Dear Editor:
The Pershing Field Garden Friends 8th Annual Fall Clean-up & Planting was held in Pershing Field on Saturday, Oct. 23. This year we participated in Make a Difference Day along with other volunteer groups throughout Jersey City. Make a Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others – a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors.
We would like to thank all those who participated in this most worthwhile project. Special thanks to our PFGF volunteers, Debby DeVenezia, Tess O’Brien, Patricia O’Hanlon, Albina Meluso, Pat Mangini, Vinny McNamara, and Nikki Sirkin, whose efforts made this project a huge success. We would also like to recognize PFGF member and retired school teacher Diane Brown, retired PS No. 27 Assistant Principal Avis Johnson, school teacher Susan Blanchard, parents Gita Bhayani, Anastasia Kourmousis, and Kellie Kostadimas for their efforts in recruiting local students to assist in our planting. We were fortunate to have an excellent turnout of 20 children from PS No. 27, St. Ann’s School, McNair High School, and Dickinson High School participating in this event. Many of the students have worked with us in prior years and are always a tremendous asset to our beautification projects. They all received community service certificates for their participation. Thanks to Rodney Hadley, director of Public Works, for his ongoing support and cooperation. Richie and Mark from Pizza Masters generously donated lunch for our volunteers, which was greatly appreciated.
Pershing Field Garden Friends is a member of The Jersey City Parks Coalition, a non-profit 501c3 organization. Our mission is to help develop, renovate, and maintain the parks and public spaces of Jersey City through advocacy and neighborhood empowerment. We believe that the beautification of our parks and public spaces dramatically impacts our quality of life, improves the well being of citizens, and spawns neighborhood revitalization.
Laura Skolar, President
Pershing Field Garden Friends