General Meeting February 20th, 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 & Cookbook Launch Party!

7:00 Opening Remarks & Announcements from President Craig Zehms

7:10 Councilmen Gilmore & Solomon with updates & open Q&A.

8:00 All Other Business

Dear Neighbors,

As I was thinking about what to write this month I realized that one of the qualities that I love about living here is the kindness that I witness every day.

To me kindness means putting someone else first.  My father always reminded me that the two most important words to share were “Thank You”.  And the best gift to give was a smile.  Neither costs a penny.  As I grew up I realized that these simple acts were profound.  Why?  Because they were forms of connection and validation.  They are bridge-builders.

One of the benefits of walking through the park everyday is that it helps me put things in perspective.  It connects me to a larger world - a world that asks me to contribute and give back. 

So thank you for the kind deeds that I see everyday.  Thank you for caring for our park, for attending and supporting the farmers market, and for your involvement in our community.

And I say this with a smile on my face!

Craig Zehms
VVNA President

Voter Registration Deadline May 14th!

You can now register to vote online by clicking here.

A Message from the Friends of Liberty State Park

Dear Liberty State Park supporters,

LSP needs your crucial activism at the DEP Saturday, March 2nd, 10am to Noon LSP Terminal meeting of the Task Force created by billionaire Paul Fireman’s law and stacked with his surrogates. In-person attendees can make Public Comments on any proposals starting at 12:30pm BUT Zoom Attendees can write one Public Comment (not just one sentence) at any time after 10am!

ACTION ALERT to please REGISTER for Task Force Zoom here. The DEP stated that Zoom attendees will be directed to submit their Comments starting at 10am on the DEP’s Revitalization webpage.

We also urge park supporters planning to attend in person to register for Zoom, so you’d have the option to write an online Comment in case you need to leave before your turn to speak after 12:30pm.

NJ TRANSIT Public Hearings on Proposed Fare Raise

NJ TRANSIT met overwhelming backlash when they announced a 15% proposed fare hike.

There will be several public hearings throughout the month of March and we expect many advocates to attend these and emphasize that the state can repurpose the funds from the New Jersey Turnpike Expansion projects into funding NJ TRANSIT, expanding transit and providing more service.

NJ TRANSIT Hearing Page

• Friday, March 8, 2024 10:00am - 12:00pm SECAUCUS (Hudson County) Frank R. Lautenberg Station at Secaucus Junction – Long Hallway County Road & County Avenue, Secaucus, NJ 07094

• Friday, March 8, 2024 6:00pm - 8:00pm NEWARK (Essex County) NJ TRANSIT Headquarters – Board Room One Penn Plaza East, Newark, NJ 07105

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.

Upcoming Events

Now through February - Biblioteca Criolla Art Exhibition at the Library

Ongoing - Story Time every Wednesday at the Library

Ongoing - Bingo every Tuesday at the Library

2/26, 3:30pm - Black History Month Collaboration Quilt Craft at the Library

3/3, 6-7pm - All About Soup with Riggs Company Provisions

Join us for a delightful evening filled with soup and education at the Barrow Mansion. Get ready to learn the foundations of soup making from Meghan at Riggs Company Provisions, and make your own jar of soup to take home.

Tickets are limited. Register here.

3/10, 10am-3pm - Community Stitch In at CRRNJ Terminal

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.

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!

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.