Tall ships set sail on Hudson to kick off Fleet Week New York and OpSail 2012
For a moment, the Hudson River looked like a scene from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ as 17 tall ships from around the world sailed past the New Jersey and Manhattan waterfronts, followed by 10 warships, both domestic and foreign. Military aircraft sailed overhead spewing streams of red, white, and blue as hundreds of children and adults swarmed the piers to catch a glimpse of history.
The ships entered the harbor on Wednesday May 23 at around 9 a.m. and traveled north up the Hudson, kicking off OpSail 2012 and Fleet Week. They docked upon their return south. Docking locations and tour times for the modern military vessels and historic tall ships visiting New York are available at http://www.nywaterway.com/FleetWeek2012.aspx.
The New York Waterway ferry and bus network will provide free commuter service for all active duty military personnel in uniform, from any nation, and all U.S. military veterans through May 30. Service men and women must present identification showing their active duty or veteran status to ride free on ferries departing from New Jersey terminals in Edgewater, Port Imperial and Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken, and 14th Street in Hoboken.
For schedules, prices and additional information please call (800) 533-3779, or visit http://www.nywaterway.com or www.facebook.com/nywaterway.
City park sprinklers & pools for summer season
Since the Memorial Day holiday marks the unofficial start of the summer, Jersey City has opened its two outdoor pools and has turned on sprinklers in city parks. The indoor swimming pool at Pershing Field was also opened over the Memorial Day weekend.
This weekend, the Pavonia Pool, at West Side Avenue and Pavonia, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Monday, May 28. The Lafayette Pool and Aquatic Center, at Johnston and Pacific, will also be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Monday, May 28. The pool at Pershing Field will be open from noon until 6 p.m. through Monday, May 28.
Limited weekday hours will begin on Tuesday, May 29 with full day extended hours beginning after the conclusion of the school year.
Sprinklers are now open seven days a week from 11 a.m. p.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting. The 14 city parks that have sprinklers include:
1. Dr. Lena Edwards Park – 325 Johnston Ave.
2. Arlington Park – 785 Grand St.
3. Audubon Park – 103-129 Bergen Ave.
4. Virginia Ave. Park – 74-80 Virginia Ave.
5. Venator Watson Park – Stevens Ave. & Kennedy Blvd.
6. Wilkinson Avenue Park – 146-152 Wilkinson Ave.
7. Terrace Avenue Park – Thorne St. and Terrace Ave.
8. Rev. Ercel Webb/LaFayette Park – Maple St. & Van Horne Ave.
9. LaPointe Park – 90-92 Dekalb Ave.
10. Country Village Park – 30 Sycamore Road
11. Pershing Field Park – Summit Ave. and Pershing Plaza
12. Roberto Clement Park – Enos Jones – 8th St. & Brunswick St.
13. Columbia Park – Bartholdi Ave. & Kennedy Blvd.
14. Bayside Park – 480 Garfield Ave.
The pools and sprinklers will remain open through Labor Day. For more information on pool hours and sprinklers, contact the Division of Parks and Forestry at (201) 547-4449.
Prieto Meadowlands preservation bill released by Assembly panel
Legislation that Assembly Budget Chairman Vincent Prieto has sponsored to promote preservation in the Meadowlands and Hackensack River regions was released Monday by an Assembly committee. The bill (A-2504) establishes the NJ Meadowlands Conservation Fund and provides for a designation on the state gross income tax return to permit taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to help support the work of the Meadowlands Conservation Trust.
“The Meadowlands Conservation Trust benefits land preservation in the Hackensack River and Meadowlands regions,” said Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen). “The trust acquires land to permanently preserve wetlands, waterways and open space, offering flood protection, clean water, wildlife habitat and passive recreations. These are all vital to our quality of life, and I’m confident many New Jerseyans will lend a helping hand once we make it easier to do so.”
The bill was released by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and can now be considered by the full Assembly.
JC Food Co-Op whipping up Spring Chef Showdown
On Thursday, June 14 at 6 p.m. the Jersey City Food Co-Op will host its Spring Chef Showdown, a cooking competition featuring chefs from Skinner’s Loft, LITM, Taj Mahal, Made with Love, and other local restaurants. As part of the competition, participating chefs will be given a secret ingredient sold by the Co-Op’s Pre-Shop Buying Club to use in the recipes entered in the competition. The chefs will receive the secret ingredient two days before the June 14 competition.
A jury panel comprised of local political and community leaders will vote on the best dishes cooked up for the event.
“We wanted to create an event that not only showcased the delicious food the Co-Op provides local residents, but that reflects the diverse cuisine exemplified by area restaurants, from Little India to downtown, to West Side Avenue,” said Jersey City Food Co-Op President and Showdown organizer Emilio DeLia. “Gone are the days when you have to commute out of Jersey City to purchase good, wholesome food or eat at a top-quality restaurant. Jersey City has it all and we put together this event to highlight that.”
The Spring Chef Showdown will also include live music, wine, beer, and a tricky tray.
The evening – which will take place at the Co-Op’s distribution center at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (440 Hoboken Ave.) in the Five Corners area near Journal Square – is a fundraiser to benefit the Co-Op’s efforts to offer Jersey City residents fresh food at an affordable price. The Co-Op is a member-owned and operated food store located at Hamilton Square downtown. All members contribute time to the Co-Op, which further allows the cooperative to keep operating costs low.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. To purchase tickets call (201) 500-5232 or visit www.jcfoodcoop.com.