High school student allegedly fondled 12-year-old girl
A Hoboken High School student allegedly fondled a 12-year-old seventh grader in a school elevator on Thursday, May 19, Hoboken Sgt. Edgardo Cruz confirmed on Wednesday.
Cruz asserted that the 16-year-old boy was arrested Friday night, May 20 and charged with criminal sexual contact and unlawful imprisonment in connection with the incident that occurred on Thursday, May 19 – defined as touching an “intimate part” over the girl’s clothing.
Superintendent of Hoboken Schools Christine Johnson reportedly sent out correspondence to district parents following the incident. However, she did not respond to calls or emails about what parents were told by Wednesday afternoon.
On Wednesday Cruz said “currently [we] not have an update on the female or male student or the actions the school has taken.”
“We cannot reveal their names or more information as to the exact details of the incident/touching,” he added.
NJ.com reported that the girl told school officials about the incident and they reported it to police. The story said the girl’s family said she hasn’t been herself since the incident. Some parents in the story complained that the seventh and eighth grades at Hoboken High are not separate enough from the high school classrooms.
In a letter to parents after the articles ran, Superintendent Christine Johnson briefly stated, “Please understand that the district cannot comment specifically on this incident due to confidentiality that must be extended to both students.”
City sanitation worker charged with alleged credit card theft, marijuana possession
A Hoboken city sanitation worker was accused of finding a local woman’s lost credit card and using it to run up $390 in illegal charges, the Hoboken Police Department said in a press release.
In the release, Sgt. Edgardo Cruz said on May 16 a woman reported that she had lost her credit card and someone had used it – racking up $390 “from various businesses in town.”
Through an investigation, Det. David Dimartino determined that city sanitation worker Deeon Walker, 28, of Hoboken, found the lost credit card and made the purchases, the press release said.
“It was also determined that these purchases were [allegedly] made while he was on duty as a City of Hoboken sanitation employee,” Cruz said in the media release.
According to officials, Walker was arrested on Friday, May 20 around 3 p.m. at Pier A Park while on duty and a search discovered he also had marijuana in his possession.
In all, Walker was charged with credit card theft, unlawful credit card use, theft of property lost or mislaid, theft by deception, and possession of marijuana under 50 grams.
Walker was given a summons and a court date for his appearance.
An online search has turned up past media stories of other arrests of a Hoboken resident by that name.
City spokesman Juan Melli said Friday that Walker has been “suspended without pay pending the finality of the disciplinary action for removal.”
Stevens may have elevated lead levels in drinking water
As the Hoboken public school district waits to find out whether high levels of lead are present in its drinking water, Stevens Institute of Technology is taking its own actions.
A published report this past week said preliminary testing in late April has revealed that of 18 university buildings, five residential buildings had levels above regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
A campus-wide email informed students of the test results on May 17, the last day of final exams. Since then, Stevens has provided bottled water to the residents in the afflicted buildings, NJ.com reported.
The affected buildings are Davis, Palmer, Humphreys, 600 River Terrace and 604 River Terrace. School officials say the water in those buildings is safe for bathing and washing, but for students drinking and cooking they advise the students to only use cold water and allow it to run for a minimum of two minutes.
Stevens did not respond to calls and emails by press time.
Two farmer’s markets announce their return
The Hoboken Uptown Farmers’ Market, in partnership with The Quality of Life Coalition, will launch its fresh-produce marketplace on Thursday, June 2.
“This year, we are thrilled to welcome occasional guest vendors,” said market organizers in a media release. “Jersey City Fish Stand will set up at the market the first Thursday of each month, with a local and sustainable selection of seafood. Also, Roaming Acres Farm will be at the market every week with an exceptional variety of free-range and antibiotics-free meats, from kosher chicken, to ostrich, bison, and emu.”
The farmers market, which opens on Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m., is located at the corner of 13th and Hudson Streets.
Returning vendors for the market’s eighth season are Stony Hill Farms, Gina’s Bakery, Hoboken Farms, and Doc Pickle.
A few blocks away, a newer market returns with its usual buffet of family entertainment.
You can see Polka Dot the clown at the Garden Street Farmer’s Market kickoff ceremony on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market, at 14th and Garden Streets, sells produce, pickles/olives, breads, cheese, fish, meat, sweets/pies/donuts, flowers, prepared foods, fresh lemonade, hummus, pressed juices, and more.
Jersey City teen hit by car in Hoboken
A 15-year-old Jersey City boy was struck by a car on Wednesday night, May 25 while riding his bike near 15th Street and Park Avenue, according to the Hoboken Police Department.
Following the incident, the teenager was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center. He is still being treated at the hospital as of Thursday, Sgt. Edgardo Cruz said.
Cruz noted that the driver remained at the scene until police personnel arrived but no witnesses have come forward.
The boy’s name and injuries were not disclosed as the incident is still under investigation. Any witnesses of the incident who have not spoken to police officials are asked to call (201) 420-5109.
Mayor makes Hoboken Housing Authority appointment
In addition to the Hoboken City Council’s appointment of Hovie Forman at the latest council meeting, Mayor Dawn Zimmer has appointed National Association of Professional Women Chapter President La-Trenda Ross on May 12. Ross has been active in community events and lives in the Housing Authority.
“I have lived [in the] Hoboken Housing Authority since the early ’90s,” said Ross regarding her appointment this past week. “[As an HHA Board Commissioner I] will continue to determine people’s social, emotional, and economic problems and needs or referring residents for appropriate professional services along with developing resources, programs and social policies to address unmet community needs.”
Museum to extend Frank Sinatra exhibit; Garden Tour and pigeon exhibit coming
The Hoboken Historical Museum will host numerous events in June, and plans to extend the “Frank Sinatra: The Man, the Voice and the Fans” exhibit – initially planned to close on July 3 – through the end of the year.
The decision was done “due to unprecedented public interest” in the exhibition, a museum spokesperson said.
On June 4, the museum will have the opening reception for the upper gallery art exhibit, “The Real Poop on Pigeons: Paintings by Kevin McCloskey” from 2 to 4 p.m. His work will remain on display through July 3 and the exhibit is free to the public.
The Sinatra Singer Series will continue, featuring Jack McDade on June 4 at 4 p.m. Admission is a suggested entrance fee of $5.
The 19th Annual Secret Garden Tour will be held on Sunday, June 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The rain date is June 12.
“Tucked away behind Hoboken’s row homes and converted factory buildings is a world of lush gardens and cleverly designed courtyard spaces, as diverse as the city’s residents. Gardeners and non-gardeners alike are invited to indulge their curiosity and pick up urban gardening ideas [at the tour],” the museum said in a statement.
Tickets for the tour cost $25 and $30 on tour day.
A garden-related author talk is also scheduled on Thursday, June 2 at 7 p.m. with garden historian Marta McDowell. The event will be held at Little City Books (100 Bloomfield St.).
For a list of other upcoming June events visit www.hobokenmuseum.org.
Updated Public Library’s pop-up branch dates
The next scheduled closing dates of the Hoboken Public Library’s main building are June 6 to 17.
During those dates the library will operate out of a pop-up Branch at the Multi-Service Center (June 6 to 17). Over the weekend the Hoboken Reporter published that those dates are May 26 to June 6, but the dates have been updated due to the construction schedule.
The library is currently undergoing a $3.2 million renovation, which began earlier this year and expected to be finished by the end of 2016.
Closing reception for Bill Curran on Sunday
Artist Bill Curran has an exhibit at the Hoboken Historical Museum of his paintings of Hoboken, and he’s added 40 more.
The closing reception will be held this Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum, 1301 Hudson St. Call (201) 656-2240 or visit hobokenmuseum.org for more information.
Little City hosts reading by Pulitzer-prize winner Bill Finnegan
2016 Pulitzer-prize winner Bill Finnegan will have a reading at Little City Books on June 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Finnegan, an acclaimed New Yorker writer, will read from his award-winning memoir “Barbarian Days: A Surfer Life.” To attend you must purchase a copy of the book for $17.
The bookstore is located at 100 Bloomfield St.
Mustard Seed School receives $250,000 gift
Mustard Seed School has announced it has received a gift of $250,000 from entrepreneur and philanthropist Coleman Fung. The gift will establish and fund the Coleman Fung Chair for Creativity and Design. The endowed chair will provide an annual budget to further develop the school curriculum in areas that promote creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.
This is the third endowed chair that Mr. Fung has given to the school. In 2007, he founded Mustard Seed’s endowed chair program with the Coleman Fung Chair for Mathematics and the Coleman Fung Chair for Music.
“When I evaluate programs to support, I have three criteria: vigorous, creative, and inclusive,” says Mr. Fung. “Mustard Seed School is all of these things. The more I learn about Mustard Seed’s model – the style of teaching, the program – the more I love it. As an entrepreneur, I consider Mustard Seed to be one of the best, if not the best, investment opportunities.”
“I am deeply grateful for Coleman’s incredible generosity and steadfast support of Mustard Seed’s students and teachers,” said Head of School Thomas Postema. “Over the past decade, we’ve seen incredible growth in our school because of the endowed chair program. Money from the chairs continues to provide resources, materials, and professional development opportunities for teachers. It gives us the flexibility to bring in experts and send students into the field for first-hand experiences.”
The Coleman Fung Chair for Creativity and Design has been given in conjunction with the school’s $3 million Together for Tomorrow Campaign, the public phase of which began in January.
Mustard Seed School has an intentional mission to the urban poor, with over 50 percent of its kindergarten through eighth grade students receiving financial aid. The school has over 270 preK-8th grade students. For more information, go to www.mustardseedschool.org.
Hoboken University Medical Center awarded for stroke care excellence
Hoboken University Medical Center was recently awarded the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.
“The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence,” reads an excerpt from a press release from the hospital this past week.
To gain the accolade, hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke achievement indicators for two or more successive 12-month periods and accomplish 75 percent or higher compliance with five of eight Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality measures.
“A stroke patient loses 1.9 million neurons each minute stroke treatment is delayed. This recognition further demonstrates our commitment to delivering advanced stroke treatments to patients quickly and safely,” said Dr. Meika Roberson, Chief Medical Officer of the Hoboken University Medical Center in a statement. “We continue to strive for excellence in the acute treatment of stroke patients. The recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke further reinforces our team’s hard work.”