There is a slight update to this call to art. Please read.

Decisions regarding accepted photographs are expected by MARCH 20th.

Also, we need to clarify that the Art can be dropped off at the
Seniors, 8:30 -1, Tuesday - Friday, April 2nd -5th.

You can download the call to art submission form at www.gracevanvorst.org

Thank you.

Open Call for The Grace Van Vorst Community Service
Spring Photography Show 2013

The curators of the Spring Photography Show (Roger Sayre, Eleanor Kaufman and Joyce Davison) are reaching out to the local art community to find photographers to be included in the GVVCS photography exhibition, All work will be for sale with 60% of the sale going to the exhibiting artist and 40% to Grace Van Vorst Community Services. We ask that all work be reasonably priced so that visitors to the gallery might be encouraged to purchase original photography of exceptional quality. Credit card sales will be accepted.

This show will benefit Grace Senior Center and Breakfast Plus programs of Grace Van Vorst Community Service (GVVCS) a 501©3 non-profit corporation. The opening reception will be held on Friday April 12th and will remain open for 4 weeks at Grace Church Van Vorst at 39 Erie Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 (Corner of Erie and 2nd Streets). The exhibition will close on Sunday, May 12th to coincide with the annual GVVCS Wine Tasting event on May 10th.


You may submit up to four JPEGS (preferred) or prints of your work on or before March 18th. JPEGs/prints should be of good quality, true to color, and easily identifiable.

We encourage all artists who can to submit work via email to: spring.photo.show@gmail.com. .
Please submit JPEGs that are 72 dpi in the following form;
LASTNAME_n_TITLEofPHOTO.jpg (n= number of photo1-4)
Example: SMITH_1_DAWN.jpg
SMITH_2_SUNSET.jpg

For each submission clearly provide the following:
• Artist name and contact information (address, phone(s) and email)
• Title of Work
• Dimensions (height x width x length)
• Price
• Number of unframed prints of the same size available with cost
• One-Page resume

If you choose to submit by mail or in person, send all information to Grace Church Van Vorst, Attention: GVVCS Spring Photo Show, 39 Erie Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302.

Decisions regarding accepted photographs are expected by APRIL20th. Accepted photography must be delivered (framed and ready to install; hardware included. Please clearly print label on the back of the framed photograph.) to Grace Church Van Vorst by April 7th. Photos can be delivered between 8:30 – 12:30, Tuesday – Friday at the Senior Center, or 6:30 – 7:30 on Wednesday, April 3rd. or Sunday, April 7th, 12:30-1:30 to Grace Church Sanctuary on 2nd Street.


About Grace Van Vorst Community Service (501©3)
Grace Senior Center for Healthy Living provides exercise, dancing, quilting, art, healthy living presentations, hot lunch, and most of all companionship to 50 plus seniors, 9 – 1, Monday –Friday.

Breakfast Plus serves over 100 needy individuals a hot, nutritious breakfast, Saturday and Sunday mornings.


GRACE VAN VORST – 39 Erie Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Any questions, contact Joyce Davison at 201 451 5107 after 1:00pm, Monday – Friday.
www.gracevanvorst.org

Once again Teachers Unions looking out for THEIR jobs over our kids. And JC tax payers will be hit AGAIN. LIKE EVERY YEAR.

We need major education reform in New Jersey. I went to that show and tell hosted by the NJEA at City Hall a while back on how they want to reform... and that whole process is a joke to delay and stall any real reform.

FG

Did you notice how they positioned Fulop as a reformist?

That is a good thing because Jersey City is so corrupt. We need to get the nepotism and cronyism out.

Tax payers are tapped out. Can't afford any more tax increases. There needs to be significant cuts... one job per person, no sick days for life carry over.... and enforcing people show up for their "no show" jobs.

FG

This really, really bothers me.

Jersey City Property owners are tapped out and maxed already paying some of the highest taxes in the country. Where is the money going?

After the last tax increase, which brought about protests at City Hall, I think if Jersey City raises taxes yet again, there will be riots. WE ARE NOT YOUR ATMs! Repeat after me. NOT YOUR ATMs. Not your ATMs!

Meanwhile, having read the JC budgets, there have been ZERO cuts in spending. They just pick up last years budget and increase that without really looking seriously at it. I did a side by side comparison once.

Time for real leadership. Someone has to go in there and renegotiate these way to generous payouts.

Your average Joe Schmoe doesn't get nearly any of these types of benefits. Something has gone seriously wrong in Jersey City.

Sick days are for sick days. Use em or loose em. Sick days are not meant to be accumulated and then cashed out at your highest pay grade upon retirement. That is a scam and taxpayers are getting ripped off. It's borderline criminal.

Sorry. No tax increases until we see serious spending cuts in JC. Just my point of view.

FG

Hi All. I left a nice note on their gate to inform them this morning. They just moved in a few months back and the dog is new.

They probably didn't know the rules of the road.

And that is that a dog cannot be barking non-stop incessantly for 20 minutes or more. Especially at night.

I never leave my dog outside by itself. I am always home when the dog is out. When I am not home, the dog is inside.

Yes, sometimes my dog barks too, that's what they do, but I never leave it barking for 20 minutes - especially at night. And if it starts acting up I bring it inside.

Just sux that whomever sent the cops to my place. Like wiith a vendetta or something as the cops were real specific that they MY dog was the culprit. Hello... there are lots of dogs on this block. And their dog is a medium sized female dog that has a similar bark to my dog.

A dog shouldn't be out in this cold weather anyway, but they built it a dog house. And that won't fly in an urban environment.

FG

And I know you are on here.

FG

While my dog sometimes barks, I always go out and get her and know the 20 minute law.

There is a carriage house out back right behind mine. They just moved in and recently got a dog. They have been leaving the dog outside when not home (doghouse and everything, rain and cold the works).

I will try and speak to them the owners tomorrow if possible. I don't think they are home right now.

Thanks for calling the cops on me but you have the wrong dog.

Sincerely,

FG

I am sorry, but where is the outrage.

This stuff really pisses me off.

Did you read about the Chief of Police from Union City? Here it is. JC public employees have this game down pat.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... e_chief.html#incart_river

Sorry, Sick days are for SICK DAYS. No freaking carry over. Comp days for days you really have to work. Not comp days for freebies. And NOT carried over.

And vacations have to be used... these guys are liars.... you know damn well they are taking vacations... come on. But they don't claim them and then expect to cash out at top pay 20 years from now. SCAM folks. AUDIT TIME.

No one in the private sector gets this type of crazy. The best I ever got was two weeks vacation... three weeks after five years. And that happened just once and was short lived. And it was again, use em or loose em. Certainly not cash em out at Police Chief level, 20 years down the road cause I couldn't be fired cause of Union job security.

And I never could take more than one week at once... let alone three weeks at a time. and never got fake quasi holidays... MLK, Columbus, etc, etc.

As a tax payer... I am TAPPED FREAKING OUT.

WE THE PEOPLE have seen no cuts in spending while service declines and declines. WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING? Corrupt politicians and Public Union cronies.

I am SICK of paying for SICK days.

I AM NOT YOUR ATM. REMEMBER THAT? I will NEVER recover from Healy's 2009, 2010 tax increases. There is a reason I am UNDERWATER and it isn't Hurricane Sandy. Out of control BS like this stuff.

Time for a TAXPAYER REVOLT.

FG

This is tonight and the place is decked out and already rockin.... come on out for a great time.

Hope to see you.

FG

Just a reminder to everyone, the Cathedral Arts Festival which was postponed due to Superstorm Sandy is this weekend, Saturday, 12/01 at 7:30 pm till midnight.

You can still buy tickets in advance. They are $40 and can be purchased at www.gracevanvorst.org. Tickets will be $50 at the door.

Already we have had two evenings of artists talks and there may be more scheduled for December. We have a great selection of artwork this year. Our theme was "Spirit of Community".

Additionally, there will be great food, awesome music, a live and silent auction and of course great art. All artwork is for sale with the proceeds being split between Grace Van Vorst and the artists.

We hope you can make it to this wonderful annual event.

FG

Just a reminder, there will be a movie screening of "For the Bible tells me so." tonight at 7:30 at Grace Church Van Vorst.

Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?

This Sunday, 9/30 at 7:30 pm, please join us for a get-together and movie screening at Grace Church Van Vorst, 39 Erie Street, Jersey City (enter on Second Street). We will be viewing For the Bible Tells Me So, a film about the Bible’s treatment of homosexuality.

We hope you will join us for this viewing. This event is free, and open to all irrespective of orientation. Please spread the word.

You can view the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBR0dq0XXk

For more information about the film, visit http://forthebibletellsmeso.org

This Sunday, 9/30 at 7:30 PM

A long time ago at Grace Church Van Vorst, in downtown Jersey City, we had a thriving and solidified LGBT community and a ministry that was focused on the religious needs of the LGBT community at Grace. Alas that fell apart in the early 2000's.

After having announced its revival in July at our outreach service, the time has come to re-launch the Grace Van Vorst LGBT alliance.

This Sunday, 9/30 at 7:30 pm, please join us for a get together and movie screening at Grace Van Vorst.

We will be viewing "For the Bible Tells Me So." You can view the trailer here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBR0dq0XXk

I hope you will join me for this viewing. Not sure what to expect, or how the turnout will be, but hopefully you can take time out of your schedule to attend.

Thanks very much and hope to see you there. This event is free, and open to all irrespective of orientation.

Please spread the word as well to our Jersey City LGBT friends. Thanks.

Regards,

Fletcher Gensamer
Grace Van Vorst Parishioner
Celebrating 20 years of being Out.

Is talking Slick anything like Talking Jive was in the 70's? You know it really feels like we're doing it all over again. Gas crisis, Embassy's being stormed and what not. Obama is exactly like Carter...

Catch this clip from the movie Airplane.

http://youtu.be/fXSLcYQHqFQ

Crime is not down. There has been a rash of burglaries downtown... and my building is under front and inside door lockdown.

I even posted flyers around in Harsimus Cove that the JCPD put out.

And go to NJ.com. Every day there is another shooting or stabbing or something else.

Crime is not down. In fact... look around... Graffiti is way up and that means so is crime.

And where are the JCPD patrols. Barely ever see patrols.

Just saying.

FG

Be aware in Harsimus Cove area. I live on 2nd Street in an apt building and it looks like someone has tried to jimmy open our front door with a screwdriver.

Have also found menus wedged in the front door very strangely at eye level, which I have heard is a way for thieves to mark and track activity in your building. If a menu stays in the door for several hours, that means no one is home and your place is now a prime target for criminals.

Will be calling JCPD today to see if they can increase patrols on our street. But be aware folks.

If you SEE something Say something.

FG

Be aware in Harsimus Cove area. I live on 2nd Street in an apt building and it looks like someone has tried to jimmy open our front door with a screwdriver.

Have also found menus wedged in the front door very strangely at eye level, which I have heard is a way for thieves to mark and track activity in your building. If a menu stays in the door for several hours, that means no one is home and your place is now a prime target for criminals.

Will be calling JCPD today to see if they can increase patrols on our street. But be aware folks.

If you SEE something Say something.

FG

Best quote ever from that article that was just posted.

“You know, we’re always concerned about the bottom line here in Jersey City and you can’t hit the tax payers over the head all the time, so that was a concern,” Healy stressed.

Oh really? Bought my place in 2007 and got the double whammy.... real estate market collapsed, leaving me underwater, and Jersey City Real Estate Property Taxes going up dramatically just about every year, further depressing values.

Ughhh. Major FAIL. Concerned my ass.

FG

I voted. But at 12:40 this afternoon, only 20 people had voted in my district.

SHAME. SHAME. SHAME. Other countries fight for the right to vote... and here in America....

WHO CARES.

Well.... there you go folks. You get what you DON'T VOTE FOR.

FG

Just read this regarding Enterprise.

The moving schedule of the Space Shuttle Enterprise has been been revised, moving the hour that the shuttle will set sail from the Weeks Marine in Jersey City for the Intrepid Museum to Wednesday 10:15 a.m..

The shuttle will pass the Statue of Liberty around 10:50 a.m. and the World Trade Center at 11: 40 a.m. as it makes its way north on the Hudson River arriving at the Intrepid Museum at 12:30 p.m..

Upon arrival the shuttle will be lifted by crane onto the flight deck of the Intrepid and positioned to face the Hudson River, a procedure that is estimated to take three hours to complete.

Museum officials said that all times are estimates and that conditions of the weather and tide can delay or postpone the event to a later date.

Enterprise was moved by barge on Sunday to a shipyard in Jersey City from John F. Kennedy International Airport, where it arrived on the back of a jumbo jet on April 27.

Commemorating the end of the NASA shuttle program, Enterprise will be on exhibit at the Intrepid Museum beginning July 19.

All I know is that because I am a registered democrat, I could not vote for the candidate of my choice.

The only choice I had was Obama. Until I saw all the way over far away (as not to be seen), a column named PERSONAL CHOICE.

I selected that and then proceeded to enter in my favorite candidate. Mr. Newt Gingrich.

After 3 1/2 years of hoping the economy would turn around, even doing my part and starting a business - trying to make something from nothing (with NO support)... I could not honestly vote for Mr. Obama.

If you are a Democrat.... you do not have to vote for OBAMA. You can even vote for yourself.

(Probably would do a better job too.).

But YOU HAVE TO VOTE. It's your CIVIC DUTY.

FG

Hey Beach Guy. Gay folks don't vote for folks just because they are gay.

The only reason Obama did that gay marriage thing is because he is pandering to the gays. But the thing is, I think there is a BS factor. Obama isn't really for the gays.

If Team Healy have put Velazquez as Deputy Mayor, to get the gay vote I think they are kidding themselves.

All I know is my property taxes have gone up 38% since 2007. If Healy wanted this gay vote, he would have had real strict spending enforcements and balanced on-time budgets and would have reformed government by now.

FG

I need a good lawyer. Chase bank for the thrid time is denying me a refinance. Just last week they sent me a pre-approved letter. I'm working, sent in w2's, letter of employment. I even have my own FREAKING COMPANY and am putting people to work.

I'm livid right now and am going to sue them. Everybody and their brother got theirs in the 2008 financial crisis. I was out of work for a year and a half. Tried to refiance under the original TARP because I experienced hardship. NO....

Then they pulled this same shit on my last year charging me $395 and saying no, keeping the money.

And now this...

I need a really good lawyer. Please advise.

Thank you.

FG

I agree with what Bill463 said.

I moved here in Jersey City in 1993. Lived here for 7 years. Moved to Manhattan to be in relationship. Didn't work out, had an apartment for about two years, then guess what...

Moved back to Jersey City. And after two years, finally bought a place here and have settled down calling JC my home.

NYC is right there if I want it... and if you walk down to exchange place, you just can't beat that view.

FG

Hi everybody. It's Springtime in Jersey City.

And a new crop of small business retailers and restaurants are opening up.

I would strongly encourage everybody to check em out.

Did you know, Downtown Jersey City is considered a walkers paradise? Well, I did a walking tour yesterday.

First up, the New New York Bagel place on Newark Ave between Jersey And Coles. Just opened up this past week. Working on the kinks, but the bagel was good and it was busy. They need out door seating quickly.

Next up after walking around the Dixon Mills area, GRANDE PIZZA & Wings To go FINALLY FINALLY OPENED on Saturday. It was their first day Saturday and I was their second customer! Had a slice and was good. They did a nice job renovating and I hope everybody supports them as it took them forever to open.

I also have to mention Bright Side Tavern. Had a burger with a friend there on Friday night and it was very good.

Which brings me to my next point. As citizens we need to demand that Jersey City Government get pro small business ASAP. We should be doing a lot better, fast tracking businesses that improve quality of life here for the residents. But Jersey City and all their departments (each requiring all sorts of "permits") and inspectors wanting to be "friends" with Benjamin Franklin, all of this creates a huge problem. Newark Avenue should be a bustling business area by now.

FG

DANG IT.

Congrats Jersey City. YOU let the city take away that $40 bucks OBAMA wanted YOU to have.

RENTERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOTE ON SPENDING ISSUES. THEY DON'T PAY PROPERTY TAXES. I'm sick of annual tax increases voted on by folks who don't pay into the system.

NOT FAIR. I say introduce special fees for renter residents who send their kids to the public schools. This way they have a vested interest in keeping costs down too. TAXES SUCK.

Public Question - Jersey City
78/96 81.25%
Vote Count Percent
- Yes 2,086 62.29%
- No 1,263 37.71%
Total 3,349 100.00%

DEMOCRATS UNITE!!!!!

Our illustrious President Obama went to GREAT LENGTHS to ensure you got an extra $40 bucks from the Payroll Tax Cut Extension. It was all the Press could cover this past fall/winter. It was a nice night on the town, or food for the family for a few nights.

So KEEP YOUR $40 Bucks.

It's YOUR MONEY. STAND UP! VOTE.

Jersey City wants to Take YOUR $40 AWAY. YOUR $40. This time its the School Board. Who has no accountability... and the budget is done in secret and has not been published. No cuts have been made.

KEEP YOUR $40. THIS AFFECTS EVERYBODY.

VOTE NO to new taxes from JERSEY CITY. WE ARE NOT YOUR ATM. VOTE NO.

THE SCHOOL BUDGET IS OVER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS. Something like $680 million. Time to start working within what you have and cut costs. There have been NO CUTS.

Did you know that over HALF the staff is "NON-INSTRUCTIONAL" within the school system. TIME TO PURGE, TIME TO CUT.

SAY NO TOMORROW TO TAX INCREASES.

If you do ANYTHING tomorrow. PLEASE PLEASE VOTE. IT IS YOUR CIVIC DUTY TO VOTE!!!!!!.... Thus a FREE Society for ALL. Just DO Something.

FG

Oh that was courtesy of the Jersey City Independent.

Wow surprised no one posted this here. I did the math and this budget amounts to over $23000 per student per year. It's a HALF A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET. Time to say no. Throwing money at the schools is not the answer.

Remember that $40 bucks President Obama wanted you to keep with the Payroll Tax deduction? Well good Ol' Jersey City Board of Ed just took it away - IN MORE TAXES. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CUT SPENDING AND WASTE. NOTHING.

---------

The board of education Thursday adopted a $661.3 million 2012-13 budget, which, if voters approve, will raise an average homeowner’s taxes by $34 (the average assessed house the district is using here is $92,400).

The budget was approved by a 7-1 vote with one vacancy. A public dialogue occurred over two separate meetings, including a special March 26 session attended by about 100 residents. Board president Sterling Waterman set the final vote for the board’s monthly meeting three days later, given some trustees did not attend the hearing.

According to Melissa Simmons, the board secretary and business administrator, the outlay meets the state’s 2 percent limit on spending increases. Though the board came under criticism for increasing property taxes annually, even to the tighter cap enacted in 2011, Simmons told JCI it must raise them by the maximum or the state will penalize it by cutting the district’s annual “adjustment aid,” at $100 million. Even so, residents can still nix the budget.

Simmons stressed the board did all it could to economize while not seeking layoffs. “There will be no reduction in classroom teachers and we’ve been efficient in the central office,” she told residents.

This is in stark contrast to 2011-12, when the board threatened to lay off 228 employees due to an expected shortfall in state aid. It restored 178 only after the state Supreme Court narrowly ruled Gov. Chris Christie had to reinstate $21.5 million in special aid traditionally set aside for Jersey City and 30 other districts. Simmons said the new budget assumes this special aid will stay in place. The budget would service almost 29,000 full-time students and pay 4,813 employees working in 37 schools and a central office.

Including revenue from outside sources, the budget – at $661.3 million – is $30.6 million higher than what the board adopted last year. Yet it is $12.1 million lower than the proposal Simmons discussed in February with residents during a special meeting at Whitney M. Young School in Greenville.

If voters approve it on April 17, it would raise property taxes by $2.1 million, to $106.4 million. Residents would only vote on the tax levy.

Current expenses would be cut by $27.5 million over the 2011-12 budget, down to $214.6 million. The district expects state aid will basically remain the same, at $418.6 million.

Simmons said the proposal would hike school taxes by $34 (to $1,694) on what the district considers the average assessed house, at $92,400. That number is so low – and lower than many other North Jersey municipalities – because Jersey City completed its last revaluation in 1988 and is in the midst of a new state-ordered reappraisal, which must be completed by a 2014 deadline.

Board president Sterling Waterman, vice president Carol Lester and trustees Marvin Adames, Carol Harrison-Arnold, William DeRosa, Patricia Sebron and Angel Valentin voted for the budget. Suzanne Mack, citing concerns over reductions in special education funding, voted no.

“It’s not a perfect budget,” conceded Waterman, who chairs the finance committee. “I’d rather be at 95 percent than what we had in the prior year.”

Recalling residents’ concerns over an alleged lack of transparency with the 2011-12 budget, he insisted the board tried to “make decisions with the best input we could possibly have” via holding two preliminary public meetings in November and February.

According to the budget summary, major increases include: salary and benefits (up $21.5 million, to $446.6 million); transfers to charter schools, in part to help pay for three new sites this fall (up $8.7 million, to $51.1 million); non-salary school-based expenses (up $1.9 million, to $13.9 million); and out-of-district tuition (up $1.3 million, to $22.1 million).

There were a number of significant decreases. Simmons’ summary cited 19 separate areas totaling $28 million. Areas and amounts cut from them include: unemployment insurance with no proposed layoffs ($9.7 million); 109 retirees who will be replaced by new hires making much less ($5.5 million); not filling 42 vacant positions ($2.8 million); eliminating 15 administrative jobs ($1.6 million); and eliminating some stipends ($1.5 million).

In addition, the district anticipates a major slash in spending on federally-funded projects (down $11.8 million, to $23.7 million) and reduced monies for special education (down $2.8 million, to $4.5 million).

Lester said she was conditionally voting yes, though she conceded it did not meet her ideal vision of guaranteeing wi-fi for every classroom, and other amenities including upgraded science labs for each school deemed in need. “We have to put the focus on getting as much to the children in the classroom as possible. That is our job,” she told residents at the earlier budget hearing.

She noted upon casting her vote Thursday, “I still have faith we will be able to switch line items around.”

Following the budget vote, district watchdog Riaz Wahid told the board it was stiffing taxpayers even with only the 2-percent hike – the maximum the state law allows without seeking a waiver.

“Since 2005, (school) taxes have gone up 39.9 percent,” noted Wahid, who asserts the district cannot use the state’s tighter cap as an excuse to keep raising taxes. “It’s become very expensive just to have more.”

Wahid urged the board to follow Union City’s example and freeze school taxes. Yet Simmons insisted to JCI that the board’s special relationship with the state, whose monies comprise well over half the budget, leaves it no choice.

“If we don’t raise our tax levy by the 2 percent, the state has said they’ll penalize us by cutting our adjustment aid to an equivalent amount,” she explained. Wahid adamantly rejects such logic.

Because numbers can be manipulated just like Obama's unemployment reports. Things are getting so much BETTER! Rates are down.

Reason: folks falling off the unemployment rolls in a very big way.

Been there myself.

And those crime reports are just as manipulated.

FG