Mayor Jimmy Davis announced the City of Bayonne will conduct curbside pick-up of autumn leaves on ten Mondays in the fall, beginning Monday, October 11. The pick-ups will take place citywide on ten Mondays through December 13, 2021. Residents may place leaves in special ecology-friendly leaf bags, in barrels, or in paper bags. Plastic bags are unacceptable and will be rejected for pick-up. Effective Monday, October 4, the ecology-friendly leaf bags can be picked up at the front doors of City Hall, the 4th Street Senior Center, and the 56th Street Senior Center, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. City employees will issue one packet of five bags per household at a time. The 4th Street Senior Center is located at 16 West 4th Street and Story Court. The 56th Street Senior Center is located at 56th Street and Avenue B.
The term “leaves†means foliage only. Specifically excluded from this definition are grass clippings, hedge clippings, tree parts, shrubbery and other types of vegetative waste.
Leaf collection will start early on designated Mondays, beginning October 11, at 6:00 a.m., so residents should put their leaves out on Sunday evenings to ensure pick-up.
Mayor Davis stated, “I would like to encourage Bayonne residents to pick up the leaf bags at the front doors of City Hall or at either of our senior centers. Thank you for cleaning up around your property, helping our environment, and taking part in our leaf recycling program.â€
HCCC one of just eight community colleges in the country to be awarded this national honor.
September 22, 2021, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has received the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversitymagazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. The annual award recognizes colleges and universities in the United States that demonstrate outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. HCCC is one of just eight community colleges among the 101 award recipients.Â
“This significant national recognition is another point of pride made possible by the leadership and support of the College’s Board of Trustees, and the engagement and outstanding dedication and contributions of the entire HCCC family,†said HCCC President Dr. Christopher M. Reber.
“The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees – and best practices for both, continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,†said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.â€
Hudson County Community College serves one of the most ethnically and racially diverse communities in the United States. In 2019, Dr. Reber established the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (PACDEI), a team of 40 students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and external community members. PACDEI, through collaborations and partnerships, has played an essential role in the organic development of an inclusive institutional climate. At the time of PACDEI’s inception, HCCC administered a College-wide climate survey. The survey results informed the development of four Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) overarching goals that served as the foundation of PACDEI’s comprehensive DEI Action Plan. These DEI goals are interwoven in the College’s updated Mission, Vision, and Values statements, and the Board of Trustees’ Goals, Academic Master Plan, 2021-24 Strategic Plan, and Student Success Action Plan.Â
In July, the College established the HCCC Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Yeurys Pujols was appointed the College’s inaugural Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In addition to leading and supporting the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – which also includes Accessibility Services, Cultural Affairs, and oversight of Title IX operations – Mr. Pujols is charged with promoting an institutional climate that embraces and celebrates differences while championing equitable and inclusive practices, policies, and procedures in all activities for all community members. This includes working with various HCCC offices and divisions to establish guidelines and practices for recruitment and hiring, screening committee policies, promotion considerations, and succession planning; creating clear and transparent processes for safety, security, and incident reporting that are free of intimidation and respectful of confidentiality; and building community and a sense of belonging for students by advancing their academic development, professional growth, and personal transformation.Â
“These activities will promote and expand an institutional culture in which every person is celebrated, every voice is encouraged to contribute to shaping our institutional climate, and an equity mindset is infused and embedded into every part of the College,†Mr. Pujols stated.
HCCC has also been selected to receive the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) 2021 Equity Award for the Northeastern United States. That award will be presented on October 14, 2021, at the 52nd Annual ACCT Leadership Congress in San Diego, California.Â
Complete information about Hudson County Community College may be found at www.hccc.edu. Additional information about the 2021 HEED Award is available at insightintodiversity.com. #   #   # Photo Caption:  Hudson County Community College students are pictured at an induction ceremony of the College’s chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta, the National English Honor Society for two-year colleges.
About Hudson County Community College Hudson County Community College serves more than 18,000 credit and non-credit students annually. The College offers more than 70 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 Fine and Performing Arts. The HCCC Culinary/Hospitality Management program was ranked number six in the U.S. by Best Choice Schools. Over 94% of HCCC Nursing program graduates passed the NCLEX first time out, placing the program’s graduates in the top tier of two- and four-year nursing programs nationwide. In 2017, the Equality of Opportunity Project ranked HCCC in the top 5% of 2,200 U.S. higher education institutions for social and economic mobility.
HCCC has partnerships with every major four-year college and university in the greater New Jersey-New York area and beyond, accommodating seamless transfer of credits for further undergraduate and graduate education.
AboutINSIGHT into Diversity INSIGHT Into Diversitymagazine is the oldest and largest diversity publication in higher education today and is well-known for its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. In addition to its online job board, INSIGHT Into Diversity presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion across higher education and beyond. Articles include interviews with innovators and experts, as well as profiles of best practices and exemplary programs. Readers will also discover career opportunities that connect job seekers with institutions and businesses that embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce. Current, archived, and digital issues ofINSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com
City officials and educators visited a stop at Dennis P. Collins Park on Bayonne’s new history and heritage trail. Tourists, students, and local pedestrians can learn more about Bayonne and the history of particular sites by scanning the QR code shown in the photo. Bayonne High School students researched the history of various sites and produced a local booklet. This program is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and is administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. Pictured left to right: Dan Ward, Director of Social Studies, Bayonne Board of Education; Mayor Jimmy Davis; Neil Carroll III, First Ward Council Member and Social Studies teacher at Washington Community School; and Kelly Sweeney, Social Studies teacher, Bayonne High School. Â
                                                          Hudson County Community College (HCCC) is proud to announce that HCCC President Dr. Christopher M. Reber has been named to the NJBIZ Education Power 50 List for 2021. The list recognizes education leaders who are responsible for managing New Jersey higher education organizations, making policies that affect the institutions, or who are directly responsible for imparting knowledge to students, apprentices, and the community at large. This year’s list honors the ways educators, and colleges and universities, demonstrated resiliency and forward thinking in navigating the pandemic and ongoing public health emergency.  The NJBIZ profile notes: “…Reber gained wide attention when the school cancelled the debt incurred by 2,000 students over three semesters during the pandemic.†In an August interview, Dr. Reber told NJBIZ: “The number one goal we have is to try to avoid students dropping out. Because of the nature of our student body, the likelihood [is high] that if they stop now, they’ll never come back to us or to any higher degree.â€Â  Under Dr. Reber’s leadership since the COVID-19 pandemic began HCCC has supported food pantries on the Journal Square and North Hudson campuses; distributed more than 1,100 Chromebooks and laptop computers as well as 50 Hot Spots; made more than 5,500 reheatable meals prepared by the College’s Culinary Arts Institute available to the College and Hudson County communities; offered courses, programs and services remotely and online; launched a COVID-19 vaccine incentive program that provided $100 to 3,000 students who demonstrated they were fully vaccinated; partnered with the North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) to administer COVID-19 vaccines on the HCCC North Hudson and Journal Square campuses; offered financial counseling and emergency assistance to students; and much more.  “I am honored to be recognized by NJBIZ and acknowledged with my esteemed colleagues,†Dr. Reber stated. “I share this honor with everyone at HCCC – trustees, students, faculty and staff. As our students often say, ‘Hudson is Home.’ We are a family and work together to ensure a culture of care that supports all of our members and our neighbors in the community is fully realized at all times.† Dr. Reber became the eighth president of HCCC in July 2018, and has made student success, and equity, diversity and inclusion the hallmarks of his administration. Prior to arriving at HCCC, Dr. Reber served as president of Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) near Pittsburgh, PA. Earlier in his career, he served for 12 years as Executive Dean of Venango College of Clarion University of Pennsylvania. His career also includes 18 years at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, where he served as the Chief Development, University Relations and Alumni Relations Officer; and as Chief Student Affairs Officer. He also led continuing and cooperative education programs at Lakeland Community College near Cleveland, Ohio.  Dr. Reber holds a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College; a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University; and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds a post-graduate certificate from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.  TheNJBIZ profile on Dr. Reber and the other NJBIZEducation Power 50 may be viewed at https://njbiz.com/2021-njbiz-education-power-50-z/.#   #   # About Hudson County Community College Hudson County Community College serves more than 18,000 credit and non-credit students annually. The College offers more than 70 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 Fine and Performing Arts. The HCCC Culinary/Hospitality Management program was ranked number six in the U.S. by Best Choice Schools. Over 94% of HCCC Nursing program graduates passed the NCLEX first time out, placing the program’s graduates in the top tier of two- and four-year nursing programs nationwide. In 2017, the Equality of Opportunity Project ranked HCCC in the top 5% of 2,200 U.S. higher education institutions for social and economic mobility.  HCCC has partnerships with every major four-year college and university in the greater New Jersey-New York area and beyond, accommodating seamless transfer of credits for further undergraduate and graduate education
– Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to announce FEMA Disaster Assessment Teams will visit all six wards to provide direct outreach and resources to Jersey City residents still recovering following the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which brought severe flooding, wind, and other related damage to the area on September 1st and 2nd. Â
“A lot of our residents’ homes were hit hard by the storm. That’s why we fought to make sure the federal funding was made available to our residents,†said Mayor Fulop. “Jersey City residents are already struggling after a year and a half of financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so we want to help everyone get the financial assistance that is available and that they are entitled to following Ida.â€
The City’s Mobile Community Resource Unit (otherwise used as a mobile vaccination site) will be used by FEMA to establish Disaster Recovery Centers to provide direct support to residents registering for FEMA’s Individual Assistance programs. The Resource Unit will provide a visible, fixed location for area residents to speak with FEMA representatives and report their claims. At the same time, DSA teams, made up of FEMA representatives, will canvas the surrounding neighborhoods for outreach and assessment.
The Disaster Recovery Centers and DSA teams will be deployed in all six wards on the following dates:
Monday, September 20, 2021
Locations:
9 a.m. – Staging area St. Paul’s Avenue & Palisade Avenue
1 p.m. – Staging area Bowers Street & Palisade Avenue
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Locations:
9 a.m. – Staging area Division St & Newark Avenue
1 p.m – Staging areas Garfield Avenue & Bayview Avenue
Residents can learn more about federal resources, eligibility, and registration for Individual Assistance claims through FEMA’s website at disasterassistance.gov.
The Jersey City Jazz Festival is back for a special 2021 edition on Saturday, September 25 in the Powerhouse Arts District. The free-to-the-public annual event will feature eight bands on two stages, food trucks, a full bar, and a VIP experience from noon – 8pm at the 107 Morgan Street lot in Jersey City. The event is produced by Riverview Jazz and presented by Exchange Place Alliance.
The lineup includes two of the signature guitarists of their generation – ace musician Russell Malone (4pm) and gypsy jazz virtuoso Stephane Wrembel (2pm). The world-renowned NYC jazz club Smalls will present an All-Star band featuring Victor Lewis, Seamus Blake, and Peter Washington at 5pm, and legendary drummer and Jersey City resident Winard Harper will perform at 6pm. There will also be plenty of dancing opportunities with salsa outfits La Excelencia (7pm) and Karen Joseph’s Mambocha (3pm). Rounding out the festivities will be the 9-piece eclectic music collective Brawlik at 1pm, while the NJCU Jazz combo will kick things off at noon. WBGO on-air host Lezlie Harrison will be the master of ceremonies.
“Wow, does it feel good to be back!†says festival director Bryan Beninghove. “The pandemic really hit the music community hard, between those we’ve lost and the lack of work, so it feels particularly energizing to work with all these amazing artists again to create something awesome for Jersey City.â€
The festival, in its eighth year, strives to present a variety of music to the public. “We don’t focus on any particular style of jazz, our goal is to showcase the plethora of great music all around us, and put it in a fun, inclusive environment for the community. If people associate the good time they had at the festival with jazz as a genre, then it will only make the music more sustainable in the future – and that’s our goal.â€
For information on purchasing VIP tickets, directions, parking, or links to the artists, visit www.JerseyCityJazzFestival.com. The presenting sponsor of the Jersey City Jazz Festival is Exchange Place Alliance. Other main sponsors and partners include Bank of America, Jersey City Cultural Affairs, Hudson County Cultural Affairs, WBGO, Guinness, Ketel One, Bulleit Bourbon, Silverman, and Sawyer Smith Residentia
Frank Siller, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s September 11 hiker, walked through Bayonne on Wednesday, September 8. Greeted by Bayonne Mayor James Davis. A ceremony took place in Gregg-Bayonne Park at the flagpole at 9:00 a.m.
Following the ceremony, Mr. Siller had a scheduled interview with MSNBC. After that, he walked through the park and exited West 37th Street, and continued southward along Avenue A, passing Bayonne High School (29th Street) and stopping at DiDomenico-16th Street Park and the 16th Street Fire House.
Mr. Siller had a scheduled interview there with CBS. The walk continued southward to North Street, and then onto Kennedy Boulevard. The walk continued from Kennedy Boulevard to the Bayonne Bridge.
The Siller family founded the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to honor the memory and carry on the legacy of their brother, Stephen, a New York City firefighter. On September 11, 2001, following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Stephen Siller strapped on sixty pounds of equipment and rushed on foot through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the twin towers of the World Trade Center. It was there that he gave his life while helping others. He was one of 343 firefighters who perished after responding to the World Trade Center. ———————————————————–
Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has selected Matthew LaBrake to serve as Executive Director of the HCCC Center for Online Learning (COL), effective August 30, 2021.
“The HCCC Center for Online Learning serves students, faculty, and staff who study or teach in the College’s extensive online courses and programs,†said HCCC President Dr. Chris Reber. “We welcome Mr. LaBrake, who brings strong experience and skills to lead and further develop online, hybrid, and technology-rich courses and programs.â€
Photos courtesy of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children
Photos courtesy of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children
Photos courtesy of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children
Photos courtesy of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children
Photos courtesy of the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children
25th Anniversary Class Includes Triplets, Twins, and Mostly Young Women
Economically-disadvantaged students from Hudson Catholic Regional High School and St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City were among 13 teens who received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the U.S. Space Camp in Alabama thanks to an extraordinary scholarship program from the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children.
The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children (SFIC), a partner of the Archdiocese of Newark, celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Summer Space Camp Program by sending its largest and most extraordinary class yet to the prestigious Advanced Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL.Â
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
                                                          
