Possibly dumb question. . .I haven't done the weekend WTC thing yet, but this weekend I have plans that will have me ride the 33rd St train into Manhattan, but then ideally returning from WTC on Sat eve. Will I be able to get a free ferry ride back to Harborside, if I didn't take the PATH/ferry to Exchange Place/WTC on my way in? In other words, do you have to do it as a round trip in order to benefit from the free ferry?

Thank you - I will try to reach Maryann next week - if no luck I'll head to City Hall on my trusty ten-speed. Appreciate the help.

I received a Delinquency Notice for my property taxes, which I actually paid on time. However it's not showing on the city's website as paid, and the phone number 201-547-5124 doesn't have any way to get to a real person - it's just a recording redirecting to the website. Website doesn't have any place to go for help, only options to pay. I have my bank statement showing that it was paid on 9/29.

None of this should be a surprise to me I suppose, but I was foolishly hoping. . .

Anyone know how to get in touch with an actual person there? Do I need to physically go there to get help?

I only learned a few years ago myself. . .I practiced in the parking lots on Rte 440 first; there was at the time a big mostly empty lot in front of a closed store, and you can also drive slowly through the Lowe's/Hudson Mall lots. But I agree with others - as terrifying as it can be, get out on the road as soon as you can stand it, once you've got the basics down.

Not sure where you are planning to take the test - I took it at Newark, where a portion of the test is on the street (basically just around the block), and a portion is on a course - parallel parking, K-turn, straight backing etc. I think some others may be entirely on a course.

Also, at the time it was a requirement that the car you take the test in have a center-console emergency brake, accessible to the tester, which not many newer cars have - or be a driving-lesson car equipped with a passenger-side brake. Just an FYI. . .I had to get a friend with a Saab to take me as those have a center brake.

Good luck! I procrastinated way too long to do it, but I'm so glad I finally did.

Funny package thief story (if there is such a thing) - a few years ago someone stole an Amazon package off my front porch (sadly not the first or last time). It was a pet-hair attachment for my vacuum cleaner - neither particularly exciting nor valuable. I called Amazon and they replaced it. . .then several days later the original package (opened) and the vacuum attachment mysteriously appeared, thrown in the bushes in front of my house. Guess the thief was disappointed and decided to "return" his "gift"! Moral of the story - order boring stuff I guess?

Anyway Happy New Year everyone. . .keep fighting the good fight. . .

I didn't go there all that often, but whenever I did it was as if I'd never left - one of the last of the old-school JC Irish pubs. Above all it's always been reliable, always there when I needed a cheap drink and a friendly local hang. Now after 40+ years in the same family, it seems to have closed for good.

Anyone have any idea what happened? I Googled around and couldn't find anything - just stood there (twice) mournfully pulling on the locked door.

It's hardly new - that's where I've gotten mine for years.

And on the purely selfish/practical tip - the feral cats that already live around my yard piss and shit all over the place, which is gross, and also upsets my domestic indoor cat. Some of them are aggressive too - one old tomcat walks around my back yard like he owns the place and hisses and spits at me when I come outside. They're not cute! So the last thing I want is more of them. . .I've given up on trying to trap the older toms, they've managed to outwit several of my loony trapping schemes, but I figure I at least have a chance with a nursing mother and baby kittens.

Another note - despite their seemingly difficult lives - they live a long time; there is one tom who was a baby when I first moved into my house 10 years ago, and he's still around, living in the hood.

I have a feral kitty with a litter of 4 kittens in my yard; the kittens are probably about 8 weeks old or so. I would like to trap/neuter/release the kittens when they are old enough, but I'm not sure how to go about trapping the whole family. I have one trap, but I'm concerned that if just the mom or just one kitten gets in the trap, the others will freak out before I can get to it - or that if I successfully trap one and take it to the vet for neutering and then release it, the others will turn on it or reject it.

Any advice on kitten socialization would also be welcomed - ideally I'd love to take one of the kittens in (and maybe offer the rest for adoption), but the mom is super-skittish and wild and she seems to have passed that on to her little ones.

Can any of the animal people on JCList offer any advice?

ryanicole - I don't actually need my car for work, just don't know an easy way to get there via public transit - so please share! Best I can come up with is PATH >N/Q to Astoria>bus to LGA, which according to Google transit would take almost 2 hours.

I'm considering a job that would require me to drive from JC to LaGuardia Airport every day, probably leaving home aroun 6am. Any opinions on the best route? (Turnpike to GWB to Triboro vs Holland Tunnel to BQE - unless anyone knows a better/secret way)

Thanks for your input. . .

I know that Jersey City Animal Hospital on West Side Ave takes ferals, but I don't know if they're willing to give you a break on the cost of treatment.

I'm with you! My sister lives in in South Jersey and I love visiting her and shopping at Wegman's - their closest store to JC is all the way in Woodbridge; I've always wondered why they don't have anything farther north.

Fantastic, thanks so much - I will give them a try.

Can anyone recommend a good CPA in Jersey City to help me with tax prep? My excellent CPA has quit the business, and while my taxes are usually pretty straightforward, I have some complications this year that I don't feel confident tackling myself. I've reached out to a couple of CPAs that have good reviews on Yelp but haven't gotten any replies, so I'd appreciate a good local referral if anyone has one that they like, that can handle a little more than the standard 1040. Thanks!

Yes, I too confirmed there is no need to tip with UberX - I use it all the time, have never tipped and as far as I know my rating is OK! You do need to tip with UberTAXI, which is different from UberX - it just allows you to use Uber to call a regular taxi with a meter. I've never used UberTAXI, not sure how to, but I understand that you tip those drivers as they are regular taxi drivers.

Does anyone know what happened to Al's Diner?
I just noticed the other day that it had closed - apparently permanently - but can't find anything online as to why.

I have a great cat sitter who comes to my home, but I have to travel while some construction is happening at my house, and I'd like to board my cat so the contractor doesn't have to worry about him.
Does anyone have recommendations for cat BOARDING (not in-home care)?
The only places I can find that seem to board cats in the area are PetSmart in Secaucus and Unleashed, and I hear mixed feedback on both.

I haven't seen these, but I do periodically get the "Clothing Drive in your neighborhood!" plastic bag/flyer on my front porch - a JC old-timer told me that they are also associated with a for-profit company and not a charitable organization, so I just say "hey, free trash bag" and go on my merry way.

You're not a lazy bum! I have had good luck with Ann's Rubbish Removal.
They are a mom-and-pop operation (Ann answers the phone, her husband and son
do the actual junk removal) - I have used them twice, once for
a big load of crap like the stuff you are describing that was in a
big heap in my garage, and once for yard garbage/tree parts etc.

They will come to look at what you've got and give you a price
(I think minimum is $150) - then if you agree to the price,
they'll take it away. Both times I've used them they've been
prompt and helpful, and even swept up the area when they were
finished. They do bring a big truck though, so if you don't
have a driveway you might want to get a no parking
sign from the JCPA for when they come.

Their number is 877-652-6674.

Thanks Joe, I was on that page, but thought it was for businesses only so didn't read far enough to see the permit info.
I'm still not totally clear on what constitutes a "renovation to existing property," but I'll call them to find out.

I'm planning to redo my kitchen soon, and I can't seem to find anything useful on the JC website about what kind of work requires a building permit from the city.
It's basically a cosmetic job - not moving/adding/changing any plumbing or electrical, just installing new fixtures and appliances in the same locations as the old (along with new floor, countertop etc).
Obviously I'd rather not bother with a permit if I don't have to, but if it's required I'd just as soon deal with it up front. There seem to be a lot of people around who will rat you out for doing work w/o a permit, and I imagine the penalties are severe.
So I'm not trying to get away with anything. . .does anyone who has experience with home renovations know?

Thanks everybody!

Rogut's Toy Shop only left about a year ago, and the pawn shop on Bergen is still there and bigger/better than ever - they took over Rogut's old space next door.

Here's the part I don't get - if it is a game, meant to prove how tough/thuggish a young man is, how does it make you a "big man" to knock out a 75-year-old woman?! Or any woman/person smaller and weaker than you for that matter? Putting aside for a second the fact that the whole thing is ridiculous and awful and taking it in its own apparent context, I would think that choosing a knockout victim who couldn't stand up for him/herself even in a fair fight would make a young man look like a real p***y. At least pick on someone your own size!

PS - to confirm what Christine said, just for future reference, they will NOT tow to let you into your driveway, only to let you out.

The More You Know. . .

Thanks so much everyone - I called the cops and they came within 10 mins; before I even said anything one officer said "you need to get out to get to work, right? in like 10 minutes?"

Two truck was here in 40 mins and now the car is gone.

Thanks again to all; now I know what to do if it happens again!

Thanks BatGod.

I did call the cops first, but when I said the car was in the street (vs. on my actual property) they told me I had to call JCPA instead. What do I need to tell them to get them to come tow it? Should I say it's on my property?

There is a car with Oregon plates parked on my street that is totally blocking my driveway, and I can't get out.

I noticed it Friday morning (fortunately I don't drive to work), but neighbors said it was there Thursday night. It was still there Friday evening when I got home, so I called the Parking Authority and they came out and issued 2 tickets. No result this morning - car is still there.

Does anyone know at what point JCPA can tow the car? I didn't think to ask the man who came to issue the ticket. Do I have to just keep calling to report it? Would a call to the Mayor's Action Bureau do any good?

I know it sounds dumb but I'm kind of freaking out; I feel trapped! I was supposed to take my car in for service today, and then drive to South Jersey to visit my dad who is very ill, and I can't get out!

Any advice? I'm about ready to hire a monster truck to come and shove this Oregon jackass out of the way! (anyone know where I can hire a monster truck? :-/ )

There's a small lot on Bergen @ Fairview also - I know a guy that rents a spot there; I will see if I can find out what the deal is.

Thanks Crystal! I will send you an email directly.