Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the City of Bayonne’s Independence Day Celebration will be held on Wednesday, July 2, at the lower level of DiDomenico-16th Street Park, beginning at 6:30 pm, weather permitting. There will be a rain date of Thursday, July 3, if needed. If the rain date were utilized, the same times and procedures announced for Wednesday, July 2, would apply to Thursday, July 3.
On July 2, there will be plenty of attractions for both children and adults.
Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the Bayonne Farmers’ Market has is returning for the 2025 season. It will begin on Tuesday, May 27. The Farmers’ Market will operate on Tuesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. from the springtime through Tuesday, October 28. The market will operate rain or shine, unless extremely heavy rains make it impossible to function. The Bayonne Farmers’ Market operates with the support of the Bayonne Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ).
Produce market vouchers are available for low-income seniors through the Bayonne Office on Aging, Mayor Jimmy Davis announced.
The seniors’ farmers’ market nutrition program is designed to provide low-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs.
Beginning May 27, the Bayonne Farmers’ Market will be available on Tuesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. until mid-fall. The last date scheduled for the Bayonne Farmers’ Market is Tuesday, October 28. The market will be located at West 23rd Street between Del Monte Drive and Broadway.
Those eligible for the market vouchers are low-income seniors, defined as individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have household incomes of not more than 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines, or $2,413 per month for a single person and $3,361 per month for a family of two. To qualify, seniors must provide proof of age, income, and residence. Acceptable proofs include driver’s license, non-driver Motor Vehicle Commission ID card, Medicaid card, food stamp (SNAP) benefits card, Social Security award letter, pension letter, and current bank statement showing direct deposit of income benefits. There will be no exceptions made for those without proper documentation. If a senior wishes to have a proxy pick up vouchers on their behalf, a written letter with the required proofs from the senior must be provided at the time of distribution. Again, there will be no exceptions.
Vouchers will be distributed at City Hall, 630 Avenue C, in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, June 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and again on Wednesday, June 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Distribution will be done electronically, with seniors receiving a scan code that will be scanned by the farmer for each purchase.
PLEASE NOTE: The distribution will be completed again by way of a state computer system, which has listings for all previous voucher holders. If the system shows that an individual received vouchers in 2024 and did not use more than 50% of the total amount, that individual will be denied receipt of vouchers for 2025.
Distribution will continue every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon beginning June 24 while supplies last.
For further information, please contact the Bayonne Office On Aging at 201-858-6119.
The Bayonne Memorial Day Parade took place under beautiful sunny skies on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025. Since 2022, the City of Bayonne has worked with the veterans of the Memorial Day Parade Committee to organize the parade. Mayor Jimmy Davis said, “As the son of a proud Korean War veteran, I am glad that the veterans and the City of Bayonne have worked together successfully on the parade.”
Posted May 19, 2025
The Bayonne Memorial Day Parade will take place on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025. Since 2022, the City of Bayonne has worked in conjunction with the veterans of the Memorial Day Parade Committee to organize the parade. Mayor Jimmy Davis said, “As the son of a proud Korean War veteran, I am glad that the veterans and the City of Bayonne have worked together successfully on the parade.”
The grand marshal of the 2025 parade will be former Mayor Richard A. Rutkowski, who served in the U.S. Army in the 1950’s. He was posted to Iran, where he trained Iranian troops. He shook hands with the Shah of Iran. Rutkowski was at the Russian border during the Iraqi crisis of 1958. Following his military service, former Mayor Rutkowski became active in various veterans’ posts, including: American Polish Vets, Catholic War Veterans Post 1612, Joyce-Herbert VFW Post 226, and Cpt P.J.E. Hogan Disabled American Veterans Chapter 5. Along with many other veterans, Rutkowski speaks at the historic Joyce-Herbert V.F.W. Post 226 Veterans Museum, educating our youth and community about our military history.
Pete Amadeo, the Supervisor of the City of Bayonne’s Recreation Division, has worked with Barry Jones, the parade chairman, and the other veterans on the Memorial Day Parade Committee to invite various organizations to take part in the parade in both 2022 and 2023. Mr. Jones is an Army veteran from the Vietnam era.
There will be a ceremony at the traditional start of the parade on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, at 10:00 a.m., at Fifth Street by the World War I Monument. Immediately after the ceremony, the march will begin at 5th Street and will proceed up Broadway. It will pass the reviewing stand in front of American Legion Post 19 and will end at 32nd Street and Broadway.
Any organizations still wishing to march, please contact Pete Amadeo at 201-858-6127 or email bayonnerec@aol.com.
Mayor Davis stated, “From the American Revolution to the present, more than 42 million Americans have served in our military during war. Of them, more than one million died in the service, whether in battle or elsewhere during wartime.” Mayor Davis concluded, “Veterans often remind us that ‘freedom is not free.’ That means that America’s fighting men and women have purchased our freedom with their sacrifices since 1775. We owe our freedom and our way of life to them. Please show your gratitude for those who gave their lives for our country by coming to the memorial ceremonies and to the parade.”
Bayonne Mayor James Davis
Photo Credit Al Sullivan
Photo Courtesy of Pete Amadeo-
Saturday, May 3, was a great day in Bayonne. More than a thousand people came out for the dedication ceremony for the new Buddy Baseball field at 11th Street and Avenue E. Buddy Baseball, a great program for children with special needs, has become a cherished part of the community during its ten-year history. In Buddy Baseball, volunteers assist special needs players during the games.
The ceremony marked the happy completion of a $2.4 million construction project that began in September 2024. The City of Bayonne received money for the construction from the federal, state, county governments, and local developers. Known to many as the Field of Dreams, the renovated ballpark includes a new playing area, artificial turf, bleachers, fencing, handicap access, and an adjoining playground. We would like to thank all of the public and private sector funders who made this wonderful project possible. The skilled workers of Picerno-Giordano Construction of Kenilworth built the facility and got it done on time for the start of baseball season. Public Works Director Tommy Cotter and City Engineer Rob Russo worked hard on this project from start to finish.
In a special part of the ceremony, the new scoreboard was unveiled to reveal that the City of Bayonne has named the facility Pete Amadeo Field. Pete, our Superintendent of Recreation, established Buddy Baseball in Bayonne and has made it one of the best recreational programs in our community’s history. Each day, he leads our Recreation Division with energy and enthusiasm. Naming the field in Pete’s honor was one of Bayonne’s best-kept secrets. He had no idea that this was happening until the unveiling took place.
I am extremely happy that Pete Amadeo Field is completed and open for the 2025 Buddy Baseball season. It will provide fun and excitement for children and families for years to come.
A new nonprofit, From Educators to Innovators, LLC, will host their very first Culture Day Festival in Bayonne on Saturday, May 31st at 16th Street Park.
This festival is meant to highlight all the wonderful and various cultures that reside in Bayonne. It will be a spectacular event showcasing music and dances from other countries, delicious cuisines from around the globe, and an array of vendors displaying their multicultural creations for the community to enjoy and purchase!
Let’s not forget about the various kids’ activities from face painting to arts & crafts to a gaming truck and more! What a great way for Bayonne to celebrate its people!
Grandmaster Austin Wright Sr. was recently inducted into the International Puerto Rico Hall of Fame and received “The Bushido Martial Arts Award of Excellence”. This was Puerto Rico’s 30th Annual Best of The Best Anniversary. The Tournament and Hall of Fame Director was Ruby Camacho. The Tournament and Hall of Fame were held in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
Grandmaster Wright runs several schools in Bayonne and Jersey City, NJ. The school is offering $49 two-week trial classes for children ages 3-17 and $99 two-week trial classes for adults 18-up in the Arts of Isshin-Ryu Karate, JuJutsu, Kickboxing, Muay-Thai, Boxing, and mixed martial arts. For more information, go to our website www.karatenjmma.com or call 201-437-1820.
Bayonne’s annual Holocaust Remembrance Service is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, at 6:00 p.m., in the Dorothy Harrington City Council Chambers at 630 Avenue C. The event is sponsored by the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation of Bayonne and the Bayonne Interfaith Clergy and is hosted by the City of Bayonne. Mayor Jimmy Davis is the honorary chairman of the program.
At the memorial program, elected officials will offer brief remarks and present proclamations, resolutions, and citations. Clergy from various faiths will offer prayers and reflections. Members of Bayonne’s veterans’ groups will carry the colors and the banners of their posts. Bayonne students will also participate in the procession. The Bayonne Interfaith Choir will sing.
Hara Lynn Benjamin, a cantorial singer with the Temple Beth-El Religious School, will lead the singing of Hatikvah. Alan Gordon Smulen, a cantorial singer from Temple Emanu-El and President of the board of Amore Opera, will lead the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner. The accompanist will be Sidney Hagans, Director of the Bayonne Interfaith Choir. Lee Smulen is also a member of the event’s music committee.
The event will include a candlelighting ceremony to remember the victims of the Holocaust.
The winners of the Holocaust writing contest at Bayonne High School will read from their compositions. The students will receive awards sponsored by the Preminger and Epstein families.
Arnold Wendroff is President of the UJA Federation of Bayonne. Dr. Ellen Goldberg is the Executive Director of the UJA Federation and the Jewish Community Center. Ilona Rosenberg is President of the Bayonne Jewish Community Center. Helene Kessel Nagiar and Joseph E. Ryan will co-chair the service.
This memorial program is free and open to the public.
The Annual Blessing of the Bikes hosted by Bayonne Elks #434 began on Saturday, April 19th.
Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis stopped by with members of the Municipal Council. Pictured with Mayor Davis, 2ND Ward Council Member Jacqueline Weimmer, Council Member at Large Loyad Booker, Council Member at Large Juan M Perez, and members of the Bayonne Police Department
Live music is provided by “She Said No”
