Hoboken Memorial Day Parade tonight – bus routes changed

In case you didn’t know – the Hoboken Memorial Day Parade is tonight. Washington Street will be closed from 11th to City Hall. Festivities start at 6:30pm – and once again that giant flag will be erected at 10th and Washington Streets.

Also note that NJ Transit Bus Routes have been altered from 5:30pm to 10:30pm.

Make sure you take that into consideration when planning your evening commute.

• Buses traveling toward Port Authority Bus Terminal will travel on Observer Highway, make a right on Bloomfield Avenue, left on 14th Street, and then continue the regular route.
• Buses traveling toward Hoboken Terminal will travel on Willow Avenue, continue on Willow Avenue, make a left on Observer Highway, and then continue the regular route.

Memorial Day History

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

The ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.

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Technorati Tags: 2013, Hoboken, May 22, Memorial Day, New Jersey, NJ, NJ transit, Parade, Washington Street

Should Hoboken be responsible for bigotry in the community?

Hoboken resident Matthew sent this message to city director of public safety Jon Tooke.

Being gay, he believes that the city should know about some apparent anti-gay sentiment that’s going around and something should be done about it.

Letter: Gays are harassed in Hoboken, NJ

“Dear Director Jon Tooke,

As you are well aware of, there is a large contingency of gay and lesbian citizens living in Hoboken, all of whom came to this town to live perfectly quiet lives in this historical and fun town.

Recently, several close friends, and myself, all on different dates, have been harassed and or followed for several blocks with anti gay slurs and profanity.

I have loosely mapped out that the majority of occurrences happen starting at 14th street, proceed down the entire length of Washington Street, loop around at the PATH and go up both River street and Pier A Park, stopping at Stevens Institute.

With our proximity to NYC, and their recent overwhelming increase in hate crime/anti gay attacks, combined with the fact that Hoboken has the largest bar per street ratio in the country, I do not think that this should be ignored.

Hoboken should show solidarity with NYC in their stance on bigotry, hate crimes and intolerance. Public safety is a prime concern in Hoboken, especially when bars let out and when people return from the city late at night (prime hours 1-3 am, and 4-6 am).

As a survivor of hate crimes and a gay man living in Hoboken, this subject can not be ignored.

Residents need to know that they can be safe at all hours walking on the streets of Hoboken.

Hoboken is known to be the home of many cultures, races, and ethnicities. To ignore the safety of a group that branches into all the communities of Hoboken would be irresponsible.

A public display of solidarity with NYC on this subject Would be a great start. A follow up should be a window sticker promoting tolerance, making a statement that bigotry and hatred are not welcome in Hoboken.

I have noticed that many business owners do not put up gay pride door stickers showing support because they are afraid of the communities response. This is a falsehood that needs to be erased. Ignorance, hatred, and bigotry should not be cultivated by fear, but fought with support and love in your community.

Please take what I have said to heart and address this issue of public safety.”

Do you think the city should be responsible for controlling societal behavior?

Or should government stay out of the way of individuals?

Technorati Tags: Anti-Gay, Bigotry, Gay, government, Hate Crime, Hoboken, LBGT, Lesbian, Letter to the Editor, New Jersey, NJ

Do you encounter reckless drivers in Hoboken?

A few days ago – a pedestrian was killed right outside Hoboken. The driver was arrested (various DWI charges), plus it was already a rainy morning on top of it. While that was apparently a blatant criminal act in bad weather, what about simple reckless drivers in Hoboken?

One Hoboken resident who is a parent with children – details a precarious vehicular situation he was in this past weekend that did NOT involve inclement weather or booze.

Letter: Focus on bad drivers instead of parking tickets

“This past Mother’s Day weekend, I was at the corner of 14th and Sinatra, ready to head west on 14th with my two and four year-old children. I looked both ways, reminding the kids the same, and as we took our first step into the crosswalk, a black sedan comes speeding up Sinatra, blowing right through the stop sign and turns left at what had to be 30 miles an hour. If not for such a bright, clear day, I might have taken more steps into the cross walk. And perhaps been hit, or worse, my kids.

This is not a parking lot stop sign, mind you, but a official one. The driver then sped to the front of the Zeni Nail Salon on 14th and Hudson.

I picked up my kids in each arm, and ran to the nail salon to confront this dangerous driver.

A fairly young guy, he seemed completely blasé about the fact that he blew through a stop sign in a heavily pedestrian area, and could have killed myself or either of my small children. He seemed to care NOT ONE BIT when confronted with a rattled parent at the danger he puts people in.

The rage at his self-important attitude also fueled my anger at the town for wasting an awful lot of manpower chasing down parking violators when they could make a whole lot more money giving out tickets to jerks like this who put residents in danger.

I’m not saying that late at night, when the streets are empty, you can’t do a slow roll through a stop sign if you are aware of your surroundings, but this was the middle of a Sunday with lots of people out enjoying the afternoon.

And just so he could make a nail appointment!

Why is it that the city has no desire to monitor some very dangerous corners? Basically every stop sign near Maxwell Place, the Shipyard and the Hudson Tea Buildings are a danger zone. Will the town be satisfied if some kid on a bike or a parent walking legally gets mowed down?

Just two weeks ago a mother and child were hit-and-run by a driver near the Brandt school.“

Agree or disagree?

Technorati Tags: DWI, Entitlement, hit and run, Hoboken, New Jersey, NJ, pedestrians, Reader Mail, Reckless drivers, stop signs, Texting

Redwing Zumbathon workout in Hoboken – Back again!

Hoboken Zumbathon for Redwings a success.

Care to donate to the Hoboken High School Class of 2014 AND get a good workout in the process? Well, then this is a no-brainer for you. And after last month’s successful turnout, they’re back again with two more sessions.

On May 22nd and June 5th from 7pm to 8:30pm – Zumba instructor Chanta Blue will be leading a “Zumbathon” over in the High School gymnasium.

“Are you ready to party yourself into shape for a good cause? That’s exactly what the Zumba® program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.”

For more information or to register contact Christopher Munoz at (201) 978-2164 or Lorna Courtney-Martinez at (201) 966-6356 or e-mail Christopher.munoz@hoboken.k12.nj.us.

Cost for entry is $5 for students and $10 for each adult participant. Proceeds will benefit the HHS class of 2014.

Technorati Tags: high school, Hoboken, New Jersey, NJ, Zumbathon

Hoboken Pilsener Haus Maifest fun for spring

Maifest is to Spring, as Oktoberfest is to Fall (at least in Germany!) And during the month of May, Pilsener Haus & Biergarten (15th & Grand) is celebrating the arrival of the warm weather will all sorts events for adults and kids alike. See below for various Pilsener Haus Maifest activities!

Pilsener Haus Maifest food & event lineup in Hoboken

Pilsener Haus, “NJ’s most traditional biergarten,” observes Maifest with:

• Seasonal NJ Craft & Import Maibock beer selection! (View Pilsener Haus beer lists here.)

As well as an Authentic Maifest Menu. Enjoy an Austro-Hungarian feast all month by acclaimed Chef Thomas Ferlesch:

• Chilled Cucumber Soup – yogurt & dill
• Asparagus with Sauce Gribiche – caper, anchovy & parsley vinaigrette
• Schweinsbraten – roasted pork shoulder with kraut salad & pretzel dumplings
• Seafood Salad – shrimp, scallops, octopus, mussels, squid
• 1/2 Rosemary Roasted Free Range Chicken – barley pilaf, arugula salad
• Schweinshaxen – roasted pork shank with pickled salads (serves two – available Fri-Sat-Sun)

A lively roster of traditional music, jazz & rock:

• May 15 – Pilsener Haus Jazz & Blues Jam
• May 16 – Jason Green & Labor of Love
• May 17 – Alex Meixner Band Grammy-winning Polka king rocks the Haus!
• May 22 – Casey & The Dirty Water Dogs
• May 23 – Cecil Brooks III & Hot D.O.G. – soulful jazz
• May 29 – Raphael Cruz Quintet – afro-cuban jazz
• May 30 – Rainbow Fresh – classic rock

And lastly, don’t for get the kids!:

• Sunday May 19th, 12:30-3:30pm is “Family Fun Day” with Big Jeff & The Bouncy People

Enjoy Maifest!

Technorati Tags: 2013, Alex Meixner, beer, Beer Garden, Big Jeff, Bouncy People, Casey & The Dirty Water Dogs, Cecil Brooks III, Events, Hoboken, Jason Green, Maifest, May, Mayfest, New Jersey, NJ, Pilsener Haus, Pilsener Haus Beer Garden, Pilsener Haus Biergarten, Rainbow Fresh, Raphael Cruz

Hoboken Board of Ed meeting (and sidewalk biking offenders!)

For those of you who might not know – the Hoboken school system takes up over a third of your quarterly property tax bill (and growing). And with just over 2,000 students (less than 5% of the city population), you probably want to know how they’re wasting spending your money – especially when Hoboken consistently ranks near the bottom in the state. Head over to the Wallace School (11th & Clinton) tonight at 7pm to see all the Hoboken Board of Ed action.

Another reason you might want to attend – is to give Hoboken Board of Ed “President” Leon Gold a piece of your mind. Here we have a so-called “leader” of this educational organization, yet he is known to set very bad examples for children. Besides his well-known bad temper, he also frequently ignores city laws by riding his bicycle on the sidewalks. He’s not the only one, as many other “city officials” have been spotted doing the very same thing, including our Mayor Dawn Zimmer.

How he is qualified in this role of “authority” is beyond me. Any complaints? Contact Superintendent of Schools Mark Toback at mark.toback@hoboken.k12.nj.us to share your thoughts about his antics.

Technorati Tags: 2013, bicycles, Board of Ed, Hoboken, Leon Gold, May 14, Meeting, New Jersey, NJ, Property Taxes, Sidewalks