Park Avenue Bridge construction will halt during day, but bridge will close at night
When the controversial construction on Park Avenue Bridge – which had caused traffic tie-ups during rush hour – resumes at some point in the future, it will only take place at night, according to Tweets posted by Hudson County’s official Twitter page. But during night-time construction, both lanes will close.
Construction stopped last weekend due to a statewide order from Gov. Chris Christie after the state legislature failed to approve a gas tax to help pay for projects.
Before that, Hoboken residents complained when the one-lane closure backed up traffic during rush hour.
It’s uncertain when the work will resume. But when it does, it will occur Sunday through Thursday from 8p.m. to 6 a.m. and Friday from 10p.m. to 8 a.m. It will not occur on Saturday.
The bridge will be open both ways during the day but be closed completely at night.
The Tweets state that “noise dampening techniques will be employed to keep reduce sound from work during nighttime Park Avenue Bridge Rehab.”
The Willow Avenue Bridge will remain two lanes northbound and one lane south bound through construction.
Mayor Dawn Zimmer thanked Mayor Richard Turner of Weehawken and Tom DeGise, the county executive for Hudson County, for “collaborating to make this modification possible,” in a Tweet posted on July 18.
Man allegedly posed as a Hudson County police officer in scam
An employee at grocery store on Seventh and Garden streets was scammed out of $50 by an unknown man who identified himself as an officer with the Hudson County Police Department, police said last week.
The white male, of approximately 6 feet tall, showed the employee a county identification card and said he was collecting donations for the Center of Protection and Recovery Services.
The alleged scammer stated that the store’s proprietor had made an agreement with him to donate $50 to the cause.
When the employee was unable to get in touch with his employer, he decided to give the alleged scammer the donation without checking the existence of the organization.
The man is described as having dark, straight, pushed-back hair and glasses, a white colored button-down, tan khaki pants, and black shoes.
The Hoboken Police Department urges residents to research charitable organizations before donating, as “rip-off artists” will try and take advantage of their generosity.
Deadline to run for school board is Monday
The deadline for filing to run for a seat on the nine-member Board of Education is Monday, July 25 at 4 p.m. The election will be held in November.
There are three seats for three-year terms available, as the terms of Jennifer Evans, Leon Gold, and Irene Sobolov are expiring.
Nominating petitions are available from the Office of the County Clerk Elections Division located on 257 Cornelison Ave. in Jersey City. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
PATH train to 33rd Street suspended weekends starting Aug. 6
Beginning the weekend of Aug 6, the PATH train from Hoboken to 33rd Street will be suspended on weekends.
Service will be suspended from each 12:01 a.m. on Saturday until 5 a.m. on Monday.
This schedule will continue most weekends through December of 2016 with the exception of major holidays.
The weekend closures will impact the Christopher, Ninth, 14th, and 33rd Street stations.
Regular weekend service will continue on the Newark-World Tade Center (WTC) line and between Journal Square and Hoboken.
Direct service between Hoboken and WTC, normally not available on weekends, will be introduced.
PATH riders affected by the closures may travel to the WTC station which offers accessibility to the New York City subway and uptown destinations. While service is suspended, shuttle buses will be provided, making stops between the WTC and 29th Street along Sixth and Seventh avenues.
The 33rd Street PATH line upgrade is part of a multi-phased plan to improve the system and provide riders more frequent rush hour service. Further updates, bus maps, and details will be provided as available through the Port Authority’s website, www.paynj.gov/PATH
Hoboken resident will compete in this year’s Olympic Games
Hoboken resident Dagmara Wozniak will represent the United States in the 2016 summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero.
Wozniak will compete in the sabre fencing individual and team competitions.
This will be her third Olympic competition as she competed in the 2012 London Olympics as an alternate and in 2008 Beijing Olympics. She earned a gold medal in the individual and team competitions at the 2015 Pan American Games and an individual gold medal in 2011. Since 2007, Wozniak also earned a gold medal and four bronze medals in the team competitions at the World Championships.
Mayor Dawn Zimmer presented Wozniak with a mayoral proclamation on Thursday, July 21 as well as offer best wishes to the athlete.
“On behalf of all Hoboken residents, I extend my best wishes to Dagmara Wozniak as she represents Team USA in the 2016 Olympic Games,” said Zimmer. “We are proud of her dedication to her team and country and know her tireless work ethic and hours of practice will lead to great results. Good luck to Dagmara and all of the athletes representing Team USA!”
Hoboken Cove Boathouse offers free water activities
The boathouse located at Maxwell Place Park Beach is offering free kayaking and paddle boarding in on July 24 from 2p.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information visit hobokencoveboathouse.org.
Guitar Bar attempts world record for the fourth time
The Guitar Bar is asking everyone to join their band in another attempt to break the record for largest band performing on one song.
The event, titled “The Guitar Bar All Stars ‘Knockin’ On Hoboken’s Door,’ is hosted by Mayor Dawn Zimmer and the city of Hoboken. It will be held at Sinatra Park on Thursday, July 28 at 7 p.m.
This year they will perform “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan as well as other beginner-level songs including music by The Beatles, Bob Marley, and Arcade Fire.
Tutorials will be provided on The Guitar Bar’s YouTube page for guitar, mandolin, and ukulele that will teach the basic chords needed for all songs.
Last year over 400 people came to participate but unfortunately that wasn’t enough, as the record listed by the Guinness Book of World Records lists 953 participants in Beijing, China as the largest rock band, and 6,346 guitarists as the largest guitar ensemble in Poland.
For more information, please call James Mastro at 201-222-0915, email james@guitarbar.com, or visitguitarbar.com/worldrecord
Coonty freeholders honor Chirichella Boys Little League Baseball team
The Chirichella Boys Little League Baseball Team won the 2016 City of Hoboken Championship Series, and were honored recently by the county. The team beat Team Russo for the championship of the Major League Division by a score of 4-3 with a game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th inning.
The Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders congratulated the Chirichella Boys Little League Baseball Team on their win last week. They stated in a media release, “This outstanding result reflects a high level of dedication and determination by the… members and coaches of the Chirichella Boys Little League Team who worked so hard to achieve this great success.”
The media release continued stating the importance of Little League Baseball by “instructing young people in the value of teamwork and good sportsmanship, Hoboken Little League and its coaches, officers, and dedicated volunteers have assisted in the development of thousands of upstanding and productive citizens.”
Women arrested for DWI, alleged parking on sidewalk
A 21- year-old West Orange resident was charged in Hoboken last week for Driving While Intoxicated, reckless driving, and parking on the sidewalk.
The woman, Cindy Ardon, was found walking back to her car while allegedly “stumbling and unsteady,” said the media release provided by the Hoboken Police Department.
Her car was parked near CVS Pharmacy located on 59 Washington St and had damage to its front bumper and a flat tire, police said. It was allegedly parked on the sidewalk.
Officers admitted a field sobriety test on the scene, which, they said, she allegedly failed to complete. Once she was placed under arrest and taken to police headquarters, a breath test was administered, which was found to be above the legal limit, police said.
Holy Rosary Church celebrates 113th Italian Festival in downtown Jersey City
La Festa Italiana 2016, the Old World Italian Street Festival hosted by Holy Rosary Church, runs Wednesday, Aug. 10 through Sunday, Aug. 14 on Sixth and Brunswick streets.
Founded in 1885, Holy Rosary Church is the first Italian Roman Catholic Parish in New Jersey. La Festa Italiana honors the veneration of Maria SS. Dell’Assunta & San Rocco, and offers the Downtown community the opportunity to party with its neighbors.
This year’s festival will feature live bands, fun for the kids, food, souvenir vendors, and Italian delicacies made by Holy Rosary Church parishioners.
The festival runs from 5 to 11 p.m. Wednesday-to-Friday, and 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The last night (Sunday) at 11 p.m., the “Super 50/50” Raffle winner will be chosen. Last year’s ticket-holder won over $10,200.
La Festa Italiana 2016 will have a five-star line-up of music performed by live bands and music groups.
Every night of the festival, on Sixth and Brunswick streets, DJ Dan of Blueline Productions will perform as well.
A Novena will be celebrated for nine days from Aug. 6-14, in veneration to Our Lady of Assumption.
On Aug. 15 at 11 a.m., the Assumption Feast Day Mass will be celebrated in veneration to Maria SS. Dell’Assunta, and celebrate the memory of Most Rev. Thomas A. Donato, a son and dear friend of Holy Rosary Church. The Most Rev. John W. Flesey, a long-time friend of Bishop Donato is the celebrant.
On Aug 16, at 11 a.m., the St. Rocco Feast Day Mass will be celebrated. A traditional street procession will follows both masses.
For more information, call (2010 795-0120, visit www.lafestaitalianajc.com, or www.Facebook.com/lafestaitalianajc.