Hospital sale completion set for Wednesday
Mayor Dawn Zimmer said in a memo to the City Council that the sale of the hospital is expected to be completed on Oct. 26.
The sale of the city-owned hospital will relieve the taxpayers of a $52 million bond guarantee that was voted on by the council in 2007 when the facility was facing closure. The new owners are HUMC Holdco, an ownership group from Bayonne Medical Center.
The sale still needs to be signed off on by the state Commissioner of Health before the sale is completed in the form of a Certificate of Need. Officials expect the Certificate of Need to be issued by the closing date.
Flood pump dedicated on Monday
The new wet weather pump expected to help solve Hoboken’s centuries-long flooding problem was officially dedicated on Monday afternoon on Observer Highway near Washington Street.
The $18 million pump, financed by the North Hudson Sewerage Authority and a $5 million federal grant, is designed to primarily alleviate flooding in southwest Hoboken, and should also have a mitigating effect on other often flooded areas of the city. The pump will treat the water from the sewer system when flooding occurs, filtering it, and then push it out into the Hudson River.
The actual pump is underground, and the building visible on Observer Highway contains the electrical equipment necessary to run the pump.
The NHSA operates the sewer systems in Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken and West New York, and they worked with local officials to complete the pump.
“Because we all worked together in a professional and business-like manner, we’ve arrived at our celebration today,” said Dr. Richard Wolff, the chairman of the NHSA. “[This is] one very significant step toward improving the quality of life for so many of our ratepayers and residents in the city of Hoboken.”
Originally, plans called for four pumps throughout the city, but Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer said that it appears it won’t be necessary to build all four pumps. The newly constructed pump downtown will be able to pump 100 million gallons of water per day, officials said.
Wolff told The Reporter earlier this month that the NHSA will now observe the impact of the downtown pump before deciding their next steps.
“We still have work ahead, but today is a great day in the city of Hoboken,” Zimmer said.
Wolff also read a statement from Sen. Robert Menendez (D – NJ), who helped secure funds for the pump. The statement said that as a Hoboken resident, Menendez understands the problems of flooding in the city, and was excited to see funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act used in Hoboken.
Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner also spoke at the ceremony, representing Rep. Albio Sires (D – NJ), who, along with Menedez, helped secure the federal funding.
Halloween Drawing Contest winners to be announced next week
In recent weeks, the Reporter ran a contest encouraging local children ages 3-12 to design the pumpkin that was printed within these pages. The contest has ended, and the winning work will be published in the issue of Sunday, Oct. 30, the day before Halloween. Watch the Reporter next weekend for the winning pumpkins!
Vito’s Deli on Washington Street to celebrate 25 years
Vito’s Deli, 806 Washington St., will celebrate 25 years of business on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the deli.
Vito Buzzerio, the owner, said when he was 24, and sick of his long, daily commute to Union, he decided to open up his own deli on Washington Street after he saw a For Sale sign in the window down the block from his house.
“My mom started working for me, and my dad helped making deliveries,” Buzzerio said, reflecting on the 25 years. “I had family members helping me out. Everybody knows ‘Vito’s Deli.’ I’ve seen many changes in Hoboken. I was born and raised here, and I think we really changed with the times nicely.”
Buddy Valastro from The Cake Boss made a cake for the ceremony, and he was invited to the party, Buzzerio said.
Steel worker burned in office building
County officials airlifted a steel worker to the Saint Barnabas Medical Center Burn Unit in Livingston on Tuesday as a precaution after he had suffered second degree burns to his legs and knees while working on a county building in Kearny.
County spokesperson Jim Kennelly said the action was taken as a precaution after sparks ignited his pants while the man was working inside a building at 110 South Hackensack Ave.
Kennelly said federal and state authorities were notified, and that inspectors from the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration will be coming to the site to review the safety precautions.
Kennelly said this is routine when a worker injured. The worker was not identified.
The county building is currently being renovated for use as a garage to house emergency vehicles and uses for the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, part of an overall strategy for reorganizing many of the county’s resources in Kearny, Jersey City and Secaucus.
Buddy to bake cake for Statue of Liberty birthday bash
Buddy Valastro from the popular Hoboken-based show “Cake Boss” has probably never baked for such a tall, old woman before. But on Oct. 28, he will present a special cake for Lady Liberty as she turns 125, according to a report from Crain’s New York Business.
The ceremonies on Oct. 28 will include a naturalization ceremony for 125 citizens, as well as a Macy’s fireworks display which, according to the report, is meant to replicate the statue’s original dedication ceremony on Oct. 28, 1886.
The story also says the celebration will kick off a year-long, $27.3 million renovation to the interior of the Statue of Liberty, and that a new webcam is being installed in the statue’s torch to provide a streaming video of the New York harbor which will be available for viewing online. The party is being planned by the National Park Service.