Category Archives: Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

Bayonne News, Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

Renovations Are Progressing at the Bayonne Public Library

Melody Scagnelli-Townley, Interim Director of the Bayonne Public Library, has issued an update concerning the multiple renovations that have been taking place this year in the library building at 31st Street and Avenue C. 

The library’s old boiler system has been dismantled and removed.  Scagnelli-Townley reported that the new boiler “is halfway through installation.”  The mechanicals and the cab have been removed from the library’s public elevator. Scagnelli-Townley reported that “the new elevator cab will be installed soon.”

The library’s main lobby (Circulation) and the dais, where new books were displayed, “were taken down to the studs,” Scagnelli-Townley said.  A new handicap-accessible ramp has been built to the dais. To accommodate the new ramp, the entrance from Circulation to the Popular Fiction Room was relocated.  The Circulation area has been moved to the center of the lobby.   A brand-new Circulation Desk, which incorporates a circulation desk from the 1950’s, is being custom-built.  Scagnelli-Townley stated, “Brand new tile flooring for the whole lobby is coming soon.” 

The Interim Director reported that the library’s Children’s Room “was taken down to the studs.”  She added, “Now, new lighting and a new ceiling have been installed.  A brand-new Story Time area with stadium seating and special lighting is starting to take shape.”

Workers have drilled holes through the floor of the Reference Room in preparation for “new, wired charging study tables and new computer carrels.”  Scagnelli-Townley said that the library staff is still waiting for “the arrival of brand-new, ADA-compliant furniture for the lobby, the Reference Room, and the Children’s Room.”  (ADA refers to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal law that provides for facilities that are compatible with the needs of handicapped people.)

Scagnelli-Townley commented, “So many exciting things are happening! Naturally, such big changes take time.  We are currently anticipating that we will be open to the public at our 31st Street building by the end of November.”  She continued, “To be sure, re-opening the library will depend on making steady progress for the next two months.  We will not announce a specific date for re-opening the library until we are certain that the time is right.”

She continued, “Until such time, we will continue to be available for you at our temporary Story Court branch (16 West 4th Street), where you can access many of the same features you love at our 31st Street building: computers, printing, copying, study space, device charging, and book-borrowing and returns.”

Scagnelli-Townley concluded, “Great things are coming!”

Bayonne News, Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

Bayonne Mayor James Davis Column

THE LAST WEEKS OF SUMMER

Mayor James Davis Column
Bayonne Mayor James Davis

          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.

         

For more information about the concerts, please contact Pete Amadeo at 201-858-6129, or email BAYONNEREC@AOL.COMPlease take advantage of the time remaining in the summer of 2023!

Bayonne News, Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

Bayonne Mayor James Davis -PROGRESS TOWARDS A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

Mayor Davis 2018 Inaugural
Bayonne Mayor James Davis

          Last week, in our City Council Chambers, Bayonne residents had their first opportunity to view plans in person for the proposed 34th Street pedestrian bridge.  Once plans are finalized, that bridge will be constructed over Route 440 between the 34th Street Light Rail Station and the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor (the former Military Ocean Terminal).

          There is a clear need for better, safer ways for pedestrians to cross Route 440 than running across the highway.  Lives and public safety are at stake. Pedestrians have died in the Route 440 corridor in recent years. The need for safe pedestrian crossings has increased as economic development has taken place in the Route 440 corridor. There are various locations where pedestrian bridges could be placed along that highway.  We decided to start with the 34th Street Light Rail area because there is already a pedestrian overpass there linking the Light Rail station with the parking lot. This proposed bridge would connect directly to the existing Light Rail passenger overpass.  TY Lin, the engineering firm that has the contract for the bridge concept development study, has offered various options for solving the pedestrian safety problem around 34th Street and Route 440.  The engineers have presented options that include various types of bridges and upgrading the highway crossing without building a bridge. Let’s be clear.  We want a bridge.

The staff of TY Lin believes the best option or preferred alternative would be a single-span, prefabricated, steel truss bridge over Route 440.  This proposal would include fully enclosed stairs and an elevator building at the east landing of the bridge, across the highway from the station.  That plan would offer a sidewalk at the east landing that would connect to the sidewalk on Goldsborough Drive and at Port Terminal Boulevard.  They are major streets at the former Military Ocean Terminal. The engineers envision a twelve-foot-wide space inside the bridge to provide safe access for pedestrians and bicycles. At the public information session on August 2, members of the public suggested that the bridge be enclosed for safety reasons.  Several residents also called for more sidewalks in the Route 440 corridor.

At the City Council Caucus on Wednesday, August 9, at 6:00 p.m., TY Lin will offer a presentation about the proposed bridge to our City Council Members.  This Caucus meeting will be televised on Optimum cable Channel 78 and on Verizon Fios Channel 42.  We expect at least one more opportunity after that for the public to offer comments in person about the bridge proposal. 

This bridge project began when the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority awarded Bayonne a $550,000 planning grant.  Later, the City of Bayonne received more than $4 million in federal funds for bridge construction through the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.  The federal money came from the Liberty Corridor program, a transportation aid package that Senator Bob Menendez championed when he was still in the House of Representatives.  

Where do things stand now?  There is a concept for the bridge, along with a preferred option for building that bridge.  We have more than $4 million for construction.  After receiving more public input, we can move towards preliminary engineering, then to the final design of the bridge, and, ultimately, to construction. 

As we continue making progress on this project, I would like to thank all of our residents who have offered ideas and expressed concerns about the safety issues on Route 440.   If you would like to offer comments or suggestions to TY Lin about the proposed pedestrian bridge, please go to https://34thstbayonnepedestrianbridge.com/contact.

We look forward to working with the New Jersey Department of Transportation to provide more safe crossings in the Route 440 corridor.  

Bayonne News, Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

Memorial Day Parade Back Again in Bayonne Monday, May 29

The Bayonne Memorial Day Parade will take place on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023.  Last year, the City of Bayonne worked in conjunction with the veterans of the Memorial Day Parade Committee to bring the parade back after an absence of two years. Mayor Jimmy Davis said, “As the son of a proud Korean War veteran, I was very happy that we found a way to revive the parade in 2022.  I am glad to say that the successful collaboration between the veterans and the City of Bayonne has continued in 2023.”

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 29, 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. 

The grand marshal of the parade will be Carlton Rhodes.  In 1990, he served as President of Chapter 151 of the Vietnam Veterans of America. He has held the position of State Secretary-Treasurer of the Vietnam Veterans of America New Jersey State Council for 28 years.  Mr. Rhodes served as Commander of VFW Post 7470 from 1983 to 1984, and Quartermaster of VFW Post 7470 from 1984 to 1989.  He is the current Senior Vice Commander of VFW Post 7470.  His volunteer experience has included volunteering at the VA Lyons Hospital, the Chapel of Four Chaplains in Philadelphia, the Memorial Day Committee of Bayonne, and Faithful Navigator of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. Mr. Rhodes is a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Catholic War Veterans, the VFW, and the American Legion.  Mr. Rhodes trained as an aircraft mechanic and an electrician. He was employed as a Maintenance Supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service.

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 News, Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

Murphy Administration Awards Bayonne $133,677 State Recycling Grant

City of Bayonne Logo

            The Murphy Administration is awarding nearly $16.2 million in grants to communities across the state to help them enhance waste reduction and recycling programs, the same amount as the previous year’s total, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced. The DEP is awarding Bayonne a recycling grant of $133,677, up from $115,257 in 2022.  Mayor Jimmy Davis said, “I would like to thank the residents and businesses in Bayonne for taking part in our recycling programs.  Their support for recycling helped generate this grant.”  Mayor Davis continued, “I would also like to thank Public Works Director Tom Cotter and Recycling Coordinator Mike Tassone for providing successful leadership of our recycling programs.  Their steady efforts have led to this 2023 state grant that will help maintain Bayonne’s recycling and waste collection efforts.”

            The Bayonne Department of Public Works will use the state grant to support its waste management and recycling programs.   The specific uses of the grant will be announced at a later date.

            The annual awards are based on 2020 recycling performance, the most recent year for which data is available.  Municipalities must use their funds for various recycling initiatives.  These may include sponsoring household hazardous waste collection events, providing recycling receptacles in public places, or maintaining leaf composting operations.

            Commissioner LaTourette said, “New Jersey has long set a national example for recycling, starting with being the first state to enact a recycling law in 1987.”  He continued, “This annual grant program provides incentive for communities to strengthen their municipal recycling initiatives, encourage children and adults to keep our environment clean, and provide assistance in helping to reduce the local tax burden while also improving quality of life.” The grants are awarded through the state’s Recycling Enhancement Act and are funded through a $3 per-ton surcharge on trash disposed statewide at solid waste facilities.  As required under the Recycling Enhancement Act, the DEP returns 60% of that money to municipalities based on how much recycling each community reports accomplishing during the calendar year.  The remaining funds are divided, with 30% going to counties, 5% to colleges and universities, and 5% for administrative costs.

            According to the DEP, “For calendar year 2020, New Jersey generated 20,997,099 tons of solid waste, which represents disposal (9,474,871 tons) and recycling (11,522,228 tons) reported by municipalities and, in limited instances, counties.”  The DEP continued, “The overall tonnage of materials reported as recycled and as disposed both decreased slightly in 2020 from 2019, leading to a slight decrease in the overall recycling rate, to 55% in 2020 from 56% in 2019. Solid waste includes municipal waste plus construction debris and other types of non-municipal waste.”

Bayonne News, Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

Bayonne St. Patrick’s Parade Names Gabrielle Figueroa 2023 Grand Marshal, Plans Brunch Honoring Her on February 26

The Bayonne St. Patrick’s Parade Committee has announced Gabrielle Figueroa is its 2023 Grand Marshal.  The Bayonne parade will take place on Sunday, March 19.  Gaby is the daughter of Nuala and Andres (Chico) Figueroa, sister of Kathleen and Michael, and granddaughter of 1993 Grand Marshal Kathleen O’Keeffe. A lifelong Hudson County resident, Gabrielle is a proud alumna of Holy Family Academy.  She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the College of New Jersey in Sociology and School Counseling, and works as a school counselor at Roosevelt Elementary School in Kearny.

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Bayonne Holds Ceremony to Celebrate Federal Grant for Special Needs Ballfield 

            On Saturday, January 28, the City of Bayonne’s Recreation Division held a ceremony to celebrate the $1 million federal grant it will receive to construct a ballfield for the Buddy Baseball program at 11th Street and Avenue E.  Buddy Baseball, a popular activity for young people with special needs, was established in Bayonne seven years ago. 

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Bayonne Chamber of Commerce Takes Road Trip to Meadowlands Racetrack

 
 

 On June 16 The Bayonne Chamber of Commerce had its first road trip. Michele Bryd, Director of Winners of Bayonne chaired the event where trustees and its members had an event in a skybox at the Meadowlands Racetrack.  They enjoyed a social event to celebrate summer while watching races which included the ostrich race along with the camel races. 

 

Bayonne Chamber takes first road trip
The fourth race was  ran in Tribute of the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce. Photo of the above transferring the reins is outgoing president Matthew Dorans (left) and incoming president Thomas Coughlin (right). Photo was taken at the winner circle where the trustees and members took a photo with the winning horse.

Bayonne Chamber takes first road trip to meadowlands Racetrack

 In the Winner Circle trustees in photo or Michele Byrd, Annette Rubin, Matt Dorans, Tom Coughlin, Tracy D’Alessandro, Dina Santarelli, Jack Kennedy  and Gail Godesky and other members 

Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com, Health Views

CarePoint Health – Bayonne Medical Center Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Celebrate Major Upgrade to the Emergency Department

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Photo by Stephen Mack 

Investment of approximately $1,000,000 results in significant  Improvements to facilities Results in faster, more efficient delivery of medical services and patient care

Bayonne, New Jersey (November 6, 2014) –  CarePoint Health CEO Dennis Kelly, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis and other elected officials cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of CarePoint Health – Bayonne Medical Center’s renovated Emergency Department. With an investment of close to one million dollars, the Emergency Department has created a facility designed to decrease wait times, handle increased patient volume and provide the highest quality care in a state-of-the-art environment.

Continue reading CarePoint Health – Bayonne Medical Center Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Celebrate Major Upgrade to the Emergency Department →

Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com, In the News

BAYONNE ELECTS A NEW MAYOR

By Ricardo Kaulessar

Mayor -elect James Davis
Mayor -Elect Jimmy Davis greets his supporters at Casa Maria Restaurant
on election night

Photo of Mayor -Elect  Jimmy Davis by Ricardo Kaulessar  

Smith and team again
Mayor Mark Smith and Team election night at Chandelier Restaurant

 

 Photo of Mayor Mark Smith and Team by Steve A Mack 

James Davis walked into the Villa Maria restaurant in Bayonne on Tuesday night like the conquering hero, with hundreds of supporters cheering him on as soon as he entered the place.

There was good reason for the elation as Davis won the mayoral runoff election in his hometown over the incumbent Mark Smith by a 51% to 49% margin as of election night.

Davis greeted the numerous tired and sweaty followers like himself who were energized by seeing their leader give his victory speech.

“Tonight we enjoy but tomorrow we get to work,” said Davis to raucous applause. “It’s going to take everybody in this city to change this city, whether they voted for us or against us.” Continue reading BAYONNE ELECTS A NEW MAYOR →