City of Bayonne Website Adds Link to Funeral Home Obituaries

City of Bayonne Logo

          Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the City of Bayonne website has added a link to obituaries provided by five local funeral homes.  Mayor Davis said, “Later this week, the Jersey Journal will go out of business.  As a result, there will be no English-language daily newspaper based in Hudson County.  Obituaries have been an important feature of the Jersey Journal and other newspapers for generations.” 

Mayor Davis

Mayor Davis continued, “To make up for the coming absence of local newspaper obituaries, the City of Bayonne has contacted local funeral homes, offering to provide links to their obituaries on our municipal website, www.bayonnenj.org.”  The obituary link feature will be available through a grey-and-white heading on the right-hand side of the City of Bayonne website homepage.

          As of Monday, January 27, five local funeral homes have provided the City of Bayonne with links to their obituaries.  Those funeral homes are Bayonne Memorial Home, Caiola Stellato and Koch Funeral Home, Dworzanski and Son Funeral Home, Migliaccio Funeral Home and Cremation Services, and West Funeral Home and Cremation Services LLC.  Mayor Davis said, “We would like to thank these five funeral homes for participating in this new obituary program.  We would welcome the participation of other local funeral homes in this obituary link service.”   He invited other local funeral homes to email the appropriate link to their obituaries to [email protected] or [email protected].

Couples Argue This Many Times aYear About Money

One in three Americans (32%) is uncomfortable discussing finances in their relationship, according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 Americans in a relationship, including 500 in a cross-border relationship (meaning that they have a partner currently living in another country) found that of those uncomfortable speaking with their significant other about money, almost half (44%) worry that discussing finances in their relationship will lead to disagreements.

This is understandable, as the average couple surveyed reported having 58 money-related arguments per year. Disagreements are more common for those in a cross-border relationship, who average 72 arguments per year compared to 53 for couples who live in the same country.

Mayor Davis Signs Purchase and Sale Agreement for Bayonne Ferry Terminal

Mayor Davis signs purchase and sale agreement:  Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis signs purchase and sale agreement for buying back a parcel of land from the Port Authority for a ferry terminal.  Pictured left to right: Joseph Skillender, Jr., Bayonne Director of Planning, Zoning and Development, and Mayor Jimmy Davis.

          Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis has signed the purchase and sale agreement to repurchase a parcel of land from the Port Authority for a ferry terminal.  Mayor Davis said, “I am very happy that we are one step closer to completing this real estate transaction, which will help us achieve our goal of ferry service for the people of Bayonne.”

For a purchase price of $4.4 million, the City of Bayonne has obtained 2.3 acres at the former Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne (MOTBY), which juts out two miles into Upper New York Bay from Bayonne’s eastern waterfront.  Of that parcel, 1.6 acres will provide space for the ferry terminal and parking.  The remaining 0.7 acre will continue the Hudson Riverfront Walkway along the southern shore of the former MOTBY.   An adjoining private property owner, Lincoln Equities, is contributing an acre of additional land for the ferry project in return for building the UPS Facility.  The terminal will be located about halfway out the former MOTBY, approximately one mile east of the Bayonne mainland.

Plans for the ferry terminal are in the final design phase.  The parking lot for the ferry passengers is expected to be 1.4 acres in size, with approximately 130 parking spaces.  The number of parking spaces will depend on design, layout, drainage requirements, and other factors.   The City of Bayonne has issued a request for proposals/request for qualifications (RFP/RFQ) for constructing the ferry building and operating the terminal. 

In a previous attempt at establishing a ferry service, the City of Bayonne selected Seastreak as the operator.  However, the time for that selection expired, so the City of Bayonne has gone out to bid again for a ferry operator.  The municipality’s goal is to select a ferry company by March or April 2025. 

Mayor Davis concluded, “I am very happy that we have the contract with Port Authority to buy this land so that Bayonne will have our own terminal and control our own destiny.  This purchase will make it easier for us to achieve our goal of ferry service for our great community.”

Jersey City Mayor Fulop Delivered his 2024-2025 State of the City Address as He Begins His Final Year in Office

Fulop delivers last State of the City Message

Mayor Steven M. Fulop delivered his 11th annual State of the City address to a large crowd inside City Hall Council Chambers Thursday night, outlining a bold vision for the future of Jersey City and highlighting the city’s accomplishments over the past year.

In his live-streamed address, Mayor Fulop celebrated the historic progress made over the past 12 years in office, raising the bar for what governments can achieve at every level and establishing Jersey City as the economic backbone for the state of New Jersey.

Mayor Fulop credited the community partnerships, department leaders, and city employees for driving progress and putting the administration’s bold ideas into action.  “Twelve years ago, we set out to make Jersey City a model for urban success. Today, we stand together as a city transformed, a place where families thrive, businesses flourish, and opportunities exist for everyone.”

Notable 2024 highlights from the State of the City address include:

Bayonne Fire Department Holds Promotion Ceremony for Battalion Chiefs and Captains

  Recently, in the Bayonne City Council Chambers, the Bayonne Fire Department held a ceremony for six new battalion chiefs and eleven new captains.  The promotions took place to refill the ranks following recent retirements in the department.

       New Bayonne Fire Department Battalion Chiefs:  Mayor Jimmy Davis and the Fire Department leadership posed with the department’s newly promoted battalion chiefs (BC’s). Pictured left to right: Mayor Jimmy Davis, Fire Chief Keith Weaver, BC Christopher Czuba, BC Theodore Wolf, BC Michael Smith, BC Edward Ratyniak, BC Roger Nunez, BC Marcial Pivano, Deputy Fire Chief William Bartos, and Public Safety Director Robert Kubert. 

      New Bayonne Fire Department Captains:  Mayor Jimmy Davis and the Fire Department leadership posed with the department’s new captains: Mayor Davis, Fire Chief Keith Weaver, Captain Steven Pilanski, Captain Timothy Lynch, Captain James Pilger, Captain David Sisk, Captain Brian Petty, Captain Jeffrey Spengler, Captain Thomas Weber, Captain Richard Baccarella, Captain Michael Visone, Captain Brian Cotter, Captain Kevin Pietranico, Deputy Chief William Bartos, and Public Safety Director Robert Kubert. 

    The new battalion chiefs are Christopher Czuba, Theodore Wolf, Michael Smith, Edward Ratyniak, Roger Nunez, and Marcial Pivano.

           Battalion Chief Christopher Czuba is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He earned a degree in HVAC Technology at Lincoln Technical Institute. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 1999. His extensive training and certifications include: Hazardous Material Tech, Confined Space, Fire Officer 2, Fire Official, and Fire Investigator.  He has earned several awards including Unit Citations for rescue on June 6, 2004 on 30th St. and Kennedy Blvd., and a Team Effort Award from the Cooperman Barnabas Burn Center for the rescue of a person who was trapped in rising floodwaters of Hurricane Ida in September 2021.

Mayor’s Corner-Bayonne Mayor James Davis-DR. KING’S ENDURING MESSAGE

Mayor Davis 
Martin Luther King
Dr. Martin Luther King Day

            On Monday, January 20, we will observe the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday.  This day should remind us about his life’s mission – equality for all Americans. By backing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Dr. King fought for equal rights for all Americans, regardless of race, color, creed, sex, or national origin. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. is not simply a figure from the past. Fifty-seven years after his death, Dr. King’s words and actions remain relevant to today’s issues.  Recent acts of violence that were rooted in religious and racial hatred reminded us all that Dr. King’s work remains to be fulfilled.  Across the country over the years, Americans have been killed, just because they were Black, White, Hispanic, Jewish, Asian, Native American, gay, or members of other groups. The hatred and the violence must stop. 

Now, more than ever, we need to respect each other.  Now, more than ever, we must become neighbors.  Now, more than ever, we must work together to become one nation.  As Americans, we have roots in many countries around the world.  As Dr. King said, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.”  We must not remain in our silos, caring only about ourselves.  Dr. King pointed out that “life’s most persistent and most urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

During Dr. King’s lifetime, Americans tended to think about better community relations as having mostly to do with Blacks and Whites, Catholics, Protestants, and Jews.  Since his passing, our country has become much more diverse.  We have more people here now from many other ethnic, racial, and religious groups. The same principles I discussed above still apply to how we should behave towards each other, now with more groups than we had in the 1960’s.  Accepting each other, regardless of our ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds, and gender or orientation, remains the great challenge of American life. 

John Hume, a Catholic civil rights and political leader from Northern Ireland, was inspired by Dr. King.  Mr. Hume said, “Difference is the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth, and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.”

            The first step towards a better nation is to recognize everyone who lives here as our fellow Americans.

Revolutionizing School Safety:Skool Dogs K9 Heroes in Action

By Monica Prestia @stefani_style www.stefanistyle.com 1/6/25

In Vineland, New Jersey, at Cumberland County Technical Education Center (CCTEC), an extraordinary guardian is safeguarding students and staff while bringing a sense of comfort and security to the community. K9 Meadow, a specially trained security dog from Skool Dogs, is redefining school safety with an innovative and proactive approach.

School safety remains a top concern nationwide, with educators, parents, and communities searching for effective solutions to prevent potential threats. Enter K9 Meadow, a four-legged protector who is not just a security measure but a beloved part of the school community. From walking the halls to interacting with students, Meadow seamlessly integrates into the daily rhythm of school life while maintaining an unwavering readiness to respond to emergencies.

Meadow is part of a groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by Skool Dogs, a company operating state-of-the-art training facilities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida. With a mission to address safety concerns in schools, places of worship, and public spaces, Skool Dogs patented Active Shooter Response Program equips K9s with the skills to identify and respond to potential threats. These dogs are trained to detect firearms, ammunition, explosives, narcotics, and more—a critical capability in today’s world.

Meadow, named in honor of Meadow Pollack, a victim of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, works tirelessly to ensure the safety of students and staff at CCTEC. Handled by Steve Manera, Meadow exemplifies the dedication and effectiveness of the Skool Dogs program, bringing both security and a sense of community to the school.

What sets Skool Dogs apart is their commitment to proactive safety measures. Unlike traditional security approaches, which often involve reactive responses, Skool Dogs’ K9 units live within the schools they protect during school hours. This unique approach allows them to build relationships with students and staff while fostering a sense of peace and safety in the school environment. For students at Cumberland County Technical Education Center, seeing Meadow each day offers a reassuring presence—a constant reminder that their safety is a priority.

“Having K9 Meadow at our school has been transformative,” says Dina Rossi, school superintendent at CCTEC. “Not only does she provide an added layer of security, but she also brings joy and comfort to our students and staff. Meadow is truly part of our family.”

Art House Productions’ Snow Ball Gala: Entertainment Lineup, Festivities & Honorees

Art House Productions Snowball Entertainment 2025

Come one, come all to the magical Snow Ball! Art House Productions and presenting sponsor SILVERMAN proudly announce the 17th Annual Snow Ball Gala on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 8 PM to 11 PM, with an exclusive VIP Honoree Dinner starting at 6 PM. The event will be held at Hudson County Community College’s Culinary Arts School and Conference Center, 161 Newkirk St, Jersey City, NJ 07306. This year’s theme, Spectacle of Wonder, brings the enchantment of the circus to life as we celebrate the vibrant arts and culture scene in Jersey City and honor the incredible individuals who champion Art House Productions’ mission to support artists and enrich Hudson County through exceptional arts programming. Creative black-tie attire is encouraged.

Art House is thrilled to honor the following outstanding contributors to Jersey City’s arts community:

  • Hudson County Executive: Craig Guy
  • Jersey City LGBTQ+ Pride Festival Producer: Eddie Baez
  • Executive Director of the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID): Rachel Sieg
  • Artist, Curator, and Arts Advocate: Bryant Small
  • President and CEO of Jersey City Medical Center RWJ Barnabas Health: Michael Prilutsky

New Jerseyans ‘On the Fence’ About Their 2025 Finances, Survey Finds.

 Survey asks respondents to rate their financial optimism for 2025 on a scale of 1 to 10.

  • The average New Jerseyan achieved a 19% return on their 2024 investments.
  • Interactive map included.

New Jerseyans report being ‘on the fence’ as they look ahead to 2025. A survey of 3,000 respondents conducted by MarketBeat.com asked people to rate their financial optimism for the coming year on a scale of 1 to 10. New Jerseyans scored a 6 out of 10, aligning with the national average, while Hawaii residents led the pack with an impressive 9/10 optimism rating. It seems challenges like rising interest rates and global economic uncertainty are weighing heavily on New Jerseyans’ financial outlook for 2025

This wavering attitude corresponds to their performance in 2024, when the average New Jersey investor saw a 19% return on their investments, which was again in line with the national average.

The top 10 investment performers of 2024 are:

1.    Hawaii – 32% return
2.    Alaska – 26% return
3.    New York – 24% return
4.    South Dakota – 24% return
5.    Louisiana – 23% return
6.    Oklahoma – 23% return
7.    Idaho – 22% return
8.    New Mexico – 22% return
9.    Tennessee – 22% return
10.  California – 21% return

Interactive map showing a state-by-state breakdown of investment growth this past year (click on ’embed’ to host on your site)

How Are New Jerseyans Putting Their Gains to Work?
A significant number are choosing to reinvest in 2025, seeing it as an opportunity to keep building their portfolios and grow their wealth further. Others are using this financial boost to tackle long-standing debt or build up emergency savings, which have become a higher priority in uncertain times. Some are also setting money aside for personal goals – whether that’s education, travel, or other meaningful pursuits.

What’s on the Horizon for 2025?
Rising interest rates are a big concern for many New Jerseyans, especially for those managing loans or mortgages. Global economic uncertainty and market volatility are also keeping people on alert. 

A Balanced Approach to Financial Growth
How are New Jerseyans using their money? For many, it’s all about balance. Paying off debt is a priority for some, as rising interest rates make this a smart move. Others are focusing on saving for the future, ensuring they’re ready for whatever comes next. And then there are those who are reinvesting—building on their success in 2024 and keeping an eye on long-term growth.

These results underscore the remarkable adaptability of today’s investors,” says Matt Paulson, founder of MarketBeat.com. “Rather than exclusively chasing high returns, they’re diversifying their strategies—bolstering emergency funds, paying down debt, and selectively reinvesting for long-term growth. As we head into 2025, this balanced approach will be instrumental in navigating market shifts and unlocking new opportunities in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.”

Marketbeat.com

Hudson County Community College to Welcome Malcolm X’s Daughter, Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz


Dr. Shabazz will be Guest Speaker at the College’s Annual
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial event.

Caption: Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, published author, public speaker, activist, and daughter of the late Malcom X will be the guest speaker at Hudson County Community College’s Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on January 28, 2025.

December 20, 2024, Jersey City, NJ – Malcolm X fought racial injustice by any means necessary, advocating armed resistance and separatism; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. espoused peaceful protests and community organizing to end segregation and fight discrimination. Although the Muslim revolutionary leader and the Baptist minister differed in their advocacy and philosophical approaches, their legacies are intertwined. Before they were both assassinated at age 39, they built the foundation for future generations of activists.

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