The Hudson Vicinage will recognize nine participants when it hosts drug court graduation noon, Wednesday, Dec. 8, in a hybrid ceremony.
Graduates will appear in person to receive their certificates of completion from Assignment Judge Jeffrey R. Jablonski and Drug Court Judge Martha D. Lynes at the William J. Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City.
Families, friends and support networks will be able to view the graduation virtually on Zoom.
Jablonski will address the graduates, their families, friends and supporters. Lynes will preside. Carlos Rodriguez, an active participant in the vicinage’s drug court alumni group, will give a keynote address.
Vicinage EEO Officer Kimberly Locker will perform “If You Believe.”
The event, the 28th drug court graduation for the vicinage, will be its first hybrid graduation since the start of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Graduates will have attained a minimum of one year of continuous sobriety and have maintained gainful employment throughout their participation in the program.
Most have successfully earned or are working toward earning their general equivalency or high school diploma, as well as paying their court-imposed fines.
Program organizers invite all participants to become part of the Hudson Drug Court alumni to inspire others to become established members of society through their own recovery experiences.
To view the ceremony, contact drug court coordinator Margareth Alwart at (201) 748-4400, ext. 60215, or by email at Margareth.Alwart@njcourts.gov.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.