Christ hospital also placed bid on HUMC
Christ Hospital of Jersey City, before they were in the process of being sold to Prime Healthcare in California, submitted a bid to purchase Hoboken University Medical Center in September 2010, according to documents provided to the Reporter.
The Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority (HMHA), a city board that is selling the hospital to a group that co-owns Bayonne Medical Center, said they received eight bids, of which six were qualified. It is unknown if Christ’s bid was among the six qualified bidders.
Under Christ Hospital’s proposal, the acute care services would have been eliminated at HUMC. This was contrary to one goal of the sale, which was that the hospital remain an acute care facility.
Other than that, the Christ Hospital proposal recommended a similar approach as Jersey City Medical Center’s bid, attempting to combine services, as recommended in the state Navigant Report on hospital consolidation in Hudson County. The city’s bond debt would have been eliminated, according to the documents. Officials from Christ Hospital believed they received a strong response to their bid from state officials, according to the documents, but were ultimately not selected.
The actual bids are subject to non-disclosure agreements, but over the past few weeks, three bidders have gone public with their proposals, waiving the agreement.
Christ Hospital officials have neither released their bid nor gone public. For more on the hospital, see our cover story.
Decomposing body found in downtown apartment
The Hoboken Police Department discovered the dead body of a 50-year-old man in his apartment on the 500 block of First Street last weekend, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
A witness said the body was removed on Oct. 1.
The deceased man was identified by authorities as Edward Kearns.
Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said there was some “decomposition” of the body, indicating that it had been there for a long period of time. DeFazio said Hoboken police gained entrance to the apartment using a key provided by the management company of the building, but did not say who called police.
DeFazio added that no signs of foul play were discovered, and there was no evidence of any trauma. He also said that nothing of value was taken from the apartment.
An internet search indicated that the man’s wife died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Both lived in Hoboken at the time.
City recreation registration is from Oct. 7 to Nov. 4
Hoboken winter sports registration is underway.
Basketball and wrestling registrations are accepted online at HobokenNJ.org/Register. Follow the community pass link and provide the requested information on the website.
After registering online, copies of a birth certificate for the athlete and a proof of residency are required to be mailed or dropped off at the Division of Recreation, 124 Grand St. (2nd floor). For participants that have submitted a birth certificate and proof of residency in the past year, the information is not required.
The registration fee is $25 for Hoboken residents, and $35 for a non-resident attending school in Hoboken.
For more information, contact the Recreation Department at (201) 420-2094.
Wallace School celebrates ‘Week of Respect’
As part of the school’s anti-bullying initiative, the Wallace School’s Anti-Bullying Specialist Carrie Ellis planned activities for the week of Oct. 3 – Oct. 7 for the Week of Respect.
Each day during the week, students recited the “Respect Starts with Me” pledge, which was said after the Pledge of Allegiance.
Students are taking part in “The Chain of Good Deeds.” Every time a student does “a good deed,” a staff member or teacher will give the student a piece of construction paper to design. At the end of the month, the pieces of paper will be stapled together to form a chain, which will be displayed in the hallways of Wallace School. The initiative will pick up again with a different color “chain” in November.
Another initiative includes the “Lend a Hand” program, in which students will trace their hands and then write five ways they can respect themselves, and five ways to respect others. The “hands” will be displayed in the school.
Other events during the week included book readings and skits put on by students with the theme of respect, as well as letter writing to local organizations to show respect for the community.
Chamber of Commerce to award prizes for best decorated businesses and residences
The Hoboken Chamber of Commerce announced last week its first Annual Holiday Decorating Contest. The chamber will be looking for both businesses and residences to decorate their front doors/entryways using their creativity for the best holiday decoration.
Members of the chamber will vote on the top three commercial and residential separately with prizes of $500, $250 and $100 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.
In addition to cash prizes, the chamber has put together a marketing package to be awarded to the1st place winner from local advertising channels. Included in the package will be advertisements in local publications worth $2,500.
For more information, please visit www.hobokenchamber.com or contact Mike Novak at mnovak@solutionsenvironmental.com or Joe Mindak at jmindak@h-mag.com
Oktoberfest at St. Peter and Paul Church to be held on Oct. 15
On Oct. 15, from noon to 10 p.m., St. Peter and Paul Church, located at 404 Hudson St., will hold an Oktoberfest celebration.
The event will include food vendors on Hudson Street, a beer garden in the parking lot, and live music. For more information, email HobokenOktoberfest@gmail.com
‘Alice in Wonderland Journey’ performance scheduled for Oct. 15
On Oct. 15, Tempest Productions and the City of Hoboken will present the Alice in Wonderland Journey, “where the audience becomes a part of the performance,” according to a release.
The performance is designed for all ages, and involves travelling around the city.
The event begins at 12:30 p.m. at 1202 Shipyard Lane. General admission for a “journey pass” is $10 for children 12 and under and $12 for adults. For tickets, go to brownpapertickets.com. Space is limited. In case of rain call (800) 475-5633 after 10 a.m., on Oct. 15 to find out the new starting location.
City offering free seasonal flu vaccine
The city of Hoboken, in conjunction with Hoboken University Medical Center, will be providing free seasonal flu vaccines on a first come, first served basis for adult Hoboken residents on Oct. 27 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Assumption Hall at Hoboken University Medical Center. Proof of residency is required.
In conjunction with Walgreens, the city will also provide free flu vaccines to senior citizens on the following dates and times:
Oct. 12, 10 – 11 a.m., 400 1st St.
Oct. 12, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 221 Jackson St.
Oct. 12, 2 – 3 p.m., 220 Adams St.
Oct. 13, 10 – 11 a.m., 76 Bloomfield St.
Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 514 Madison St.
Oct. 13, 2 – 3 p.m., 311 13th St.