The coronavirus outbreak could have you doing one of two things: either avoiding the news entirely or obsessively checking it to learn everything there is to know. Whichever tactic you seem to be leaning toward, there’s nothing like getting all your news in one curated space.
That’s why Hoboken Girl‘s weekly news roundup is the go-to spot for both COVID-19 news and other, sometimes happier, local news. Ready to get caught up? Let’s start with the latest COVID-9 updates in Hoboken + Jersey City this week:
- – Hoboken now has 184 positive total cases.
- – Jersey City has 1,291 positive total cases, more than 23 states throughout the U.S.
- – There are two testing locations in Jersey City — a walk-up testing center at 465 Marin Boulevard, Jersey City and a drive-thru location at the former DPW Complex 575 NJ-440, Jersey City; In order to be tested, you must have symptoms + proof of Jersey City residency or ID; call 201-547-5535 to schedule an appointment.
- – Riverside Medical Group has opened an appointment-only testing center in North Hoboken for all of the city’s residents — call 201-863-3346 to book an appointment.
- – Local Hudson County basketball star Alexis Demby, 34, has passed away of coronavirus.
- – For more information on coronavirus throughout the state of New Jersey, visit NJ.com’s interactive virus tracker map.
- – Find more of the latest local + statewide updates on our daily updates page.
Beyond this global pandemic, there’s still a lot of other stuff to catch up on. Ready to read up on the most crucial local headlines from earlier this week? Keep reading!
@TheHobokenGirl Instagram Live DJ Party Raises Over $2000 for FLAG HBKN in 30 Mins
Last night, we hosted an Instagram Live {yes, we went there} — but for a good cause. Our team teamed up with DJ Cam in Hoboken to host an IG Live virtual dance party on @thehobokengirl from 7:00-7:30PM during our nightly cheer for healthcare heroes. Anyone could tune in, and to request a song, you just had to donate $ {any amount, honor system} to FLAG Hoboken + JC {the Frontline Appreciation Group in Hoboken and Jersey City}.
In just 30 minutes, we raised over $2000 for the local group, which takes all donations and purchases meals and supplies from local businesses for first responders. It was such a successful evening, that we’ll be doing it next Saturday as well. Big thanks to DJ Cam for being our host on Instagram!
How It Will Work on Saturday Nights {but you can donate to FLAG at any time — info below!}:
1. Donate to @FLAG_HBKN_JC on Venmo, then head to our IG to request a song from DJ Cam {@thehobokengirl}.
2. On Saturday night at 6:55PMish {or right at 7PM!}, sign on to Instagram and head to our @thehobokengirl feed and click our LIVE to join the party – where DJ Cam will be spinning live at 7:00-7:30PM. Do your normal cheer at 7PM, and then enjoy a little in-house dance party via your phone/tablet/laptop on Instagram.
Song Requests {for a Cause!}
Last night’s song is “Empire State of Mind” for everyone to play from their windows and balconies by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, and then after that DJ Cam took requests and spun some tracks for the next 30 minutes for all to enjoy on our Instagram Live. We’ll be doing that again on Saturday night, 4/11. Find more info here. Thanks to all who joined in and participated — and especially those that donated — and we’ll see you nightly at 7:00PM to cheer on our local healthcare heroes in the fight against COVID-19.
Grubhub Driver Scams 15 Orders From Local Restaurant and Patrons in One Night
Local restaurants and patrons have been reporting cases of Grubhub drivers executing a scam. According to a post in the local Facebook Group “Quarantined in Hoboken + Losing My Sh*t: Anecdotes of the Day,” drivers have been marking deliveries as complete without even picking up the orders. The drivers have been pocketing the tip money and then never deliver the food.
This has happened in Hoboken at Leo’s {with more than 15 orders in one night} and at Wurst Bar in Jersey City.
Get all the details in our full post about the scam.
Family of Hoboken Woman Killed in Car Crash Sues Cali Carting Driver Who Hit Her
Last November, 79-year-old Margaret “Peggy” McGeary was struck by a Cali Carting truck while riding her bicycle on Palisade Avenue in Union City. The crash killed McGeary. Now, McGeary’s sister, Elaine Semenko, filed a lawsuit in the Hudson County Superior Court, according to NJ.com.
The lawsuit alleges the driver — who has remained nameless — tried to turn right from Palisade Avenue to Paterson Plank Road “without keeping a proper lookout for other traffic; in failing to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians and bicyclists;… in failing to yield right of way to bicyclists in a crosswalk in traveling at an excessive rate of speed; in proceeding at an unsafe speed;… and in failing to avoid the collision, all of which resulted in severe and serious personal injuries to decedent Margaret McGeary.”
The driver has not been charged and Cali Carting has not been cited nor chosen to comment on the pending lawsuit.
McGeary’s sister and friends say she was “an accomplished quilter” and loved riding her bicycle everywhere.
Jersey City Business Owner Pitches Shoe Company on Shark Tank
{Photo credit: Facebook}
Jersey City resident Eric Cruz is the CEO and co-founder of Muvez, a new dual-sole shoe company that makes indoor slippers. Cruz got to take his business all the way to the top earlier this week when he appeared in an episode of Shark Tank, pitching his product to some of the most business-savvy Sharks out there.
The episode premiered on Friday, April 3rd on ABC and we’re not giving away any spoilers! If you missed the original airing, check it out on Hulu, ABC.com, and the ABC app.
Hoboken Now Even Deeper in Million-Dollar Deficit
Hoboken was already experiencing a multi-million dollar deficit in its annual budget this year, but now, spending from the coronavirus outbreak has put the city even deeper in a financial hole. NJ.com reports that officials are looking into every avenue of how to approach the now-scrapped budget. {Originally, the budget was set for April 1st, but a deadline extension has been put in place.} Those other options could include everything from postponing certain citywide projects to layoffs.
What’s Going on With the Wonder Bread Company Factory?
{Rendering courtesy of MVMK Architecture via Jersey Digs}
Originally approved for reconstruction and redevelopment back in 2015, it looks like — despite the coronavirus — work on the Wonder Lofts development is coming along. Located at 720 Clinton Street in Hoboken, it’s the “Wonder Bread building,” we’re talking about, which used to be Continental Baking Corporation, where Wonder Bread was baked!
No longer a bread-baking factory, Wonder Lofts will be a new luxury apartment rental structure with a preserved facade, a rooftop terrace, a 4,000-square foot promenade, and a pool. The Wonder Lofts revitalization plan includes a new four-story building to be built across the street in a now-vacant parking lot. That new building at 731 Clinton will be home to six affordable housing units.
Prism Capital Partners and MVMK Architecture are working on the project, which will also be LEED Gold Certified and feature a historical plaque commemorating the site of Wonder Bread. No completion date has been released yet.
Hoboken Mentioned in New Episode of Better Call Saul
It’s not exactly appropriate, but hey! — Hoboken was called out in a recent episode of Better Call Saul. The scene, linked above on YouTube, explains what a “squat cobbler” is by referencing a “Hoboken squat cobbler.” Trust us — don’t Google it. Just relish in the fact that we got a shout-out on a pretty popular TV show.
New Jersey Transit Records Building Deemed an Unsafe Structure, Public Comments Ended on March 31st
March 31st was the final day for public comments to be given on the New Jersey Transit Records Building. Constructed in 1904 and since deemed a historic property, the building was categorized as an “unsafe structure” by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs a while back, and now New Jersey Transit is trying to figure out what to do with it.
Should it be left alone? Renovated? Or demolished?
A public meeting was supposed to take place on March 17th with the intention of discussing the future of the NJ Transit Records Building, but it was canceled due to coronavirus concerns. The original deadline for public comments was March 31st, and though the city requested an extension because of COVID-19, the request was allegedly denied.
If you’re still interested in providing input, you can fill out the public survey regarding alternatives for the building. The Responsible Development Task Force estimates that demolition of the NJ Transit Records Building would cost about $1.2 million.
Cangiano’s Catty Corner O’Kafe Continues Construction in Jersey City
{Photo credit: reddit}
Cangiano’s started as a pop-up sandwich shop in Hamilton Park in 2011, but nothing is getting in the way of the shop opening up a brick-and-mortar spot at 230 Pavonia Avenue in Jersey City. Not even COVID-19!
Despite the pandemic, construction on Cangiano’s has steadily continued and it looks like the place will be ready to open sooner rather than later. Can’t wait to order from Cangiano’s? Check out the menu from their pop-up on Yelp.
Amazon Package Stealer Caught on Camera in Jersey City
CAUGHT ON TAPE: Woman Stealing Amazon Package In Jersey City Heights from jerseycity
A woman in Jersey City Heights was caught stealing an Amazon package on a Ring doorbell camera. The hooded woman can be seen walking by, down the sidewalk. Seconds later, she seems to turn around, walk inside a house’s gate, and lift an Amazon package from the doorstep before walking away.
According to comments on the reddit thread, this incident occurred last Sunday, March 29th around 5:00PM on Leonard Street between JFK Boulevard and Nelson Avenue. From the vantage point of the camera, it appears the Ring was hung up at the next-door neighbor’s house, not the house that was targeted.
Alternate Side Parking Officially Temporarily Reinstated in Jersey City This Week
Despite all of the self-isolation and chaos, the streets of Jersey City need to be cleaned. Mayor Steven Fulop announced on Twitter last week that Jersey City will be returning to alternate side of the street parking rules as of April 6th.
“Next week we will return alternate side of the street parking rules {April 6th-10th} as we need to clean the street,” Fulop tweeted. “We are seeing an increase in everything from regular trash to medical masks, etc. Please let your neighbors know — We’ll do our best to make sure people are aware.”
Fulop brings up another crucial point — which is that because of COVID-19, there has been an increase in single-use trash on the ground. From gloves to masks, people afraid of germs are throwing their waste on the ground. Jersey City, let’s please be mindful to not hurt our planet as we go through this pandemic. Throw out or recycle your trash appropriately.
KRE Live Launches to Offer Online Educational + Social Activities to Public
KRE Live is a new initiative that provides a wide assortment of online social and educational activities to the public at zero cost {perfecting for saving money and staying entertained while #socialdistancing}. The site was created by the KRE Group “to help people deal with social distancing and to support local businesses by helping them gain exposure and build new audiences during this temporary shutdown,” George Cahn, president of Cahn Communications, said. The calendar of online activities will be updated regularly.
Ani Ramen Has Announced That It Is Relaunching as a Temporary Non-Profit Restaurant
Jersey City’s well-known Ani Ramen {and other Ani Ramen outposts} is temporarily re-launching “as Rock City Pizza Co,” the company announced in an Instagram post. The new spot will be “a non-profit restaurant serving Detroit pizza and Thai-spiced rotisserie chicken for takeout. Meals will be sold at a reduced rate and customers will be able to buy meals to donate at an additional discount,” the post explained.
Since this is temporary, rest assured that the Ani Ramen you’re used to will eventually come back. For now, however, the launch date of the new restaurant is still to be determined.
Vegan AF Now Open in Jersey City
A new vegan restaurant, aptly named Vegan AF, is now open for pick-up + deliveries in Jersey City. Located at 291 Central Avenue in JC, this new spot specializes in all things vegan — think burritos, chocolate cake, burgers, and more.
Got a news tip? Let us know — email us at hello@hobokengirl.com! We appreciate it.
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