New 550+ Seat Venue in Jersey City to Focus on both Live Performances and Continued Inner City Youth Education
Mayor Steven M. Fulop and the New Jersey Symphony announced today the renowned Symphony’s relocation to a new state-of-the-art, 44,000-square-foot theater in Jersey City’s downtown Powerhouse Arts District.
Today’s announcement marks an important new chapter for the Symphony and Jersey City, offering a dedicated permanent location that will serve the local community and contribute to the Symphony’s ongoing activities across the state.
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.
Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that Saints In The City, will play in Bayonne’s Summer Sounds by the Bay concert series on Wednesday, August 7, at 7:00 p.m., weather permitting. Saints In The City is not just a tribute band. It is a passionate and authentic celebration of the music and spirit of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. With a dedicated group of musicians and a frontman who channels the energy and charisma of The Boss himself, the Saints recreate the classic Springsteen concert experience for fans old and new.
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 own 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 [email protected].
Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the City of Bayonne’s Independence Day Celebration will be held on Tuesday, 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 Monday, July 8, if needed.
On July 2, there will be plenty of attractions for both children and adults.
Free children’s inflatable rides will be available from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The rides will be stationed in the old amphitheater, which is located at the southeastern corner of the park’s lower level.
The fireworks are scheduled to go off at approximately 9:15 p.m. The fireworks show will run for about 30 minutes.
Career in music had Lou Gomez close to fame and the famous
ByTris McCall
The time is 1968. The sound on the charts is bubblegum pop: snappy choruses, bright, chiming guitar, voices in harmony, and lyrics about candy and crushes. The Ohio Express, one of the foremost bubblegum bands, is touring behind Top Ten hits “Yummy Yummy Yummy” and “Chewy Chewy.” And the man driving the irresistible beat? That’s Lou Gomez, drummer and singer from Bayonne, New Jersey.
Fast forward to 1975. Styles have changed, and the bubblegum era has given way to the sophistication of funk and disco. A band called Hudson County has gotten the party started in North Jersey with an underground hit called “Bim Sala Bim.” Though the song is a dancefloor burner, it’s got a serious message, the inspiration behind it is serious: the resilience, optimism, and wisdom of a homeless person in New York City. Once again, the guy laying down the groove — and the writer of the song, too — is Lou Gomez.
The Annual Hudson County Black History Month Celebration Awards Dinner honors local African Americans who have served their community with distinction.
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy will join Vice Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners Jerry Walker, County Register Jeff Dublin and a host of other elected officials and community leaders to recognize Hudson County’s 2024 Black History Month Honorees at the Black History Month Celebration Dinner to be held at High Tech High School in Secaucus tomorrow evening at 6 pm.
“I was honored to nominate my dear friend, Florence Holmes, for this year’s Coretta Scott King Humanitarian Award, and pleased that the Hudson County Black History Month Committee confirmed the nomination,” said County Executive Guy. “I look forward to joining our Vice Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, Jerry Walker, Register Jeff Dublin, and other county and municipal officials and community leaders as we salute all our Black History Month honorees at this wonderful annual event.”
Vice Chairman Walker, who serves as a member of the Hudson County Black History Month Committee, noted how valuable events like the Celebration Dinner remain, even in an evermore fast-paced, online-driven world.
“Taking time to understand who we are as individuals requires each of us to understand and appreciate our heritage and our place in history,” said Commissioner Walker. “Our Black History Month honorees’ remarkable stories of courage, creativity, and compassion we will celebrate tomorrow night remind us how that place is shaped and re-shaped for the better every day—right here in Hudson County.”
The Hudson County Black History Month Committee accepts nominations for five traditional countywide awards recognizing the service and achievements of local residents in keeping with the theme of that year’s celebration. This year’s theme is “African Americans and the Arts.”
The Hudson County Black History Month Celebration Dinner will include oratory and musical performances from Hudson County Schools of Technology students and an invocation and benediction by the Rev. Chester Banks of Jersey City.
The 2024 Hudson County Black History Month Honorees are as follows:
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Drum Major Award: Demetrius
Terry, of Kearny. Mr. Terry is a former aide to two New Jersey state legislators and served as the Executive Director of the Greenville Health Access Coalition, a non-profit organization that fought to expand healthcare access for local residents. He now works in property management for a real estate development company and remains active in local community affairs with a focus on bipartisanship and encouraging more participation by younger and LGBTQ voters in local politics.
The Coretta Scott King Humanitarian Award: Florence Holmes of Jersey City. Ms. Holmes has won countless previous awards for her remarkable half-century of service to her community. She currently serves as the Director of the Mary McLeod Bethune Senior Center in Jersey City, the Vice Chairperson of the Hudson County HIV/AIDS Planning Council, a member of the Jersey City Parks Coalition, a member of the Jersey City Golden Door Rotary Club and as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Patrick’s Church, where she has been a parishioner since 1970.
The Rhudell Snelling, Sr., Community Service Award: Jovina Johnson of Jersey City. Ms. Johnson, a resident of Jersey City for more than twenty years, serves as President of the Journal Square Community Association (JSQCA). She is the first African American woman to lead the JSQCA as President. Ms. Johnson has been active in community redevelopment in the Journal Square area as a property owner and member of the JSQCA since 2019.
The Hudson County Public Service Award: Sgt. Steven Rhodes of Bayonne. Sgt. Rhodes has served for a quarter century as a member of the Bayonne Police Department. As a detective, he worked as a member of the Detective Bureau, the Narcotics Unit, and the Juvenile Aide Bureau. Today he serves as the Community Outreach Officer in the office of Bayonne’s Police Chief, Robert Geisler. In that role Sgt. Rhodes works closely with the city’s Community Policing Unit as well as community organizations and local clergy. He is a member of the Bayonne Branch of the NAACP, Bayonne PAL and the Bayonne Community Center.
Outstanding Hudson County Healthcare Award: Joan Dublin of Jersey City. Ms. Dublin holds a B.S. in Nursing from New Jersey City University and a Masters in Public Administration from Seton Hall University. Since 2007, she has served as President & CEO of Metropolitan Family Health Network. In that role, she increased the number of patients served and created health-provider partnerships to expand access to better and more affordable care for local residents. Ms. Dublin has served as Chair of the New Jersey Primary Care Association, Jersey City Medical Center’s Senior Director of Patient Care Services, and as Executive Director of Jersey City Family Health Services.
Residents can learn more about this event by contacting the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs at 201-459-2070 or online at: www.visithudson.org. The Celebration Dinner is free and open to the public.
St. Henry Roman Catholic Church of Bayonne announced that it will be celebrating a special mass at 12:00 noon on February 25, 2024, to kick off a year-long celebration on the 100th anniversary of its Hook & Hastings pipe organ. Also included in the yearlong program is the recognition of the church’s patron, St. Henry, Duke of Bavaria and Holy Roman Emperor, and his wife, St. Cunigunde. The church is observing the 1,000th anniversary of St. Henry’s death in 1024. St. Henry’s homeland, Bavaria, is a state in southern Germany.
Hook & Hastings, a Boston-based firm, produced more than 2,000 organs from 1827 to 1935. Several of their organs remain in use.
Constructing the church was the idea of Pastor Peter Reilly. He purchased the property on Avenue C from his brother in 1907. Father Reilly’s plan was to erect a church, school, rectory, convent, and a hospital on the property. The groundbreaking for the church took place in June 1911. A year later, the cornerstone was laid. Four years later, on May 30, 1915, the dedication of the church took place. It included a choir loft but no organ. Other items, such as furnishings, took priority at that time. Unfortunately, in September 1919, Pastor Reilly died suddenly in the rectory.
A short while later, Father, later Monsignor, Michael Mulligan was assigned to be the new pastor. He had a new, but incomplete, church and a large debt. It was not until he had a decrease in debt and an increase in parishioners that the idea of an organ came about. Pastor Mulligan organized a fundraising committee to raise the $15,000 for a down payment. The committee continued the fundraising until a total of $30,000 was completed. The new Hook and Hastings Company Opus 2500 pipe organ was installed in February 1924.
St. Henry Church invites the community to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the pipe organ. The church is in Bayonne on Avenue C between 28th and 29th Streets. Parking is available next to the church and on the nearby school grounds.
Other special events for the centennial of the organ and the 1,000th anniversary of St. Henry’s passing will be announced
When I was growing up in Bayonne, the Public Service Corporation owned the #14 Bus that ran from Avenue C in Bayonne to Exchange Place in Jersey City. The company operated numerous bus lines across New Jersey. Each bus bore the company’s insignia, a circle that had a triangle inside it. The same symbol was on the old Public Service building at 36th Street and Broadway in Bayonne. (The Bayonne Adult Medical Day Care Center occupies that building now.)
The Public Service Corporation began in 1903. The original version of Public Service brought together an electric power business and four trolley companies. The company added more enterprises to its holdings over the next two decades. In 1928, the various Public Service operations were reorganized into two companies: the Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) and Public Service Coordinated Transport, which operated streetcars and buses. Gradually, most of the streetcars were replaced by buses. The Newark Subway, which opened in 1935, was an exception. It kept the streetcars until 2001, when they were replaced by modern light rail vehicles. Today, the former Newark Subway is called the Newark Light Rail.
The 1970’s and 1980’s saw many changes in the transportation industry. In 1971, Public Service Coordinated Transport was renamed Transport of New Jersey. At that time, many private railroads were going bankrupt. In 1976, several rail companies combined into Conrail, which wanted to focus on the freight business. In 1979, the New Jersey Department of Transportation formed New Jersey Transit, a government corporation, that began to buy out bus lines. In 1980, New Jersey Transit acquired Transport of New Jersey from Public Service. In 1983, New Jersey Transit took over Conrail’s commuter rail services in this state.
Long-time and retired commuters may remember that New Jersey Transit reorganized and renumbered the former Public Service bus routes in 1989. For example, the #14 Bus in Bayonne and Jersey City became the #81 Bus, and the #9 Bus in Jersey City became the #80 Bus.
Today, New Jersey Transit owns and operates most commuter rail lines in the state, with some exceptions. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates the PATH trains. Amtrak, a federal government corporation, runs trains through New Jersey along its Northeast Corridor. SEPTA (the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority), and PATCO (the Delaware River Port Authority Transit Corporation) have trains in Pennsylvania and South Jersey.
Although ownership and management have changed over the years, mass transportation remains vitally important in New Jersey. The City of Bayonne will continue working with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, New Jersey Transit, and private transportation companies to keep transit on track in the years to come.
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