Tag Archives: Hudson County

General

Former Hudson County Resident Russel Kirk Dedicates Latest Album- To Journal Square, to the Journal Square Community

Russell Kirk's second album
New album by Russel Kirk dedicated to Journal Square community in Jersey City

Baltimore native and Jazz Saxophonist Russell Kirk compose a suite in four parts titled The Path Suite, referencing New Jersey’s train system, featured on his latest album, one he dedicated to the Journal Square community.  The album, Kirk’s second is titled To Journal Square and the name of his band – The Path, the pedigree ensemble that joins Kirk on this musical journey adds lyrical balance to each track, and Kirk unselfishly allows them to shine.   Among them are Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer/composer Terri Lyne Carrington, fusion guitarist Wayne Krantz, concert & film composer Jacob Yoffee on tenor Saxophone, the extraordinary Dontae Winslow on trumpet/vocals and Cuban export, award-winning keyboardist Aruán Ortiz.

 Kirk, who studied at Townson Unviersity and the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland left his home town immediately after graduating and began touring – he traveled with the USO and Indie pop rock singer/songwriter Jenny Boyle playing in a number of European countries, Africa and the Middle East and joined Gary Thomas, founder of jazz studies at Peabody, on tour in  Japan, before returning to work on his Masters at NYU.  While at NYU he met and played in essembles with John Scofield, Chris Potter, Kenny Werner and Lenny Pickett.  He was an adjunct faculty member in the Steinhardt Music School at NYU and headed a music outreach program for inner city youth in Harlem and the east Village.  It would begin his passion for bringing music to underserved communities which he continues to do through the OrchKids initiative in Baltimore.

Russell eventually moved from New York to Jersey City’s Journal Square Community and it was there during a difficult period in his career that he began to construct this current album. The vibrancy, diversity and hub nature of the community gave him inspiration.  He locked in on the rhythm of the community, captured the musicality in the energy that it gave off.  The album has a mashable construct, similar to the construct of the community he has dedicated it to. Continue reading Former Hudson County Resident Russel Kirk Dedicates Latest Album- To Journal Square, to the Journal Square Community →

Business Views, General, Hip New Stores

Tachair Bookshoppe -Jersey City’s new Go-To Spot for Book Lovers, Writers and Serious Coffee Drinkers

By Sally Deering

TACHAIR BOOK STORE PHOTO 1
Tachair Bookshoppe’s Carol and Aleta Valleau and Aleta’s son Paul inside their hip new book store.

 When they opened Tachair Bookshoppe last July, Carol Valleau and her daughter Aleta Valleau took a gamble that local book lovers wanted something more than downloading a book to their Kindles and Nooks. The mother/daughter booksellers gambled on the idea that book lovers want a place to browse new books, thumb through old classics and maybe read a chapter or two while sipping a fresh brewed coffee. It seems their gamble paid off – big time.

 “To have the ability to walk down the street and find a bookstore, it’s nearly impossible,” Carol Valleau says between trips to the counter to help customers with their purchases. “We’re the only book store in Jersey City.”

 “We’re an independent bookstore to the ‘T’,” Aleta Valleau says.

 Tachair Bookshoppe offers new and used fiction, non-fiction, biographies, textbooks, and a warm and friendly atmosphere to browse the shelves. There are tables, too, where you can grab a seat to read, relax and strike up a conversation.  The coffee is delicious too. Continue reading Tachair Bookshoppe -Jersey City’s new Go-To Spot for Book Lovers, Writers and Serious Coffee Drinkers →

Dining

Houlihan’s, Still Delicious After All These Years in Weehawken

By Sally Deering

Houlihan'spic2Houlihan’s restaurant has always been a big attraction on the Weehawken waterfront. Located in Lincoln Harbor with stunning views of the New York Skyline, Houlihan’s offers customers a hearty lunch and dinner menu, divine drinks and delish desserts and even though it’s been a Weehawken staple, the restaurant’s standards are as high as the day it opened.

The décor is cool and the atmosphere cozy with overstuffed booths and tables that give patrons enough space to hold a private conversation. The three-sided bar is large enough for groups to gather to watch their favorite games on the big HD TVs and the lighting, warm and relaxing.

houlihan'spic1 “We’re very customer-oriented,” general manager Keith Miller says. “Our goal is to make every customer a repeat customer. Regulars and repeat customers are the pulse of the restaurant.”

If the customers are the pulse, the food is Houlihan’s heart and soul. The cuisine is Asian, Italian and American-inspired. Everything is cooked to order and only fresh ingredients are used. Continue reading Houlihan’s, Still Delicious After All These Years in Weehawken →

In the News, Our Community

Jersey City Gun Buyback Saturday January 5th- NO QUESTIONS ASKED

JERSEY CITY SEAL LOGOJERSEY CITY – Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and Police Department officials announced the city will host another gun buyback from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church, 661 Montgomery Street. There, residents can turn in rifles for $100, handguns and automatic weapons for $150, respectively, with no questions asked.  Continue reading Jersey City Gun Buyback Saturday January 5th- NO QUESTIONS ASKED →

General

FEMA to Close Office In Bayonne on Saturday, December 29

        

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has advised the City of Bayonne that it will close the Disaster Recovery Center it has been operating at the Bayonne Community Museum, which is located at 9th Street and Broadway.  FEMA will have its last day at that location on Saturday, December 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.   After that date, Bayonne residents and property owners in need of a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Hudson County should go to either the Jersey City location at 350 Montgomery Street, or the Hoboken location, City Hall, at 94 Washington Street.  Those facilities will have half-days on New Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31, with hours from 9:00 a. m. to 1:00 p.m.  They will both be closed on New Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1, and will reopen with regular hours of 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2.

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Education, Health Views

Palisades Medical Center’s Releases Schedule of Upcoming Maternity Classes

maternity classes (North Bergen, NJ) – The following is a schedule of upcoming Maternity Classes at Palisades Medical Center.  To register or for more information, please call Robin Petrick at 201-295-4823.

 

Child Birth Classes – Cost is $125 per couple if delivering at PMC; $150 if delivering elsewhere. The more you understand about the process of labor, the better prepared you and your support partner will feel.  Classes include: understanding the labor process, breathing and relaxation techniques to work with your body, the role of the support person, options for pain medications and medical interventions, Caesarean birth, understand your changing body after birth, newborn appearance and procedures after birth. Continue reading Palisades Medical Center’s Releases Schedule of Upcoming Maternity Classes →

Our Community

Jersey City to Celebrate Kwanzaa

kawanzaaA weeklong celebration honoring the African heritage and culture

 

– Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and members of the Municipal Council, along with the Division of Cultural Affairs, will celebrate Kwanzaa from 6:00 p.m. through 9:00 p.m., tomorrow, Thursday, December 27, 2012 at the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center, at 140 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Continue reading Jersey City to Celebrate Kwanzaa →

Education

FRIAR FAMILY GIVES BACK-St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City

St. Anthony'sJersey City, NJ – December 19, 2012 – Saint Anthony High School, a small, Catholic school in Jersey City with the powerhouse basketball team, continues to foster Christian values inside and outside the classroom. While many St. Anthony High School families were affected by Hurricane Sandy – they were the first to step up, along with faculty and staff on several community outreach programs during the past two months.

Friar Food Drive: The annual Thanksgiving food drive was postponed when Hurricane Sandy closed the school for nine days, but that did not stop the students and faculty from resurrecting the Friar Food Drive in early December. Through their efforts – the students of St. Anthony High School collected over 500 pounds of non-perishable food items that will go to food banks who continue to support families who are displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Continue reading FRIAR FAMILY GIVES BACK-St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City →

General

HOBOKEN CHOIR BRINGS THE GIFT OF Cantigas’ Winter Concert

Features Music from Around Globe on Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

 

Hoboken Choir gives concert December 15, 2012 in Hoboken
CantigasChoirDec2011

Hoboken’s all-women community chorus, Cantigas Women’s Choir, presents its 11th annual winter concert entitled A GIFT FOR THE SEASON: Songs from Near and Far on Saturday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthew Trinity Church at 57 Eighth Street (at Hudson Street) in Hoboken, N.J. The suggestion donation for the concert is $15 ($5 for seniors and students).

“Our theme ‘A Gift for the Season’ was chosen well before Hurricane Sandy devastated our community,” says Joan Litman, Cantigas founder and director. “In light of all of the damage and loss Hoboken suffered, more than ever, music is truly a gift — and unites us by bringing hope and healing.” Continue reading HOBOKEN CHOIR BRINGS THE GIFT OF Cantigas’ Winter Concert →

Education, General

Hudson County Community College to Hold Gala Fundraiser on December 6

 PSE&G to receive the Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award at this year’s event.

Contact: Jennifer Christopher,  201-360-4061, [email protected]

November 29, 2012, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College Foundation will hold the largest and most festive of its annual fundraisers — the 15th Annual Holiday Gala — at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, December 6, 2012 at the HCCC Culinary Arts Institute/Conference Center ‑ 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City. Proceeds from the event are dedicated to scholarships for deserving students, faculty development programs, and the College’s physical expansion.

Hudson County Community College Vice President for Development Joseph Sansone said that PSE&G will be the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes organizations and individuals for their work on behalf of the College and the people of Hudson County. Continue reading Hudson County Community College to Hold Gala Fundraiser on December 6 →