Residents, FX actor take part in community event

by Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter Staff Writer

The Journal Square Spring Clean Up & Planting Event, co-sponsored by the Hudson Reporter and hosted by the Journal Square Restoration Corporation (JSRC) lured volunteers from all over on May 9.

Volunteers from the Magnolia Avenue Block Association and Journal Square-based company Community Solutions, Inc, joined the JSRC's “Clean Team” of maintenance workers, district ambassadors, and off duty Jersey City police officers to clean up the Journal Square area and plant flowers.

Jerry Milsap, President of the Magnolia Avenue Block Association, noted that community members need to come out and support these types of activities if they want to help change things for the better.

“The SID consistently exhibits the leadership that is needed to bring people together and get things done,” Milsap said.

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“I'm really excited about these types of efforts; people need more opportunities to help.” – Erik-Anders Nilsson
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The SID is a Special Improvement District, a designated business area that raises money from its members for the benefit of the district.

Jersey City Heights resident Erik-Anders Nilsson, a regular on the FX television drama “Rescue Me,” participated in the event, noting that he was thankful that the SID was taking a proactive approach to getting the community involved in Journal Square.

“I'm really excited about these types of efforts; people need more opportunities to help,” Nilsson said.

Irina Zaki, a supervisor at Community Solutions, Inc. and an aide to Ward C Councilman Steve Lipski, said, “Our organization really enjoys working with the SID and getting involved in the efforts they sponsor to improve Journal Square.”

Formed in 1995, the Journal Square Restoration Corporation (JSRC) is a private, not-for-profit corporation representing business and commercial property owners and institutional interests in the district. It was designated by the city of Jersey City to operate the Journal Square Special Improvement District (SID), the largest of four special improvement districts in the city.

Upcoming events

Future JSRC community events in Journal Square include:

Speer/Old Bergen Church Cemetery Clean-Up on Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m.-Noon

Volunteers from the Old Bergen Church, supported by workers and equipment provided by the JSRC, will clean up these two cemeteries, both historic landmarks, at the time of year when the area is visited most.

District Security Meet &Greet on Saturday, May 23 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Members of the Jersey City Police Department and the Hudson County Community College Security Department will participate in this event designed to encourage communication and cooperation between the district's business owners, residents and other community stakeholders to improve and enhance security in the Journal Square area by prohibiting vagrancy, drug and alcohol activity and panhandling. There will be a live music performance by The Frostkings.

For more information about other JSRC programs and services, call the Journal Square Restoration Corporation at (201) 795 - 1854 or visit www.thenewjournalsquare.com.

Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonrreporter.com .