USPS Five Corners and USPS Journal Square

More than two years ago when the news about USPS trimming down offices across New Jersey first broke, I wondered, which of these two branches here in Journal Square will get the boot?

The question has been answered: USPS Five Corners on Newark Avenue is being considered for closure.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

JSQ Branch vs Five Corners

I’ve been living here in Journal Square district of JC for almost a decade now, and I honestly admit that I’ve never used the Five Corners branch on Newark Avenue for a good reason: it is farther from where I live.

However, I had driven seniors there and had heard good testimonials from other people as well. The place didn’t seem too busy. Maybe because the place is smaller and sandwiched between two other establishments in a busy neighborhood. This USPS station is hard to notice if you are a new resident.

On the other hand, the USPS station on Bergen Avenue is a thriving branch as its location – for me – is better: near PATH Station, near the square, it is basically in the heart of the district. Reason why lines are longer (still can’t beat DMV/MVC though :P ). My complaint here for the longest time is this: why are some of the windows closed? There are five windows there which include the parcel window, but most of the time I’d been there, only two were open.

Do you still use the post office?

My quick answer is YES. I pay my bills online, shop online, and write letters via email. But some of my personal businesses are still sent/received via USPS, as I find it much cheaper if I don’t mind the “quickness” of delivery. Would I miss it if the USPS closes? Probably not, because I am aware of other services available for me and I can use them whenever it is necessary.

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Two accidents: Same time, different places

Some weird accidents happened just about ten minutes ago on Bergen Avenue. Police, firemen, and Emergency units responded to two incidents at around 10:37 this morning.

A middle-aged woman of Indian descent fell off while crossing Bergen Avenue at the corner of Academy Street in front of C-Town Supermarket. I asked one bystander who witnessed the incident and he said the lady just dropped on the street.

He also added that another incident occurred “at the same time, also a woman.” and he pointed at the direction of Newkirk Street near Bally’s Gym where paramedics were already attending the lady.

I am unsure if it is related to the heatwave. The sun is up, but it is a little breezy, better than yesterday. As of writing, the cops blocked off the north-bound lane of Bergen Avenue.

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Taken last Saturday (July 16, 2011). Long line outside the DMV. Sorry for the crappy phone pic

Last year, DMV-MVC announced that Mondays will be closed. But due to long lines and inconvenience to the customers, DMV/MVC Chairman and Chief Administrator Raymond P. Martinez announced on Jul 11, 2011 that the agency will reopen the Monday schedule. “We have listened to you and added the convenience that was needed most,” said Martinez…

““This change is designed to allow more flexibility and provide the customer with more hours outside of a traditional 9-5 schedule…. We are confident the MVC can accomplish all of these customer friendly upgrades and still operate within an austere budget” said Martinez.

As of today, all 39 motor vehicle agencies operate under the following schedule:

• Monday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Source: DMV/MVC Press Release

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How to stay cool:

• Drink lots of water!
• Avoid excessive exercise
• Stay in cool buildings
• Turn the AC on
• Wear something light-colored
• Protect your eyes with a pair of sunglasses.

How do you beat the heat and humidity? Personally, I wear something loose matched with a hat and I bring a bottle of water with me to avoid dehydration. I’m also lucky that in my job, we are allowed to wear walking shorts instead of pants/jeans this time of the year! :D

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Click to view

[UPDATE July 18, 2011] DMV/MVC Reopens Monday Service; This thread/topic is now closed.

[Original Post May 4, 2011] The Motor Vehicle Commission changed the schedule last July “to improve customer convenience with extended weekday/Saturday service.” This move, officials say, will save the state money.

The agency will be closed Monday, but will have extended hours Tuesday and Thursday. Saturday has been extended for one hour. No service on Sundays.

Click on the thumbnail on the left for full schedule. Text version inside this post.

Hours of Operations:
Monday – Closed
Tuesday and Thursday: 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Wednesday and Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

If you see any incorrect information here, please feel free to post in the comment section below.

Follow the link for more information: Jersey City DMV-MVC in Journal Square (Original Post)

One tip: If you are planning to go there on a Saturday, make sure to come 1 hour before closing, as the queue is longer and the guards won’t let anyone in by 12:30PM to make sure everyone inside the building is served promptly.

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Wall being cleaned up on Vroom Street

Yesterday (April 27, 2011) while I was driving around, I saw a group of people removing graffiti from the walls. Not really sure which agency was responsible, but I first spotted them cleaning up the building walls at the corner of Newkirk Street and Bergen Avenue using high-pressure water hose. On the way home, I saw them removing graffiti from the side walls of Lovely Laundry at the corner of Vroom Street and Bergen. Jersey City is filled with graffiti, but I guess their priority are those visible from the main roads.

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We start with the bad news. Starting this year’s market, we will not be hearing any more Live Music on the square, as the city cut it from the budget.

The good news: On July 2, Farmers’ Market will begin to add Friday schedules. It may not be as lively buying produce as before, but we have more time to buy fresh tomatoes!

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Click for larger size

St. Joseph School for the Blind – at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Baldwin Avenue – is being demolished for a garden.

Susan Sims of Cusack Care Center on Pavonia Avenue said on the news that it will be a “beautiful place”. She said: “Our intent is to create a garden of green space for the benefit of the residents of the care center here…”

The picture that you see on the left is from the Magnolia Avenue side. The demolition has begun, but the facade of the building located on Baldwin Avenue is still intact, although the building has been fenced off.

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Sign is gone, shutters are down.

Seems like Vito’s Arcade Barbershop on Summit Avenue near Five Corners is gone. Earlier this week, I saw the sign on the ground in front of the closed shop. I drove by the other day, saw the sign gone. Barbershop still shut.

What kind of Jersey City business will replace Vito’s Barbershop?

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The sign has been relocated a few feet away from its original spot.

The sign/direction map on Bergen Square has been moved away from Hudson County Community College’s Cundari Center on Bergen Avenue. The “wayfinding” sign is now erected by the benches of the square, closer to the corner of Academy Street.

Before and After, from a different angle

Last December, the city council approved to spend $130,000 to relocate some 27 (out of roughly 100) signs in Jersey City that obstruct pedestrians. Looks like this sign on Bergen Square is one those 27.

The original spot of the sign was near the entrance of the building, almost blocking the door. It was also in the way of RAMZI Furniture, so it just makes perfect sense to move the sign to where it is now.

The mind-boggling part is the $130K fund for the reinstallation of the signs. Using simple math, the cost of moving one sign is around $4K.  To put it in perspective, the city used the $180K grant it received from the Department of Transportation to install the 100 signs across JC almost ten years ago.

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