Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: These 9 Hudson County School Districts Got NJ Grants To Lock Up Kids' Phones

And check out NEW YEARS EVE comedy on the Jersey City Patch calendar

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Wednesday December 31st Patch AM
Wednesday December 31st Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning Jersey City! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • See which Jersey City schools are going phone-free with new grants
  • Were you on Tonnelle Avenue when this deadly hit-and-run happened?
  • Which big-name chains disappeared from Jersey City and New Jersey in 2025?

Also on today's calendar: NEW YEARS EVE comedy and 2 more events.

Find out what's happening in Jersey Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I think I’ll wear only one boot today. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Jersey Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Wednesday: Breezy; morning flurries, with a high of 35 and low of 27 degrees.
  • Thursday: Cold; morning flurries, temps: high: 30, low: 21.
  • Friday: Partly sunny and breezy, with a high of 33 and low of 25 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. These 9 Hudson County School Districts Got NJ Grants To Lock Up Kids' Phones (patch.com) — Several Hudson County school districts, including multiple Jersey City charter schools, are receiving state grants to lock up students’ cell phones from bell to bell in grades 6-12. The funding will pay for secure storage like lockers or locked pouches as part of New Jersey’s Phone-Free Grant Program, which aims to reduce classroom distractions and address concerns about youth mental health and technology use.
   

2. Hit-and-run horror in Jersey City leaves pedestrian dead (shorenewsnetwork.com) — A man was struck and killed Monday night in a hit-and-run on Tonnelle Avenue near North Street in Jersey City, and the driver fled. Jersey City Police and county investigators are reconstructing the crash and asking anyone with information or video to contact the prosecutor’s office tip line or submit tips online.
   

3. These NJ Retail Stores And Restaurants Closed In 2025 (patch.com) — Several major retail chains shut New Jersey locations in 2025, including a Party City store in Jersey City as part of the brand’s full shutdown. The article recaps how closures by Party City, Jo-Ann, Forever 21, Rite Aid, and others reshaped shopping options statewide, reflecting inflation pressures, e-commerce competition, and shifting consumer habits that also affect Jersey City residents.
   

4. Hoboken cannabis biz's suit alleging ‘bribe' to mayor quashed license will proceed (hudsoncountyview.com) — A Hoboken cannabis company’s lawsuit over a denied dispensary license will move forward after a New Jersey appellate panel ruled the claim was filed in time. The case references Jersey City because Mayor Steven Fulop and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency are mentioned in allegations about promised legal work, though the dispute itself centers on Hoboken’s cannabis approvals and Mayor Ravi Bhalla’s actions.
   

5. Italian language and culture remain deeply rooted in New Jersey's identity (shorenewsnetwork.com) — Jersey City is highlighted as one of several New Jersey cities where Italian immigrant communities flourished and helped make Italian a major non-English language in the state. The piece traces how Italian arrivals shaped neighborhoods, churches, food, and even the regional accent from the early 1900s through postwar suburban moves. It also notes that, while fewer residents speak Italian fluently today, Italian-American culture still strongly influences New Jersey’s identity.
   

📸 Around Jersey City

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Jersey City

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

📣 Jersey City Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Wednesday December 31
  • Bachata Meets Salsa (FREE ENTRANCE AND CLASS)
    Lancers Restaurant & Bar , 459 Ferry St , Newark
    8:00 pm
  • SEAN PATRICK & THE ALIBIS / NEW YEARS EVE — WILLIE MCBRIDES
    Willie McBride’s , 616 Grand St , Hoboken
    10:00 pm
    • Thursday January 1
  • New Year's Day (Municipal Offices Closed)
    Harrison, NJ Calendar Harrison, NJ 07029
    • Friday January 2
  • Children's Vision Board Party (2nd grade & up)
    Kearny Main Library , 318 Kearny Ave. , Kearny
    2:00 pm
    • Saturday January 3
  • Adult Coloring Workshop
    Kearny Main Library , 318 Kearny Ave. , Kearny
    10:30 am
  • Drop-in Saturday Craft
    Harrison, NJ Calendar Harrison, NJ 07029
    12:00 pm
  • New Jersey Bridal & Wedding Expo
    Meadowlands Exposition Center , 355 Plaza Dr , Secaucus
    12:30 pm
  • Special Tickets to Hollywood in New Jersey David Newman & Sebastian Knauer
    New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) , 1 Center St , Newark
    8:00 pm
    • Monday January 5
  • Explorer's Playgroup with Miss Bee (ages 0-4 with adult participation)
    Kearny Main Library , 318 Kearny Ave. , Kearny
    10:30 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Jersey City PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Missing kitten in Greenville/Bayside Park area!
    She’s been missing since the day after Christmas. If you’ve seen her PLEASE contact me at any time! We miss her so much. (Nextdoor Bayside Park)
  • Please share & repost to help reunite this stray cat!
    FOUND on December 29, 2025 in Jersey City, NJ 07307 near Nelson and Poplar Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor The Hilltop)
  • TJX Companies, Inc. posted a job opening for Store Cleaning Associate in Bayonne. Apply here.
  • River Link Hotels posted a job opening for Room Attendant/Laundry Attendant in Secaucus. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Jersey City here.

Ok Jersey City! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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