About this special issue
This special all-county edition of the Hudson Reporter newspapers replaces your regular editions in Guttenberg, Hoboken, Jersey City, North Bergen, Secaucus, Union City, Weehawken, and West New York.
Our offices reopen Monday and will publish the regular editions again starting Sunday, Jan. 10. Happy new year!
For continually updated breaking news, check out hudsonreporter.com. Send letters (500 word limit) and news tips to editorial@Hudsonreporer.com and always put your town in the subject head.
Toddler recovers from shooting in Jersey City
A one-and-half year-old toddler is stable following successful surgery at Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health after being injured from a stray bullet on Dec. 26, according to Mark Rabson, spokesperson for JCMC.
The toddler’s injuries were non-life threatening, said city spokesperson Jennifer Morrill.
“It appears glass from a broken rear window or a possible bullet fragment may be lodged in his right cheek after a bullet hit the car that was an unintended target,” Morrill said. “The perpetrator fled the scene and CeaseFire detectives are searching for the suspect.”
The shooting occurred near Bergen and Harrison Avenues around 2 p.m. while the baby was seated in the back of her parents’ car. Witnesses said there were about a dozen shots fired in the altercation. No arrests had been made as of Sunday.
Jersey City has recently suffered from a spree of shootings and murders. See the recent cover story in the Jersey City Reporter for more details, or look at the year-end wrapup in this edition.
Police search for alleged brawler on day following Hoboken SantaCon
The Hoboken Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who allegedly punched another man, rendering him unconscious, on Sunday morning, Dec. 20, the day following SantaCon 2015, police detective Jonathan Mecka said in an email.
The aggravated assault took place around 12:10 a.m. at 41 Hudson Place and police say they are searching for “a white male approximately 5’8 -5’10 wearing a dark colored suit with a long dark colored tie.”
According to officials, the alleged brawler was accompanied by another man with a similar description except wearing a bow tie, and two women. Hoboken Police are currently working with establishments in the area of the assault to identify the perpetrator. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Mecka at 201-420-2113 or Sgt. Edgardo Cruz at 201-420-2110.
“Ho Ho Hoboken SantaCon,” which took place the day before on Dec. 19, resulted in nine arrests and 60 to 70 summonses. Of the arrests, four were for disorderly conduct, two for aggravated assault, and three for driving while intoxicated.
Secaucus family loses home to massive fire on Christmas Day; cat perishes
Firefighters found a fire in the basement of a two-story, wood-frame row house on Myrtle Avenue after the homeowner spotted smoke and called it in at 2:52 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 25. The fire quickly extended up the interior walls and spread to the first and second floors as well as the roof. Firefighters were evacuated from the interior of the building and a defensive attack was initiated from the exterior. At that point a second alarm was transmitted, bringing mutual aid to the scene to protect neighbors’ homes, one of which was only three feet away.
The fire was placed under control at 6:27 p.m. Residents from the surrounding homes were allowed back in the homes by 7 p.m. Personnel remained on the scene until midnight when the decision was made to tear down the house because it was structurally unsound. Three occupants from the same family were displaced, including a grandmother who has lived in the house for 62 years. One of the family’s cats was rescued by police officers but another retreated further into the home and perished.
Firefighters were able to retrieve many items from the house before it was demolished, including jewelry, clothing, pictures, and documents.
One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to Meadowlands Hospital, then released. Mayor Michael Gonnelli, a volunteer firefighter in town, was among the first responders and received a burn on his hand. All Secaucus fire units fought the fire. Also at the scene assisting were fire departments from North Arlington, Kearny, and Jersey City, JCFD Gong Club, Secaucus Police Department, OEM, and Building Departments, and Meadowlands Hospital EMS. Initially covering the town were the Lyndhurst, East Rutherford, and Wallington Fire Departments, but they were eventually called to the scene to relieve exhausted fire units.
Contributions on behalf of the family can be sent to the Secaucus Emergency Fund, 101 Centre Ave., Secaucus, NJ 07094. Checks should be made payable to Secaucus Emergency Fund.
Firefighters suspect the fire started in an old, unused electric stove in the basement. Because the building was razed that night, a thorough investigation could not be performed.
Union City introduces $112M city budget
The Union City Board of Commissioners introduced a fiscal year 2016 budget at a meeting on Nov. 4, covering spending from this past July through the coming June. It projected that it would take $112.3 million to run the city during the state fiscal year 2015-2016. This is up from $109.3 million budgeted last year.
A hearing was slated for this month. Results were not available by press time.
The residents pay quarterly taxes to three entities: The city, the state, and the schools. The school budget was struck by the Board of School Estimate back in March. It will take $264.5 million to run the Union City schools this academic year.
To read the introduced municipal budget, go to: http://www.ucnj.com/web_content/pdf/budgets/municipal-budgets/2016-UC-Introduced-Budget.pdf.
Weehawken High School presents ‘Snow Angel’ on Jan. 8 -9
In ‘Snow Angel’ by David Lindsay-Abaire, a group of teens snowed in during a blizzard encounter a girl named Eva who changes everything they believe. The group goes from enemies to friends and back again as new information is discovered and drama unfolds.
The play will be presented on Friday, Jan. 8 and Saturday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Weehawken High School Auditorium, 53 Liberty Place, Weehawken. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 and through pre-sale at the school.
The cast is comprised of students from grades 7-12.