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Message |
    
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 624
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 4:53 pm: | 
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I happened to walk through the parking lot by SOPAC on the way to the bakery, and took time to take stock of the SOPAC building. I was actually upset by the size and scale of the place. Its hard to understand how anyone can feel that it is appropriate to the site and the surroundings. But what's done is done.
However, I am also concerned about some other aspects. There is an asphalt alley between SOPAC and the train station with what appear to be emergency doors. That alley has a very urban feel and looks like it could quickly become something nasty. Why does it have to be asphalt? Can't it be landscaped and made to look better at least?
A large front window of the building was already shattered. I don't know how it happened but it looked like a rock or something went through the window. I hope I'm wrong, but I wonder if the windows are that susceptible to breakage, given how many there are.
Finally, I don't know what the composition of the exterior is. I thought it was some kind of cement. But it appears to have a finish on it which can scrape off, as witnessed by the panels along the alley which must have been scraped by the construction crew. I would have thought it would have been something more durable and graffitti impeding.
And of course, there is the parking issue. The lot, on the weekend, was quite full, and that's without a movie house draw. I can't imagine where people will be parking. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 269
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 5:14 pm: |
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Beifus, Beifus, Beifus..... |
joel dranove
Citizen
Username: Jdranove
Post Number: 434
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 5:26 pm: |
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Pay Beifus more money, more money, more money.
Or, eminent domain, because he has failed to build.
One route favors the taxpayer, the other favors Bill's friend.
Which do you think will be taken by our ducks in a row board?
Calabrese's friend will get our money.
jd |
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 325
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 10:33 pm: |
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I'm excited about it and will wait to judge problematics of alleys and finishes if they should arise. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4857
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 10:59 pm: |
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Shouldn't the windows have been Plexiglas? |
Cali6buff
Citizen
Username: Cali6buff
Post Number: 6
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 9:55 am: |
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Can we let the job get completed before we start complaining about how it looks? You have to build the guts first, and then make it pretty.
And I particularly like the implication that a rock, no doubt tossed by a few street thugs, broke one of the windows. Such pessimism.
And Plexiglas is for hockey arenas and prisons, not Art Centers.
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Old and Gray
Citizen
Username: Pastmyprime
Post Number: 338
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 10:09 am: |
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Maybe a fire truck was driven into it, like on the new fire department doors? |
Peter J. Watts
Citizen
Username: Peter_watts
Post Number: 21
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 8:14 pm: |
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jayjay, you just noticed the size and the scale of SOPAC? where have you been for the past seven months? |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 630
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 9:02 pm: |
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PJW-
I've been too busy trying to grapple with the financial burden we will all have to carry. The weight of that has obviously prevented me from looking up! |
Cali6buff
Citizen
Username: Cali6buff
Post Number: 7
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 10:49 pm: |
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Nice slip.
How to change the subject 101. I believe there are 534 threads about the finacial burden of SOPAC. This is about the appearence, of which your original points - have no point.
Brick face going up. Window (shatterproof) repaired. Can't wait until it opens. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3868
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 10:28 am: |
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I'm a SOPAC volunteer. Are YOU?
...Which reminds me: SOPAC "Ambassadors" will be staffing an information table from 11 to 2 on Saturday, in conjunction with the Main Street Spring Festival in Spiotta Park. Want info? Got questions? Need to start an argument on general principles? Be there.
-s. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 4010
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 10:50 am: |
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SODA,
Can you share with us some of SOPAC's fundraising plans? It is supposed to open this Fall, and we have not heard anything about plans to raise money. Will they be selling "bricks" with family names? Will they be selling the naming rights? (Beifus Performing Arts Center?) etc etc
Anything you can share with us? |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3870
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 11:04 am: |
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MHD, et al: I'm not gonna waste my time playing "Still Beating Your Wife" with you. Be there on Saturday, and ask your questions of the designated representatives (one of whom will be SOPAC's Development Specialist) at the information table...
...especially you, MHD. Get out from behind your computer and at least TRY to enjoy the festivities. You could use some sun. You're looking rather palid these days...)
-s. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 4011
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 11:18 am: |
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SODA,
Believe it or not, my question was serious. You claimed to be a volunteer, so I ASSUMED you knew something. I guess I was wrong. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1549
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 11:19 am: |
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Soda, you are on the verge of becoming part of the problem with that last remark. You said you are a volunteer, and a populace starved for information is asking for some. If you aren't qualified to answer the questions, say so, but don't attack us for asking them.
I'm busy on Saturday (in the sun with 15 little girls) so can't show up during one little slice of time on the hopes that someone will say something substantive. I listen to every BOT meeting, read every local paper, etc. and have seen too little detail, given the length of time that our taxes have been paying staff.
As I've said before, I'm on the mailing list (waiting for email!), I have the refrigerator magnet from a previous booth, I've taken the survey, I'm ready to write my first check, but have waited a year for someone to bother to ask.. Granted I don't have major donor potential, but SOPAC is losing money (and increasing its tax hit?) by not raising money more aggressively. Makes me nervous about the management, although I'm eager for the opening. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3872
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 12:00 pm: |
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MHD:
A) Never assume. And
2) I'm a volunteer, but not the designated Development Specialist. SOPAC has lots of volunteers, and I'd bet that we all have different reasons for getting involved. My reasons did not involve becoming the development maven you seem to require. Sorry. Seek your answers elsewhere (like maybe a call to the SOPAC offices???), or on Saturday.
Susan1014: I reject your premise that every SOPAC volunteer is a defacto expert on all aspects of the organization, and I mildly resent your inference that I'm "on the verge of" anything. Nonetheless, it's great that you're so enthused about SOPAC that you've actually done all the online stuff, so here's an idea for you: How about writing a ten dollar check and physically taking it over to the SOPAC offices, and demanding some answers in return for your largess? Or, as I suggested to MHD, make a phone call.
I'll go even further... Here's the number: 973-275-1114.
-s.
BTW: If I ever attack you, you'll know it. See you at SOPAC. |
vermontgolfer
Supporter
Username: Vermontgolfer
Post Number: 424
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 1:03 pm: |
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Beifus Performing Arts Center, MHD, not that's a classic if I've ever heard one. 
Soda, whether you agree or disagree with the poster, in this case MHD, I think it was a fair question and you could have addressed it in a more professional and courteous manner. My two cents. |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1805
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 1:32 pm: |
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It's a bit disingenuous to say you are starved for information, then not be willing to place a single phone call to try to get answers.
It took me all of 10 seconds to go to the web site (www.sopacnow.org) and look up the contact information:
Jessica Alexis Finkelberg
Executive Director
South Orange Performing Arts Center
20 Valley Street, Suite 220
South Orange, NJ 07079
973 275 1114
Susan and MHD: If you really want answers to the questions you posed, I'd suggest Ms. Finkelberg would be a good start. Please let us know what you find out.
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cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1806
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 1:36 pm: |
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Also, for anyone desperate to donate, there's an entire page on the Web site devoted to this. There's a paypal link for sending an online payment, and also instructions on how to mail them a check.
http://www.sopacnow.org/p-donate.php
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Cali6buff
Citizen
Username: Cali6buff
Post Number: 13
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 1:44 pm: |
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It was not a genuine, serious question. It was a series of snide comments about funding. Disguised poorly I might add, especially with the parenthetical Beifus comment.
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MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 4014
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 1:46 pm: |
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cmonty,
Thanks for the incorrect assumption, but I have spoken to Ms. Finkelberg in the past and asked her about her plan and she promised that more information would be "Coming Soon". So far, I have seen or heard nothing.
Soda told us he was a "volunteer" for SOPAC, so I thought he could actually add value here and share some information. I was wrong.
At this stage of the operation, what other "Volunteers" could there be possibly be, other than fundraising? Is he in training to be a "ticket taker" or usher?  |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1550
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 2:49 pm: |
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Cmonty, you miss my point (or else you are being disingenuous in responding to it)
I think that SOPAC is quite a bit overdue on community outreach and fundraising, given the amount of salary money they have already received from us.
Of course they will take my money if I reach out and offer it, but until they start doing a better job of asking the community at large, I'll assume that my subsidy will be via tax dollars, rather than my donations. I'm not donating until I have some proof that they are serious about fund raising, then I'll donate regularly and cheerfully. I've heard rumors that there is major donor fundraising going on, but have heard nothing concrete.
If this were a purely private charity, I'd click Paypal and give now, but since they have a hold on my tax dollars to fund deficits, I have to hold back a bit and see if they are serious about fundraising. (I've got an amount in my head that I'm willing to subsidize SOPAC yearly, but need to figure out the split between tax subsidy and charitable contributions)
Like our town government, I expect that people who are spending my tax dollars will have a plan to communicate with the public, rather than expect each and every one of us to call and tease information out of them. I'd like to think that Ms. Finkelberg, as the Exec Director of an arts center, has a better communication plan (and better things to do) than sitting by the phone waiting to answer each of us one by one.
And Soda, don't worry, I have no expectations whatsoever that you know everything. I just didn't like how pissy you got at someone who dared to ask you a question. In closing, sincere thanks for your volunteer work with SOPAC, in whatever area it is. |
Stuart0628
Citizen
Username: Stuart0628
Post Number: 264
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 3:05 pm: |
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In my limited experience with charitable campaigns, you go after the heavy hitters first, in a "silent campaign", and "go public" with the mass appeal portion of the campaign only after you have several large donors and donations on board.
The silent campaign can be frustratingly l-o-n-g. Until I call SOPAC and ask specifically, I'll assume that their fundraising campaign is in exactly this stage. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3873
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 6:03 pm: |
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MHD: Since the estimable Ms. Finkelberg's position is filled, I've opted for Usher. I've had experience, too.  Some evening when I show you to your seat, I'll tell you about it. Or not... Anyhow, Good guess.
susan1014: Not only do I not know everything (that was my ex-boss' job -- no day at the beach, he...), but I don't even feel too bad that I momentarily jerked the minds of a populace starved for information around by proudly proclaiming my minor role in the future (if not the immediate present)of SOPAC. In fact, I think it's an affirmation to mention my affiliation with what I hope will become the premier entertainment venue in South Orange, if not Maplewood...
I happily acknowledge your "Supporter" status (here on MOL as well as the positive vibes you're projecting about SOPAC), but you weren't the one who asked me the question. That was MHD, and my "pissy" response to him was rooted in a long and poignant history between us, involving, among other things, bead jobs, knotted nylons, and a bean burrito.
You're correct, of course, about fessing up when you don't know something. You should always try to do that.
...unless you're a consultant or something...
-s. |
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