Jersey City Register

Archive for the ‘Journal Square/McGinley’ Category

McDonald’s. Photo taken a couple of days ago.

McDonald’s Journal Square moved just across the street and is now awaiting its official opening date. In the picture, you will see that the scaffoldings are now gone and the signs have been installed already. The franchise also has job openings, which are posted on the internet (mcnewjersey.com).

Streetview of Burger King (Montgomery St and Bergen Avenue, Jersey City)

Walking south (McGinley) along Bergen Avenue, you will find Burger King. This fastfood branch (also the MLK Branch) was reported “closing” last month because the operator couldn’t pay his debts. He was given until June 15 to settle everything or the two restaurants will be shut down. I guess he managed to pay off his debts in time, as this Burger King is still open.

If you have any updates, please feel free to post them in the comment section.

Guy is in Gee and his wife were in Journal Square a couple of weeks ago when they met Tom. Read his story about Tom below:

“As my wife and I killed time near Journal Square in Jersey City we came across Tom. He had this great big smile on his face. I said “hello’, and after a few pleasantries, Tom asked if we could spare some change so he could get something to eat. I said we would do better than that, we’d take him to a nearby Burger King and buy him a burger. He gladly accepted the offer, and on the way to BK he had second thoughts. “Would you mind if we went to Dunkin’ Donuts instead, I like their pizza”. No problem.

We went with Tom into Dunkin’ Donuts and he ordered pizza and coffee.

While we waited, Tom told us that he had just gotten out of the hospital and still was in a bit of pain, and had catheters hooked up to him. But he rarely stopped smiling.

Tom was born in Atlanta, and had moved to New Jersey when he was 6 months old.”

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Tom is #30 in Guy’s 100 Strangers project, which is a photo challenge to take 100 portraits of total strangers according to its website. His other JC strangers — Enrique and Ben of Heights and Hamilton Park respectively — were also featured here.

Tenants of Grandview Terrace have been dealing with the bugs for 3 years already!

The Jersey Journal reports that there are bedbug infestations in Hudson County, and one of the buildings here in JC “had nearly 50 cases of bedbugs in the past three years.” The worst part is, the tenants are asked to shoulder the bill ($300) to exterminate the pests. The tenants of Grandview Terrace who earn on a fixed income, said they can’t afford it.

Personally, I would pay that amount under the agreement that the owner will reimburse my money or would deduct it from my monthly rent. However, there’s no guarantee that bedbugs will go away; they would simply transfer from one unit to another without you knowing it.

If you are having bites and do not know the cause, you might want to check out your sofa and beds/matress for bedbug presence.

Wikipedia describes the feeding habits of bedbugs:

“…Bedbugs are generally active only at dawn, with a peak attack period about an hour before sunrise. They may attempt to feed at other times, however, given the opportunity, and have been observed to feed at any time of the day…. After feeding for about five minutes, the bug returns to its hiding place….” more info…

Farmers Market kicks off today at Journal Square. It will be open on Wednesdays (1030AM - 730PM) through September 24, 2008.

Journal Square also provides FREE LIVE MUSIC every Wednesday and Friday (1130AM - 130PM) for the entire summer.

Farmers Market @ JSQ
Where : Just outside Journal Square PATH Station
When : Every Wednesday starting today (June 25) - Sept 24.
Time : 1030AM - 730PM

Make sure to check out the calendar for more Jersey City Farmers Market schedule (Van Vorst Park).

A few photos if you read the rest …

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Who goes to Twin City? Have you noticed the tree in front of the supermarket on Van Wagenen Avenue?

The first picture was captured by Google Maps. I’m not sure when it was taken, I am guessing around Fall of 2007.

Notice the branches?

The next photo was taken today. See the difference?

One branch left

I am not sure what happened but we all know that Jersey City had a string of thunderstorms the past couple of weeks.

The tree losing branches: is it an act of man or a result of fortuitous event?

YWCA Apartments at 111 Storms Avenue, Jersey City. Map here.

I swear when I read the news, it sounded like ABC’s popular reality show “Extreme Makeover Home Edition“, and a Marylanad-based company - Housing Trust of America Company (HTA) — played the role of Ty Pennington.

…HTA spent roughly $19,000 to perform a “moderate rehab” on each unit, said HTA President Wallace Scruggs.

In addition to the units, HTA spiffed up a lounge area on the first floor with carpeting, sofas and a high-definition TV, and added a new coat of paint, along with outdoor furniture on a seventh-floor outdoor patio….

The renovations made 86-year Gettie Williams happy. He’s been living there for 18 years. “The place is beautiful,” said Williams, showing off the new floors, kitchen, paint job, and upgraded lighting fixtures in her one-bedroom unit to the Jersey Journal writer.

Full news here.

Bally Total Fitness here in Jersey City keeps moving its opening date.

A lot of anxious Jersey City residents have asked this question: When will Bally’s in Journal Square (JSQ) open?

According to JCConstruction blog, Bally is expected to open this July. But after a quick phone call last week, I learned that it is going to delay the opening date.

The lady that I talked to told me they will open late August or early September. Praveen, a JCRegister.com visitor, commented the same thing.

I called again yesterday afternoon, and the guy on the other line said that BALLY’s JC will open in two months — around late August.

If you want to call them yourself, find the 411 below. (You will be asked for your information, by the way … it’s up to you if you want to give it or not)

BALLY TOTAL FITNESS Jersey City (Journal Square Branch)
Address : Corner of Bergen Avenue and Newkirk Street, JC
Phone : (201) 974-9010
Opening Date : Late August/Early September (Tentative)

Free Health Test at this site!

Another great event at Saint Aedan parish….

“Senior Citizen Inc. of Jersey City in cooperation with Metropolitan Family Health network, Wellcare, Baldwin Physical Therapy, Life Scan will be providing FREE Medical & Pediatric Consultation, Pediatric Weight & Height Check, Blood Sugar Check & Blood Pressure Monitoring.”

I’ll try to go and take some pictures.

Health Fair for the Family
Where : St. Aedan Multi-Purpose Room
Address : 41 Tuers Avenue, JC
When : June 22, 2008 9AM - 1PM
Contact : (201) 433-6800 (Church Rectory)

Radar map not clickable.

It looks bad outside: gray, dark, thick clouds, winds — all indications of severe thunderstorm, not only in Jersey City, but for the rest of Hudson County and other tri-state areas.

See below some pictures of Journal Square under thick clouds!

[Show as slideshow]

Read the rest for the Severe Weather Statement from National Weather Service….

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Mark your calendar and save the date for the Philippine-American Friendship Day Grand Parade on June 29, 2008. This event is one of the big annual Philippine festivals in Jersey City as it symbolizes the friendship between America and the Philippines. In New York, they celebrate this sooner — as early as first day of June.

There will be lots of activities during the parade like marching bands and floats. And then at Exchange Place, there will be celebrity performers like Philippine Diva Jessa Zaragoza and musician Mig Ayesa; food galore; cultural shows; flea market; health fair; kiddie entertainment and games; and the Grand Finals of the 2008 Filipino Idol Singing Competition.

Philippine-American Friendship Day Parade
Where : From Montgomery Street and Jordan Street to Exchange Place
When : June 29, 2008 from 8AM - 7PM
Organizers : PAFCOM with the assistance of JC Mayor Jerramiah Healy, JC municipal Council, JC Dept. of Cultural Affairs

I will be there in the parade with some friends and will spend time at Exchange Place, so see you there!

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