Workers call these “handicap corners.” Blogfinger photo 9/19/23

This photo illustrates the situation where the road meets the curb, meets the dirt strip, and meets the sidewalk. Blogfinger photo. 9/19/23.

Almost done at Mt Hermon and Delaware. 9/2-/23. Blogfinger.net

We interviewed one of the workers.  He outlined what was currently going on here at Delaware and Mt. Hermon, at the park.

Today they are dealing with the intricacies of preparing the corners for this job.

We also discussed what remains for the Delaware Avenue west side.

The east side curb  adjacent to the park will not be worked on now even though the curb consists of an inadequate  remaining broken  slate edging.

As for the west edge, the street has to be re done:  raised to  create the correct meeting (height) with the new concrete curb.

Then the dirt strip has to be filled with top soil so as to level what is now a slight but risky  hillside to make the strip one nearly level height, matching the curb to the sidewalk. I guess there may have to be a slight slant to let rainwater run off into the street.

These workers are driven to excellence, and I admire that—I thanked them.  Two of my mother’s brothers were electricians and one was a postal worker.  One drove a commercial truck delivering ice cream, and one owned a hat store.  The last one worked for public works specializing in sewers in Bayonne.

4 served in the Pacific (WWII)

I learned some things about “blue collar.”

The Royal Artillery & Parachute Regiment Bands and  Choirs:   ( I still remember the words to “Stout Hearted Men”  from the Boys Glee Club at Rutherford High School).   Pick up the volume:

“You who have dreams
If you act, they’ll come true
To turn your dreams to a fact
It’s up to you
If you have the soul and the spirit
Never fear it, you’ll see it through..”

By Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II.