“I am proud to announce that in 2014, we will introduce a budget with a tax reduction and flexibility for the Council.” That was one of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulopâ€s final lines in his State of the City address Thursday night, when he addressed not only the progress of the city on various fronts since he took office last July but also how it is going forward in the upcoming year. But Fulop was more detailed about other accomplishments and goals while speaking in front of over 400 people inside the McMahon Student Center on the campus of Saint Peterâ€s University.

He spent time talking about how the cityâ€s consolidation of the Fire and Police departments into the recently-formed Public Safety Department enabled the city to save money to hire 26 more firefighters and 34 more cops, and how the additional cop manpower along with the employment of various crime-fighting initiatives will help the police bring crime down by double-digits by the end of this year.

He then said coming this Monday, the city will launch a reentry program for ex-offenders that will provide treatment, housing options, and job opportunities with the goal of reducing recidivism for ex-offenders by over 30 percent from the current average for those residing in Hudson County. This effort was described by Fulop as being in sync with his Marine training.

“We here in Jersey City also believe no person should be discarded, that no life is nonredeemable, so as a progressive and as a marine, weâ€re doing things differently,” Fulop said.

Fulop emphasized the role of job preparation in building Jersey Cityâ€s economy on two fronts: partnering with major companies such as

Pershing and Goldman Sachs to launch a summer internship program for top students in the cityâ€s high schools and putting together a mentor program for Jersey City students to learn on-the-job mechanical/technical skills coupled with academic courses at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark.

He also mentioned jobs in terms of the various companies bringing them to Jersey City such as Forbes and Nautica, helping to burnish the townâ€s reputation as the fastest growing city in New Jersey at the present time, even claiming that Jersey City will be the largest city by 2016.

However, Fulop is not just depending on the economic kindness of others to boost Jersey Cityâ€s image and population as he announced the city will carry out a $1.2 million marketing campaign, financed by the municipality and the private sector, to attract people to come settle here.

Fulop spoke further about the cityâ€s growth when he pointed out that the cityâ€s school system will have 4,000 more students in the next five years, many of whom will most likely be the children of those couples that officials hope will relocate as a result of Jersey Cityâ€s promotion effort. In that vein, the mayor highlighted three pre-k facilities that will open in coming years – two in the planning stages and one to open in the former home of a charter school – while pushing the cityâ€s school district to ensure that they not just focused on pre-k education in downtown Jersey City.

He also spoke during the address about some other items that will make Jersey City into “the best mid-size city in America”: the management and restoration of the Loewâ€s Jersey Theatre in Journal Square that has met with opposition from the current operators of the theater and their supporters over the cityâ€s handling of this issue; booming development across the city including 10 projects underway and 23 that have already been proposed or approved, and the creation of a special improvement district for the cityâ€s west side.

And while it seems City Hall has an ambitious mandate this year and beyond, Fulop early in the speech laid out how something so daunting can actually be doable. “We know expectations are high, as they should be. I know we will succeed. I believe in our team, and I believe in Jersey City,”

The post Fulop’s State of the City: Municipal Budget to Greater Police Presence first appeared on River View Observer.

    

The post STAGEfest 2013 at The landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Journal Square first appeared on River View Observer.

On Friday night October 12th at 6:45 pm  the Loew’s Theater on Journal Square in Jersey City will present  as a special attraction to the  the  Golden Door International Festival and not as  part of competiton, Writer/ Director Nancy Savoca’s movie,  “Union Square” starring Oscar winner Mira Sorvino and Emmy Winner and Two time Tony nominated actress Tammy Blanchard .

What makes this an extra special event is both Ms. Sorvino and Tammy Blanchard have roots in Hudson County,   Ms. Sorvino  daughter of Paul Sorvino is cousin to Bill Sorvino Executive Director of the GDIF.Ms. Blanchard   was born in Jersey City, raised in Bayonne and has family in the Hudson County area.

Bill Sorvino said “This is a great opportunity for Hudson County audiences to see two very talented actresses with Hudson County roots work side by side in a wonderful movie about sisters, by Writer/ Director Nancy Savoca.”

The post “Union Square” Starring Mira Sorvino and Tammy Blanchard -Actresses with Roots to Hudson County to be shown Friday Night Oct 12th at Jersey City’s Loew’s Theater. first appeared on River View Observer.

East Coastâ€s Fastest Growing Art Scene Features Hundreds of Artists, Dozens of Exhibitions, Galleries, Museums, and Live Entertainment A FREE Self-Guided Walking Tour All Weekend

http://jcartistsstudiotour.wix.com/2012

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and the Municipal Council, and the Jersey City Dept. of Health & Human Services/Division of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with ProArts, and the Hudson Reporter, present the 2012 Jersey City Artists Studio Tour, a FREE self-guided walking tour featuring galleries, artist studios and ad hoc exhibition sites. The tour will take place from Noon – 6:00 p.m.throughout the city on the weekend of Saturday, October 13th and Sunday, October 14th.

In it’s 22nd year, the Annual Jersey City Artists Studio Tour is a weekend celebration of the East Coastâ€s fastest growing art scene that features hundreds of artists, dozens of exhibitions, galleries, museums, live music and performances, food, drink and parties – all located just five minutes from Manhattan.

Every year, hundreds of artists participate in the tour attracting thousands of visitors during its tw0-day run. The  Jersey City Artists Studio Tour is widely considered New Jerseyâ€s premier art and cultural event, and is free and open to the public.

The Jersey City Artists Studio Tour features a diverse selection of styles and artistic disciplines, from avant-garde video and sculpture to traditional oil painting. Tour goers will have the opportunity to meet and talk to the artists themselves, including interaction with the artists in their working environments.

From a diverse art scene, to the eclectic shops and boutiques, indulging in multi-ethnic cuisines at local restaurants along the tour route, or simply enjoying the lively atmosphere stolling from one studio to the next, for visitors and tour goers, this is a wonderful way to spend the weekend exploring all that Jersey City has to offer.

Studio Tour visitors can also visit

The Golden Door International Film Festival, which opens October 11th through October 14th in Downtown Jersey City, and features dozens of short independent films showing at various local venues throughout the Studio Tour weekend.

Also open for the 2012 Studio Tour is the Loews Theatre, located at 227 Coles Street. It will feature the artwork of students from the Jersey City Public Schools, grades K-12. Images will feature Jersey City and the jazz age.

The Jersey City Department of Recreation and the Division of Senior Affairs will be providing three shuttle service buses with tour guides, available to select venues. Easily accessible, most tour venues are within walking distance of the NY/NJ PATH, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, or jitney bus services.
Bus Route 1: Powerhouse Arts District to the Heights

Starting Point: Grove Street PATH Station

Stop 1: 150 Bay Avenue, Gallery 371

Stop 2: Hamilton Park, Art House Productions/JC Theatre/Golden Door Film Festival

Stop 3: 4th Street and Newark Avenue, 4th Street Festival (Saturday)/Mary Benson Gallery/Casa Columbo

Stop 4: Palisade Avenue at Riverview Fisk Park, Sex, Drugs & Rock n†Roll Show/Distillery Gallery/ Land of the Freeform Art & Music Festival (Saturday)/ Jazz Festival (Sunday)

Stop 5: Baldwin Avenue at Newark Avenue Brennan Courthouse

End Point: Grove Street PATH Station

Bus Route 2: Downtown to Communipaw

Starting Point: Grove Street PATH Station

Stop 1: 80 Grand Street, Russian Museum

Stop 2: 184 Grand Street, Victory Arts Project

Stop 3: 430 Communipaw Avenue, Tenmarc Building

Stop 4: 11 Monitor Street, Evening Star Studios

Stop 5: 83 Wayne Street, Barrow Mansion

End Point: Grove Street PATH Station

Bus Route 3: Downtown to Greenville

Starting Point: Grove Street PATH Station

Stop 1: 39 Glenwood, St. Peters University

Stop 2: 2039 Kennedy Blvd, NJCU

Stop 3: 128 Winfield Avenue, Project Greenville

Stop 4: 430 Communipaw Avenue, Tenmarc Building

End: Grove Street PATH Station

The 22nd Annual Jersey City Artists Studio Tour is presented by the City of Jersey City, Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, the Municipal Council, the Division of Cultural Affairs, Pro Arts (a non-profit organization,) and the Hudson Reporter. This free weekend event is sponsored by the Tenmarc Building, Bank of America, Yelp, the Jersey City Arts School, the Jersey City Independent, Hudson County, NJ., the Provident Bank, Goldman Sachs, Fantastic The Arts, Newport, Panepinto, Silverman, Barrow Mansion, Mack-Cali, and Skinnerâ€s Loft.

A Free Wheelchair Accessible Guided Tour is also available to select wheelchair accessible venues over the tour weekend from Noon – 6:00 p.m. Provided By Hudson County Transcend, all persons wishing to take this guided tour, must make ADVANCED reservations as seats are limited by September 30th. For details and to reserve a space, please call 201-736-7057.

For transportation schedules and more information, please call the Division of Cultural Affairs at (201) 547-6921 or visit the event website www.jcartistsstudiotour.wix.com/2012

The post Jersey City’s Annual Artists Studio Tour October 13th and 14th, 2012 first appeared on River View Observer.

October brings chills and thrills and skies so bright you can see the stars and the nights will be especially starry when the Golden Door International Film Festival rolls out the red carpet at the Loewâ€s Jersey City movie palace for four fabulous days of films.

 The film festival kicks off Thurs, Oct. 11^th where stars, writers, directors and cinephiles will gather in the Loewâ€s art deco lobby for drinks and schmoozing and then take their seats in the beautifully restored theater to watch two new films, Pollination* starring Federico Castelluccio (The Sopranos); and Just Crazy Enough featuring Saturday Night Live alum Chris Kattan.  The following three days will be jam packed with screenings of features, documentaries and shorts and a closing night awards ceremony on Sun, Oct. 14^th.                

 Founder Bill Sorvino brings the film festival back to Jersey City for a second year and the response heâ€s received since last yearâ€s event has been huge, he says. This time around, Sorvino has added ore films to the marquee for a four-day smorgasbord of features, documentaries and shorts from Hollywood to Bollywood.

 “Last yearâ€s festival was very successful,” Sorvino says. “We had great feedback and I want to build on what we did last year. So this year the amount of fantastic films we have is over the top – one great film after another.” 

 Close to 50 films were chosen from hundreds of entries sent in from all over the world including Germany, Switzerland, India, South Africa and Australia. Local filmmakers also made the cut. This yearâ€s screenings include Alfred Thinks We’re Aliens; Carbon for Water; This Space Available; Not a Feather, but a Dot; A Dance with Andrea; Red Scare; The Senatorâ€s Daughter; and Surviving Family.

 (To view the full schedule and purchase tickets go to www.goldendoorfilmfestival.org.)

“Iâ€m trying to grow the festival to make it more prominent,” Sorvino says. “I couldnâ€t turn down these films, I just couldnâ€t.”

 Although most of the films will be screened at the beautiful Loewâ€s Jersey City, Sorvino expanded the screening venues to other Jersey City locales including the Brightside Tavern, Panepinto Galleries, Art House Productions and the Jersey City Free Public Libraryâ€s Five Corners Branch. Every night the screenings will be a red carpet event. At Friday nightâ€s screenings at the Loewâ€s, the stars will shine like supernovas with the showing of Union Square starring Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino and Emmy award winner Tammy Blanchard. (Union Square is a special festival attraction and not part of the competition.)

 Also on Friday nightâ€s bill is local filmmaker Mara Lesemannâ€s Surviving Family which features Vincent Pastore who played Sal Bonpensiero in The Sopranos. Lesemannâ€s film tells the story of a woman getting married in five days who returns home to her dysfunctional family in New Jersey to prepare for her nuptials. Lesemann shot many of the filmâ€s scenes in her very own Jersey City neighborhood: the Lucky 7 tavern on Coles Street, Satis Bistro on Washington Boulevard, Pecorraro Bakery on Newark Avenue, La Belle Boutique on Danforth Avenue and City Hall on Grove Street.

 “Shooting scenes in Jersey Cityâ€s City Hall was absolutely awesome,” Lesemann says. “We made up a New Jersey town called Byzantine and Vincent Pastore plays the mayor who helps this young couple get a marriage license. Jersey Cityâ€s Mayor Healy was nice enough to let us use his office and we shot a scene there at 3 in the morning. Debbie Harris who works for the cityâ€s cultural affairs department was our liaison and she was great.”

Lesemann has had several screenings of Surviving Family and says thereâ€s something special about screening her film in Jersey City. A former banker, Lesemann sees her film career as a risk worth taking and bankrolled the movie with her own savings.

“Iâ€m not going to live forever and I want to do things that are important to me,” Lesemann says. “Iâ€m very proud of the film. Iâ€ve written and produced several shorts before this, wrote another screenplay and this one I wrote with the intention of it being produced.”

Linden resident Sam Borowski directed and co-wrote Pollination* which will be featured at the Opening Night Gala.  This live action short co-written by Borowski and Lisa Buffington, who once worked as Borowskiâ€s assistant, tells the story of the relationships between people and their plants and stars Federico Castelluccio who played hitman Furio on The Sopranos.  

 In August, Borowski premiered Pollination* at the Holly Shorts Festival in Hollywood where many short films go on to be nominated for Academy Awards, Borowski says.

 “Federico got nominated for best actor which was great and qualifying for an Oscar in the live action category would be amazing, but itâ€s more of an amazing feeling to write stories that touch peopleâ€s lives,” Borowski says.

At last yearâ€s festival Borowskiâ€s film Nightclub earned five awards including best picture, best director, best actress for Academy-Award winner Sally Kellerman (M*A*S*H) and best actor for the late Ernest Borgnine (Marty, McHaleâ€s Navy). Since its screening at Golden Door, Borowski says heâ€s now in talks with a major studio and Nightclub will be released later this year.

 As a result of Nightclubâ€s screening last year at the Golden Door International Film Festival, Borowski says heâ€s booked several jobs by networking and making new contacts.

 “The festival is out of this world,” Borowski says. “For any filmmaker or actor this is the place to be. Itâ€s absolutely one of the best networking experiences Iâ€ve had at a festival.”

 If you go:

Thurs, Oct. 11- Sun, Oct. 14

The Golden Door International Film Festival

Jersey City

Tickets $10 at the door (additional surcharge when purchased online)

Film screenings shown at Loewâ€s Jersey City; Brightside Tavern; Panepinto Galleries; Art House Productions; and Jersey City Free Public Library/Five Corners Branch

For screenings schedule and tickets: www.goldendoorfilmfestival.org

 

 

 

The post STARRY, STARRY NIGHT-Filmmakers to Shine at the Golden Door Int’l Film Festival in Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.

The Golden Door Film Festival attracted hundreds of supporters Saturday night, October 1,to a Launch Party in the deluxe functions room at 70 Greene St.

Prominent among the attendees were actor Paul Sorvino and Federico Castelluccio, filmmaker. Both luminaries remained accessible for photos and chatted with guests during virtually the entire party. Mr. Sorvino also entertained with his operatic singing.

 

Clips from many of the 40 films in competition were shown the screening room throughout the evening, highlighting the much anticipated film festival. The guest were entertained throughout the evening by the jazz ensemble of Liz Williams and Gene Clemetson. Food for the party was catered by The Hamilton Inn and The Hudson Greene Market.

The film festival itself will begin with a Gala Opening at the Landmark Loew’s Theatre at Journal Square, on Thursday, Oct 13 at 6:00 pm. In addition to the Loews, films will be shown at venues around the city including The Art House, Bar Majestic, LITM, Studio II VIII.

On Saturday afternoon, Oct 15 from 12:00 – 5:00 pm, a seminar and screening, given by Leon Gast, recipient of the 1996 Academy Award for Documentary Feature and Jersey City native, will be conducted in the Mildred Hunke Auditorium at the Five Corners Library on Newark Avenue.

Additional seminars will be offered Saturday, October 15th from 12:30pm through 6:30pm in the Rotunda at City Hall on Grove Street, chaired by Mary Pat Kelly, author of “Martin Scorsese: The First Decade” and “Martin Scorsese: A Journey”. Seminar presenters also include John Trigonis, filmmaker, Slava Rubin, founder of IndieGoGo, John Dapolito, writer and director, and Sam Borowski, director.

A detailed schedule of events and a ticket ordering service are online

www.GoldenDoorFilmFestival.org

 

The post Jersey City’s GOLDEN DOOR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Launched! first appeared on River View Observer.

In a concert at the Loew’s Theater to benefit the Jersey City Police Foundation & Jersey City Firefighters Distress Fund.
Come to the concert and help us give thanks to the men and women who risk their lives everyday for the people of Jersey City!

Musical Guest Mark Byrnes “Mark from Jersey City” on Sirius Radio’s Miserable Men Show

VIP After Party starting at 10 pm at Michael Anthony’s 502 Washington Boulevard – Hudson River – Jersey City

HOSTED by HBO Sopranos Star VINCENT PASTORE

Tickets exclusively online at Ticketweb.com

For more information, visit www.catcharisingstar.com

More Mike stories –Mike’s Pilot

The post MIKE MARINO – Jersey City’s Own Bad Boy of Comedy Live Comedy from Loew’s – Journal Square – Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.