By Janet A. Cook, Artist

In October 2010, I was informed that the Trenton City Museum would be closing, the decision was canceled and we breathed a sigh of relief. However, I have just been informed Brian O. Hill is no longer to be the director of  Trenton City Art Museum and I am once again shocked and dismayed.

trenton museum

This will be a great loss, not only to The community but also to all the artists he has supported and fostered since he took on this role.

I know he has worked tirelessly over many, many years to restore, curate and promote this museum on the cities behalf and has succeeded in bringing both Trenton’s colorful cultural identity to the attention of America, as well as fostering and supporting artists from both New Jersey, New York and beyond.

Mr. Hill has given Trenton City Art museum a sense of pride and active role in the community. You need someone with a sound curatorial background to make the right decisions in this role, right now Mr. Hill successfully fulfills this important role.

Mr. Mayor, and council members you have the choice to continue to enhance your community with Mr. Hill’s help or loose one of your most valuable assets.

Please reconsider your decision and keep Mr. Hill in his position not only for the sake of your community, the staff (what’s left of it), but for all the future generations of visitors and artists that he will enlighten and foster.

A Trenton man who was carjacked and held at gunpoint defeated the assailant by ramming his car into a township police cruiser in front of the Broad Street Quick Chek. The two cops, who were unharmed, took note of the crash and saw the victim sprawling onto the ground, screaming that he was being robbed. They then chased the carjacker, 19 year old Keenan Trower, and caught him with his sawed-off Winchester shotgun.

The scene started when the victim got out of his car and headed to his front door. Trower then asked the man for a ride home, offering to pay him for his trouble. The victim eventually accepted and drove him home. Trower told the man his money was inside, and emerged from his house with the shotgun. Trower robbed the man of $59, and then told him to drive to his bank to withdraw more money.

The victim, obviously smarter than Trower, saw a police car in the Quick Chek parking lot. He pulled into the lot and rammed the car, enough to get the cops’ attention.

Trower was charged with robbery, carjacking, kidnapping and multiple weapons offenses, including unlawful possession of a weapon. He was held on over $600,000 bail.The victim, who is unidentified, was not charged with anything.

Many different species of mussels have been found in the Delaware River, casting a little doubt on speculation that the waterway is completely filthy. Years of researching 40 different streams across Pennsylvania, until now, only revealed one species: The common eastern elliptio. Those were found in Perkiomen, Brandywine and Ridley creeks.

The specimen were found between Chester, PA and Trenton, a highly populated stretch of the river. Two of the seven new species found were thought to have been long eradicated from PA and NJ – those two were identified as the alewife floater and the tidewater mucket.

Mussels are vital to the ecosystem due to their ability to filter out contaminants and bacteria from the water – kind of like a waste water treatment plant. They are also known for stabilizing stream beds.

Reasons for these finds, which were made by a joint effort with the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, are numerous. One reason given is better breeding conditions due to cleaner water in the Delaware. The discovery of the new species and other species in other areas of the river prove that the river is slowly becoming cleaner and becoming more conducive to aquatic breeding.

Fortunately, these are vital mussels to the ecosystem – not the invasive ones like zebra mussels that bring hell to plumbing systems by clogging pipes and other bring other unsavory traits like disrupting the aquatic food chain.

A man was gunned down while sitting in his truck on Brunswick Ave. Tuesday afternoon – in front of passing schoolchildren.

Reports say that at 3 pm, a man was idly sitting in his truck when a man attempted to rob him. He was eventually shot by the attacker and rushed to a local hospital, where he is in stable condition.

Elsewhere, a 19 year old man was shot three times reportedly while he was driving. At first, the man and a nurse thought they were wounds from a BB gun, but the tough man was shot by small caliber bullets. He was driving on Grand Street when he heard shots ring out. He got out of his car and ran away, in the process getting shot three times.

And in another case of senseless violence, a man who turned 33 today escaped certain death as a man forced him into his own van and pointed a gun at him. The victim bolted out the passenger door and narrowly escaped getting shot as the assailant took off running.

All of these cases are currently under investigation and none of the antagonists have been apprehended.

New Jersey lawmakers have come together in a bipartisan effort to strengthen the state’s bullying laws in the wake of the suicide of Tyler Clementi.

The freshman at Rutgers killed himself after his hateful roommate played a video of his sexual relations with another man online.

The “anti-bullying bill of rights” legislation proposed by lawmakers would require K-12 school districts to make anti-bullying programs and give teachers and staff proper training as to preventing bullying and suicide. New Jersey was one of the first states to pass bullying legislation in 2002, but sponsors of the bill say it wasn’t good enough.

Tyler Clementi is just one  local example of many others who have killed themselves nationwide as a result of bullying in recent months.

A class-action lawsuit filed by Century 21 franchisees against Century 21 Real Estate Corp. and parent company Cendant is moving forward following a decision of the New Jersey Appellate Division.

In August, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Robert J. Brennan certified a class of current and former Century 21 franchisees in a lawsuit alleging breach of contract and other claims against their franchisor, Century 21 Real Estate Corp., as well as its parent company, consumer and business services provider Cendant Corp. Currently, Century 21 is owned by Cendant spin-off Realogy Corp.

Following Judge Brennan’s ruling, Cendant asked the New Jersey Appellate Division to reconsider the class certification decision. On October 15, 2010, the appellate court announced it would not hear the appeal, which clears the way for the case to go to trial.

“We are pleased that the case will now move forward as originally directed by Judge Brennan,” says attorney Dan Drachler of Zwerling, Schachter & Zwerling, who represents the franchisees along with firm co-founder Robert S. Schachter.

“As a result of Cendant’s actions, Century 21 franchisees have suffered damages that may total in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” says Mr. Schachter.

According to the lawsuit, Cendant failed to provide the level of services to Century 21 franchisees required by their agreements. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that contributions to a national advertising fund, which topped more than $40 million annually, were misappropriated and diverted to uses other than the benefit of Century 21, including the promotion of Century 21’s Cendant-owned real estate competitors. Shortly after the purchase of Century 21, Cendant also acquired Coldwell Banker and ERA.

Judge Brennan’s order certified a class of current and former Century 21 franchisees during the period from August 1995 to April 2002 whose franchise agreements contain a New Jersey jurisdiction clause.

New Jersey is the Subject of Limited Release Movie

New Jersey Pictures announced today that THE SOPRANO STATE, New Jersey’s Culture of Corruption, The Documentary: Part One, a film inspired by the New York Times Bestselling book by Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure, and produced by three-time Academy Award® nominee Steve Kalafer, his producing partner Bruce Raiffe, and directed by Peter LeDonne, will be released in select Clearview Cinemas beginning Friday, October 22, 2010. The film’s official premier is scheduled for Monday, October 18, at Clearview’s Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City.

The documentary takes viewers on a wild ride of political power and corruption that started when New Jersey was still a colony. The film exposes elected officials who ran on platforms promising to end the very practices they now find themselves behind bars for.

The film features interviews and commentary from the attorneys, politicians, federal prosecutors and journalists who witnessed it all. The film is narrated by Tony Darrow, who has played in a variety of films, including The Sopranos and Goodfellas.

THE SOPRANO STATE, New Jersey’s Culture of Corruption, The Documentary: Part One, has reunited a very successful team. It is executive produced by Kellie Pyffer.   The combined talents of Kalafer, LeDonne and Pyffer produced the Academy Award®-nominated films Curtain Call and Sister Rose’s Passion, the latter of which was the winner of the Best Documentary Short at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. Both films were acquired by HBO. The trio also joined with Steven Moskovic, who served as Director of Photography, on The Diary of Immaculee, which was honored at The 2006 Toronto film Festival’s “One By One” event.

The production team for THE SOPRANO STATE includes Moskovic (Director of Photography), Daniel Raiffe (Associate Producer), and Molly Williamson (Editor).

This film is not yet rated.

New Jersey and the Book That Made the Movie

“The Soprano State: New Jersey’s Culture of Corruption” by veteran journalists Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure was published by St. Martin’s Press and became a New York Times Bestseller the first week, selling out in three days. The latest version, to accompany the movie, will be released this month.

The book has been called “a page-turner. You start out laughing and end up pounding the table for reform” by Tom Curley, CEO, The Associated Press. “Looking for laughs at the expense of stupid criminals? Their nonfiction tale reads like a pay-per-view epic, hence the Tony title. Featured are real- life politicians, businessmen and mobsters who’ve less than gracefully nabbed headlines the past 30 years,” said the Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. And from Barnes & Noble, “If Garden State politicians were worried that The Sopranos would give New Jersey a bad name, they would be mortified by the allegations in Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure’s revealing muckrake. Penned by two hardworking Trenton investigative reporters, The Soprano State paints a picture of widespread corruption that would embarrass even the Bada Bing! Crowd. Scandalously good.”

New Jersey residents, rejoice!

For the attention of the Honorable Mayor Mack and NJ City Council Members.

Trenton Museum Proposed Closure

I heard the Trenton Museum is about to close its doors permanently in mid October. I am shocked and dismayed. The closing of this very fine institution will be of great loss, not only to the community but also to all the artists it has supported and fostered since it came into being.

I know the director, Brian O. Hill has worked tirelessly over many, many years to restore, curate and promote this museum on the cities behalf and has succeeded in bringing both Trenton’s colorful cultural identity to the attention of America, as well as fostering and supporting artists from both New Jersey, New York and beyond.

trenton museum

Trenton Museum in Education

Art museums imbue a sense of pride in their communities and offer a rich cultural experience. Right now the country is in a terrible financial slump, but these institutions are needed more than ever. Museums give back to their communities, they provide employment and engage their citizens. They, and especially the Trenton Museum, also provide a leading role in education and support of artists by bringing their work to the attention of the public.

Mr. Mayor and council members you have the choice to continue to enhance your community with this precious resource or destroy it and do irreversible damage through job losses, devaluation of the surrounding real-estate as well as create a paucity of culture in this area of Trenton.

Trenton Museum is a Jewel

Please vote to keep this little jewel of Trenton alive for the sake of your community, the staff and all the artists it has supported, as well as for all future generations of visitors and artists that the Trenton Museum will enlighten and foster.

Yours sincerely
Janet A. Cook

NJ small business owners survey shows liability cost increase causing them to scale back operations; 20% consider relocating out-of-state

A Monmouth University survey indicated a majority of New Jersey small business owners are reeling under the weight of litigation.

“In a weak economy, New Jersey should be doing all it can to improve our state’s business climate and create jobs. Our small businesses are crying out, and the message they’re sending us clear: New Jersey needs to get serious about tort reform.”

- NJLRA executive director Marcus Rayner

Small business owners surveyed pointed to a number of reasons for the increase in liability costs, including the ease of taking misunderstandings to court and the possibility of large cash settlements.

“Seven-in-ten small business owners now fear New Jersey’s culture of litigation, and with good reason,” said Rayner. “Our Consumer Fraud Act is abused to the point where a customer can sue before asking for a refund. This shows that things have gone far beyond ‘the customer is always right.’ Small businesses are falling victim to a legal loopholes and sacrificing jobs, innovation, and economic growth in the process.”

Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth) agrees. “New Jersey consumers are the ultimate victims of this overly litigious culture,” she said. “When any businessperson can be dragged into court on any day, for virtually any reason, it chokes off innovation, expansion and competition.”

In July, Monmouth University Polling Institute ran the survey, interviewing , New Jersey owners and senior operators of small businesses with between 2 – 50 employees. Survey results are available at http://njlra.org.

The New Jersey Lawsuit Reform Alliance (NJLRA) is a statewide, bipartisan group of businesses, individuals and organizations committed to improving the State’s civil justice system by advocating for legal reforms in the legislature and in the courts. NJLRA believes a balanced civil justice system is critical to ensuring fair and open courts, maintaining and attracting jobs and fostering economic growth in New Jersey.

The New Jersey Lawsuit Reform Alliance is the only organization in New Jersey dedicated exclusively to civil justice reform.

Honorable Mayor Mack and NJ City Council Members,

Trenton City Museum

We ask you to protect the institutions and art museums which define the character of Trenton. Your 2011 Budget cuts funding to these precious community resources, forcing vibrant community based profit centers to close.

Art museums provide a strong sense of pride to citizens, and a unique destination for travelers. Trenton City Museum has a sizable visiting public from Princeton, New York City and Philadelphia. Visitors to the museum spend the day eating in local restaurants, buying local merchandise and some later choose to call Trenton home. 25,000 people a year visit this museum. Locals donated $110,000 and volunteered $250,000 worth of time to support it last year alone. Hon. Mayor Mack, your 2011 Budget closes the Trenton City Museum and other invaluable institutions.

trenton museum

These are historically demanding fiscal times and we understand that unsavory decisions must be made.

Cutting funding for historical bedrocks in the community is a dubious way to mark these times and it will invariably further reduce the value of properties surrounding the museums. By eliminating cultural bedrocks like Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion, and severing Arts in Trenton you are in fact destroying community artifacts and vibrant cultural epicenters which have been nurtured through previous depressions. Some of these locations predate the American Revolution.

We must work together to make sure Trenton does not become a town that once was a unique cultural center. We all want to see Trenton as a city that nurtures it’s creations and takes pride in it’s cultural institutions even during a tough economic environment. By cutting funding and closing precious community resources we will deprive future generations of the unique history these remarkable communities hold.

Art-related foundations and institutions are becoming the first casualties in restructuring of budgets during economic downturns. Museums and historical societies across the Nation are closing at an alarming rate.

This devaluing of Art Museums and cultural centers is an unfortunate misguided miscalculation. Arts Institutions are incredibly powerful. They give towns and city a sense of longevity, place and perspective. They anchor a town much like a Town Hall, Library, Court House, or Historical Society. Together they house the comprehensive history of our communities and offer locals and visitors inspiration, hope, and an engaging connection to the past and perspective on current events.

Our Art Museums help us identify with and love our town and respect our collective history. They are also sources of economic productivity and prosperity. Art Museums provide a benefit which is complex to quantify like any long term investment with multiple secondary income flows.

With so many competing interests for the precious dollar during this tenuous economic position we must take a definitive stand to preserve our cultural institutions which define our towns. If we do not protect these, one by one we will be dismantling our townships, scattering to the wind our history and reshaping a town that braved revolutions and depressions to a town that caved during a recession.

Please Mayor, and Honorable Council members take this opportunity to protect these cultural and historical resources. Include Cultural preservation into the FY11 Budget, and keep the 1719 William Trent House Museum and Trenton City Museum Open to the public. After all the Trenton City Museum draws a nascent .0012% of the City Budget.

Jodi R. Moise
President

JMC Art Partners
81 Berrian Road
New Rochelle, NY 10804
(914) 576-6139
www.jmcartpartners.com