June 1 is proclaimed Gun Violence Awareness Day
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla declared June 1 “Gun Violence Awareness Day” at City Hall on Friday.
This was part of a National Gun Violence Awareness Day event organized by the Hudson County Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez was scheduled to attend and speak at the event.
“I’m honored to lend my voice to such an important issue,” said Bhalla in a press release. “It’s our duty to do everything within our power to protect our children and residents from gun violence. New Jersey is taking steps in the right direction, but with how easily guns cross state lines, we have to keep up the pressure on Congress to enact sweeping reforms. I’m proud New Jersey’s senators are on the right side of this issue, but we must keep up the fight against the gun lobby.”
The proclamation was scheduled to include speeches from Bhalla, Menendez, councilwoman and representative of Moms Demand Action Emily Jabbour, Kristina Filler of the Hold Your Fire initiative, Students Demand Action representatives Frances Michaels and Jai Patel Jersey City Councilman James Solomon and more.
“To the students here today, I hear you loud and clear,” said Sen. Menendez in a press release from the city. “You are tired of practicing active shooter drills; tired of hearing that gun violence is just a fact of life; tired of seeing the NRA make the decisions in Washington about guns and our safety. And as your senator, I know you deserve better. That means passing common-sense gun laws that will keep weapons of war off our streets and guns out of the hands of children, criminals, and others with mental illness. We need to keep up the fight, keep marching, organizing, speaking out – and voting – until we have a Congress that will stand up to the NRA and take action.”
This event is one of a series of similar events held in Hoboken in 2018, including the March 14 National School Walkout, the March for Our Lives held on March 24, and a remembrance event on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine Massacre.
Hoboken Housing Authority announces Community Health Fair
The Hoboken Housing Authority will host a community health fair on Saturday June 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 319 Jackson Street.
The event will include music, games, prizes, raffles, giveaway and more.
Free health screenings will also take place.
For more information visit www.myhhanj.com or contact the housing authority at hha@myhhanj.com and (201) 253-3049.
ONE ART Hoboken to take place June 2
On Saturday June 2 at 8 p.m. Issyra Gallery at 300 Observer Hwy. will host ONE ART Hoboken, an artistic monthly music, poetry, and art series which features Hudson County performers.
It typically takes place the first Saturday of every month and aims to bring together vibrant multi-generational, multi-cultural, multi-genre performing artists to Hoboken audiences.
This installment includes music by Mr. Flanner & His Feelings, Courtier, L.E.S. Sinners and E.V. Jubilee and words by Chuck Joy and Kimberly Brown.
The OLG FunFest begins this weekend
The 13th annual OLG FunFest will take place the weekend of June 2-3 at Church Square Park.
“OLG’s Funfest is one of Hoboken’s best summer events — with activities for the whole family,” said Chris Gizzo, chair of the event. “Every year, over 100 parishioners look forward to organizing the event and bringing the community together.”
NiteFest will take place on Saturday June 2 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. when the parking lot next to Our Lady of Grace Church, located at 400 Willow Ave., will be transformed into The Thirst Mony, an outdoor biergarten. Visitors will be able to enjoy craft beers, sangria, music by DJ Tim Nelson, a variety of food, a tricky-tray featuring Mets tickets, the used book sale with interesting finds and games of chance for the adults plus activities for the kids.
This year’s NiteFest special guest is “Magic by Vincent.” Magician Vincent Gigante will mesmerize all with his sleight of hand.
To cap off the fun, the OLG Cornhole Tournament returns for a second year. Sponsored by Willie McBride’s, the tournament begins at 6 p.m.
Teams can register in advance by sending an email to olgcornhole@gmail.com. There is a $20 entry fee per team – and participants must be 21 years old. The winner will receive the Willie’s Cup and a free happy hour at Willie McBride’s.
On Sunday, June 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. the festival continues. Children will enjoy pony rides, face-painting, bouncy houses and an inflatable slide, and there will be various vendors and a 50/50 raffle. The FunFest welcomes Caricaturist James Monaghan, who will create personal portraits from noon to 2 p.m.
Proceeds from the NiteFest and FunFest will go toward the restoration of Our Lady of Grace Church. Listed on the U.S. and N.J. Register of Historic Places, the church features paintings and vessels gifted by European royalty.
Tours of the church will take place at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Following each tour, a concert will be presented by Our Lady of Grace Music Director Kathleen McNally, who will be playing on the historic and majestic custom-built 1909 Wirsching Grand Organ.
The Funfest is held rain or shine. In case of inclement weather, the bouncy houses, face-painting and children’s activities will be held in Our Lady of Grace School next to the church.
Admission to both the NiteFest and FunFest is free. For more information, see the Our Lady of Grace FunFest website at: http://www.olgfunfest.com.
Memorial mass for beloved St. Francis priest announced
St. Francis Church at 308 Jefferson St. will host an Anniversary Mass for Father Michael Guglielmelli on Monday, June 4 at 7 p.m..
Guglielmelli passed away last June along with his two sisters Dolores and Antonette after they were in a car accident on Route 537.
They were riding in a Dodge Caravan that was rear-ended at a red light by a 19-year-old driver in a pickup truck, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at the time.
Following the mass, the parish will host the dedication of a Memorial Garden and official renaming of the food pantry in honor of Fr. Michael Guglielmelli in the back courtyard.
“Fr. Michael was a loving and caring individual who was much-loved by our parish even after his retirement in 2014,” said Fr. Christopher Panlilio. “We still mourn his loss and the loss of his sisters and pray daily that he is in peace.”
All are invited to attend.
LGBTQ Pride Month flag raising to occur Monday
Mayor Ravi Bhalla will officiate at the raising of the Pride Flag to commemorate LGBTQ Pride Month on Monday, June 4 at 1 p.m. outside of City Hall at 94 Washington St.
The lamp posts outside City Hall will also shine in rainbow lights beginning that evening and will last for the duration of June.
“I am honored to commemorate my first Pride Month as Mayor,” said Bhalla. “It’s a symbolic act, but it’s important to understand how far the LGBTQ community has come in fighting for equal protection under the law as we continue the work of unraveling centuries of legalized discrimination.”
This year’s flag raising will include several speakers, including Bhalla, retired Sergeant Major Jennifer Long, and the executive director of the Hudson Pride Center Michael Billy.
At the flag raising, Billy will announce details about Hoboken’s role in the Hudson Pride festivities in August.
“This year, for the first time ever, the city of Hoboken will officially kick off Pride Month in Hudson County,” said Billy. “Hoboken Pride emphasizes the importance of diversity in our community, making it stronger and more accepting of all individuals and their contributions to society.”
Last month Hoboken approved an ordinance creating gender-neutral bathrooms for all single occupancy restrooms protecting restroom access for transgender and gender non-binary individuals.
Hudson County CASA is seeking volunteers
Learn how to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and help foster children find safe and permanent homes. The next information session will be held at the Hudson County Courthouse, 595 Newark Ave. Rm. 901 on Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a non-profit organization committed to advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes. Hudson County CASA volunteers are everyday people who make a direct impact in foster children’s lives. They are trusted, dedicated adults who seek to improve children’s well-being. CASA volunteers get to know their assigned child and his or her circumstances and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on the volunteers’ recommendations to make the best decisions about the children’s futures.
For further information, visit www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
Local bookstore to host author Q&A
At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6 Little City Books at First and Bloomfield Streets will host author Allison Pearson.
Pearson will launch her latest poignant novel “How Hard Can It Be?” about the adventures of Kate Reddy the beleaguered heroine of Allison Pearson’s groundbreaking New York Times bestseller “I Don’t Know How She Does It.”
The evening will include a reading, signing, and Q&A session with the author.
Tickets are required and include a signed hardcover of the book. They can be purchased online at https://www.littlecitybooks.com/book/9781250086082.
2018 Master Plan Reexamination meeting announced; final report now available
The 2018 Hoboken Master Plan Reexamination Report and 2018 Land Use Element have been finalized after a year of public meetings, surveys, and input.
The reports address how Hoboken’s socio-economic characteristics, population, vision, and needs have changed since the 2010 Master Plan Reexamination.
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing to consider the 2018 Master Plan Reexamination Report and the 2018 Land Use Element at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 11 at the Multi Service Center at 124 Grand St.
“This new master plan gives the City of Hoboken a clear vision of the future,” said Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “I’m excited about what’s next for our city, particularly in the areas of housing affordability, flood mitigation, and transportation.”
The Master Plan serves as a blueprint for the city, providing guidance to elected officials on what changes residents want to see in the long- and short-term.
“The 2010 Reexamination was drafted at the height of the Great Recession and before Hoboken endured Superstorm Sandy,” said Community Development Director Brandy Forbes. “Hoboken has come a long way since then, and thanks to all of the public comments, our new priorities reflect that change.”
The full reports can be found at http://masterplan-cityofhoboken.opendata.arcgis.com/pages/documents–resources.
Vacancy filled on Hoboken Democratic Committee executive board
Last Thursday, the Hoboken Democratic Committee voted Seth Abrams to be the new Sergeant-at-Arms for the Committee.
“I am happy to see Seth Abrams step up and a take a leadership role that will round out our executive committee,” said Phil Cohen. “It is always exciting to see new leadership come out of the 1st Ward and I know the entire executive committee is looking forward to working with Seth.”
The committee also voted to fill two vacancies on the committee. Kristina Nash was voted in to become the new Democratic Committee Woman for Ward 3, District 5 and Christine Ayubi was voted in to become the new Democratic Committee Woman in Ward 1, District 3.
These were the only two vacancies on the Hoboken Democratic Committee.
The committee’s 80 seats are now full.
Natasha Deckmann named CEO of CarePoint
CarePoint Health has announced the appointment of Natasha Deckmann, M.D., as chief executive officer of the health care system, which includes three area hospitals, Bayonne Medical Center, Christ Hospital in Jersey City, and Hoboken University Medical Center.
Deckmann has held leadership positions for the past several years at Optum, a leading health services and innovation company. Her tenure included serving as the head of Population Health Solutions at Optum Health, managing $2 billion in revenue and driving innovative solutions to population health challenges.
“We are pleased to introduce Dr. Deckmann as the new CEO of CarePoint Health and know the depth of her experience and leadership that she brings to our three hospitals and, especially, our patients,” said Jeffrey Mandler, an owner and board member of CarePoint Health. “Dr. Deckmann is a strategic leader with a proven track record of delivering results, and her experience in managing people across diverse cultures and geographies offers the type of insight and knowledge to lead the delivery of health care to our communities.
“Dr. Deckmann will unify and lead the hospital system into its next phase of service to the community,” added Mandler.
Dr. Deckmann also previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Consumer Solutions Group (CSG) at Optum Health. She also held a number of senior leadership roles at Marsh Inc., including Chief Operating Officer of the International Division, and led strategic consulting engagements for clients across the entire health care industry, including the US government, for Oliver Wyman. Dr. Deckmann also worked with the Health Care Initiatives group at General Motors Corporation. She has expertise in population health management, benefit management, care management, M&A, product development and management, portfolio management, strategy, operations and change management.
“I am eager to be joining the CarePoint Health family which continues to be a leader in delivering quality care and health care innovation,” said Dr. Deckmann. “My mission will be to continue to elevate the level of care while working closely with the diverse Hudson County community to ensure we are reaching all individuals.”
Dr. Deckmann earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Michigan, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Doctorate of Medicine from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.
