The Jersey City Independent "

- Laid Off JC Woman Launches Auction Site: The website BidRodeo is run out of a Jersey City apartment by a 28-year-old woman who launched the site last June after losing her job as a jewelry marketer in Queens.

- Cops Investigating Alleged Fondling: Hudson County Special Victims Unit detectives are investigating an incident in which a 9-year-old Secaucus girl was reportedly fondled by a stranger while she played on a mattress display in the Newport Centre Mall Sears on Sunday.

- Youth Baseball Coach Dies: A 40-year-old Jersey City baseball coach died of a heart attack Saturday night after collapsing on the field before a game. Barry Hill Jr. had coached Jackie Robinson baseball teams for more than a decade.

- Job Fair Today: More than 20 businesses are scheduled to participate in a job fair at the Hank Gallo Community Center in Lincoln Park today from 10 am to 4 pm.

- JC’s Future Major Leaguers? The Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit, and Run competition came to Jersey City earlier this month; the Reporter was there.

- Repaving of Garfield Avenue: Parking restrictions are in effect along Garfield Avenue in Jersey City while the street is being repaved beginning this week.

Today’s Best Bets:

- If you’ve ever wanted to check out Melissa Surach’s BabyHole open mic/comedy/music event, you’re quickly running out of time. Tonight’s installment — featuring music by Zombie ReachAround and stand up from Raquel D’Apice and Emily Epstein — is the second to last that the comedienne and JCI contributor will be hosting. It’s at the Lamp Post at 9 pm — and it’s free. Also free — and also on 2nd Street Downtown — is a show by Gary Frierer and E.W. Harris at Lucky 7′s (9 pm).

In Statewide News:

- 33-Bill Plan Includes Property Tax Hike Cap: Gov. Christie has proposed a 33-bill package anchored by a constitutional amendment that would limit annual property tax hikes to 2.5 percent, except when local voters decide to override it. He says the reforms will give New Jerseyans more control over their own property taxes and local governments more tools to cut costs.

- Dems Call for Tax on High-Income Earners: Top Democratic lawmakers are proposing to raise taxes on so-called true millionaires — those making more than $1 million a year — to pay for restored senior property tax rebates and prescription drug benefits.

- Borrowing from the Feds to Stave Out Biz Tax Hike: A key Senate committee has approved a bill intended to stave off a $1 billion tax increase on businesses to support the state’s broke unemployment fund, instead borrowing more money from the federal government to lessen the hike.

- Pollution Fines Go Towards River and Shoreline Projects: The federal government will hand out more than $1.5 million from pollution fines assessed against shipping companies that will fund 19 ocean or shoreline projects in New Jersey.

- Airline Merger May Increase Traffic at EWR: Newark Liberty International Airport, which Continental helped to transform into a bustling international hub, is expected to grow busier when the company completes its merger with United Airlines.

- New Ruling in Public Records Case: A New Jersey appeals court has found that records of settlements reached by insurance companies on behalf of government entities should be open to the public, reversing an earlier ruling by a lower court.

- Poll Shows Residents Want Grocery-Store Beer & Wine: A new poll finds that three out of four people who buy alcohol in New Jersey would like to be able to buy it where they shop for groceries, giving ammunition to advocates of allowing liquor sales in supermarkets, which is currently being debated in Trenton.

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