Ice cream benefit and sidewalk carnival to benefit bike camp
HOBOKEN – To wrap up Bike Safety Month and pave the way for an exciting bike camp in Hoboken this summer, Ben & Jerry’s will host an Ice Cream Sidewalk Carnival with free face painters, music, balloons and Celebrity Scoopers on Thursday, May 31, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Proceeds will go toward the 2nd Annual Bike Camp that runs July 8-13 at Hoboken High School. The camp is hosted by the Hoboken Family Alliance in conjunction with Lose The Training Wheels, a not-for-profit organization that uses trained professionals and adaptive bikes to teach disabled children to ride a bike in one week.
Local celebrities and politicos, including Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Artie Lang, Red Bulls personalities, Freeholder Anthony Romano and surprise guests will be at the store dishing out favorite flavors. Ben & Jerry’s along with the City of Hoboken, Litzky Public Relations, Macy’s, Coca-Cola, h-Mag, the Hoboken Harriers,and WPLJ are sponsoring the bike camp. For more information visit www.hobokenfamily.com
City opens park sprinklers & pools for summer season
JERSEY CITY – Since the Memorial Day holiday marks the unofficial start of the summer, Jersey City has opened its two outdoor pools and has turned on sprinklers in city parks. The indoor swimming pool at Pershing Field was also opened over the Memorial Day weekend.
This weekend, the Pavonia Pool, at West Side Avenue and Pavonia, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Monday, May 28. The Lafayette Pool and Aquatic Center, at Johnston and Pacific, will also be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Monday, May 28. The pool at Pershing Field will be open from noon until 6 p.m. through Monday, May 28.
Limited weekday hours will begin on Tuesday, May 29 with full day extended hours beginning after the conclusion of the school year.
Sprinklers are now open seven days a week from 11 a.m. p.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting. The 14 city parks that have sprinklers include:
1. Dr. Lena Edwards Park – 325 Johnston Ave.
2. Arlington Park – 785 Grand St.
3. Audubon Park – 103-129 Bergen Ave.
4. Virginia Ave. Park – 74-80 Virginia Ave.
5. Venator Watson Park – Stevens Ave. & Kennedy Blvd.
6. Wilkinson Avenue Park – 146-152 Wilkinson Ave.
7. Terrace Avenue Park – Thorne St. and Terrace Ave.
8. Rev. Ercel Webb/LaFayette Park – Maple St. & Van Horne Ave.
9. LaPointe Park – 90-92 Dekalb Ave.
10. Country Village Park – 30 Sycamore Road
11. Pershing Field Park – Summit Ave. and Pershing Plaza
12. Roberto Clement Park – Enos Jones – 8th St. & Brunswick St.
13. Columbia Park – Bartholdi Ave. & Kennedy Blvd.
14. Bayside Park – 480 Garfield Ave.
The pools and sprinklers will remain open through Labor Day. For more information on pool hours and sprinklers, contact the Division of Parks and Forestry at (201) 547-4449.
Ramos bill to ‘modernize’ gambling in NJ advanced by assembly panel
HOBOKEN – A bill that seeks to modernize gaming in Atlantic City was advanced by the Assembly Appropriations Committee Monday. The bill, (A-2575), sponsored by Ruben Ramos (D-33rd Dist.), seeks to make various changes to the law governing casino gaming, including allowing casinos to offer electronic versions of authorized games to be played on mobile devices in any area within the property boundaries of the casino hotel facility.
“With all of the increasing attractions in Atlantic City, this is a great way to appease everyone,” said Ramos who also serves as chairman of the Gaming Committee. “If a couple or a group of friends go down and somebody wants to lounge by the pool, or take in a show or dinner, those who want to take advantage of gaming attractions can now have it at their fingertips so they don’t have to miss out on any of the action. In order to position Atlantic City to remain competitive with neighboring states, we need to embrace the future.”
The bill would also allow casinos to offer items such as cars, electronic devices, and more to bring more people to New Jersey casinos. The legislation, which is also sponsored by John Burzichelli (D-3rd Dist.), will now be considered by the full assembly.
JC Food Co-Op whipping up Spring Chef Showdown
JERSEY CITY – On Thursday, June 14 at 6 p.m. the Jersey City Food Co-Op will host its Spring Chef Showdown, a cooking competition featuring chefs from Skinner’s Loft, LITM, Taj Mahal, Made with Love, and other local restaurants. As part of the competition, participating chefs will be given a secret ingredient sold by the Co-Op’s Pre-Shop Buying Club to use in the recipes entered in the competition. The chefs will receive the secret ingredient two days before the June 14 competition.
A jury panel comprised of local political and community leaders will vote on the best dishes cooked up for the event.
“We wanted to create an event that not only showcased the delicious food the Co-Op provides local residents, but that reflects the diverse cuisine exemplified by area restaurants, from Little India to downtown, to West Side Avenue,” said Jersey City Food Co-Op President and Showdown organizer Emilio DeLia. “Gone are the days when you have to commute out of Jersey City to purchase good, wholesome food or eat at a top-quality restaurant. Jersey City has it all and we put together this event to highlight that.”
The Spring Chef Showdown will also include live music, wine, beer, and a tricky tray.
The evening – which will take place at the Co-Op’s distribution center at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (440 Hoboken Ave.) in the Five Corners area near Journal Square – is a fundraiser to benefit the Co-Op’s efforts to offer Jersey City residents fresh food at an affordable price. The Co-Op is a member-owned and operated food store located at Hamilton Square downtown. All members contribute time to the Co-Op, which further allows the cooperative to keep operating costs low.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. To purchase tickets call (201) 500-5232 or visit www.jcfoodcoop.com.
Time To Renew All One-Year Dog Licenses
JERSEY CITY – Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and the Department of Health & Human ServicesBureau of Animal Control are reminding all residents that now is the time to renew all expired dog licenses. All single year dog licenses were up for renewal as of April 30. A late fee will apply to all expired licenses renewed after June 30.
“This is a particularly good time to renew your dog’s license because we are currently in the middle of our Pet Owner’s Day Clinics,” said Mayor Healy. “Every clinic has Animal Control personnel who will help residents process the paperwork.”