That is terrible news! I live on this block. Can you tell us more about what time the bus was stolen and what took place. There are a lot of eyes and ears on this block. I'd be surprised if no one saw anything. Thanks and hoping for a positive outcome on this. Your church members are very considerate and positive people, even from afar.

I also attended the hearing. It's the first time I'd seen Hyman's lawyer in action and I was appalled at her arguments. She called the city and embankment coalition corrupt and said they were colluding against the developer (among other things). WOW!

I was also a little confused at the outcome (and I was there!) so thanks to those who have clarified.

The process has been so protracted that I would like to give a pat on the back to the embankment coalition for sticking with it and fighting the good fight.

BTW, I live a few blocks from the embankment but want desperately to see it preserved as green space for all the reasons others have stated -- park use, linking to other trails, mitigation of air and noise pollution, and absorption of rain water. It's a quality of life issue and it would benefit the entire city.

We enjoyed all the stops we made. Initially, I was annoyed I couldn't find a map on the Pro Arts website but it wasn't a problem as each of the artists had print maps for distribution. Once you hit one, you had the list of other participants.

Kudos to all the participants and event organizers. You are a credit to Jersey City! I can't wait till next year's Studio Tour!

I believe it's some kind of protection for their HVAC systems. If you look closely you'll see that there is clear corrugated plastic on the top like a roof.

I used to live in the Bronx and had my car windows smashed no less than 7 times. Once they stole a gallon of milk, draino and some mix tapes during the 5 minutes I was away from the car.

The important thing to remember about leaving absolutely nothing in your car is that many of the car thieves are not criminal masterminds using logic. Many of them are drug addicts and people in desperate circumstances willing to take the risk of getting caught stealing for the loose change under your floor mats.

Make sure that you take *everything* out of your car when you park it including gum wrappers (which if shiny look like change in the dark), papers, and empty soda cans (worth a nickel across the river in NY).

We have a bit of a beater which lessens the temptation and we have a radio that gets taken into our house when we leave the car. Basically we make it as unattractive as possible.

Sorry to all of the posters who have had their cars damaged. I second the recommendation of Bob's Auto Glass. Very reasonable prices and quick service.

We are holding our first meeting Sunday, September 26th at 4 p.m.

The book selection is Zoli: A Novel by Colum McCann

A few interested JCListers have contacted me by PM... If you were one of them, please check your messages.

If you are interested in attending, PM me and I will let you know all the details.

We are looking forward to a lively discussion!

J.P. New Construction...

http://www.pmjconstruction.com/

Best, most reliable contractor I have every used and a genius with brownstone repair. He's been working in this area since at least the 1980s so he knows how these buildings are constructed.

Bill463: I should clarify that the Organic Valley milk is fresher. Trust me, I've had plenty of milk go sour early from A&P, Shoprite, etc. We always get our milk at C-Town.

Ianmac: I think part of the problem is people in the neighborhood who half-heartedly throw their trash in the dumpsters under the cover of night even if they're full. The C-Town staff clean their loading area daily and they've participated in the city's tree planting program to try to improve that loading area. Whenever I've seen the delivery trucks idling and have asked them to turn off their engines, they have. But that's another problem altogether.

Thanks to the OP and others for the info. My yard abutts the back of C-Town so I'm hugely interested in anything going on there.

For those who disparage C-Town I have to defend them a bit. For the record I'm a regular Whole Foods and TJ shopper as well as A&P but because C-Town is so close I'm in there constantly for this and that.

Their milk is fresher than A&P's and I know they have a huge turnover in the meat section so that stuff is fresh too. (I'm a vegetarian so I don't have a first hand account.) I agree that they rely a bit too much on heavily scented cleaning products but they do keep the store clean (we have no vermin problems as their neighbor).

I think it's a great little store FOR WHAT IT IS... an independently operated neighborhood grocery. BTW, I'm old enough when these small stores were the norm rather than the exception. I say give C-Town (and whatever it becomes) a break and enjoy the convenience of being able to pop in there on your walk home for a clove of garlic, a can of stewed tomatoes, toilet paper, or a gallon of milk. It serves that purpose beautifully.

One final thought is that they have always been good neighbors to us. I hope the new owners will be the same.

Re: Paint Disposal, according to the incinerator authority:

"Oil Based Paint must be dropped off at the JCIA Drop off Mon. - Fri. 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the JCIA Main Office (501 Route 440). Proof of residency is required.

Latex Based Paint cans (once rinsed out and covers are taken off) can be placed at the curb with regular garbage; no longer needs to be drop off at our site."

OMG, Crazy Chester, that's funny!

Do you like reading literary fiction, both contemporary and "classics"? Do you like trying new books and discussing them?

If so, perhaps you'd be interested in joining our book club. The first meeting is to be held in September at a venue downtown.

If you're interested, please PM me. We have a core group already committed but would love to have a few others join us for lively discussion!!!

Just an update... the problem was with the sewer main and the city came and vacuumed it out and the overflow was resolved... except for the sewage residue that I now have to clean up. I would be happy to know how anyone else has dealt with that. Did you try to get compensated by the city? Did you hire a firm to do the cleanup? I will probably have to replace some flooring at least.

I love the many ethnic festivals that happen throughout the year in JC. Makes me proud to be an American!!! I read a few years ago that JC is the most ethnically diverse city in the country. Pretty cool. The Bolivian dancers in Saturday's parade were mind blowing. It was quite an interesting spectacle.

Anyone else have sewer coming into their house in the vicinity of 3rd Street @ Jersey? I'm wondering if the problem we're having (sewer in the basement!) is with our sewer hookup or with the sewer main. Anyone else having issues the past few days???

We've had ours stolen twice... last time was a little over a year ago. Now we chain and lock them up except when they are on the curb awaiting pickup. Annoying but true.

I just want to give my 2 cents in favor of the 14th Street Garden Center.

http://www.14thstreetgardencenter.com/

I LOVE that place. The staff is so helpful that I will pay their higher prices. The stuff at the big box home improvement stores is poor quality and poorly taken care of.

Also, if you have a car and are up for a drive, I had a blast this year at the Great Swamp Greenhouses in Gillette.

http://www.greatswampgreenhouses.com/

I would also love to know what other people are growing in containers in JC (I don't trust the soil in my yard which is full of glass and other detritus). So far, I have the following going well:

3 kinds of tomatoes, 3 kinds of basil, parsley, cilantro (not looking so hot), cucumbers, strawberries, pole beans, nasturtiums, jalapenos, and 2 kinds of lettuce.

Please don't laugh at my kind of funny question... I live in a brick rowhouse downtown and have a small back yard with a stockade fence around it. It is surrounded on all sides by the fenced yards of other neighbors. I'm considering "camping" in a tent overnight with my son this summer in our yard. Would you do this? Do you think it's safe?

Thanks so much for posting this schedule! I regularly take a Shortline bus from Port Authority to my parents' house 7 hours away. It's a long ride so getting directly from PA to DTJC afterward is awesome! I've tried to find out from the NJ Transit ticket agents how to get back to JC but they told me the only bus is one that goes to the heights. I don't mind at all that this bus takes a less than direct route... it's better than taking a cab or subway from PA to PATH then home... with a heavy suit case! Thanks again!!!

Quote:


ROFL! C-Town sushi!

Also, thanks dmrnj for the price analysis. You do indeed sound like an avid bargain shopper.

I like the guy who chains his walker to a street sign outside that no-name bar on the corner of 1st and Erie. He must have had it stolen once while he was having a bevvie. It looks like he needs the walker to get TO the bar but not to get from the street sign to his bar stool... maybe he only needs it after he drinks. Cracks me up.

Like a few of the other posters, I also love JC because of the people. I live downtown and have gotten to know lots of neighbors through neighborhood associations and just as neighbors. People have been so friendly and have become real friends. I'm sure it depends where in JC you are but I think downtown lends itself to this type of interaction because there is more public space, more people out walking their dogs, etc. I never, ever felt part of the Bronx neighborhood where I lived for years. Too densly populated and nowhere people wanted to linger outside their apartments.

I also love the food, art, music, architecture of JC and much more.

Yes, please let us know if this is true. I would like to persuade them and all businesses to participate.

I know Sara and I'm not surprised to hear that she's inspiring and motivating others even as she's going through such a terrible ordeal. Thanks to the OP for sharing this article!

I very highly recommend BWD in Bayonne for non-wood windows. They are the absolute best for quality and service. Their number is 800 639 8439.

Also, have had excellent experience with Raymond glass for custom work. Good luck!

Is this for real?

For all those who may have experienced a sewage backup in the past, you might want to contact the following EPA official who is in Jersey City investigating the situation:

Herman Griffin, Civil Investigator
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Civil Enforcement
Special Litigation & Projects Division
303-462-9463 office (in Denver)
303-462-9075 fax
303-345-5098 cell
griffin.herman@epa.gov

He and his colleague just came to my door trying to track down anyone with a sewage backup in recent years.

I too have been growing more food in my tiny DTJC backyard... but only in containers. I am quite hesitant to eat anything that comes out of the ground in a city with so many chromium dumps and other brownfields. I second the notion of getting soil tested or sticking to containers.

I have a cellar under the steps of my front stoop which used to be, I think, the building's coal chute. Previous residents converted it to a storage/laundry room but the area is always super damp and I'm afraid this humidity will cause damage.

Aside from a dehumidifier (which is hard on the electric bill and not wholly effective), does anyone else have any ideas from their own experience on how to keep this room dry? Does anyone else have a room like this that they have converted? How did you do it?

Thanks!!!

I recommend Golden Cleaners on Newark Ave. near the corner of Grove. I've had them hem many pairs of pants and jeans for me and they always do an excellent job. And it's cheap -- around $8 I think.