Hoboken's Third CERT Class Graduates

The last time a large group of Community Emergency Response Team members all assembled in the basement of City Hall, it was mayhem. It was the midst of hurricane Sandy, the place was running on a back up generator and unifromed personnel was walking in and out.

On Thursday night, the scene was very different.

No sense of chaos, just cheer. And cake.

On Thursday night, 55 Hobokenites graduated from the city's third CERT class.

Police Chief Anthony Falco and Fire Chief Richard Blohm were on site on Thursday night, as well as Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Office of Emergency Management Director Joel Mestre and Public Safety Director Jon Tooke to present the graduates with their official certificates.

"This team really is part of a resilient Hoboken," Zimmer said. "We are going to have more storms and we're going to have to be prepared."

This class of CERT members started training in the Fall of 2012, when after one week Hurricane Sandy arrived. A lot of the new members still helped out and volunteered during the hurricane.

The class is much larger than in previous years. The first class had eight members and the second had 16.

The hurricanes — both Irene and Sandy — "pulled the community a lot closer together," said Mestre. Without the help from the CERT, Mestre said, the police and fire departments wouldn't have been able to respond to all their calls for service.

The CERT is designed to take some work out of the hands of fire and police, so they can focus on responding to emergencies.

Lou Casciano, CERT coordinator since 2012 and team member since 2010, said that he is "incredibly proud" of the new team. Casciano, with the help from his first lieutenant Maggie Shields, lead the CERT's rescue effort following Sandy.

"I am also grateful to the whole CERT team for their dedication and volunteerism to the city of Hoboken," Casciano added.

He said the large amount of quality people will help the city in the future. The CERT has members with experience as pharmacists, attorneys and much more.

"We have a vast variety of people," Casciano said, "with different backgrounds."

Congratulations to: Peter Bakarich, Anthony Angino, Jamie Baker, John Barbato, Barbara Bravo, Emily Beach, Daisy Caballero, Daniel Boljonis, Thomas Cannizzo, Michael Bubb, Celia Cole, Thomas Foley, Carter Craft, Molly Forsyth, Erin Diaz, Joseph Fung, Amanda Dietz, Chris Gallo, Steven Feinstein, Daniel Hupp, Courtney Foerster, Alexander Kochman, Matthew Fricovsky, Dylan Lupo, Mary Grech, Edward Madigan, Anthony Henry, Greg McGee, Kristin Inglesby, Brian McHugh, Carlo Lipizzi, Jonathan Peck, Jason Maurer, Brandon Miller, Damian Peters, Thomas Molta, Maryanne Rubacky, Eric O'Connor, Kristin Svorinic, Donna Olah-Reiken, Heather Wilkey, Mary Hoehl, Brian Onieal, Rose Orozco, Jane Porges, Jose Quintero, Maria Quintero, Maribel Rivera, Nadja Rutkowski, Sharon See, Valerie Sessa, Sandy Shaw, Jack Silbert, Dana Spivak and Kyle Sullivan.