Bayonne Boxing Legend Chuck Wepner’s statue awaits the unveiling on a rainy Friday morning.
The ceremony will take place at 12 noon at Dennis P. Collins Park between 1st Street and Zabriski street in Bayonne. The public is invited to attend
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Ceremony Held for Phase II of Dennis P. Collins Park
On November 1, the City of Bayonne held a ceremony to rededicate a recently renovated portion of Dennis P. Collins Park, the largest municipal park in Bayonne.
Mayor Jimmy Davis reminded people at the ceremony that large sections of the park were environmentally damaged in the 20th century. He thanked the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for ensuring that the park was cleaned up and was “built right†and “built safe†as a part of a court-administered program. He expressed gratitude to Public Works Director Tom Cotter for his role in completing the park renovations. Mayor Davis said that former Mayor Dennis P. Collins, after whom the park is named, carried out a thorough program of park improvements. He promised to emulate Mayor Collins by redoing Bayonne’s municipal parks. He referred to Dennis P. Collins Park as “the crown jewel†of the municipal park system. Mayor Davis said that the most recent phase of Collins Park work “far exceeds all of my expectations.â€
Ronald Riccio, the court-appointed administrator of the environmental work at Collins Park, lauded the collaboration of the City of Bayonne, the NJDEP, and PPG on the project. PPG, a provider of paints, coatings, and other products, was the court-appointed company given responsibility for the environmental work at the park. PPG was one of several companies that accepted responsibility for environmental clean-up of New Jersey sites, because it could not always be determined which company may have been involved in particular properties. Mr. Riccio reported that 20,000 tons of environmentally damaged soil were removed from the park, and that 39,000 tons of clean fill replaced that soil. He also cited the improved revetment, which is stonework that will help protect the park from the waters of the Kill Van Kull. Mr. Riccio said he had “treasured memories†of Uncle Milty’s, the amusement park that occupied much of the property that is now Collins Park.
Public Works Director Cotter thanked Mayor Davis, the City Council, the CME engineering firm, the municipal attorneys, the Picerno-Giordano construction workers and executives, and PPG for their work on the park renovation project. Referring to Mayor Collins, Director Cotter said to the Collins family, “His vision is still alive today.â€
First Ward Council Member Neil Carroll III said that, when he was younger, the park was his “whole world.†After seeing the park renovations, he said he was “so filled with joy.†He described the improvements as “magic.†“It was like watching a miracle happen,†Council Member Carroll observed.
Concluding the speeches, Mayor Davis said, “We always have to preserve our park. We keep our past part of our future.â€
Felix Cavaliere, The Rascals with Gene Cornish, November 11th, 2022 St. George Theater in Staten Island
By Dave Gil de Rubio -Last Word Features
If Felix Cavaliere decided to retire tomorrow, the blue-eyed soul singing organ player and founding member of The Rascals could do that on the back of a boatload of accomplishments. Membership in a number of halls of fame (Rock & Roll, Songwriter, Vocal Group, Grammy and Musicians), three number one hits, seven Top 10 hits and 20 Top 40 hits.
And that doesn’t even touch on the enormous influence Cavaliere had on a generation of musicians that include Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Little Steven Van Zandt. But instead, the 77-year-old Westchester, NY native is not only hitting the road with Rascal bandmate Gene Cornish following a stint on the road with fellow ‘60s survivor and Monkee Micky Dolenz earlier this year, but promoting his new autobiography, “Felix Cavaliere: Memoir Of a Rascal.†The project took four years to take and proved to be a rewarding experience despite the extended length of time it took to pen.
City of Bayonne to Unveil Chuck Wepner Statue on Saturday, November 12
Statue to Honor the Real-Life Rocky
Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the City of Bayonne will unveil a statue of Bayonne boxing legend Chuck Wepner on Saturday, November 12, at 12:00 noon, in Dennis P. Collins Park. The event will take place on 1st Street between Avenue C and Zabriskie Avenue. Various public officials will attend the ceremony. The event is open to the public. Mayor Davis said, “The City of Bayonne is very proud of Chuck Wepner. We are very happy that he will be with us in person on November 12 to enjoy the long-awaited unveiling of the statue, which is sure to become a very popular attraction in Dennis P. Collins Park.â€
Bayonne businessman Bruce Dillin spearheaded the effort to raise funds for the completion of the statue. Zhen Wu, a Chinese-born artist and Bayonne resident, made the 2,500 lb. statue. It took him six months to mold the clay which was then cast in bronze. The semi-retired Wu made the statue at no cost to the City of Bayonne. He donated his time to making the Wepner statue. Dillin raised funds privately to complete the project.
Wepner’s professional boxing career lasted from 1964 to 1978. He won 35 matches (including 17 knockouts), lost 14, and had 2 draws. Wepner held the USA New Jersey Heavyweight title and the National Americas Heavyweight title. In one of his most famous matches, Wepner was 19 seconds short of a full fifteen rounds with Muhammed Ali in 1975.
Wepner was the inspiration for the leading character in the Rocky movies.
Bayonne Business Donates Sweaters to Archdiocese of Newark
Accem Warehouse in Bayonne donated 140 boxes of new sweaters to the Archdiocese of Newark’s annual “Coats and Candy Giveaway†at The Mercy House in Newark. Please see below for full details and photos of the event, which saw more than 300 coats and other winterwear distributed to people in need.
Mary J Donahue School in Bayonne Trunk A Treat Friday, October 28,2022
New Police Officers Sworn in at Bayonne Ceremony
New police officers: Twelve new Bayonne police officers were sworn in recently in the city Council Chambers. They posed with Mayor Jimmy Davis, Public Safety Director Robert Kubert, and Police Chief Robert Geisler. Pictured left to right: Director Kubert, Mayor Davis, Police Officers Alexander Kruczyk, Alexios Lambos, Matthew DeVera, Daniel Velez, Nancy Garcia, Brian Wehnert, Angelica Bran, Olivia Krasucki, Christopher Shaw, Andrew Michael, Joseph Gillen, and Jacklin Elbadry, and Chief Geisler.
Twelve new police officers were sworn in as new members of the Bayonne Police Department at a recent ceremony in the Dorothy Harrington Council Chambers.
The new police officers include eight men and four women.
The twelve officers are Jacklin Elbadry, Joseph Gillen, Andrew Michael, Christopher Shaw, Olivia Krasucki, Angelica Bran, Alexander Kruczyk, Matthew DeVera, Alexios Lambos, Daniel Veliz, Nancy Garcia, and Brian Wehnert.
Officer Elbadry is a graduate of Bayonne High School. She continued her education at Rutgers University, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Officer Gillen is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He continued his education at Rutgers University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Officer Michael is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He continued his education at New Jersey City University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Officer Shaw is a graduate of St. Peter’s Prep. He is currently pursuing a degree in Exercise Science at New Jersey City University.
Officer Olivia Krasucki is a graduate of Notre Dame Academy. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology at St. Peter’s University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration at Seton Hall University.
Officer Angelica Bran is a graduate of Hudson Catholic Regional High School. She continued her education at Caldwell University, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Officer Alexander Kruczyk is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He continued his education at New Jersey City University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in National Security Studies.
Officer Matthew DeVera is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He continued his education at St. Peter’s University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Officer Alexios Lambos is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He continued his education at New Jersey City University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Officer Daniel Veliz is a graduate of County Prep High School. He continued his education at Hudson County Community College, where he received as Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Officer Nancy Garcia is a graduate of Bayonne High School.
Officer Brian Wehnert is a graduate of Wayne Valley High School. He continued his education at Passaic County Community College, where he earned an Associate’s degree in Biology.
All of the new officers were appointed on March 24, 2022.
Archdiocese of Newark to Distribute Hundreds of Free Coats to Children, Adults in Need Coat Giveaway at Newark Mercy House October 25
The Mercy House, a family-oriented resource and referral center operated by the Archdiocese of Newark, will distribute more than 300 free coats as well as other winterwear to children and adults in need. Â Why: With the cold weather fast approaching, staying warm is especially crucial for those without homes and people in need. To help families and individuals who lack the financial resources to purchase winter apparel, The Mercy House will distribute hundreds of new and gently used coats, hats, gloves, and scarves that were generously donated by Archdiocese of Newark employees, parishes, and individual donors. Â When: Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m.
 620 Clinton Ave., Newark, N.J., 07108  Who: Cheryl A. Riley, director of The Mercy House and the archdiocesan Respect Life Office, will lead a team of staff and volunteers to distribute the items.  The Mercy House regularly provides nonperishable food, clothing, baby supplies, furniture, and help finding work and housing to anyone in need. For more information, visit www.rcan.org/respect-life/mercy-house. Â
About the Archdiocese of Newark  The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. There are 212 parishes, 73 Catholic schools, and many missions and ministries in the Archdiocese. 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.  Â
Bayonne to Hold Opening Ceremony for Phase II of Dennis P. Coins Park Renovations
Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the City of Bayonne will hold an opening ceremony for Phase II of Dennis P. Collins Park renovations on Tuesday, November 1, at 4:00 p.m. The ceremony will take place at 1st Street and Avenue C.
Phase II of the park renovations has included the construction of several new facilities. They include a hockey rink, a multi-purpose, elevated seating area, a playground for ages 2-5, a playground for ages 5-12, basketball courts, an exercise and training area, and a large gazebo.
The play area for the younger children has an amusement park theme. It includes a “Miltyville†ticket booth that is a tribute to Uncle Milty’s, the amusement park that stood on a portion of today’s park property in the 20th century. The kiddie play area has a roller coaster theme.
The multi-purpose, elevated seating area can be used an outdoor classroom or as an audience area for games or performances.
The gazebo measures fifty feet across. It will include tables for sitting. The gazebo is located between the hockey rink and the playground area.
The Gorman Field parking lot will be repaved. Another parking lot has been expanded. Gorman Field has received new sod, along with new fencing and a sprinkler system. The field is not yet ready for use, but will be opened in the spring. The new sod requires time to develop roots.
The park is named after Dennis P. Collins, who served four terms as Mayor of Bayonne from 1974 to 1990. Mr. Collins was a City Council Member before that from 1962 to 1974. Following his twenty-eight years in elected office, Mr. Collins worked as an Aide to Congressman (now Senator) Robert Menendez, Sr. and to former Mayor Joseph V. Doria, Jr.
Hudson County Community College’s  Academic and Workforce Pathway Program Offers New Hope and Fresh Starts for Incarcerated StudentsÂ
 – In the film, Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams’ character, teacher John Keating, tells his students, “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.† Never were those words truer than in the case of Joseph Wise, and Hudson County Community College’s (HCCC) Academic and Workforce Pathway Program (AWPP).  Joseph Wise is a 48-year-old, lifelong Jersey City resident who is now in his third semester of studies at HCCC. He began his higher education journey in AWPP in September 2021 while incarcerated at Hudson County Correctional Center.  Mr. Wise stated that he has spent his whole life in and out of institutions and battling substance abuse. He said that shortly after starting AWPP, HCCC’s Associate Vice President for Continuing Education and Workforce Development, Lori Margolin, called him “a scholar.† “No one ever called me a scholar before,†Mr. Wise said. “It made me think. It made me realize that my mind was more locked up than my body.†It also made Wise come to the realization that classes got his mind off jail, and that education was the only way to stay out of institutions.  “I decided: I did jail, now do education,†he said.  AWPP is the result of a partnership between Hudson County Community College, the Hudson County Correctional Center, and the Hudson County Department of Housing and Community Reintegration. The program is made possible by a $450,000 grant to HCCC from Hudson County. It is one of just a handful of such programs in the United States that offer virtual degree and workforce training in a county correctional facility.  All too often, incarcerated men and women are not given the tools to return to society without encountering poverty, violence, unemployment, and dependency – the same conditions that led to their incarceration. Data indicate that the unemployment rate of previously incarcerated men and women is five times higher than that of the general population, and 70% of children with incarcerated parents develop criminal records as well.  “The most effective programs to combat recidivism are those that begin prior to release, include education and/or job training programs, and provide ongoing support – elements that are incorporated into AWPP, said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “Programs like this are essential and transformational, and the men and women who participate are extraordinarily inspirational.â€Â  Ms. Margolin, and HCCC Dean of Academic Affairs and Assessment Dr. Heather DeVries, worked with Hudson County Department of Housing and Community Reintegration Director Frank Mazza and the Hudson County Correctional Center to institute the program, which offers participants a choice of a degree or workforce path. When it began last fall, the program was offered only to men, and this summer women were included. Today, there are 44 scholars in the AWPP, for a total of 122 students enrolled since the program began.  Program participants must meet all HCCC academic requirements. Classes are held in the jail’s Law Library. In addition to providing classes, HCCC partner Women Rising, Inc. conducts financial literacy and life skills sessions, and to promote equity, the College ensures that incarcerated students receive the same academic coaching and assistance as other HCCC students.  Mr. Wise said that he was also battling substance abuse, and one of his professors gave him a list of meetings to attend. Now on probation with Recovery Court, he is taking classes on campus at HCCC as an EOF (Educational Opportunity Fund) student, receiving counseling, tutoring, financial assistance, and the support of faculty and academic counselors, especially HCCC EOF Director Jose Lowe and his staff.  After graduating from HCCC with his Associate of Science degree in Human Services/Pre-Social Work, Mr. Wise plans on transferring to Rutgers University School of Social Work. Eventually he wants to work with adolescents in a treatment facility so he can help prevent young people from going through some of the challenges he has experienced.  “This is a really good program with people who are great inspirations to me,†Mr. Wise stated. “Everyone in the program is pushing to help me do what I need to do to succeed, and I am going to do that.â€#  #  # Caption: Pictured here, Joseph Wise, a participant in the Hudson County Community College Academic and Workforce Pathway Program.   About Hudson County Community College Hudson County Community College serves more than 18,000 credit and non-credit students annually. The College offers nearly 90 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 Humanities and Social Sciences. The HCCC Culinary/Hospitality Management program was ranked number six in the U.S. by Best Choice Schools.  HCCC has partnerships with major four-year colleges and universities in the greater New Jersey-New York area and beyond, accommodating seamless transfer of credits for further undergraduate and graduate education.  The College’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has been recognized with the 2021 Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Northeast Region Equity Award; the “INSIGHT Into Diversity†2021 and 2022 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, this year honoring HCCC as one of seven community colleges nationally to be named “Top Colleges for Diversity;†and the “INSIGHT Into Diversity†2022 “Inspiring Programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)†Award. HCCC was a finalist this year for the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) “Advancing Diversity Award of Excellence.â€Â HCCC was selected as one of 24 community colleges in the United States – and the only community college in New Jersey – to be named among the “2022 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges†by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) in collaboration with “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.†The College was also one of just 22 community colleges in the nation, and the only college in New Jersey, to be recognized by ModernThink LLC as a 2022 “Great College to Work For®.†|
