Happy Sunday, Hudson County! This week was pretty much a whirlwind of news stories and updates so if you’re at a loss, we have you covered. As usual, Hoboken Girl is bringing you the most important local headlines of the week so that you don’t have to go searching for them. Keep reading to check out the top news stories you missed in Hoboken + Jersey City this week.
Two 01 Hair Moving to 8th + Grand Location in Hoboken
One of Hoboken’s most popular salons, Two 01 Hair — currently located on 14th Street across from the Bow Tie Cinemas — is moving to 8th and Park. This is a larger space for the salon, opened in 2016 by Ashley Branda, which has rapidly expanded and now has an almost 6-8 week waiting list for new clients. There’s no set date on when the new salon opens, but as soon as we know, we’ll let you know!
Dr. Oz Visits Hoboken on Saturday
Apparently, Hoboken is healthy enough for even Dr. Oz to visit {and eat!}. The celeb physician was spotted at Pier 13 on Saturday, May 18th, and he was eating a gator sausage sandwich from The Moo Food Truck — proving that it’s okay to indulge once in a while, regardless of your TV status. Dr. Oz was spotted at Pier 13 several times throughout the day by readers. To see a pic of him, click here.
Irish Festival in the Park Kicked Off on Saturday
Members of the community enjoyed an afternoon of Irish music and dance at Sinatra Park on Saturday, May 18th during the Hoboken Irish Festival. The family-friendly activities included performances by Gold n’ Brown, Na’Bodach, Kevin McCormack and Sebastian McLaughlin, Garden Street Irish Step Dances and Emerald Fire, and the Kerri Smith Academy of Irish Dance. Finnegan’s Pub was also there hosting a beer garden and serving food.
Liberty National Golf Club Hosting Family-Friendly Northern Trust
This year the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs kicks off with THE NORTHERN TRUST, a family-friendly event held at the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City. From August 6th to August 11th, kids 18 and under can access the tournament for free when accompanied by a ticketed adults. For $150, families receive two adult tickets {good for one day} plus two $10 food and beverage vouchers. You can also bring your own food.
The event offers direct access to players. There will be youth clinics, kids’ autograph zones, and more.
If you’re interested in this event, you can find more information and get your tickets here.
Governor Phil Murphy Signs E-Scooters Into Law:
Hoboken Starting as Soon as Next Week
E-scooters are coming as soon as next week. On Monday, Governor Phil Murphy signed S-731 into law — legislation that allows the use of low-speed e-scooters and e-bikes. These scooters and bikes must travel less than 20mph or slower are allowed in the street’s in the City’s bike lanes, but cannot be used on sidewalks.
“Electric bicycles and motorized scooters offer a fantastic alternative to cars and their use will serve to cut both emissions and congestion in our cities,” Murphy said in a statement. “As we seek to support New Jersey’s Innovation Economy, this bill will help encourage a true re-imagining of urban commuting.”
On Tuesday, it was announced that the e-scooter and e-bike campaigns — which feature partnerships with Lime and P3GM, the operator of the familiar JerseyBike program — will kick off sometime next week. Lime and P3GM will bring 300 electric scooters to Hoboken.
Mayor Fulop Getting Ready to Launch E-Bikes and E-Scooters, Too
{Photo credit: Twitter}
While we’re on the e-bike and e-scooter train, Hoboken isn’t the only New Jersey municipality gearing up for the new campaigns. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop recently tweeted that he’s excited for the possibilities extended to JC thanks to Governor Murphy signing e-scooters and e-bikes into State law.
“Bike To Work Week,” Fulop wrote on Twitter. “Glad NJ approved the e-bike legislation so #JerseyCity will be getting these soon and we are exploring the scooters as well w/an RFP. #biketoworkweek #biketowork @bikejc @CitiBikeJC @lyft.”
Sounds like Jersey City might be getting their own electric programs sometime soon.
Local Lawyer Publishes Children’s Book About the Last Dinosaur
Hoboken Lawyer Steven Joseph took a break from practicing law to exercise his creative writing skills and as a result, wrote a children’s book: The Last Surviving Dinosaur: The TryantoCrankaTsuris. Joseph grew up in the Bronx before practicing law in Hoboken and the picture book is very much modeled after his NYC childhood.
“In the culturally diverse boroughs of New York City and the tristate area, the term tsuris — the Yiddish word for ‘problems’ — and kvetch {complaining about those tsuris} are common place,” the author’s description reads. “Tsuris are as old as the dinosaurs — the TyrantoCrankaTsuris to be exact, a tiny dinosaur who complained so much she made all the other dinosaurs go extinct.”
The description continues, “But when she meets the TyrantoKvetchaTsuris, the only dinosaur who was immune from her incessant complaining, something magical happens. As it turns out, everyone has a bit of TyrantoCrankaTsuris and TyrantoKvetchaTsuris in them. The Last Surviving Dinosaur reminds readers to keep their tsuris in check and be mindful of when and how often they kvetch — a lesson from which all readers, young and old, can benefit.”
Joseph dedicated the book to his adult daughter and his mother who was a concentration camp survivor and a survivor of breast cancer. His mother passed away in September 2017.
You can purchase the book here.
Toll Brothers’ Mixed Use Office Site Moving Forward
Toll Brothers has officially broken ground at an office component in Maxwell Place. The mixed-use development at 1000 Maxwell Lane has three residential towers, 755 condos, and a retail storefront on the ground level. Transwestern Commercial Services will be handling the leasing side of things, while luxury residential developer Toll Brothers handles renovations of the 125,000 square-feet office space.
Police Confirm Man Pulled from River Is Missing Person Jamie Kwebetchou of Baltimore
Days after a Baltimore man was reported missing in Hoboken, police pulled a body from the Hudson River. Jamie Kwebetchou, 27, was last seen on Saturday, May 4th at 12:15AM leaving the Wicked Wolf Tavern in Hoboken. When his family and friends reported him missing to Baltimore police on Monday, Hoboken authorities initiated a missing person search.
On Wednesday, officers pulled the body of a male from the Hudson River near Pier A. Prosecutor Suarez confirmed on Thursday in a tweet and press release that it was, in fact, the body of Kwebetchou.
This was the second body recovered from the Hudson River this week, as two days earlier, NYC’s Harbor Patrol Unit recovered the body of a 25-year-old Carteret man near Exchange Place in Jersey City. Police issued a statement saying no foul play was suspected.
For a statement from Police Chief Ken Ferrante and more information about this ongoing investigation, read our in-depth article about everything we know regarding the incident here.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jamie Kwebetchou’s family and friends.
Local Starts Dog-Walking Business Furever Friends
{Photo credit: Furever Friends}
Hudson County local Will Ferman has started his own dog-walking and pet care company. In 2010, Will dropped out of film school to pursue his passion of working with animals. He’s been walking dogs in Hoboken for nine years now and has a dog photography business, Puparazzi. Now, 2019 marks the inaugural year of his new company Furever Friends which will be focusing on 45-minute walks, 90-minute hikes, and more. Congratulations, Will!
Hoboken Man Charged With DWI in New York
Don’t drink and drive. A Hoboken man is now facing a felony charge of Driving While Intoxicated after driving off Interstate 84 in New York and getting stuck in the mud.
Christopher D. Pretto, 27, of Hoboken was arrested and charged with a DWI with a previous conviction within 10 years. A DWI with a previous conviction is a class E felony in New York.
Pretto was driving through Putnam County at the time of the incident on May 12th.
Councilmen Campaigning for More Bus Stops in Hoboken
Hoboken Councilmen Mike DeFusco and Ruben Ramos are sponsoring a resolution that encourages New Jersey Transit to create more bus stops and service routes in Mile Square. Unanimously passed by the council, this resolution advises adding new stops on both Madison and Monroe Streets for the Port Authority Bus Terminal line.
“I know what it’s like commuting into New York City from Hoboken every day and truthfully, it’s not always easy,” DeFusco wrote in an email statement on Wednesday. “With the growth on Hoboken’s Westside, buses that run along Washington Street and Willow Avenue are overcrowded and the lines at bus stops sometimes stretch for more than a block.”
“Additional bus service will not only alleviate crowding on existing routes, but also make the ride to and from work easier and more comfortable for all of us,” DeFusco continued.
The Hoboken Cove Has Been Vandalized
Vandalism of equipment has recently been reported at the Hoboken Cove Boathouse, which they posted about on their Instagram account. The vandalism has occurred twice over the last few weeks and the boathouse is looking for answers. We will update you as more info comes in.
Got a news tip? Let us know — email hello@hobokengirl.com!
