Police and Fire departments host toy drive
The Hoboken police and fire departments have partnered with the Hoboken Special Needs Parent Group to host their annual toy drive.
The toy drive will have several drop-off locations throughout the city and will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 1.
Those interested in donating toys can bring new and unwrapped gifts to the following locations: Hoboken Police Department, any Hoboken firehouse, My Gym, Urban Jungle Play, or World of Wonder. If you or someone you know has a Hoboken family in need, call Sergeant Melissa Gigante at (201) 420-2100.
‘Broadway Cabaret’ at the Mile Square Theatre
The Mile Square Theatre will host “Broadway Cabaret” on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Kolo Klub. The fundraising event will feature Broadway performers such as Rich Affanato (“The Producers”, “Les Miserables”), Don Brewer (“Les Miserables”, “Mamma Mia”, “The Pirate Queen”), Anne Brummel (“Wicked”, “Evita”), and more.
“Some of Broadway’s most dynamic performers come to Hoboken for an evening of show tunes from productions past and present. This is a rare chance to see these performers up close in the intimate,” said the organizers in a statement.
The performance will be held at Pilsener Haus at 1422 Grand St. Tickets, which are limited, cost $150 and include drinks. Proceeds from the performance will support the Mile Square Theatre. To purchase tickets visit www.milesquaretheatre.org.
Candy buyback
Blooming Smiles Pediatric Dentistry will offer overzealous trick or treater’s a chance to get a buck for their candy.
For every five pounds of sweets, the dentist office (at 232 Bloomfield St. in Hoboken) will give $5 and a free toothbrush. The candy will ultimately be sent to American troops overseas. For details visit www.lucasdental.com.
‘The Wizard’s Garden & Other Dances for the Young and Old’ coming Nov. 1 and 8
An afternoon of storytelling dances for all ages will be performed by Nimbus Dance Works’ professional company dancers in the company’s intimate studio theater, 209 3rd St., Jersey City, on the next two Sundays, Nov. 1 and 8, with two performances each day at 1 and 4 p.m. Following the performance, audience members can meet the performers for photo opportunities on the red carpet, and share light refreshments.
The program includes “Honor Among Thieves” and “Wizard’s Garden” by Madeline Cantor and “Danzon” by Pedro Ruiz. Each performance lasts approximately 50 minutes.
Tickets for all seats are $15, and can be purchased at http://wizardsgarden2015.bpt.me/.
For more information, call (201)377-0718 or visit www.nimbusdanceworks.org
A&P announces that it will be transitioning into an ACME
The Hoboken A&P on Clinton Street announced this week that it will close for three days and transition into an ACME supermarket.
The A&P will close Nov. 5 and reopen Nov. 8.
Bathroom break
A 30 year-old Hoboken man was escorted out of Fresh Tortillas Grill in handcuffs on Thursday night, Oct. 29 after allegedly breaking in to the restaurant.
A press release from the Hoboken Police Department, says Officers Roberto Cuevas, Nate Arocho, Teddy Santiago and Sgt. William Vera responded to a burglary call at 514 Washington St.
“The officers all entered the business [where they observed the front door had been damaged] and scanned the establishment for suspects,” says the press release.
In time, the release states, Dean Mongon of Hoboken was found hiding inside the bathroom of the restaurant.
He was arrested at 11:48 p.m. and transported to the Central Judiciary Processing for arraignment. His bail was set at $20,000 with a 10 percent option.
Resident to run in honor of youngest Boston Marathon victim
James Barbuto, of Hoboken, is one of 22 runners participating in the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon as part of Team MR8 on Sunday, Nov. 1. Team MR8 is representing the youngest victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon, Martin Richard.
The Martin Richard Foundation, which was founded in 2013 by Richard’s parents, has thus far raised over $60,000.
The marathon is run by New York Road Runner and invites the world’s top professional athletes and amateur runners. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for people to raise money and represent a charity of their choosing.
The 26.2-mile, five-borough marathon runs from Staten Island to Manhattan, starting at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
“He was a peacemaker in school, and was pictured bearing his message of ‘No more hurting people. Peace.’ Seeing this image and hearing Martin’s words and how the community has embraced his spirit, I wish for my own children to one day change the world in such a powerful way by creating such good out of such senseless loss,” said fellow runner on Team MR8, Edward Hulten. “It is such a thrill to be running with Team MR8 as a salute to the spirit of young Martin Richard for the 2015 New York City marathon this November 1st.”
Superstorm Sandy turns 3; plans for microgrid among chief initiatives
Three years ago on Oct. 29, Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc in Hoboken. 500 million gallons of water flooded the streets and 90 percent of the city lost power. In a release this morning the city says it is making progress to protect the city from future storms with flood-resistant parks and a city-wide microgrid.
“We are making real progress towards implementing a comprehensive water management strategy in collaboration with the DEP, federal government, and neighboring cities, and thanks to the dedicated work of our resident volunteers on the Community Advisory Group,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “I strongly encourage our community to remain involved so we build consensus and implement this plan with the goals of reducing flood risk and lowering flood insurance costs.”
In the summer, the city collaborated with Greener by Design and Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) Climate Corps to design a microgrid that would supply back-up power to 55 critical buildings in Hoboken such as fire stations, pharmacies, as well as low-income and senior housing. Funds to design the grid were taken from the city’s recovery fund. The EDF Corps is a program that matches graduate students with organizations to develop sustainability projects.
The result of the collaboration was the Resilient Microgrids Toolkit. Officials said “the toolkit provides the city with the resources necessary to establish and maintain a clean and resilient microgrid.”
Although the microgrid is not live, the project helps planners identify the city’s most vulnerable citizens. A case study on the microgrid toolkit is available at www.edfclimatecorps.org/sites/edfclimatecorps.org/files/hoboken_casestudy.pdf
The mile square city has also funded construction of a wet weather pump slated for completion next year. Parks with the capacity to mitigate thousands of gallons of stormwater runoff are also in the works: 6-acre BASF property in the northwest, Southwest Park which is scheduled to break ground by the end of the year, and 2 acre resiliency park and plaza at 7th and Jackson streets.
“The city is also working with the State of New Jersey to implement a ‘Resist, Delay, Store, Discharge’ flood resiliency strategy which received $230 million through the Rebuild by Design competition,” the announcement says.
A scoping meeting to discuss the Rebuild by Design plan was held in September. The meeting is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD7rLXsBjMw. To read our story on Rebuild by Design visit http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/26878691/article-Turning-back-the-tide–Public-speaks-out-at-first-meeting-for-$230-million-flood-project-.
Hudson School to host fundraiser for youth leadership program
The Hudson School will host a fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 12 for their youth diversity leadership program.
“The immediate goal of the fundraiser is to fund the attendance of students and teachers at the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference that is held in conjunction with the People of Color Conference in Tampa in December,” said school officials in a press release.
While the NAIS conference helps students develop strong cross-cultural networking skills, the People of Color conference works to help educators enhance the intercultural climate at their school.
Tickets for the fundraiser cost $40 and are available at www.thehudsonschool.org.
The event, which will be held at 6 p.m., will offer deserts, coffee and tea to attendees.
French-based vodka company celebrates local entrepreneur
Vodka Mariette, a vodka produced in Bordeaux, France, is celebrating Hoboken resident Ashley Gropacks this month for launching her own brand of alcohol, Tropical Teaze.
The French company said they highlight a female entrepreneur every month in order to motivate other woman who are thinking of starting their own business venture.
“October’s candidate Ashley Gropack is a wonderful example of what can happen when you follow your passion,” Mariette founder Josh Winzelberg said in a statement. “Creating a product is always difficult, particularly in alcohol, but she overcame all obstacles, brought her family together, and made a beverage that’s revolutionary.”
Gropacks all-natural cocktail includes pieces of fruit and is available in mango, peach, pear pineapple, strawberry banana and watermelon kiwi.
Zimmer pens opinion to New York Times: ‘We’re learning to live with water’
In an opinion piece to the New York Times on Oct. 28, Mayor Dawn Zimmer said “finding a way to live with the river [in Hoboken] is key.”
Just a day before the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy’s devastating impact on the mile square city, the mayor outlines ways the city has worked to fend off flooding caused by heavy rain and rising sea levels.
From seismologists, to politicians, and architects, the series offers an array of voices on the matter.
“We are building, and collaborating on, projects that will give flood waters a new path and make our city more resilient,” she wrote to the New York Times. “The plan begins with waterfront parks that provide physical defense from storm surges, while bringing more public access to the waterfront. In heavy rain, stormwater can be caught, and stored, in retention basins that will be built under three new ‘resiliency parks.’”
Zimmer also highlighted a number of other efforts that have been in the works since the super storm. Read it at www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/10/28/three-years-after-sandy-are-coastal-communities-safer.