Ringing in the holiday season is a magical time in Hudson County — and a busy one, so as always we’re here to cover the local news and bring you a weekly roundup of everything you might have missed in Hoboken + Jersey City. Catch up on all there is to know, including the following headlines: Jersey City writer wins Pale Horse Novella contest, Hoboken influencer charged in $114M stock manipulation scheme, Jersey City gift drive aims to help grandparents with holiday gifts; and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
Best of Hoboken + Jersey City 2022 — Winners Announced!
The wait is finally over: we have the winners for the Best of Hoboken and Jersey City 2022 Guide! After weeks of voting and local businesses working hard for your support, we have finally closed the polls and have tallied the votes to see who has won the title, and of course the bragging rights, of being the “best” in town. Click here to see the full list of local winners.
Hi5TaxiCab House on Display Along Hoboken Waterfront
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The latest addition to the Hoboken waterfront is a colorful Hi5TaxiCab house situated in front of Blue Eyes Cafe, located at 525 Sinatra Drive. The artist Tom Fruin has installed similar houses and stained glass water towers throughout the New York area. Other Hi5TaxiCab houses can be seen in Stevens Park + Church Square Park in Hoboken.
Lottery Open for Hoboken Public Charter Schools
Photo credit: Google Maps
Hoboken families are encouraged to learn more + apply to enter the lottery for the Hoboken’s public charter schools. The three local charter schools include Hoboken Dual Language Charter School (HoLa), Elysian Charter School, and Hoboken Charter School. All three public schools are free, open to all Hoboken residents, and do not have any entrance testing requirements. The deadline for submitting a lottery application is 5PM on Thursday, January 12th, 2023.
Hoboken Meeting Zoom-Bombed with Porn
Earlier this week, it was announced that there would be a virtual meeting with Hoboken City officials and the development team working on the redevelopment of the Neumann Leather factory located on 300 Observer Boulevard. We were planning to report on the highlights from the meeting, however, the meeting lasted only 10 minutes. Why? Because it was Zoom-bombed — with porn. Click here for what we know about the incident.
Lincoln Tunnel Toll Booths to Permanently Close As of 12/18
As of Sunday, December 18th the Lincoln Tunnel will no longer accept cash at the toll, NJ.com reported. All tolls will now be electronically collected. For drivers who do not have EZ Pass, a toll bill will be mailed to the address registered with the vehicle.
City of Hoboken Announces New SDL Citizen Platform
On Thursday, December 15th, the City of Hoboken announced a new digital platform for the community to more easily handle municipal related matters. According to a press release, the SDL Citizen Platform is designed for residents, businesses, and professionals to easily submit municipal requests, file applications online, and report quality-of-life concerns.
Long-Awaited Bayonne Ferry Postponed to 2023
According to NJ.com, ferry service from Bayonne to Manhattan is still in the planning stages. Despite the fact that it has been part of two successful mayoral campaigns, city officials are still in negotiations with the Port Authority of New York + New Jersey over the details.
Jersey City Medical Center Adds 8 New Specialists
Earlier this month, Jersey City Medical Center announced the addition of eight new specialists to the team. According to Patch, the areas of expertise for these new medical professionals include autoimmune diseases, obstetrics + gynecology, internal medicine, women’s health, orthopedics, cardiology, and more.
Don’t Tell Liv, a Speakeasy-Style Lounge, Coming to Jersey City
A new bar is coming to Jersey City’s Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza. Don’t Tell Liv is a new, upscale lounge that will be on the second floor of 138 Newark Avenue, just steps away from the Grove Street PATH Station. It’s one of the first new businesses to come to this newly renovated area that has an emphasis on nightlife and walkability. Click here for what we know about this new business.
NJ Transit + MTA Restrict Beverages on Public Transportation This Weekend
Authorities at NJ Transit and MTA have prohibited consumption of alcoholic beverages on public transportation on Saturday, December 10th and Sunday December 11th. According to Patch, this temporary ban is in coordination with the ever-popular “Santa-con” events that take place in Manhattan and Hoboken every December.
Jersey City Gift Drive Aims to Help Grandparents with Holiday Gifts
A holiday toy drive has collected donations for local grandparents who can’t afford to buy gifts for their grandchildren, Patch reported. AngelaCARES has run the toy drive for the past four years, helping Jersey City seniors in the Greenville neighborhood have something to give their grandkids for the holidays. The drive had drop off locations in Jersey City and Hoboken and accepted donations through Friday, December 16th.
Jersey City to Pay $550K to Woman Injured at Hamilton Park in 2018
In 2018 a Jersey City woman was injured at Hamilton Park when the seat on a swing detached from its chain, per NJ.com. Since then Johanna Sanchez has reportedly suffered permanent personal injuries, loss of wage, and was compelled to pay for expensive medical care. Jersey City agreed to this settlement amount ahead of an upcoming trial.
Hyatt Regency in Jersey City is Under New Ownership
Built out onto a pier in the Hudson River, the 351-room hotel Hyatt Regency recently changed hands in a sale completed on December 1st. According to Jersey Digs, Taconic Capital Advisors LP + HEI Hotels and Resorts have jointly acquired the hotel and have plans to enhance the rooms, food + beverage outlets, and upgrade event spaces.
Hoboken Store Sells Winning NJ Lottery Ticket
On Friday, December 9th, Ottomanelli Liquors + Deli, located at 422 Monroe Street in Hoboken, sold a winning New Jersey Lottery ticket. According to Patch, the ticket matched four of the five white balls, winning $10,000.
NJ Transit Awarded $590K Grant to Study Possible Bergen Light Rail Extension
A Northern branch of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has been in the works since the early 2000s and now a federal grant is getting us one step closer. NJ Transit has been awarded a $590K grant to study transit-oriented development along the proposed 9-mile stretch, according to NJ.com.
A New Luxury Boutique is Coming to Hoboken
Whether you’ve secured a rez at an upscale restaurant, are hitting the town at one of many bars, or are just in the mood to feel yourself (because why not), there’s always a reason to dress up in Hoboken — and now, a new luxury boutique called Lido is arriving on the Hoboken fashion scene. Lido soft-launched at its 636 Washington Street location last week and is slated to have its grand opening this Saturday, December 17th. Started by 22-year-old, born-and-raised Hoboken resident Lexi Pellegrini, the shop will house trendy clothing items, accessories, and chic gifts like Chanel and Gucci candles. Click here for what we know about Lido, the new upscale boutique coming to Hoboken.
Jersey City Considers Redevelopment Plans of Former Church
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A former Jersey City church, located at 225 Dwight Street, has been proposed as a new affordable housing site, Jersey Digs reported. The Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church was built around 1915 and could house 50 units.
Jersey City Writer Wins Pale Horse Novella Contest
Jersey City writer, poet, journalist, and publicist, Timothy Herrick recently won the 2022 Pale Horse Novella contest with a western tale entitled, “The Gundersons — A Dark Parable of the True Old West”. According to NJ.com, Herrick grew up in Paramus and currently lives in Jersey City. He was a fellowship student in the MFA Creative Writing Program at New School University.
Redevelopment Plans Proposed for Hoboken’s Capital One Branch
Photo credit: Google Maps
Proposed redevelopment plans for the Capital One Branch in Hoboken include a 5-story building that would span all available space on the block, Jersey Digs reported. Located at 3rd and Washington Streets, the new complex would blend in with the block and house both retail and residential space.
Sushi By Bou is Coming to Hoboken — Here’s What We Know
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There’s truly no shortage of sushi spots in Hudson County — from local favorites to new spots like Avocado Sushi coming soon. Locals have been loving Jersey City’s first sushi speakeasy, Sushi by Bou, since it opened its doors inside Ani Ramen in December 2019. Three years later, the spot announced its expansion to The Mile Square. Click here to read more about this unique sushi restaurant and what we can expect from the Hoboken location.
Santa + Musicians Rescheduled to Float Through Hoboken This Weekend
On Sunday, December 18th, Santa and his elves will visit the Hoboken community and stop at three locations for photos — a visit that was rescheduled from last weekend due to weather. According to Patch, the three stops will include Seventh + Monroe Streets, Church Square Park, and 11th + Washington Streets. Santa will ride through town on a float starting at Jefferson Street between 14th and 15th Streets around 11AM.
Mission 50 to Host City Challenge Holiday Party
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On Tuesday, December 20th, Mission 50 will host the City Challenge Holiday Party + Mixer at 7PM. According to Patch, the community is invited to attend and toast 10 years of City Challenge races. Mission 50 is located at 50 Harrison Street in Hoboken.
New Textile Recycling Program Coming to Hoboken
As part of the city’s Climate Action Plan, Hoboken is introducing a new Textile Recycling Program where residents can bring unwanted textiles to designated locations in town. While Hoboken already has several clothing donation locations, this is different. Textile recycling allows un-donatable, torn, or unwearable textiles — such as shoes, clothing, accessories, and linens — to be recycled and keeps those textiles out of landfills. The city announced the new program via press release earlier this week. Click here for everything you need to know about Hoboken’s Textile Recycling Program.
Man Dies After Fall at the American Dream Ski Slopes
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On Thursday, December 8th, a guest at the American Dream Mall died after a fall at the location’s indoor ski slopes. Peter Mathews, 24, was a crew chief with the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. A memorial fund has been set up in his honor by the Gospel Mission of India. According to Patch, no further information has been released about his death.
Hoboken Influencer Charged in $114M Stock Manipulation Scheme
One Hoboken influencer, along with five others, has been accused of a stock manipulation scheme in which he promoted himself as a successful stock investor, Patch reported. The six users on Twitter and Discord manipulated their followers into a $114 million stock scheme. Mitchell Hennessey was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and two counts of securities fraud.
