General Meeting March 19th, 7pm

We will be kicking our meeting off early with an in-person mixer from 6:30-7 to meet your neighbors in person before the hybrid meeting starts at 7pm.

In person: Barrow Mansion. 83 Wayne Street.

Zoom: with the Meeting ID: 851 7077 0500 https://zoom.us/j/85170770500

Agenda

6:30 In-person Mixer

7:00 Opening Remarks & Announcements from President Craig Zehms

7:05 Park Update from Marc Wesson

7:15 Developer presentation for 88 and 90 Bright Street.

90 Bright street is new construction, 4 stories and 4 dwelling units.

88 Bright Street is a renovation and addition of an existing building resulting in 4 stories and 4 dwelling units on an undersized lot.

8:00 All Other Business

Dear Neighbors,

Welcome to Spring!

My optimistic nature has convinced me that we have glorious weather ahead of us. Which probably means that we can anticipate a typhoon next week.

The word that sums up this season is “rebirth”. Every day Mother Nature is working overtime to make magic. It’s amazing how joyful it is to see a daffodil finally bloom. The squirrel population may be “nibbling at the tulips” but they have left the daffy’s alone.

Spring reminds us that we have been given another chance. So however that manifests itself in your life embrace the opportunity for change. Reconnect with friends and neighbors. And make time for yourself.

As for me I’ll be working on my autobiography “Nibbling at the Tulips.”

Craig Zehms
VVNA President

Voter Registration Deadline May 14th!

You can now register to vote online by clicking here.

To see the full letter, or if you have any questions about the Friends of Liberty State Park, email pesinliberty@earthlink.net

The Van Vorst Neighborhood Association Fully Endorses the Community's Call for Hybrid Land Use Board Meetings!

Sign the Petition at 

ActionNetwork.org/petitions/jc-residents-demand-hybrid-division-of-planning-meetings

Grove Street weekend construction Phase 1 (January through March)

Journal Square-bound and Newark Penn Station-bound trains will bypass Grove St.

• For service to Journal Square, Harrison or Newark stations from Grove: Customers can take a World Trade Center-bound train to Exchange Pl. and transfer to a Newark-Penn Station-bound train. Alternatively, customers can take a Hoboken/33 St.-bound train to Newport and transfer to a Journal Square-bound train.

• For service to Grove St. from Exchange Pl. or World Trade Center: Customers can take a Newark-Penn Station-bound train to Journal Square, then transfer to a World Trade Center-bound or Hoboken/33 St.-bound train to ride back to Grove St

• For service to Grove St. from Newport, Hoboken, any NYC stations: Customers can take a Journal Square-bound train to Journal Square, then transfer to a World Trade Center-bound or Hoboken/33 St.-bound train to ride back to Grove St.

Grove Street weekend construction Phase 2 (April through June)

World Trade Center-bound and Hoboken/33 St.-bound trains will bypass Grove St.

• For World Trade Center-bound or Hoboken/33 St.-bound service from Grove: Customers can take a Journal Square-bound or Newark Penn Station-bound train to Journal Square and transfer to a World Trade Center-bound or 33 St.-bound train. Alternatively, customers can begin their trip at nearby Exchange Pl. or Newport stations.

• For service from Newark-Penn Station, Harrison, or Journal Square to Grove: From Newark Penn Station and Harrison, customers can take a World Trade Center-bound train to Exchange Pl., and transfer to a Newark Penn Station-bound train to ride back to Grove St. From Journal Square, customers can either take a Hoboken/33 St.-bound train to Newport and transfer to a Journal-Square-bound train to ride back to Grove St., or take a World Trade Center-bound train to Exchange Pl. and transfer to a Newark Penn Station-bound train to ride back to Grove St.

Weekends with no bypasses: Full Service Both Directions

Please be advised that the following weekends have been scheduled without any bypasses:

• March 16

• March 23

• March 30

• April 14th

• May 4th

• May 25th

• July 6th

“Court Hands Partial Victory to Challengers of Jersey City Ward Map”

Jersey City Times article by Aaron Morrill

An appellate court handed a partial victory today to a coalition of community groups and individuals who challenged a ward map for Jersey City enacted in 2022, sending the case back to a trial judge for a hearing.

“The trial court in these matters simply concluded that the wards were compact. The court needed to conduct some proceeding focused on the question of whether there was a rational basis for the Commission’s configuration of the wards” wrote Judge Robert Gilson for the court.

To read the full article, click here.

Upcoming Events

3/16, 11am - 2pm - Van Vorst Park Clean Up with FVVP! Join the FVVP to clean up dead leaves within the park. Gloves & tools will be provided.

3/17, 1 - 4pm - Jersey City Repair Cafe

3/21, 5pm - East District Captain’s Meeting at Jersey City PS#16 Annex: 275 Washington Blvd

3/23, 10am - 1pm - Spring Neighborhood Clean Up at Van Vorst Park

4/14 - Jersey City Marathon & Half Marathon

4/20, 10a - 1pm - VVNA Book Swap

Ongoing - Story Time every Wednesday at the Library

Ongoing - Bingo every Tuesday at the Library

See below fliers for details.

To subscribe to the Jersey City Free Public Library Newsletter, please follow this link.

For a full list of upcoming events at the Priscilla Gardner Main Library, click here.

Community Resources

Volunteer Grant Writer

We are looking for a volunteer with grant writing experience to help us find & write grants for the VVNA. Interested? Email us at welcome@vvnajc.org to volunteer!

Volunteer Social Media Manager(s)

We are looking for volunteers with passion for the neighborhood and social media to help us create content, schedule posts, and interact with social media users. Interested? Email us at welcome@vvnajc.org to volunteer!

Neighborhood History

Do you have historical photos/flyers from the Van Vorst Park Neighborhood? Send them in to us for a chance to be featured at welcome@vvnajc.org

Have you seen our new brochure?

In partnership with the Barrow Mansion and the Friends of Van Vorst Park (FVVP), the Van Vorst Neighborhood Association (VVNA) has published a new brochure highlighting all three organizations.

Check it out here!

Reminder

The VVNA has a new email address and website that reflect our new name; the Van Vorst Neighborhood Association (VVNA), as well as new social handles! @vvnajc

Please reach out to us at vvnajc.org, www.instagram.com/vvnajc, and welcome@vvnajc.org

Looking for General Meeting Notes or Recordings?

Find them HERE

Looking for older notes? Email us at Welcome@vvnajc.org

Thank you to our sponsors: Barrow Mansion Development Corporation, Brightside Tavern, Two Boots Pizza, and the Friends of Van Vorst Park!

The VVNA depends on fundraising and sponsorships from local businesses and community members. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email welcome@vvnajc.org.