14 minute read
news briefs
The Green Room Goes the Extra Mile for Customers
For most businesses, staying open during the pandemic has meant going the extra mile for customers. Darek Michael, owner of The Green Room, took that responsibility literally—not just pushing most of his sales of CBD products online, for his customers’ safety, but also making deliveries to people who would ordinarily shop in person at his Montclair or Hoboken location.
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Michael says he’s grateful that his customers were willing to adapt to continue buying their CBD products from The Green Room.
“We were proud to keep our Hoboken store open during quarantine,” he says. “I learned how important our products are to my customers, and what it means to be part of such a special community. Hoboken and New Jersey residents got to stay home while I worked in my store every day and completed my deliveries at night.”
Now that the Montclair location has re-opened, both stores are open for business seven days a week: from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Montclair, and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Hoboken.
“My staff and I want to thank all our customers for the tremendous support,” Michael says. “Stay safe, everyone, and we will always be here for you.”
Locations: 64 Newark St., Hoboken, NJ, and 20 Church St., Montclair, NJ. For more information, visit TheGreenRoomNJ.com or follow The Green Room on Instagram @thegreenroomnj. Amanda “Panda” Farrell
Pump Hoboken Launches New Virtual Class ‘S.L.O.’
Pump. Pilates rePurposed—the boutique Pilates and fitness studio located in midtown Hoboken—is offering small-group Pilates reformer and mat classes and one-on-one sessions in person, as well as a full schedule of virtual mat-based classes and private sessions. In July, it will introduce a new virtual class, Strengthen. Lengthen. Ohm., or S.L.O.
“Although the acronym may be ‘SLO,’ this class will be anything but,” says Jennifer Shukofsky, owner and founder of Pump. “It’s a hybrid class that incorporates yoga, Pilates and strength training. You’ll strengthen body and soul in this 50-minute sweat sesh.”
Whether the class is in person or online, clients can be assured of individualized attention, Shukofsky says.
“At Pump, we believe every body is unique,” she says. “Our small class size—four students, max—allows our instructors to cater to the needs of each client. It is our size, as well as our signature athletic flow style, that truly sets us apart. We understand our clients’ time is valuable, and we work hard to maximize every workout with dynamic movements that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously, all while maintaining the core principles and integrity of Pilates. With one-of-a-kind offerings like Pump It Up Jump, Reformer Stretch, and Pump reMix, we offer something for every body.” Location: 401 Bloomfield St., Hoboken, NJ. For more information, call 201-326-6811 or visit PumpPilatesHoboken.com.
Embroidered Panda Focuses on Mask Making, Support for At-Risk Communities
Embroidered Panda, based in Jersey City, is a minority-womanowned business that normally specializes in customized, sometimes quirky, embroidery for weddings, babies and even pets. But like many people with sewing skills, Amanda “Panda” Farrell, owner of Embroidered Panda, has shifted her efforts to mask making during the pandemic.
“I’ve been trying to meet the local demand in Jersey City, selling masks both on my website and in Love Locked, a woman-owned small business that features the work of local artists,” she says.
She’s also focusing more of her energy on supporting people at high risk of coronavirus exposure.
“Embroidered Panda is currently fundraising for Masks for the People, organized by the Live Free Campaign, which works to end gun violence, mass incarceration and the criminalization of black and brown bodies,” she says.
All proceeds from the purchase of Farrell’s Masks for the People masks support free masks and hand sanitizer for those who are currently or formerly incarcerated, violence interrupters or essential workers on the front lines, as well as elderly people in rural and urban communities.
For more information, visit EmbroideredPanda.com.
When in doubt, don’t. ~Benjamin Franklin
Plant Base, in Jersey City, is many things. On the surface it’s an ethical vegan (think “no animal products whatsoever”), zero-waste (think “bring your own containers for shopping and takeout”) market and restaurant serving up food for eat-in, takeout or delivery—all with an emphasis on affordability. Offerings include a full-vegan, all-day food menu, bulk groceries, organic produce, homeopathic wellness products, body-care products and household products.
“All of these concepts have yet to be combined elsewhere, making Plant Base a truly unique destination,” says founder Andy Hertz. Scratch below the surface, however, and Plant Base is much more. “It’s a community hub lovingly referred to as ‘the living room for the hood,’ where neighbors come together to share knowledge and ideas—a place where real talk happens, relationships are formed and education flows energetically from being to being,” Hertz says. “Plant Base strives to make a healthy lifestyle available to all walks of life, one neighborhood at a time.” Location: 370 Pacific Ave., Jersey City, NJ. For more information, call the store at 551-256-3868, visit PlantBaseMarket.com or follow on Instagram @plantbasemarket.
For everyone who’s missed getting massages during quarantine, Ceallaigh Pender, founder of Salvation Wellness, has a message: “We’re finally open again, so it’s time to get that stress off your shoulders.” In addition to massage, Salvation Wellness offers meditation and yoga classes and sauna sessions. It also sells a variety of personal-care products, including CBD bath and body items.
Pender owns and operates Salvation Wellness with her husband. The two of them have lived in Jersey City for more than a decade. Like her, he’s a seasoned professional committed to “deductive, science-based, natural healing,” she says. That’s what makes Salvation Wellness different—how much they’ve studied holistic health.
“We’ve created an environment where our therapists flourish, and in turn they consistently give exceptional care to clients. Just go online to see how many people love this place,” she says. “We make everything by hand, and everyone on staff has years of experience.” Location: 521 Jersey Ave., Jersey City, NJ. For more information, call 551-689-0763, visit SalvationWellness.com or follow on Instagram @salvationwellness.
Jersey City, Hoboken to Launch Combined Bike Share
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Challa recently announced that they are combining their cities’ bike shares with a new program that will begin later this year. The move was designed to make it easier for bike share users to commute between the two cities.
“Both Hoboken and Jersey City are leaders in advancing alternative transportation options, and we are thrilled to partner together to utilize the same regional bike share program for our cities,” the mayors said in a joint statement.
While both cities launched bike shares in 2015, Hoboken chose Jersey Bike, while Jersey City chose Citi Bike. Having two different companies means users can’t share docking stations, making the commute via bike share logistically difficult. With the new, coordinated system, the mayors will choose a common bike share company based on a soon-to-be-issued request for proposal.
“Now, more than ever, a greater number of people are relying on shared transportation for essential services, employment, and more, and a regional approach will substantially improve the quality of life for all of our residents,” the mayors said. For more information, visit HudsonBikeShare.com.
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Pawtanicals Offers All-Natural, Pore-Level Pet Bath
For pet owners, the pandemic presents a unique challenge: keeping pets as clean as possible without irritating their sensitive skin. Pawtanicals, a DIY pet wash in North Bergen, is offering a solution to that challenge with its Thera-Clean Microbubble Bath, which uses all-natural products to remove dirt, bacteria and some allergens from the fur and skin.
“Our love for our pets really has us owners going above and beyond, finding every type of solution we can get our hands-on. From finding the right nutrition to a nontoxic chew toy, our commitment to providing the best for our pets is unmatched,” says Daniela Salazar, owner of Pawtanicals. “My company offers a holistic natural approach to bathing your pet, which also helps alleviate pain or itch. We’re not only a DIY pet wash, but we’re also the first one in Hudson County to offer this specialized bath, which cleans down to the pore level. After months of quarantine, many pets will need it to restart and reset their skin.”
Pawtanicals also sells artisan pH shampoo bars for dogs, Salazar says. All shampoo bars are handmade using organic herbs and essential oils. Location: 7622 Broadway, North Bergen, NJ. For more information, call 201-520-3036, visit Pawtanicals.com or follow on Instagram @pawtanicals.
Locally Owned Pet Boutique Ships Free to Hoboken Residents
The Cuddly Boutique—an online pet supply and accessory shop based in Hoboken—is offering complimentary, contact-free delivery to all city residents. The boutique was launched in December 2019 by husband and wife Tom and Kimberley Bueno-Schonig, who own The Cuddly Cottage, a local pet-sitting business.
The e-boutique sells pet toys, beds and accessories, as well as pet-themed housewares and products for humans, with an ecofriendly focus. Many of the products it sells are biodegradable and made from recycled materials, and it sponsors a pet-waste station on Hudson Street, just outside Elysian Park. The Cuddly Boutique was named a 2020 Hoboken Green Business by the Hoboken Green Team due to its efforts to stock ecologically conscious products and combat pet waste in the community.
In addition to offering free delivery for Hoboken residents, the Cuddly Boutique offers free domestic shipping outside the city on all orders above $45.
To shop for products or for more information, visit TheCuddly Boutique.com.
Bethany Hamilton, whose life was documented in the 2011 movie Soul Surfer, has partnered with other inspirational figures to create a 12-month online course, Unstoppable, that teaches resilience in the face of adversity.
Hamilton overcame a major tragedy after losing her arm in a shark attack at age 13. She says that after looking at what is going on in the world as a result of the pandemic and global unrest, she recognized that there are a lot of people experiencing what she did at the time of her trauma—feeling of being overwhelmed, uncertain and hopeless.
With the goal of helping others overcome these feelings and thrive, she created the Unstoppable Course together with mentors like Tim Tebow, Nick Vujicic, Bob Goff, Arielle Estoria, Gabby Reece and Laird Hamilton. In the course, she explains how to stay strong in challenging times, how to regain hope and get relief from things that cause stress and worry, how to live more confidently, how to create opportunities out of obstacles, how to stay focused on your life vision, and how to love the life you have. For more information, visit Unstoppable.BethanyHamilton.com. Bethany Hamilton
Jersey City Chosen for Global Vertical Farm Program
In partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and AeroFarms, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop is overseeing the development of 10 vertical farms that will be located in senior centers, schools, public housing complexes and municipal buildings across the city. The farms are expected to produce a combined 19,000 pounds of vegetables a year, using just water mist and minimal electricity. The produce will be free to any resident who agrees to participate in five healthy-eating workshops and quarterly health screenings.
Jersey City was one of four cities chosen worldwide to participate in the program, which will target measurable changes to the health of the community. The other participating cities are Moscow, Mumbai and Austin.
According to the mayor’s office, Fulop and David Rosenberg, the CEO of AeroFarms, are working together to find new ways to improve the community’s health, with Jersey City being the first partner in the WEF’s Healthy Cities and Communities 2030 Initiatives. For more information, visit InnovateJC.org.
Mind-Body Balance Critical in Stressful Times
Achieving a Zen state may seem impossible at a time when everyone’s feeling stressed and overwhelmed, but that’s when mind-body balance is critical to mental and physical health, says Jennifer Araneo, owner of Mind Body Hoboken. She uses neurolinguistic programming, hypnosis, meditation and reiki to help her clients find that balance in their lives.
“Over the past 12 weeks, we had a chance to self-reflect or deflect, which can bring on stress and anxiety,” she says. “Self-isolation and loneliness affected 47 percent of adults in 2018, and in 2020, with selfisolation and quarantine, these numbers will be higher.”
Countering anxiety begins with understanding what happens to the human body during the stress response, and how chronic stress creates disease, she says.
“Then we need to find the access point for creating the mind-body connection, and learn how to use these techniques to calm the body and mind during times of perceived stress,” she says. “After a session, my clients feel lighter and see their lives as more enjoyable.” Location: 51 Newark St., Ste. 501, Hoboken, NJ. For more information or to make an appointment, call 201-994-3500, visit MindBodyHoboken.com or follow on Instagram @mindbodyhoboken. Jennifer Araneo
Practitioners in Hudson County available to help you through times of uncertainty.
Anchor Therapy AnchorTherapy.org
Courtney Glashow, LCSW Children, Teens, Young Adults, Couples
Bene Mudra BeneMudra.com
James Bene Intuitive Readings, Spiritual Mentoring, Energy Healing, Tarot Course
Healing on Hudson LLC HealingOnHudsonLLC.com
Cassandra Lenza, LCSW, CEDS, RYT Therapist, Eating Disorder Specialist
Jacquie Bird, Spiritual Wellness JacquieBirdSpiritualWellness.com
7 Daily Thoughts & Mantras 4 MindfulnessKeys 4 Stress Relief & Personal Growth -ebook
Leah Crescenzo HeyLeahC.com
Hypnotherapy, RTT
Leah Guy LeahGuy.com
Leah Guy (author of The Fearless Path ) Private Meditation Guidance, Intuitive Readings, Spiritual Healing
Round Room Psychology LLC RoundRoomPsych.com
Dr. Melany Rivera-Maldonado, Clinical Psychologist Children, Teens and Young Adults English and Spanish
Wellness Lab LLC WellnessLab-NJ.com
Erin Clyne, Founder and Practitioner Self-care Consultations, Physical Therapy, Psychiatry, Reiki Healing, Hypnotherapy, Life Coaching, Divorce Coaching
Sales of Artist-Designed ‘H’ T-Shirts Fund Pandemic Relief
Limited-edition T-shirts featuring seven artists’ designs of the letter H are now on sale online, with net proceeds benefiting the Hoboken Relief Fund, which assists people and small businesses affected by COVID-19.
The fundraiser is part of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, a three-part series of virtual events that began in May and will wrap up on July 10. The seven T-shirt designs are based on handpainted Hs that were created by local artists and auctioned off at the first Wild & Scenic event. The goal is to sell 2,100 shirts and raise $25,000 for the Hoboken Relief Fund.
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla asked a group of citizens to form the Hoboken Relief Fund to solicit donations and provide grants to local businesses and residents impacted by the pandemic. The organization is the city’s authorized vehicle for COVID-19 relief, and acts as an umbrella for other, ongoing, complementary efforts to address various pressing community needs related to COVID-19, such as food insecurity.
The H-Relief T-shirt fundraiser is a partnership of Main Street Pops, the Hoboken-based pop-up programming company that organized the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, and Hobokenbased company Solid Threads.
To view designs or order a shirt, visit SolidThreads.com/collections/ Hoboken.
July 10 Virtual Film Series to Benefit Mile Square Theatre
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival, a three-part series of virtual fundraising events, will wrap up July 10 with Intentional Adventure, a curated selection of video-on-demand short films that follow “humans at their boldest, pushing against the limits of terrain, physics, endurance and the human heart.”
The evening will also feature a Facebook Live auction of unique, socially distanced theater experiences to raise money to benefit North Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre (MST) and its dance and theater education programs.
Tickets include the Facebook Live event plus a link enabling holders to view the films for five days. Main Street Pops, the Hoboken-based pop-up programming company that founded the film festival, will donate all ticket and auction proceeds to MST.
MST was founded in Hoboken in 2003, and its first event was its signature annual short play festival, 7th Inning Stretch, which continues to this day. Since its inception, it has produced classical works of theater in open-air productions at Frank Sinatra Park, established a physical space at the Monroe Center in 2008, and opened its state-of-the-art theater facility in 2016. It is now the largest nonprofit arts organization in Hudson County, serving the region with a full season of plays along with arts education programs in theater and dance.
Previous Wild & Scenic Film Festival events benefited FLAG (Front Line Appreciation Group), the Hoboken Community Center Food Pantry, the Hoboken Shelter and the Hoboken Relief Fund. Cost: $10. For tickets, visit https://bit.ly/2B5yiyv. For more information, visit MainStreetPops.com. See ad on page 23.
