English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Jersey City, NJ

A seafood restaurant in a development called "The Beach," a globally inspired Mexican eatery, and more. See what opened in September in NJ.

Caren Lissner, Patch Staff

|Updated Mon, Oct 7, 2024 at 6:57 am ET

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Consider the lobster roll. There's a debate over whether to serve it with butter or with mayo and veggies. At a new seafood restaurant that opened near the Jersey City waterfront last month, you can try the roll pictured above and weigh in.

In fact, a slew of new eateries opened in North Jersey in the last five or six weeks. If you're stopping off before a show in Manhattan, or heading on a food safari around North Jersey, you've got plenty of options.

Here are restaurants that opened in North Jersey in or near September:

Blue Anchor Bar and Kitchen

The new seafood spot has opened inside a residential tower in the Newport section of Jersey City, not far from the Hoboken border. LeFrak Commercial, Newport Associates Development Company, and the owners of Downtown Brooklyn Japanese restaurant Teppan Territory announced the opening. The restaurant is on the ground floor of the residential building The Beach, at 166 River Drive.

Find out what's happening in Hobokenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The elevated menu features fresh, locally sourced seafood, including lobster rolls, a raw bar and other seasonal offerings, complemented by a curated selection of wines and craft cocktails," said a spokesperson. "Blue Anchor will also be serving a brunch menu on the weekends."

Find out more here.

JINYA

The ramen noodle franchise JINYA has opened its newest spot at 465 U.S. 46 in Totowa, in Passaic County. They held a grand opening on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

The franchise prides itself on authentic dishes, flavorful toppings including pork belly, chicken, shrimp wontons, and tofu, and broth simmered in-house for more than 20 hours.

Find out more about the newest JINYA here.

Maize Cocina & Cocktails

Food. Network's "Chopped Champion Chef Jesa Henneberry announced last month that the hotly anticipated Maize Cocina and Cocktails will open in the Westfield Train Station on Oct. 15.

"From the preserved bricks to the modern glow, our owners put their heart and soul into ensuring the turn-of-the-century Westfield train station stayed intact, all while adding fresh, exciting elements. We can’t wait for you all to experience it!" wrote Maize Westfield about the globally-inspired Mexican restaurant. "Reservations will be available shortly." Find out more here.

Farm & Flour Cafe

The Farm & Flour Cafe opened earlier this month in Franklin Lakes. They serve only breakfast, brunch, and lunch, but they're already gaining a following.

The Farm & Flour is open 8 a.m. to 3p.m. every day of the week, offering pancakes, eggs, and more.

They're located at 436 Pulis Ave., the former spot of the Country Cafe, which moved. Read more about the new spot here.

Schmackary's Bakery

Husband-and-wife restaurant owners opened the first New Jersey location of Schmackary’s, an award-winning bakeshop headquartered in New York City, at the end of August.

Owners Richipal Bindra and Sonia Kaur "are the local New Jersey franchisees who were smitten with Schmackary’s after visiting the flagship location," said a spokesperson for the chain.

The delectable cookies feature a variety of ingredients and toppings.

The shop is located at 41 W. Palisade Ave. Find out more here.

Let Patch Know About Others To Come

Is your restaurant opening in North Jersey? Let Patch know so we can tell our readers, free. Email us here.

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A Newark business owner has admitted to bribing ex-deputy mayor Carmelo Garcia in connection with a real estate scheme, prosecutors said.

Patch Staff

NEWARK, NJ — A Newark business owner has admitted to bribing former deputy mayor Carmelo Garcia in connection with a real estate scheme, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Irwin Sablosky, 64, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to two counts of an indictment charging him with honest services fraud and bribery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said that Sablosky admitted bribing Garcia – who was also executive vice president and chief real estate officer of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC) – in exchange for Garcia’s assistance with the acquisition and redevelopment of city-owned property.

Garcia, a former New Jersey state assemblyman from Hudson County, pleaded guilty in June to several counts in the long-running bribery case. See Related: Ex-Newark Deputy Mayor Admits To Real Estate Bribery Scheme

Prosecutors released the following allegations involving the case against Sablosky:

Find out what's happening in Newarkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“From 2017 through April 2019, Sablosky, Frank Valvano Jr., 56, of Florham Park, and others provided significant monetary payments and other benefits to Garcia while he was serving as a high-level Newark official, and prior to that, as an executive officer of the NCEDC (now known as Invest Newark), in exchange for Garcia’s use of his official positions and influence within the city of Newark and the NCEDC to advance real estate development matters of interest to Sablosky and Valvano. These matters included obtaining preliminary designation letters for Sablosky and Valvano and securing Newark-approved redevelopment agreements (RDAs) that allowed them to purchase and acquire various Newark-owned properties for redevelopment, and to ensure that Garcia did not use his influence and authority to act against their interests. In addition to cash, Sablosky and Valvano also gifted Garcia jewelry, including multiple high-end watches and chains, from their pawnbroker and jewelry business.”

Prosecutors continued:

“Phone records and text messages obtained by law enforcement show extensive communication between Garcia, Valvano, Sablosky, and others throughout this period of time, including text messages in which Garcia arranged to personally collect cash provided by Sablosky and Valvano. In one instance, in June 2018, Sablosky and Valvano, through an intermediary, supplied Garcia, then the city’s acting deputy mayor and director of the city’s DEHD, $25,000 in cash as part of the stream of bribes provided to Garcia.”

Sablosky originally was charged by indictment in October 2021 with Valvano and Garcia. Valvano’s case is pending, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, prosecutors said.

The honest services fraud charge in count 18 of the indictment carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The bribery charge in count 26 carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. All charges are punishable by a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of the pecuniary gain from the offense, prosecutors said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 20, 2025.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

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Jersey City’s Division of Animal Care and Control is partnering with groups that care for multiple cat colonies in the city to help manage stray and abandoned felines, city officials announced.

The partnership’s aim is to establish much-needed support for the animal rescue groups, utilizing a $90,000 state grant awarded to the city Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The initiative to improve public health and save cats’ lives will also take the burden off taxpayers by using fewer public resources.

“Our goal is to assist the people in the community with the critical and compassionate work they do to maintain a healthy city,” Mayor Steve Fulop said. “HHS is providing the structure, oversight, and grant funding necessary to implement the initiative citywide.”

Because community cats are not immunized, they can pose concerns to others.

“There are also important public health issues being addressed with our Trap, Neuter, Release initiative,” HHS Director Stacey Flanagan said. “When cat colonies are vaccinated against rabies, house pets won’t contract the disease either.”

Since the city took over the animal shelter operations on Jan. 1, Animal Care and Control has worked to establish vital partnerships with cat colony caregivers and similar valued community groups. In August, HHS’s “Clear the Shelters” campaign resulted in 74 adoptions — 14 dogs and 60 cats or kittens.

This latest public health initiative began in May to identify and meet with community members who had independently stepped up over the years to feed and care for outdoor cat colonies throughout Jersey City.

These people and groups are critical eyes and ears on the ground and are best positioned to track the cat colonies’ composition, size, distribution, and health, city officials said.

More than 300 cats in 18 colonies have already been trapped, neutered, and released (TNR), vaccinated against rabies and treated for other medical issues. City officials say the city will also provide each cat colony with 20 free spay/neuter surgeries over the next three months.

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Independent cat colony managers can establish themselves as formal community organizations by joining the city’s Partnership for a Healthier JC. The Healthier JC grants will help fund their efforts toward improved health by providing basic veterinary services, maintaining clean feeding stations, and conducting TNR within their colonies.

“We know that if people spayed/neutered and cared for their own pets, there would be fewer community cats and friendly cats left abandoned on the street,” said Natalie Stiefvater, of PAD PAWS Rescue, an adult cat rescue group. “It’s not a cat’s fault if its owner is neglectful. Now, with the Jersey City Animal Care and Control TNR initiative, we can receive the support necessary to do more to help.”

Since most of these cats aren’t adoptable, well-managed cat colonies allow them to live in the territory they are accustomed to while avoiding expenditures for intake, housing, handling, feeding, and, when unavoidable, euthanasia.

Fraternity & Sorority Life at NJCU

Fraternity and Sorority Life at NJCU is vibrant, enhancing academic achievement with community service projects, philanthropic fundraising, a dynamic annual Greek Week, and various social events. Fraternities and sororities at NJCU encompass diverse interests such as social and cultural awareness, women's issues, child welfare, and high-energy stepping and strolling competitions.

Fraternity and Sorority Life Mission Statement

Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) at NJCU aims to empower students to unleash their full potential by creating intentional experiences. These experiences promote and create visibility, unity, academic excellence, community service, recruitment, networking, and lifelong alumni relations within New Jersey City University (NJCU).

Fraternity and Sorority Life Vision Statement

Striving for a culture of unity, growth, and service, the vision for Fraternity and Sorority Life at NJCU is to create an inclusive community where members flourish academically, socially, and personally. Fraternity and Sorority Life at NJCU aims to cultivate a dynamic and inclusive environment where members are empowered to grow and promote unity, leadership, and service. Through collaboration and commitment, NJCU's FSL endeavors to foster a culture of excellence, integrity, and positive impact, shaping the leaders of tomorrow and leaving a legacy on campus and beyond.

Academic Excellence: Support and promote academic achievement among members through resources, mentoring, and programs that encourage scholarly success.

Membership Development: Provide comprehensive programs and resources to support the personal, academic, and professional development of fraternity and sorority members.

Community Engagement: Foster a strong sense of community among fraternity and sorority chapters through collaborative events, service projects, and social activities that promote unity and inclusion.

Values-Based Programming: Implement initiatives and activities that promote the core values and principles of each fraternity and sorority, emphasizing integrity, respect, responsibility, and service.

Philanthropy: Organize and participate in philanthropic activities to raise awareness and funds for various causes.

Leadership Development: Provide opportunities for members to develop leadership skills through workshops, training sessions, and active involvement in chapter and campus leadership roles.

Maintain Positive Relations with Stakeholders: Establish and maintain positive relationships with university administration, alumni, parents, and the local community to promote understanding, collaboration, and support for fraternity and sorority life.

Ensure Compliance and Risk Management: Implement policies, procedures, and training programs to ensure compliance with university regulations, national organization standards, and risk management protocols.

Alumni Engagement: Cultivate meaningful connections and engagement opportunities for fraternity and sorority alumni to support the ongoing success and sustainability of chapters and the overall fraternity and sorority community.

Chapter Excellence and Accountability: Implement standards of excellence and accountability for fraternity and sorority chapters, including regular assessments, goal setting, and support mechanisms to ensure continuous improvement and adherence to organizational values and expectations.

By focusing on these objectives, Fraternity and Sorority Life at NJCU aims to create a positive and enriching experience for all its members, contributing to their growth and success both during their time at NJCU and beyond.

Bianca Cribeirobcribeiro@njcu.edu

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