Summer is in full swing, but believe it or not, people (and local businesses) are already prepping for fall. Before the season passes us by, we’re back with another week of everything you might have missed when it comes to the news in Hoboken + Jersey City. Catch up on all there is to know, including the following headlines: Computers 4 People to donate its 1,000th computer; train exhibit at Liberty Science Center includes Lackawanna Terminal; the Museum of Jersey City will soon set up residence in the historic Apple Tree House; and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
Hudson County Teacher of the Year Goes to Weehawken Educator
A history teacher at Weehawken High School has been named the Hudson County Teacher of the Year, per NJ.com. Ariel Babcock has been teaching at the school for the past five years, and according to the school principal, loves to make learning fun. The New Jersey State Department of Education named 21 teachers in Hudson County for the 2022-2023 school year.
Hoboken Youth Baseball + Softball Games to be Live Streamed
Thanks to a newly-approved sponsorship agreement with T-Mobile, the City of Hoboken will begin live streaming youth baseball and softball games held at the Sgt. William Feskens Memorial Field, per Tap Into. Viewers can watch the games through GoDog Sports, a leading sports streaming platform. The agreement will cover one year of access for all families who have registered with the Little League program.
New Luxury Building Launches Presale in Jersey City
The latest luxury building in Jersey City has launched presales for its 84 units, according to Jersey Digs. Located at 144 First Street, the Galleria on Provost is a 12-story development with private outdoor space in select homes. Community amenities include a rooftop lounge and terrace with panoramic city views, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and children’s playroom.
Impractical Jokers Spotted Filming in Hoboken
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Thanks to a sharp-eyed reader, we got word that the stars of the reality show, Impractical Jokers, were spotted filming by the waterfront this week in Hoboken. Cast members James Murray, Sal Vulcano, and Brian Quinn (Joe Gatto has since left the show) use a hidden camera to capture the way innocent bystander react to improvisational jokes, often with the help of a celebrity guest. The show’s ninth season premiered in February 2021 and is currently filming its 26-episode tenth season.
Monkeypox Has Officially Spread to Hoboken
Monkeypox in New Jersey started in Jersey City — and a little over a month later, it has spread to Hoboken. After being confirmed in JC on June 20th, 2022, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced that there are a few confirmed cases of this viral disease in Hoboken. Click here for what we know about monkeypox spreading to Hoboken.
Basile’s Pizza in JC Opens with Free Pizza
There’s definitely no shortage of pizza options throughout Hoboken and Jersey City — and yet another spot has officially opened in JC. Basile’s Pizza, a local Hoboken pizza restaurant currently located at 89 Washington Street, officially opened on Friday, August 12th. In an Instagram post, Historic Downtown Jersey City revealed that Basile’s would be moving to Grove Street Path Plaza at 116 Newark Avenue. HDSID also revealed that Basile’s would be serving free pizza to celebrate its opening day, which was Friday. Click here for what we know about Basile’s newest Jersey City location.
Nurish Holds its Soft Opening in Bergen Lafayette
Over the past few years, the hidden gem of the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood has continued to grow in popularity with a variety of different restaurant and retail locations slated to open soon. On August 8th, Nûrish — a Brooklyn-based healthy eatery — officially had the soft opening of its second location at 346 Communipaw Avenue in the heart of Bergen-Lafayette. This new Jersey City spot serves up many vegetarian and vegan-friendly eats. Click here to read about this nourishing newcomer in Jersey City.
La Festa Italiana Returned to Jersey City This Week
Jersey City’s largest Italian-American Festival, La Festa Italiana, returned this week beginning on Wednesday, August 10th. This 5-night downtown Jersey City festival, which is running through Sunday, August 14th, includes food, drinks, musical entertainment, and more — from 5PM to 11PM each evening. Click here to read about La Festa Italiana, which is taking place at 344 Sixth Street this week in Jersey City.
Invasive Lanternflies Are Back: How to Safely Kill the Spotted Lanternfly
Despite their colorful exteriors, the red-and-black adult spotted lanternflies residents see throughout Hudson County are not welcome visitors. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect species that doesn’t hurt humans or animals, but is extremely harmful to plants and trees. Given that New Jersey is known as The Garden State for a reason, it’s important to protect both the beauty offered by the state’s abundant flora as well as the agricultural businesses that help the state thrive — which means killing these invasive pests whenever you can. We’ve compiled some tips and tricks to help get rid of these bugs safely. Click here to read about how to safely kill lanternflies.
Hoboken + Jersey City Make New List of Most Expensive Cities in the US
We reported last week that a New York Times article named Jersey City as the most expensive US city to rent, but both Hoboken + Jersey City have made new lists of the most expensive cities in the US. This new list ranks US cities by the price of a 1 bedroom as well as the highest rent increase over the past year. Jersey City placed third, behind Pfluegerville, Texas and Redmond, WA. Jersey City had a 51.6% increase over rent prices in 2021, which yes, was higher than New York City’s increase. Hoboken placed 15th on this list. Click here for what we know.
Local Officials Oppose $4.7B Turnpike Expansion
Hoboken City Council members recently opposed a proposal to widen the NJ Turnpike Extension. The $4.7B plan would expand the road and repair decades of damage between Exits 14A and 14C from Newark to Jersey City. Officials are of the opinion that this project would cause pollution, congestion, and other environmental-related issues — and Jersey City Counilmembers, Mayor Fulop, and various environmental groups are all in agreement. Click here for what we know.
Habitat for Humanity to Host ‘Salute to Our Veterans’ 5K in Jersey City
On Saturday, November 12th, Habitat for Humanity will host a ‘Salute to our Veterans’ 5K run at Liberty State Park. Registration begins at 10AM and the race will kick off once Jersey City Major Steven Fulop fires the starting gun at 11AM — and Mayor Fulop is also planning to run in the race. Online registration is currently open.
Hoboken City Council Awards $44K Contract for Rodent Control
During the Hoboken City Council meeting held on Wednesday, August 11th, the Council voted to award a contract to Paramount Exterminating to help with the recent rat problem. According to the meeting agenda, the contract specifies $44K total going toward mitigating rodent activity by baiting sewers and inlets in Hoboken. The goal is to improve the increasing rodent problem in the area. We’ve compiled a list of tips if you’re dealing with a rat infestation, which you can find here.
8th Street Tavern Under New Management
(Photo credits: @8thstreettavern)
Hoboken’s 8th Street Tavern, located at 800 Washington Street, recently announced it’s under new management and released a statement, saying, “Hey all, we are back on social with some exciting news! We are under new management and plan on making 8th Street a place for the people of Hoboken. A place that represents our dream of being a welcoming home to enjoy your time with the people that matter most. This place is our life, and we will do everything we can to make it a place we can be proud of!”
Redevelopment Plans Replaced with New Water Retention Park in Hoboken
The property at 800 Monroe Street in Hoboken was originally slated to become a 186-unit development, but according to Patch, those plans have changed. The City of Hoboken acquired the land as part of the Monarch Development settlement. Plans for the area now include a 1.43-acre park which will have the capacity to hold half a million gallons of stormwater.
New Jersey Drivers Could Possibly Pay Additional Toll for Driving in NYC
New York agencies are scheduled to meet together to designate a “Central Business District Tolling Program,” which would charge out-of-state drivers an additional toll for driving in midtown Manhattan. Not the first of its kind, this kind of toll is called congestion pricing, according to Patch. The goal would be to lower traffic and allow the MTA to improve its transit system.
Fatal Shooting in Jersey City Early Sunday Morning
On Sunday, August 7th, the Jersey City Police Department responded to a report of shots fired near Monticello Avenue and Astor Place, per NJ.com. Officers responded around 3AM to find two victims with gunshot wounds to the middle and upper body. One person was unfortunately killed, while the other was in critical condition.
43,000 Petition Signatures Required to Force Councilwoman DeGise’s Recall Vote in JC
Following her involvement in a hit-and-run incident on Tuesday, July 19th, a petition has circulated calling for Councilwoman Amy DeGise’s resignation, per Hudson County View. The law requires 25% of all registered voters to sign a petition in order to force a recall election next year, which would mean the petition needs to reach 42,523 signatures.
Computers 4 People to Donate 1,000th Computer at Fundraising Event in Hoboken
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Local non-profit, Computers 4 People, collects, refurbishes, and donates computers to under-resourced communities. The organization is hosting its 2nd annual fundraiser on Thursday, August 25th at the Wicked Wolf Tavern, located at 120 Sinatra Drive in Hoboken. The event will take place from 7PM to 10PM and include Computer 4 People’s 1000th computer donation.
Community Launches GoFundMe for Hoboken Resident in Eviction Battle
Hoboken resident Jeff Trupiano has been locked in an eviction battle for the past five years, leading to the launch of a GoFundMe account. According to the GoFundMe page, Jeff’s landlord has most recently tried increasing the rent on his un-renovated, one-bedroom unit by $2,800 — on top of what Jeff already pays. According to court documents, this amount was the hypothetical increase the landlord could require if the apartment-turned-condo were fully renovated. Jeff has lived in this unit, located at 703 Park Avenue in Hoboken, since 1991 and the unit has not been updated since. The page reads, “In short, the landlord is doing everything it can to evict Jeff, and right now, a judge is giving the landlord everything it wants, including mythical ‘retroactive rent’ payments all the way back to 2017.”
Hoboken Organizations to Host Back-to-School Giveaways
On Saturday, August 20th, two organizations will host back-to-school giveaways in Hoboken, per Tap Into. The Hoboken Community Center Pantry, located at 1301 Washington Street, will host a pop-up at 10AM to provide free clothing for families in need. Simultaneously, FamilyHood will host a bookbag giveaway from 10AM to 5PM at Mama Johnson Field, located at 4th and Jackson Streets.
Hoboken Man Arrested for Involvement in Drug Trafficking Network
Following a two-month investigation, New Jersey State Police have arrest Hoboken resident Jose Acosta for his participation in running a drug trafficking network, per Tap Into. The charges include maintaining a CDS production facility, possession with intent to distribute, possession of CDS paraphernalia, and conspiracy. Acosta along with two other men were taken to the Hudson County Jail.
Hoboken Fire Department Extinguishes Fire in Southwest Hoboken Monday
On Monday, August 8th, the Hoboken Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at Third and Madison Streets, according to Patch. Streets were closed from about 3PM until 6PM while the fire department worked to extinguish the fire and ensure the general area was safe for the community. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Train Exhibit at LSC Includes Historic Lackawanna Terminal
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The Liberty Science Center recently debuted a new exhibit featuring historic trains and train stations, and according to Tap Into, the exhibit includes Lackawanna Terminal. Located on the border of Hoboken and Jersey City, Lackawanna Terminal is an icon of life in the Mile Square and still operates as a transportation hub. The 3,000-square-foot set at Liberty Science Center highlights the era of traveling by rail.
Bill Advances in NJ Senate to Protect Liberty State Park
A New Jersey Senate committee has officially advanced a bill to protect Liberty State Park as a wildlife preserve, per Tap Into. In recent years, there has been some debate regarding the development of portions of the land located in Jersey City. At one point, there were concerns from wildlife activists that opening up the park to commercial development would lead to the expansion of a golf course.
Museum of Jersey City to Occupy Historic Apple Tree House
The Museum of Jersey City, which has yet to find a permanent home, is slated to open in the historic Apple Tree House, according to Jersey City Times. A $25K payment has been authorized by the City Council which will be followed by $75K once the Museum of Jersey City board signs a lease approving occupancy of the Apple Tree House. To learn more about this museum and its call for exhibit ideas from the public, click here.
Redevelopment Plans Approved for Grand Street in Jersey City
Last month, the Jersey City planning board approved an application to revitalize a trapezoid-shaped property at 743 Grand Street, per Jersey Digs. The current three-story building will be redeveloped to bring a five-story building to the neighborhood. Weckenmann Architecture has been retained for design work on this project.
JLL Secures $19M Financing for New Weehawken Community
A new 60-unit housing community will soon become a reality in Weehawken, thanks to the efforts of JLL Capital Markets who represented a private developer in negotiations, according to ROI NJ. Current plans for the new community include a limestone + glass exterior, ground level retail space, two parking garages, outdoor terrace, and an electric car charging station. The property is located at 231 32nd Street in Weehawken.
Hey Jane Expands Modern Abortion Care to New Jersey
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US-based telemedicine provider Hey Jane expanded its services into New Jersey last week. While abortion is legal in New Jersey, according to Hey Jane, one in four NJ women live in a county with no access to abortion services. Hey Jane provides fast shipping of FDA-approved abortion pills and a consultation with a medical provider within 24 hours for support.
