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Erica

Re: garbage pickup

#91

Home away from home

Quote:

Jangie wrote:
If I have garbage composed of books that I no longer read nor want, would that be better placed for garbage pickup, or for recycling?

If the books are still readable, why not donate them instead of throwing them away? Grace Van Vorst Church accepts used book donations.

Otherwise, I'd at least try to recycle them - tear off the covers if they're hardback. (JCIA says nothing about regular books but they do take phonebooks...)

Quote:

As a side question, if I have a CRT TV that I no longer have need for, would JCIA pick that up on a normal garbage day? I noticed one of my neighbors put their tv out on the curb, but it sat there for a few days before being brought back closer to their building.

You need to call JCIA first and they'll give you a date to put out your tv, usually the next scheduled trash/recycling day on your street.

Posted on: 2011/10/12 14:35

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Erica

Re: Officiant / Civil Union

#92

Home away from home

Quote:

scout99 wrote:
Anyone know of a licensed Officiant in JC to perform a simple civil union ceremony? Tried City Hall and the usual govt places but they only do them Mon-Fri and we need a weekend to do it.

(Yes, we know gays can get married in NY now, which we plan to do next year, but for now we need a legal union for health insurance purposes).

Thanks.

My understanding is that anyone who is allowed to perform marriages in NJ can also perform civil unions. So if you have a friend/family member who is a minister or judge, that will work.

You can also ask a friend/family member to become ordained through the Universal Life Church. My brother became a minister to perform my wedding ceremony in NJ and it was super easy - free and less than 5 minutes online for him to become a legal officiant. He signed our marriage license and I have a copy of our marriage certificate, so I can vouch that it works!

ETA: If you're just looking for someone to get it done, my husband is also a Universal Life Minister and we live in JC (obviously). I'm sure he'd be happy to help. FYI - it takes 72 hours to get a marriage or civil union license.

Posted on: 2011/9/16 18:38

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Erica

Re: PATH SmartLink Card

#93

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Quote:

ladybert wrote:
when i click that, it takes me to a page where i should "select" the amount of trips to add, but there are no options available. just a submit button. then when i press it, it says there is an error. my account must be broken or something. i've tried to register for a new account but it says my card is already registered, sooo. i guess i was just wondering if i was the only one unable to use the feature.

I know this is probably a silly question, but are you able to type in the number of trips to add? Or is your card already full?

Have you tried using a different web browser? (It seems to work fine for me in both Chrome and Firefox, but if you have an old version of something, maybe that's causing a glitch.)

There's also a link under Account Management to Cancel Card Registration (in the righthand column), if you want to try un-registering and then re-registering.

If that doesn't work, I'd email the help center. You should definitely be able to add trips online - that's really the best part! The help email is: smartlinkservice@panynj.gov or you can call 800 234 PATH.

Posted on: 2011/9/16 18:28

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Erica

Re: PATH SmartLink Card

#94

Home away from home

Quote:

ladybert wrote:
can i add trips to my card online? it's registered but i can't seem to figure out of that's possible or not.

Yes. On your account homepage below the info about your SmartLink card, there is a section called "Account Management." The first item in the middle column is "Add Trips/Passes."

Posted on: 2011/9/16 17:33

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Erica

Re: JC Post Office - Be Very Afraid

#95

Home away from home

Quote:

PathH8Tr wrote:
Thanks Scottacus, but your link doesn't work - any other link you can recommend?

The original link just sucked in the period at the end of the sentence. This works: https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/mlntrcvd.aspx

Posted on: 2011/9/14 18:56

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Erica

Re: Former President George W. Bush comes to Jersey City to play golf

#96

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Quote:

T-Bird wrote:
Quote:

GrovePath wrote:
While Bush was on the Hudson County links, guests of the Healy Foundation were about to tee off at noon for the start of the foundation's charity tournament.

The foundation's standard-bearer is Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who was present for the event breakfast.

"the Healy Foundation"? Hadn't heard of it, so I looked them up: http://www.healycharitablefoundation.com/default.html

Looks like they charged participants anywhere between $2,000 and $20,000 to play at Liberty National. No real details as to how they spend their money - a few pictures of checks, mostly too small to read in the photos. Other pictures of small gifts, such as a few inexpensive bikes or a wii system with a couple of gift cards. Anyone know more about the foundation? What reporting are charitable organizations required to file? Their website lacks transparency.

According to their mission statement and the financial assistance application, they provide limited financial assistance to Jersey City residents "in acute need." Nonprofits have to file IRS tax form 990. You can view the forms through the Foundation Center (NYS attorney generals office posts their online but NJ doesn't seem to be so on-the-ball). The most recent Healy CF form is here: http://dynamodata.fdncenter.org/990_p ... 03397591_201004_990EZ.pdf

Looks surprisingly on the level. ;) They gave about $125k to 350 individuals/families and another $5k to the Police Officers Benevolent Assoc. - pretty small potatoes as foundations go. Most of their money does seem to go to donations, with very low overhead (no paid staff).

Posted on: 2011/9/14 15:57

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Erica

Re: PATH service to 33rd suspended 2/23/11

#97

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Quote:

hitchcock wrote:
I got the PATH alert saying that all service is currently suspended. Has anyone who's already attempted to go in gotten information about what's going on or how long service will be out? Thanks.

And... if this keeps up, what's the best bus into Manhattan from the Grove Street area?

The trains to WTC were running this morning. My office is on 7th Ave, so I took the 2/3 from there. Obviously, even more insanely crowded than usual. Added about 30 minutes to my commute (b/c the first 3 trains that came into the station were full).

Posted on: 2011/2/23 14:16

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Erica

Re: Diaper service recommendations?

#98

Home away from home

The couple at Young House Love just posted about their cloth diaper experience, if you're interested in another (pro) opinion with a ton of detail about the day-to-day: http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/08 ... uested-cloth-diaper-post/

Posted on: 2010/8/6 13:34

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Erica

Re: Furniture reupholstery

#99

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Quote:

reverend wrote:
Anyone know a good local furniture reupholsterer? We have a coach and chaise that are very solid and sturdy, but the leather has seen better days. Looking for a few reputable local furniture reupholsterers for a quote. Any horror stories, warnings, or reviews are also appreciated. Thanks!

I had great luck with Jimmy Jammal on Newark near the courthouse. I gave his wife a very vague idea of the kinds of colors/fabrics I was thinking of on the phone, and she pulled some great options for me to look at when I came in. I had an armchair and chaise longue done and he gave me a break on the labor so I could afford a more expensive fabric for the chair. (His wife actually tried to steer me away from even looking at the expensive book b/c I'd told her my price range, so they were really very professional and generous about trying to keep me on budget.)

He did an excellent job - took both pieces down to the frames for repair and they're now very sturdy and look great - I get a ton of compliments on them. He has a very good eye for detail when it comes to things like making sure the pattern lines up.

They'll pick up and deliver and you can get a quote based on pictures of the piece and the fabric you select, so you don't have to bring the pieces in before you commit. His prices were in line with what I'd been told to expect and, based on the quality, very reasonable (although not cheap).

Posted on: 2010/7/31 15:20

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Erica

Re: parking permit/notice for moving truck

#100

Home away from home

Quote:

leigh13 wrote:
Quote:

newtoHP wrote:
so, they provide the no parking signs for $10 each (min of 2) and then you just put them up on your own. that simple...

Speaking from my own experience, a few things to note:

If you are moving on a weekend, try to have the signs posted by Friday morning or even Thursday afternoon. Many people don't use their cars at all over the weekend and won't see the sign if you put it up after they've parked.

The JCPA warned me not to post the signs TOO much in advance, because supposedly vandals might tear them down. However, from what I've seen those signs tend to stay up for weeks past the appropriate date, so I wouldn't worry about that.

If you have a car, try to park it in the spot where the moving truck will come so you can "reserve" at least part of the space. Because even after you've posted the NO PARKING signs days in advance, someone WILL be parked in the spot you specified. At that point, hopefully the moving truck isn't there waiting with no place to park.

When I moved and there were cars parked in front of the signs, the police were very helpful in looking up the owners and then ringing the doorbells to ask them to move. But you can't guarantee they'll be home, and if you're paying movers by the hour you don't want to have to wait around for a tow truck to clear the space.

Good luck with the move!

I second the advice to park your own car or enlist neighbors to help you reserve the space (on top of posting the JCPA signs). People really aren't very careful about reading the signs. When we moved from 6th to 1st, we checked the spots the night before and they were empty but in the morning there were cars parked in the spots we'd reserved on both ends - which added about an hour (1/2 hour on each end ringing doorbells, calling the cops, etc.) to an already long moving day.

Also, don't forget to take the signs down when you're done! No one else will do it for you. I think people might pay more attention to them if there weren't so many old ones hanging around...

Good luck with your move!

Posted on: 2010/7/26 19:40

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Erica

Re: dog friendly bars + restaurants in jc

#101

Home away from home

I think anywhere with outdoor seating is fine. I've definitely seen people with dogs at Mme. Claude's and Marco y Pepe (outside only, though).

I know in NYC bars that don't serve food are usually dog-friendly (or, at least, it's up to the owner not the health code). Not sure if that applies in JC - interested to hear about others' experiences.

And it's not a restaurant, but Jersey Wine & Spirits is very dog-friendly (with dog biscuits on the counter).

Posted on: 2010/5/28 17:55

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Erica

Re: Bleecker Street?

#102

Home away from home

Quote:

Rays wrote:
I only know the schedule because I've been using the jitneys for a very long time, but have never looked it up anywhere.

I believe they're called Community Lines. There are jitneys every few seconds running to Journal Square and Port Authority during AM and PM rush hour. They run maybe every 5 minutes during normal hours on the weekends. You can catch them at the regular bus stop, there is one on each side of the blvd on Bleeker so you won't have to walk much.

You'll be able to catch the jitney to Journal Square very early in the morning, the earliest I've every taken it is 6:00am. It will leave you directly inside Journal Square and costs $1.50. I believe they stop running at 9 or 9:30pm from Journal Square so you'll have to take a cab home.

The jitney to Port Authority: There's the 51 or 56, both will take you inside Port Authority's terminal, gates 51 or 56. You can purchase a ticket inside Port Authority, by all the ticket booths, it's the one that says Community Lines. Tickets are $2.00 each. If you don't purchase the ticket in advance, you'll have to pay $2.50 each way.

There's the 7th Ave. Jitney that takes you to 7th Avenue and 40th Street. There's also the Kennedy Blvd Jitney that will take you towards North Bergen so do not take that one if you're going into New York City. They all have signs so just make sure you're in one of the NY ones or just ask the driver before you get on.

These also run constantly. When you're coming home from the city, there's never a wait, there are several jitneys waiting at the gate, you might just have to wait till it gets filled up. The last one out of Port Authority every day is 1am by gate 51.

This is probably all the info you need but here's the link to the relevant Port Authority page: http://www.tstc.org/bus/bus_list.html#hudson (you'll notice the jitney doesn't have a website, just a phone number, but you can get info about other bus transit options).

Posted on: 2010/5/22 18:33

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Erica

Re: how do i post a photo in my post?

#103

Home away from home

I don't know if this is the best method, but I use the third button in from the left (to the right of the envelope, above SIZE). A window will open asking you to insert the URL of the image you want to add. I use Picasa for online photo management - it will give me a unique URL for each photo. (This should work with any online photo hosting - doesn't have to be Picasa.)

Edit: To be clear, upload your photo to the online host of your choice and use that URL to link to your image. The image will appear in your message (not the link).

Posted on: 2010/5/12 15:03

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Erica

Re: Wedding Transportation Newport to Liberty House?

#104

Home away from home

Quote:

rohatgi23 wrote:
Hey all,
I'm a Hamilton Park resident getting married in July at the Liberty House. Many of our guests will be staying at the Doubletree, Westin, and Courtyard hotels on Washington St. downtown. I'm trying to find a reputable, affordable company that will do either van (coach van) or bus transport for these guests to and from Liberty House. I see a lot of these random coach buses while walking around town but have no idea if they do private stuff, and if so, if they're any good...

Any suggestions, anybody have a good story or horror story? Thanks!

Have you asked Liberty House and/or the hotels for recommendations? We're currently planning our wedding and both our venue and the hotels we're using will arrange shuttles. (We're going to have the venue do it b/c we really trust the coordinator there and she'll be around the day of our wedding to deal with any snags.)

I also love the idea of transporting guests via the water - it's probably the most expensive option but might be worth looking into just in case...

Posted on: 2010/5/11 13:34

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Erica

Re: Parking garages/lots downtown

#105

Home away from home

Quote:

JoanFontaine wrote:
Hey everyone -

I'm moving to downtown (Jersey and 1st) next week from Brooklyn. I'm planning on bringing my car sometime in the next month or so. Are there any lots or garages nearby that offer reasonable monthly parking, or am I better off taking my chances on the street? I do plan on switching my license and registration over to NJ so I can pay for the resident permit but if a garage or lot works better I'll do that.

Thanks!

I found that moving my car for street cleaning was fine while I was in grad school and could be around after the 9-5 commuters left and opened up some spots, but that it didn't work once I went back to work full-time (I don't use my car to commute). So you might want to try it and see how it works for you and your schedule/tolerance for driving around looking for a space on the correct side of the street.

I now rent an off-street spot and love the convenience. I rent from an individual, in a small lot not a garage. I actually found my space through the classifieds on JC list but also see posters up around the neighborhood on occasion. When I was looking, I budgeted $150/month and came in well under.

Posted on: 2010/5/3 14:20

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Erica

Re: Commute to the Upper East Side

#106

Home away from home

Quote:

gtmarin wrote:
Thanks for the info. This morning's commute took 50 minutes door-to-door. Not too bad. I'll also consider the F like you mentioned. Someone I work with mentioned "bodega busses"? What are these, and sorry if that's a derogatory term.

I think your coworker must be referring to the jitneys (also sometimes called commuter buses)? I've never taken them for more than a quick ride in JC but believe they do run to Port Authority. (Sorry I don't know more - I hope someone else will chime in.)

You could also try the ferry - it's a lot more expensive than PATH + subway but might be faster (it's 15 minutes to W. 39th Street from Paulus Hook and then there's a free bus that runs to 59th & Lex). http://www.nywaterway.com/

Posted on: 2010/4/16 16:23

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Erica

Re: Running on the Jersey City streets

#107

Home away from home

Quote:

missmags wrote:
New2JCHeights... Do you know how many miles that is? That sounds like a nice run.

That does sound like it's a nice run. It looks like about 10-11 miles, depending on what you do in Liberty State Park.

I don't know if you know about gmaps pedometer, but I find it useful for figuring out distances: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

Posted on: 2010/4/15 22:00

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Erica

Re: Commute to the Upper East Side

#108

Home away from home

I don't know of a bus that would cut your time at all. The 101 does run up 1st Ave but you'd probably need to catch it near City Hall and I imagine it would take a LOT longer than the 4/5.

But you might want to try going to 14th or 23rd instead and transferring to the F (I don't think it will be faster than catching the express from WTC but when the weather's really bad it will save you from having to walk outside to transfer).

Posted on: 2010/4/15 15:39

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Erica

Re: Girl in basement on Colgate btn 1st and 2nd?

#109

Home away from home

Quote:

1stStGuy wrote:

Owned. I love it.

Guess not. Apparently, scientific facts and evidence are not enough to change GQ's mind. But I'll give her that no one has ever asked the dogs how they find bodies buried in concrete. Maybe it isn't smell but x-ray vision...

Posted on: 2010/4/14 14:04

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Erica

Re: Girl in basement on Colgate btn 1st and 2nd?

#110

Home away from home

Quote:

GlitterQueen wrote:
I don't know what kind of concrete you use but it is not caustic. If it was there would be many a child without a finger.

yeah not caustic.. i wouldn't eat it but it doesn't eat away at anything. From my quick research the dogs wouldn't smell it.

Just because I can't bear to see you so thoroughly mangling science...

Wet concrete (Portland cement - the most popular type used in the US) contains calcium dioxide (formed when the calcium oxide in dry concrete mixes with water) - a highly caustic substance. Calcium dioxide has a pH around 12 or 13 - 14 is the highest, 7 is neutral (and remember that it's an exponential scale so 8 is ten times more basic than 7, etc.). The burns from wet cement don't necessarily start immediately (which is why people can make hand prints without their skin immediately burning off) but it needs to be washed off immediately and thoroughly. People who work with wet cement suffer the highest rates of occupational skin burns in the US. See here for more info: http://www.neutralite.com/

And there are numerous instances of cadaver dogs finding bodies buried in cement - even ones wrapped in plastic and buried years earlier, under a newly poured concrete patio, for example. You can start here for more info: http://www.csst.org/forensic_evidence_canines.html

(I think you're imagining that scent molecules are big - they aren't.)

Posted on: 2010/4/11 14:56

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Erica

Re: Jersey City Board of Education

#111

Home away from home

Quote:

heights wrote:
I heard there are six sections to the board. Not sure but I think it might be: finance, hiring, not sure what else; anyone ?? When the state of N.J. took over the J.C. district the state assumed all 6 areas of the board of education. What are they ? Also I heard that Jersey City has been given back some control but not all. What areas did J.C. get back.

Do you mean board committees? I couldn't find a comprehensive list but, based on the current members' bios, the active committees are Finance, Legal, Affirmative Action, Educational Programs, and Special Education (but they may have others).

(And I don't know much about the return to home rule but my understanding is that it's still pending. The main difference will be the board's transition from approving state-developed policies and budgets to actually developing their own policies and budgets (and then approving them).)

Posted on: 2010/4/9 17:33

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Erica

Re: Girl in basement on Colgate btn 1st and 2nd?

#112

Home away from home

Quote:

GlitterQueen wrote:
i don't think they can because they are looking for the smell f decomposition rising through the soil. if you put someone under concrete the dog wouldn't be able to smell it because there are no air pockets to rise through. if the body was in the concrete i don't think it would decompose.

Not to get too far off topic, but this is absolutely incorrect. Cadaver dogs can smell through many materials, including concrete and even water.

Also, decomposition starts from the inside out - so burying a body in concrete wouldn't stop it from decomposing. (Not to mention that wet concrete is highly caustic.)

Posted on: 2010/4/8 12:58

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Erica

Re: Hamilton Park Renovation - Update

#113

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Quote:

Waver wrote:
I can't take this tease anymore. Open the damn park! Fence off the area they are still working on. The trees are in bloom, the grass getting greener, sun beaming down, kids & dogs staring in hungrily but no park. What up???

I'm all for the BBC. I read more profanity here than I hear when passing the court. Besides, it brings more diversity & urban coolness to the area; Lord knows we need it. I think dogs should be on leash when they are not in the runs. But no matter, just open the park!

Yes, please!

(Although I heard that it's a case of a poorly written contract that holds the contractor liable for anything that happens in the park until the entire, completed job is signed off on. So, they can't just fence off the remaining work area and open the rest. I hope that's not the case b/c I can see the last bit dragging on and on and on...)

Posted on: 2010/4/7 19:55

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Erica

Re: bored with JC restaurants

#114

Home away from home

Quote:

snowflake20 wrote:
Quote:

Erica wrote:

Why does JC have to be nothing but burgers and cheese (both real and metaphorical)?

When I lived in Cobble Hill (we moved literally a year before it exploded) there was nothing but Joya, some crappy Asian Fusion Place, and one shmancy restaurant whose name escapes me. I would say that the selection here is better, at least you can get a decent bagel at Wonder Bagels. I know CH is much more different now than it was when we lived there.

That said, JC has awesome Indian, pretty good sushi and Japanese noodles at Honshu, Italian (Presto's) Vietnamese, Mexican (well, Taqueria, as Charritos in the Heights sadly closed), not to mention the grease trucks (Krave..yum). I would love a Korean BBQ place and a REALLY authentic Chinese restaurant, but I'm not holding my breath.

Hoboken isn't too far away and there's more to find there.

I'm not sure how you can say that JC only has burgers. There's plenty of different kinds of foods here. Not all of it is the best, but the selection is still lots better than your average burb in NJ. Except for the Chinese food. The chinese restaurants in Central Jersey are far more superior than the slop they serve here.

Sorry, I should been clearer that I wasn't just talking about the food itself but also about the experience of eating there. That's what I meant by "metaphorical cheese." (And I grew up in Jersey, so mean no disrespect. ;) )

I don't mean that every place has to be "fancy" but wish more restaurants had a little bit of style... And I agree with you that JC does have pretty good take-out options but I like to cook at home most nights and eat out once or twice a week, so take-out doesn't really do it for me.

Posted on: 2010/4/1 19:03

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Google asks communities if interested in trial service for super fast internet -- Why not JC?

#115

Home away from home

Quote:

Br6dR wrote: Damn them.

Why can't we have an awesome, funny mayor who captures the attention of a huge company looking to give away free stuff? If you're going to be a joke, be a JOKE.

Posted on: 2010/4/1 15:41

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Erica

Re: Has anyone ever taken a car service from the city back to JC?

#116

Home away from home

Quote:

geniusofthecrowd wrote:
I've gotten car services from downtown from fulton to downtown JC and it was around $60-$65. They charge insanely just for crossing the river. So unless I can expense it with work, I just take cabs to WTC then take the PATH.

That's exactly what we do, too!

I've never been able to convince a cab driver to go through the Holland Tunnel for less than $40 (even though a lot of them actually use the gas stations on the NJ side anyway).

Posted on: 2010/4/1 15:17

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: bored with JC restaurants

#117

Home away from home

Quote:

Amy wrote:
You hit the nail on the head. The city is right here, so I guess JC doesn't attract great restaurants. But it would be nice to have some exceptional places right here.

I just can't read statements like this without thinking back to Fort Greene, the Brooklyn neighborhood we lived in before moving to JC.

If a tiny little Brooklyn neighborhood can support an amazing array of restaurants serving an astounding array of food - within a 2 minute walk of our old apartment we had: Ici, Stonehome, Olea, Chez Oskar, Madiba, Pequena, Thomas Beisl, Loulou, and Habana Outpost (just off the top of my head) - why can't Jersey City support the same kind of diversity?

Why does JC have to be nothing but burgers and cheese (both real and metaphorical)?

Posted on: 2010/4/1 15:07

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Erica

Re: Hamilton Park - Pet Free Zone Public Hearing - March 30, 6pm City Hall

#118

Home away from home

Quote:

robotjustin wrote:
I'd like to propose a 100% "living thing free zone." HP could be paved over, and fenced in, or maybe we could dig a hole down to the mantle and kind of peer over an' watch it roil.

Only in JC could this really happen - check out the pocket park on 1st Street near Brunswick. (And I know that's a work in progress but it does seem like it would have made more sense to leave the trees standing until they actually had the funding to move the project forward.)

So thanks for the reminder that it's very good that HP is actually still more green than not...

Posted on: 2010/3/27 20:36

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Looking for a laminator for a couple of posters

#119

Home away from home

I second PostNet. I'm pretty sure they laminate (though you might want to call if you aren't heading in that direction anyway) and they're so nice and friendly. In my experience, they're MUCH better than Staples (for copying) and the JC post office (for mailing).

Posted on: 2010/3/25 18:02

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Car scratcher in Van Vorst

#120

Home away from home

Quote:

DirtMcGirt wrote:

I find it ironic that the typical consequence is that the offender pays a fee to the State, instead of making the victim whole.

I agree!

I actually think making reparations coupled with mandatory community service (cleaning up other messes in the neighborhood) is the right punishment for most acts of vandalism.

Posted on: 2010/3/25 17:55

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