A Hudson-Bergen Light Rail train arrives at the Essex Street station in Jersey City, on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. (Reena Rose Sibayan / The Jersey Journal)
From health and safety updates to different community opportunities in Bayonne, we’ve got you covered with this week’s Hudson County news roundup.
Be Cautious Commuters! Passenger With Measles May Have Contaminated NJ Trains
It is possible that a Hudson County resident with measles could have exposed other riders while recently traveling on several New Jersey Transit trains, the state Health Department announced last Friday.
The Health Department stated that passengers who traveled on these transit line during these dates and times could have possibly been exposed to measles:
- NJ Transit Hudson-Bergen Light Rail: 8TH STREET BAYONNE-HOBOKEN TERMINAL between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Aug. 13, 14, and 15.
- PATH: NEWARK-WORLD TRADE CENTER Line between 9:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. and between 5:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 13, 14, and 15.
- PATH: EXCHANGE PLACE station in Jersey City between 9:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. and between 5:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 13, 14, and 15.
Those who have not been fully vaccinated or have not had measles in the past are among those at risk. Health officials advise anyone who traveled on these lines at those times to monitor their symptoms until Sept. 11.
A total of nine cases have been reported in 2025 in New Jersey, but there is currently no known ongoing community spread in the state, the state’s Department of Health has noted on its website.
The CDC said symptoms of measles include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Watery red eyes
- Red rash that begins at the hair (typically, the rash starts 3-5 days after the other symptoms)
People can spread measles four days before and four days after the rash appears.
Anyone who suspects an exposure is urged to call their local health department or a health care provider before going to any medical office or emergency department.
This Bayonne Festival Needs Vendors! How To Sign Up
The 2025 Filipino American Music & Food Festival is looking for vendors to help celebrate Filipino-American History Month in October.
The event takes place on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at G. Thomas DiDomenico Park, also known as 16th Street Park, in Bayonne.
The Philippine American Business Club boasts it as a day full of:
- Food
- Live music
- Cultural showcases
Vendor applications are open now! The deadline to sign up is Sept. 10 at 10 p.m. You can sign up here.
Bayonne Residents Are Coming Together For Neighborhood Cleanups
Some Bayonne residents are fed up with the conditions of their town’s streets.
A post on Facebook group “Bayonne Talks” is uniting Bayonne residents to take action and form a volunteer cleanup group for one hour on Sunday afternoons.
The clean-up will include:
- Picking up litter
- Trimming back overgrown hedges/shrubs near sidewalks
- Painting over or remove graffiti where they are able
They will rotate neighborhoods and meet at local spots like “Kuhn’s, The Starting Point or The Vic.” The group will clean for an hour, then share lunch and a beer together.
Trash bags, cans and other supplies will be provided.
Anyone interested can reach out to Edward Mullins on Facebook.
This Hudson County Houlihans Abruptly Closed This Past Week
It’s been six years since Houlihans filed for bankruptcy, and one chain recently shut down without public notice in Bayonne.
Stuart Trejos Abarca, who stated to be a Houlihans employee, posted to a Bayonne Facebook group that not even the workers were informed.
“This is wrong! This is how we were all greeted to our jobs today at Houlihans with zero notice,” Abarca wrote.
“I feel really bad for my coworkers and managers that have been here for years, that rely on this completely for income. Those that have rent to pay and kids to take care of.”
The unexpected closure left users in the comment section in an uproar.
“I’m sad, I’m angry. My husband and I have made so many great friendships and lifelong memories. Long time customer and love all our ‘kids.’ Bartenders, managers and servers. Will never be the same,” one user commented.
“This is beyond reprehensible & disrespectful on Landry’s part (the actual owners of the Houlihans’ chain)! This is precisely why companies like this will never get quality employees and here’s proof of it.. When you take care of your workers, they’ll ALWAYS take care of you and your customers! Hopefully their workers will receive their paychecks at the very least.. Severance would be outstanding.. Honestly, my heart goes out to everyone who’ve lost their jobs here.. Just shameful,” another user commented.
The reason for the closure has not been made public at this moment.
Journal Square’s ‘Emma’s’ Is Getting Replaced
A new sports bar is taking over what was a vacant space for over a year in the Journal Square hub in Jersey City.
JJ Sports Bar will be taking over the space that was once home to Emma’s, which was a comfort food restaurant that closed last year after four years.
Although the sports bar does not have any social media yet, temporary signage shows that they promise customers beer, games and food.
It is not known when exactly JJ Sports Bar will open, but the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board recently heard an application to transfer the bar’s liquor license, which could get the process to their grand opening underway.
JJ Sports Bar will be the second new restaurant opening in the PATH Plaza Teriyaki One Japanese Grill will also be opening just steps away.
The Santander Bank branch, also in the Journal Square hub, is also reportedly closing by Sept. 25. It’s unclear what the space will become.
Know any local news we should include? Email Stella Accettola at [email protected]!
