Council approves funding for Embankment lawyer; Hyman files suit
The City Council at its Wednesday meeting approved by a 5-2 vote another contract with Seattle lawyer Charles Montange, who has been providing legal counsel to the city about the Sixth Street Embankment, the historic group of sandstone and granite walls spanning Sixth Street downtown from Marin Boulevard to Brunswick Street. The city would like to use the Embankment for development as a park and for light rail, but developer Steve Hyman owns the property and wants to build houses on it.
Hyman, who owns the Embankment with his wife, objected to the legislation before the vote, telling the council the $50,000 they approved for Montange was a “waste” of taxpayer money, and announcing that he is filing a lawsuit against Montange in State Superior Court.
Hyman also got support from several council members. Michael Sottolano, Peter Brennan, and Bill Gaughan all want the Embankment issue to be settled rather than spending more money on litigation fighting Hyman’s ownership of the Embankment. Sottolano voted for the legislation reluctantly, while Brennan and Gaughan voted against.
After the meeting, City Council President Mariano Vega said that Hyman had a lot of “gall” making the comments he did at the meeting.
Free Concerts in Liberty State Park
J ersey City will hold the Summerfest 2009 concerts in “The Gardens” on the eastern side of the Liberty House Restaurant on cobblestoned Zapp Drive in Liberty State Park this summer. The concerts are presented by Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs on Sundays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Concerts upcoming: July 19, Jersey Sound; July 21, Amy Speace; July 26, Barbara Sharpe; July 28, Ray Goodman & Brown; Aug. 4, Reminisce; Aug. 9, Harlem Renaissance Orchestra; Aug. 11, Los Seis Del Son; Aug. 16, NY Exception; Aug. 18, Soul Finger; Aug. 23 (6-8 p.m.), Ambrosia; Aug. 25, Ron Gartner; Sunday Aug. 30 (6-8 p.m.), Timothy Wilson (rhythm and blues) and a second band, Choice.
For general information, call Special Events Coordinator Cliff Perkins at JC Division of Cultural Affairs at (201) 547-4327. For questions about concerts if there is the threat of rain, call Friends of LSP at (201) 792-1993.
Women’s health center to offer free screenings; named for top golfer
Cristie Kerr, one of the world’s top women’s professional golfers, joined LibertyHealth Systems on Thursday to announce the founding of The Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center on the Jersey City Medical Center campus. The center, to be housed in a five-story building presently under construction, will offer breast cancer screening programs including free mammograms and education to women with or without insurance.
The Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center will be the first full-service facility in the Hudson County area providing detection, healing, support, and recovery services. Cristie Kerr, a breast cancer activist, and LibertyHealth aim to have the center fully functioning and open to the community by Feb. 1, 2010.
On Friday, Aug. 14, Cristie will host the fifth annual Birdies for Breast Cancer Charity Golf Classic in Jersey City at Liberty National, and all proceeds will be dedicated to developing The Cristie Kerr Women’s Health Center.
“I look forward to collaborating with LibertyHealth, which already plays such a crucial role to the Hudson County community, to accomplish our shared aspirations,” Kerr said.
For more information, call LibertyHealth at (201) 377-6054.
College offers free remedial classes
Hudson County Community College is offering free Summer Remedial Studies for New Fall 2009 Students from July 20 through Aug. 14 in day (9 a.m.-1 p.m.) and evening (6-10 p.m.) sessions. More information and the application can be accessed by visiting www.hccc.edu/cass, clicking on “Surveys” and then clicking through to the “Summer Bridge Program Registration” listing at the top of the page, or by phoning (201) 360-4088.