“It was immediately recognizable just by the size of it,” said Dunstan. “I’m used to seeing them around, and while driving up Montgomery [Street] the last few weeks I saw it pretty much every day and I started to film it.”

Now that Friends of the Lifers Youth Corp., the community farm group with an eye towards “youth delinquency prevention,” has obtained a plot of land from the city to house their farming operation after a messy dispute, the group has posted a survey to better assess the importance of locally grown food to you.

Take the survey and help out local farming in the area. Questions include, “How important is it for you to purchase local food?” and “Would you like to see more local food served in restaurants?”

Jersey City Construction Company is Fined $46,000 by OSHA for Alleged Violations: Jersey City company Clara Construction has been fined more than $46,000 by U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for alleged safety violations at its work site on Christopher Columbus Drive.

Liberty Science Center Receives Grant Towards Summer Program for High School Students: Liberty Science Center has been awarded a generous grant from Novo Nordisk Inc., a Denmark-based healthcare company that specializes in diabetes care, for an intensive eight-week summer program.

The Final Farewell of Star Video: The last video store in downtown, which rents DVDs and VHS tapes, is closing and will become a bar, according to the owner.

Crime Blotter: A Jersey City man targeted for a robbery by two young thugs tricked them into waiting outside his door while he called police; A Jersey City man imprisoned after a high speed chase that ended in a crash has escaped from a halfway house in Newark.

Today’s Best Bets:

It’s Open Mic Wednesdays at Boca Grande. Hosted by Nick Ciavatta, performers get the chance to perform 3-4 songs per open mic slot (8:30 pm, free).

In Statewide News:

Port Authority Needs ‘Top-to-Bottom Overhaul,’ According to Interim Audit: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which is redeveloping the World Trade Center, needs a “top-to-bottom overhaul” because of poor management and a lack of cost controls, according to an interim audit released by its board.

New Jersey Disqualifies 29 School Board Members: Seventeen school board members in New Jersey will have to step down from their elected posts because they have a criminal conviction on their records. Another 12 school board members in New Jersey must also step down for not submitting their background checks in time.

Assembly Committee Clears Health Insurance Exchange Bill: The first in a long series of steps toward healthcare reform was taken yesterday, when a bill that will introduce sweeping changes to the way insurance is sold in New Jersey was voted out of an Assembly committee.

“Our libation offerings include an eclectic mix of bottled American craft beers and two rotating drafts on tap, an affordable list of wines by the bottle and glass (all about 8 bucks,) and a ‘Concoctions’ menu featuring two homemade Bloody Mary’s, one of which called the ‘Wasabi Mary’ boasts freshly ground ginger, soy sauce and wasabi root infused vodka,” Dowling writes on Facebook.

Park & Sixth opened at 364 Grove Street in Jersey City in late 2010 as the second outpost of the popular Hoboken sandwich shop. Since then, Dowling has closed down the Hoboken location and shifted the establishment’s focus from being what Dowling calls “essentially a deli” to a full-service restaurant. The liquor license is a crucial ingredient to completing that transition.

Park & Sixth will also debut a small plates menu on Friday, March 2. The “sharing plates” menu will replace the restuarant’s regular menu every Friday and Saturday night, with the focus being on “elevated comfort food,” according to Dowling. Combined with the booze factor, the small plates menu could well make Park & Sixth a hot early-evening weekend destination.

Here’s a peek at the small plates menu:

Soup
Roasted Tomato, Chipotle, Aged Cheddar Crouton 7

Muzz
House Mozzarella, Tomato, Basil, Balsamic Glaze, Basil Oil 7

Garbage Salad
Zucchini, Rabe, Portobello, Roasted Peppers, Red Onion, Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette 7

Sprouts
Brussel Sprout Hash, Garlic, Hot Cherry Peppers, Bacon, Parmigiana 8

Taters
Dirty Smashed Potatoes, Roasted Garlic, Butter, Cream Cheese, Lipitor 7

Rabe
Broccoli Rabe, Sliced Garlic, Red pepper Flake, Lemon Zest, Olive Oil 7

A Party In You Mouth
Philly Cheese Steak Spring Rolls, Sambal Glaze 8

Rigatoni
Brisket Ragu, Parmigiana Reggiano, Basil 12

Mac-n-cheese
5 Deli Cheeses, Andouille Sausage, Saffron, Piquillo Peppers, Truffled Panko 9

Meatloaf
Bourbon Mushroom Gravy, Dirty Smashed Potatoes 12

Mini Meatballs
19 ingredients, homemade tomato sauce, basil 10

Short Ribs
Soy Vermouth Braised Short Ribs, Star Anise, Potato Blue Cheese Smashed Potatoes 15

Steak
Asian Marinated Skirt, Spicy Gringo Chimichurri, Oil Poached Fingerling Potatoes 15

Fish
Crispy Skin Salmon, Wilted Bok Choy, Braised Pistachios, Soy Ginger Chicken Broth 12

Day Boat Scallops, White Bean & Sage Puree, Bean Broth 12

Chicken
Rosemary Chicken Breast, Roasted Tomato, Garlic, Broccoli Rabe, Parm, Tomato Oil 10

Photo: Laryssa Wirstiuk

Now, however, state bidding-wars for large manufacturing warehouses appears to be the norm and the Goya deal looks like a smart decision. In fact, despite a $100 million package offered by Jersey City, New Jersey was unable to lure Fresh Direct, the groceries delivery service, from New York City. Instead, Fresh Direct has opted to move to a 500,000 square foot building in the Bronx, bringing with it the 2,000 employees Fresh Direct employs while reportedly creating 1,000 new jobs.

To help grease those wheels, New York offered a $120 million package — or $20 million more than Jersey City — that includes $18.9 million in Excelsior tax credits, $74 million in sales tax exemptions, $4.9 million in energy benefits, and multiple other multi-million dollar incentives that New Jersey did not match.

“Making sure that companies like Fresh Direct can grown and invest in New York City is a key part of our strategy to rebuild and diversify our economy,” said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a statement. “A thousand new jobs at the Harlem River Yards is great news for the Bronx and a welcome boost to our city’s economy.”

Jersey City, meanwhile, though outbid, can look at the Goya deal with different eyes now that the precedent of enticing big businesses is no longer the exception.

The jewelry will be included and on sale at Woolpunk’s “What’s Love Got to do With It” exhibition, on view until February 18th. The gallery is located at 298 Newark Avenue.

A plan to switch dental care providers that initially angered union representatives will be voted on at the Council meeting on Wednesday, February 8th, after the city and the health provider met with union heads to assure them that the plans are in fact comparable. The move was seen as controversial in large part because Business Administrator Jack Kelly had signed an agreement with Horizon Dental prior to getting the required Council authorization, and because union contracts would be altered and they had been left out of the conversation, a move that Police Officers Benevolent Association President Jerry DeCicco has slammed as the wrong way to conduct business.

“The fundamental problem is the way Jack Kelly conducts business,” said DeCicco. “He operates in the shadows, independently of the mayor or council.”

It was a concern echoed by Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop, who reminded Kelly that “the residents didn’t vote for you, they voted for” the City Council.

Without the forewarning of the move — employees received letters from Horizon notifying them of the switch in providers before the city made an announcement — and without proper documentation comparing the two dental plans, union representatives from both the fire and police departments held a rally at the City Council meeting on January 12th to protest the move and call for Kelly’s dismissal.

At the time, detective Mark Razzoli asked, “Does anyone answer for [Kelly]?” asked Razzoli. “We have to continuously come back here and defend what we negotiated for. Jack Kelly has no respect for anyone. As far as I’m concerned you hired him to be a union buster.”

Eventually Kelly provided documentation showing the plans to be comparable, but DeCicco, who said Horizon has made “strides” towards being sufficiently comparable to Delta’s plan, maintains reservations.

“By no means do we endorse the move,” said DeCicco, who added the savings would be approximately $73,000 a year, “a drop in the bucket of the city’s budget.”

More to the point, he said, “are the unknowns.” He noted that although Horizon increased the number of network providers from 5,000 to 8,500 at the meeting, it was unclear if the move would put some employees outside of the plan which would significantly increase out-of-pocket payments.

Although “POBA is not giving its endorsement,” he went on, “we’re happy with the progress they made.” Still, the union might exercise their right to any “grievances” or to “challenge any issues that may come up.”

“The simplest thing to do is go back to Delta, as we’re not saving tons of money here,” he continued. “If they would have negotiated in timely fashion, my guess is Delta would have matched Horizon.”

Giants Linebacker Chase Blackburn will Visit Jersey City and Speak to Students: Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn will visit Jersey City Wednesday to speak to students about overcoming adversity and triumphing against the odds.

Judge Denies Request to Roll Back Toll Hike Imposed by Port Authority: In a preliminary ruling that left both sides claiming victory, a federal judge denied a request to roll back a toll hike by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, while also refusing to dismiss the case.

Jersey City Citizen’s Group Plans to Rally at City Council Meeting Tomorrow over Rise in Crime: A group of Jersey City residents is planning a rally at tomorrow’s City Council meeting to protest what it calls an increase in crime citywide.

Crime Blotter: Caught with 12 pounds of pot, a Jersey City man claimed that $2K found in his car was from a Super Bowl pool.

Today’s Best Bets:

LITM is featuring art opening ‘Afrocentricity,’ an art show by Darin DeField (7 pm, free).

Meanwhile, if you want to see a good stand up comedy show–that’s free–Shut Up and Laugh is back at the Lamp Post (9 pm).

In Statewide News:

Hand-Held Gambling Devices in Casinos: The measure that would let casinos offer hand-held gambling devices to customers on casino property was approved unanimously Monday by the New Jersey Senate’s Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee and now heads to the full New Jersey Senate for review.

New Jersey Fracking Opponents Take Second Shot at Ban Christie Vetoed: While New Jersey produces no natural gas, the Utica Shale formation, a largely unexplored deposit running from Ontario to Tennessee runs through it–New Jersey Democrats are hoping that a ban would head off future fracking in the area it runs through in Northwest New Jersey, which provides almost half of New Jersey with drinking water, said Senator Robert Gordon.

The city has once again re-introduced a measure to eliminate the city’s tow pound service after twice pulling a similar effort due to problems with the law’s construction. The move is expected to save the Jersey City Incinerator Authority $700,000, although Business Administrator Jack Kelly could not answer At-Large Councilwoman Viola Richardson’s concern over the number of jobs that might be eliminated by the move. The effort is seen as increasingly necessary with consideration to JCIA’s bloated request for a budget this year that exceeded the city’s 5% increase in appropriation for the agency.

The ordinance was pulled the first time it was introduced after the tow pounds the city had approached complained about prohibitive requirements in the law. The second time the ordinance was pulled in order to limit the number of tow pounds the city licenses with and to require the pound be located within Jersey City’s borders.

The city had initially expected to use two tow pounds, with GXR Auto, located on 10 East Linden Avenue, being one of the likely candidates. The city was still looking into other possible pounds at the time, including tow pounds outside of the city limits. However, some council members were unhappy about that, and during the first reading of the pulled ordinance Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop had requested language allowing the tow pound to be located outside of city limits be removed, thereby eliminating that option.

Photo of current tow pound entrance via Google Maps

Five days after Christ Hospital’s Board of Trustees voted to authorize the nonprofit health facility to file for Chapter 11 “if necessary,” the hospital has in fact needed to go that route. The move comes after Prime Healthcare Services, the for-profit, California-based hospital chain withdrew their bid following an outcry from Hudson County residents and politicians concerned that the loss of a nonprofit health center would be problematic for the area.

The move to reorganize is seen as unnecessary to that other bidder for the financially struggling non-profit hospital, a group pairing Jersey City Medical Center with Community Healthcare Associates and that put a $104 million bid on the table.

But Geoff Curtiss, the chairman of the board for Christ Hospital, suggested the bid was insincere and that “it’s unclear the money is actually there.” He added that he “doesn’t know” why CHA would make a bid without having the money prepared, but that “people say things.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, CHA’s managing partner, William Colgan, was “shocked” and “offended” by Curtiss’s assessment.

Colgan calls Curtiss’s claim “the furthest thing from the truth” and the group will continue their efforts to purchase the hospital now that it is in bankruptcy court.

“They’ve put the stake in the ground that that’s the path they chose,” he said of the decision. “A tremendous amount of value is pulled out of an institution when they file for bankruptcy. Historically I don’t think you’ll see less than $6 million in lost in the last four to five bankruptcies. The decision was criminal.”

“They absolute do not need to go through bankruptcy proceeding, they had financial needs and we told them we were prepared to meet their financial needs,” he said of a conversation that took place “on two days notice.”