Fundraiser Celebrates in ‘Investing in Student Success’
Ellucian Foundation will be honored for its endowment support; Gala guests will savor world-class cuisine and a sampling of the renowned HCCC Foundation Art Collection.
November 18, 2022, Jersey City, NJ – The Board of Directors of the Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Foundation invites the community to join the silver anniversary celebration of their annual Gala Fundraiser. The December 8, 2022 event will be held at the College’s Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City, NJ, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Guests will tour the award-winning HCCC Culinary Arts Institute (CAI) kitchens, enjoy world-class cuisine prepared and presented by HCCC CAI students, alumni, and chef-instructors, and view a sampling of the over 2,000 original works from the HCCC Foundation Art Collection.
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€
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.
Gene Cornish & Felix Cavaliere at St. George Theater ,Staten Island
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.
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.
Visiting T-Barks Foods, these two young men came by to get a hotdog and show T-Barks their hotdog costumes
On a cool crisp Friday evening Mary J. Donahue School in Bayonne held their annual Trunk A Treat. It was a fun night for all the young children and their parents.
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.
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
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