Coalition plans events, seeks beautification Committees to focus on different aspects of revitalizing Jamesburg BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer JAMESBURG - Summer for many is a time to relax or take off from work. Not for the Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition. At its June 27 meeting, the group announced several events being planned as a way of getting residents more involved in improving the borough, and discussed the status of several committees formed by the group, which hopes to turn the town into more of a destination. The coalition also announced its support for the Jamesburg Public Library, which is in danger of being closed due to the state's new cap on municipal spending. Coalition members feel the library is an important part of downtown Jamesburg, and are hopeful that Gov. Jon Corzine will exempt the library from the budget cap. Overall, Coalition President Elliott Stroul said the group is past the point of trying to determine the weaknesses of the downtown area, which officials feel is largely underused. He said it is now up to residents, business owners and politicians to build upon the town's strengths. "We need people with positive input, people into being part of the solution, not the problem," Stroul said. At the meeting, the coalition also formed a new committee aimed at improving the aesthetics of Jamesburg. The Beautification Committee, which will focus on streetscapes, plantings and decoration, is one of several subgroups formed by the coalition. Other committees have been formed to focus on arts and entertainment, media and publicity, finance, Web site development, and health and fitness. As for more immediate action, the coalition's Arts and Entertainment Committee will show the movie "Star Wars," free of charge, July 28 at the John F. Kennedy School. And on Aug. 18, it will participate in the Tonkery Street Festival. "We'll have a booth with some info and we'll get a chance to have some fun that day," Stroul said. On Sept. 8, the Health and Fitness Committee will hold the Buckelew 5K Run and Walk in Thompson Park in connection with the annual Buckelew Day celebration. As for the coalition's overall goal of revitalization, its members know that is something that will not happen overnight, Stroul said. It will continue to propose projects and seek funding to make them possible. "The Borough Council is already doing some things," Stroul said. "We want to make their job easier." Members of the coalition's committees will begin going to council meetings to "try and get some things moving and shaking," he said. While the focus is on improving all of downtown Jamesburg, the area of the train tracks around East and West Railroad Avenue is currently a focus. "We want to see some color and brightness," he said of the area, noting such things as hanging baskets to create more of a village appearance. The downtown area is losing out to the tune of $16 million a year in retail sales, Stroul said, noting that local "mom and pop" stores have been hurt by larger stores and malls. Too many residents leave Jamesburg to shop, and the coalition feels they could be enticed to do their shopping locally if a couple more "marquee stores" are brought in. Jewelry and shoe stores, consignment shops, a coffeehouse with entertainment, and a movie theater are among the types of businesses that Stroul mentioned as examples of what Jamesburg can use. "We need to give the people an idea that there's something to do here," Stroul said. Other ideas for drumming up business are to increase the amount of signage, and lower speed limits so that people take more notice of the businesses. "We hope to promote ourselves more to Jamesburg," Stroul said. "We want to become a destination instead of a crossroads." The coalition, which now holds meetings the last Wednesday of each month, has representation from the council and land use board, as well as business owners and residents. All, according to Stroul, are considered "stakeholders" in Jamesburg's future.