Pastries Plus Things That Fly & Things That Die
Detained chef is freed, a pastry shop is found, a funeral home turns to dust — and more!
First, here’s a traditional North Jersey call and response greeting to start us off:
🗣 Hey, how are yuh? Good? Everybody good? How’s yuh family? Good? [Insert your ailment/kvetch here] Oh. I’m sorry. But you look good. Could be worse, right? [You agree indeed, it could be worse, and then you may end the conversation, or you can opt into aerobic trading of personal medical/family horror stories until sundown]
So ICYMI, a video we posted last week on social media, about how the French planes were going to fly by us farting out blue, white and red smoke, really took off. And then yes, we made another video of them after they arrived, and set it to an inspiring rendition of the French anthem. Check it out or scroll over it:
Last week’s issue, which included a deep dive on municipal voting, a (paid) guest piece, and an AI slop-busting investigation into the history of Chart House, took a lot of work. After it dropped we gained 11 new paying subscribers [CUE: Balloon drop!] who support the thousands who rely on us for exclusive local news and a wee bit of entertainment.
💗 To our paying subscribers, we truly appreciate you beyond words, and reach out if you want and haven’t gotten your exclusive Weehawken Gazette thank you gift. 💗
To those who can’t pay, no shame. But if you enjoy this, and it helps you, and you can afford a nice coffee once a month, please consider helping us keep going and growing.
Faubourg Pastry Chef Detained By ICE Is Now Free
Faubourg is a restaurant with locations in Montclair and Weehawken, and Bijoux is a bakery .2 miles away from the Montclair location, led by the founders of Faubourg.
On June 1, Leonardo Argoti, a/k/a Chef Leo, the Executive Pastry Chef for Bijoux and Faubourg, was reportedly on vacation in Buffalo, NY, when he was taken into custody and detained. We first saw the news on June 2, via the Chef Leo GoFundMe that was set up by Latinos of Montclair to help pay for his attorney’s fees.
As reported in Montclair Local, Argoti, an Ecuadorian national, was taken when in Buffalo on a trip to visit Niagara Falls with his sister. His family says he has a work permit, a social security number, and a pending asylum case. Adding that he was not charged with any crimes.
Liza Stankowski, Director of Operations for Faubourg, told the Gazette, “He is a kind, driven, very talented Chef and an amazing man, personally. We support him and this cause completely.”
They sought to raise $20,000, and to date, they have raised over $30,000.
On June 12, the Bijoux Instagram account shared that had Leo just came home after nearly two weeks. The community rallied around Leo, as well they should, but how is it we are snatching good, talented, hard-working people off the streets who are not dangerous?
Fact: the only danger Leo ever posed — is to my waistline.
Yes, if I don’t laugh I’ll cry.
Note: We reached out multiple times to Latinos of Montclair for more details, but have not heard back yet.
Related: One of our previous pieces on Faubourg is in this issue.
🪦 RIP Big Old Funeral Home On Kennedy Blvd.
We’re here today to pay tribute to the life of a majestic brick building, the Leber Funeral Home in Union City. In fact the location closed in 2024, and was razed recently, as show by the photo above.
Fun fact: Chat GPT and Claude say this location is currently open 24/7. 🤪
Leber was founded in 1906 by John Leber, with the Kennedy Blvd location in Union City existing since “the early 1920’s,” according to Jim Leber, former manager of the Union City location starting in 1993, and current manager of Leber Funeral Home in Secaucus.
Yes, the Leber family is still very much alive and in the business, and currently in their 5th generation managing funeral homes in NY and NJ.
Of the building’s demise, Leber told the Gazette, “It’s sad that we had to move from that location due to circumstances. The building was over 150 years old and became difficult to keep it going. But we’re thrilled to be able to continue to serve the community through the Secaucus location.”
So yes, the large brick building on Kennedy and 20th had reached a ripe old age, and is now gone to the great construction site in the sky — but do not mourn it, because the business lives on. As for what’s next? Signs point to the birth of new condos, because according to Real Estate NJ, a residential developer bought the site in 2025 for $2.6 million, cash.
Photos: The first photo is from the Leber Union City Facebook page, and the second photo was taken 6/11/26 by Mary Sheridan-Rossillo, and is used with permission.
🗽🇬🇷 Liberty Greek Pastries: Our New Favorite Bakery Is The Opposite Of New
OK so right after we hit the Jono Pandolfi sale, friends said we had to stop into this place — and like, how did we not know this existed? It’s less than half a mile NW of the Weehawken Reservoir Park and IT IS AMAZING. With the 4th coming up, and the news of our other immigrant pastry chef above, what better time to feature them?
Its full name is Liberty Greek Pastries & Food which, according to Liberty matriarch Maria Serghis, was opened by her father-in-law in Washington Heights in 1929, and moved to Union City in the late 50s. It features:
Hand-stretch fillo dough (yes, can also be spelled filo or phyllo).
Tons of Greek specialties: sweet and savory — big endorsement for the spinach spanakopita and cookies.
Plus strudel available in 15 flavors! We had the raspberry and cherry cream cheese, because the others were sold out. But if there’s a flavor of strudel you are particularly fond of, Maria said to call ahead, she’ll make sure she has it.
And the biggest bonus is Maria, who was plying us with extra cookies (thanks!), conversation, and a smile. She even offered coffee! We had to hit the road but dang we wanted to stay.
Fun fact: Many of their products are sold wholesale, frozen and unbaked, to schmancy stores across the tristate area. Here’s how to go to the source…
Liberty Greek Pastries & Food
2409 Central Ave
Union City, NJ 07087
Social: instagram.com/libertygreekpastries & tiktok.com/@libertygreekpastries
Coming Soon: ‘Birds of the Blvd’
The Weehawken High School Climate Club is hard at work creating a “Birds of the Boulevard” project, according to artist and educator Elizabeth McParland. The students are illustrating area birds to be displayed in Hamilton Park this summer. The project will not only look cool, it’s educational, as the illustrations will be on stands with a QR code directing to a slide presentation with information about the birds and short videos from the students.
It will be much like their “Homies of the Hudson” project seen on Weehawken Pier, which highlights our aquatic friends. And in fact, according to McParland, the pier’s installation is soon to get a reprint/facelift. Very cool that we will soon have the water and air covered! As we pitched to Elizabeth, next stop, land animals? Stay tuned!
Bergen Record Suggests You Jump Off A Cliff?
A recent article on northjersey.com wrote about visiting the Hamilton monument in Weehawken. I pay for a subscription, so I can tell you that the highlight of this article is their recommendation for what to do once you’ve seen the monument:
“After, walk through Hamilton Park to Steven's Cafe to refuel with a coffee, pastry or sandwich.”
Yes, I hear all Weehawken-savvy people laughing. But for those who don’t know:
Hamilton Park has great views, but there is no way to walk “through” Hamilton Park.
If you try to walk “through” the park for a latte, Steven’s Cafe is 161 feet below.
According to a paper in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, falls of 59 feet or more have a 0% survival rate.
What we don’t know yet: how many falls are caused by those who suggest you walk through a park that’s perched on a cliff?
We Get 5 Mins of Fame On Jeopardy!
NoHu not only made it onto Jeopardy!, we made it onto Final Jeopardy!
Well yeah, it’s NJ, no duh! We all woulda aced this one.
But, do you know exactly which towns are the most densely populated?
To find out, or confirm your suspicions, watch a short and sweet :09 clip of the three towns getting a shout out on the Mayor of Guttenberg’s Facebook page.
🍔 Tasty fact: Guttenberg Mayor Wayne D. Zitt, Jr. is a “mediocre bartender” (his words) and occasionally works slinging burgers and brews at The Office at 68th. We hope to / plan to interview him soon.
Classifieds!
⛴️ Summer Program For Ages 3-9 at PI Ferry Terminal
Register now for a warm and imaginative weekly creative program for children ages 3–9 featuring storytelling, visual arts, ballet, illustration, and community-building activities in a calm and welcoming environment.
Over the course of the program, children will collaboratively build an original story that grows week by week toward a final informal performance for families to enjoy. The artwork, crafts, drawings, and creative pieces made throughout the program will become part of the storytelling world itself — transforming into props, costumes, scenery, and visual elements for the final presentation.
4 Wednesdays: July 29, August 5, 12 & 19
🕰️ 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM w/final performance at 4:20 on August 19
📍Port Imperial Ferry Terminal — Link to register here.
Summer Babysitter / Tutor Available
Hi all, I am a rising senior at Georgia Tech, home for summer break. If you are in need of Babysitting (or tutoring) I am available M-F for full days. Also free for most weekends. I have extensive babysitting experience (twins, special needs, newborns, etc.). I am also CPR certified, First Aid certified and Lifeguard certified. I’m happy to do pool days, museum visits or city days if interested!
My rate is $22-$25, local references available upon request. Please text me at 917-773-6717 if interested. Thank you!
In Brief
🔔 Last chance to sign up if you want to audition to become Weehawken Town Crier or become a sponsor & have your ad(s) shouted to the world: the interest form is here.
⚽ World Cup is happening. We aren’t covering it because everyone else freakin’ is. But there’s a great (long) article on the NY Times about how it’s an economic albatross for the cities that agreed to host. Here’s a gift link: The U.S. signed up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup – and its 11 host cities are paying for it
🎆 We aren’t even touching the news of the 4th. Lots of roads will be closed, people will be vying for spots to view ships, planes, and fireworks… Follow directions of your local township and we will highlight/share cool events on our Instagram. One cool thing: West Point Band playing in Edgewater on June 27 at 7P.
🏝️⛱️🌞 🌊 We now have Weehawken Gazette beach towels with a illustration drawn by a real human artist! Cool right?
“I think I need to say goodnight, but you know
it's not goodbye” —The Goo Goo Dolls
Many thanks to our unpaid copyeditors this week, Hugo, and the one who wishes to remain anon. Fun thing for people who actually read to the bottom: Hugo was baby Mario in this YouTube video from 16 years ago that has 44 million views. 🏎️ 👶
Anywho, feel free to leave a comment here or email us tips: susie@bignoyes.com
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The newsletter is still free, but we are now accepting pledges. Thank you to the 54 people who’ve pledged, and please consider upgrading to paid. We have paid artists and guest writers, and we are banking money for our goals: print editions, hiring more journalists and artists, media insurance, expanding the site, and more.
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If you want to sponsor with ads or want to discuss sponsored content email susie@bignoyes.com — as always, we will always disclose pay or freebies.
Freebies disclosure: We purchased our goods at Liberty Pastry, but as we said, Maria gave us a few free cookies, but that is just because she’s sweet! She’d probably do the same for you!
Pay disclosure: The classified ads above are a benefit of being a paid subscriber. 💅 And yeah, if you are a paying subscriber, your kids can have your ad.
You can also support by buying our new merch here or taking a meeting with Big Noyes if you need a slamming website, PR campaign, marketing plan, brand refresh, social media strategy, email newsletter, pitch deck and more.
Tah for now, nice nabes!
Susie
PS Subscribers get this newsletter first AND they can laugh at exclusive errors that are later corrected in the archive version.
