New Jersey
Calling all N.J. food businesses! Here is how Jersey Eats helps vendors reach thousands.
NJ.com’s food festival, Jersey Eats: A Taste of New Jersey is hitting the Meadowlands for the first time and we are looking for the best food vendors in the state!
The event will be held at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Jersey Eats is more than just a food festival. It’s a platform that bridges local businesses with foodies all over the state, showcasing what makes each business unique.
At our past events, vendors connected with more than 3,000 new customers and have since helped increase sales.
Here is what past vendors have said about how Jersey Eats helped their business:
Anthony Gomez of the Weenie Geenie during Jersey Eats: A Taste of New Jersey at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ on Saturday, March 2, 2024 Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media
“Jersey Eats provided us with a fantastic platform to showcase our hotdog stand at the event in Trenton, N.J. It was heartwarming to see customers sharing hotdogs with each other just to explore the diverse range of food offered by fellow vendors. This not only boosted our sales but also created a sense of camaraderie among the vendors. Moreover, participating in Jersey Eats allowed us to forge valuable connections within the food industry. We were pleasantly surprised when we received invitations to other events from individuals we met at the festival. This not only expanded our network but also opened up opportunities for future collaborations,” said Anthony Gomez of Anthony the Weenie Genie, a hot dog vendor in South Jersey.
Maggie Colon of Maggies Munchies during Jersey Eats: A Taste of New Jersey at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ on Saturday, March 2, 2024
Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media
“I signed up (for) the Jersey Eats Trenton back in March, where it (was) the first time I ever vended at a market with a large attendance. It was absolutely amazing! I sold out both days being the best weekend I ever had in sales (to date) but I also gained the confidence to do other big events and continue on this new journey as a small business owner,” said Madelyn Colon of Maggie’s Munchies, a dessert vendor based in North and Central Jersey.
Vendors will also get to benefit from digital exposure on NJ.com – reaching even more foodies online, event email campaigns, promotions in our newsletter, social media promotion and visibility in our exclusive Facebook group with over 8,000 New Jersey food lovers.
If you want all of this, apply to be a vendor at Jersey Eats!
Be part of New Jersey’s premier culinary experience and be one of our 75-plus vendors to show off what you have to offer! Apply to be a vendor now. Applications will be accepted until Oct. 4.
Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.
Lauren Musni may be reached at lmusni@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni and on Instagram. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
New Jersey
Severe thunderstorms possible in North Jersey Saturday
This is NJ’s chance at seeing a hurricane in the 2026 season
As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, weather experts from various outlets have begun to release their seasonal outlooks.
Severe thunderstorms are possible across North Jersey on June 6, with damaging winds, hail and heavy rain all in the forecast as a cold front moves through the region, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters said another hot afternoon is expected before storms develop late Saturday and continue into Saturday night. Temperatures are expected to climb well into the 80s across much of the area, with lower 90s possible in the urban Northeast New Jersey corridor.
The main threat window is expected to run from about 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., according to a Saturday morning briefing from the NWS office in New York.
The strongest storms could bring wind gusts above 58 mph, enough to damage trees and power lines and cause scattered outages. Large hail around an inch is also possible, along with heavy downpours that could lead to localized flooding in urban areas, poor drainage spots and along quick-responding streams and creeks.
The Storm Prediction Center placed most of the region under a slight risk for severe weather, a level two out of five. The highest chance for severe storms is expected to be north and west of the I-95 corridor, though forecasters said storms could affect a broader area depending on how the system develops.
The NWS said there is still some uncertainty in the forecast, including how much storm activity develops during the afternoon and whether the timing limits the severity of storms later in the day.
The storms are expected to move through as a cold front sweeps across the area. Conditions are expected to turn mainly dry Sunday and into the middle of next week, with temperatures gradually warming again.
For those heading to the Shore, forecasters also warned of a high risk of rip currents at Atlantic-facing beaches Saturday. Rip currents can sweep even strong swimmers away from shore, and the NWS said anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf. Water temperatures below 60 degrees could also quickly cause hypothermia.
Officials advise residents to monitor the forecast, make sure they can receive weather alerts and move indoors if thunder is heard. During severe thunderstorms, people should stay away from windows and avoid driving through flooded roads.
New Jersey
Robots? Podcasts? See inside North Jersey Girl Scouts’ new Dream Lab
Girls Scouts open DreamLab in Paramus
The Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey opened its new Dreamlab in Paramus on June 5, where girls will learn robotics, crafting and indoor camping.
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey will podcast, learn robotics and experience indoor camping thanks to a new DreamLab that opened in Paramus on June 5.
The 12,000-square-foot DreamLab, the second of its kind in the state and 12th in the country, will offer a variety of labs, workspaces, meeting rooms and other multipurpose spaces to serve North Jersey’s 19,000 Girl Scouts. The organization, open to ages 5 to 18, serves Bergen, Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties and the northern half of Warren County.
The center held a ribbon-cutting on Friday morning with Girl Scout leadership and local dignitaries, including County Executive Jim Tedesco, Commissioner Tracy Zur and Assemblymembers Lisa Swain and Chris Tully.
The Girl Scouts owned the 300 Forest Ave. location for 50 years, primarily using it as office space, but decided to reimagine the space in a $3 million renovation to create new programming space for its members.
Seeing the DreamLab get off the ground was important to Tedesco, whose mother helped found the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey branch. During the opening ceremony, he recounted his days spent at Girl Scout camp in the summers.
“It actually shaped who I am today,” said Tedesco. “It was what helped make me realize that I wanted to give back to my community as I grew up.”
Tedesco said the space will act as a community hub not just for Girl Scouts, but for nonprofits, local schools and organizations.
A few older scouts lead a design team to help the organization plan activities that would best prepare their fellow members for the world, like investing in robotics and other STEM related activities.
“We worked together not only to design a space where girls of all ages can come to enrich themselves, but also select programs that we believe can be highly beneficial and educational,” said 18-year-old Yasmine Lalani, one of the Girl Scout design team ambassadors.
One scout alumni, 19-year-old Isabella Santa Cruz of Glen Rock, even worked with the center to help build a sensory room as a safe space for neurodivergent members.
“Inclusion isn’t just a feature, but a foundation of meaningful impact,” Santa Cruz said. “The sensory room provides a peaceful sanctuary to escape the noise, listen to their inner voices and develop the self-awareness they need to lead.”
During the DreamLab’s first day, visitors could try out the space’s many features, including a podcast room, 3D printers, a kid-safe power tool called a Chomp Saw and test out Sphero BOLT, a robotic ball that is controlled and programmed with an app.
“I’m really excited for the girls to come in here,” said Nicole Ricci, 23, a Girl Scout alumni helping people try the Sphero BOLT. “It will be a great space for them to be creative and learn.”
Sandra Kenoff, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey, is hopeful the DreamLab will inspire the next generation of leaders.
“From the beginning, we were committed to ensuring this space reflects the voices of the girls and the communities we serve,” said Kenoff.
New Jersey
Can Saharan dust reach New Jersey?
3 amazing ways Saharan dust impacts planet Earth
Every massive plumes of dust rise from Africa’s Sahara Desert and blow over the Atlantic travelling as far as the U.S. and the Amazon in South America.
GeoBeats, GeoBeats
The first round of Saharan dust for summer 2026 is set to sweep over parts of the U.S. Southeast this weekend. AccuWeather expects it to hit Gulf Coast soon, and new waves are expected come all summer.
Also known as the Saharan Air Layer, the annual weather phenomenon can help dampen hurricanes. It makes sunsets and sunrises look dramatic and can negatively affect air quality.
Now, does the Saharan dust reaches the Northeast? Can it reach New Jersey? Here’s what to know about the Saharan dust.
What is Saharan dust?
Just like the name suggests, dust and dirt from the Sahara Desert in Africa are swept across the globe.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the dry, dusty air forms over the arid region from spring through autumn. Trade winds can catch the dust, pushing a miles-thick layer in the atmosphere thousands of feet above the ground.
Which states are affected? Does Sahara dust reaches New Jersey?
The Sahara Dust typically affects the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida and areas nearby. According to NOAA, it can reach as far west at Texas.
The massive plumes pushed across the ocean can be as large as the lower 48 states, and the dust can reach New Jersey, though with minimal impact.
Previous reporting suggests that when the dust reaches New Jersey, its effect is not perceptible inland, but those living by the ocean can suffer mild effects from it. Sahara dust tends to produce hazy skies and dry air.
This time around, the forecast doesn’t expect the dust from the coming wave reaching the Northeast.
➤ What is ‘dirty rain’? How Saharan dust can impact the weather
When does Saharan dust reach the U.S.? When does Sahara dust season peak?
Saharan dust season typically starts mid-June and peaks from late June to mid-August, according to NOAA. In the U.S., bands can hit about every three to five days.
How does Saharan dust affect air quality? Can it cause coughing or sinus issues?
Saharan dust can affect air quality and trigger coughing and sinus issues for some people, especially if the coverage is thick.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines the weather phenomenon as a form of particulate pollution. It’s made of sand and minerals, but it’s not the same kind of dust as the household variety with dust mites.
People with asthma or other health issues affected by air quality might want to stay inside as much as possible when the dust is heavy in their area.
If you’re concerned about breathing in the particles, use a mask outside and an air purifier with a filter indoors.
According to information from Baptist Health System, the respiratory issues caused by the dust can mimic a COVID-19 infection. Coughing and chest tightness with no fever might be an allergic reaction or your body responding to an irritant.
The Instituto Espaillat Cabral, an ophthalmology center in the Dominican Republic, recommends wearing protective eyewear and keeping your eyes hydrated to keep the dust from irritating your eyes. If you get debris in your eye, avoid rubbing it.
Does Saharan dust ‘stop’ hurricanes?
Saharan dust can suppress the energy needed for hurricanes to form and intensify. It’s more like starving a storm than making one stop in its tracks.
Large amounts of dust can keep the surface of the ocean slightly cooler, which can help prevent storms from growing or forming.
According to the National Weather Service, the lower humidity and warm, dry air can also weaken an existing storm with downdrafts or throw off the heat signature of a cyclone.
Juan Carlos Castillo is a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today network. He covers weather, and national events focusing on how they affect New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
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