English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Jersey City, NJ

JERSEY CITY, NJ | The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women's volleyball team delivered a dominant performance on Thursday evening, sweeping York College (NY), 3-0 (25-6, 25-7, 25-3), at the John J. Moore Athletics & Fitness Center.

NJCU (13-6, 2-5 NJAC) hit an impressive .378 as a team and recorded 24 service aces in the victory. The Gothic Knights' offense was led by Kai Fitzpatrick (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough High School), who hit .583 with seven kills and two blocks, while Rae Marrero (Medford, NY/Patchogue Medford) paced the team with 16 assists, seven aces, and eight total points. Diane Pugay (Jersey City, N.J./Infinity Institute) added six kills, four aces, and a team-high seven digs, while Kristen Davis (Clermont, Fla./Real Life Christian Academy) notched two kills, four service aces, and a solo block.

After a brief back-and-forth to start the match, the Gothic Knights exploded behind a massive 13-1 run in the opening set, powered by the serves of Elisabeth Brito (Jersey City, N.J./Union City) and Diane Pugay (Jersey City, N.J./Infinity Institute), who combined for five aces during the stretch. NJCU continued to apply pressure, closing the set on another strong serving run by Kristen Davis (Clermont, Fla./Real Life Christian Academy), who recorded three consecutive aces to seal a 25-6 win.

The momentum carried into the second set, where Marrero opened with an electric 10-point service run, collecting five aces and connecting on multiple assists to Fitzpatrick, Pugay, and Brianna Melanson (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick). NJCU held York (3-14, 1-4 CUNYAC) to just seven points in the set while hitting .545, their best of the night.

In the third and final frame, Jenilsa Pichardo (Union City, N.J./Union City) took over from the service line, stringing together a 15-0 run that included two aces and several York errors forced by NJCU's relentless attack. Fitzpatrick and Alexis Albino (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) contributed kills during the stretch, and Melanson closed the match with a kill assisted by Marrero to complete the sweep.

Up Next: The Gothic Knights return to action on Saturday, November 1 where they will travel to New York to take on Bard and Ithaca in a non-conference tri-match.

For the latest news, updates, and information on NJCU Athletics, visit NJCUgothicknights.com and follow the Gothic Knights on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

According to a new WalletHub study, J, while Newark ranked 10th.

WalletHub used rankings for Trick-or-Treat Friendliness, Halloween Fun, and Halloween Weather. WalletHub compared the top 100 largest U.S. cities based on 20 key metrics, including costume stores per capita, crime rates, and the share of potential trick-or-treat stops.

The study comes as many in New Jersey wonder why trick-or-treating appears to be fading away.

Jersey City scored 62.29 overall, which placed it as the second-best city for Halloween.

The one factor that put Jersey City over the top was the ranking as the No. 1 city in the country for Trick-or-Treat Friendliness. Jersey City’s ranking for Halloween Fun ranked a dismal 95, and couple that with a 62 ranking for Halloween Weather Rank, and the weight of that trick or treat friendliness ranking pulled up Jersey City into the second-best city for Halloween. You should know that New York City ranked as the best city for Halloween with an overall ranking of 71.38.

Newark comes in at No. 10 best city for Halloween. Like Jersey City, they have a high Trick-or-Treat Friendliness ranking of the 5th highest in the country. Newark has a low ranking for Halloween Fun of 97th and a 47th ranking for Halloween weather.

The study showed that the average U.S. household is projected to spend $114.45 on Halloween expenses. Those expenses include decorations, treats, and costumes. The study also stated that collectively Americans spend $13.1 billion on Halloween and that 73% of households in the U.S. celebrate the ghoulish holiday.

I was surprised by the 73% of households celebrating Halloween; I thought it would be lower.

So, head to Jersey City and Newark for trick or treating, but don’t head there if you are looking for Halloween fun!

LOOK: 14 Things That Will Make You Nostalgic for Halloween in the '80s

1980s-era Halloween had its own vibe, from the waxy candy bags to the widespread fear of razor blades in apples. Think you can handle the nostalgia? Keep scrolling if you dare!

Recently, I visited PetCenter in Old Bridge for their Halloween pet costume contest and had a howling good time!

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host Big Joe Henry. Any opinions expressed are Big Joe’s own.

The owners of Heights University Hospital are requesting approval from Jersey City officials to build a new hospital adjacent to the current one and pair it with residential development.

Otherwise, Hudson Regional Health “must proceed forward with alternative proposals for the land,” wrote Hudson Regional Health Chief Executive Officer and President Dr. Nizar Kifaieh in an Oct. 13 letter to the Division of City Planning.

One of the alternative uses for the site involves building a pair of 10-story residential buildings with more than 2,200 total units. The concept plan was created by MHS Architecture, a firm based in Hoboken. It’s preliminary and has not been formally submitted to the city as of Thursday.

Simultaneously, Heights University Hospital has begun downsizing and winding down services. On Oct. 14, the hospital submitted a Certificate of Need application to the New Jersey Department of Health requesting a staged hospital closure, according to a letter from the state health department.

The two-phased plan submitted with the application calls for the hospital to close by Nov. 10, according to the letter which was shared with NJ Advance Media.

Despite the redevelopment plan and the application for closure, Hudson Regional spokeswoman Lisa Herrmann said nothing is final yet.

The company “continues to work with local and state leaders to determine a long-term path for sustainability, preserve healthcare services in the Heights, and ensure the hospital’s continued role in serving the community,” Herrmann said Thursday in a statement sent to NJ Advance Media.

“The concept plan is an option for the hospital,” Herrmann said.

Closing is an option, too, if the hospital doesn’t receive $25 million of additional funding from the state, which the owners say it needs to stay open.

“Should the funding referenced above materialize, it will provide much-needed short-term funding for Heights University Hospital,” Kifaieh wrote to the Division of City Planning.

However, a long-term solution such as redevelopment is still needed, said Kifaieh.

James E. Solomon, a Jersey City councilman and mayoral candidate, accused Hudson Regional of negotiating in bad faith during a press conference Tuesday morning.

“To me, if you’re attempting to threaten the people of Jersey City with the demolition of their health care and hospital in the Heights, that’s not good faith,” said Solomon in a video posted on his Instagram account.

Solomon said Hudson Regional’s aim was to demolish the hospital for luxury development.

Hudson Regional defended its actions in a statement released Tuesday afternoon, calling Solomon’s comments “clearly misleading and an attempt to grab campaign headlines.”

“Taking shots at us for headlines in campaign season doesn’t help one patient. After collaborating with the community and determining the extent of resources made available to Heights University Hospital, we would anticipate including a viable healthcare facility as part of the final plan,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Heights University Hospital has begun implementing a stabilization plan that involves winding down some non-essential services.

It will continue to run the emergency room, critical care and medical-surgical services, an adequate number of operating rooms, behavioral health, and other services.

Hospital officials said they expect a majority of employees affected by the restructuring to be offered continued employment within the Hudson Regional hospital system. The company is also planning to host job fairs for affected employees.

Hudson Regional took over Heights University Hospital, formerly Christ Hospital, and two others from CarePoint Health System in April in federal bankruptcy court. The company now runs four hospitals, including Bayonne University Hospital, Hoboken University Hospital and Secaucus University Hospital.

The company said it has been trying hard to keep the hospital open and has pumped $300 million into operations, with a major portion dedicated to Heights University Hospital.

Despite that investment, Kifaieh said Wednesday in a statement that persistent financial challenges “driven by a combination of low reimbursement rates, cuts to Charity Care, and a high rate of uninsured patients—have made continued operations in the current model unsustainable."

There are runoffs here, so that would mean McGreevey and the number two candidate - probably Bill O'Dea or James Solomon - would battle it out in an early December runoff election.

But a new poll by Team O'Dea strives to change that scenario.

The poll by Hart Research Group still has McGreevey in the lead with 23 percent of the vote. But that is down from previous samplings.

O'Dea and Solomon are tied for second with 20 percent each.

Mussab Ali is at 12 percent and Joyce Watterman is at 3 percent with 21 percent undecided.

Campaign polls can be unreliable, but if this one is accurate, it's big news. It suggests that McGreevey could possibly finish out of the top two and miss the runoff. After all, his margin over O'Dea and Solomon is just 3 points.

Here's the take of Phil Swibinski of the O'Dea campaign.

“Jersey City voters are breaking away from Jim McGreevey in huge numbers because of the numerous scandals and missteps that have defined his career. With McGreevey’s support falling off a cliff and James Solomon not gaining significant traction outside of his Downtown base, Bill O’Dea is in a position to not only make the runoff but finish in first place thanks to his clear record of getting things done for Jersey City residents and the strong grassroots campaign organization he has built over the past year which will be able to turn out our voters.”

It remains to be seen if O'Dea can live up to that rosy assessment, but the poll presents him with some good news.

In addition, Odea is scheduled to be endorsed Wednesday by the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Jersey City, IAFF Local 1066.

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Heading out to a patch or field to pick the best or biggest pumpkin isn’t just about finding the perfect Halloween jack-o-lantern. It’s a seasonal activity blending nature, tradition and community, and there are several places around the local area to create lasting memories with family and friends.

Many pumpkin patches and fields offer complementary activities like hay rides, corn mazes and games for the kids. Picking your own pumpkin also is a good way to support the local farmers who grow them.

Whether you plan to carve a jack-o’-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to pick up a pumpkin near Jersey City. Here are a few of our favorites:

(Note that one 101-year-old farm in Bergen County recently closed. READ MORE: Goodbye, Blueberry Pies: Farm Stand Closes)

The Garden Center may not have a farm, but it's a garden and seasonal decor store near the Jersey City/Hoboken border offering pumpkins, holiday decorations, sometimes visiting characters, and personalized service. They also sell Christmas trees in December and do delivery.

Bergen County

Want to make a day of it? You can find a new farm each year in the Garden State to explore. Here are more.

Wider North Jersey List

Keep in mind that carving and baking pumpkins aren’t the same. The former are grown in fields to be large, more vibrantly colored, and relatively hollow. The watery flesh doesn’t have the same flavor found in baking pumpkins, which tend to be smaller, have thicker, harder-to-carve walls and sweeter flesh. For those, you’ll probably need to head to the grocery store.

Pumpkins for carving should appear sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season. Here are some tips for carving a perfect jack-o’-lantern from Warren Nash on YouTube, who shows a step-by-step process to make the perfect carve.

Pumpkin carving kits will go a long way in getting what you need. They typically include saws, a scooper, a drill and multiple patterns.

If you're looking for the items individually around the house, here's what you could use:

Steps

Cut it: If cutting from the top of the pumpkin, make sure to do it on an inward angle, so the top won't drop inside the pumpkin when you put it back on. Michael Natiello, creative director for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze, said it's better to cut the pumpkin from the bottom, in a series of pumpkin carving tips from Good Housekeeping. That helps prevent the sides from caving in later.Gut it: Use the ice cream scoop, or your hands, to remove all the seeds and other debris from inside the pumpkin. Do a thorough cleaning and make sure nothing is left sticking to the sides.Trace it: Draw your design on a piece of paper before putting it on the pumpkin itself. That way, it is easier to trace the design onto the pumpkin.Make the cuts: Cut out the design. Natiello said to use a fork or pencil to poke holes around the lines. When cutting, get the big pieces of pumpkin out first and clean up the edges later.Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin, and step back and admire your work.