Reporter offices open on Black Friday
Happy Thanksgiving! The Reporter offices are closed on Thanksgiving day, Thursday, Nov. 24, but will be open for most of the day on Friday, Nov. 25. Keep watching hudsonreporter.com for up to the minute news. Have a great weekend!
Sen. Menendez visits to promote ‘Small Business Saturday’
HUDSON COUNTY – Everyone knows about Black Friday. Some may even have heard of Cyber Monday. But what about Small Business Saturday?
Small Business Saturday is an annual campaign to encourage shoppers to buy gifts from local businesses during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D – NJ) spoke at Big Fun Toys on Washington Street in Hoboken on Monday afternoon alongside Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Wendy Olivera, who is the president of the Hudson County NJ Association of Women Business Owners, and Kathleen Childs of Big Fun Toys.
Menendez said he remembered that when he lived in Hoboken, he would frequent small businesses in the mile-square city for shopping, and urged others to do so.
He said that even though federal programs help small businesses, they cannot succeed without a reasonable demand for their goods from the local community.
Zimmer encouraged residents to shop locally, saying it is the “most convenient and most enjoyable way” to complete holiday shopping.
Zimmer, who said parking is “a challenge” in Hoboken, explained a parking coupon program that the city is offering business owners during the holiday season to allow customers to park in municipal garages.
Starting on Nov. 21, Hoboken businesses can visit the Hoboken Parking Utility to pick up $100 worth of “Park-and-Shop” customer coupons for free, valid from Nov. 26 through Dec. 31, according to a city release. “Park-and-Shop” validation coupons are always available for purchase by registered Hoboken businesses at the Hoboken Parking Utility during regular business hours. — Ray Smith
11th annual ‘Shout Down Drugs’ music competition kicks off
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and United Way of Hudson County have launched the 11th annual “Hudson County “Shout Down Drugs” music competition.
High School students are encouraged to submit their own original substance abuse prevention songs, complete with their own lyrics and music. Interested students should contact their school principal, music department or substance abuse awareness coordinator to submit their song no later than Thursday, Jan. 12.
Participants will compete in a countywide concert at Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City on Friday, April 20, 2012. Participants will have a chance to win a $1,000 music contract with PDFNJ and United Way of Hudson County to perform their winning song at events, attend a professional music recording, and have their song produced onto a CD for countywide distribution.
For entry information, visit www.drugfreenj.org/hudsoncounty_sdd/ or call (973) 467-2100 ext: 24.
b>High Tech High School will hold fundraiser
High Tech High School, at 2000 85th Street in North Bergen, will hold an “‘Everything’ Flea Market, Craft and Collectible Show” on Saturday, Nov. 26 from 9 to 5 p.m.
The fundraiser will have 50+ exhibitors displaying an array of quality merchandise such as sports collectibles, handbags, clothing, jewelry, gloves and scarves, gift items, dollar items, collectibles, and more.
The event will be held by JC Promotions, a professional fundraising company that produces flea markets, festivals, arts and crafts shows, and more throughout New Jersey. The company is offering 4 free spaces to any school organization interested in having an exhibitor space to sell their items.
Admission is free, and proceeds will go toward the HTHS Yearbook Fund. For more information on the fundraiser or to reserve an exhibit space, call (201) 998-1144 or e-mail events@jcpromotions.info.