If you’re curious to know what you missed this week in Hoboken + Jersey City news, we’ve got you covered. Among the local headlines: Hoboken lifts mask mandates; Scale Fish Market has officially opened its shop in Jersey City; the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office has identified the dead body found in Lincoln Park last Friday, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City + beyond.
Meet the Finalists of Hoboken Girl‘s Puppy Bowl 2022 — CAST YOUR VOTE!
Following possibly the cutest (and most difficult) deliberation ever, the top nine finalists for our 2nd Annual Hoboken Girl Puppy Photo Bowl have been selected! Voting will take place from Wednesday, February 9th to Sunday, February 13th at 11:59PM and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, February 15th. You can vote as many times as you want within that time frame. Click here to see the finalists and to cast your vote.
Masks to be Optional in Hoboken Public Schools Starting March 7th
On Monday, February 7th New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that school districts will be allowed to decide their own mask policies, per Patch. In response to that update, Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson announced masks will be optional in Hoboken public schools for grades K-12 beginning Monday, March 7th. Pre-K programs will make their own determination in accordance with federal guidelines.
The Pizza Shop Taking Over Previous Delfino’s in Hoboken
Photo credit: @coriemcc
We covered the closing of Delfino’s in June 2021 and now have more answers regarding the future of the space. Signage in the window shows that The Pizza Shop will soon take over the property at 500 Jefferson Street in Hoboken.
Hudson Pride Center to Host Equality Soiree in Jersey City
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Hudson Pride Center and Garden State Equality are hosting The Equality Soiree on Friday, February 25th at 7PM. The event will take place at Six26 located at 128 Christopher Columbus Drive in Jersey City. Guests will be required to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.
Community Rallies in Fundraiser for Jersey City Pet Sitter with Cancer
Photo credit: Youtube.com
Hudson County locals, Vanessa and Liz Freedman have started a GoFundMe to raise funds for John Amato, a Jersey City business owner who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
The GoFundMe page shares, “For those who don’t know John, he’s a long-time resident of Jersey City, NJ, and he owns and operates a local pet-care business. He’s a fixture in the neighborhood and it’s a common sight to see him marching around with various pups, eating at one of his favorite restaurants, or posted up in the Van Vorst Park dog run, petting the dogs and chatting with their owners. He’s always got a smile on his face for the humans and big hugs for all of the animals he meets.”
New Bakeshop Annie & Em’s to Open 2/22 in Hoboken
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According to Instagram, Annie & Em’s Bakeshop is opening on Tuesday, February 22nd at 155 3rd Street in Hoboken. The two sisters have been selling their gluten-free treats at farmers’ markets for the past two years and have recently established their first brick-and-mortar home here in Hoboken.
Tia Planta Plans to Expand as Jersey City Shows Support
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In an Instagram post this week, Tia Planta shared future plans to expand in Jersey City and asked the community for support. “We plan to organize a local small business coalition, renovate our beloved tiny shop, and build out a 10,000 sq ft cultivation facility right here in #JerseyCity. By donating to this cause, your money will be a contribution to making history for black women here in New Jersey and nationwide.”
For Cup Sakes in Hoboken to Donate Proceeds to Heart Research
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Caroline Henderson, the baking genius at For Cup Sakes in Hoboken is donating money from Valentine’s Day cookie sales to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiac Center, in honor of Heart Awareness Month. Twenty percent of each sale that mentions Hoboken Girl will go to CHOP. Caroline also plans to make a dozen cookies for each of the children admitted and nurses on staff to for Valentine’s Day.
Former Hoboken Battalion Chief Competing in New Season of Survivor
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Former Hoboken Battalion Chief, Mike Turner is competing in the new season of Survivor, which premiers on Wednesday, March 9th with a two-hour special on CBS. The 58-year-old former firefighter said in an interview featured on Parade, that he has the “Hoboken Whisper” and that the best advice he received before coming to the show was to talk low and stop being so loud.
Fundraiser to Cover Repairs for Hoboken Music Teacher Nears $3k
Local music teacher, Adam Roberts entertains and teaches children in Music for Aardvarks and at the Rock and Roll Playhouse in Hoboken. His popular standup bass suffered an accident recently and is heading to the shop for some extensive repairs. A local family kicked off a GoFundMe to cover the cost of repairs as a surprise for Adam.
The GoFundMe page says, “Adam’s bass is legendary amongst the Hoboken & Jersey City toddler crowd. The bass is the centerpiece of Adam’s Music for Aardvarks baby & toddler music class. He is an inspiring teacher, hero to the kids, and all-around fantastic person. We know he’s stressing hard about the repair costs for the bass (around $4,200) particularly after a rough couple of months of canceled gigs and smaller enrollment numbers in the winter semester of his Hoboken + Jersey City kids music classes thanks to Omicron.” Click here for details and to donate.
City of Hoboken Targets Uptown Property for New Public Works Facility
Photo credit: Google Maps
During the City Council meeting on Wednesday, February 2nd council members voted in favor of a design contract for a new Department of Public Works building, according to Jersey Digs. The City of Hoboken is targeting a property at 1501 Adams Street, which currently houses a one-story building. The approval awards a $1.7M contract to Nastasi Architects.
Word Bookstore Is Moving to New Location in Jersey City
Local indie bookstores are the cornerstone of any community, and for Jersey City, that includes WORD located at 123 Newark Avenue in downtown Jersey City on the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza. However, that won’t be the home of the bookstore for much longer – but fret not bookworms, WORD isn’t leaving Jersey City, just the current storefront. It will be setting up shop a few blocks away. Click here for what we know.
Bubbakoo’s Burritos Coming to Jersey City
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A former Papa John’s location in Jersey City is welcoming a new restaurant, Bubbakoo’s Burritos, per Jersey Digs. The restaurant space located at 896 Bergen Avenue will soon be home to the New-Jersey based Tex-Mex chain which has expanded across 10 different states.
4 Alarm House Fire in Jersey City Captured in Drone Video
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A 4 alarm house fire in Jersey City was capture in a drone video on Friday, February 11th. The Instagram post reads, “Right place, right time. 4 alarm fire on Van Horne St. in Jersey City. Just so happened to be messing with the drone today so she was ready to go! Seems like a good job was done judging by the changing smoke color and consistency. Hope everyone is ok!”
New Upcycled Accessories Shop Coming to Jersey City
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A new upcycled accessories shop, Arcos is scheduled to open on Tuesday, March 1st at 11AM. The shop is located in Downtown Jersey City, with an address for the boutique studio coming soon. Follow along via Instagram for more shop updates.
Proposal for New Tower Under Review for Journal Square Complex
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Plans for a 26-story building have been submitted by a local development company, per Jersey Digs. BH3 Management has proposed to develop the current one-story building located at 80 Journal Square in Jersey City to a tower topping out at 283 feet. The ground floor would remain commercial.
Hudson County’s Irishman and Irish Woman of the Year Announced
The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick announced Hudson County’s Irishman and Irish Woman of the Year, according to NJ.com. Maureen Flannery was named the Irish Woman of the Year and Irishman of the Year is Cormac Quinn. A celebratory dinner will be held on Friday, March 4th at The Chandelier at 1081 Broadway in Bayonne.
Project Pilates: This Jersey City Studio is Celebrating 16 Years
Project Pilates is celebrating its 16 Year Anniversary in Jersey City in February 2022. What started out as a small Pilates studio on Grove Street has since moved locations three times and is now located at 231 Pavonia Avenue. Founded by Christie Freeman, who also owns Hamilton Health & Fitness, Project Pilates takes pride in its intimate group classes that cater to its clients. Click here to read all about this local health staple.
Hoboken’s Mask Mandate Lifted as of February 9th, City Hall Announces
The Hoboken mask mandate that was enacted in late December is being lifted. Per a press release and Nixle alert sent out, Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla, the Hoboken Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and the Hoboken Health Department today announced the repeal of OEM’s Executive Order requiring face masks in indoor locations of public accommodation.
The end of the mask requirement will take effect Wednesday, Feb. 9. Hudson County’s positivity rate fell below 5% as of Monday, Feb. 7, which provided the basis for the order’s repeal. Click here to read what we know.
Taco-Drive Taking Over Rig A Tony’s in Downtown Jersey City
A new taco place called Taco-Drive will be opening very soon in Jersey City. Located at 195 Newark Avenue, Taco-Drive is taking over Rig A Tony’s, and Hoboken Girl has the inside scoop of what people can expect from the Mexican restaurant. Taco-Drive is owned and operated by Oscar Munoc, a Jersey City resident who wanted to bring a new concept to the area that he believes has been missing. Less than a year after opening, the pizzeria Rig A Tony’s shut down shop. Once Oscar, who likes the fact that Jersey City is very diverse, learned about the news through a bar in town, he knew he had found the perfect place to open up Taco-Drive. Not only will there be fresh tacos made daily, there will also be the usual Mexican food such as quesadillas and burritos. Click here for updates via Instagram.
Scale Fish Market’s Jersey City Storefront Opens
Scale Fish Market has officially opened its shop in Jersey City. The owners of the farmers’ market pop-up have been bringing the freshest seafood to locals since the spring of 2021. The team recently opened its flagship store at 45 Coles Street, Jersey City. Click here to read about Scale Fish Market.
Bayonne Man Arrested for Murder in Manhattan
A Bayonne man wanted for a murder in a Manhattan nightclub has been arrested at a home in Bayonne, according to NJ.com. Kegwin Clarke has been charged with the stabbing that happened on January 29th, where he reportedly stabbed Miles Gibson in the back after getting into an argument with the man. Clarke is also being charged with two counts of possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, and several other charges, and he is currently being held in the Hudson County Jail pending his first court appearance.
Proposed Addition The Beacon: New 18-Story Building
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During its meeting on January 31st, Jersey City’s Historic Preservation Commission discussed a proposal to bring a new high rise to Jersey City, per Jersey Digs. This new building would be located in what is currently the parking lot at 591 Montgomery Street, within the complex at The Beacon. If the Historic Preservation Commission approves the proposal, the planning board will address the proposal for final approval.
Taco Bar Now Open in Jersey City
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Taco Bar JC quietly launched in November and is the most recent restaurant to open along a stretch of Bergen Avenue, per Jersey Digs. This restaurant is owned by Jersey City local Max Rudenko and it is sandwiched between two different eateries also owned by Rudenko. This taco bar offers a variety of different types of tacos, including some vegan options.
Hoboken Library Brings Back Sunday Hours
The Hoboken Library is once again open seven days a week, according to Tap Into. Starting from February 6th, the library will offer the hours of 10AM to 3PM. Returning to Sunday hours is a part of the library’s efforts to gradually bring back all of the services which were suspended during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is also one of the ways that the library is working on connecting to patrons once again.
Jersey City Dedicates $500K Towards New Community-based Violence Prevention Program
The City of Jersey City has released a request for proposals to dedicate $500,000 to reducing violence, per Hudson County View. The $500,000 is meant to go towards a new community-based violence prevention program. Eligible organizations will be able to apply for funding to launch this program, which focuses on helping the City’s youth, adults, and seniors within low- and moderate-income areas. This program is shaped by the community-based prevention frameworks, and the deadline for submitting proposals is Friday, February 18, 2022.
‘Brave The Shave’ Returns March 19th
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Northern Soul Kitchen & Bar will once again be holding the annual Brave the Shave event, which went on hiatus in 2021 due to the pandemic, according to Tap Into. This event raises money and awareness for childhood cancer by encouraging people to shave their heads. The fundraiser, Kick Kids’ Cancer and Celebrate Life, is scheduled for Saturday, March 19th from 3PM to 6PM.
Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings reaffirms Credit Rating
Standard & Poors’ Global Ratings have reaffirmed the City of Hoboken’s AA+ credit rating, according to Hudson County View. The City of Hoboken received this rating from the credit rating service around four years ago. The city’s high credit rating will help benefit residents due to low-interest rates and debt service payments. In addition to this, the city also qualified for low-interest loans with principal forgiveness through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank in order to help fund the Northwest Resiliency Park.
Undercover Cops Arrest Five Men for Illegally Selling Weed
Authorities have arrested five men on felony drug charges that accuse them of illegally selling marijuana and related products from a chain of smoke shops, according to NJ.com. Undercover cops were able to purchase marijuana and THC products from four different ‘Dirty Jerzy Supplies’ locations, and they investigated the stores for six months. The cops were able to seize hundreds of pounds of marijuana with search warrants.
Jersey City’s First Recreational Cannabis Dispensary Being Planned
An application was filed late last year with Jersey City’s planning department to convert a garage in a perimeter section of The Heights into a cannabis dispensary, according to Jersey Digs. This request was submitted by a local company dubbed Blossom Dispensary, and the potential dispensary would occupy the building’s 2,780-square feet of space. Residents are unable to currently buy recreational pot, but Jersey City did approve the first medicinal weed facility last summer.
Artichoke Basille’s Pizza Opens in Jersey City
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Hoboken received the news that Artichoke Pizza was expanding to the Mile Square back in 2017, and a Jersey City location was to follow. Hoboken’s Artichoke Pizza opened in 2019, and Artichoke Basille’s was excited to announce in March 2021 that it was going to be opening a new storefront at 246 Bay Street in Jersey City. Now, locals can stop in for a slice as the restaurant had its soft opening this week. Click here to read more about this new pizza shop.
New Building Proposal Under Review at Hudson County Schools of Technology
A new building proposal for Hudson County Schools of Technology is heading to Bayonne’s Planning Board for approval, per NJ.com. This two-story brick veneer facility would be located next to Bayonne High School and house classes in a new building for welding, cosmetology, and other vocational programs offered, by the site of the existing tennis courts. This would mean Hudson County Schools of Technology vocational classes for 9th through 12th graders would be moved into a newer building with more space.
Body Found in Lincoln Park Identified
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The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office has identified the dead body found in Lincoln Park on Friday, February 4th, reported Hudson County View. The body has been identified as a 24-year-old Jersey City man and his family has been made aware of his passing. It has also been officially ruled that he did not die under suspicious circumstances.
LepreCon Bar Crawl Returns in 2022
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Hoboken’s most famous bar crawl will be happening on the first Saturday in March, reported Patch. The bar crawl is known as “LepreCon” and it started around 10 years ago in response to the traditional St. Patrick’s Parade being canceled. The bar crawl was canceled last year due to COVID-19.
Union City School District Selected to Trial Run New Initiative
Union City School District is now a part of President Biden’s “Test-to-Stay” initiative, per Hudson Reporter. This new initiative allows unvaccinated students to be tested up to three times by the school nurse if they came in close contact with COVID-19. Union School District is just one of the many to be receiving part of the ten million tests being distributed nationwide.
North Bergen Adopts New Tax Abatement
The North Bergen Board of Commissioners has adopted an ordinance that will grant a tax abatement to a redeveloper for a new building near the Hudson River waterfront, per Hudson Reporter. The board unanimously voted to approve a 30-year payments-in-lieu-of taxes. Chief Financial Officer Robert Pittfield says the financial agreement will support a planned 12-story mixed-use residential and commercial building.
Hoboken Business Alliance Elects New President
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The Hoboken Business Alliance’s Board of Trustees has announced the election of a new president of the body, per Tap Into. James Runkle has been a resident of Hoboken for more than 20 years and has been a local small business owner for the past decade. In one of his first acts as president, Runkle announced that Commercial District Services LLC will fulfill the duties of executive director of the HBA while a search will be conducted to fill the position full-time.
Hoboken Native Named New VP at JDA Group
JDA Group LLC promoted Robyn Smith to the vice president of operations, per ROI-NJ.com. In her new role, Smith will oversee JDA’s local operations, including the property management company and more. Smith is also a Hoboken native and has been working at the company since 2018 managing properties like the coworking space, Mission 50, and residential building, The Lexington. This transition comes as plans have been approved for the next groundbreaking project, The Boundary, slated to come to the Hoboken and Jersey City border.
Hoboken Schools Get $10k Grant for RRCC Training
YMCA Northern NJ has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Hoboken Public School District, reported Tap Into. This is so educators in the district can receive training on Raising Race Conscious Children (RRCC). This is a program that aims to help adults who are trying to talk about race and diversity with young children. According to the district, 30 teachers and administrators have engaged with the first course, and the second and third courses are currently in the process of being scheduled with the district.
West Orange Man Arrested Following Allegedly Driving on Hoboken Sidewalk
A West Orange man was busted with a loaded handgun after being caught allegedly driving drunk on a sidewalk in Hoboken, per Hudson County View. Jalis Lliguicota has been charged with DWI, reckless driving, driving on the sidewalk, and several other charges. Lliguicota was transported to police headquarters following the on-scene investigation.
