Home Events + NewsEvents Small Fire Extinguished Outside of Hoboken’s East LA + More News You Missed

Small Fire Extinguished Outside of Hoboken’s East LA + More News You Missed

by Steph
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Did you take a break from the news this week? Good on ya. There’s nothing like an old-fashioned mental health break at times like the coronavirus outbreak to really hit that reset button. Sometimes, it’s the best thing you can do for your own peace of mind. Speaking of which, here are the latest COVID-9 updates in Hoboken + Jersey City:

  • – Hoboken now has 85 positive total cases.
  • – Jersey City has 334 positive total cases.
  • –  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 — call 201-863-3346 to book an appointment.
  • Find more of the latest local + statewide updates here.

Beyond pandemic-related news, however, there’s a lot to catch up on. Ready to catch up on the most crucial local headlines from earlier this week? Keep reading!

Hoboken to Thank Healthcare Heroes Nightly

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Every night at 7:00PM, join Hoboken and all its residents in thanking its healthcare heroes who are working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. At 7:00PM nightly, head out to your balconies or pop your hands + head out of the window to join in a citywide applause to say thanks! Check out last night’s applause here.

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Small Fire Breaks Out at East LA in Hoboken

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Hobbs Inc

Earlier this week, a fire broke out at East LA at 508 Washington Street. The Hoboken Fire Department promptly responded to the mini blaze, and luckily, no one was hurt and no damage was reported.

“We had a small fire in a garbage can,” East LA confirms to Hoboken Girl via email. “…No damage. The HBFD was amazing.”

Albert’s in Jersey City Announces Closure With Sign

alberts jersey city closing

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{Photo credit: reddit}

Albert’s, a local staple in Jersey City, announced it is closing with new signage. Located at 120 Coles Street {between Coles and 7th}, Albert’s was a go-to that many locals relied on.

“We buy milk and eggs there all the time. Will be missed,” one reddit user wrote.

Another user lamented how locally-owned delis were always reliable in times of crisis. “Neighborhood delis are places people go to in times of trouble. Who charged my phone and laptop after Sandy left me without power for a week? The bodega around the corner. Who gave regular customers credit when cash was impossible to get for like three days? The same place,” the user wrote.

Albert’s, you will be missed!

Miss NJ USA Partners With Hoboken Brand Angel Energy to Bring Awareness to Domestic Abuse

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{Photo credit: @theginamellish}

Current reigning Miss Jersey USA Gina Mellish has teamed up with Sarah Ripoli’s Hoboken-based clothing brand Angel Energy to help spread awareness about domestic violence.

Mellish spoke of a previous abusive relationship she was in when she was a college student.

“At that time, I was in an abusive relationship and I felt like I didn’t really have an outlet or a voice and no one to really talk to,” the 21-year-old said. “So after attending [a One Love Foundation] workshop, it was like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and I felt like I wasn’t alone. I was in contact with One Love trying to figure out the best way for an escape plan, just figuring out what my life would entail after getting help and using the resources that they provided.”

Ripoli had a similar life experience, although it wasn’t she who was in an abusive relationship.

“When I was younger, I lost my mom to domestic violence the month before I turned seven,” Ripoli, 27, said. “It was always something that was so hard for me to talk about or really even process.”

Together, Ripoli and Mellish are working to get the word out about domestic abuse by encouraging people to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or by texting 1-800-787-3224.

902 Brewing Company Brews Its First Batch in Jersey City

902 brewing company jersey city

{Photo credit: @902brewing}

For those who love a cold one, this one is for you. 902 Brewing Company has officially brewed its first batch of beer in Jersey City. The brewery and taproom is expected to come later this year {hopefully coronavirus doesn’t end up pushing back the grand opening} at 101 Pacific Avenue in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood of JC.

The brewery was co-founded by Jersey natives Andrew Brown, Colby Janisch, Tucker Littleton, and Don Vogt back in 2012. Ever since then, the group has been trying to bring their dream of a Jersey City-based taproom and brewery to life.

Follow 902 Brewing Company for brewing and opening updates on Instagram.

Volunteers and Blood Donations Needed Amidst COVID-19 Outbreak

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Hoboken is in need of volunteers in several different areas. The Hoboken Community Center and City Council are working together to start a food pantry to provide food for those in need. Volunteers are needed to organize donations, shop for items, and bag items for delivery. If you are interested in helping, call 551-285-6444 or email hobokenfoodnow@gmail.com.

Hudson County is also in need of medical and non-medical volunteers to help at the COVID-19 testing site in Secaucus. Medical volunteers are needed between 9:00AM and 6:00PM for testing, while non-medical workers are needed between 9:00AM and 9:00PM to help schedule appointments at the call center. If you are interested in volunteering, email Christina Butieg-Bianco of Hudson Regional Health Commission at cbutieb@hudsonregionalhealth.org.

Blood donations are also needed more than ever during this crucial time. Across the U.S. blood drives have been canceled, but two are ongoing in Hoboken on April 2nd and April 3rd, thanks to the All Saints Episcopal Day School. Both drives run from 8:00AM-2:00PM. To register for the April 2nd blood drive, visit Donor.cbsblood.org and to register for the April 3rd blood drive, visit Donor.cbsblood.org.

Jersey City Councilman Tests Positive for COVID-19

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Jersey City Councilman Rolando Lavarro has tested positive for COVID-19, according to NJ.comHe is currently self-isolating at home.

“I can’t imagine what other people are going through,” Lavarro told Hudson County View via phone. “I think everyone needs to wake up, wisen up: it’s real. People need to practice social distancing: if not for your own health, it’s for everybody else. I’m probably on the better side of [recovery] probability. For seniors and others, this can be fatal. We need to be thinking about everybody else,” Lavarro added.

Lavarro’s fever started on March 13th and he was prescribed two antibiotics. However, when his fever continued to worsen — climbing as high as 102 — Lavarro got a second opinion at the Jersey City Medical Center.

“I went to a second doctor to get blood work, he said my blood pressure was very low and that I needed to admit myself to the emergency room,” he said. Lavarro was tested for COVID-19 on Saturday, March 21st and his results were confirmed on Friday, March 27th.

Healthcare Officials in Jersey City Set Up Outdoor Prescreenings at Christ Hospital

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Jersey City is working in conjunction with Christ Hospital to put a temporary prescreening system into place for the surge at emergency rooms that COVID-19 will inevitably cause. According to a press release from the city, the prescreen will more effectively streamline patients who need emergent care. It also seeks to shelter medical personnel from exposure.

The temporary prescreening tents will be located outside Christ Hospital. The prescreening system is not a coronavirus testing site, but a way to better assess patients’ symptoms and streamline those who need coronavirus care and those who do not.

“We’re in two fights: The virus and fear. I want to tell people they don’t have to be fearful, you can prevent the spread by washing your hands and avoiding any face touching. Most patients do quite well at home,” Dr. Tucker Woods, Chief Medical Officer of Christ Hospital, said in the release. “This ER triage tent is multi-purpose – we can screen patients before entering the building, and if they do have COVID-19, we can treat about 75 percent of the positive cases with any necessary prescriptions and chest X-rays, and we can send them home with guidelines to self-quarantine and follow up with their personal care physician.”

Anyone who is sick but does not require emergent care is encouraged to refrain from going to the emergency room.

Real Estate Investment Group Out of Maryland Purchases 39 Hoboken Locations for $200 Million

washington street cvs hoboken

Maryland-based real estate investment group Federal Realty Investment Trust purchased a portfolio of 39 Hoboken properties, spending a total of $200 million, according to NJ.com. The acquisition took more than 30 years, but most of the properties are located on the Mile Square’s busiest avenue, Washington Street.

Some of the acquired properties include the CVS on 59 Washington Street, Quality Greens, Honeygrow, Chipotle, and more. Federal Realty owns mixed-use properties throughout the East Coast, Midwest, and California.

New York Giants Fund Free Childcare Program for First Responders

new york giants child care hospital

The New York Giants professional football team is funding a program that makes childcare free for parents of emergency response personnel. This free childcare is available at the Meadowlands YMCA for the next 10 weeks, according to NBC New York, which reported on a press release issued by the YMCA.

“Our staff is well-organized and well-trained to manage in this situation and is complying with the State and County Departments of Health’s standards in their health safety protocols,” said David Kisselback, president and CEO of the Meadowlands YMCA. “While we are cognizant of the CDC and other guidelines being issued to limit social gatherings, we also are committed to our mission of supporting the community, and our daycare program, food distribution programs, blood drives, and education support programming are all being administered with the greatest of care.”

The Giants’ donation allows the current childcare program to expand so that it can provide services for up to 42 children.

30 Low-Risk Inmates Get Early Release From Hudson County Jail Due to Coronavirus Concerns

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Thirty inmates have been released from the Hudson County Jail as a result of concerns for coronavirus spreading quickly throughout a closed-off environment like jail. These releases are a direct result of the state Supreme Court issuing a consent order mandating the mass release of low-risk inmates from county jails across New Jersey. The state Supreme Court issued the consent order last Sunday.

Each of the 30 released inmates is considered low-risk, as they were either convicted in municipal court or had probation sentences.

An employee at Newark ShopRite Tests Positive for COVID-19, Co-Workers Self-Quarantine

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The Newark ShopRite, located at 206 Springfield Avenue, has been temporarily shut down after a worker displayed flu-like symptoms earlier in the week. It’s now been confirmed by store officials that the employee tested positive coronavirus and as a result, ShopRite has sent a letter to employees asking them to self-quarantine for 14 days, NJ.com reports.

“We wish our associate well and hope for a speedy recovery. We also thank our customers for their patience and continued support,” the spokesman for the Newark ShopRite, Daniel Emmer, said.

The identity of the employee has not been released in compliance with federal health privacy laws. Newark Councilwoman LaMonica McIver did, however, write in a Facebook post that the employee was not a resident of Newark.

Hoboken PD Shuts Down Washington Street Smoke Shop

hoboken smoke shop

A smoke shop in Hoboken has been shut down by Hoboken PD after trying to get around the “non-essential business” shutdown order.

Police Chief Ken Ferrante tweeted about the incident, writing, “Thanks @HobokenPD Officer Palladino who just shut down Hoboken Smoke Shop at 614 Washington Street. The shop, which is non-essential as per @GovMurphy’s orders, had some cans of soda on the floor and paper signs saying they were selling gloves and masks in an attempt to go around the order!”

Cresthill Academy Launches Daycare Remote Learning Program

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In wake of its mandatory closure, Hoboken’s Cresthill Academy has launched its first-ever daycare remote learning program called Cresthill Academy Hoboken: Anchors Aweigh. The program includes:

  • – Weekly at home lesson plans for each age group
  • – Morning interactive circle time
  • – Morning interactive storytime
  • – Afternoon interactive circle time
  • – Afternoon storytime

Now, however, in an attempt to keep this remote learning program afloat, Belle Liu {operations manager of Cresthill Academy + mastermind behind this program} will be starting a contribution page on the remote learning via the Cresthill Academy website so that the “Anchors Aweigh” program can stay running. If you’d like to learn more or contribute, please go here.

Hoboken’s Wonder Bread Factory Revitalization Project Has Begun

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The revitalization of Hoboken’s Wonder Lofts {located at 720 Clinton Street}, formerly the Wonder Bread Factory, is finally making major progress, according to Jersey Digs. The development project was first approved back in 2015 and since then has been taken over by Prism Capital Partners and is finally starting to move forward with the project as “an expansion of which is starting to rise from the century-old structure,” according to Jersey Digs. At the new development, future residents can expect outdoor terraces, a pool, and more luxury amenities. Currently, however, there is no estimated completion date.

Two Jersey City Warehouses Have Been Sold to Be Used as Film Studio Space

jersey city film studio news

Tinseltown is coming to Jersey City, kind of. Two Jersey City warehouses have been sold to be used as film studio spaces for $24 million, according to NJ.comThe two warehouses are located at 14-16 Burma Road and 150 Theodore Conrad Drive. What will be filmed there is still TBD, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated on this developing story.

Local Resident Creates Form for Other Residents to Volunteer Time During COVID-19 Pandemic

february volunteering hoboken jersey city 2020

If you’ve been looking for ways to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic, now’s your chance. A local resident has created a Google form for other Hoboken residents to sign up and volunteer their time to “assist in needs for others that are unable to go out.” If you’re interested in participating, fill out this form here.

Got a news tip? Let us know — email us at hello@hobokengirl.com! We appreciate it.

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