My husband and I and our three children live on Sherman near the Bakery Lofts. We are "transplants" from downtown and have lived here since 2002. I concur with my neighbors, this is one of the best blocks to live on in the Heights! Crime has not impacted our lives directly (thankfully). I'd say the litter/trashy streets are more of a concern. This location is ideal for commuting into the city or to Hoboken, downtown, or Journal Square. A bike is definitely key if you do not own a car. The Shoprite in Hoboken, down by the Lightrail stop at Congress St., is the best for grocery shopping. And the Farmer's Market on Sunday's in Riverview Fisk Park has been a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. Best thing about Sherman Ave is having nice neighbors who look out for each other. Good luck!

What we could use is a private swimming club. The public pools are much too crowded in the summertime.

Why doesn't the BOE move the adult ed/alternative school programs from Bright St. (old #3 bldg.) to Wilkinson and put Infinity downtown? Rumor has it that there are hardly any students in the alternative program house in that building. Would make more sense to use the $400,000 to make physical improvements to the old #3.

Let's hope they find a superintendent who is smart and innovative. One who will truly lead and inspire. The teachers of this district are desperate for sound leadership and we all know the students and tax payers are deserving of it. NOTE TO THE BOE: HIRE SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE OF JERSEY CITY. SHAKE DOWN THE BOARD AND PUT AN END TO THE NEPOTISM. We've been dealing with inEPPtitude for much too long!

Yes, we all lose is right. Saw the structure for the first time recently and was disgusted. Looks like the perfect place for some tagging to happen. Actually, tagging it up might make it look better. Two glass walls would have kept the view in tact, but the use of cement for this monument is absurd. It looks awful. Can't even begin to think about how that amount of money could have been used to better the post 911 world.

You can either "keep up with the Jones's" or say, "f*** the Jones's". But keep in mind that the Jones's aren't really happy anyway with all of their stuff.

I am planning a home renovation for next summer. Can you tell me which lender you used for the FHA 203? I am having a hard time finding one. In terms of a contractor, I have heard that Darious of dariousdesignbuild.com is good. He has pictures of work he has done on a row home in the Heights (the Yellow House) Best of luck!

Does anyone know if it is possible to sign up to be among the first groups of homes assessed? We are planning to do some renovating and of course don't want to start until this re-eval is done.

The likelihood of anything changing as long as Dr. Charles Epps is at the helm is slim to none. The entire curriculum needs to be revamped in this city. Dr. Adele Macula is another one who has to go. She has been in charge of curriculum for years, raking in big bucks, and is also to blame for the failure of our school system. How about shaking things up at the board? How about reassigning people who staff the BOE? Put them in a classroom so they can clearly see how the decisions they make are not effective. Teachers are stuck implementing a crappy, cookie cutter, BORING curriculum. You want to know why our schools are failing - ask the people who are inside of the classroom, not the ones making six figures at the BOE. Anyone who runs for the the BOE needs to talk with teachers, parents, and JC students to learn what exactly needs to change in our schools. We are waiting for a board that's going to make real change happen.

Maybe they're retaliating for all of the dog crap people leave on the sidewalks? Quality of life gets no attention in Jersey City - especially not with the massive budget cuts going on. Looks like we will be dodging dog poop and chicken bones for years to come.

FYI - baby molars remain until the age of 12 or 13.

Melanie Medrano is an excellent pediatric dentist. Her office is located on York St. on the corner of Jersey Ave. She did a couple fillings for my three year old and did a fantastic job.

My 3 yr. old attends the pre-k program at Concordia and it has been great. The teachers are wonderful and the facility is awesome - just a year or two old with a fabulous gym and outdoor play area. I highly recommend the school and did a lot of research before sending my child. Pretty sure it's one of the best the Heights has to offer.

What you don't understand is the fact that each and every teacher is not receiving a 4% increase in pay. Only those teachers who have reached a particular step on the salary guide are due for this type of increase. A teacher looking at this kind of an increase is one who has been working towards it for TEN YEARS earning next to nothing for that amount of time (considering many have Master's Degree level educations). So, someone who has been scraping by for ten years is finally up for a decent raise and is told/asked to forgo it and then they are blamed for being greedy for not wanting to? This is bullshit. When times are good nobody says, "Gee, teachers are underpaid let's give them a bonus." I want my children's teachers to be paid well, not scraping by or having to work two jobs to keep afloat.

What does the CURRICULUM look like in our schools? How often does it change before a teacher gets a chance to master the curriculum guides? How much academic freedom do our teachers have in their classrooms? Is the curriculum organically grown or developed by expensive consultants and then thrown into teachers' hands with the threat of ?do or die? and Big Brother at the BOE looking over their shoulders? Are our disaffected youth being ?reached? with the books in the curriculum? What type of after school programs are offered ? are there only NJASK themed ?clubs? or do our students have the opportunity to learn through a variety of enriching programs that include the arts? How does the technology in our schools measure up to the technology of surrounding suburban schools? And what happens when that technology fails ? does it get fixed in a timely fashion or sit in a classroom collecting dust? What about on-line courses for our high school students? What innovation has been seen under Dr. Epps reign? How long should one individual be in power? Would it be ok for Mayor Healy to run the city indefinitely? Change is good ? not always welcomed, but good.

"You have to consider how many hours their workday consist of. Teachers for instance have the summer off and go home at 3pm. Lot of perks at the taxpayer's expense."

Those of you who find criticism with teachers having the summer "off" obviously haven't spent much time with children. Any decent parent knows that in order to give 100% to your children you must take time to care for yourself. Being in a classroom with children is like being on stage - there is no downtime where you can daydream at your desk, play solitaire, read jclist postings, or chit-chat by the water cooler. Summer break offers teachers time to refuel, to freshen up their skills, and prepare (read books, new curriculum, etc.) for the coming school year. Children need this break as well to PLAY and spend time with family. K-LO and others who know and love teachers understand this.

For clarification, the only teachers receiving the above stated increases are those who have been teaching in Jersey City for 10 plus years (many of whom possess master's degrees and have been making on average $9,000 less than other professionals with this level of education). Others receive only a nominal increase in pay, which amounts to a couple hundred dollars, and once they begin contributing 1.5% towards their healthcare benefits, they will end up with a pay cut. EACH AND EVERY TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT IS NOT RECEIVING AN INCREASE IN PAY - ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO THE CHILDREN OF THIS CITY FOR TEN OR MORE YEARS. And if you think they don't deserve it, spend a week in the classroom with them before you pass judgment.

My husband and I have three children and have been living in the Heights for almost eight years. We are very happy here. Our children attend a charter school which is a big plus. At any rate, some of the nicer streets are: Ogden Ave., Sherman Pl., Sherman Ave. (north of Bowers) Webster (north of South St.), and Boreem. There are more, but those are the ones that come to mind first. Being by the lightrail is ideal. Also, there are some terrific parks up here and a Height's Parents Group is forming. Good luck with your decision!

The 4% increase that teachers are reported to be receiving is misleading. All teachers are not receiving a 4% pay increase. Only those teachers who have been teaching for ten years are due for this increase. Over the course of the first ten years of their careers they have been earning between $40,000 and $53,000 dollars, depending upon their level of education. As I teacher with a master's degree who has dedicated ten years of service to this district, I am finally up for an increase in pay that would bring me to a somewhat decent income of $61,000. So I ask you, with this level of education and this amount of years devoted to the children of our city, is a raise to $61,000 dollars per year obnoxious? I think not.

I would love to see TJ's come to Jersey City, but would prefer the business to come to the Heights. Specifically to the large vacant lot on Summit Ave. across from the fire station. The lack of a quality grocery store in this area has been long-standing and the plethora of dollar stores in this area is disappointing to say the least. A store like Trader Joe's would be an attraction to the area which might just shine a light on some of the better restaurants and shops (though few) up our way.

How many Mercedes and Infinities would they find in the Jersey City teacher parking lots? Not many. Our teachers are currently working without a contract. As a parent, I want teachers receiving the best pay possible in order to attract the most qualified educators. The fact that Jersey City has one of the top 100 high schools in America, speaks volumes to the quality of education available in this city to those who WANT it and are willing to WORK for it. Yes, the Board of Education is a parasite - sucking dollars from our schools and creativity from the classroom teachers. If this film has any impact, hopefully it will shine a light on the ineptness of the BOE and give our neighborhood schools the autonomy they need to succeed.

Save yourself a headache and go to the A&P by the Holland Tunnel - it's a much nicer shopping experience.

This attack was an act of "fun" - the game many youths play on the streets of Jersey City is called "knock-out". Groups of them run up on random people, jump them, beat them, and steal from them if they can. Not too sure more options for recreation in this city will be able to compete with this kind of "fun". It all boils down to parenting or lack there of.