General

History Detective: Author and Historian Cynthia T. Harris Sees the Beauty – and Importance – of Dusty Old Pictures and Faded Yearbooks

   By Sally Deering

History Detective Cynthia Harris
Cynthia T. Harris

Imagine a collection of written documents that date back to 1629 before America was even a country, or a series of photos chronicling Jersey City life in the 40s and 50s? Then there’s the “Douglass Map of 1841” the first of a genre of maps of Jersey City depicting property owners and their land lots.  Cynthia T. Harris manages these treasures housed in the New Jersey Room of the Jersey City Free Public Library on Jersey Avenue in Jersey City. The New Jersey Room holds some of the most important documents in the history of New Jersey and specifically Hudson County and Harris its very own history detective.

As Manager of the New Jersey Room, Harris oversees the cataloguing – and deciphering – of documents and photographs housed in the archives on the top floor. There, Harris and her staff of librarians – John Beekman and Daniel Klein, library assistants and volunteers assist visitors, especially those researching  their family trees and searching for clues to events that are extremely personal to their lives. Continue reading History Detective: Author and Historian Cynthia T. Harris Sees the Beauty – and Importance – of Dusty Old Pictures and Faded Yearbooks →

Education

Sandra and Glenn D. Cunningham Foundation Announce Scholarship Winners

sandra and GlennJERSEY CITY – The annual scholarship winners for the Sandra and Glenn D. Cunningham Foundation were announced today as students look forward to the fall school semester.

A total of 15 students were selected as scholarship recipients for students heading to schools throughout the area such as St. Peter’s University and William Paterson college or as far away as West Virginia University  and Howard University in Washington D.C.  Of the group, eight (8) new students were selected as scholarship winners while seven (7) students were continued scholarship recipients.

“Each and every year we coordinate our efforts to ensure that the foundation lives ups to its founding ideals of assisting students through scholarships to realize their dreams of higher education,” said foundation president and co-founder Sandra Cunningham.

As one of the founding principles of the foundation, scholarship recipients will be paired with a mentor who is a professional of various backgrounds from the community. These mentors will serve as role models for the young students and also a sounding board for students needing guidance in these crucial phases of their lives.   Each scholarship winner will receive a check for $1,500 to help defray the cost of tuition. Continue reading Sandra and Glenn D. Cunningham Foundation Announce Scholarship Winners →

General

HCCC Plans Special Events for Current and Prospective Students Who Are Armed Forces Veterans


August 20th event will include assistance with tuition-free enrollment paperwork, benefits information and a barbecue for veterans and their families

 

 

hccc-logo300dpi Hudson County Community College (HCCC) will host a special “Veterans’ Welcome Day” event, specifically designed to meet the needs of veterans of the armed forces on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will take place at the College’s Culinary Arts Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City — just two blocks from the Journal Square PATH Transportation Center. The event will take place rain or shine.

“Veterans’ Welcome Day” is open to veterans who are currently students at HCCC, as well as those who are interested in becoming HCCC students or considering enrollment, and those who are newly enrolled as HCCC students. Veterans who attend the event will be able to receive assistance in applying for admission to the College (with HCCC application fees waived), and to learn about how they may take advantage of VA education benefits and mental health services as well as HCCC students’ services. The College will also provide a barbecue for veterans and their families. Continue reading HCCC Plans Special Events for Current and Prospective Students Who Are Armed Forces Veterans →

General, Our Community

Jersey City Gets New Public Safety Director James Shea

James Shea
James Shea
Photo by Steve Mack
Photo by Steve Mack

Mayor Fulop Appoints NYPD Deputy Chief James Shea as Public Safety Director  Concludes National Search Headed by Former NYPD/FDNY Commissioner Howard Safir

JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop today announced the appointment of NYPD Deputy Chief James Shea as the new Public Safety Director for Jersey City overseeing the Police and Fire Departments following an extensive national search.

James Shea
James Shea
Jersey City’s Public Safety Director
Photo by Steve Mack

Shea, who will reside in Jersey City, has most recently served as Deputy Chief of the NYPD responsible for the Youth and Gang Crime Division, focusing on the expansion and enhancement of the division and targeting a reduction in gang violence. Other recent assignments have included commanding some of the toughest areas,working on issues such as robberies, street crime and terrorism.

“Jersey City has been dealing with serious public safety issues for some time, which my administration is committed to addressing immediately,” said Mayor Fulop. “James has both the experience, knowledge, and management skills to implement real change as it relates to public safety and I am confident he will lead Jersey City on the right path toward reducing crime and making our city one of the safest mid-size cities in
America.” Continue reading Jersey City Gets New Public Safety Director James Shea →

General

Leasing Open at Laguna, Newport, Jersey City’s Newest Waterfront Property

Luxury Building Marks First Development Adjacent to Newport Green Park; Already 40% Leased

 Laguna 1Laguna 2  

 

Jersey City, NJ (July 15, 2013) – Laguna, the newest high-end residential property in the Newport neighborhood of Jersey City, is now available for renting. Already 40 percent leased, the 19-story Hudson River-waterfront building features 158 one, two and three-bedroom residences, ranging in size from 759 square feet to 2,015 square feet. The Laguna marks the first of the master-planned community’s final phase of development, which will surround the neighborhood’s award-winning 4.25-acre park, Newport Green.

“We broke the mold with the Laguna to create a product unique to existing offerings in Newport,” said Jamie LeFrak, principal at LeFrak. “We engaged a nationally-known design firm to add upscale finishes to every home and luxurious building amenities like a screening room and rooftop lounge. Paired with Laguna’s location next to the park, the building represents the 27-year evolution of our vision to transform the Jersey City waterfront into a thriving neighborhood with open green spaces and sidewalks full of residents and visitors.” Continue reading Leasing Open at Laguna, Newport, Jersey City’s Newest Waterfront Property →

General

Jersey City Police Department conducting DWI checkpoint to protect those who live and commute in Jersey City.

JERSEY CITY SEAL LOGOJERSEY CITY – As part of the efforts to curb drunk driving, underage drinking, and aggressive driving, law enforcement in Jersey City are dedicated to prevent and deter future fatalities on our city streets.  This weekend, the Jersey City Police Department will be conducting a DWI checkpoint to protect those who live and commute in Jersey City.  Allocations are provided through the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund.

Law enforcement officials will be evaluating drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment at certain points in roadways. Police officers will be targeting impaired driving by observing moving violations such as no seatbelt, reckless driving, speeding, aggressive driving, and cell phone use.

The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety has funded the Department through grant funds to select July as the designated month for specifically targeting speeding and aggressive driving.  Police officers will be using radar to detect motorists who are speeding and exhibiting other aggressive driving behaviors on city streets.  Currently, there are approximately 50 police officers trained as radar operators in the Police Department. Continue reading Jersey City Police Department conducting DWI checkpoint to protect those who live and commute in Jersey City. →

Our Community

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop Appoints Jim McGreevey to Serve as the Executive Director of the Jersey City Employment and Training Commission

 

JERSEY CITY SEAL LOGOJERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop today announced the appointment of Jim McGreevey to serve as the Executive Director of the Jersey City Employment & Training Commission.

The Commission is charged with the responsibility of overseeing workforce training in the city, linking training with job creation, and identifying job opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed. McGreevey will also be responsible for working with the business community, local colleges and universities, labor unions and non-profits to identify potential job opportunities and skilled training.

“Governor McGreevey has worked hands-on with the inmate population and with re-entry programs and will be a valuable asset to us as we develop a re-entry program for Jersey City,”said Mayor Fulop.  “We are fortunate to have such a distinguished and knowledgeable individual to lead what is one of the most critical positions – that of job creation and workforce development. I look forward to working with Governor McGreevey on providing more job opportunities for all of our residents.” Continue reading Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop Appoints Jim McGreevey to Serve as the Executive Director of the Jersey City Employment and Training Commission →

General

10 Days into Office Mayor Fulop Sees Culture in City Hall & Vows to Change via No Tolerance Policy

Pursues Another Termination of Employment for Latest Infraction & Will Install GPS Systems in City Vehicles

 

Mayor Steven M. Fulop address the attendance at his Ignaugural

JERSEY CITY – With only ten days into office, Mayor Steven M. Fulop is quickly learning and aggressively pushing to change the culture of City Hall employees with termination charges for any employee violating policy and breaking the law.

Last week, Jersey City Police Detective William Kallert was charged with DWI and was immediately suspended without pay after he was found intoxicated in an unmarked police vehicle he was not authorized to use after hours.  This was followed by yesterday’s incident in which a DPW manager was arrested on charges of soliciting a prostitute while in a city vehicle he was also not authorized to use after work hours.

The employee, George Reyes, is facing termination as a result of the arrest.

“This is the second time in just one week that a city employee has committed a crime while using a city vehicle without authorization, which speaks to the pervasive culture of abuse that has been allowed to exist in Jersey City,” said Mayor Fulop.  “This is unacceptable and we are going to root out this type of behavior and put an end to it.  We will not tolerate this.”  Continue reading 10 Days into Office Mayor Fulop Sees Culture in City Hall & Vows to Change via No Tolerance Policy →

Our Community

Jersey City’s Mayor Fulop Releases 155 -Page Transition Report

Most Comprehensive Review Conducted During a Transition in Jersey City;

Roadmap Outlined for Moving City Forward

JERSEY CITY SEAL LOGOJERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop today released the 155-page report issued by the Transition Team that details the current state of Jersey’s City’s municipal government, identifies the significant issues, and lays a roadmap for correcting many of the longstanding problems.

A link to the complete transition report can be found at:

http://www.jerseycitynj.gov/uploadedFiles/City_Government/Office_of_the_Mayor/Transition%20Report.pdf

“The transition team spent four weeks collecting and reviewing information, as well as best practices and models for municipalities, to determine what are the issues facing Jersey City and what can guide us as we develop long-overdue solutions,” said Mayor Fulop.  “I hope the public takes an opportunity to review these findings as much time and effort was invested and we view this as a positive process toward moving Jersey City forward.” Continue reading Jersey City’s Mayor Fulop Releases 155 -Page Transition Report →

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