Farmer's Markets Open in Jersey City

Ahhh, summer. Warm sunshine. The alluring smell of soothing ocean water. Fresh strawberries. Juicy watermelon. Grilled corn-on-the-cob. Yes, summer to me doesn’t just mean hot weather and beach getaways. It also means the arrival of some of my favorite in-season fruits and vegetables. What I really look forward to is the opening of local farmer’s markets. Not only can I get my hands on fresh produce, I get a chance to mingle with the farmers as well.

If you’re in the Jersey City area sometime this summer, stop by one of the markets shown below. If you’re nowhere near Jersey City, take some time to find out where and when your local markets take place. Make it a point to visit these markets and enjoy!

  • In Newport, on Pavonia Avenue near the PATH station, the market is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • The Hamilton Park market, at Eighth Street and Jersey Avenue, is open Wednesday from 2 to 7 p.m.
  • In Van Vorst Park, Jersey Avenue and Montgomery Street, there is a market on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Popularity: 30% [?]

Biggest Jersey City park in a century to be built?

The Jersey Journal reports that ambitious plans for a potential park got a big boost as Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise said his administration is recommending spending $3.2 million from the Open Space Trust to acquire the last 5.6 acres needed for the 13.6-acre Bergen-Lafayette tract.

If this project moves forward it would be the largest park to be developed in Jersey City in a century. There are still quite a few issues which need to be worked out before that can happen, though. I am hopeful that the remaining obstacles can be overcome. More open space is always welcome in an urban area.

Big park for Bergen-Lafayette [via The Jersey Journal]

Popularity: 33% [?]

Women's History Month Closing Celebration at NJCU

New Jersey City University will be presenting a Women’s History Month Closing Celebration. Here are the details:

  • Wednesday, March 28, 2007
  • 6:30-9:00PM
  • Ingalls Recital Hall ~ Rossey Building 101

Featuring “Carol Lester and the World Women”
Four Generations of Women Musicians From Three Continents Performing World Beats

Women Artists Speak About Their Experiences
Nathalie Pham, Doris Caicolo, Avani Patel, Vivian Warfield, Tara Thierry, Catarina Racha, Daphna ElRoy and Carol Lester

Refreshments will be served

This event is FREE and Open to the Public

This program is offered in conjunction with NJCU’s Women’s History Month. For further information please contact Renata Moreira at (201)200-2269 or Karen DeAngelis at (201) 200-3189

Popularity: 35% [?]

Artist Natalie Pham to lecture at NJCU

Visiting Artist, Nathalie Pham, will be giving a lecture about her work on Monday, March 5 at 5 p.m. at New Jersey City University’s Visual Arts Building auditorium. Her work can be viewed at her website, www.npham.com.

Recent Artist-in-Residence at the Newark Museum (NJ), Nathalie Pham received her MFA in sculpture from Parsons School of Design and her BFA from University of Missouri-Columbia (MU). After her undergraduate coursework, she worked as Dimitri Hadzi’s apprentice at Harvard University. Her sculptures have stood in many galleries and shows in the Tri-State area, including at the A.I.R. Gallery and alongside Leslie Dill in “Sacred Waterways” (both in New York
City). She is also principal of the Newark-based web-design firm, NPCreate, Inc.

Nathalie infuses her work with a freedom to choose materials and juxtapose them in unconventional ways—such as adding red wax stalactites, a drain, and a piece of casted meat into the drawers of an Asian lacquer bento box. These chimeras reflect a return to childlike wondering at objects, foods, colors, fashion, and architecture from our own mainstream commercialization and globalization and from various cultural traditions.

Popularity: 36% [?]

Free Bill Finnegan Tribute Concert at NJCU on March 5

There will be a free concert on Monday 3/5/07 at 7:30pm at New Jersey City University’s Margaret Williams Theatre honoring legendary arranger/composer Bill Finegan on his 90th birthday.

Mr. Finegan is best remembered for creating the sounds of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra. The concert will be performed by the Gotham Wind Symphony conducted by NJCU faculty member Mike Christianson and features music by Bill Finegan (including a new work that he’s writing for this occassion), Sauter-Finegan, Finegan’s students James Chirillo and Julie Cavadini, as well as Finegan’s teacher, Darius Milhaud. NJCU Faculty members Dr. Edward Joffe, Ron Janelli, Dan Willis, Pete McGuinness, and Joe Reardon will be performing as part of this Tribute.

Popularity: 44% [?]

Petition: Ask Clifton Police to Expand Search for Martin Espaillat

Martin Espaillat has been missing since Valentine’s Day, the day of the snowstorm in the New Jersey area. No leads have surfaced as of this writing.

A petition to be delivered to the Clifton Police Department aims to persuade the police to expand their search to include an area in Clifton known as “The Gates of Hell.” This area is a series of underground tunnels and hidden compartments. The petition itself reads as follows:

We, the undersigned, demand a full scale police led or warranted search of the no trespassing area known as “The Gates of Hell” and any surrounding areas in Clifton, NJ in search of Martin Espaillat.

Sign the petition

Popularity: 35% [?]

Martin Espaillat: Missing Since 2/14/07

Martin Espaillat was last seen on the morning of February 14th, 2007 on his way to the train station in Clifton, New Jersey. He would have been heading to work in Jersey City, New Jersey. Martin was wearing a black Northface coat with a hoodie. If you have seen him, or have any information please contact Mildred Espaillat at mildred@happyviper.com. You may also contact the Clifton or Jersey City Police Department at 973-470-5262.
*****************************************
Edgar, Martin’s cousin, has built a comprehensive website that lists Martin’s stats, has tons of more recent pictures, and even video and a description of what he was wearing the morning he disppeared.

Here is the website: http://happyviper.com/martin/

Thanks again, and please share this with everyone.

Here are some photos of Martin. Some of them are rather old and his style has changed through the years, but his face never changes.

Photo collage of Martin Espaillat

Popularity: 31% [?]

Jersey City cop arrested on domestic violence charge

Thomas Broderick, a Jersey City cop, was arrested while on duty after his wife filed a domestic violence complaint against him. I certainly don’t know the details of this particular case and I won’t judge this police officer as guilty since an investigation has not yet even begun.

Regardless of the guilt or innocence in this specific case, domestic violence unfortunately has become too commonplace. Teris Casco of Jersey City was beaten to death by her husband, Edward Casco. During one of my internships, I worked (somewhat indirectly) with battered women. Their stories were both horrifying and inspirational. Hearing so many stories, though, continues to sadden me to this day.

The single most memorable incident concerning domestic violence occurred when I was at the municipal court with a friend of mine whose husband was facing his own domestic violence charge. A police officer spoke with him casually and asked what he was charged with. After hearing the answer, his response was, “Oh, is that it? That’s not a real charge,” and the two of them shared a hearty laugh.

If Broderick is indeed guilty, hopefully his service in the police department does not shield him from the full scope of justice. If law enforcement officers don’t take domestic violence seriously, private citizens like Edward Casco won’t take it seriously. And victims like Teris will continue to suffer.

UPDATE: Just after posting, I ran into another article in which Gregory Bullock brought up to seven women home to repeatedly kick and attack his 7-month-pregnant girlfriend. One doesn’t have to go far to discover yet another incident of domestic violence. Not a “real” crime? Please.

Popularity: 34% [?]

$300 fine for driver who ran down baby

A Lodi driver convicted of running over and killing a North Bergen infant was fined a whopping $300. The child’s mother was obviously outraged with this outcome. The driver, though, also wasn’t happy with the sentence and plans to appeal.

I can only imagine the heartache this mother must be feeling. I don’t know the details about this case, but I can’t help but shake my head. If it is true that this driver wants to appeal the slap on a wrist and being convicted with driving without insurance for killing an infant, he should avoid looking at himself in the mirror the rest of his life. By driving without insurance, he already showed disregard for both the law and for the safety of himself and others. Running over a 14 month old, and instead of remorse, taking a stance of not deserving any sort of justice is simply reprehensible.

Maybe one day he will learn to be ashamed of himself.

$300 fine for driver who ran down baby [The Jersey Journal]

Popularity: 27% [?]


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