A week of life in Hoboken + Jersey City means there is plenty of news to catch up on. Among the local headlines: GLOSSLAB to open its first NJ location in Hoboken, the new Wittenpenn Bridge is slated to open October 1st, a school bus driver shortage is currently impacting the Jersey City Board of Education, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
Pfizer Booster Available in Hoboken Beginning Monday 9/27
Following recent CDC and FDA approval, the City of Hoboken will begin offering Pfizer booster shots to qualifying individuals starting Monday, September 27th.
“We know that the vaccines are our greatest line of defense against COVID-19,” Hoboken Mayor Bhalla said in a press release. “But, according to experts, the protection provided by COVID-19 vaccines appears to wane over time. With the rise of the Delta variant, it is imperative that we increase protection for our seniors, those with underlying medical conditions, and those at a greater risk of exposure. I urge everyone eligible to get a booster shot as soon as possible.”
Jersey City Coalition Calls for Liberty State Park Renovation
Photo Credit: 42West
On Saturday, September 25th, the Liberty State Park for All and members of the Jersey City community gathered at Liberty State Park to amplify Jersey City’s voice and increase awareness about the growing need to clean up the park. According to the press release, the group is calling for the park to be renovated into more useable space for local families in lieu of remaining an inaccessible preserve.
Bed, Bath + Beyond to Close Jersey City Location
Photo credit: Google Maps
The Marin Boulevard location of Bed, Bath + Beyond will be closing later this year in Jersey City. Future plans for the property have yet to be finalized according to Jersey Digs. The Jersey City location will be offering 20% off on all purchases during the store’s final days.
Wash Bar to Take Over Jersey City Laundromat
The new owners of Wash Bar, located at 166 Christopher Columbus Drive in Jersey City, are hard at work, refacing the old Laundry City and updating the space with a cooler esthetic. “We also plan to offer free coffee in the morning for laundry drop-off in addition to other promotions,” Wash Bar co-owner, Paulina told Hoboken Girl. The laundromat will offer self-service laundry machines, dry cleaning, and wash/dry/fold service.
Local Artist Alex Rudin Opens Exhibit in Jersey City Hall
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Local artist, Alex Rudin announced via Instagram that she has opened an art showcase at Jersey City Hall as of yesterday, September 24th. The “Age of Empathy” tackles topics such as social justice, feminism, racial equality, climate change, and religious intolerance.
Hoboken’s Washington General Store Expanding to Red Bank
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Washington General Store, located at 509 Washington Street, has been one of Hoboken’s most popular gift shops since 2014, and the store has announced some exciting news for Red Bank residents. Let’s put it this way: they won’t have to travel far to shop curated gifts and home decor. Click here for all the details.
NYC-Based French Cafe, Maman, Opening in Jersey City
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Popular NYC-based French cafe and bakery, Maman, is making its way to Jersey City. A large storefront at 70 Hudson Street has been secured and renovations are underway. The cafe has locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Montreal, Toronto, and now, Jersey City. Click here to read more about this new location.
The Power Plant Cafe by Boycemode Opening in Jersey City
Recently, we have seen new vegan and vegetarian offerings at existing restaurants. The Power Plant by Boycemode will open at Base Health Club, a luxury health club and spa, located at 60 Christopher Columbus Drive in downtown Jersey City. Boycemode is a local plant-based meal prep delivery service. Hoboken Girl chatted with owner Sam Boyce to get more information on this new cafe. Click here to read about what you can expect at The Power Plant by Boycemode.
Trattoria Saporito Announces Temporary Closure
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Hoboken-based Italian restaurant, Trattoria Saporito announced a temporary closure, via Instagram. The post says, “A note to our customers, we would like to take the time and apologize for the closure of our restaurant in the past few days. It has not been an easy couple of months. Due to the pandemic, we have been short-staffed and now we are having difficulties at our restaurant that need our immediate attention, and because of it we are not able to open.” Click here to read the full post.
Hoboken Girl Founder Jen Tripucka is American Heart Association’s 2021 Survivor Ambassador
The annual American Heart Association’s (AHA) NJ Tri-County Heart Walk is taking place on Saturday, October 2nd, and you can participate either virtually OR in person at Overpeck County Park in Ridgefield Park at 9AM! Walkers and runners can choose to participate at the park or run their own path anywhere else. Donations to the organization will help improve lives and spread awareness for stroke and heart attack victims, as well as Congenital Heart Defect survivors. One such survivor is our Hoboken Girl founder, Jennifer Tripucka. Click here for the full story.
7Seventy House to Increase Security Following Resident Complaints
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Following an incident involving the death of a resident’s dog, 7Seventy House is limiting entrance to the building after 10PM and encouraging residents to report any suspicious incidents, according to Tap Into. Police are currently investigating allegations that a resident’s dog ran into the road where it was hit by an oncoming vehicle after a group of youths spooked the pet.
Hoboken Residents Encouraged to Apply for FEMA Relief
Hoboken flooded with 150 million gallons of water during Tropical Storm Ida. Hoboken Mayor Bhalla is now encouraging residents who suffered flood damage to apply for the federal disaster assistance they need to recover, per a press release. Homeowners and business owners can apply for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Hoboken Police Arrest Lyndhurst Man Wanted in Stabbing Incident
On Wednesday, September 22nd, Hoboken Police identified, arrested, and charged Andre Mateus from Lyndhurst for the stabbing of a 22-year-old North Bergen male. With the help of the Lyndhurst Police Department, Mateus was transported to Hoboken Police Department and charged with Criminal Attempt Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. He was then transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
GLOSSLAB to Open First NJ Location in Hoboken
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The membership-based nail studio, GLOSSLAB, has announced its first New Jersey location in Hoboken, at 200 Washington Street, according to a press release. The studio is slated to open in 2022 in addition to other new locations in New York and Connecticut. GLOSSLAB offers online booking, cashless payment, and contactless check-in and check-out.
Rent Relief Program Expands Eligibility up to $10K
The Jersey City Housing Authority has announced the next application period for the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program, according to a press release. Applications will be accepted starting Monday, October 4th through Monday, October 18th. The program provides rental assistance to low-income residents who are at risk of homelessness or are otherwise struggling financially due to the pandemic.
Good Times Trading Post to Return October 10th
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This week Good Times Trading Post announced its next event which will take place on October 10th at Ambassador Studio. The community can expect locally handmade and vintage vendors, food and drinks, and live music. The Ambassador Studio is located at 57 Leuning Street in South Hackensack.
Annual Hoboken + Jersey City Holi Hai Festival
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Rimli Roy and Surati hosted the 13th Annual Holi Hai Color Walk and Festival on September 25th along the waterfronts of Jersey City and Hoboken. The festival is the largest Holi celebration in the Tri-State area, celebrating unity. The motto for the celebration is, “When everyone is colorful, no one is different!” Click here for all the details.
New Wittenpenn Bridge to Open October 1st
The new span of the Wittpenn Bridge is set to open on October 1st, Patch reports. The bridge, costing almost $500 million, connects Jersey City and Kearny and is named after the former Jersey City Mayor H. Otto Wittpenn. It has been under construction for years but is finally set to open this fall.
Jersey City Police Catch Infant Dropped from Second Story Window
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On Saturday, September 18th, Jersey City police responded to a child endangerment call in which a man was threatening to drop a 1-month-old baby from a second-story window, @jerseycitynj reported. Upon arrival, police set up a perimeter to negotiate with the individual, however the man did eventually drop the baby. The officers on scene reacted quickly and caught the baby, who was not physically injured.
Hoboken Second Most ‘Coffee Obsessed’ in New Jersey
A mattress company has ranked all towns in New Jersey by their coffee obsessions, and Hoboken has come in second, reports Patch. The rankings were based on the number of coffee shops per person, and Hoboken ranked just after Montclair, according to the company Zoma Sleep. Hoboken has 33 coffee shops, with about 1,600 people per shop.
Most Expensive Hoboken Townhouse Lists at $7 Million
The most expensive Hoboken townhouse in history is listed at $7 million, according to NYPost. This unit houses six bedrooms, seven baths, and four floors, and has been completely restored with modern finishes. It’s located on the coveted Hudson Street and is a historically protected red-brick home dating back to 1897.
Hoboken Hosts Fall Arts + Music Festival
The Hoboken Fall Arts and Music Festival is returning on October 3rd, bringing singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston back to where he “got his musical start,” according to NJ.com. Originally from Kansas, Johnston said Hoboken feels like home because he did his first live gigs here. Johnston will share the stage with Dave Schramm and bassist Jared Michael Nickerson. There will also be art displays, crafters, food vendors, local businesses, and activities for kids.
Vaccine Mandate for Child Care Workers
Governor Phil Murphy has announced a vaccine mandate for all child care center personnel, per Tap Into. If child care workers are not vaccinated, they will be required to submit to regular testing, up to two times per week. All child care centers have until November 1st to complete the mandate.
New Law Requires Universities in NJ Provide “Shopping Sheets” to Prospective Students
A new law will require colleges to include information on costs, loan options, and estimated debts to prospective students reports Patch. The aim is to make the college decision process more transparent for prospective students and their parents. Bill S1877 was signed into law on September 16th.
Hoboken Joins Manhattan Short Film Festival
The Hoboken Library will have its own celebration of short films as part of the Manhattan Short Film Festival on September 25th, per NJ.com. The festival will be presented in the library’s lower level. Audience members will vote on the best short films from the festival, and votes will be sent to Manhattan Short’s headquarters. Winners will be announced on October 3rd.
Hudson Theatre Works Announces New Season
Hudson Theatre Works has announced its 2021-2022 season, opening on October 7th, per Hudson Reporter. It will open in October with “Bunnies,” by New Jersey playwright Joanne Hoersch. “Bunnies” tells the story of five Playboy Bunnies in 1973 who are dealing with the rise of feminism, conflicted about their jobs as sex symbols, and haunted by the GoodBar murder.
Jersey City Pastor Discovers Headstone Hidden Inside Tree
Reverend Jon Brown, the pastor of the Old Bergen Church in Jersey City, has been restoring the oldest cemetery in Jersey City, reports Jersey Digs. The cemetery had been neglected long enough for a tree to swallow up one of the headstones in its trunk. During the restoration and cleaning process, Brown discovered the headstone of one of his own ancestors, who he had no idea had even been in Jersey City.
A Massive Sculpture is Being Built on the Jersey City Waterfront
If you’ve been near the Jersey City waterfront of late, you may have noticed a giant sculpture being assembled – it’s kind of hard to miss. Hoboken Girl Readers have been asking what the story behind it is, so we did some digging. The 80 feet tall sculpture in question is called Water’s Soul created by internationally famous artist Jaume Plensa. If you’ve missed the action this past week, fret not, the sculpture will be a permanent fixture in Newport. Click here for more details on the artist and sculpture.
School Bus Driver Shortage Impacts Jersey City Board of Education
A school bus driver shortage for vendors is forcing the Jersey City Board of Education drivers to make additional routes and is causing delays in the classroom, reports Hudson County View. The district is working with the bus companies and district staff to lessen their dependency on vendors. Vendors who are expected to be fully staffed have faced many problems, including drivers leaving for new careers or not showing up without warning.
Jersey City Hosts Most of the Homeless Population in Hudson County
Jersey City’s homeless population makes up more than half of the homeless population in all of Hudson County, per Patch. In Hudson County, 882 persons experiencing homelessness were counted in a single night, about 56.1 percent of which were in Jersey City. The survey was conducted on January 26th, 2021.
Hoboken to Close Streets for Sunday Football Games
For all but one Sunday through October 24th, Hoboken’s First Street will have two blocks closed to traffic, per NJ.com. This is allowing that area’s four bars to expand into the street, letting sports fans gather and watch the games. Mayor Bhalla’s administration quietly debuted this initiative last weekend with support from the Hoboken Business Alliance.
Jersey City Theater Center, The Spot JC Foundation Awarded Grant
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Jersey City Theater Center and The Spot JC Foundation was awarded an $80,000 grant last week, per Hudson Reporter. Funding for this grant came from The Children’s System of Care in New Jersey. These funds will help seed SPOTLIGHT, a new neighborhood arts and youth development program for at-risk students ages 13-21 years old.
