Parking renewal update

The Hoboken Parking Utility will resume enforcement of resident parking permits beginning Monday, April 5. All residents who have not renewed their 2009 permits for 2010, sent in renewal materials after March 15, or have received a letter indicating that information is missing from their renewal materials should visit the Parking Utility office located in the basement of City Hall during regular operating hours (8:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.) to avoid the possibility of ticketing and booting/towing.

“The renewal process has gone very smoothly this year despite the initiation of updated policies and new software,” Director Ian Sacs said. “I want to thank the residents for their patience and understanding during this process.”

For more information on parking renewals and related matters you can contact the Parking Utility at (201) 653-1919, or via email at parking@hobokennj.org.

Census kick-off drive

Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced that Hoboken will launch its U.S. Census awareness campaign with a kick-off celebration on Tuesday, April 6 at two locations: in front of the PATH station at Hudson Place at 5 p.m., and at City Hall, 94 Washington St., at 5:30 p.m.

Officials from the U.S. Census Bureau will be on hand with elected officials to raise awareness of the federally mandated census and hand out educational materials and gifts to residents.

Earlier this month Hoboken launched “Help Make Hoboken Count” as census forms were distributed to households nationally. “There are millions of dollars of additional federal aid available to help us reduce taxes if everyone is counted,” Zimmer said in a press release.

At City Hall, Zimmer, other elected officials, and census representatives will discuss the economic importance to Hoboken by participating in the once-in-a-decade event. Educational material will also be provided to residents at both locations.

According to the city, every year, more than $300 billion in federal funds are awarded to states and communities based on census data.

Residents can track the city’s participation rate and learn more about the census at http://hobokennj.org/census.

Arts & Music Festival

The Hoboken Arts & Music Festival will be held on Sunday May 2 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Headliners Fountains of Wayne, Freedy Johnston, and the Doughboys were announced last week.

The event is held on Washington Street between Observer Highway and Seventh Street. Admission is free for all.

The festival features over 300 artists, sculptors, photographers, and craftspeople, as well as a Kids Zone on Third Street in the Capital One Bank parking lot.

For more information, call (201) 420-2207, e-mail hoboculturalaffairs@gmail.com, or visit the city website at www.hobokennj.org.

Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction

Hoboken’s Relay For Life is hosting their fifth Annual Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction on Wednesday, April 7 at 8:30 p.m. at Texas Arizona, 76 River St. (across the street from the PATH).

The event will benefit the American Cancer Society, but the group is seeking guys and gals between the ages of 21 to 35 to help raise money.

Anyone interested in participating can e-mail RFLhoboken@gmail.com and will be sent a brief questionnaire. The questionnaire must be completed by April 5, and participants should arrive at Texas Arizona by 8 p.m. for a meet and greet, dressed in casual business attire.

The auction starts at 9 p.m. and tickets for non-participants are $10 at the door, or $5 in advance. For advanced tickets, please e-mail RFLhoboken@gmail.com, and you will be added to the advance ticket list. For those ordering tickets pre-event, you must arrive at 8:30 p.m. to be guaranteed entry. This fundraiser has reached capacity for the past three years, so please arrive on time. Checks (made out to American Cancer Society) and credit cards are accepted.

According to the organizers, the American Cancer Society is not responsible for what happens after a bachelor or bachelorette has been “purchased.” Dates are suggested but not required.

Last year, the auction raised over $7,000. For more information on Relay For Life, or to get involved, visit their website: www.relayforlife.org/hobokennj.

Car seat installation update

Effective Wednesday, April 7, Hoboken police are offering a new procedure for children’s car seats installation and inspection.

Chief Anthony Falco announced that any Hoboken resident seeking to have a free installation or inspection of their car seats performed should report to the Hoboken Municipal Garage, Observer Highway and Park Avenue, to the police motorcycle pen on Wednesdays between 1 and 4 p.m. Several officers will be there to either install or inspect already installed car seats.

Residents do not need to make an appointment; they can just go to the garage during the hours on Wednesdays. There is no need to go to the Hoboken Police Headquarters or to call ahead.

The new process should be more efficient as the officers will be at the location, with their equipment and paperwork, in an indoor environment.

Ice cream Boathouse fundraiser

Ben & Jerry’s, 405 Washington St., is donating a percentage of ice cream sales to the Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse on April 13 from 6 to 9 p.m.

The fundraiser is to support the volunteer-staffed free kayaking program at the Boathouse next to Maxwell Park Pier. Boathouse volunteers will be scooping ice cream for the event.

Reality TV at Battaglia’s

Battaglia’s Home at 1414 Willow Ave. has been selected to be part of HGTV’s “Battle on the Block” reality series. The long-time Hoboken housewares store was selected because of the quality and presentation of the furniture and accessories sold in the store. The show will be partially filmed in the store Friday April 2, Saturday April 3 and Monday April 5. The episode is set to air in late May.

“Battle on the Block,” which premiers Sunday, April 11 at 10 p.m., is a character-driven home makeover show where three neighboring families compete against one another in an effort to design and build one new room from scratch, all in the span of a single weekend. Then they are judged by their neighbors.

Hoboken Charter teacher gets award

Chris Kunkel, a math teacher at the Hoboken Charter School, was honored at the New Jersey Charter Schools Association’s conference March 18 as “Charter School Innovator of the Year.”

Kunkel, who is also a middle school facilitator, developed the Academic Elective Program at the charter school at Fourth and Garden streets.

“He found a creative way to utilize existing resources to provide an exciting academic enrichment program around core subject areas and, at the same time, strengthen student interaction across grade levels,” award presenter Wanda Garcia, associate director of the Rutgers-Camden Center for Strategic Urban Community Leadership and a member of the NJCSA board, said in a press release.

Courses in the program include engineering, electronics, forensics, astronomy, poetry, public speaking, mock trial, current events, spooky literature and environmental awareness and action.

Indie doc gets national release

Hoboken-based filmmaker Bob Bowdon’s documentary “The Cartel” on the New Jersey public schools will be released in several locations across the country starting April 16. There will also be at least one screening in Hoboken on April 21.

For more information on other showings or locations, visit thecartelmovie.com.

Storm damage?

The city’s Office of Emergency Management is asking residents who experienced any damage to property as result of the recent storms, to document their information and send it to hobokenstormdamage@gmail.com or contact the city’s OEM office at (201) 420-5618 for assistance.

The information provided should detail the type of damage, date(s) on which it occurred, images, video, and any other related documentation. The storm damage information provided will assist the city in its efforts to seek storm assistance funds.