The Jersey City Independent "

“The Holocaust haunted my childhood. I identified with the victims and fantasized about what would have happened if I had lived during World War II in the countries of Eastern Europe where my grandparents were born. I wanted to make art about this tragedy, and also bring something fresh to a topic that is so familiar to most people without being hackneyed and predictable.”

Friends, family members and allies filled Room 207 of the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center in Greenville Friday to share fond memories of the late Jersey City education activist LueElla McFadden, their hearts filled with feelings of joy and sorrow.

“Sometimes it takes an artist to see things differently, to make the ‘crazy’ object or visual that can create social change. In my case, a social worker could not spend three years making a GPS shoe with hidden compartments and a panic button, but an artist can. And once it’s made, it becomes a catalyst for people to discuss sex work and sex workers in a new way.”

Editor’s Note: We’re happy to introduce our new columnist, Andre Richardson, who will write his “Jersey City Insight” column every two weeks. By now, most parents and residents have heard Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Epps’ comments on the young female students in our public schools: “Our worst enemy is the young ladies. [...]

“In 2002 and 2003, I participated in the Jersey City Artists Studio Tour and had a great time — but something was missing. That something was live bands playing outside the studio. So in 2004, I applied for a street-closing permit, booked a few acts, my neighbor/co-founder/friend Joe Chirchirillo built a stage, and the rest just evolved.”

For full calendar listings, be sure to check out the Cultural Calendar. Want your event listed on our calendar? You can submit it yourself — just click here and follow the simple instructions. TODAY You might take parking spaces for granted, but today the Hudson County TMA is encouraging us to think a bit more [...]

Photo: Steve Gold At last night’s City Council meeting, just hours after Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy first declared that he would file as a legal intervenor on behalf of the city in an effort to fight Spectra Energy’s proposed natural gas pipeline extension, a group of Jersey City activists did the same. Dale Hardman [...]

A coalition of Jersey City organizations and community activists are pitching in to raise money for victims of this month’s flooding in Pakistan as floodwaters continue to displace tens of thousands of people each day in that country. The groups are holding a fundraising event Sunday in Journal Square, where they will be collecting monetary [...]

For full calendar listings, be sure to check out the Cultural Calendar. Having an event? You can submit it yourself — just click here and follow the simple instructions. TODAY On the music tip, contemporary gospel songwriter Carl Brister plays a free outdoor show at the MLK HUB (5 pm), and the Bryan Beninghove Trio [...]

Back in February, as news of Spectra Energy’s proposal to run a natural gas pipeline extension through Jersey City was first becoming known, longtime Downtown Jersey City resident and activist Dale Hardman, along with several other concerned citizens, set up a Google Group website designed to provide information raising concerns about the plan. In the [...]