                                                           Hudson County Community College (HCCC) is proud to announce that HCCC President Dr. Christopher M. Reber has been named to the NJBIZ Education Power 50 List for 2021. The list recognizes education leaders who are responsible for managing New Jersey higher education organizations, making policies that affect the institutions, or who are directly responsible for imparting knowledge to students, apprentices, and the community at large. This year’s list honors the ways educators, and colleges and universities, demonstrated resiliency and forward thinking in navigating the pandemic and ongoing public health emergency.  The NJBIZ profile notes: “…Reber gained wide attention when the school cancelled the debt incurred by 2,000 students over three semesters during the pandemic.†In an August interview, Dr. Reber told NJBIZ: “The number one goal we have is to try to avoid students dropping out. Because of the nature of our student body, the likelihood [is high] that if they stop now, they’ll never come back to us or to any higher degree.â€Â  Under Dr. Reber’s leadership since the COVID-19 pandemic began HCCC has supported food pantries on the Journal Square and North Hudson campuses; distributed more than 1,100 Chromebooks and laptop computers as well as 50 Hot Spots; made more than 5,500 reheatable meals prepared by the College’s Culinary Arts Institute available to the College and Hudson County communities; offered courses, programs and services remotely and online; launched a COVID-19 vaccine incentive program that provided $100 to 3,000 students who demonstrated they were fully vaccinated; partnered with the North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) to administer COVID-19 vaccines on the HCCC North Hudson and Journal Square campuses; offered financial counseling and emergency assistance to students; and much more.  “I am honored to be recognized by NJBIZ and acknowledged with my esteemed colleagues,†Dr. Reber stated. “I share this honor with everyone at HCCC – trustees, students, faculty and staff. As our students often say, ‘Hudson is Home.’ We are a family and work together to ensure a culture of care that supports all of our members and our neighbors in the community is fully realized at all times.† Dr. Reber became the eighth president of HCCC in July 2018, and has made student success, and equity, diversity and inclusion the hallmarks of his administration. Prior to arriving at HCCC, Dr. Reber served as president of Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) near Pittsburgh, PA. Earlier in his career, he served for 12 years as Executive Dean of Venango College of Clarion University of Pennsylvania. His career also includes 18 years at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, where he served as the Chief Development, University Relations and Alumni Relations Officer; and as Chief Student Affairs Officer. He also led continuing and cooperative education programs at Lakeland Community College near Cleveland, Ohio.  Dr. Reber holds a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College; a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University; and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds a post-graduate certificate from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.  TheNJBIZ profile on Dr. Reber and the other NJBIZEducation Power 50 may be viewed at https://njbiz.com/2021-njbiz-education-power-50-z/.#   #   # About Hudson County Community College Hudson County Community College serves more than 18,000 credit and non-credit students annually. The College offers more than 70 degree and certificate programs, including award-winning English as a Second Language, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Fine and Performing Arts. The HCCC Culinary/Hospitality Management program was ranked number six in the U.S. by Best Choice Schools. Over 94% of HCCC Nursing program graduates passed the NCLEX first time out, placing the program’s graduates in the top tier of two- and four-year nursing programs nationwide. In 2017, the Equality of Opportunity Project ranked HCCC in the top 5% of 2,200 U.S. higher education institutions for social and economic mobility.  HCCC has partnerships with every major four-year college and university in the greater New Jersey-New York area and beyond, accommodating seamless transfer of credits for further undergraduate and graduate education |
Yearly Archives: 2021
Fulop ADMINISTRATION Announces FEMA Disaster Assessment Teams to Jersey City to Assist Residents Recovering from Ida
– Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to announce FEMA Disaster Assessment Teams will visit all six wards to provide direct outreach and resources to Jersey City residents still recovering following the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which brought severe flooding, wind, and other related damage to the area on September 1st and 2nd. Â
“A lot of our residents’ homes were hit hard by the storm. That’s why we fought to make sure the federal funding was made available to our residents,†said Mayor Fulop. “Jersey City residents are already struggling after a year and a half of financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so we want to help everyone get the financial assistance that is available and that they are entitled to following Ida.â€
The City’s Mobile Community Resource Unit (otherwise used as a mobile vaccination site) will be used by FEMA to establish Disaster Recovery Centers to provide direct support to residents registering for FEMA’s Individual Assistance programs. The Resource Unit will provide a visible, fixed location for area residents to speak with FEMA representatives and report their claims. At the same time, DSA teams, made up of FEMA representatives, will canvas the surrounding neighborhoods for outreach and assessment.
The Disaster Recovery Centers and DSA teams will be deployed in all six wards on the following dates:
Monday, September 20, 2021
Locations:
9 a.m. – Staging area St. Paul’s Avenue & Palisade Avenue
1 p.m. – Staging area Bowers Street & Palisade Avenue
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Locations:
9 a.m. – Staging area Division St & Newark Avenue
1 p.m – Staging areas Garfield Avenue & Bayview Avenue
Residents can learn more about federal resources, eligibility, and registration for Individual Assistance claims through FEMA’s website at disasterassistance.gov.
Jersey City celebrates the return of popular annual Jazz Festival
The Jersey City Jazz Festival is back for a special 2021 edition on Saturday, September 25 in the Powerhouse Arts District. The free-to-the-public annual event will feature eight bands on two stages, food trucks, a full bar, and a VIP experience from noon – 8pm at the 107 Morgan Street lot in Jersey City. The event is produced by Riverview Jazz and presented by Exchange Place Alliance.
The lineup includes two of the signature guitarists of their generation – ace musician Russell Malone (4pm) and gypsy jazz virtuoso Stephane Wrembel (2pm). The world-renowned NYC jazz club Smalls will present an All-Star band featuring Victor Lewis, Seamus Blake, and Peter Washington at 5pm, and legendary drummer and Jersey City resident Winard Harper will perform at 6pm. There will also be plenty of dancing opportunities with salsa outfits La Excelencia (7pm) and Karen Joseph’s Mambocha (3pm). Rounding out the festivities will be the 9-piece eclectic music collective Brawlik at 1pm, while the NJCU Jazz combo will kick things off at noon. WBGO on-air host Lezlie Harrison will be the master of ceremonies.
“Wow, does it feel good to be back!†says festival director Bryan Beninghove. “The pandemic really hit the music community hard, between those we’ve lost and the lack of work, so it feels particularly energizing to work with all these amazing artists again to create something awesome for Jersey City.â€
The festival, in its eighth year, strives to present a variety of music to the public. “We don’t focus on any particular style of jazz, our goal is to showcase the plethora of great music all around us, and put it in a fun, inclusive environment for the community. If people associate the good time they had at the festival with jazz as a genre, then it will only make the music more sustainable in the future – and that’s our goal.â€
For information on purchasing VIP tickets, directions, parking, or links to the artists, visit www.JerseyCityJazzFestival.com. The presenting sponsor of the Jersey City Jazz Festival is Exchange Place Alliance. Other main sponsors and partners include Bank of America, Jersey City Cultural Affairs, Hudson County Cultural Affairs, WBGO, Guinness, Ketel One, Bulleit Bourbon, Silverman, and Sawyer Smith Residentia
Frank Siller Founder of Tunnel2Towers Comes to Bayonne
Frank Siller, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s September 11 hiker, walked through Bayonne on Wednesday, September 8. Greeted by Bayonne Mayor James Davis. A ceremony took place in Gregg-Bayonne Park at the flagpole at 9:00 a.m.
Following the ceremony, Mr. Siller had a scheduled interview with MSNBC. After that, he walked through the park and exited West 37th Street, and continued southward along Avenue A, passing Bayonne High School (29th Street) and stopping at DiDomenico-16th Street Park and the 16th Street Fire House.
Mr. Siller had a scheduled interview there with CBS. The walk continued southward to North Street, and then onto Kennedy Boulevard. The walk continued from Kennedy Boulevard to the Bayonne Bridge.
The Siller family founded the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to honor the memory and carry on the legacy of their brother, Stephen, a New York City firefighter. On September 11, 2001, following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Stephen Siller strapped on sixty pounds of equipment and rushed on foot through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the twin towers of the World Trade Center. It was there that he gave his life while helping others. He was one of 343 firefighters who perished after responding to the World Trade Center. ———————————————————–
Hudson County Community College Names Matthew LaBrake Executive Director of Center for Online Learning
Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has selected Matthew LaBrake to serve as Executive Director of the HCCC Center for Online Learning (COL), effective August 30, 2021.
“The HCCC Center for Online Learning serves students, faculty, and staff who study or teach in the College’s extensive online courses and programs,†said HCCC President Dr. Chris Reber. “We welcome Mr. LaBrake, who brings strong experience and skills to lead and further develop online, hybrid, and technology-rich courses and programs.â€
Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children Sends Record Number of Teens to U.S. Space CampÂ
Photos courtesy of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children 
Photos courtesy of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children 
Photos courtesy of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children 
Photos courtesy of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children 
Photos courtesy of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children
25th Anniversary Class Includes Triplets, Twins, and Mostly Young Women
Economically-disadvantaged students from Hudson Catholic Regional High School and St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City were among 13 teens who received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the U.S. Space Camp in Alabama thanks to an extraordinary scholarship program from the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children.
The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children (SFIC), a partner of the Archdiocese of Newark, celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Summer Space Camp Program by sending its largest and most extraordinary class yet to the prestigious Advanced Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL.Â
BAYONNE MAYOR DAVIS ANNOUNCES STORM CLEAN-UP WITH DUMPSTERS AND EXTRA CURBSIDE PICK-UPS
On the night of Wednesday, September 1, 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Ida dumped more than nine inches of rain on Bayonne, causing numerous basements to flood. As a result, property owners have to dispose of water-damaged refuse throughout the City. Mayor Jimmy Davis has announced two ways in which the City has arranged to help residents.
Working with the Bayonne Department of Public Works, A&L Disposal has set up dumpsters in various hard-hit parts of the community for the convenience of our residents. Dumpsters have been placed or will be placed on 1st Street (just east of Kennedy Blvd.), Cottage Street and Hobart Avenue, 10th Street and Avenue A, at 14th Street and Avenue E, 22nd Street and Avenue F, 27th Street and Avenue E, near 33rd Street and Avenue A, 34th Street and Avenue E, 45th Street and Avenue C, and Sycamore Road and Colonial Drive. The City has the authority to add other locations. This positioning of dumpsters will give neighborhood residents the opportunity to deposit storm-damaged refuse for removal. Please do NOT use these dumpsters for regular household garbage, only for storm-damaged items.
On Saturday, September 4, A&L Disposal will send out trucks for curbside pick-ups of storm-damaged items that residents would like to get rid of. If you have placed or will be placing items at curbside for pick-up, please inform the Department of Public Works at 201-858-6131 by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 3. Public Works will share that list with A&L. Due to the expected demand for this service, please understand that it may take the company a while to get to your property.
bAYONNE’S gLOBAL hARVEST fELLOWSHIP COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR FOSTER CARE CHILDREN
HUDSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESENTS SELF-PUBLISHING MASTERCLASS THIS FALL
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| Self-publishing can prove to be both emotionally satisfying and financially lucrative. The art of bringing your ideas from conception to fruition often requires the guidance of an expert. At our four-hour workshop, you will receive the guidance needed to enter the self-publishing world. This Masterclass includes:Exploring the self-publishing landscapeDetermining a budgetIdentifying your target audience, and understanding how to reach themEstablishing and growing your social media presenceThe editing processThe lure of an impressive and unique coverThe graphic requirements of the bookYou: ‘The Brand’Selling and marketing your book |
 | Lilisa Williams is a National Coach, Speaker, Author, Trainer and is also a 9-time author and the host/creator of several radio and TV shows, including her most popular show, “All About Entrepreneurs Talk Show,” which can be heard on-demand 24 hours at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/empowermenttoday. |
| Days: WednesdaysDates: 9/8/21 – 9/15/21Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.Instructor: Lilisa WilliamsPrice: $75Location: Online |
| This live class is going to be held online via the Webex or Zoom platform. Participants will receive an email with details on how to access the live course 24 to 48 hours before the start of class. |
Saints in the City in Concert, Bayonne Summer Sounds by the Bay
On Wednesday, August 18 Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that Saints in the City will play in Bayonne’s Summer Sounds By the Bay concert series.
On Wednesday, August18, at 7:00 p.m., weather permitting. The concert will take place at the amphitheater on the lower level of DiDomenico-16th Street Park, which is located between Avenue A and Newark Bay.
Saints in the City is a Bruce Springsteen tribute group. What could get more Jersey than this eight-piece band performing the best of Bruce Springsteen?
Bring your shorts and flip-flops and be ready to dance at 16th Street Park! On music days during the summer concert season, in the event of inclement weather, please call 201-471-7590, or visit
www.leaguelineup.com/bayonnerec, or view the City of Bayonne’s Facebook page to check on the status of that night’s performance. For more information about the concerts, please contact Pete Amadeo at 201-858-6129, or email [email protected].
