Bad sign of the times as Loew’s marquee is destroyed; Humbled to be in PAL Hall of Fame; Grid capacity must rise | Letters

Loss of Loew's marquee tells a painful story

As a historic preservationist, artist and board member of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, I stopped in my tracks as I emerged from the Journal Square PATH station, looking over at one of my favorite buildings in Jersey City, as I have for years, to catch a look at its familiar marquee. But this time, instead of "We the People" or any other of the messages throughout the years and the flanking yellow "Loew's Jersey" signs, I was met with shock and dismay: The beloved sign, a fixture of our community for 75 years, had been destroyed, soon to be replaced by a replica of a short-lived version from the building's early years.

Seventy-five years of history, character and connection, gone.

The sign wasn't just a marquee; it was a resilient landmark maintained with dedication by the Friends of the Loew's, a testament to grassroots preservation efforts. Through the years, it stood as a sign of celebration, resilience and hope.

Whether announcing community milestones or welcoming us to events, it gathered people from all walks of life beneath its light, providing an orientation point for residents and visitors alike. The Friends of the Loew's carefully rewired, cleaned and restocked the sign several decades ago with more than 1,500 bulbs, ensuring its glow endured. It was more than neon and bulbs — it was part of our identity.

The removal itself tells a painful story. Rather than preserving the signage, it was obviously "cut out" and "smashed" with a disregard that suggests little understanding of its value. Why not repurpose it as a display in the alley, as a nod to an art form fading from cityscapes, or gift it to the Friends of the Loew's, who fought for the building long before it became a valuable investment? In doing so, we could have honored not just the building's story, but our own community's commitment to it.

This decision resonates beyond a single marquee — it contributes to the troubling feeling that parts of Jersey City are being "sold out, cut up and ripped apart" with little regard for their significance.

Jersey City has changed rapidly in recent years, but for those of us who have called it home, these places are far from ordinary. They are iconic connectors — our "everyday landmarks" — and watching them disappear erodes our sense of place and the trust we have in their stewards.

We can still learn from this. Preserving historic landmarks, especially those as prominent as the Loew's Theatre sign, helps us retain a sense of identity and continuity. If this marquee was worth preserving for 75 years, shouldn't that legacy count for something?

When will Jersey City recognize that these places are more than just sites — they're part of our heart and our collective memory, held dear by "we the people" who love this city.

Thank you, Bayonne PAL

I'd like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the Bayonne Police Athletic League, most notably the PAL board of directors — Danny Harrington, president; KT Torello, executive director and Diane Torello — for the distinguished honor of inducting me into their Hall of Fame.

Thank you also to Diane Liming for planning the beautiful event recently held at the Chandelier.

I am truly humbled to receive this award with Kenny Kopacz and the Unico of Bayonne who are both well-known for their long-standing dedication and commitment to the youth of Bayonne. Many thanks to my wonderful family and friends who attended the Hall of Fame dinner on my behalf.

As the former principal of Midtown Community School, my relationship with the PAL spanned over 30 years.

This award is especially meaningful to me, because it represents overcoming obstacles and years of a true partnership and friendship built upon mutual respect. The Bayonne PAL and the school have always been about the children. It always has been and always will be!

I would like to acknowledge Bayonne's Finest. I have great respect for the Bayonne Police Department. I know officers volunteer their time at the PAL. As principal, I had the pleasure of working hand in hand with many over the years and I know how much they care for the youth of Bayonne.

The beauty of Midtown Community School (now William Shemin Midtown Community School) was that we were a family, and the PAL was part of that family.

Special recognition to Assistant Principal Patricia Dziubek and the entire school staff who share in all of my success. Their enduring loyalty, dedication, positivity and commitment to the children not only made it possible for dreams to come true but transformed the school into something quite MAGICAL and truly unforgettable.

Thanks again, Bayonne PAL!

Yes, grid capacity must be increased

Re: "Grid modernization needed to support offshore wind, power a clean future" by Anna Muller, Nov. 1:

I don't think Ms. Muller went far enough when she mentioned the need to improve the electrical grid for wind power. Only electricity provides clean energy.

Clean energy is provided by using nuclear, water, solar, hydrothermal or wind. These sources have to replace all of the fossil fuel generators that we now have. That means all the fossil fuel appliances will have to be replaced with electrically powered ones.

Therefore, all the BTUs provided by fossil fuels will be replaced by kilowatt hours.

Grid capacity needs to be increased to allow for the appliance changeover. Grid capacity will also need to be increased to provide for charging batteries to replace solar power at night. Capacity must be increased to allow for charging electricity powered vehicles.

I may have not included all the new demands for electricity, but the above is a start. Something else I'm considering is replacing diesel railroad locomotives with electric locomotives.