General Meeting July 16th, 7pm

We will be kicking our meeting off early with an in-person mixer from 6:30-7 to meet your neighbors before the hybrid meeting starts at 7pm. Bring your favorite snacks or drinks to share at our summer sendoff potluck before the meeting begins!

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 VP Rebecca Missel

- Welcome Caroline Dayton Pauker, new Treasurer, and Taylor Bond, new At-Large Board Member!

7:05 Update on Bright St. School Drop Off Traffic Meeting

- As many of you know, the traffic on Bright St. during school drop off/pick up is a public safety hazard and an impact on quality of life. One option being discussed to remedy the issue is to turn Bright Street one way east bound so that kids can be dropped off school side while allowing room for other cars to pass. Please let us know if you’re in favor of this option, or not, by emailing us at welcome@vvnajc.org.

7:10 Turnpike Expansion Update

7:15 Small Business Feature: Land of the Living with Larissa Belcic

7:20 Planning & Development Committee Updates

- The next Historic Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday July 17th, 2024, at 6:30 pm in the Boardroom at the Holloway Building, City Hall Annex, 4 Jackson Square, Jersey City, NJ 07305. This building is also known as 39 Kearney Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07305.

7:30 Events Committee Updates

7:35 Barkha Patel, Director of Infrastructure

- Submit questions you have for Barkha to welcome@vvnajc.org! Topics can include: public transit, street safety, parks, public spaces, trees, sustainability and more.

8:05 All other business

**Please note, there will be no general meeting in August.

Have suggestions for future speakers, discussion topics or business spotlights? Email us at welcome@vvnajc.org!

Dear Neighbors,

On behalf of the neighborhood – I want to wish our President Craig Zehms a speedy and complete recovery following his recent surgery. We look forward to welcoming Craig back to the podium, stoop, and market this fall.

My name is Rebecca Missel, and I’m a vice president of the Van Vorst Neighborhood Association.  Hope to see you this Tuesday, July 16th at the Barrow Mansion for our Summer Sendoff Meeting. Bring your favorite summertime snacks or drinks to share at our potluck mixer at 6:30pm. 

At 7pm, our meeting begins and features Director of Infrastructure Barkha Patel. Submit your questions about public transit, street safety, parks, public spaces, and sustainability in advance by replying to this email. Or come on Tuesday with your questions. 

We’ll close Tuesday with extra socializing time – board games welcome. 

And save the date for our Summer Book Swap on August 10th at Van Vorst Park! There’s more details below, so start digging into those shelves. 

Wishing you cooler days ahead,

Rebecca Missel

VVNA Vice President

A massive $10.7 billion highway widening is proposed in Jersey City.

Make your voice heard on the record and submit a written public comment to the US Coast Guard demanding that the Project not proceed without a full environmental impact statement: Send a comment here! (a pre-drafted template is already waiting for you!)

The project would widen 8.1 miles of the I-78 Turnpike from Newark to Jersey City to the Holland Tunnel.  Years of studies show that widening highways do NOT alleviate traffic. Instead, more lanes means more cars and trucks on the roads, an even bigger bottleneck at the Holland Tunnel, more cut through traffic on Hudson County streets, and all of the devastating air pollution, asthma, street safety and climate impacts.  The $10.7B would be much better spent improving NJTransit and the PATH, extending lines and improving service and maintenance.

Learn more at turnpiketrap.org

Neighbors Needed to Table for VVNA at the Farmers Market!

Do you enjoy being a part of the Van Vorst Neighborhood Association? Do you think that the events we host or the topics we spread awareness about are worth sharing? Then you would be a great fit to help us spread the word about the VVNA and upcoming activities this summer at our farmer’s market table! If you have 1-3 hours to volunteer this summer between 10-1pm on Saturdays starting this coming weekend, please sign up to volunteer here: Google Form Here!

Book Swap Volunteers Needed

Our next book swap is scheduled for 8/10. We’re looking for volunteers to help us collect books at the gazebo the evening of 8/9, help us carry & organize books the morning of 8/10, and help us pack up the swap after it is over! Interested? Email us at welcome@vvnajc.org to volunteer.

DJ Needed for Disco in the Park!

This October we are bringing back Disco in the Park and we are looking for a guest DJ with their own equipment and a love of dance music! Know someone who may be interested? Have them send us an email at welcome@vvnajc.org!

The first of our 15 varieties of Dahlias. Located on the north side of the dog run, southwest corner of the gazebo. Can you find all 15 varieties this season?

Upcoming Events

7/20-21, 11am-6pm - Affordable Art Show at Liberty State Park

8/10, 10am-1pm - Book Swap at the park hosted by the VVNA

9/7, 4-7pm - Stoop Party hosted by the VVNA (details coming soon!)

Now - August 13th Ongoing - Liberty State Park Concert Series

Ongoing - Mondays, 11:30am-12:30pm - Little Builders Club (Ages 1-5)

Ongoing - Fridays, 3-4:30pm - Fun Fridays (Ages 6+)

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.

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

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

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.