C.A.S.I.D. Management Corp. 366 Central Ave., Suite 201 Jersey City, NJ 07307 www.JCHeights.com Jersey City Heights NEWS Official Newsletter of the Central Avenue Special Improvement District Management Corporation Spring 2008 Everything Jersey City Festival! Central Avenue SID Proudly Presents the Saturday, May 17, 2008 on Central Avenue What are YOU doing on Saturday, May 17? How about The festival is expected to bring over 10,000 people from taking in some free concerts, letting the kids try out a rock all over the Heights and the surrounding area to Central climbing wall, enjoying some zeppoles and checking out the Avenue, making it the first festival of its scale to take place offerings of some of the area’s best artists, crafters, and on a main street in Jersey City in a very long time. There merchants? If this sounds like your kind of way to spend a will be something for everyone: music and food for all tastes, Saturday, Central Avenue is where you’ll want be on May shopping for the grown-ups, and rides for the kids. The 17 to help celebrate the first annual Everything Jersey City festival will take place between Hutton and South Streets Festival! on Central Avenue between 11 AM and 6 PM. Admission is free, and the festival is handicap accessible.

“The Everything Jersey City Festival will give the entire Jersey City community a chance to come together and celebrate our pride and harmony,” said Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. “I can’t think of a better way to showcase our many outstanding artists, musicians, businesses and community organizations.”

Festival supporters gather on Central Avenue to celebrate the festival banner-raising The festival will feature three stages ceremony on March 19. of free music concerts, including Continued on page 6 NEW Discounted Fare on the 10/99s: Round Trip from the Heights to NYC = $4.50 Coach USA bus routes 10 and 99s have been operating on fare, which will be available only to riders boarding north of Central Avenue in Jersey City since August 2007, offering on the 10 and 99s bus routes starting April Heights residents a convenient one-seat ride to the Port Au- 7, will be $4.50 round-trip, a 44% discount off the previous thority Bus Terminal in . While ridership round-trip fare of $8. is increasing along the centrally-located route, Coach USA is working in partnership with the Central Avenue SID Riders can pay the $2 one-way fare in cash on New York- (CASID) to improve the accessibility and affordability of the bound buses. To pay the local transit infrastructure even further. discounted fare on return trips from New York, rid- To entice new riders and improve the overall viability of the ers must show tickets pur- 10 and 99s routes, which are the only routes to service Cen- chased in advance. These tral Avenue, Coach USA Red & Tan in Hudson County has tickets will be available for announced plans to offer a promotional fare to and from the sale at Goehrig’s Bakery Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. The new Continued on page 3 Spring 2008 Heights news 2 Central Avenue SID Message from the Board of Trustees Management Corp. Dear Reader, Gaughan (Ward D) and Steve Lipski (Ward 366 Central Ave., Suite 201 C), CEO Eugene Nelson and Roberta Jersey City, NJ 07307 With only weeks left before May 17, we are Farber of the Jersey City Economic pleased to report that plans for Jersey City’s Development Corporation, the State of NJ Ph: (201) 656-1366 biggest main street festival are quickly becoming Urban Enterprise Zone Program, Director Fx: (201) 656-4037 a reality! Our city has numerous festivals Email: [email protected] Maryanne Kelleher and the staff of the city and celebrations for specific communities Division of Cultural Affairs, and all the Board of Trustees and neighborhoods, but as the title of the city officials who have served on the Festival Everything Jersey City Festival indicates, the Planning Committee, in particular those Michael Yun CASID wants to offer an opportunity for all of President from the Jersey City Police Department, the Garden State News us to come together and celebrate everything Jersey City Fire Department, the Jersey 366 Central Ave. about where we live - our talented musicians City Parking Authority and the Jersey and artists, our enterprising local businesses, Domingo Handal City Incinerator Authority. Also, we thank Vice President and the non-profits, civic organizations and Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, the Amourville Ice Cream public servants who make our city better every Board of Chosen Freeholders, and Director 290 Central Ave. day. Bill LaRosa and Eileen Gaughan from Sanford Fishman If you are a Heights resident, CASID member the county Office of Cultural Affairs and Treasurer Tourism. And last but certainly not least, we Bond Drugs or community leader, we hope you will take a 371 Central Ave. careful look at this special edition of the Heights want to thank the community leaders and News to learn more about the festival, how it residents in the Heights for their patience Gary Solomon with the temporary inconveniences caused by Secretary will affect you, and how you can participate. Hauptman Carpets the festival and their willingness to share their 307 Central Ave. If you’ve picked this newsletter up for the first neighborhood with the rest of the city for a day. Marco LoSchiavo time at the festival, welcome to Central Avenue! The support we have received from all of you Trustee Organizing the Everything Jersey City Festival has made it possible to organize a premiere Nino’s Shoes is just one of the ways that the Central Avenue festival for everyone in our area to enjoy. 344 Central Ave. Special Improvement District Management We welcome your feedback on this year’s Grace Cutri Corporation (CASID) guides and promotes Trustee the positive social growth and economic festival and ideas for future events - don’t DC Travel Bureau hesitate to e-mail, call or stop by the office. 341 Central Ave. revitalization occurring in the City of Jersey City. In addition, we provide supplemental Enjoy your spring, and we’ll see you at the Gilbert Mendez management, maintenance, and improvements Trustee Everything Jersey City Festival! Mendez Agency to the Central Avenue business district. If you 263 Central Ave. have ever seen a street maintenance worker Sincerely, keeping Central Avenue clean, holiday lights President Michael Yun and David Diaz brightening our dark winter evenings, or District Manager banners and TV commercials promoting our the CASID Board of Trustees

Brittany Hopkins local businesses, you have seen the CASID Director at work. Visit our website, www.JCHeights. Editor in Chief, com, for more information about all that we do Central Avenue News on behalf of residents and businesses in the Irwin M. Rosen, Esq. Heights and Jersey City as a whole. Corporation Counsel We would be remiss if we did not take this Cynthia Hadjiyannis, Esq. opportunity to thank the many supporters Corporation Co-Counsel who have helped us realize our vision for the Gilbert Sunshine, CPA Everything Jersey City Festival over the past Board Accountant months. You can read more about the festival’s Oliwa & Company, CPA many sponsors from Jersey City’s business and Auditor civic community on the next page, but we want to offer special thanks to Mayor Jerramiah T. Paid For In Part By The State of Healy and the City of Jersey City Municipal Urban Enterprise Zone Program Council, in particular Councilmen Bill www.JCHeights.com Spring 2008 Heights news 3 Festival Offers Central Avenue Businesses a Chance to Shine By playing host to the Everything Jersey City Festival, Central Avenue businesses know they’ll have to deal with 8 Steps to a Successful Festival some inconveniences on May 17th - the street will be closed, for Central Avenue Businesses and their regular Saturday customers may stay away. Still, a survey of business owners conducted in December 2007 1. Apply and pay for a sidewalk sale permit or exhibitor found that over 90% support the festival and look forward space - call the CASID office at (201) 656-1366 if you to the the exposure it will bring to this traditional main haven’t already done so. Merchants who set up displays street business district. without a permit on the day of the festival WILL be subject to heavy fines from city inspectors. “We’re going to see people passing by our storefronts during 2. Choose inventory that will show off what your business the festival who might have moved to Jersey City within the past few years but have never come to see everything has to offer and sell well at a festival. that’s available right here on Central Avenue,” said CASID 3. Plan a professional-looking booth or sidewalk sale trustee and Festival Planning Committee member Marc using a canopy, table, skirt and clear signage. LoSchiavo. “This is a great opportunity for us as business 4. Clean and decorate your storefront for the festival. owners to show Jersey City who we are and what we have Make it look as inviting as your booth or sidewalk sale so to offer.” people will stop in! 5. Prepare for parking constraints. Because parking CASID members have first priority in obtaining booth will be prohibited on Central Avenue and several side spaces at the festival and pay a significnatly discounted streets, the CASID will provide shuttle service from exhibitor rate. To ensure that Central Avenue businesses several parking lots in the area during the festival - see get the maximum benefit from the festival, the CASID page 7 for details. has also arranged for exhibitor booths to be laid out in the 6. Inform your regular Saturday customers and center of Central Avenue, allowing festivalgoers to see and employees about the festival, street closure and parking shop at both the booths and permanent storefronts. Many restrictions ahead of time. businesses will be participating in the festival by hosting 7. Sell, sell, sell and promote, promote, promote at the sidewalk sales, selling festival food and offering giveaways festival! Be sure to have enough staff on hand for the to entice customers to return to their establishments after day and make your display interactive by demonstrating the festival. Businesses and exhibitors from elsewhere in a product or offering a sample. Jersey City have also been invited to participate, making 8. Explore the festival for a few minutes and gather ideas the exhibitor offerings truly reflect the range of products for the next one! and services that are available here every day.

Coach USA, continued from page 1 (475 Central Ave.), Garden State News (366 Central Ave.) of the convenient ride into the city from the Jersey City and Mendez Agency (263 Central Ave.). A $0.50 handling Heights on the 10 and 99s” said Coach USA South District fee may apply. General Manager John Emberson.

In response to customer feedback, the company is adding For more information about Coach USA bus schedules and two additional New York-bound trips making stops along fares, visit http://www.coachusa.com/redandtan or call (908) Central Avenue during the morning rush hour as of April 354-3330. 7. With the additional service, being offered on a trial basis, New York-bound buses will stop on Central Avenue at Hut- ton St. at 7:03, 7:25, 7:49, 8:03, and 8:37 AM, arriving at the Port Authority Bus Terminal approximately 30 minutes later.

Also as of April 7, the 10 and 99s will no longer operate any trips along Palisade Avenue. The three southbound evening trips that currently travel along Palisade Avenue will now travel on Central Avenue. “By lowering the fare to New York and improving service during the morning rush, we want to encourage more commuters to take advantage www.JCHeights.com Spring 2008 Heights news 4 Everything Jersey City Festival Hutton Street Stage D. Plumbers Meet Your Elected Officials - 1:00 PM Rollicking Western Tex-Jazz-a- Join Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, County Executive Thomas A. Billy! DeGise, festival hosts Councilman Bill Gaughan (Ward D) and Councilman Steve Lipski (Ward C), and bagpipers from the Jersey City Fire Department for a procession to the South Street Stage. Surati Noted traditional and contemporary Indian performing arts company led by award- winning founder-director Rimli Roy

Ray Rodriguez y Swing Sabroso Salsa Dura para bailar!

The Eamonn Ryan Band Not your father’s Irish band!

Open House and Student Showcase at the Hope GUIDED TOURS Center for the Visual and Heights Historical Landmarks Jersey City Reservoir 1:00 PM - Meet in front of CapitalOne Check www.JCHeights.com for Performing Arts Bank (corner of Central & Bowers) meeting time & place. 110-116 Cambridge Ave. Offered by the Jersey City Offered by the Jersey City (Through the municipal parking lot Landmarks Conservancy Reservoir Preservation Alliance south of Bowers Street) www.JCHeights.com Spring 2008 Heights news 5 Entertainment Lineup South Street Stage 11 AM to 6 PM BuzzUniverse For the An eclectic blend of rock, jazz, latin & world grooves

Kids Amy Speace Catchy Americana with • Moonwalk indelible hooks, sharply • Super Slide observed lyrics and a gritty • Rock Wall urban edge • Clown • JC Fire Truck • Kid-Friendly Exhibitors Runaway Orange • ...and much Radio-friendly pop-rock for everyone! more!

Professional The Legendary Teenagers Cake Decorating World-famous doo-wop group performing Demonstration their hit “Why do Fools Fall in Love” 2 PM Sponsored by Goehrig’s Bakery

Lincoln Street Stage Sponsored by Nino’s Shoes DJ Commandante hosts bands, dancers and more! Visit www.JCHeights.com for updated info on the Lincoln Street Stage lineup. www.JCHeights.com Spring 2008 Heights news 6 Festival Sponsors Turn Dream Into Reality Visitors enjoying the free “We have been overwhelmed by the level of financial and in- entertainment at the kind support that local businesses, leaders and institutions Everything Jersey City have provided for the first annual festival,” said CASID Festival on May 17 may treasurer Sanford Fishman. “These sponsors have shown not realize it, but the real leadership in supporting such a significant new bill for all the necessary initiative for Jersey City.” equipment, performers, marketing and staffing “I strongly encourage everyone who enjoys the Everything for the event adds up Jersey City Festival to thank our outstanding sponsors Festival supporters Freeholder to over $100,000. While by giving them your business and support,” said CASID Chairman Jeffrey Dublin, the Central Avenue SID, President and festival chair Michael Yun. “Without their Freeholder Eliu Rivera, the City of Jersey City involvement, we could never put on a festival of this scale.” Mayor Jerramiah Healy and and Hudson County are For a complete list of festival sponsors, please see page 8. Councilman Peter Brennan join providing significant CASID President Michael Yun at seed money and in-kind In return for their support, sponsors receive significant the festival banner-raising held services to launch the promotional benefits through the festival marketing on March 19. event, sponsors from campaign, which includes banners, print advertising, Jersey City’s business posters, direct mail, transit advertising, web promotion and and civic communities have enthusiastically stepped giveaway items. Businesses and individuals interested in forward to bring the event to fruition. sponsoring the 2009 Everything Jersey City Festival are encouraged to contact the CASID office at (201) 656-1366. Festival, continued from page 1 performances by The Legendary Teenagers (“Why Do year in Jersey City, but the Everything Jersey City Festival Fools Fall in Love”), Ray Rodriguez y Swing Sabroso, Amy will be the first to welcome those from all walks of life to Speace, Runaway Orange, The Eamonn Ryan Band, Surati, one of our main streets,” said Festival Chair and Central BuzzUniverse, and D. Plumbers. Performances by Don and Avenue SID (CASID) President Michael Yun. “I encourage Rosita Dance Studio, the Kennedy Dancers, Jang Star Tae everyone to come and see what Jersey City is all about!” Kwon Do and Family Fitness Martial Arts will round out the entertainment lineup on the Hutton and South Street The Everything Jersey City Festival is being organized Stages. A third stage at Lincoln Street sponsored by Nino’s by the Central Avenue Special Improvement District Shoes (344 Central Ave.) will feature Jersey City’s own DJ Management Corp. (CASID) in partnership with Mayor Commandante and even more performances at the center Jerramiah T. Healy, the City of Jersey City Municipal of the festival. Council and Division of Cultural Affairs, Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise, the Board of Chosen “There are over 30 ethnic and neighborhood festivals every Freeholders and Office of Cultural Affairs and Tourism. The festival is hosted by Heights Councilman Bill Gaughan (Ward D) and Councilman Steve Lipski (Ward C). For updated information on the Everything Jersey City Festival, visit www.JCHeights.com.

Festival Sponsorship and EMS Support Provided By: JERSEY CITY MEDICAL CENTER/WILZIG HOSPITAL

• Modern Facility

• Latest Technology

• Outstanding Medical Staff

• Minutes Away by Light Rail

OUR MISSION IS • Region’s Trauma Center

YOU! (201) 915-2000 355 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 libertyhcs.org www.JCHeights.com Getting to the Spring 2008 Heights news Everything Jersey 7 Heights Residents: Plan Ahead for a Hassle-FreeCity Festival Festival While the first annual Everything Jersey City Festival will be agreat Congress Street 85 opportunity for those with connections to the Jersey City Heights to come Congress Street together and celebrate, please be aware of these changes in traffic patterns, parking and access to local businesses on Saturday, May 17: Legend exhibitor • Central Avenue will be closed to traffic andparking between Hutton booths street barriers Street and South Street from 7 am to 8pm on May 17th to allow for Paterson Street tra c ow setup and cleanup. Bowers Street will be open to westbound traffic across P parking Central Avenue. Other side streets adjacent to Central Avenue between bus stop Hutton Street and South Street will be closed to all traffic. Police officers kid’s rides and will be posted at each closed intersection to assist residents of the closed amusements streets in accessing their homes. Bleecker Street • Cars parked within the festival area after 7 AM on May 17 risk being towed at the owners’ expense. The CASID and City of Jersey South Street City are making every effort to notify local residents of the parking ban in Light Rail the days leading up to the festival. However, towing will be a last resort if South Street Shuttle necessary to clear the area of parked cars for their own safety. 10, 99s, 83 • Coach USA bus route 10 will detour on Summit Avenue between South Manhattan Ave. and Congress/Paterson St. during the street closure. NJ Street Transit bus routes will run on Thorne Street their normal routes. Stage • Due to the street closure and Getting to the Festival limited parking, the CASID Festival attendees are highly encouraged encourages regular patrons of P to take advantage of Jersey City’s exten- Central Avenue businesses to Charles Street sive mass transit system to get to Central avoid hassles by running Avenue on May 17: their weekly errands before Saturday. Bowers Street Coach USA bus routes: 10 to Central and Bowers Street Manhattan and detour along Summit The one-day inconvenience of 10, 99s, 83 NJ Transit bus routes: 87 to Central and the street closure will be offset Manhattan, 83 to Summit and Bowers, by the many positive impacts of 85 to Central and Congress the festival, including the many Lincoln Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to the 9th family-friendly attractions Lincoln Street Stage P Street-Congress Street station - take the that will be brought to Central Sponsored by Nino’s Shoes elevator to Congress Street and take the Avenue, the opportunity for FREE shuttle to Central Avenue local non-profit and civic PATH to Journal Square : take bus Gri th Street organizations to fundraise, and Gri th Street 10/99s towards New York or 87 bus to- the boost for local businesses wards Hoboken who participate as exhibitors. Park and Ride: A FREE shuttle will be Hutton available for festivalgoers who park in the The CASID appreciates the Zabriskie Street Hudson County lot at Central Avenue and interest of the Jersey City Street Hoboken Avenue. Limited parking will be community in bringing a available in municipal lots near Central Stage memorable festival to Central Parking Shuttle Avenue (see map). Exhibitor parking will Avenue. We thank you in Hutton Street Hutton Street be provided in the PS#7 and PS#28 lots. advance for your patience and your many contributions 10, 99s, 83 Visit www.CoachUsa.com and www. to the festival. Check www. P NJTransit.com for transit schedules and JCHeights.com again soon for fares. For driving directions to Central Av- more news and updates as we enue, visit www.JCHeights.com. plan for May 17th! 10, 99s, 87 Central Avenue Central www.JCHeights.com The Central Avenue SID Management Corp. Thanks All of the Everything Jersey City Festival Sponsors!

City of Jersey City County of Hudson Jersey City Economic Development Corp. State of NJ Urban Enterprise Zone Program Christ Hospital Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs Jersey City, N.J. Hudson County Cultural Affairs and Tourism Jersey City Parking Authority United Water Liberty Health/Jersey City Medical Center Sovereign Bank PSE&G Hudson County Metro Honda Milrose Consultants Inc. Milrose Consultants Inc. The American Flag Company Board of Chosen Freeholders Port Authority of NY and NJ The Evening Journal Association Jeffrey Dublin, Liberty Academy Charter School Chairperson SuperCoups Doreen Di Domenico, Coach USA Hudson County Community College Vice Chairperson Hudson Medical Group Albert J. Cifelli, Advanced Healthcare Services Christ Hospital Chairperson Pro-Temp New Jersey Transit Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence, Susan Newman Design Maurice Fitzgibbons William O’Dea Innovation and Quality Service NY Waterway Jersey City Incinerator Authority Thomas F. Liggio Tilo E. Rivas Bank of America Jose C. Muñoz Eliu Rivera State Farm Insurance The Franklin Group CapitalOne Bank www.hudsoncountynj.org P.O.M Planning Services Hauptman Carpets Goehrig’s Bakery Blimpie Subs & Salads Immigration Advocacy Services

With a Special Thanks to:

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy Councilman Bill Gaughan Councilman Steve Lipski Councilman-at-Large Peter Brennan Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise Freeholder Eliu Rivera Assemblywoman Joan Quigley Assemblyman Vincent Prieto Congressman Steven Rothman Congressman Albio Sires

Mayor Councilman Councilman County Executive Freeholder U.S. Congressman U.S. Congressman Jerramiah T. Steve Bill Thomas A. Eliu Albio Steven HEALY LIPSKI GAUGHAN DEGISE RIVERA SIRES ROTHMAN