I wrote last week about the closing celebration for Dom's Bakery which has been a neighborhood gem for more than 120 years not only for their wonderful bread but because of the generations of bakers and family members and friendships that have graced its space. Joe Sivo, the wonderful community member who invited me to the closing celebration is also a neighborhood gem, priceless in his kindness and sense of community and caring, and someone who knows and cares about so many people that being with him made it possible for me not only to attend the closing celebration, but to meet some wonderful people who I had known about but hadn't met before.
As this wonderful soul took me through the crowd to the back kitchen so that I could see the more than 120 year old coal burning oven at Dom's, he began introducing me to people along the way, letting them know that I had opened an art gallery in Hoboken, and that I wanted the door to be open for youth and families in the community to visit and enjoy a welcoming space where they could experience art of all kinds. One of the people he introduced me to as I was photographing the coal burning oven was Commissioner Anthony Romano of the 5th District at the Hudson County Board of Chosen Commissioners, a lifelong resident of Hoboken who in addition to his current roles as Vice-Chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners, Chairperson of the Public Safety Committee, Personnel Committee, Economic Development and Housing Committee, and the Senior Citizens & Veterans Affairs Committee is also a member of the Hudson County Schools of Technology Board of School Estimate, the Hudson County Community College Board of Trustees and its Board of School Estimate, and also serves as a member of the Education Committee, the Finance, Budget & Administration Committee, Public Resources Committee, and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Committee. He has an illustrious history as someone who has dedicated his life to advancing the interests of the public, having retired in the rank of Captain with the Hoboken City Police Department after more than thirty years of service making community neighborhoods safer, and he was an advocate for children long before taking his oath to represent residents at the County level. Examples of his service to local youth include a former teaching career at Hoboken High School and his current commitments as the President of the Hoboken Babe Ruth League and the Chairman of the Hoboken Municipal Alliance Against Drugs and Alcohol. He also served on the Hoboken Board of Education from 2006-2009. In addition to his service roles, he encourages academic achievement, having graduated from St. Peter's University with a B.A. in History and M.S. in Criminal Justice from New Jersey City University. He later went on to complete the Command and Leadership Program at West Point and teaches as an Adjunct Professor at St. Peter's University.
On the day of the closing celebration at Dom's Bakery, Commissioner Romano was busy in his role of ensuring that the wonderful owners and staff of the bakery who had been beloved by so many were given the recognition and respect that their own years of service deserved, along with celebrating them with their family and friends in the community. When we were introduced, he took the time to speak with me, and invited me to be a guest on his show, "Stick @ Nite" and continue our conversation about the Gallery. It was such a kindness on his part, and when I followed up with him he connected me with the show's Producer who scheduled me for February 7.
It was so exciting to take the journey up to the studio and to have the opportunity to speak with Commissioner Romano on air about YES Gallery and the community events and outreach to youth and families that are part of my vision for the space. I am so grateful and full of hope for all of the possibilities for creating ways to make YES Gallery a welcoming space for everyone in the community to share art and beauty and life.
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