Photo by Doug Hood/Asbury Park Press.
As we approach the tail end of a tumultuous election season, there continues to be pressing news around the state. Let’s get into it.
New Jersey Is Lacking Water
New Jersey residents may have noticed the very dry air as winter is about to kick off.
That’s because for the first time in eight years, the state Department of Environmental Protection has declared a drought warning. This comes after a wave of dry weather, which has led to decreased water supplies and a large number of wildfires.
According to The Forest Fire Services, the conditions in NJ are the driest since nearly 120 years with a ground dryness scale of 748 where 800 is the highest possible score. Residents of NJ are being told to limit their water usage at this time.
On Wednesday, NJ Governor Phil Murphy stressed how big of an effect the months of extremely dry weather have had on water storage levels and how the dry conditions have ignited wildfires during the past two months.
“The numbers are frankly staggering,” Murphy said.
“Since early October, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has responded to 537 fires. To put that into context, that is 500 more fires than we saw during the exact same period last year.” “Put differently, that’s a 1,300 percent increase,” he added.
“Please take this seriously. We have a very dry winter ahead of us.”
With NJ being in a warning state, it is one level below a drought emergency.
This is the most serious declaration the state could make, and the state would be forced to implement mandatory, phased restrictions on certain uses of water.
Greg McLaughlin, the Administrator of the State Office of Natural Lands and Forests, said the average number of wildfires in New Jersey in any year is 1,000. But this year, there’s been a 30% increase.
NJ’s average number of how many acres of land that have been burned in one year is about 4,000, and this year the number has rapidly increased to 11,000 acres.
Residents are being urged to limit their water usage by taking shorter showers, only running the washing machine or dishwasher when they are full, and turning off the water while they brush their teeth.
The last time NJ entered drought warning status was in October 2016, which remained in some parts of the state until August 2017.
Since June, the state has seen just 6-10 inches of rain below normal levels. In southern NJ, rain shortages are almost 10 inches below normal just over the last three months.
So far in November, the state has gotten a quarter to a half-inch of rain, when the statewide average for November is 4 inches.
The state has provided residents with tips to conserve water:
- Homeowners should let their lawns go dormant, which is appropriate at this time of year.
- Refrain from watering your lawn, and turn sprinkler systems off automatic timers.
- Use a hose with a hand-held nozzle to water flowers and shrubs, or let them go dormant.
- Use a broom, rather than a hose, to sweep sidewalks.
- Wash vehicles with a bucket and do not run the hose more than necessary, or use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
- Only use dishwashers and washing machines if there’s a full load.
- Turn the water faucet off while brushing your teeth.
- Fix leaky faucets and pipes inside your home.
- Consider replacing your toilet with a low-flow version; this can save about 11,000 gallons of water per year.
- Upgrade your shower head to low-flow versions, which can save about 7,700 gallons per year.
- Upgrade your faucets or install faucet aerators; this can save about 16,000 gallons per year
Adam Sandler And Ben Stiller Spotted In Hudson County
Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller were recently spotted filming in Kearny for their upcoming movie, “Happy Gilmore 2.”
On Nov. 8, the actors were on set at Roosevelt Elementary School and have been filming all over New Jersey including in Bergen, Essex, Middlesex and Somerset counties.
The film is a sequel to the 1996 comedy, “Happy Gilmore” Sandler’s character joins a golf tournament to try and win money to help his grandmother (Frances Bay) who is about to lose her house.
“Happy Gilmore 2” is directed by Kyle Newacheck who previously worked with Sandler in the 2019 film, “Murder Mystery.”
Sandler and Stiller are rejoined by “Happy Gilmore” actors Christopher McDonald and Julie Bown.
Some new faces will also appear on the screen like Travis Kelce, Benny Safdie, Margaret Qualley and Benito Martinez Ocasio (Bad Bunny).
Kearny Opens Warming Center
The Naval Reserve Facility in Kearny has opened up as a warming center from Friday Nov. 15, 2024 to Mar. 31, 2025.
The facility will be operated by Collaborative Support Programs of NJ (CSPNJ) and is intended to keep individuals experiencing homelessness warm and safe at night during the winter months.
The center could remain open during the day if temperatures do not go above 32 degrees, and active days could be extended if a Code Blue (temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below) is called.
“Hudson County is committed to providing shelter and services to our vulnerable populations during the winter,” said Hudson County Executive, Craig Guy in a statement.
“With temperatures falling over the next several months, Hudson County is here to provide our community with shelter, medical services, and food. Hudson County is incredibly grateful to Alliance Community Healthcare for providing medical services and referrals for physicians and specialists on-site seven days a week.”
The center is intended to be a last resort for individuals if all emergency shelter in Hudson County are full.
Other Hudson County emergency shelters are located at:
- St. Lucy’s Shelter (619 Grove St., Jersey City): 24-hour; latest walk-in accepted at 11:00 p.m.
- PERC Shelter (111 37th St., Union City): 24-hour; open for dinner at 6 p.m.; no cut-off time.
- Hoboken Shelter (300 Bloomfield St., Hoboken): 7 days a week – from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; latest walk-in accepted at 8:00 p.m.
Transportation is provided to the Warming Center in Kearny from specific locations and times. Residents are encouraged to line-up at least 15 minutes prior to departure:
- CPSNJ Drop In-Center (422 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Jersey City): Pick-up at 5:30 p.m.
- Journal Square (JFK Boulevard and Pavonia Avenue, Jersey City): Pick-up at 6:00 p.m.
- North Bergen Town Hall (43rd Street and Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen): Pick-up at 7:00 p.m.
- Hoboken Terminal (Observer Highway and Park Avenue, Hoboken): Pick-up at 7:30 p.m.
Hudson County shelters at these locations and drop-In programs are available to residents seeking shelter during the day:
- GSCDC Hudson CASA Drop-In Center (514 Newark Avenue, Jersey City): Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Hudson County Integrated Services CSPNJ (422 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Jersey City): Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Hoboken Shelter (300 Bloomfield Avenue, Hoboken): 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- PERC Shelter (111 37th Street, Union City): Open 24/7
- St. Lucy’s Shelter (619 Grove Street, Jersey City): Open 24/7
If individuals have missed the Warming Center transportation and are in need of emergency shelter, they may call NJ 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1.
Rebuilding Together Jersey City Is Asking For Your Help
Rebuilding Together Jersey City (RTJC) is a nonprofit organization that helps preserve and revitalize houses and communities for low socioeconomic households in Jersey City.
The volunteer organization works with communities and local businesses to help rehabilitate homes and ensure that the owners live in warmth, safety and independence.
The organization’s Jersey City conquest began in 1991. Since then, Rebuilding Together Jersey City has made more than $3 million dollars worth of improvements to more than 340 homes and community facilities in Jersey City.
Rebuilding Together Jersey City believes in a safe and healthy home for every person. This means that they believe disabled and aging homeowners should be able to remain in their homes for as long as possible.
They also believe that our nation’s veterans with disabilities deserve safe and accessible homes. RTJC believes in preserving affordable homeownership and revitalize communities by providing free home modifications and repairs, making homes safer, more accessible and more energy efficient.
If you are passionate about what RTJC is doing and want to join the team, they are always looking for volunteers to help make their incredible vision a reality. You can join RTJC by clicking here!
Eric Sekel, a member of RTJC organized a GoFundMe page for Jersey City and Hudson County residents to donate to. He is a member of RTJC and also the Associate Director of Campus Ministry at Saint Peter’s University.
All the donations from the GoFundMe will go towards purchasing building supplies and materials. Each house’s material costs average between $2,500-$6,000. Sekel is hoping to raise enough to complete three to five houses.
RTJC received 17 applications for help this year.
You can donate by clicking here!
Bayonne School Looking For Vendors To Add To Their Annual Holiday Bazaar
The holiday season is in full swing and there are numerous holiday markets to attend in Hudson County.
Lincoln Community School in Bayonne is looking to the public for vendors for their annual Holiday Bazaar. Vendor space includes one table and two chairs supplied by the PTO. One vendor space is $30 and two can be rented at a discount of $50.
Their Holiday Bazaar is open to the public and will take place on Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
If you are interested in being a part of the event as a vendor, email LCSPTO5@gmail.com or call 917-682-3115.
