A Thanksgiving meal at a Jersey City church in November 2019. (Adrienne J. Romero / SOC Images)
Thanksgiving nearing means plenty of initiative opportunities for Hudson County residents to help and give back to the community you are thankful for.
Read about them and more here in this news roundup.
A Thanksgiving Meal Drive Is Being Held In Kearny, And Your Help Is Needed!
The Kearny Insider is having their first annual Thanksgiving Meal Drive!
If you are a family who could use some extra help right now, send a direct message through Instagram to @the_kearny_insider with what items your family will need/enjoy for Thanksgiving.
They will try their best to fulfill your needs!
If you are a member of the community who is able to give a little extra this season and would like to donate to the meal drive, you can also reach out via Instagram direct message.
In the spirit of anonymity, you can order online and arrange for in-store pick up or you can have your necessities delivered.
The goal is to guarantee to help at least two families in the community.
Help today to put some food on the table this Thanksgiving.
This Harrison Non-Profit Needs Your Donations Amid The Pause On SNAP Benefits
Due to the government shutdown, SNAP benefits have been put on an indefinite pause. The pause has affected many families around the country, but also in Harrison.
The Harrison Education Foundation is asking for your help as they have partnered with Pomptonian Food Services to create take-home meals and ensure students’ nutritional needs are being met throughout their day.
Every meal counts and every effort counts. 100% of all proceeds will be used to provide take-home meals for Harrison students.
Click here to donate today and support Harrison students during this unforeseeable crisis.
Looking To Lend A Hand This Holiday Season? Check Out This Grocery And Toy Drive
The Jersey City Moms online group are collecting groceries and toys for local families in need this month and for the upcoming holiday season.
They are asking you to donate gloves, hats or winter accessories. You can also make a meal or purchase a hot meal for a family.
The main drop off location will be at Jam Cakery Events, located at 326 5th Street in Jersey City.
Other drop off locations include:
- Mallory Pub (60 Fisk Street, 07305)
- Jersey City Public Library-Pavonia Branch (326 8th Street, 07302)
- Tami Weaver’s office (1859 Kennedy Blvd)
- La Bodega (407 Palisades Avenue)
- Triangle Park Community Blvd)
If you’re interested in making a donation to hot meals or grocery gift cards, you can venmo @jerseycitymoms.
This Hudson County Non-Profit’s Diaper Registration Is Now Open
Angela Cares’ diaper registration is now open for the month of November.
Seniors in need of diapers are asked to call their office at 201-706-2884 to register. Families can apply here.
Television Production Campus Is Heading To Bayonne
After a Hudson County summer filled with celebrity sightings including Adam Sandler, John Cena, Jennifer Lopez and more, 1888 Studios and Paramount have agreed on a 10-year lease agreement to house their 1.6 million square foot, 58-acre film production campus in Bayonne.
For comparison, 45 football fields are roughly equivalent to 60 acres.
“Scaling our production and expanding our slate of world-class entertainment is central to our long-term strategy. We’re thrilled to invest in the United States and in the region and lean into our creative momentum to spark economic growth. We’re deeply grateful for the support and partnership of Gov. Murphy, Senator Raj Mukherji, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and 1888 Studios,” said Paramount’s Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer Andy Gordon.
“Thanks to highly competitive tax credit programs like New Jersey’s, the tri-state area is more attractive than ever before for production as we work together to create new jobs and empower more domestic production for America’s creative workforce.”
1888 Studios is projected to be the “largest campus-style production facility in the Northeast and one of the largest in the nation,” according to Deadline.
Gov. Murphy said in a statement, “By attracting world-class studios and productions, we are not only creating high-quality jobs, promoting infrastructure, and driving economic growth, but are also investing in our communities and elevating New Jersey as a national leader in entertainment.”
New Jersey Catholic Parishes Are Considering Merges
Church officials say that New Jersey may see some Catholic parishes in four northern New Jersey counties merge as soon as 2027.
While New Jersey still has one of the highest percentages of Catholic residents in the country, church attendance has been on a steady decline and more than 30 Catholic schools have closed in the past five years due to low enrollment.
The possible parish merges come from an ongoing review, titled “We Are His Witness,” that was launched in June by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin. The review was aimed at strengthening the Catholic faith “amid a changing church landscape.” At the time of this writing, it’s unclear which churches will be affected.
The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics at 211 parishes across Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties.
Margiotta stated that the merges will focus on parish governance rather than church buildings and any property decisions will be up to the local parish community.
In his June letter to Catholics announcing the review of parishes, Tobin outlined challenges that the church was facing.
“Yet, the realities we face as a Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Newark are both urgent and undeniable: parish membership, Mass attendance, and sacramental participation have declined. The number of priests to serve as pastors is decreasing. And still, the population of our region continues to grow, offering new and fertile ground for evangelization,” Tobin’s letter stated.
Margiotta noted that the review is expected to result in a unified pastoral plan by next summer.
Some Catholic parishes in Hudson County include:
- St. Joseph of the Palisades in West New York
- St. Vincent de Paul Catholic in Bayonne
- St. Aloysius in Jersey City’s West Side
- St. Joseph’s in Jersey City’s Journal Square
- Assumption All Saints in Jersey City’s Bergen-Lafayette
Jersey City MUA Hires New Employee For Over $200,000 A Year
The Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) Board of Commissioners recently hired city Business Administrator John Metro for five years at a $250,000 yearly salary.
The Jersey City MUA operates the sewer and water systems throughout the city; it allows the dispensing of clean and drinkable water, among other infrastructure responsibilities. The city’s sewer and water system has become a hot topic among talks by the city’s mayoral candidates, who mainly argue the system is outdated and must be revitalized and improved in order to achieve sustainability in the city.
Metro’s appointment was briefly discussed at the Oct. 30 meeting in executive session and the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously for him (5-0). He steps into the role after Richard Haytas, who was previously appointed the acting executive director by the board of the Jersey City MUA.
Metro was previously the acting Jersey City Business Administrator in November 2020, and eventually had his acting title removed in January 2022.
He also served as the chair of the now defunct Bayonne MUA from 2014 to 2016. His new role begins this Wednesday, Nov. 12.
“I’m excited for this opportunity after a successful 12-year tenure with the City of Jersey City, where I worked closely with each of our autonomous agencies and developed a deep understanding and appreciation for the critical work they do every day,” Metro stated.
“I look forward to expanding upon the important work of the authority in delivering reliable services and supporting the city’s continued growth.”
Bayonne Man Charged In Fatal Stabbing Incident
Bayonne resident, Andrew Fuentes, 28, has reportedly been charged in connection with the incident from last Monday night.
According to authorities, Bayonne police responded to reports of a dispute at 17 Meadow Street just before 10:20 p.m.
There, officers found 41-year-old Richard Arcos with an apparent stab wound. The Garfield resident was pronounced dead at around 11:15 p.m. The cause and manner of death are still pending the results of the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.
Fuentes was charged with:
- Aggravated manslaughter
- Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (knife)
- Unlawful possession of a weapon (knife).
Fuentes was taken into custody at the scene. Officials noted that the incident is being investigated as a domestic dispute.
Know any local news we should include? Email Stella Accettola at [email protected]!
