Governor Murphy has announced a transit fare holiday for all NJ TRANSIT customers from August 26th through September 2nd, 2024. During this period, fares will be waived for all modes of transportation.
Our Promise to You
NJ TRANSIT is committed to providing the high-quality service that you expect and deserve. The fare holiday is a testament to our dedication to our customers.
Attention Monthly Pass Holders
As an additional token of our appreciation, we are granting a 25% discount on September monthly passes. This discount will be automatically applied through the NJ TRANSIT mobile app, Ticket Vending Machines, or ticket windows.
The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation Works to Fill the Gap and Grant Wishes to Cancer Patients Between the Ages of 18-24 Who Have Aged Out of Other Childhood Cancer Wish Programs
As National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is upon us this September, The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation is continuing its mission to raise awareness for an underserved and sometimes overlooked population of cancer patients, 18–24 year-olds. This age group is still considered by many to be kids – many of whom attend college or are just starting their careers and independent lives.
Nikolas Ritschel was one of these young adults, who at 17 years old was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma and passed a few years later at the young age of 21. While Nik personally experienced and saw this age group’s struggles and loneliness, he also experienced moments of hope and joy. One of those times was when he applied for and was granted a wish from a foundation during his battle with cancer. However, it was when Nik met a young man by the name of Nate whose wish was denied because he was diagnosed one month after his 18th birthday that Nik decided to start The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation. He wanted to help other 18-24-year cancer patients experience the hope and joy he did by having wishes granted too.
Buddy Baseball group at City Council Meeting: Bayonne Recreation Superintendent Pete Amadeo (at far right of photo) was joined by Buddy Baseball players and supporters at the Bayonne City Council meeting on August 14. The Council awarded a contract for upgrades to the 11th Street Oval, the location of Bayonne’s Buddy Baseball games.
At its meeting on August 14, the Bayonne City Council awarded a $2.4 million contract for upgrades to the 11th Street Oval, a playing field located on Avenue E. The contractor with the successful bid is Picerno-Giordano of Kenilworth. The project aims to create an appropriate facility for Buddy Baseball, a program for children with special needs. The upgrades will include a new playing area, dugouts, bleachers, fencing, and handicap access to and from the field and playground.
Mayor Jimmy Davis said, “I am very excited that construction will start soon on transforming the 11th Street Field into a Field of Dreams for our great Buddy Baseball program. I want to thank our Congressional representatives, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the Hudson County Open Space Fund, and local developers for providing the funding for this $2.4 million project. I look forward to the completion of this important facility for our special needs kids.”
At the Council meeting, Recreation Superintendent Pete Amadeo spoke to the Council Members about Buddy Baseball. He thanked all of the levels of government that worked in partnership to fund the upgrades to the 11th Street Oval. Several of the Buddy Baseball players accompanied him at the meeting. All of the City Council Members and several other Bayonne officials waved with foam fingers to show their support for Buddy Baseball. City Planner Suzanne Mack stressed the importance of providing opportunities to special needs children, saying, “It changes their lives.” Francesca Giarratana, Chair of the Hudson County Open Space Committee, represented the county at the meeting.
The Buddy Baseball League, a program in Bayonne’s Recreation Division, began in 2015. It is a program for Bayonne’s developmentally and physically challenged youth, helping them to enjoy the full benefits of baseball in an athletic environment structured to their abilities. Buddy Baseball teaches the players baseball and softball, teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play. It also offers them the chance to socialize while strengthening their self-esteem.
Jersey City Animal Care and Control (JCACC) has joined NBCUniversal Local’s 10th annual Clear the Shelterspet adoption and donation campaign from August 10 through September 10. Since its inception in 2015, Clear the Shelters has helped more than one million pets find new homes and raised millions of dollars for participating shelters and rescues.? Animal shelters and rescues across the country are facing economic hardships due to a historically high number of pet surrenders and feral overpopulation.
This year, Greater Good Charities, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and The Animal Rescue Site are joining NBCUniversal Local’s Clear the Shelters™ pet adoption and donation campaign. They have teamed up to help raise funds for participating animal welfare organizations across the country via ClearTheSheltersFund.org. For the next two weeks, they will contribute $100,000 in matching donation dollars.
Jersey City has enlisted the expertise of Behavior Plus to work bi-weekly with our staff and animals to enrich, maintain, and develop adoptability. On-site veterinarians perform routine and emergency medical care for the animals in the shelter’s care.
Mayor Steven M. Fulop put Jersey City’s new shelter under the care of Health and Human Services last winter and has watched closely as the new management, who answers directly to the mayor, is improving the lives of surrendered and stray animals. “The shelter is now open and accessible to residents six days a week or with an appointment. Additionally, we continue to add new services to improve the lives of strays and pets that end up in the shelter.”
As part of these efforts, the JCACC will take its pets public on September 8 with an event on Barrow Street to help find homes for shelter animals. Residents will be able to meet and adopt our four-legged shelter friends. Working with the HSS’s Partnership for a Healthier JC, the Historic Downtown SID, K-9dergarden, Fussy Friends, Barky Way, and Hound About Town, the JCACC will offer adoptions free for qualified pet parents. Adoption fees are dropped to $10 in the weeks up until the event, and there are no adoption fees for veterans or seniors who want to bring some love into their lives.
“The goal is to find homes for as many of our wonderful dogs and cats as possible, says HHS Director Stacey Flanagan, “Jersey City residents have big hearts and love animals, and now is the time when their generosity can be doubled.”
To contribute, go to the Jersey City Animal Care & Control donation page. This year’s donation page was built courtesy of Fundraise Up, an online donation platform that helps nonprofits grow revenue. When donating to the Clear the Shelters Fund, donors have the option to cover transaction fees with their donation so that 100% goes directly to the shelter or rescue of their choice.
About Jersey City Animal Care & Control
On January 1, 2024, Jersey City launched a full-service Animal Care and Control shelter to ensure the humane treatment for animals in need by establishing 24/7 operations, on-site dog licensing with adoptions, expanding operating hours for more public access, and working with the community to create a robust volunteer program.
The program offers businesses support and student interns.
Caption: Members of the Hudson County Community College-Hudson County Economic Development Corp. Internship Program Team, from left: (front row) Rosennies Feliz, HCEDC Marketing, Communications and Program Coordinator; Lori Margolin, HCCC Associate Vice President for Continuing Education and Workforce Development; Haya Almahdy, HCCC Student Intern; Alejandro Fuenmayor, Owner, Cavany Foods; Alka Kustagi, AIA, Owner, CHB Interiors; Dr. Christopher Reber, HCCC President; Michelle Richardson, HCEDC Executive Director; (back row) Elise White, SRL Enterprises President and Managing Member; Natalie Brown, HCCC Internship Coordinator; Mina Abdelmaseeh, HCCC Student Intern; and Destiny Knowles, HCCC Student Intern.
Hudson County Community College (HCCC), in collaboration with Hudson County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC), announced a new internship program that matches Hudson County businesses with HCCC students. The HCEDC – HCCC Internship Program is supported by a grant to HCEDC by the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation that funds stipends for participating students.
Mercy House Director Cheryl A. Riley (right) joined staff and volunteers in handing out over 300 backpacks to families in need during The Mercy House’s annual Back-to-School Giveaway at its Newark location on August 13, 2024. (Photo by Archdiocese of Newark/Sean Quinn)
Ahead of the rapidly approaching school year, the Archdiocese of Newark’s Mercy House distributed over 500 new backpacks filled with school supplies during its annual Back-to-School Giveaway at locations in Newark, Jersey City, and Elizabeth this month.
More than 300 backpacks were handed out in Newark on August 13, while approximately 100 were given away in both Jersey City on August 15 and Elizabeth on August 16. The backpacks came in a variety of colors, so each child went home with a design they liked. They were also stuffed with classroom essentials, from pencils to crayons to glue sticks.
“The Mercy House lives out the Catholic Church’s mission to help everyone in need. In this case, we knew families desperately needed items they couldn’t afford for the new school year, so we made sure they got everything and then some,” said Cheryl A. Riley, director of The Mercy House, who credited archdiocesan parishes and a few outside organizations with donating the school supplies. “Nothing beats putting smiles on children’s faces, and that’s what we did at this giveaway.”
While picking up classroom essentials, families at the giveaway also received free cups of Italian ice, and several families won prizes raffled at each site. The donated prizes and gifts included dolls, trucks, and water toys.
Founded in 2018, The Mercy House provides nonperishable food, clothing, baby supplies, furniture, and help finding work and housing for anyone in need. Its three locations in Newark, Jersey City, and Elizabeth each serve roughly 300 people weekly. If you would like to volunteer or donate, contact Cheryl A. Riley at cheryl.riley@rcan.org. For more information, visit www.rcan.org/mercy-house/.
AbouttheArchdiocese of Newark?
The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. The Archdiocese has 212 parishes, 67 Catholic schools, and many missions and ministries. Hundreds of Masses are celebrated in more than a dozen languages each week. Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the sixth archbishop of Newark, leads the Archdiocese with four auxiliary bishops. Together, they serve the northern New Jersey community through faith, education, and social services. For more information, visit www.rcan.org.
Diabetes Research Institute Awards Trophy To ShopRite of Jersey City
Michael Burton, CEO, Diabetes Research Institute, Tom Karlya, Senior Vice President, Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, Lawrence Inserra Jr., Chairman and CEO of Inserra Supermarkets, Inc.
Lindsey Inserra, Vice President of Inserra Supermarkets, Inc. Jim Dorey, President of Inserra Supermarkets, Inc., Peter Cavo, General Manager of Inserra Supermarkets, ShopRite of Jersey City
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 2:30pm
ShopRite of Jersey City 400 Louis Marin Blvd.
Jersey City, NJ
Inserra Supermarkets will present the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) with a donation of $109,356 generated from the company’s June “Dollars Against Diabetes” (DAD) fundraiser at all the company’s stores, including its 23 ShopRite stores in Bergen, Hudson and Passaic Counties in New Jersey and Rockland County, NY, and PriceRite Marketplaces in Garfield and Paterson, New Jersey. All money raised directly supports innovative research for the cure at the Diabetes Research Institute.
As we approach the end of the summer vacation season and the beginning of school, there are some good things to do before the season is gone.
Clean up the litter: During the summer, a lot of people have been walking around outside. Some of them have dropped litter in front of homes and businesses. Now would be a good time to clean up any litter that has accumulated over the summer. It would be best to get litter off the streets, sidewalks, and ground before it gets caught under the leaves of autumn and the snows of winter.
Cut and trim the trees and bushes: If you have grass, trees, or bushes on your property, please cut the grass and trim the trees and bushes. It is best to make sure that your grass does not grow too tall at this time of year. During the remaining part of summer, cutting the grass keeps down the number of mosquitoes and other bugs on your property. It is easier to trim trees and bushes before the ice and snow of winter make it too tough to do the job.
Clear out those backpacks: Those of you who have children in school have probably not looked in their backpacks since the end of the last school year in June. There may be crumpled-up papers still in them. You should check the papers for anything important, and then throw the unneeded ones out. Otherwise, they will be taking up space that should be saved for items your children will receive in the new school year.
Go to our final Summer Sounds concerts: There are three remaining concerts in our Summer Sounds series:
On Wednesday, August 21, at 7:00 p.m., weather permitting, Super Trans Am will play arena anthems and top radio hits of the 1970’s. The group performs masterworks from such acts as The Eagles, Hall and Oates, Queen, The Doobie Brothers, Paul McCartney and Wings, Peter Frampton, Foreigner, Kiss, Boston, and Journey.
We have set aside Wednesday, August 28, as a rain date, if needed, so that a performance that was rained out could be rescheduled.
The concerts will take place at the amphitheater on the lower level of DiDomenico-16th Street Park. The concert site is located below the foot of West 16th Street, between Avenue A and Newark Bay. The number of chairs available in the park is limited. The Recreation Division suggests that members of the audience bring their own chairs.
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 get in touch with Pete Amadeo at 201-858-6129, or email BAYONNEREC@AOL.COM.
Please take advantage of the time remaining in the summer of 2024!
Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that Super Trans AM will perform in the Summer Sounds by the Bay concert on Wednesday, August 14, at 7:00 p.m. Super Trans AM is a unique and innovative theme band. They play all of your favorite arena anthems and chart-topping radio hits of the ‘70’s. Combining unparalleled musicianship with artistic and inspired A/V production, you’ll enjoy revisiting classic sing-alongs from one of the most definable decades in American history.
The concert will take place at the amphitheater on the lower level of DiDomenico-16th Street Park. The concert site is located below the foot of West 16th Street, between Avenue A and Newark Bay. The number of chairs available in the park is limited. The Recreation Division suggests that members of the audience bring their chairs.
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 BAYONNEREC@AOL.COM.
Abraham Santiago award-winning author, and film documentarian, has become the most prolific writer on acappella music, over the past fifteen years. Santiago has appeared on the radio from California to New York. He received numerous awards, his latest being the Vinyl City Hall of Fame Award in October 2019. As of this date, no one has come close to, giving us the historical and social connection to the birth of Acappella music that began in the 1960s. Moreover, he was the first person to write, produce, and direct the first documentary film on the history of acappella as a genuine regional art form. He was also the first to produce an animation cartoon on acappella groups singing in the R&B style.
A lifestyle and entertainment publication serving the Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Weehawken, West New York, North Bergen, Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Secaucus and Guttenberg Waterfront Communities
