Hudson County, we hope you’re hanging in there during these times of the coronavirus outbreak and self-isolation. We know just how difficult it is and we hope you are staying safe and sanitized during these hard times.
News has been moving faster than it ever has and it seems lately updates come quicker than we can even keep up with. Want the most up-to-date, local coronavirus updates? Check out the daily updates as recent as March 22nd.
And if you need more coronavirus resources, we’ve got everything you can think of: How you can help the elderly in your local community, local grocery delivery apps to use, how to prioritize human connection, 50 local fitness businesses providing online options, resources for local businesses, and the most efficient tools for working from home. For now, however, let’s get you caught up on the news.
Keep reading for all the local headlines you missed this week!
Hoboken Girl Team Giving Away $500 in Support of Local Businesses on Instagram on 3/22!
If you’re reading this on Sunday, then head to our Instagram @thehobokengirl to enter our Local Love/Small Business Support giveaway of $500 — where 10 readers will each win a $50 gift card to the business of their choice. Our team is dedicated to helping local businesses, and our founder Jen Tripucka created this giveaway as a way to give back during such a difficult time.
HobokenGirl.com is also doing a minimum of 10-15 daily shoutouts for businesses in need of a boost on our Instagram Stories free of charge. Interested in a shoutout? Fill out this form.
If you are interested in sponsoring the next giveaway and donating money {anywhere from $100-$500} for additional gift cards to local businesses, please email Jen directly at jen@hobokengirl.com. We are hoping to make this a routine event on our IG!
The Latest Jersey City and Hoboken Coronavirus Updates as of March 22nd
In an effort to keep you up to speed, here are the current coronavirus-related stats in Hoboken + JC. As of Saturday, March 21st, Hoboken has 19 total cases of the coronavirus and Jersey City has 50 confirmed cases, with two of the confirmed cases within the Jersey City Police Department. Of course, those numbers are subject to change with every passing minute, but rest assured, we will be providing the most up-to-date information on coronavirus-related news in Hoboken and Jersey City here.
Director of Harvard Global Health Institute Praises Hoboken’s COVID-19 Response Model, Recommends for Rest of Country
The Director of the Harvard Global Health Institute called Hoboken’s coronavirus response a model for the rest of the country https://t.co/4DF9gUudMZ
— Juan Melli (@juanmelli) March 15, 2020
Hoboken’s fast-acting response to the coronavirus pandemic is getting recognized and setting a precedent across the country. Director of the Harvard Global Health Institute Dr. Ashish Jha said during an on-air interview with CNN that Hoboken is the model the rest of the U.S. should be following.
“We’re not still not [acting] fast enough. There shouldn’t be schools that are open anymore,” Dr. Jha said. “Hoboken is probably the model we should all move towards now. I can’t believe I ever would have said that but here we are, Hoboken is our model. I think restaurants and bars need to close. I think people cannot congregate, not until we have a much better understanding of how widespread this disease is across our country.”
Shokudo in Hoboken Now Open for Take Out + Delivery
{Photo credit: Alvin Alunan via Facebook}
The long-awaited opening of Shokudo, a Japanese ramen, udon, + yakitori bar in Hoboken, is now open for take out. The restaurant, which is located at 61-63 14th Street in Hoboken, sells classic dishes like tonkotsu ramen, shoyu ramen, miso ramen, and more. Beyond ramen, the eatery also has a menu filled with yakitori options {think skewers filled with meats + veggies} and a number of light bites such as edamame, gyoza, and more. Find out what to expect at this new spot here.
Jersey City Grocery Store Sets Hours for Seniors, Pregnant, and Disabled Shoppers Only
Jersey City is making sure to take care of its most vulnerable shoppers. Mayor Steven Fulop shared his plans on Twitter last Monday to allocate specific shopping times for the elderly, disabled, and pregnant shoppers of Jersey City. According to Fulop’s announcement, a two-hour time frame every morning between 9:00AM-11:00AM will be specifically designated for these shoppers.
“The stores have been receptive as this needs to be an effort where we all work together,” Fulop added on Twitter. These are the most vulnerable residents and crowded supermarkets are a challenge for these residents.” Hoboken is also doing this at select grocery stories earlier on in the AMs.
Disinfectant Fogging & Deep Cleaning Service Available from Maid in Hoboken
Local cleaning company Maid in Hoboken is now offering a new service, ‘Deep Cleaning and Disinfectant Fogging’, so that customers can feel safe + comfortable while spending so much time at home. The new service eliminates 99.99% of germs and viruses and is non-toxic + safe for children and pets. It’s performed by the team’s professionally-trained staff and only takes about an hour to complete. To learn more about this CDC-recommended treatment or schedule a treatment, call Maid in Hoboken at 201-659-9500 or visit their website.
Ani Ramen Gives Away 15,000 Free Meal Kits
Ani Ramen’s three locations throughout Montclair, Maplewood, and Jersey City are giving back to their local communities. From 12:00PM-6:00PM on Thursday, March 19th, members of the community were welcome to visit their local Ani Ramen for a free meal kit. On March 16th, Ani Ramen closed the doors of all three of its NJ locations.
“Each Ani Ramen Family Meal Kit will serve three to four ramen lovers and will contain Ani’s incredible broth, a hearty serving of their exclusive Sun Noodles, fresh veggies, and proteins,” a press release explains.
The meal kit-giving was a grab-and-go event at each of the Ani Ramen locations in order to minimize contact and to align with practices of social distancing. After all, Ani Ramen’s current motto right now is #slurpsipsocialdistance.
“‘Ani’ translates to English as ‘big brother,’ conveying the idea of nurturing and growth in the way that family relationships bring together and strengthen communities,” the release continues.
Ani Ramen also matched purchases of gift cards, for $50, get a $100 gift card or for $25, get a $50 gift card.
“We love seeing people together, sharing food and drink, at Ani Ramen. It was hard to close our doors, if only temporarily, and this is our way of saying ‘thank you’ for our guests’ understanding and loyalty during this challenging time,” Ani Ramen founder Luck Sarabhayavanija says. They ended up giving 15,000 meals away.
Mayor Bhalla Gives Updated Statement on Self-Isolation Policy
In an open letter to the City of Hoboken, Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla provided an update to his previous statement on the new self-isolation policies sweeping New Jersey cities.
“Over the past several days, the rest of the country has followed Hoboken’s lead in regulations and policies that promote social distancing, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Bhalla said. “Hoboken was the first City to introduce regulations on bars and restaurants over the weekend, but is most likely not enough. As the fourth-most densely populated city in the entire country, a spread in our City’s close quarters could be deadly and literally result in the loss of life of our most vulnerable populations.”
In his open letter, Bhalla also added a list of essential businesses, which are permitted to stay open until 8:00PM each night. According to the Office of Emergency Management, this includes emergency medical care, restaurants, and food establishments {takeout or delivery only}, supermarkets, grocery stores, bodegas, banks, pharmacies, coffee shops, veterinarians, pet stores, laundromats, dry cleaners, liquor stores, chiropractors, physical therapists, dentists, and other medical care facilities, UPS and Fed Ex stores, post offices, and moving companies.
Non-essential businesses that are closed as of 9:00AM on March 18th, according to the Office of Emergency Management include clothing and retail, book stores, nail salons, hair salons, barbershops, massage parlors, smoke shops, shoe repair, and any other places of retail or public accommodation.
Additionally, public transportation and travel by vehicle is permitted for essential needs, purchasing of food, care for a family member or friends, to get health care, or employment
Coditum Cafe Builds Online Teaching Service
Coditum Cafe, a coding school in Hoboken, has now announced online classes. For $39, you get a one-on-one, one-hour Python, Java, web design or development, or 3D modeling class from digital teachers at Coditum.
“We brought down the price as low as we could,” reps for Coditum wrote on reddit. “The teachers get most of the fee. Thank you for your support!”
Modern Rentals 295J Launches in Jersey City’s Bergen-Lafayette Area
{Image rendering courtesy of 295J}
Initial occupancy for a 309-unit rental building in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood of Jersey City is scheduled for April 2020. Launched by 295J, which is located at 295 Johnston Avenue, the five-story steel-and-brick building will have modern residences inside, curated amenities, and a street-art vibe.
“We’re excited to officially open 295J in a neighborhood that has a unique character and desirable lifestyle attributes,” said David Barry, President of Ironstate Development Company. “We expect our residents to explore and enjoy the local fabric of the neighborhood while also taking advantage of the adjacent Light Rail Station that will conveniently connect them to Downtown Jersey City and additional public transportation options into Manhattan.”
Monthly rent is expected to start at $1,910 and the building will feature studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and three-bedrooms. Occupancy is scheduled for April 2020.
In the way of amenities and social spaces, the lobby will feature 24/7 concierge services, Amazon lockers, a fitness center, and a resident lounge for working from home called The Study. Outside, residents will find a pool, BBQ grills, fire pits, and ping pong. There’s also a dog-wash station for the building’s furriest occupants.
New Jersey Ranks 7th Lowest in Property Crime
New Jersey has ranked as the seventh-lowest state when it comes to property crime. The new report from Quote Wizard shows New Jersey’s property crime rate as 8.81%. Comparatively, Delaware has the highest property crime rate, ranking in at 19.51% and New York ranked fifth highest at 16.88%.
Local and County Democratic and Republican Chairs Express Support to Hoboken Small Business Community
Local and county Democratic and Republican chairs are expressing their support to Hoboken’s small business community by writing a letter to New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, Senator Cory Booker, and Congressman Albio Sires.
The letter reads:
“We write today to express our support for Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla’s letter urging assistance for our local small businesses and their employees during this unprecedented time. Hoboken is a small town with a vibrant and diverse small business community. From restaurants and bars, retail stores, health and wellness facilities, our small business community is a mainstay of our mile square.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented our community with unprecedented challenges and our Mayor took proactive measures to protect the residents health and well-being. We support these efforts with a recognition of the significant toll this will take on our local small businesses and their employees. At every level, from owners to employees, this could be devastating.
As the leaders of our local partisan political parties, we may not always agree on policy, but we are in steadfast agreement on this. Hoboken needs help now.
To echo Mayor Bhalla’s words ‘We need the help and resources of the federal government now more than ever. [We] applaud you and your colleagues for quickly passing the bipartisan emergency relief package for free coronavirus testing, paid sick, family and medical leave, unemployment insurance, and food assistance programs. [We are] encouraged that there is already a discussion about a third legislative package, and [we] urge you in the strongest terms to include meaningful relief for our small businesses and their employees.”
Jersey City Theatre Center Postpones March and April Programming
The Jersey City Theatre Center has suspended its March and April programming, citing the COVID-19 outbreak and consultations with Jersey City officials as the reason.
Artistic director Olga Levina posted the announcement on the nonprofit arts organization’s Facebook page on Thursday, March 12th. “In light of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. and the northeast region, and the World Health Organization declaring the Coronavirus a global pandemic, Jersey City Theater Center is suspending all the programming through April,” Levina said. “After careful deliberation over risks posed by COVID-19 along with recently declared state of emergency by State of NJ, Jersey City Theater Center made very difficult decision to postpone and reschedule all of our programming for March-April.”
Levina continued, “Art is important, but the health and safety of our community always comes first! After consulting with Jersey City Officials, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Jersey City Health Department, our Board of Directors made the decision to temporarily suspend programming.”
CityMD Provides Information on Coronavirus Testing
Do you have questions on coronavirus and its testing process? CityMD has been doing its best to provide as much information as possible to anyone who might qualify for a test.
If you are in respiratory distress, please call 911. If you have a fever, cough, and other symptoms of a respiratory infection, please visit your closest CityMD location. As a precaution, wear a mask if possible and limit exposure to others. Please immediately notify the staff of your possible illness upon arrival.
If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, CityMD recommends using their telemedicine service on the CityMD app or online virtual care.
Additionally, CityMD recommends washing your hands often with soap and water {for at least 20 seconds}, washing hands before eating, after going to the bathroom, after blowing your nose, after coughing and sneezing, avoiding touching your face, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and staying home from school or work when sick.
“We encourage patients to remain calm and use the following resources from the New Jersey and New York Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control to prepare and prevent the spread of infection,” CityMD said in an email newsletter.
They recommend the following resources:
NJ Department of Health: 24-hour public hotline: 1-800-222-1222; website.
NY Department of Health: Corona Virus Hotline: 1-888-364-3065, website.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Website.
Three People Charged with Stealing $28K from a Hoboken Home
This week, two men and one woman were “charged with stealing $28,000 in valuables from a Hoboken residence,” according to NJ.com. Nancy Torres of Newark, Ozgur Sagir of West New York, and Tony Watson of Bayonne were charged after burglarizing a home on Madison Street in Hoboken. The group stole multiple items from the home, which totaled in $28,000.
19th Annual Tribeca Film Festival Suspended
The 19th Annual Tribeca Film Festival has also been postponed due to concerns regarding the coronavirus.
“We founded the Tribeca Film Festival as a way to heal our community after the devastation of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. We were determined to overcome our fear and anxiety by joining together. It is in our DNA to march forward while caring about our community,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder and CEO of Tribeca Enterprises.
“We have made the difficult decision to postpone the 19th Tribeca Film Festival based on the announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that events of 500 people or more are banned due to the spread of the novel coronavirus,” Rosenthal continued. “We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of the public while also supporting our friends, filmmakers, and storytellers who look to Tribeca as a platform to showcase their work to audiences. We will be back to you shortly with our plans.”
Check www.tribecafilm.com for the latest updates, ticket refund information and details about how they are moving forward.
Hoboken Historical Museum Goes Digital After Suspending Events and Classes
In the midst of Hoboken Historical Museum suspending its events and classes through the end of the month, the museum has announced online archives that they encourage residents to take advantage of. These resources include archives of past exhibits and selected lecture videos, oral history chapbooks, various online collections, a short history of Hoboken and walking tour maps, and Hoboken history highlights all available on HobokenMuseum.org.
Though most programming has been canceled, people can still visit the Hoboken Historical Museum if they call ahead. {Call 201-656-2240 to confirm with staff.} Normal operating hours resumed on Wednesday, March 18th. It’s now open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 2:00PM-7:00PM, Fridays from 1:00PM-5:00PM, and Saturdays from 12:00PM-5:00PM. The Fire Department Museum will remain open on weekends from 12:00PM-5:00PM.
During this time, Hoboken Historical Museum has implemented more vigorous cleaning procedures and is encouraging visitors to wash their hands as they visit the museum. Museum staff is also asking visitors to avoid coming to the museum if you are experiencing symptoms of cold or flu.
39 Hoboken Properties Have Been Purchased by an Investment Group for $200M
Federal Realty Investment Trust, a Maryland-based investment group, has purchased 39 properties in Hoboken for $200 million, according to NJ.com. Many of the properties are storefronts on Washington Street and “about a third of the space is residential and comprises 129 units,” NJ.com reported. These units are home to local businesses like Sephora, CVS, Honeygrow, and more.
Medley, a New Salad + Sandwich Shop in Hoboken, to Open for Delivery on March 23rd
A new salad + sandwich shop is coming to 521 Washington Street — Medley. Opening for delivery on Monday, March 23rd {with a full opening happening as soon as local + statewide restrictions are lifted}, Medley has taken over the space that was formerly Makai Poke. Diners can expect a menu full of greens, grains, and sandwiches. Get a full peek at the menu + what to expect here.
The Jersey City Medical Center is in Need of Your Help
The Jersey City Medical center is currently in need of supplies. To inquire about how you can donate + what to donate, please contact Sharon Ambis via email at Sharon.Ambis@rwjbh.org or via phone call at 551-229-3506.
Got a news tip? Let us know — email us at hello@hobokengirl.com! We appreciate it.
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