Jersey City and Garfield teens arrested in light rail shooting in Hoboken
NJ Transit Police have arrested and charged two men in connection with shots being fired at the Ninth Street light rail station, located in Hoboken down the hill from Jersey City Heights, earlier this month.
On Friday, May 11, at approximately 8:30 p.m., New Jersey Transit Police say that Anthony Aguilar, 19, of Garfield, and Zaire Batista, 18, of Jersey City, were allegedly involved in an ongoing dispute with an 18-year-old male that quickly escalated into shots being fired at the Ninth Street Station of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Station in Hoboken. The two then fled the scene. No injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire.
Both men were arrested in their respective homes. Aguilar was arrested Tuesday; Batista was arrested last Thursday.
“The NJ Transit Police Department takes the safety and security of those on our transit system seriously and we investigate each criminal case fully until we find the perpetrator,’’ said NJ Transit Police Department Chief Christopher Trucillo. “We encourage everyone within the NJ Transit system that if they ‘See something, say something.’ Let this serve as a reminder to all that the New Jersey Transit Police Department will relentlessly pursue all leads, no matter how big or small.”
Batista has been charged with criminal attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and several drug-related offenses.
Aguilar has been charged with criminal attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
The two were remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending a hearing in Hudson County Central Judicial Processing Court.
NJ Transit encourages customers to remain aware of their surroundings and to be the eyes and ears for law enforcement. To report a crime, suspicious activity or unattended packages contact the New Jersey Transit Police Department at 1-888-TIPS-NJT or send a text message to NJTPD (65873).
Attend the museum WWI lecture today, May 27
On Sunday, May 27 at 4 p.m. the Hoboken Historical Museum will host World War I historical reenactor Brandon English for a lecture about his experience as a reenactor and life as a Doughboy. Hoboken was an important port of embarkation during the Great War for about 2 million U.S. soldiers shipping to and from Europe.
Admission for the talk is $5, and is free for Hoboken Museum members. Due to popular demand for previous lecture series, advance reservations are strongly advised. Sign up by going to https://tinyurl.com/y9gxncu9.
Downtown Hoboken parking restricted for a new bike lane
On Friday, Hoboken announced that downtown parking will be restricted along the city’s main street. Starting on Tuesday, May 29 through Thursday, May 31, there will be no parking on either side of Washington Street from Observer Highway to Third Street as the green Endura-Blend Bike Lanes are scheduled to be installed.
Workshops for Rebuild by Design project to take place in Hoboken
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and engineering firm AECOM will host a series of design workshops in May and June to solicit feedback on the Rebuild by Design Hudson River project.
The project will help protect Hoboken in times of extreme weather events from flooding using infrastructures like floodwalls, seawalls, and soft landscaping such as berms and levees which could be in the form of parks, rain gardens, bicycle parking, murals, in northern and southern Hoboken.
A workshop will take place on May 30 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 1600 Adams St. in the North Hudson Sewerage Authority Board Room and another will take place the following day, May 31, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Multi-Service Center at 124 Grand St. These workshops will discuss the alignment in the North end of the project area from the border of Weehawken, through Harborside Park, to Washington Street south of Fourteenth Street.
On June 6 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 22 Hackensack Ave. in Weehawken (St. Lawrence RC Church) another workshop will be held to discuss the Weehawken design of the alignment as well as Harborside Park.
Later workshops are expected to be scheduled for late June which will discuss the design of the alignment in Hoboken’s south near Observer Highway and the Jersey City portion of the alignment.
High School club to host induction ceremony for Hispanic leaders
On Wednesday, May 31, the Hoboken High School Hispanic Culture Club will host their 4th annual Hispanic Culture Club Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
The public celebration will feature performances from students, and guests, and the swearing-in of new officers as well the Induction of new members to the Hoboken High School Hispanic Culture Club Hall of Fame.
This year’s inductees are educator Carolina Martinez, Hoboken Police Officer Juan Madera, and City Council President Ruben Ramos Jr.
The purpose of the Hispanic Culture Club Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals who have made a positive impact in the Hispanic and Hoboken community.
“For most Hispanic families, celebrating culture is not particularly difficult. It frequently permeates our lifestyle, embedding itself in our psyche,” according to the club’s press release. “But the Hispanic Culture Club is the perfect opportunity to delve more deeply into the history of our ancestors and help create an intimate knowledge of the role that Hispanics have played in the history and psyche of the United States and Hoboken, as well as the effect they’ve had on our culture.”
The event is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and is located in the Hoboken High School auditorium at 800 Clinton St. The event is free and open to the public.
Hoboken Housing Authority announces Community Health Fair
The Hoboken Housing Authority will host a community health fair on Saturday June 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 319 Jackson St. The event will include music, games, prizes, raffles, giveaway and more. Free health screenings will also take place.
For more information visit www.myhhanj.com or contact the housing authority at hha@myhhanj.com and (201) 253-3049.
Mayor exchange program underway
Last week Mayor Ravi Bhalla was scheduled to travel to Villalba, Puerto Rico to meet with Mayor Luis Javier “Javi” Hernández Ortiz to discuss hurricane recovery efforts and issues still facing both cities.
“We here in Hoboken know what it’s like to suffer a devastating storm,” said Bhalla in a press release. “It’s been almost six years since Hurricane Sandy, and we’ve learned a lot in that time. I hope our visit will help the people of Villalba on their long journey towards recovery.”
At a later date, Mayor Hernández Ortiz will come to Hoboken to learn how local storm recovery efforts, such as Rebuild By Design, may be applied in Villalba.
“My trip there will help me understand what they went through and how it relates to what we went through after Sandy,” said Bhalla. “When Mayor Hernández Ortiz comes to Hoboken, he will get to see how we’re addressing the impact of flooding.”
The educational trips are financed by the Open Society Foundation.
ONE ART Hoboken to take place June 2
On Saturday June 2 at 8 p.m. Issyra Gallery at 300 Observer Hwy. will host ONE ART Hoboken, a monthly music, poetry, and art series which features Hudson County performers. It typically takes place the first Saturday of every month and aims to bring together vibrant multi-generational, multi-cultural, multi-genre performing artists to Hoboken audiences.
This installment includes music by Mr. Flanner & His Feelings, Courtier, L.E.S. Sinners and E.V. Jubilee and words by Chuck Joy and Kimberly Brown.
Hudson County CASA is seeking volunteers
Learn how to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and help foster children find safe and permanent homes. The next information session will be held at the Hudson County Courthouse, 595 Newark Ave. Rm. 901 on Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a non-profit organization committed to advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes. Hudson County CASA volunteers are everyday people who make a direct impact in foster children’s lives. They are trusted, dedicated adults who seek to improve children’s well-being. CASA volunteers get to know their assigned child and his or her circumstances and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on the volunteers’ recommendations to make the best decisions about the children’s futures.
For further information, visit www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
