Jersey City’s Eddie Harris shoots STEPS,an Indie film about One Man’s Quest for Love and Redemption  

THE RIGHT STEPS

By Sally Deering

Shooting movies in Jersey City STEPS
The STEPS Clapboard used on location in Jersey City to film the movie STEPS

Eddie Harris grew up in Jersey City and as a writer and filmmaker he sometimes looks to his neighborhood for inspiration. Harris found it one day when he noticed a young man in a wheelchair, who had become partially paralyzed from an altercation after years of hustling on the streets. When Harris wondered how a person could rise above that kind of life-changing experience, he took to his computer and began writing STEPS, his new movie now being filmed on locations throughout Jersey City.

STEPS the movie being filmed in Jersey City
STEPS writer Ed Harris, second from right, watches his movie filmed with producer Michael Baumgartner , both of Jersey City

“The movie is about redemption, recovery, forgiveness and love,” Harris says, as he heads to a baseball field in the Lafayette section of Jersey City where the crew is filming. “It’s about a guy who sets out to be the next Johnny Cochran but his life takes a terrible turn. He spirals downward into alcohol and loses everything until a street pastor reaches out to him. It’s a Jersey City story anybody can relate to, an uplifting story.” Continue reading  Jersey City’s Eddie Harris shoots STEPS,an Indie film about One Man’s Quest for Love and Redemption  

Bayonne Bridge Construction Update

Bayonne Bridge Construction Updates River View ObserverBayonne  Mayor Jimmy Davis recently  announced that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has provided new information about the latest developments in the Bayonne Bridge construction project.

The gantry continues to undergo load and performance testing.  The gantry is tentatively scheduled to begin setting segments of the bridge this month.  Continue reading Bayonne Bridge Construction Update

City of Jersey City Announces Plan for 95-Story Building Tallest in New Jersey

Building will  be New Jersey’s Tallest as Fulop Administration Continues to Develop a World Class Skyline

 Most Significant Condo Project in State’s History Speaks to Strength of Jersey City Housing Market and Fulop Administration’s Success at Creating Record Construction Boom

Jersey City Skyline as seen from New York River View Observer   JERSEY CITY – Already home to seven of the state’s ten tallest buildings, the City of Jersey City today announced an ambitious plan for a 95-story residential tower that at 950 feet would be “by far the tallest building in New Jersey, dramatically remaking the Jersey City skyline,” according to Mayor Steven M. Fulop. Continue reading City of Jersey City Announces Plan for 95-Story Building Tallest in New Jersey

The Top 25 Most ‘Emotionally Recharged’ U.S. States for 2015- New Jersey Ranked 8th, New York Ranked 21st

Refresh, renew your life NJ ranks 8th, New York ranks 21stWith many Americans making New Year's resolutions to feel better and avoid burnout in 2015, a new national survey revealed that "New Jersey is ranked the 8th and  "New York is ranked the #21 "Most 'Emotionally Recharged' U.S. states for 2015, according to the Lantern Emotional Balance Index."

To create this ranking, Lantern [www.golantern.com] -- a groundbreaking online and mobile tool for evaluating your mind health -- surveyed 3,000 Americans to determine how frequently respondents are taking action to renew, refresh, and recharge their emotional well-being.

Based on a survey period from Dec. 26 to Jan. 9, more "emotionally recharged" U.S. states have residents who regularly learn something new, share a moment of closeness with a loved one, have a meaningful conversation with a friend, do a good deed for someone else, or engage in other activities that help them truly rest, recharge, and unwind:

***  The Lantern Emotional Balance Index  ***

The Top 25 Most 'Emotionally Recharged' U.S. States for 2015

#1:  New Hampshire (75% of residents are emotionally recharged)
#2:  Indiana (73%)
#3:  Louisiana (71%)
#4:  Kansas (69%)
#5:  Arkansas (68%)
#6:  Nevada (67%)
#7:  Georgia (66%)
#8:  New Jersey (65%)
#9:  Rhode Island (65%)
#10: Oklahoma (65%)
#11: Maine (64%)
#12: Maryland (64%)
#13: South Carolina (63%)
#14: Florida (62%)
#15: Connecticut (61%)
#16: Michigan (61%)
#17: Virginia (60%)
#18: Oregon (60%)
#19: Colorado (59%)
#20: Mississippi (59%)
#21: New York (58%)
#22: Illinois (58%)
#23: Kentucky (58%)
#24: Iowa (58%)
#25: Tennessee (57%)

NOTE:  Shown in parentheses are the average number of state residents who have engaged in emotionally recharging activities within the past two weeks.

 The Top 25 Least 'Emotionally Recharged' States for 2015

#1:  Utah (40% of residents are emotionally recharged)
#2:  Texas (41%)
#3:  Alaska (42%)
#4:  Arizona (43%)
#5:  South Dakota (43%)
#6:  Wyoming (44%)
#7:  Massachusetts (44%)
#8:  Washington (45%)
#9:  Nebraska (46%)
#10: Vermont (46%)
#11: Alabama (46%)
#12: Delaware (47%)
#13: New Mexico (49%)
#14: Hawaii (49%)
#15: Montana (50%)
#16: West Virginia (50%)
#17: Missouri (51%)
#18: North Dakota (51%)
#19: Pennsylvania (52%)
#20: North Carolina (52%)
#21: Minnesota (53%)
#22: Idaho (53%)
#23: Wisconsin (54%)
#24: Ohio (54%)
#25: California (55%)


For residents of any state who are not feeling as emotionally recharged as they would like, Lantern [www.golantern.com] offers a free online assessment that evaluates your overall emotional well-being, tells you where you need to improve, and then matches you up with a trained professional to guide you through personalized daily exercises on your smartphone. 

For more details on these fascinating survey results as well as the life-changing Lantern app, I'm happy to arrange an interview with Lantern CEO Alejandro Foung -- an expert in using advanced technology to support mental health.

Alejandro is available for in-person (San Francisco and New York), phone, email, and Skype interviews from Jan. 20 to Jan. 30.

Also, if you're interested in a guest article or blog post from Alejandro on the survey results and how technological tools can help reduce stress and anxiety, please let me know as well.

Continue reading The Top 25 Most ‘Emotionally Recharged’ U.S. States for 2015- New Jersey Ranked 8th, New York Ranked 21st

Rising Tide Capital Graduates 146 Entrepreneurs from its Community Business Academy

146 CBA graduates join an alumni network of 968 Rising Tide Entrepreneurs throughout New Jersey
January 19, 2015 (Jersey City) — Of the approximately 800,000 businesses in New Jersey, 700,000 are microbusinesses with five or less employees. Microbusinesses not only provide jobs for the entrepreneurs who establish them, but they also contribute to the local tax base, directly impacting the quality of life in their communities.  Last Thursday, Rising Tide Capital, a Jersey City nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs to start businesses in underserved communities,  graduated 146 entrepreneurs from its nationally-recognized Community Business Academy.

Continue reading Rising Tide Capital Graduates 146 Entrepreneurs from its Community Business Academy

GOT CLASS? Baking, Painting, Tennis… Classes in Hudson to help Beat those Winter Blues  

By Sally Deering

Classes in Jersey City to learn Tennis River View Observer  Winter has arrived and that means spending more time at home, but if you find yourself burning up with cabin fever, then why not lace up your boots, brave that cold and take a class.

Here in Hudson, several towns offer classes and workshops in painting, photography, tennis, ice skating, even beer-making. Here’s a sampling to stimulate your mind and soul during these next few months of frigid temps. Enjoy!

Art classes in Jersey City River View Observer PAINT & PHOTOGRAPH

Take classes in drawing, oil painting and photography at JC Art School

1 McWilliams Pl, JC

(201) 721-6185

www.jcartschool.com

It’s never too late to express yourself with paint, brush and canvas; or to learn to take better photos. JC Art School offers classes in January and February that include beginner and intermediate drawing and oil painting; beginner acrylic painting; experimental figure drawing; and digital photography. Continue reading GOT CLASS? Baking, Painting, Tennis… Classes in Hudson to help Beat those Winter Blues  

OSCAR NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR 2015

The nominees for the 87th annual Academy Awards Nominees for the 87th Academy Awards Announced

Best Picture

“The Grand Budapest Hotel”

“Selma”
“Whiplash”
“American Sniper”
“The Imitation Game”
“Boyhood”
“Birdman”
“The Theory of Everything”

Best Actress

Marion Cotillard, “Two Days, One Night”
Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
Reese Witherspoon, “Wild”
Felicity Jones, “The Theory of Everything”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”

Steve Carell, “Foxcatcher”

Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”
Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper”

Best Supporting Actress

Meryl Streep, “Into the Woods”
Laura Dern, “Wild”
Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Emma Stone, “Birdman”
Keira Knightley, “The Imitation Game”

Best Supporting Actor

Mark Ruffalo, “Foxcatcher”
Ethan Hawke, “Boyhood”
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”
Robert Duvall, “The Judge”
Edward Norton, “Birdman”

Best Director

Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
Alejandro González Iñárritu, “Birdman”
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Morten Tyldum, “The Imitation Game”
Bennett Miller, “Foxcatcher”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ice Theater of New York Hits the Ice in Jersey City: Star-Studded Performance at Newport Skates

A special presentation at Newport Skates by Ice Theater New YorkOn Monday, 1/19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), Newport Skates will be hosting an exclusive figure skating performance by world-renowned skaters including Jessica Huot and Christian Erwin. At 3:30 pm Jessica Huot, six-time Finnish National Ice Dance champion, and Christian Erwin, three-time USA Nationals competitor, will perform a specially choreographed duet to “Feeling Good” by Michael Bublé.  The duo will also perform alongside a group of figure skating champions from Ice Theatre of New York.

Jersey City's Newport Skates Ice RinkNewport Skates is the only outdoor, uncovered ice skating rink in Jersey City, located at 95 River Drive, Jersey City 07310. I’m sending you the info now in hopes you’ll share it with your readers and consider attending for coverage too!

 

Hudson County Community College Center for Business & Industry Conducts Culinary Training at Hudson County Correctional Center

Unique and successful program affords inmates for-credit instruction in three non-kitchen culinary courses.

Logo for Hudson County Community College January 8, 2015, Jersey City, NJ – One out of every four adults in the United States has a conviction history. Each year, more than 700,000 U.S. men and women are released from prisons, and most struggle to start a new way of life. The obvious discrimination that accompanies a conviction record is one enormous barrier to former inmates’ successful return to their communities. However, most often these individuals lack the education and skills necessary for meaningful employment.

Continue reading Hudson County Community College Center for Business & Industry Conducts Culinary Training at Hudson County Correctional Center