to support Stevens Institute and these motivated, academically talented students who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to be a part of this beneficial program,” said Jennifer Hoehn, director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Walmart. “It is so important to introduce students to STEM programs due to the increasing demand for graduates with this expertise.”
Each of the summer courses was taught by college instructors and/or doctoral students – with additional opportunities to visit STEM-related companies in the New York City area.
Working on a novel, screenplay or poem?
Are you a writer in the Hoboken area? Working on a novel, screenplay, articles, or poems? Don’t write alone! Get camaraderie, critiques, ideas for submitting, or just meet other writers in the area. A casual writers’ network is forming locally. Email Ro at penink39 at Gmail.