New executive director for Educational Arts Team; Realtors recognized for sales achievements | Business Notes

Cynthia Renta to lead Educational Arts Team‍

The Educational Arts Team has appointed Cynthia Renta as its new executive director. Renta takes over the role from outgoing interim director, Betsy Vorce. Vorce assumed leadership of the organization in June 2021 upon the retirement of Carmine Tabone, the Team’s previous executive director and co-founder.

As Educational Arts Team’s executive director, she will lead planning and execution for all programs and activities – including the popular Camp Liberty summer program – ensuring that all adhere to the organization’s principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Renta’s mandate includes building relationships with key stakeholders in Hudson County government and community with the objective of furthering programming, funding and advocacy.

A native of Jersey City, Renta joins the Team from the Center for Supportive Schools where she has worked for the past six years, most recently as senior community school director. In this role, she directed the community school strategy across five schools in Jersey City. Prior to that, Renta also directed the Newark YMCA (Jersey City based satellite office), implementing 21st Century Learning Centers’ after-school and summer camp programming that served children and families across Jersey City. She has more than 20 years of experience creating, producing and directing community-participatory art programming as an artist, teaching artist and non-profit leader in Jersey City, the California Bay Area, and New York City. She has primarily focused on social equity, creative placemaking, youth development, restorative practices, and parent and community engagement.

Renta’s hire is right ahead of Camp Liberty’s opening on June 27 where she will be on hand to meet campers and their parents. The camp’s sessions run until Aug 19 for children and teens between the ages of 6 and 15.

WorkSocial announces Jersey City HQ expansion

WorkSocial, provides coworking spaces in New Jersey and New York offering private, shared and virtual offices and flexible solutions that match the individual needs of businesses, is expanding its Jersey City headquarters at 111 Town Square Place, 12th Floor.

The expansion brings the size of its headquarters to 14,000 square feet from 8,400, and will increase the company’s number of for  rent private office space , day offices, co-working spaces, virtual offices, and conference rooms with premium amenities including virtual reception service, secure server access, shipping and mailing, onsite notary and complimentary high-speed Wifi, printing, hot breakfast, lunch, beverages and snacks. About 3,000 square feet of the new expansion space has already been allocated to a nationally recognized business.

Since the company’s inception in 2015, WorkSocial has expanded its real estate portfolio from 4,400 to 18,000 square feet and has seen 100-percent organic growth year over year.

New Thai restaurant in Jersey City

JerseyDigs.com recently reported that a new Thai restaurant, Kinsen, has opened in Jersey City on the ground floor of 80 Wayne St. The restaurant has dine-on services with menu items under $20. Kinsen is open seven days a week from noon until 9:30 p.m. and can be found on Instagram at @kinsenjerseycity.

‍Harrison branch of Kearny Bank has new manager

‍Kaywal “Andy” Ganesh, a Jersey City resident, is the new assistant vice president / retail relationship manager at Kearny Bank’s Harrison branch. In this role, Ganesh is responsible for day-to-day operations at the 534 Harrison Ave., location, including all aspects of client experience activities, operations, and sales development.

He comes to Harrison from Kearny Bank’s Hoboken branch, where he served as retail client experience manager. Prior to joining Kearny Bank, Ganesh was a senior relationship banker with another financial services institution. In addition, he has experience working within the online banking sector.

A Hudson County Community College graduate, Ganesh is actively involved in his community. He founded and is president of the New Jersey Mariamman Kovil Corp., while also being a member of the United Madrassi Association.

‍Weichert, Realtors’ cites associates for achievements

‍Weichert, Realtors has announced that two top-producing sales associates with the Jersey City Exchange Place office were recognized for outstanding industry achievement at the regional level in May. Brian Anthony Lopes had the most revenue units and sales in the Weichert sales region. Christopher Amberg had the highest dollar volume in May.It was also announced that at Weichert’s Jersey City Downtown office, two top-producing sales associates and a top team were recognized for outstanding performance in May. The Jersey City Downtown office, which is managed by Robert Sanchez, led the Weichert sales region in five categories: dollar volume, dollar volume from Weichert.com transactions, listings, revenue units and sales. Individually, Barbare Rofsky had the highest dollar volume from Weichert.com transactions in the region and Rajshree Banerjee had the most listings. Among teams in the region, the Nader Rezai Team led the Weichert sales region for dollar volume, listings, revenue units and sales in May.

Also, the Bayonne office and a top-producing sales associate were recognized for exceptional sales achievement at the regional level in April. The Bayonne office, which is managed by Jacqueline Greco, had the highest dollar volume from Weichert.com transactions in the Weichert sales region for the month. Individually, Sanjay Mittal led the region in the same category.

Food truck to open restaurant in Jersey City

The seafood food truck known as Angry Archie’s is planning on opening its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Heights neighborhood in Jersey City sometime later this year, according to a report from jerseydigs.com.

Angry Archie’s began in 2015 when it was founded by chef Chris Curado and his cousin, Michael Ponte, and it has been a part of Jersey City’s Smorgasburg and Hoboken’s Pier 13 among other Hudson County locations.

The announcement came from their Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/p/CewsT6trCMV/), which says that the new restaurant will find its home at 565 Palisades Ave., Jersey City, in the Fall 2022 season.

‍Hoboken pizzeria expands to Jersey City

‍Basile’s Pizza, located at 89 Washington St., Hoboken, is planning on opening its second location in Jersey City, according to a report from jerseydigs.com. The pizzeria will find its first Jersey City location at the Grove Street Path Plaza at 116 Newark Ave. and will be replacing El Barrios Burritos. Jersey City’s Historic Downtown Special Improvement District made the announcement on their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/CewJH29r8HT/.

‍Three Thirds Cafe opens on Jersey City’s West Side

‍Three Thirds Cafe is now open on the ground floor retail space in the 3 Acres luxury rental community located at 400 Claremont Ave., Jersey City. The new eatery has been introduced to the neighborhood by the team behind Amelia’s Bistro, a restaurant in Jersey City’s Paulus Hook.

The café features local goods with beans sourced from Modcup coffee roasters and baked goods from Baltazhar Bakery. In addition to offering classic caffeine induced beverages like coffee and cappuccino, there are season-specific specialty drinks. The food menu consists largely of breads, pastries scones, muffins, and waffles. The cafe is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Three Thirds Cafe is part of an onsite retail experience at 3 Acres that will also soon feature The Lobby Bar and Table at 3 Acres restaurant.

‍NY Waterway service returns to Port Liberte in August

‍NY Waterway announced the restoration its Port Liberte ferry service beginning Monday, Aug 1. The ferries will offer direct service from the Port Liberte development in Jersey City to Paulus Hook and Wall Street, with connecting service to World Financial Center and Midtown.

The route has been suspended since 2020 due to the pandemic. NY Waterway is restarting service on a trial basis between August and October and will assess future service based on ridership.

As part of the relaunch, NY Waterway will offer Port Liberte residents a 10 percent discount on tickets and passes, available through the Port Liberte Homeowners Association. NY Waterway and the Homeowners Association will work together to promote the discount directly to qualifying residents.

Ferries from Port Liberte will stop at Paulus Hook in Jersey City and proceed to Pier 11/Wall Street. Riders can transfer at Paulus Hook for free connecting service to World Financial Center and Midtown. Full Port Liberte ferry schedules and fares can be found at nywaterway.com/PortLiberte.