Due to a water main break in front of 133 Grand Street, an estimated 75 families in the Paulus Hook area are without water.

Note that once the main is fixed, local residents should not drink the water for at least four hours.

For more information, contact United Water at 1 800 422 5987.

The HPHA thought this local event might be of interest to residents:

Forum: Urban Education and the economic downturn Tuesday 1/27/09 6:30pm
Date: Tuesday January 27, 2009
Time: 6:30 p.m.

Jersey City Families for Better Schools presents, "An evening with Professor Lois Weiner: The economic downturn and its impact on urbaneducation."

Hosted by local education advocate Shelley Skinner and Jersey City Councilman Steven Fulop, New Jersey City University and long time urban education scholar, Lois Weiner will discuss how global economic forces will influence our urban school system.

This is a challenge we will be facing in Jersey City along with so many other urban school districts. Lois Weiner brings a wealth of experience with her as a scholar, educator, writer, and parent who knows firsthand what we face in our children's schools. We hope you can attend to learn more about the changes we will be facing.

Find out more about Professor Weiner here: http://faculty.njcu.edu/lweiner/cv05.htm

Place: Rafael de J. Cordero School – P.S. #37 158 Erie Street (corner of 8th) Jersey City, NJ 07302

For map and directions, click here http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=158+Erie+Street+jersey+city&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.861942,56.25&ie=UTF8&ll=40.728625,-74.043002&spn=0.008147,0.013733&z=16&iwloc=addr

FOR MORE INFORMATION – PLEASE CONTACT SHELLEY SKINNER (JCFBS) AT 201-978-1474

Next Tuesday, January 20th, The Colgate Commercial Property Owners Association (CCPOA) will present to the Jersey City Planning Board, its redesign plans for the pocket park located at the corner of Essex and Greene Streets. Known to neighbors as "Colgate Park," the CCPOA refers to it as "Paulus Hook Park" (not to be confused with the real Paulus Hook Park, located at the intersection of Grand and Washington Streets).

In what is a very unusual arrangement, Colgate Park is not owned by the city, county or state, but is privately owned by the CCPOA. When Colgate left Paulus Hook in 1992, it contracted in writing to maintain the land "in perpetuity" as a "public park" for "the benefit and enjoyment of the public." The CCPOA is now proposing to renovate the park for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Last fall, the CCPOA presented plans for the renovation at a public meeting of the Historic Paulus Hook Association. At this meeting many suggestions and requests were made regarding the design. The most notable community concerns expressed were the small size and amount of equipment of the children's play area in comparison to the basketball court, which while an important neighborhood amenity, is not the first priority of the many parents and families now living in our rapidly growing community. The other main major suggestions included a fence around the play area and the provision of a permanent maintenance plan.

The CCPOA returned in December, having addressed only one of the three items noted above; the fence around the play area. On Tuesday, January 20 the CCPOA will present these plans to the Jersey City Planning Board for its approval, and it is important that many concerned Paulus Hook residents be present to oppose the CCPOA's current redesign plan, and support our community's recommendations for a park that will better serve the needs of Paulus Hook.

The HPHA will ask the Planning Board to consider the community's requests:
1) the Colgate Center Property Owners Association's (CCPOA) obligations to the community
2) the CCPOA's solicitation of comments from the public
3) the plan itself vis a vis the community's comments

Please hold the date.
Date: 1/20/09
Time: 5:30 PM
Place: Jersey City City Hall, 280 Grove Street, City Council Chambers

The HPHA received notice about this public meeting and would like to encourage residents to attend:

The SECOND PUBLIC MEETING for JERSEY CITY MOBILITY 2050 will be held on Thursday, January 29 at 6 PM at Jersey City City Hall, 280 Grove Street, in the Anna Cucci Memorial Council Chambers.

We want your feedback on a work in progress.

The purpose of JERSEY CITY MOBILITY 2050 is to create anaction-oriented TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN for Jersey City’smulti-modal transportation network (including light rail, PATH, bus, ferry, bicycle facilities, sidewalks, and roadways) through the year 2050.

Come to the public meeting to learn about the plan's draft vision, goals, and objectives and the proposed steps to achieve that vision.

Visit: www.jerseycitymobility2050.com

The Jersey City Incinerator Authority will be picking up Christmas trees on Thursdays through the end of January. Only three dates are left, so if you want to dispose of your tree, please follow these guidelines:

Place your tree, free of ornaments, on the curb on Wednesday night. Remove any plastic bags at the curb. Wreaths are not accepted.

Dates left: January 14th (for collection on the 15th), January 21st (for collection on the 22nd), and January 28th (for collection on the 29th).