By Sally Deering

Thereâ€s an old saying, “write what you know” and for music writer Jim Testa of Weehawken, the words fit like an old pair of jeans. Testa writes the music column CONSTANT LISTENER for The Jersey Journal and has covered the rock and roll music scene since the 1980s, when Maxwellâ€s was the go-to club to see new bands and local indie labels produced their records. Testa wrote about bands when they were still unknowns, offering insightful commentary about their work in his weekly column. Like Chicago-based music writer Jim DeRogotis (who is from Jersey City and worked as a reporter for several local papers) Testa continues to be an important voice covering todayâ€s music scene.

Testaâ€s career in music sways from writing to performing. A guitarist, Testaâ€s played in bands since his teen years. These days, he performs locally and recently recorded a new EP at Mama Cocoâ€s Funky Kitchen in Bushwick, five songs he wrote – political songs like those of Phil Ochs, witty tunes evoking Tom Lehrer, and love songs, too. The EP, AMERICAN SPIRITS AND ARTISANAL CHEESE, can be purchased online at Jimtesta.bandcamp.com.

A few hours before his recent performance at McGinley Square Pub in Jersey City, Testa took a few minutes to talk with River View Observer about growing up here in Hudson, his take on todayâ€s music scene and new EP.

RVO: Where were you born and raised? Schools attended?
JT: I was born and raised in Weehawken and attended Rutgers. I earned a BA in Mass Communication. Thatâ€s what they called journalism back then.

RVO: How did your column Jersey Beat come about?
JT: Back in 1980, I was hanging out in Maxwellâ€s and I started writing for my friends†music publications, Fanzines. I published Jersey Beat out of my house and gave it away for free. I was in a band, The Love Pushers; Jim DeRogotis was our drummer. I got to be known as the guy who knows Jersey music.

RVO: Did Jersey Beat lead to your Jersey Journal column Constant Listener?
JT: Yes. The first Constant Listener which started back in the 90s was everything I wanted to write about. I covered U2 and Springsteen concerts. I took a couple years off and (the Jersey Journal) got back in touch. They were looking for an online column; the column Iâ€m doing now. Itâ€s strictly local – Hoboken, Jersey City — which is a blessing.

RVO: How would you describe the local music scene?
JT: When it comes to Jersey City everyone has to take off their hats and salute Tony Susco of Rock-It Docket. He books the shows at Harsimus Cemetery. Heâ€s involved with the local clubs. Heâ€s so important. Thereâ€s more energy here in Jersey City than there has been for a long time. For a while there were two bars you could play in. Now itâ€s just so much better, so much more encouraging for the bands. You walk around downtown Jersey City, it feels like youâ€re walking around Williamsburg (Brooklyn) ten years ago. The music scene in Hoboken; itâ€s a very different demographic. Itâ€s hard to live in Hoboken. There isnâ€t much affordable housing, not like back in the 80s when the entire city was dirt cheap and you could get an apartment for 90 bucks a month. The Bongos and Yo La Tengo lived in Hoboken. Thereâ€s definitely still a music scene, and people who live there, and who date back to the old music scene. Hobokenâ€s a very different demographic these days, On Washington Street, all you see are baby strollers. It once was bars with sawdust and spittoons. Hoboken in the 80s was a lot more like Hoboken of the 30s, then it is with 2016.

RVO: When did you start playing music?
JT: When I was a kid I played sax from 5th grade all the way through high school. I played in the school orchestra and marching band. I taught myself guitar in college and played a little guitar in Love Pushers. I took a long time off and focused on writing until about 2000. Then I got the itch and started playing as a singer-songwriter. I did an October concert after/ 9/11; a few people saw me there. Since then I put out two records in 2003 and 2004, I released a few garage band demos. I donâ€t pursue it full-time, but Iâ€ve been fooling around and playing gigs.

RVO: How would you describe your musical style?
JT: Iâ€m a big fan of Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan. Phil Ochs†motto was ‘all that moves is fit to singâ€. He wrote a lot of contemporary protest songs about civil rights and politics. Another singer-songwriter I like is Tom Lehrer. Like Lehrer, I try to entertain you while I make my political point.

RVO: Can you tell our readers about your new EP, American Spirits and Artisanal Cheese?
JT: I recorded it at Mama Cocoâ€s Funky Kitchen in Brooklyn, a studio run by Oliver Ignatius, whoâ€s in his mid-20s. He built the studio from scratch, I became friends with him and he made a huge difference on the EP. He produced the whole thing, a lot of the reasons it sounds as great as it does is because of Oliver. The first song on the record is No Punk Rock in Bushwick, a reflection of a lot of music I saw. Then thereâ€s Hereâ€s to the State of New Jersey, a political song about Chris Christie. It was inspired by Bridgegate, before Christie announced he was running for President.

Iâ€d Like to Be a Christian is another political song I wrote about right-wing Christianity, and the hypocrisy that breeds hate and intolerance. Two sentimental pieces: St. Markâ€s Place, about the changing face of New York City, and how St. Markâ€s Place has changed so much; and, a song, Sinatra on the Stereo, which is me remembering when I was growing up, and my father playing his records on Sunday after church and before our big Sunday dinner. It was the first music I was really exposed to music; then I started buying records on my own. One more song, Mr. Trump Youâ€re Fired, is a punk rock song with electric guitar, and with the band The Dreggs. Itâ€s got this sort of Chuck Berry riff, me telling Trump the things I think are wrong with him.

RVO: Whatâ€s in the future? A book?
JT: I would love to collate all the interviews I did. I interviewed so many great bands, and thereâ€s a lot of great artwork.

RVO: How can someone get your music; see you perform?
JT: You can buy my EP at jimtesta.bandcamp.com. The record is $5. Iâ€ll be performing on April 23 at Mama Coco in Brooklyn where I recorded the EP. Iâ€m like everybody else, just trying to hold the middle together while the ends fall apart.

Jim Testa Perform
Sat, April 23
Mama Cocoâ€s Funky Kitchen
23 Meadow Street,
Bushwick, Brooklyn
mamacocosfunkykitchen@gmail.com

To purchase EP
Native Americans and Artisanal Cheese
www.Jimtesta.bandcamp.com

For more info
www.jerseybeat.com
Facebook.com/Jim Testa

The post WRITER’S ROCK Weehawken Music Writer Jim Testa on Hudson’s Music Scene first appeared on River View Observer.

The Everything Jersey City Festival will Celebrate Community Pride and UEZ Support at a Time when Budget Cuts Loom

By Sally Deering

 If you don’t know by now, one-third of Jersey City is a designated Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ\) a designation that offers local businesses tax and other financial incentives to help grow their businesses and stimulate local economy.  Sale tax revenues generated by UEZ businesses go for economic development and neighborhood improvements like street lights, paving, flowerboxes — and other programs that give constituents a feeling of pride in their community.

To celebrate the UEZ’s success revitalizing the Heights section of Jersey City – the neighborhood nestled on the cliff above Hoboken – the Central Avenue Special Improvement District (CASID) Management Corporation presents the Everything Jersey City Festival which takes place Sat., May 21st from 11 am-to-6 pm along Central Avenue from Congress to Hutton Streets.

The Festival will feature four stages with live entertainment including Queen of Freestyle Judy Torres who has made Jersey City her home for the past 16 years, has recorded numerous CDs and is an on-air personality on WKTU radio. Torres sings Freestyle, a form of dance music with a Latin influence that became popular in the late 1980s and early 90s and her hits include “No Reason to Cry,” and “Come into my Arms.” Torres performs nation-wide and just returned from a show at the Continental Airlines Arena in Miami. She has a huge local fan base and she’s excited to be bringing her show live to her Jersey City fans for a second year.

 “This is home,” Torres says. “Two weeks ago I performed at Michael Anthony’s on the waterfront; I performed at Pershing Field. There aren’t too many places in Jersey City to perform. When I did the Everything Jersey City Festival two years ago, we had a great crowd. It was a lot of fun It’s very nice to see people in the area coming out to have a good time. It’s a wonderful community celebration.”

Central Avenue will be lined with tables and tents featuring local artists showing (and selling) their work, vendors selling foods and crafts and of course, goodies from the eateries and stores that line Central Avenue. Arts groups like Pro Arts Jersey City, a non-profit community arts group that sponsors the annual Jersey City Studio Tour and Art House Productions, a 2,000-member multi-arts non-profit group are participating and several community organizations will present interactive demonstrations. Activities for kids will include a rock climbing wall, petting zoo, obstacle course, moonwalk and super slide. And for bargain-hunters, CASID has something very special planned: a huge one day sale among Central Avenue businesses (jewelry, clothing, shoes, furniture,) on the day of the Everything Jersey City Festival. Sales will offer 10% to 50% off select merchandise and festival-goers will find great bargains when business owners sell their wares at the Sidewalk Sales.

 “One of the reasons for the Everything Jersey City Festival is to show how great Central Avenue is,” William Clarke, Director of CASID says. “We try to involve our business owners as much as possible. It becomes a true community event. We focus on Jersey City-Hudson County based artists and we try to focus on the creative aspects of Jersey City. You’ll see things here you won’t see anywhere else. We try to make it as unique event as possible.”

The Festival’s mission is to prove the UEZ Program builds and sustains communities, but on July 1^st when the New Jersey State Budget is finalized and approved, community activities like the Everything Street Festival and many local non-profits may no longer receive UEZ funding.

“The status of the UEZ remains iffy,” Clarke says. “We won’t know for sure until the New Jersey State budget is finalized. But even if it ends in July, our organization will continue to exist. Sure it will change things, but it’s not the sole source of our organization. We’re an autonomous agency. We’ll exist no matter what.”

 When Governor Chris Christie released his budget, it called for no administrative or project funding for the cities, Steve Lipski, CEO of the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation says. That means there will still be a UEZ program, but no monies will be turned over to municipalities or the zones to administer programs. Businesses will still realize tax benefits but they won’t receive assistance from the zone leaders and municipalities through the monies that were collected from the UEZ and returned to the cities.

 But the fight to restore funding isn’t over, Lipski says.

 “We stand squarely with Mayor Healy in the fight to restore UEZ funds which are absolutely essential to help small businesses and fund essential projects critical to the city,” Lipski says. “Governor Christie sent in his version of the budget and the State Legislators are reviewing it to make their necessary input. There are budget hearings going on as we speak.”

 The end of UEZ funding would have a negative impact on community organizations like Washington Park Association (WPA), says President Mory Thomas.

 “The UEZ funding allows for festivals like these which brings thousands of people to the Heights and unites the community in a way that hasn’t happened for years,” Thomas says. “At the first Everything Festival, it was the first time I’d seen the community come out and be engaged in an event. For people to come out and enjoy being on the street, talking to each other and hanging out as a community, that’s something you can’t put a dollar amount to. What I would like to see from the UEZ money is more community-engagement activities.”

 The Washington Park Association along with the Riverview Neighborhood Association, the Jersey City Parks Coalition and St. Anne’s School will host a special “green” event in the heart of the Everything Jersey City Festival. Amid the urban landscape of storefronts, in the middle of Central Avenue, they will create a green “Open Space” – a little park with trees and plants and benches. And there’ll be a “greening” workshop for festival-goers, too.

 “During last year’s Everything Jersey City Festival, we decided that this year we would create an open space on the streets where the festival is,” Thomas says. “It will be a nice little breather in this concrete jungle we live in and bring people awareness to the issue of open space especially in Hudson County which is one of the most densely populated in the country.”

Along with headliners Judy Torres and The Black Hollies, CASID has lined up more great entertainment:  Celtic Cross, Celtic folk-rockers performing classic Irish music; Rumba Con Son, Central New Jersey’s hottest salsa band; Woodfish, a funk-rock band from the Jersey Shore; Ray Rodriguez y Swing Sabroso, a salsa swing band; Ed Solomon & Go Falcon!, poppy punk rockers; Lea Le Grace, pop-rocker; Stephie Coplan & the Pedestrians, a piano-driven pop-rock trio; and Catch Wild, alternative rockers from Jersey City.

 The Actor’s Shakespeare Company at NJCU and the Hope Center Dancers will perform and Family Fitness Martial Arts and Jang Star Tae Kwon Do will present demonstrations.

 The Black Hollies, a Jersey City-based rock band with psychedelic influences has several hit songs out in the mainstream. “Can’t Stop These Tears (From Falling)” was featured on an episode of “The Vampire Diaries,” and “Tell Me What You Want” was picked up by the NFL which used it for an ad campaign. The band features Jon Gonnelli, guitar and organ; Herbert Wiley, lead guitar; Nick Serrante, drummer and Justin Angelo Morey, lead singer and bass guitar. Several members reside in Jersey City, including Morey, who says the band has lots of fans, but may be more well known in other big cities like Austin, Texas, thanks to iTunes and YouTube.  “The song we did for ‘Vampire Diaries’ became one of the most downloaded songs on iTunes and YouTube,” Morey says.

 Art House Productions will be at the Festival to talk about their programs and Pro Arts Jersey City will be featuring several artist-members who will be on hand to discuss their work – always a fun thing to do at a festival. Who doesn’t enjoy talking to artists about their inspirations? Artists exhibiting for Pro Arts Jersey City will be Ibou Ndoye, Deirdre Kennedy, Christina Soto, Sharon Harvey and Holly Williams.

 Art House Productions, a 2,000-member multi-arts organization that produces visual arts programs for more than a decade in Jersey City produces on average one community-art event a week including JC Fridays – a city-wide happening held four times a year that presents art programming at approximately 40 venues. It’s a way to introduce people to the arts in Jersey City, Christine Goodman, Founder and Executive Director says, and each event attracts 3-5,000 people. But if the UEZ funding is cut in July, JC Fridays may not go on.

 “If UEZ funding is cut, it will have a huge impact on our decision to continue JC Fridays,” Goodman says. “We’d like to keep it going. We’ve faced this problem in the past, but it’s going to be a challenge. The future of JC Fridays is a little uncertain at this point.”

Designed to stimulate the local economy, the Everything Jersey City Festival is sponsored by corporations, local businesses, government officials, city agencies and non-profit community groups serving the Jersey City area including Capital One Bank, Christ Hospital, LibertyHealth/Jersey City Medical Center, Metro Honda, City of Jersey City, City of Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs, County of Hudson, County of Hudson Cultural Affairs and Tourism, C-Town Supermarkt, El Sabroso Restaurant, Footprints Realty, Goehrig’s Bakery, Hauptman Carpets, Hudson County Community College, Infinite Print, Jersey City Incinerator Authority, Jersey City Independent, Jersey City Parking Authority, Milrose Consultants Inc, Panepinto Properties, PSE&G, Spectra Energy, State Farm Insurance, Stop & Shop Supermarkets, Susan Newman Design, Inc., The American Flag Company, the Hudson Reporter, Jersey Journal, Jersey City UEZ Program/EDC, U.S. Representative Steve Rothman, United Water and Wells Fargo Bank.

Things may change after July, but for now, the Everything Jersey City Festival, paid for in part by the Jersey City UEZ Program promises to be a great event that celebrates community spirit and pride.

 And with a little luck come July, let’s hope it won’t be the last.

  Everything Jersey City Festival

Sat, May 21,

Central Avenue between Congress and Hutton Streets

Jersey City

For more information, call CASID at 201-656-1366,or visit its website, www.centralavesid.org

 

For more information on the sources included in this story visit:

www.judytorres.com

www.theblackhollies.com

www.arthouseproductions.org

www.proartsjerseycity.org

www.wpanj.org

www.jcedc.org

The post Jersey City’s Got Everything -For Now first appeared on River View Observer.

Jersey City, NJ … Today the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce launched a promotional campaign designed to spur the business community into supporting fellow Hudson County based businesses.

The campaign theme is “We Make it Happen” and features six distinguished members of the association’s Board of Directors in a series of print, online and outdoor ads during a six week period. The group includes Dr. Carlos Hernandez, President, New Jersey City University; Dr. Eugene Cornacchia, President, Saint Peter’s College; Joseph F. Scott, FACHE, President and CEO, LibertyHealth; Connie Claman, Vice President Resource Administration, Liberty Science Center; Maria Nieves, Director, Public Affairs, Fidelity Investments and Helen Brzozowski, Director, Junior Prep Pre-School Center.

As the unified voice of the business community, the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce works to help grow business. Chamber Chair Joseph Scott noted, “The Hudson County Chamber is a vital force in our County and is committed to promoting member businesses. Our team approach has resulted in the unprecedented expansion of Hudson County and its business community”.  

The campaign, coordinated by Chamber Vice Chairs Daryl Rand, HarrisonRand Advertising and Sharon Ambis Pizzutiello, of The Jersey Journal, is in the initial stage of the Chamber’s community outreach, featuring networking events, topical seminars and the Annual Legends Ball. This year’s Gala will showcase the significant contributions of honorees, Dr. Carlos Hernandez, President, New Jersey City University; Mr. Frank Gargiulo, Superintendent, Hudson County Schools of Technology and Coach Bob Hurley, St. Anthony’s High School. 

Congressman Frank Guarini, an ardent supporter of the Hudson County Chamber, helped facilitate the campaign. During a recent interview, he noted that, “The Chamber has and continues to be a driving force in the growth and development of Hudson County. I endorse this campaign and am certain the results will be significant for Hudson’s expanding future”. 

For more information or to join the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, please call Brian J. Dunlap at 201-386-0699 or visit our website www.hudsonchamber.org.

To learn more about the “We Make It Happen” campaign click here

PRESS RELEASE – HUDSON COUNTY CHAMBER LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN
 
********************************************************************

RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR THE FOLLOWING UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS!

Fall Business Networking Art & Jazz Event – Wednesday, November 10th
For additional information, click here

 Entrepreneur’s Week Business Networking Event – Tuesday, November 16th
For additional information, click here

 Business Skills Workshop – Friday, November 19th
“Discovering Your Memory Power” with America’s Memory Master – Matthew Goerke
For additional information, click here

Third Annual Legends Ball – Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Honoring the following Legends:

Dr. Carlos Hernandez, President
New Jersey City University

Mr. Bob Hurley, Sr., Coach
Saint Anthony High School
For additional information, click here

MEMBER NEWS

Exclusive Kick-Off Event of the Women’s Leadership Council at Liberty Science Center – Wednesday, November 10th
 For additional information, click here
 

Hudson County Chamber of Commerce – “We Make It Happen”

The post HUDSON COUNTY CHAMBER LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN first appeared on River View Observer.

The Village Neighborhood Association, in collaboration with The Jersey City Parks Coalition, has received the highly sought after recommendation from the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund Board of Directors and County Executive Tom DeGise for $295,000 of matching funds for the redevelopment of The Village Park on First Street in The Village section of Downtown Jersey City. This is huge!

Throughout the Winter and early Spring of 2010, members of the VNA, The Jersey City Parks Coalition, and Future Green Studios painstakingly compiled and completed the phone-book sized grant application. On April 8, 2010, designer David Seiter (Future Green Studio), Jim Ayers (VNA Vice President), Michele La Monica-Egar (Jersey City Parks Coalition) and myself pitched our formal presentation to the the Hudson County Board of trustees. And then, we waited….



 
Source: Rob Crow, Jersey Journal

The news came late last week via an email from Stephen Marks, Director of the Hudson County Division of Planning. The Village Park was one 17 projects to be awarded this endorsement. With the passage of this introductory resolution, the final public hearing on these awards will be scheduled for the October 28, 2010 Board of Chosen Freeholders meeting. There is more work to be done for sure, and we’ll be reaching out to residents for their support, but for right now, feel free to smile.

For more details, check out the article below from The Jersey Journal.

Hudson County hopes to fund 17 open space and historic restoration projects totaling $6.273 million.

The Jersey Journal
September 10, 2010
Melissa Hayes

County Executive Tom DeGise has forwarded his recommendations to the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, which voted to introduce the report this week.

The board must still hold a public hearing Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. on the recommendations and adopt them.

The funds are broken into four categories: acquisition; park and recreation improvement; historic preservation; and planning, environmental, engineering, historic preservation studies.

Acquisition

North Bergen is set to get the largest allocation, $1.835 million to acquire a waterfront parcel at 7200 River Road, near the Guttenberg boarder. The site includes one acre of land and six acres of riparian rights, which North Bergen and Guttenberg hope to develop into a passive park with an extension of the waterfront walkway, according to the township’s application.

Jersey City is getting $1 million to offset the cost of acquiring the former PJP Landfill near the Pulaski Skyway, which will become Hackensack Riverfront Park.

Jersey City also sought $1 million for acquisition of the Sixth Street Embankment; $185,000 for a small parcel at the end of Waldo Avenue; and $600,000 for Berry Lane Park. All three requests were denied.

Hoboken unsuccessfully sought $1,000 to acquire land at Paterson Avenue and Harrison Street for open space.
Bayonne was denied its $2.265 million request to expand Russell Golding Park along Avenue E.

Historic

Bayonne stands to get $240,000 for heating, ventilation and air conditioning work, window renovations, lighting, stairway and marble work and completing of the main floor terrazzo at the future Bayonne Community Museum, a 1912 Beaux-Arts style building.

The board did not award funds to Save Ellis Island Inc. for interior restoration at Ellis Island Laundry/Hospital building in Jersey City or for stabilization of historic structures proposed by Jersey City at Reservoir 3.

Planning, Environmental, Engineering, Historic Preservation Studies

The board recommended $45,000 for Bayonne’s Neighborhood Parks Planning Study, which will study the possible rehabilitation of Dr. Morris Park, Francis Fitzpatrick Park, Sister Miriam Theresa Park and Edward F. Clark Park.

The board declined to fund the Jersey City Parks Coalition’s project at the Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery Restoration Project and Liberty Science Center in Jersey City’s proposed engineering study for a pedestrian bridge across Phillip Street to Liberty State Park, despite both projects scoring higher on their applications than the Bayonne study.

Park and Recreation Improvement

Hudson County would use $133,000 to install “Memorials for Peace,” including a portion of the Berlin Wall, on the south lawn of Harborside Plaza 10 in Jersey City.
The Washington Park Association in Jersey City would get $100,000 for landscaping, recycling bins, bicycle racks and handicapped accessible improvements. The proposal also calls for a community garden, column repairs, signage, exercise stations and new picnic tables.

The Jersey City Parks Coalition and Village Neighborhood Association in Jersey City would use $295,000 to redevelop a park on 1st Street between Brunswick and Colgate streets.

Read the entire article.

The post VNA Awarded $295,000 Grant Allocation for Village Park Project first appeared on River View Observer.

Source: Truth Speaks- Icypeals Blogspot - Thanks Mimi

*Seeing the Three Stooges Live at the Stanley Theater *Live Acappella Shows at the State Theater * Hudson Boulevard had islands. *Ferris High School *Singing Doo-Wop under the tresstle on Monmouth Street *Hanging out at Coletta’s Bar * You knew how O’Hara’s got it’s name. * You knew all the troublemakers before they became cops. – Martin Luther King Drive was Jackson Avenue – Christopher Columbus Drive was Railroad Avenue – Luiz Munoz Marin Boulevard was Henderson Street -Manila Avenue was Grove Street – Roosevelt Lanes & Putney’s Pub – Annual Holy Name Parade – What Harvard on the Blvd. and St. Richards on the Hill are – The color scheme of the bus lines: … Brown: Central Avenue; Red: Montgomery/West Side, Green: Bergen/Lafayette, Orange: Bergen Avenue – Getting Sunday suits at Robert Hall – Bettingers on the Square – Uncle Milties/Bergen Point – The Skyline Cabana Club – You shopped in Woolworth on Journal Square and went to the Griddle or Driftwood after a movie. – The Hudson Mall was a strip mall – Instead of the Hudson Mall there was: Two Guys from Harrison; Great Eastern, and Valley Fair – Instead of the dollar stores there was Johns Bargain Stores – You could actually swim in the Reservoir (on the sneak) – The giant roach in the exterminators window on Westside Avenue – Floor shows at the Canton Tea Garden Chinese Restaurant – You’ve said “Youse” about 100 times in one day    – The best hot dogs at Boulevard Drinks – Orange Julius at the Square – Charcoal burgers at Tippys – The Tube Bar and Red the owner – The Concourse – The Oyster Bay, Murtaghs, the Alps, Robinsons Steak House, and the Blue Piano – The PATH train was .30 cents and before that they were called the Hudson Tubes – The Happy Birthday Truck from Schneider’s Bakery – You were part of the in crowd if you shopped at Danny Mack and Cara Carson (Marilyn on Central Avenue, Wetons on Bergen) – The Public Service Bus Terminal Concourse with 3 Guys Pizza, Universal, Horn & Hardardt – The chickens turning on the rotisserie at Universal – The shortcut through the escalators to Magnolia Avenue – Eating lunch at Liss Drug – Ice skating at Roosevelt Stadium – That St. Als Academy was known as snob hill or House on Whore Hill – The Bergen School – The CYO, OLM, St. Michaels, Mt. Carmel and Holy Family dances – Going through Lincoln Park to get to 440 – The CYO on Bergen Avenue – You remember go-carts on 440 and # 5 Park – You hung out at the VIP or The Colonette after a night of partying and before that the Colony – The football Giants practicing at Roosevelt Stadium – Drunks and derelicts donating blood for money at the blood bank next to McCrorys – Everyone lived in a parish – J.M. Fields – Brummers Ice Cream Parlor at the Junction(the sons opened parlors in Vermilion, OH and Westwood, NJ) – Schroeder’s and Myers Ice Cream Parlor on Central Avenue – Your neighborhood beat cops first name – The Captains Table Restaurant at Roosevelt Stadium – Fischer Beers – Drive-in movies at Roosevelt Stadium – You sat on the Buffalo at Mosquito Park and rode your sled in winter there – Nedicks and Bickford’;s Cafeteria on the Square – Monteleones, Five Corners and the Paris Bakeries – In grammar school you went home for lunch and your mom made it for you cause she was there – You lived in a house/apartment with at the least one cousin and/or grandparent on the same street – You lived within 1/2 mile of three catholic churches (with schools attached) – Track meets and boxing matches at Pershing Field – The pool at North Street Park (and never called it Washington Park) – Battle of the Bands – You know the You know the A. Harry Moore cheer > – You drank or ate at any of these >places: The Park Tavern, Frank’s Bar and Grill, the   Glenwood, the Showboat, Narrowbacks, >Soap Creek, or Guarini’;s * Dekay’s Diner HA! * Your dad would take the whole family >to the Roosevelt Drive-In, but if you were over 12, he’d hide you in the trunk > * You’ve eaten at Jule’s, IIvento’s, >or the Rodeo Steakhouse * You remember buying candy at Liss Drugs Store >and then going to the movies on the Square * You shopped at The Grove Shoppe, >State Gown, Wenton’s or Cara Carson, and Barney Stock for designer clothes >or accessories * You went to John’s Bargain Store >for clothes pins and underwear * You remember Mayor Smith and that >he once sparred with Muhammad Ali * You hung out at the Hilltop on Newark >& Baldwin Ave. after high school everyday * You went to the “City” >to get drunk at 15 * You ate zeppoles and took chances >for the 50/50 at the Mount Carmel feast * You knew Great Eastern before it >was found to be a toxic PCP dump. Ditto behind    Lincoln Park * You could see the Statue of Liberty >or the Empire State Building from your house and    never visited them. * KFC and Gino’s were the same >fast food restaurant * You watched “Cops” on TV >and recognize the streets * You played basketball or hockey in >Country Village * You had a coconut drink at the Canton > * You learned to drive in Roosevelt >Stadium or B ayonne Park and make out at 11 PM * You swam at Bayonne Pool and skated >at the roller rink next door] * You saw headliner rock groups and >fireworks in Roosevelt Stadium * The PIX didn’t show porn * There were three colleges in Jersey >City to choose from, Jersey City State,    St. Peter’;s, and Rutgers University * You delivered the Jersey Journal >door-to-door and no one worried you’d get kidnapped    by a neighbor * You could sneak into the back door >of the Stanley for a free movie before the Jehovah’s    Witnesses took it over * You remember going to the State and >Loew’s movie theaters at the Square * You and all your friends were born >in the best maternity hospital in the state, the    Margaret Hague (best on the East >coast!)  * You were proud that Jimmy Spanarkel >made it to the Blue Devils * You know someone who saw a UFO in >Mosquito Park * You went swimming in Newark Bay and >you drove to Bayonne to go to Uncle Miltie’s * Going to Palisade Park was a big >adventure * You knew which house on the Boulevard >was haunted * You went to the “Shore” >after the prom * Republican was a dirty word * You remember turf wars between Sterling, >Ocean, the Heights, West Side, and Marion * For $2.00 you could take the “Tubes” >to Greenwich Village, buy an Orange Julius and a    chili dog, and then take the “Tubes” >back, and still have change! * Who was better, WW III or Medusa? > * The Jumping Jack’s and Bobbie >Blue * Were the 2nd St Damato’s really >related to Sinatra? * Everyone knew Sam DiFeo * You knew what time the Mosquito truck >fogged the block with diapason so you could    run behind in the thick smoke * The water truck that soaked down >the dusty cobble stones * Lay-aways at Mo Finks! * Swimming in the Hudson, Bare Ass ;Beach and Big Time was the Colgate’s Clock * You knew who Mr. Fix It was * You went to school with kids from Gammon Town and Dog Patch * Every one spoke English * Country Village was for rich people * They arrest people from Jersey City in Bayonne * Cops would kick your butt if you >answered them back * You knew the corner bookie and could >play a number for 15c with a 10c combo Hanging out in Hamilton Park Making Scooters out of Milk crate, two by Four and and one roller skate *P.S. 35, P.S. 23 and Dickinson H.S. *White Castle & Blimpies on Journal Square *Why Journal Square is named Journal Square This is quite a nice blast from the past…….Maybe someone will make a list of what’s left now and what replaced the old memories with new ones.-Icypearl blogspot If you remember something about old Jersey City not mentioned on the list -add to the list: Â

The post DO YOU REMEMBER OLD JERSEY CITY? first appeared on River View Observer.

 Pictured above William La Rosa, Administrator- Hudson County Cultural Affairs & Heritage Affairs/ Tourism Development; Artist Virginia Kamenitzer(who exhibited two photos),and Meredith Lippman; Program Development Specialist, and Eilleen Gaughan; Assistant Administratorboth Ms. Lippman and Ms. Gaughan are  the curators of the exhibit.

The Exhibit will be held from March 2nd- March 26th

For more photos

Photograher Roberta C. Scott standing near one of her photos in exhibit.

 

 

 

 

Artisit – Photographer and Writer Melida Rodas smiles in front of one of her photos on display.

 

 

Photographer Beatrice Meady poses proudly by one of her photographs on display until March 26th at the William J. Brennan Court House in Jersey City.

 

 

 

The post Opening Reception for “HERSTORY” at Justice William J. Brennan Court House, Theodore Conrad Rotunda, Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.

Source You Tube- Thanks Roger Muller-Muller Insurance

The post I Was Born In Hoboken- Fantastic Video with Former Mayor Steve Capiello first appeared on River View Observer.

Holy Rosary  is  the Oldest Established Italian Parish in New Jersey

  

Holy Rosary Church has announced plans to celebrate a Traditional Solemn High Mass on Christmas Eve at Midnight. 

The Traditional Mass or the Extraordinary Form as Pope Benedict XVI identifies it in his Apostolic Letter “Summorum Pontificum” is celebrated in Latin according to the Missal of 1962.  This missal was issued under Blessed John XXIII and remained in use until some years after the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council. 

A prelude of seasonal music by Herbeck, Praetorius and Victoria will be performed by the Holy Rosary Choir preceding the mass at 11:15 pm.  During the mass the choir under the direction of Harold Bott will sing the Mass in G by Schubert accompanied by organ and strings. The Holy Rosary Schola will sing the Propers of the Mass in Gregorian chant from the Liber Usualis.

 Holy Rosary Church will begin a series of events in January 2010 leading to the gala celebration of its 125^thAnniversary in October.  “Holy Rosary Church is the oldest established Italian parish in the State of New Jersey,” said its pastor Rev. Rino Lararoni.  “As we begin a year of remembrance and celebration we return together this Christmas Eve to another time and celebrate the sacred liturgy in the manner which the immigrants who built this beautiful church attended. Father Lavaroni added that the Holy Father has written, “What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too.”  It’s a significant way for us to begin this important milestone in the history of Holy Rosary.”

 Other masses scheduled include a Mass for Families in English at 7:00pm on Christmas Eve.  On Christmas Day the schedule includes masses at 8:45a.m. in Italian and 11:30a.m. in English.

 Holy Rosary Church is located in downtown Jersey City and has been celebrating the mass in the extraordinary form for nearly eight years.  Holy Rosary Parish Council Chairwoman,

Anne Mc Govern, says, “Holy Rosary Church is unique in that it’s the only parish in the local area where Catholics may attend both forms of the mass.” McGovern stressed that Holy Rosary Church is leading the way by following the Holy Father’s example and wishes by honoring and preserving tradition in liturgy.”

The Latin Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 10:00 am.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For more information contact Holy Rosary Church at 201 795-0120 or visit the church’s website at

http://holyrosarychurch.com

The post Holy Rosary Church Downtown Jersey City to Celebrate the First Mass of Christmas at Midnight In Latin first appeared on River View Observer.