Customers vexed at sudden YMCA closing
The Hoboken/North Hudson YMCA announced suddenly on Friday afternoon that they would be temporarily shutting down their programs as of that day, while they begin renovations to the building. But according to customers, some of whom had recently paid for membership, no one was informed ahead of time.
YMCA officials have been contacted for a comment by the Reporter. Check back at www.hudsonreporter.com for updates and comments.
In the meantime, according to signs on the premises, the YMCA will give a three-month free membership to all members who were active as of March 15, 2010 once renovations are complete. Also, several other local YMCAs in New York City will be honoring memberships in the meantime, including McBurney YMCA, 125 West 14th St., NYC, NY 10011, (212) 912-2300.
NY Waterway ferry fares to climb in one week
The NY Waterway Ferry System has announced fare increases effective April 1. On their website, NY Waterway cited increased operating costs and decreased ridership as a reason for the changes in the fare structure.
One of the reasons ridership is down may be due to the increase in unemployment, according to NY Waterways Founder and CEO, Arthur Imperatore.
“I hope our customers are mindful that we have not made an increase since 2008,” wrote Imperatore in a letter to customers.
A service advisory said that operating expenses have been reduced where possible and “minor service changes” will be implemented on a few routes.
Also included in the statement was a note that the fare increases are far less than recent increases announced by other transportation providers.
NY Waterway receives no financial support from government agencies and the fares paid by riders have to cover all operating costs and the financing, maintenance and insurance of the vessels, as well as fees to land boats at publicly-controlled terminals.
The ferries run between New York City and Hoboken, Jersey City, Weehawken, and Edgewater.
To see the fare increases for a specific route, visit www.nywaterway.com.
‘Aida’ at Hoboken High free for senior citizens
The Hoboken High School theatre program is presenting the Elton John/Tim Rice Musical ‘Aida’ this weekend, and the city is offering free tickets to the first 100 senior citizens for shows on Saturday, March 27.
Showtimes on Saturday are 2 and 8 p.m. at the auditorium at Hoboken High School, Ninth and Clinton streets, Hoboken.
Please call (201) 420-2012 to reserve your seat.
Hearing on bike route rescheduled
A New Jersey Transit public hearing on the East Coast Greenway project been rescheduled. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, March 24 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Secaucus Town Hall, 1203 Paterson Plank Road.
The hearing had initially been scheduled for last month, but had to be postponed due to a snowstorm.
The Greenway is a planned 3,000-mile bike route that would connect Maine to Florida. Environmentalists and cycling enthusiasts who support the project, however, have long considered the Meadowlands portion of the trail the most difficult to get underway. They now believe there could be some movement on the Greenway project in the Meadowlands.
NJ Transit is building two rail bridges across the Hackensack River. There will be a north span and a south span adjacent to the current Portal Bridge, which will be put out of commission. To do this, the transit authority will have to take 2.5 acres of parkland from Hudson County to build the new bridges. By law, NJ Transit must compensate Hudson County for the loss of this land. Greenways advocates have asked that the compensation come in the form of two miles of trail on the southern Hackensack River Bridge. The advocates hope to build support for their request at the March 24 hearing.
Hospice volunteer training
Do you want to perform volunteer work that really makes a difference in the lives of the terminally ill and their families? Hudson Hospice is holding weekly training sessions for prospective volunteers beginning Tuesday, April 13 and end Tuesday, June 1. Two sessions will be offered, a Tuesday morning option and a Tuesday evening option. The morning sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. The evening sessions will begin at 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Hudson Hospice volunteers serve as companions to patients, run errands, and offer support to patients and their families.
For more information about the training programs and the volunteer program at Hudson Hospice, please call Sister Carol at (201) 433-6225.
CASA hosts wine tasting to support volunteer efforts
Hudson County Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will host its fourth Annual Wine Tasting event sponsored by Wine Library of Springfield on March 26 at The Atrium in Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 pm.
The CASA Wine Tasting reception will feature more than 80 wines from all over the world, live jazz by the Alan Quinn Trio, a silent auction, and a premium chocolate tasting compliments of Cyndi O’Keefe.
Fidelity Investments will be the evening’s honoree for it generous support of children in foster care.
Hudson County CASA is part of a national network of organizations that trains and supervises volunteers who advocate on behalf of foster children, with the goal of finding each child a safe and permanent home. Currently, more than 9,000 children are in foster care statewide with more than 1,200 of them found in Hudson County.
Advance tickets may be purchased for $65, and will be for sale at the door for $75. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Hudson County CASA at (201) 795-9856 or www.hudsoncountycasa.org.