The heat wave continues and a meteor passed over NYC, causing a rumble across New Jersey. There is lots of news happening in Hoboken and Jersey City. It has been another week of news in Hudson County, and we’ve got all the headlines to get you caught up, as we do every week — from all around the internet. Among the local news: a new coffee shop, Cafe Cartel, is opening this week in Hoboken; Jersey City’s La Festa Italiana is returning for 2024; and Hoboken Fire Department is now accepting firefighter applications. Keep reading for all the news in Hoboken + Jersey City for the week ending on July 21st, 2024.

Have a news story or press release? Email it to [email protected].

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Among the Headlines (read on for the full stories):

• Hoboken’s St. Ann Italian Festival Returns Next Week for 2024
• Miniso Celebrates Grand Opening at Newport Centre in Jersey City
• Police Mobile Command Center to be Acquired by Hoboken Public Safety Department
• Bayonne Celebrates Reopening of Public Library
• Hoboken Division of Health Suspends the Food and Beverage License of CVS
• Man Suffers Serious Injuries While Crossing Jersey City Street
• Urban Market Hoboken Inches Towards Opening on Washington Street
• Jersey City’s La Festa Italiana is Returning for 2024
• Prime Cycle + Body is Set to Expand in Hoboken
• Three People are Charged with Murder in Jersey City Shooting

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Hoboken’s St. Ann Italian Festival Returns This Week for 2024

A beloved local event is returning to the Mile Square for 2024. St. Ann’s Italian Festival, an annual event that features Italian eats (including the infamous zeppoles), music, kiddie rides, a beer garden, and more, is returning for its 114th year at 704 Jefferson Street from Wednesday, July 24th to Sunday, July 28th in Hoboken. Click here for more.

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New Coffee Shop, Cafe Cartel, Opening This Week in Hoboken

There are always new coffee shops popping up in Hoboken — from Jersey City’s famed ModCup opening up in the Mile Square to a new coffee cart on Sinatra Drive. Though caffeine might be abundant, another new coffee shop is set to arrive in town at 1100 Adams Street. Called Cafe Cartel, this new cafe is serving up “curated Colombian coffee” and light cafe bites (including empanadas). With an originally anticipated opening date of November 2023, Cafe Cartel put signage up back in May, and we now know that it will open to Mile Square locals on Wednesday, July 24th. Click here for more.

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Another Hudson County Student Wins the National Merit Scholarship

Another National Merit Scholarship winner from Hudson County was announced on July 17th. Per Patch Hoboken, the program gives the top graduating seniors in the area a financial boost in college. The competitive annual scholarships are available for all four years of college. Last month, a winner from Hoboken was announced. This week, the nonprofit announced several more winners in New Jersey, including Aleksander K. Manda from Weehawken.

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Jersey City Police Department Promotes Over 60 Police Detectives + Sergeants

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Jersey City Police Department promoted 31 new sergeants and 35 new detectives at a City Hall ceremony on July 15th. Per a City Of Jersey City press release, Mayor Steven Fulop has now presided over nearly 500 police promotions over the past decade. “We are proud of our officers and confident in their ability to continue to protect and serve our community”, Mayor Fulop said in a statement.

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Hoboken Fire Department is Now Accepting Firefighter Applications

The City of Hoboken, the Hoboken Public Safety Department, and the Hoboken Fire Department announced that applications to become a Hoboken Firefighter are now available through September 3rd at 4PM. Per the Hudson County View, applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old, a US citizen, a resident of Hoboken, and have a high school diploma or equivalent. There is a $35 application fee. The firefighter exam is expected to be scheduled for late fall/early winter 2024. Click here to access the application.

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Youssoufiani, Leather Craftsmanship Studio, Opens in Jersey City

Earlier this month, Youssoufiani, a leather craftsmanship studio, opened its doors on July 1st, 2024 to aspiring designers and fashion enthusiasts alike. Located at 33 Wayne Street, this historic studio space welcomes eager creatives to get hands-on with leather goods and design customized accessories. Click here for more.

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New Supermarket Opens in Jersey City Heights

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gabriel’s Market opened its doors in the Heights at 508 Central Avenue in Jersey City. Per Jersey Digs, the supermarket soft-opened in late June and held a grand opening event on July 11th. The business is now open daily from 7AM to 9PM except Sundays, with operating hours from 8AM to 8PM.

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Prime Cycle + Body Fitness Center Set to Expand in Hoboken

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Prime Cycle + Body, a fitness studio located in Hoboken for over nine years, announced via Instagram a major expansion set to enhance its wellness offerings. Upgrades scheduled for late summer 2024 will introduce over 5,000 square feet of premium exercise options. With the new expansion and launch of four studios, members will have access to a comprehensive range of Cycle, Pilates, Barre, Yoga, Strength, Sculpt, and Reformer Pilates classes all under one roof, with future plans to introduce infrared heated classes.

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Jersey City’s La Festa Italiana is Returning for 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jersey City’s largest Italian-American festival is returning this summer for its 121st year. La Festa Italiana, a five-day festival full of Italian eats, drinks, kid-friendly activities, and live entertainment, among other things, will start on Wednesday, August 7th, and run through Sunday, August 11th. The festival will take place from 5PM to 11PM each day at 6th and Brunswick Streets in Jersey City. Click here for more.

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Urban Market Hoboken Inches Towards Opening on Washington Street

Back in October of 2022, we reported that Brooklyn-based shop Dumbo Market is officially coming to Hoboken at 1425 Washington Street, under the name Hoboken Market. Now, moves are being made at the massive space. Construction started near the Hudson Tea House on Tuesday, January 23rd and signage officially went up earlier that week. As of mid-July, the new market is taking steps towards opening as construction continues. Click here for more.

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Hoboken Division of Health Suspends Food + Beverage License of CVS

Photo Credit: @hobokengossip/anonymous reader

Last weekend, a sign was spotted at the Midtown Hoboken CVS at 811 Clinton Street, saying that the Hoboken Health Department had suspended the food and beverage license for the store. While it is now back open, CVS and the City of Hoboken shared with The Hoboken Girl that the closure was due to a pest issue. Click here for more.

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The Hoboken Italian Festival Returns for 2024

The Hoboken Italian Festival, which takes place on the waterfront on Sinatra Drive Promenade in Hoboken, will return for 2024 from Thursday, September 5th to Sunday, September 8th. Also known as the Feast of the Madonna Dei Martiri, the festival will be complete with delicious eats, entertainment, and more, as well as fireworks and a procession. Click here for more.

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31-Year-Old Hoboken Resident Passes Away

 

 

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President of Hoboken City Council, Emily Jabbour shared via Threads the passing of Ronald Alan Loehwing II, a devoted father and Hoboken resident. Due to his unforeseen passing, the family needs support to cover the costs of his memorial service and burial. Click here for the GoFundMe page.

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Free Shuttle Bus Pilot Added to Liberty State Park Revitalization Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is advancing its Liberty State Park Revitalization Plan with a free shuttle bus pilot program that started July 19th and will run through the end of September. Per the Hudson County View, the pilot shuttle service will operate on weekends and other select days through September 29th. The shuttle service will include a stop at the Liberty Science Center. Two shuttle buses, one with a wheelchair lift, will transport visitors along a designated route on Saturdays and Sundays from 9AM to 5PM and during specific times for special events. A shuttle will arrive at each stop approximately every 20 minutes.

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Planet Fitness Will Temporarily Close in Hoboken, to Reopen in Late Fall

Planet Fitness has announced it will be closing its Hoboken location temporarily for upgrades from July 29th, 2024 to at least late fall, according to its corporate office. Located at 605 Washington Street, the Planet Fitness space has been open for a decade, and is arguably the lowest monthly gym membership pricing in the area — as the gym centers are known for their $10/month pricing for members. Click here for more.

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Hoboken Mayor Bhalla Vetoes Ordinance to Eliminate Permit Fees for Local Nonprofits

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla vetoed an ordinance that would have eliminated permit fees for local nonprofits, calling it well-intentioned but “deeply flawed”. Bhalla noted that sanitation, maintenance, and other related fees would be on the backs of taxpayers. Per the Hudson Couty View, he also wrote that some local nonprofits are well-financed and/or multi-million dollar corporations that don’t require discounts, citing the Stevens Institute of Technology and the Hoboken University Medical Center. The local legislation was approved 5-4 on the June 5th first reading. The second reading on June 10th passed by the same 5-4 vote tally.

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Hoboken High School to Provide Open Pool Hours to Residents

The City of Hoboken recently announced a few updates pertaining to open pool hours and amenity repairs. From July 29th through August 9th, the Hoboken High School indoor pool at 800 Clinton Street will be open to residents for limited hours. Click here for more.

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NJ Transit Searches for New Bus Company to Replace Coach USA

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco is calling on NJ Transit to find a new bus company to serve commuters who will be left stranded after August 16th, when Coach USA stops operating 20 bus routes in Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic. Per NJ.com, Coach USA, which contracts with NJ Transit to provide bus service, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June. The company initially vowed to keep its buses rolling, but last week, it informed NJ Transit that it plans to eliminate 20 bus routes in a cost-cutting move that will affect thousands of riders.

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Hoboken City Council Approves Mile Square Theatre’s Liquor License

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Emily Jabbour (@emilyhobokenmom)

The Hoboken City Council approved Mile Square Theatre’s liquor license at a council meeting on July 10th. Hoboken Councilmember-at-Large Emily Jabbour sponsored the update to local ABC laws to support Mile Square Theatre’s application for a non-profit theatre liquor license. Emily shared via Instagram that this will help to further enhance the experience of attending performances at this cultural hub.

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55-Year-Old Male Found Dead in Hoboken Housing Authority Building

On July 10th, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office was notified of a deceased male inside an apartment at 400 Marshall Drive in Hoboken. Per the Hudson County View, the dead body was recovered at the Hoboken Housing Authority building with the cause and manner of death pending. The male has tentatively been identified as a 55-year-old Hoboken resident, according to Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Caitlin Mota. The cause and manner of death are pending the findings of the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

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  Police Mobile Command Center to be Acquired by Hoboken Public Safety Department

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante, and Police Chief Steven Aguiar announced on July 15th via a City of Hoboken press release that the Hoboken Police Department will acquire a state-of-the-art Police Mobile Command Center (PMCC) following City Council’s unanimous approval of approximately $1.1 million in funding to purchase and retrofit the vehicle. The Hoboken PMCC will be deployed for a variety of planned events and emergency operations, including large celebrations, street fairs and festivals, public safety incidents, severe weather, and more. When not in use, the vehicle will at times be positioned at high-priority locations throughout the City including the Hoboken Housing Authority, the waterfront area, and Hoboken Terminal.

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Man Suffers Serious Injuries While Crossing Jersey City Street

A 35-year-old Jersey City man was seriously injured when struck by a car while crossing the street late on the night of July 11th. Per NJ.com, police responded to the intersection of West Side and Boyd avenues at approximately 10:30PM and found the victim unconscious and with his right leg nearly severed at the knee. Eventually, a Jersey City Medical Center ambulance arrived and transported the man to the JCMC, where he is in critical condition.

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Bayonne Celebrates Reopening of Public Library

Bayonne celebrated the reopening of the Bayonne Public Library with a block party-like event on July 18th after one year of renovations. Per NJ.com, after the completion of renovations, the library reopened on May 1st. The renovations at the historic building at 31st Street and Avenue C include the installation of a new elevator and a new boiler, as well as renovations to the lobby, circulation area, and Children’s Room.

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Hoboken Middle School Excels In The National Geography Challenge

Hoboken Middle School announced that its students excelled in the National Geography Challenge. Per Patch Hoboken, its Eighth Grade Team secured second place and its Sixth Grade Team came in third place. Additionally, rising ninth grader Jonathan Offer won second place overall nationally in the individual scores category.

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Miniso Celebrates Grand Opening at Newport Centre in Jersey City

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Newport Centre Mall announced via Instagram that the popular international retailer Miniso joined its retail offerings on July 13th. Miniso is located on Level 1, next to Sephora. This shop showcases a diverse array of high-quality, well-designed inexpensive products spanning lifestyle, home goods, beauty, fashion, and more. Created in 2013, Miniso partners with popular license holders including Sanrio, Care Bears, Disney, Pixar, Barbie, and Peanuts.

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Guttenberg Man Charged with Aggravated Assault + Threatening to Shoot a Police Officer

A Guttenberg man was charged with making terroristic threats and threatening to shoot a local police officer who he claimed was following him last week. Per the Hudson County View, Edward Garcia, 54, walked into the Guttenberg Police Department and informed a communications officer that he was going to shoot one of their officers if he saw the cop following him again. He was ultimately arrested and charged with terroristic threats and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Edward was issued his complaint warrant and lodged in the Hudson County Correctional Center.

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Jersey City Mayoral Hopeful Mussab Ali Raises $213K in Q2

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jersey City mayoral hopeful Mussab Ali raised $213,329.97 in the second quarter of 2024, with $203,435.41 cash on hand, his July 15th New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC) report shows. As per the Hudson County View, he received donations from individuals throughout New Jersey and other states including Virginia, New York, Connecticut, and Texas with contributions ranging from $250 to $5,200 from outside the typical Hudson County political class. His campaign said the candidate’s fundraising success marks the largest amount a Gen Z candidate has raised in a single quarter in New Jersey’s history.

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Three People are Charged with Murder in Jersey City Shooting

Three people have been charged in the shooting of a man in Greenville on May 10th. As per the Jersey City Times, Makiyy Randolph, 21, of Paterson, and two juveniles, have been arrested in connection with the shooting, which left 24-year-old Rasheed Wallace of Jersey City dead. Makiyy was arrested on July 12th on Gates Avenue in Jersey City after a brief foot pursuit. He is currently being detained at the Hudson County Correctional Facility. A 14-year-old female and a 16-year-old male are charged as juveniles with Murder, Felony Murder, Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Both juveniles were arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus on July 11th.

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Washington Park Association Hosts First Major Poetry Event in Union City

The Washington Park Association of Hudson County (WPA) announced its inaugural Poet In Residence as Yetvart S. Majian on July 10th via Instagram. Yetvart is a Hudson County native and an Armenian-American poet and graduate of Saint Peter’s University. WPA’s first event is happening on Wednesday, July 24th from 6:30PM to 10PM at Washington Park in Union City. “Park Poetry” will feature four stellar New Jersey poets, including Rashad Wright, Hailee Martin as Ryan’s Daughter, and Jersey City natives Just Putt and Londo Grover.

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Waterfront Alliance Releases White Paper on Coastal Resilient Design

The Waterfront Alliance, a national leader in achieving climate resilience, announced via press release on July 16th that it has released a first-of-its-kind white paper with key policy challenges, considerations, and opportunities for effectively funding and implementing climate resilient infrastructure and other solutions in the U.S. Developed through the innovative March 2024 Aspen Ideas Climate Summit, the paper uncovers the viability of solutions to mitigate, manage, and reverse climate-related harms for coastal communities.

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Hoboken Public Safety Department Hosted CAPS Meeting at Metropolis

The City of Hoboken and the Hoboken Public Safety Department hosted the Community And Public Safety (CAPS) meeting on July 16th at Metropolis, 96 River Street. CAPS is a way for members of the public to meet and engage with local public safety officials. Representatives of Hoboken Police, Hoboken Fire, Hoboken Office of Emergency Management, Hoboken EMS and Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and Hoboken Health Division were on hand for presentations, conversations, and a Q+A session.

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Berry Lane Park Splash Pad Reopens in Jersey City

The Berry Lane Park splash pad in Jersey City’s Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood opened for the first time this year on July 18th. Per NJ.com, the splash pad, located in the biggest city park, was temporarily repaired this week, allowing youngsters to play under the cool water shooting from sprinklers shaped like a crocodile, a mushroom, and a turtle.

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Hudson County is Providing Free Bus Service to Cooling Center

The county of Hudson announced on July 12th that it has opened a countywide daytime cooling center with free bus service for summer, particularly for unhoused individuals. Per Patch Hoboken, the daytime cooling center is located at the Naval Reserve Facility in the Town of Kearny and will operate between 10AM and 7PM. This location will provide a cool, safe space for unsheltered individuals in Hudson County who seek relief from the excessive heat impacting the area, and to provide medical services for those who experience health conditions exacerbated by the heat. The cooling center will be active until September 15th and may be extended if the forecast calls for temperatures above 95 degrees. Click here for a full list of cooling centers locally.

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‘The Hoboken Girl’ Breakfast Sandwich is Now PERMANENT on Alessio’s Menu

Photo Credit: Hannah Taub

 If you didn’t get a chance to taste test The Hoboken Girl Breakfast Sandwich yet, you’re in luck — not only did our collaboration in March sell almost 2,000 sandwiches in a month (and we donated our portion to York Street Project for Women’s History Month), BUT ALSO — it’s now officially on the menu permanently as of early April! The Hoboken Girl team collaborated with Alessio’s Cafe for the debut of our very own Hoboken Girl Breakfast Sandwich — all to highlight a local non-profit that does amazing work in the Hudson County Community. By popular demand, it will now be indefinitely on the menu at all Alessio’s locations (539 Park Avenue in Hoboken + 99 Franklin Street in Jersey City). Click here for more.

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New Jersey City University Must Find a “Fiscally Sound” University to Partner with by March 2025

Financially distressed New Jersey City University must find a “fiscally sound” university to partner with by the end of March 2025. Per NJ.com, the succinct report from the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) set a timeline for the Jersey City school that announced its financial emergency two years ago to meet recommendations by the state-appointed fiscal monitor Henry Amoroso.

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Hudson West Folk Festival Announces Talent Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Annual folk festival, Hudson West will take place at the Nimbus Arts Center on September 28th. Per the Jersey City Times, the festival is holding open two slots on the multi-artist bill for winners of its Talent Search. To be picked, you must be a Hudson County resident and make music that falls somewhere under the wide umbrella of folk. The deadline for submitting to the Talent Search is August 15th.

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Jersey City Approves Revamped 57-Story Plan for Harborside 9

During a meeting on July 9th, Jersey City’s Planning Board granted final approval for a project known as Harborside 9. Per Jersey Digs, it is located at 2 Second Street and is home to 169,000 square feet of asphalt that offers workers spots for their cars during weekdays at the nearby Harborside 10 office complex. Unlike the first phase, Harborside 9 will include a 15% affordable housing component that will create 87 affordable units. That contribution will be required due to Jersey City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IZO), which was not yet in effect when the Harborside 8 section gained approval in 2020.

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Meteor Passes Over NYC + is Heard in Many Parts of New Jersey

On Tuesday, July 16th, many New Jersey residents reported a loud bang and felt rumbling, akin to an earthquake. Social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, was ablaze with questions asking if it was an earthquake, but sources could not confirm seismic activity, and, according to the United States Geological Survey, it was NOT an earthquake. Experts at NASA later shared that it may have been a meteor. Click here for more.

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