Photo courtesy of KCED Foundation.
Co-founder Adrienne J. Romero contributed to this reporting.
This week in Hudson County there’s several donation opportunities and other ways to help the community—learn about them here!
Still Have Leftover Halloween Pumpkins? This Family Will Take Them Off Your Hands!
If you still have pumpkins out from Halloween and are not sure what to do about them, a Jersey City family wants to help you out.
You can drop off your pumpkins at 162 Harrison Avenue in Jersey City, which will then be taken to a farm upstate for chickens to enjoy.
This Little Free Library Is Looking For Book Donations
The Little Free Library is a bookcase in Bayonne, located on 29th Street and Avenue F, and they need your donations today!
“We are so happy the community is loving our little library, but we have not been receiving many books back,” read a post from Facebook group Bayonne Talks.
They are running low on books and would appreciate any donations. They are mostly low on young adult novels and adult books.
You can stop by the little library to help fill it up.
New Help Desk Opens In Jersey City To Help Immigrant Business Owners
Immigrant business owners are now getting some more help thanks to the Korea Desk.
Last month, the KCED Foundation Inc. opened the Korea Desk, which aims to help immigrant business owners understand and apply for business assistance that’s available through entities including the City of Jersey City, Jersey City Economic Development Corporation (JCEDC), Hudson County and the State of New Jersey. It’ll be a six-month pilot program thanks to the JCEDC.
At no charge, participants will get:
- A written bilingual summary of programs their business may be eligible for like Urban Enterprise Zone certification, business financing and State minority- and small-business certification plus assistance completing the applications
- Korean-language assistance understanding business notices and identifying the appropriate agency for follow-up
- Connecting owners with City staff to confirm zoning and permitted-use requirements before signing a commercial lease
- Assistance gathering required documents and completing application forms before they’re filed
“Jersey City already built these services. Our job is to bring the owners they were built for to the door, ready to use them,” said Sylvia Kim, founder, president and executive director of KCED Foundation, in a statement.
The Desk sees owners by appointment on Mondays. You can call 201-224-7500, text 201-923-0773 or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment, which will confirm further details.
JCFPL Invites You To Be A Part Of Its Exhibition!
The Jersey City Free Public Library Creative Arts Center invites you to create an artwork for their communal art exhibition: Community Art Cards.
You can create a collage, draw, paint, sew, print or whatever art form speaks to you.
Those who create art to participate are asked to print their name, email, phone number, title, year, medium and size on the back of their work.
Work can be dropped off at the Creative Arts Center located on the corner of 10th Street and Jersey Avenue until now through December.
This Kearny Group Is Having A Fundraiser
The Kearny Dog Walkers 9th Annual Food & Supply Drive is officially underway until Dec. 7.
It will be in benefit to Associated Humane Societies in Newark, which will be used for shelter dogs and cats waiting for their forever homes.
You can make a donation via Venmo @thekearnydogwalker or access their Amazon wishlist here.
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This Jersey City Restaurant Has Shut Down
Irma’s Cafe in the Heights neighborhood of Jersey City has closed its doors.
A Facebook post showed a note on the business’s window stating that there will be new owners who will take over the property and open up a new restaurant sometime this month.
Irma’s Cafe is a family-owned Mexican Salvadoran restaurant. It is named after the owner’s son, who had been working at the restaurant with her.
New Tavern Moving To Kearny
Sonoma Bistro, a popular eatery in Rutherford and Nutley, are separating management and the same owners of the Rutherford location will be expanding to Kearny.
The newest spot will be located at 188 Midland Avenue, Sonoma Bistro announced on Facebook.
The tavern is a Latin Italian restaurant and bar with brunch. It also offers happy hour food, vegetarian options and “a chill vibe.”
There Might Be A New Restaurant And Bar Heading To The Jersey City Heights
A new restaurant is coming to 594 Palisade Avenue in Jersey City after the space was vacant for nearly two years.
According to Jersey Digs, during a meeting on Oct. 20, Jersey City’s Alcoholic Beverage Control approved the transfer of a “pocket” liquor license to the space, which was home to Fox & Crow for a decade, before closing its doors in 2025.
The building is currently listed as “under contract” on LoopNet. It’s never been bought since its closure.
The buyer is currently unknown, however, the property’s liquor license was transferred to an entity called Paper Mache Ballerina LLC.
Know any local news we should include? Email Stella Accettola at [email protected]!
