PHOTOS: Hoboken Seniors Celebrate Return To Activities With BBQ

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken's seniors enjoyed a barbecue on Thursday to celebrate the reopening of the senior center and some senior activities that had been suspended during the pandemic.

Mayor Ravi Bhalla said on Facebook, "Great day for Hoboken — we reopened the senior center this afternoon for a spring BBQ for the first time since March 9 of last year. The future is bright after a long, hard road for our seniors, especially with 95 percent of those 65+ provided with at least a first dose vaccine, one of the highest rates in New Jersey."

He added, "Thanks to the hard work from so many during our recovery efforts, Hoboken seniors can look forward to a more normal summer. To all those who have given so much over the past 14 months to provide for and protect our seniors, so they could return safely today — thank you."

Bhalla had said in a community update this week that after being suspended for the pandemic, two important community features will return this week — The HOP bus around town, and certain senior activities.

"I’m glad to share that later this week," Bhalla had written last week, "the Hoboken Senior Center at the Multi-Service Center will return for senior activities, including a senior BBQ on Thursday from 12 to 3 p.m., and the return of BINGO starting June 1 on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday."

The senior HOP bus also would return Thursday, Bhalla said, with an additional shuttle to reduce wait times.

"It has been a long, hard road for our seniors, and I’m thrilled that we’ll be resuming these activities for our elderly population," Bhalla wrote. "Thank you to Director Leo Pellegrini, Tom Foley and Cosmo Sancilio and the senior services staff for working hard to make this possible."

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