RNA Newsletter April 2013

Membership dues and donations help sustain the RNA. Annual dues are $10. Please contribute at an RNA meeting or make checks payable to
Riverview Neighborhood Association and mail c/o RNA, 154 Ogden Ave., 3E, Jersey City, NJ 07307.

Greetings!

Please join us this Tuesday, April 9th at our regular monthly meeting at the Harbor View Health Center, 178 Ogden Ave (corner of Franklin), 1st Floor Cafeteria at 7:30PM. Donations of an unopened toiletry item for St. Lucy's Shelter will be accepted at this meeting.

Rock for the Park!

Damage from Super Storm Sandy took a toll on Riverview-Fisk Park. In addition to the loss of our gazebo, there was significant damage to the trees and surroundings.

RNA will host a benefit concert, Rock for the Park, on Friday, May 10th at 7PM at The Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre featuring Aminal, Life Eaters, The Aster Pheonyx Project (People's Choice Award winner at the Hoboken Music Awards) and Rye Coalition. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased by visiting riverview.brownpapertickets.com or calling 1-800-838-3006. Additional donations (whether you buy a ticket or not) can also be made through Brown Paper Tickets.

We will also be holding a silent auction featuring products, services, and artwork from area establishments and local artists. If you can provide a silent auction item, please contact us at [email protected]. Beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks will be served.

RNA is a 501(c)3 non-profit and donations are eligible for corporate matching funds. Please invite your friends, promote this event, and help us raise the money to restore the gazebo (in addition to FEMA resources) and make other needed repairs in Riverview-Fisk Park.

Construction Notices!

New York Ave (Ravine Road) will close for construction/renovation on April 8th. Ravine connects the Heights to Hoboken (by the Galaxy recycling plant). The renovation will widen the road at the curve, remove the "dip" and improve sidewalks, lighting and landscaping. The road will be closed for the duration of the project. The contract runs for 9 months but it is in the best interest of the contractor to finish as quickly as possible.

The 100 Steps project is also slated to start on or about April 8th along Mountain Road (base of Franklin/Hope St and connects to Paterson Plank Road). There are no expected road closures next week but there will be some during construction (we will have about 2 days notice on these). Pedestrian access is to remain open with few exceptions.

With construction, everything is subject to change. We will post construction schedule updates on our Facebook page. Please like our page or check it frequently (it is public) for updates.

Help Us Make Our Neighborhood Sustainable

At this month's regular membership meeting on April 9th, we will discuss actions we can take to improve the sustainability of our community. We will discuss upcoming cleanups, including The Big Spring Cleanup, hear about Ogden's End Community Garden and Riverview Community Garden as well hear plans for this summer's Riverview Farmers Market (operated by Farms in the Heights). Our guests will include Mo Kinberg from Farms in the Heights and representatives from the community gardens. Please be sure to come out and hear about these activities and discuss ways we can clean up and improve our neighborhood. The regular meeting is Tuesday, April 9th at 7:30PM at the Harborview Health Center, 178 Ogden (at Franklin) 1st Fl. Cafeteria. Representatives from Mayor's Action Bureau and the JCPD will be in attendance.

Jersey City Heights At-Large Candidate Forum Slated for April 18th

A coalition of Jersey City Heights organizations invite you to attend The Heights At-Large Candidate Forum on April 18th, from 6:45PM to 9PM at the Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, located at 167 Hancock Avenue, Jersey City.

Non-partisan organizers include the Riverview Neighborhood Association, Inc., Washington Park Association of Hudson County, Inc., PS 8 Neighborhood Block Association, Heights Hope Neighborhood Association, Heights Community Relations Council, Pershing Field Garden Friends, Nelson Avenue Block Association, Farms in the Heights, Riverview Community Garden, AARP Chapter 5102, and local news organization The Jersey City Independent.

There are eight certified candidates vying for the three At-Large seats on the City Council. The at-large councilmembers represent all Jersey City residents while Ward Council members represent the interests of their Ward. Due to the large number of At-Large and Ward candidates (RNA boundaries include both Ward C&D), the organizers have decided to hold only an At-Large Forum this year because all residents can vote for them (only Ward residents can vote for a Ward candidate) and they represent three votes on any issue.

Candidates that are certified by the clerk's office and RSVP to the organizers invitation by April 11th are eligible to participate. As of April 5th, Joyce Watterman, Rolando Lavarro, Jr., Sean Connolly, Ray Regalado and Daniel Rivera have agreed to participate and Viola Richardson sent her regrets. They will address issues that Heights residents have raised related to transportation, quality of life, parks and open space, budget and taxes, zoning, planning, economic development, and education. After the question and answer period, each candidate will be given the opportunity to make a brief closing statement.

The Forum will be moderated by local attorney Craig Hanlon and consist of a question-and-answer format. Questions have been developed by the organizers and audience questions can be submitted at the beginning of the Forum (index cards will be provided) for inclusion as time permits.

For more information about the Jersey City Heights At-Large Forum, or if you are a candidate certified by the Clerk's Office and wish to participate, RSVP to Becky Hoffman at 201-876-1980 or email her at [email protected].

Gazebo Design Challenge

RNA is sponsoring The Gazebo Restoration Design Challenge and there is still time to participate. We invite architects, engineers, artists, and other interested parties to submit concept designs for the new Gazebo by April 29th. The gazebo may well be considered the primary Heights neighborhood landmark. The location of the park (Ogden & Palisade Aves between Griffith & Bowers Streets in Jersey City) and the raised gazebo platform on this sloping Palisade site provides a spectacular view of the New York skyline and Hudson River waterfront. The loss of the roof and guardrails provides a unique opportunity for the Heights neighborhood to redesign the gazebo and how it is utilized.

At an RNA membership meeting this winter, local architect and Heights resident, Lee Levine, led us through a visioning session to establish design goals for the new gazebo. These goals have been incorporated into the Design Challenge parameters. RNA will have the responsibility for receiving the submissions and establishing the judges. As a result of that forum with Heights residents we are confident that a solid understanding has been secured for the gazebo program and the identification of other park concerns and future goals. Once a winner, or winners, have been selected it may be necessary to undertake additional fund raising.

Design submissions shall be reviewed by the Challenge Committee and the Chief Landscape Architect of Jersey City. There is no monetary award for the winning design, however the winner will have the opportunity to consult with the office of Brian Weller during the development of the design and construction documents in an effort to insure that the integrity of the selected scheme, or schemes, is maintained.

Download the following documents/files for full information:

Design Challenge Document

AutoCad File

RNA's Big Spring Cleanup: April 20th

RNA will host the 2nd Annual Big Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 20th from 10AM to 3PM in Riverview-Fisk Park. If you are ready to get clear out your old electronics, half-used cans of oil paint, worn out car tires or that couch you no longer use, then the Heights Big Spring Cleanup is for you! New this year: get rid of your expired prescriptions.

Come to Riverview-Fisk Park (Palisade Ave by Griffith & Bowers St) anytime between 10AM-3PM and drop off these items into the appropriately marked receptacles or trucks (along Ogden Ave).

RNA and our cleanup committee have joined forces with the Jersey City Incinerator Authority and the Salvation Army to collect your e-waste, hazardous waste, tires, gently used furniture and clothing and recyclables. Please review the following lists of what we can and cannot accept.

We will accept:

E-Waste (TVs, PCs, fax machines, printers, cell phones, other electronics)
Hazardous waste: oil-based paint, motor oil, antifreeze (5 gallon limit per person, proof of residency required)
Leaves/dirt (in JCIA-provided paper bags only)
Mixed recyclables
Tires (First 4 car tires are free. $3 for each additional car tire, $10 for each truck tire. Proof of residency required.)
Donations of furniture, clothing and other gently used items in good condition for the Salvation Army (no missing parts/pieces)
Other worn-out household items
Expired prescriptions (non-narcotic) in conjunction with the DEA and the JCPD.

We cannot accept:

Refrigerators, air conditioners or items with CFCs (however, the JCIA will pick them up from you Monday-Friday 9AM-4PM if you schedule a pickup by calling 201-432-4645 x600)
Construction Materials or Commercial trash

This is your opportunity to spiff up the house (without a trip to Rt 440!) and learn from representatives from the JCIA how to get rid of these items the rest of the year. For more information and to help promote the event, download our flyer

or visit our website.

RNA's Cleanup Committee will also be holding a park and neighborhood cleanup from 9A-11AM. Please dress appropriately. Limited tools and gloves will be available and we will provide bags for garbage and recyclables.

Please note there will be no parking on Ogden Ave between Griffith & Bowers on April 20th from 8AM-5PM to make room for the dumpsters and to allow for safe drop off of materials. Please move your vehicles early to avoid towing.

Local Business Profile: La Faraona Grocery Store

La Faraona Grocery Store on 353 Palisade Avenue,
between Franklin and Ferry Streets

Rosa Siri and Simon Nunez, owners of the La Faraona Grocery Store

by Rafal Rogoza

If you're in need of groceries, household goods, or even some good business advice, consider stopping by the La Faraona Grocery Store on 353 Palisade Avenue. In business for over 18 years, this spacious and often lively shop is a model of a family-run successful small business.

"We try to treat people well so they feel comfortable," answered owner Rosa Siri, 41, when asked how she managed to stay in business for so long. Siri and her husband, Simon Nunez, learned a few things about business management from their uncle who sold them the grocery store before moving to the Dominican Republic.

The shop, with its yellow facade and slew of goods such as fresh fruit, newspapers, and fresh coffee, has helped the Ogden Avenue couple support their three children.

"We feel like part of the community, we feel proud of what we do," said Siri, adding, "We depend on the community."

Inside La Faraona Grocery Store you'll find freshly made deli sandwiches, an ATM machine, and even some Latino treats like flan, queso de frier, and crema de leche. There are also plenty of bathroom goods, pet care items, and all the spices and herbs you'll need if you plan on doing some cooking.

But most importantly, you'll be greeted with that friendly service which the staff at La Faraona Grocery Store have perfected over the years.

"We do the best we can to make people happy," Siri noted. Store hours are
6:30AM to 10PM Monday through Saturday, and 7:30AM to 8PM on Sunday.

Tea Tasting and Dessert Potluck

RNA's Taste of the Heights committee is hosting a tea tasting where guests can learn about and sample specially blended teas. Bring a small dessert to pair with the tea.

Please email [email protected] to RSVP. Maximum 12 guests. $10/guest.

RNA Volunteer Opportunities

RNA is run solely by volunteers and we need everyone's help to keep our group strong. Some simple ways you can contribute:

Share an RNA post on Facebook.
Check out a Clean-up Committee Meeting. (4/8, 7:30pm, Trolley Car Bar)
Attend a community clean-up. (4/14, 10am at Palisade and Bowers)
Ask a business or your employer to sponsor Rock for the Park (5/10).
Help plan a JC Friday event for June.

Don't forget to pay your annual dues!

We sent out an annual dues letter a few weeks back. Please take a moment to pay your dues via check or send to [email protected] via PayPal. Thank you.

Becky Hoffman
Riverview Neighborhood Association