Editor’s note: Welcome to the The Tipsheet! Check this column weekly for quick news, local gossip, and happenings around town. Send your tips to info(at)jerseycityindependent.com. And don’t forget to check out our Tip of the Week!
SPREAD THE WORD
A Presidents’ Day Photo protest is being organized by the Coalition to Save Liberty State Park for Monday, February 15, at 1 pm at the South Overlook Lawn (in the southeast corner of Liberty State Park, past the Flag Plaza). The coalition plans to take a group photo of as many supporters of the Park as possible, to demonstrate the solidarity of the protest against Governor Christie’s proposals to commercialize and privatize Liberty State Park. Supporters of all ages are invited to attend, and should plan to arrive by 12:50 pm. Homemade signs are welcome and encouraged. For more information, contact The Coalition to Save LSP – Sam Pesin, president of Friends of LSP at pesinliberty(at)earthlink.net or Greg Remaud, Deputy Director, NY/NJ Baykeeper at greg(at)nynjbaykeeper.org.
Bike JC started a petition to create the city’s first protected bike lane on Grand Street. A recent study of protected bike lanes in the US and Canada proves how effective protected bike lanes are throughout both countries which staunchly supports Bike JC‘s Grand Street Vision. To support the petition, visit change.org.
Simon Youth Foundation is offering scholarships for graduating high school seniors who live within fifty miles of Newport Centre. Each year, the Foundation offers Simon Youth Community Scholarships to communities across the country that are home to Simon, Mills, or Premium Outlets malls. Recipients receive up to $1,500 to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school. Students must apply by March 1, 2016. For more information, visit syf.org.
Reminder that the Jersey City Independent has teamed up with Jersey City Writers to hold an open call for poetry submissions, due March 25! The top three submissions from Hudson County residents will be published in April on the Jersey City Independent website, and all poetry submissions, including those from non-Hudson County residents, will be considered for inclusion in a Jersey City Writers poetry reading on the evening of April 13 at Art House Productions.
Want to add a furry friend to your family? Liberty Humane Society’s FREE pet adoption promotion runs until February 14. See last week’s tip sheet for more details!
NEWS BRIEFS
In observance of Lincoln’s Birthday, Jersey City Municipal Offices will be closed Friday, February 12 and in observance of Presidents’ Day, Jersey City municipal offices will be closed Monday, February 15. Street sweeping and alternate-side parking regulations will also be suspended, but garbage and recycling pickup will be on normal schedule. Alternate side parking will be suspended until Tuesday, February 16. PATH will run on a Saturday schedule. Enjoy the holiday weekend!
Hudson County Community College (HCCC) announced that they received an endowment of nearly $68,000 from Hudson Cradle to establish an annual scholarship for incoming freshman women who are single mothers and reside in Hudson County. Hudson Cradle is a former home established in 1991 to care for at-risk infants until a family could take them in, but shut its doors in 2011 when New Jersey’s foster parent program improved its services. Now, its funds are being distributed to other causes. The recipient of the Hudson Cradle scholarship must be enrolled at Hudson County Community College as a first-time student and demonstrate financial need. Information about HCCC Foundation scholarships may be obtained by contacting Vice President for Development Joseph Sansone at jsansone(at)hccc.edu. For more information visit, hccc.edu.
Equal pay legislation to close the wage gap between men and women in New Jersey was approved on February 4 by the Senate Labor Committee with a vote of 3-0-1. This bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham, would create greater transparency and provide more protection regarding employee compensation. For example, employers would have to demonstrate that any difference in compensation is due to factors such as training and education. In addition, the bill would allow back pay for the entire period of time in which a violation continues, a provision that is stronger than the federal Lilly Ledbetter Act’s two-year cap. The bill, S-992, heads now to the full Senate for a vote.
ARTS
Last summer Green Villain organized the “Demolition Exhibition” at the former Pep Boys, located at 410 Marin Blvd. The project featured 30,000 square feet of graffiti and murals displayed by more than 100 artists. The site has since been demolished. You can now relive the entire experience on Google street view.
Looking to buy, sell, trade your art or art supplies? Check out the Jersey City Art & Supply Swap/Sell Facebook page.
Beauty & the Beast by Puppetworks contiues every Sunday till May 29 at Jersey City Theater Center. See last week’s tip sheet for more details!
Panepinto Galleries pop-up runs every Sat and Sun till March 6. Local artists, boutiques, eats & more! See last week’s tip sheet for more details.
EVENTS
Liberty Science Center is hosting a Star Wars party from February 12 to February 15! Bring the kids between 11 am and 3 pm to take pictures with R2-D2, train in the Jedi Academy, watch the 501st Stormtrooper Legion and Mandalorian Mercs go on the march, and more! Each guest who dresses up as a Star Wars character will receive $5 on the price of admission. For more information, visit lsc.org.
A Central Avenue Community Meeting is planned for February 20 from 2 – 7 pm at PS 8 (96 Franklin St). The event, planned by the Jersey City Office of Innovation, invites residents of Jersey City Heights to participate in a discussion on how to improve Central Avenue for businesses and residents. The goal is to come out of the session with action plans and recommendations to the City. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.
For more local events check the Jersey City Independent cultural calendar.
FOOD
Meatless Mondays at 9th and Coles. Photo by Dan Haag
9th and Coles Tavern is offering “Meatless Monday” every week, which includes a 5 course dinner for $30. Chef Dan Haag prepares farm to table, seasonal, vegetarian meals every Monday. Most of the ingredients for the meals are sourced directly from the owners farm “GregTonia” located in the Catskills or from one the neighboring farms. Menus change weekly and are posted via their twitter and Facebook page. Reservation are required. For more information, visit 9thandcoles.com or call 201.839.5604.
Hamilton Pork is now open! Michael Gondevas and family (who also owns Hamilton Inn), took over the old Vespa storefront on 247 10th Street and opened a Texas-style barbecue, with a little Mexican flare. Hamilton Pork smokes all of their meats daily in house and the menu features brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, turkey, short rib and lamb belly. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
LOCAL BUSINESSES
Pole Position Raceway is offering one free race on its indoor kart tracks to those born on Monday, February 29. Leaplings are usually forced to celebrate their birthday on a different day so Pole Position Raceway is inviting those born on Leap Day to come celebrate on their actual birthday. The free race will be redeemable on their Super G tracks, which combines its two quarter-mile tracks into one half-mile track. For more information, visit polepositionraceway.com or call 201.333.RACE (7223).
Don’t forget the discounts offered by Another Man’s Treasure and Grove Street Bicycles through the end of February! See last week’s tip sheet for more details!
TIP OF THE WEEK
You use tension rods to hold up your shower curtains, but what about as a shoe rack? Organizing craft supplies? To hang plants? For more tips on creative ways to use tension rods (and reinvent small spaces!) check out apartmenttherapy.com.
Have a great tip to share with fellow readers? Shoot us an email and we might include it in our next Tip Sheet! Send your tips to info(at)jerseycityindependent.com.
