Another week of exciting Hudson County life has come and gone, here’s what you missed in Hoboken + Jersey City while you were busy soaking up spring. Among the local headlines: the Central Avenue Special Improvement District is seeking creative proposals for public art installations, a new luxury dessert shop is coming to the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood, COVID-19 infections are once again on the rise in Hoboken, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City + beyond.
City of Hoboken Releases Earth Day Report Card
This week The City of Hoboken provided an update on achieving a number of environmental sustainability goals in celebration of Earth Day. According to the press release, the “2022 Earth Day Report Card,” created by the City’s Department of Environmental Services, provides key data sets depicting the progress the City has made through key initiatives. Data points include: 100% renewable electricity purchased for municipal facilities since 2019, $7M invested in water infrastructure upgrades on Washington Street, 16+ miles of roadways in Hoboken have bike lanes, totaling 47% of the Hoboken road network.
Jersey City Medical Center + Hoboken Community Center to Host Ribbon Cutting Event 4/26
Jersey City Medical Center is partnering with the Hoboken Community Center to provide mental health services to the HCC’s affordable housing residents free of charge. According to the press release, the 96 men who live in the HCC’s affordable housing program will now receive free mental health services provided by JCMC staff. The ribbon-cutting will take place at 1301 Washington Street on Tuesday, April 26th at 4PM.
Central Avenue Partners with NJ Clean Communities for a Reusable Bag Giveaway in Jersey City
The Central Avenue Special Improvement District is partnering with New Jersey Clean Communities and BagUpNJ to distribute reusable grocery bags to the community on Tuesday, May 3rd from 11AM to 1PM. According to the press release, the event will take place at Angel Azul Bakery, located at 460 Central Avenue in Jersey City.
Effective May 4, 2022, New Jersey retail, grocery, and food service businesses may not provide or sell single-use plastic carryout bags. In response, the Central Avenue SID is working together with NJCC to distribute bags along with answering questions regarding the NJ Plastic Bag Ban.
Jersey City to Host 2 Earth Day Events 4/30
Jersey City will host an Earth Day celebration in Lincoln Park on Saturday, April 30th. The event begins at 10AM and will include family fun and a chance to learn about the HCIA + initiatives to build a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Beginning later that day, Main Street Pops will host an outdoor Earth Day event starting at 3PM. This event will feature a Green artisan market, live music, animal demos, and more.
Film Produced in Hoboken Wins Awards in Festival Circuit
Aynsleigh Haines and Chantal Van Zyl, West New York residents, are the Executive Producer and Director, respectively, of the short film Beneath The Surface, which was filmed in Hoboken. The film hit the festival circuit in March and has since won the Outstanding Achievement Award for women short and the Outstanding Achievement Award for an ensemble cast at the Los Angeles International Film Festival. At the Golden Short Film Festival, Beneath The Surface won the Gold Award for Best Women Short and the Silver Award for Best Ensemble Cast, and more.
Jersey City’s Newport Centre Gives Back for Earth Week
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Newport Centre hosted events focused on sustainability and recycling on Friday, April 22nd. The shopping center is also teaming up with Give Back Box, offering guests the ability to give back to those in need. Customers will be able to reuse any cardboard box by filling it up with gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories, printing a free, prepaid shipping label and the donations will then be sent to a local charity.
Hudson County Opens Investigation Into NJ Transit Bus Fire in North Bergen
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Multiple buses caught fire in a parking lot on Wednesday, April 20th in North Bergen. The fire from six NJ Transit buses sent black smoke into the sky which was visible from Hoboken, Nutley, and Bayonne. Jersey City Exit #17A was closed for a few hours until the situation was in hand. According to Patch, law enforcement officials are looking into the situation.
‘Dear Maud’ to Open in Hoboken on 1st Street: Here’s What We Know
As of April 19th, new signage was spotted in the former Village Pourhouse-turned-The Inn location at 205 First Street in Hoboken. “Dear Maud” is the name of the new Irish-style restaurant taking over the space of the once-popular casual bar. We spoke with one of the owners for some exclusive insight on what locals can expect at Dear Maude when it opens in Hoboken, click here for the details.
The Hoboken Girl Launches Ultimate Prom Giveaway 2022
It’s prom season so we’re doing something special and making two students’ proms one to remember. To help local high school students celebrate their prom, we are teaming up with some amazing local Hoboken and Jersey City businesses for a special prom giveaway for not one, but two lucky Hudson County students. The pandemic has affected students’ ability to have in-person proms, and now that it’s once again an option, we want to help two deserving students reach their prom goals! Click here for all the details.
Hoboken Community Center’s Pantry Wishlist + How to Help
The Hoboken Community Center, located at 1301 Washington Street, houses The Food Pantry which provides food and hygiene products as well. During the month of April, The Hoboken Girl, along with the support of its readers, will be supporting the Hoboken Community Center (HCC) with a Clear the Wishlist initiative, focusing on replenishing the Pantry’s hygiene supplies. The wishlist is available via Amazon, meaning you can contribute supplies by barely lifting a finger. Click here to read about the Hoboken Community Center and how to get involved.
Sinkhole Appears in Jersey City, No Injuries
A sinkhole, located on Sip Avenue at Hawthorne Avenue, opened up during Wednesday’s late-afternoon rush hour. The sinkhole was caused by an 8” water main break and a 32” sewer collapse, and SUEZ has been on-site conducting repairs. At this time, Sip Avenue is closed between West Side and Bryant Avenues. No one was injured, but the damage and repairs have blocked the road for the time being. Click here for what we know.
New Luxury Dessert Shop Opening in Bergen-Lafayette
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A new luxury dessert shop will be coming soon to the burgeoning Jersey City neighborhood of Bergen-Lafayette, called Bon Vivant. Bon Vivant is a luxury boutique for miniature cakes and petits fours (think small fancy cake), opening in a retail space at 295 Johnston Avenue at the 295J Apartments. Click here to read about Bon Vivant coming soon to Jersey City.
StorageCafe Study Finds Jersey City is a Magnet for Millennials
For the latest migration report, StorageCafe researchers looked into 3.4 million rental applications in order to find the top places for net renter migration. Jersey City came in 8th on that list, with millennials making up 72% of new move-ins from NYC during 2021. The study also showed that in moving to Jersey City these renters gained 9% more space.
Jersey City School District Finds Home for All-Girls Academy
The Jersey City school district has found a home for the all-girls academy it plans to open in the fall, per NJ.com. There are some concerns from parents that it will displace the students already in the proposed location. Interim Superintendent Norma Fernandez shared that the district will be sharing plans for the school in May.
New Luxury Building in Jersey City Already 50% Leased
The new rental building, Sawyer, located at 39 New York Avenue in Jersey City is already 50% leased and is guaranteed to make a dent on most prospective resident’s wishlists. We all know that apartment hunting is easier when a building comes along that checks off all the boxes like walk-in closets, luxury amenities, and spacious interiors. Click here to check out this new luxury community in Jersey City.
Local Officials Announce End of Mask Mandate on Public Transportation
Governor Phil Murphy has ended the mask mandate on NJ Transit and South Jersey Transportation Authority, per Tap Into. This comes following the ruling that ended the nationwide mask mandate on public transportation. The CDC is still recommending most travelers and commuters still wear masks while inside public transportation settings.
NY Waterway Ferries Lift Mask Mandate
Local officials announced this week that masks will no longer be required on most forms on public transportation and NY Waterway ferry company has joined the list. According to Patch, NY Waterway buses and terminals will also be mask-optional. The PATH train will however continue to require masks.
COVID-19 Cases Rise in Hoboken
COVID-19 infections are once again on the rise, per Tap Into. According to the latest data from the city Health Department Hoboken has had 28 new cases which is up from the 11 infections the month before, but is nowhere near the 305 cases reported during the height of the omicron wave in January 2022. According to the city the new infections are associated with schools and social gatherings.
Jersey City Council Approves Changes to Water Street Redevelopment Plan
The Jersey City Council has approved a change that allows a proposed redevelopment project in the Water Street area to add elevation to their project, per Tap Into. In exchange, the redevelopment signed over a narrow strip of land that will eventually be needed to widen Route 440. By signing this over, the developer is now allowed to construct a 621-unit mixed development at 100 Water Street.
Fundraiser To Help JC Studios Following Fire
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A fundraiser is going on to help JC Studios recover following the April 7th fire at 143 Christopher Columbus Drive that left most of the building destroyed, per Tap Into. JC Studios lost its space on the second floor and much of its equipment was ruined due to direct contact with the fire or from smoke and water. The studio has set up a GoFundMe campaign and if you would like to donate you can here.
Multiple Marijuana Dispensaries Submit for Approval in New Jersey
All New Jersey residents over the age of 21 will soon be able to legally buy marijuana, per Jersey Digs. The more than a dozen medicinal facilities will be the first to get a shot at making the sales to the public. Governor Phil Murphy announced that adult use sales in New Jersey will officially begin on April 21st.
Jersey City’s Exchange Place Revitalization Plan to
Move Forward
The revitalization of two waterfront blocks around Jersey City’s Exchange Place could soon move forward, per Jersey Digs. The city-backed plan for the revamp is currently slated for final review. The totality of the plan proposed will encompass over an acre of space. Jersey City planning board are tentatively scheduled to discuss the proposal during their April 26th meeting.
‘No Forks Given’ Food Truck to Open Brick and Mortar Store in Jersey City
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No Forks Given will be trading in their food truck for an official storefront, reported Jersey Digs. During their March 24th meeting, Jersey City’s zoning board approved an application to convert the 115 Brunswick Street space into a category 2 restaurant. This property will be home to No Forks Given. No Forks Given still hopes to operate their food truck locally even once they get the storefront open, and there is currently no timeline for the Brunswick Street location opening.
Jersey City Branch of the NAACP Petitions the National Civil Rights Organization
Members of the Jersey City branch of the NAACP are renewing the call to lift its suspension which has been in effect for over a year, per NJ.com. They are also petitioning for the national civil rights organization to not merge the three branches of the NAACP in Hudson County. They are saying that merging the three branches will erase the history of the three by shoving them into one branch and renaming it.
Families Displaced in Jersey City Apartment Fire
Nearly a dozen people were displaced from their homes following a fire that swept the Jersey City apartment building, reported NJ.com. The fire started around 8AM on Saturday, April 16th where the fire was quickly extinguished and firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to the surrounding apartment buildings. No injuries were reported from the fire and the cause is still under investigation.
Headliner Announced for Hoboken Arts + Music Festival
The Hoboken Arts and Music Festival on Sunday, May 1st will once again be packed with vendors, food, and music, per NJ.com. The headliner of the 2022 festival will be Ivan Julian who is a guest guitarist for the Clash and is the lead guitarist for Matthew Sweet and Shriekback. A portion of Julian’s band members also live in Hoboken.
Jersey City Welcomes Ukrainian Children + Guardians
Jersey City welcomed 14 Ukrainian children and their adult guardians into the city with open arms, per NJ.com. An informal gathering at City Hall was hosted by Steven Fulop to welcome the Ukrainians to their new, temporary homes. The mayor offered the services of the city’s Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Immigrant Affairs to the Ukrainian mothers and aunts who all of a sudden find themselves a long way from home.
Hudson Pride Center to Host PROM Fundraiser in Jersey City
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Hudson Pride Center is inviting you to be a part of their first PROM fundraiser. According to a press release the evening will be for community members who skipped prom, couldn’t go with their preferred date, in their preferred attire, or simply weren’t authentically themselves. The funds raised for the event will be going directly to supporting daily operations, programs, and services at Hudson Pride Center.
Free Cardiac and Concussion Screenings for Young Athletes in Jersey City
The Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center will be marking its grand opening at a new center by offering free cardiac and concussion baseline screenings for young athletes. According to a press release, the screenings will be happening at the Health Assessment Center’s new location at 100 Town Square Place, Suite 403 in Jersey City. There will also be a meet and greet with David Diehl, a retired New York Giants Offensive Lineman.
Central Avenue to Commission Artists for New Art for Shopping District
The Central Avenue Special Improvement District is seeking creative proposals for public art installations within the Central Avenue shopping district. According to a press release the selected artwork will be commissioned for installation in late summer/early fall and will be paid upon completion. The submission deadline for art is Friday, July 29th and readers can find more information here.
The City of Hoboken Presents New Budget at City Council Meeting
The Bhalla Administration will be presenting its proposed municipal budget to the Hoboken City Council on Wednesday, April 20th. According to a press release, the balanced budget will overcome significant fixed-cost increases created by rising inflation. The proposed budget will provide for crucial personnel investment with approximately $8M going to salary and wage increases through union contracts which are already adopted by the city council.
SWAT Training Happened in Hoboken This Week
The Hudson Regional SWAT Team conducted training exercises on Wednesday, April 20th, and Thursday, April 21st, per Patch. The training took place from 8:30AM until 5PM on the 100 block of Park Avenue. Increased police presence was visible in the area due to the training.
Riverview Farmers Market Announces Opening Day
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Riverview Farmers Market invites you to come and attend their opening day. According to this Instagram post the opening day of the Riverview Farmers Market will be on Sunday, May 1st starting at 10AM. There will be live music and free activities for the whole family to enjoy! You can look at the Instagram post for more information.
Jane DO to Open Charleston Center
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Jane DO, the Hoboken fitness center with training workouts created by Radio City Rockettes, has officially opened a center in Charleston, South Carolina. According to this Instagram post, the official opening of the Charleston studio was held on Wednesday, April 20th. The musically charged and energy-driven workouts we all know and love are now available in South Carolina.
City Bistro in Hoboken Announces New Menu
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City Bistro, located at 56 14th Street in Hoboken, has announced a new menu. According to this Instagram post, the new menu will be rolled out next week. More information on the new menu and sneak peeks will be coming soon.
