Sights in the City

Somebody new wants to make a go of this site, which is between City Hall and the Municipal Court. Sandwiches and specialty drinks are among menu items.

Yet another storefront on Watchung Avenue is under renovation.

The old Elks building at 116 Watchung Avenue - is somebody in there?

The address of a new "resource center" sounded familiar - it is the old O'Connor's meat market at 200 Garfield Avenue.

This facade on Park Avenue is almost all covered up with stucco as it is converted to eight apartments.

An odd-looking truck came by with no PMUA insignia except a logo on the door - over a U.S. DOT permit from Tampa, Fla. - very odd indeed.

Just some images to ponder while awaiting the big election Tuesday ...

--Bernice

Watch Out for Pre-Primary Madness

The city's 12,034 registered Democrats will be wooed and wheedled between now and June 7 to vote for this or that set of candidates in the primary contest that will settle who gets on the November ballot. But because political wisdom in this city regards a primary win as tantamount to success in the general election, you will see heavy artillery mixed in with hugs and handshakes on the campaign trail. Since candidates filed on April 11, voters have had ample time to read about them, observe them at public meetings and maybe meet them in person in First, Second and Fourth ward neighborhoods. The forum pictured above was organized by two neighborhood associations.

The final week before the primary tends to bring out the worst in political campaigns. Having lived here since 1983, I can attest to the pitch of rhetoric that takes place, sometimes to the extent that voters stay home in disgust rather than go to the polls. If you have formed your own opinion of a candidate, I would suggest disregarding the last-minute nonsense. Vote however your conscience dictates, but please VOTE.

--Bernice

Action at Park & Ninth

Instant workplace! Notifications sans the glass case.

Ready for the challenge! Maybe there will soon be "lights to the peninsula."

The staging area in Municipal Lot 7, equipment and materials for the job.

To see a somewhat dated notification from Union County, click here.

For those who missed the beginning of this saga, click here to learn more.

--Bernice

Strange Growths on North Avenue

Downtown strolls always turn up interesting things. A close look at trees in the North Avenue Commercial Historic District revealed this excrescence, most likely a gall.

Galls are usually caused by insects and are often specific to the hosts. These galls were on what looked like a volunteer Little Leaf Linden growing inside a metal enclosure for a Ginkgo tree.

To learn more about galls, click here.

--Bernice

Photo Roundup

Local royalty.

High kicks.

Invisible roof garden.

Wha' happen?

"I'll scratch later ..."

--Bernice

Candidate Forum Tonight

Hear Democratic Primary Candidates tonight

7-9 p.m., Cook School

Second Ward -Tony Rucker, Cory Storch

First & Fourth Ward at-large - Delois Dameron, Vera Greaves

Primary Election is June 7

Sponsored by Friends of Sleepy Hollow and Hillside Area Neighborhood Watch

Vets Still Waiting for Center

City veterans at 2011 Memorial Day observance.

With a city-owned Front Street veterans' center still on hold, veterans are looking into alternatives, American Legion Post 219 Commander Lamar Mackson said Monday.

"We want our own space," Mackson told Plaintalker after Memorial Day ceremonies that included placing wreaths at war memorials on East Seventh Street and on the grounds of City Hall.

Promises of a center as part of a building on East Front Street date back to 2006. Besides 63 residential condos, the building was to include a large senior center and a place for veterans to meet. See Plaintalker's 2006 report here. The senior center had a one-day opening in May 2009 and opened full-time in November 2009, but although a sign indicates a Veterans Center on the ground floor, the space was stipulated for use as a sales office for the condos. According to a contract with the developer, it was not to be turned over to veterans until all units were sold.

Meanwhile, market conditions have led to a lease for purchase plan to fill up unsold condos, putting the veterans' center in limbo.

City Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson said last week that talks are in progress with the developer regarding occupancy of the veterans' space. Mackson said veterans are currently meeting at the senior center, but they are chafing at restrictions on access. Asked whether he was encouraged by the city's attempts to get the contract terms modified, Mackson replied, "Not at all. We continue to have difficulty accessing the (senior) center in an unfettered way."

Mackson said he has provided Senior Center Director Sharron Brown with a list of meetings and events veterans have planned, but as he has stated at City Council meetings, the veterans have to wait to be let in to the building after hours. The same issues of free access with their own key would apply to the veterans' center when it comes under city control, Williamson said.

The veterans are now looking into acquiring their own building, Mackson said.

Both the senior and veterans' centers are considered condos as part of The Monarch, as the building is called. The senior center is liable for 13 percent of common costs of the building. If and when the the veterans' center is turned over to the city, it would pay 1 percent of common costs. In an update on the senior center, Williamson said the city was paying the $2,750 monthly condo fee out of a bond issue. The city is working on closing of the property, he said.

--Bernice