Candidates file for mayor, council; Russo answers questions
A Thursday filing deadline turned up six mayoral candidates and 14 council candidates running in the Hoboken May 12 municipal elections.
Hoboken voters may vote for any mayoral candidate and any three of the council-at-large candidates.
Council members Peter Cammarano, Beth Mason, and Dawn Zimmer, along with independents Frank Orsini, Tom Vincent, and Ryn Melberg all filed to run for mayor. Information on those candidates, as well as other breaking news, is constantly updated at our new website, www.hudsonreporter.com.
Cammarano, Mason, and Zimmer recently announced the slates of three council-at-large candidates running with each of them. But five independent council candidates also filed to run for those seats Thursday. Voters do not have to choose by slate and can vote for any three council candidates.
The independent council candidates are former Fire Chief Richard Trimitiedi; Patricia Waiters, Dave Carty, Christopher Carbine, and Timothy Occhipinti. Occhipinti’s name was added Friday by the City Clerk’s office after they accidentally omitted him from a previous list on Thursday.
Councilman Michael Russo, who had been a long rumored mayoral candidate, said he was ready with signed petitions on Wednesday night, but decided not to run.
“I can push forward a legislative agenda that is better for the city [on the council],” he said. “And I now have the chance to call people to the mat [on issues during the campaign season].”
Russo said he wasn’t sure who he would support yet, but did say that one candidate in particular has been more supportive of his agenda in the past than others.
“I’ll leave it up to you to guess,” he said.
Rumors have swirled in recent months about him throwing his support behind Mason and his possibly having had input on her selection of council running mates. (For more on those issues, see Al Sullivan’s political column this week).
Folding Box fire cause undetermined
A fire broke out Tuesday night at the former Universal Folding Box Company, 1200 Madison St. There were no victims, as the site was vacant and only used by the Hoboken Fire Department as a training facility.
After an investigation, the cause of the fire was still undetermined. Acting Fire Chief Richard Blohm said since the building has no electrical infrastructure, there was nothing to start the fire.
“The only way [for the fire to start] was for someone to bring something into the building,” he said.
The fire was initially spotted by a commuter riding on the Light Rail next the building, reports said. Although police initially said there were no signs of homeless people in the immediate area, they did find a shopping cart full of clothes the following day. The factory is directly across from several homeless camps along the Palisade cliffs.
School candidate forum; register to vote soon
The Hoboken Family Alliance invites you to meet the six Board of Education candidates at a free, open forum on April 4 at the Demarest School, 401 Garden St., at 10 a.m.
Seven candidates initially filed for the three open seats, but one candidate, Barbara Claveria, removed her name from consideration last week, according to Board Secretary David Anthony. This leaves two full slates in the race, each headed by incumbents Frank Raia and Theresa Minutillo, respectively.
Residents must register by March 31 to vote in the Board of Education election on April 21.
In addition, Lua, 1300 Sinatra Drive, is hosting a “Spring into Election Season” party on behalf of the Hoboken Family Alliance. On Thursday, March 26, voters can register to vote and have a free drink and appetizers from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call (201) 970-8796.
Contribute to cancer fund Thursday
On Thursday, March 26, Relay for Life of Hoboken and the Jessie James clothing store will be teaming up in the fight against cancer at 503 Washington St. between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Relay For Life of Hoboken will receive 10 percent of your purchase toward cancer research. Drinks and appetizers will be served.
For more information, call (201) 420-1665.
Train may run from Hoboken to Poconos within three years
As noted Wednesday evening on our new website (www.hudsonreporter.com), the Stourbridge Railroad Company in Pennsylvania met last month with several northeastern Pennsylvania business and tourism officials to discuss the possibility of a passenger train running between Hoboken, N.J. and Honesdale, Pa. (in the Pocono region) on weekends, a 130-mile trip.
Honesdale is in northeastern Pennsylvania in the Poconos region, across the border from the Catskills and Route 17 in upstate New York.
The idea is that this region of Pennsylvania would like to increase access to and from the New York City area, both for business and tourism purposes.
According to the article: “Al Siebold, director of safety and security for Morristown & Erie Railway, Inc., says passenger train service [to and from the New York metro area] is a ‘very viable’ future endeavor, something Wayne County could see in the coming three years.”
High school career day
On Wednesday, April 1, students will have the opportunity to explore careers with professionals who will volunteer their time to share their career stories and answer questions students may have. The Career Day matches pre-selected professionals with upperclassmen based on the student’s interest, including police enforcement, law, medicine, and computer engineering. For further information to volunteer your time or have your company offer a job-shadowing day, please contact Marie McCabe at (201) 356-3630.
Students at the high school also have two job shadowing days planned at Wiley Corporation in Hoboken and at the Wall Street Journal.
Museum chronicles clam bar
On Sunday, March 22, the newest in a series of chapbooks from the Hoboken Historical Museum will be released. The booklet, titled “I’d Rather Lose a Clam than a Customer,” documents the story of one of Hoboken’s most beloved eateries, Biggie’s Clam Bar, from the perspective of its second-generation owner, Michael “Brother” Yaccarino.
The museum, 1301 Hudson St., invites residents to share memories and enjoy some refreshments on Sunday, March 22 at 4 p.m. Everyone who attends this free event will receive a copy of the chapbook, part of an ongoing oral history project sponsored by the museum and the Friends of the Hoboken Public Library.
Boathouse sets summer schedule
The Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse (HCCB) announced their summer 2009 schedule for Kayaking Days at the Maxwell Place Park Cove, Sinatra Drive, and Maxwell Place. The boathouse will offer public programs on the following dates: June 7, June 14, July 11, July 25, and Aug. 15.
Kayaking Days are free, open to all, and require no reservations. HCCB is currently supported by voluntary help and borrowed kayaks and equipment from the Downtown Boathouse in Manhattan. Trained kayakers will be on-hand to provide tips for new paddlers.
All programs are tentative based on weather and water conditions, and are subject to cancellation. For the latest information on Hoboken Boathouse programs, e-mail info@hobokencoveboathouse.org, visit the website, or join the group on Facebook.