Education, Events

Public invited to ‘Big Day of Birding’ May 4 at Liberty State Park

As per a press release the New Jersey Conservation Foundation will team up with the Feminist Bird Club of Jersey City, Liberty State Park and Jersey City Birds for a “Big Day of Birding” at Liberty State Park on Saturday, May 4. The free event includes bird walks at 6 and 9 a.m., and is appropriate for both novice and experienced birders.

“We will attempt to identify as many species of birds as we can while having an absolute blast along the way,” said Bill Lynch, New Jersey Conservation’s director of engagement and communications, who is leading the event. “No experience is necessary, and we will bring a scope and extra binoculars for participants to borrow.”

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Education

Hudson County Community College Professor Clive Li Wins AACC’s 2024 Faculty Member of the Year Award  

Dr. Li’s work to make science fun and accessible for HCCC students resulted in this national Award of Excellence from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).    

Thousands of community colleges across the United States are members of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), and each has many talented and dedicated faculty members who make a transformational difference in the lives of their students. Each year, one of these faculty members is awarded the national association’s prestigious “Faculty Member of the Year” Award. This year, Hudson County Community College (HCCC) engineering science professor, Dr. Clive Li, took home this phenomenal honor. 

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Bayonne News, Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

Mayors Corner- Bayonne Mayor James Davis-New Jersey Has A Program For First-Time Homebuyers With Down Payment Assistance

          In the current housing market, many people are looking for financial assistance with purchasing their first home and making a down payment.  Fortunately, New Jersey’s Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) has a First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Program with Down Payment Assistance.

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Education

Hudson County Community College President Dr. Christopher Reber Named Community College CEO of the Year

Dr. Chris Reber Hudson County Community College President

American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) selects Dr. Reber to receive its CEO of the Year National Award of Excellence

– Whether it’s the increasing success of students and formation of new academic and career pathways, the professional development opportunities that employees and staff are pursuing, or simply the inclusive and welcoming environment everywhere on campus, Hudson County Community College (HCCC) President Dr. Christopher Reber’s impact on the College is clear and pervasive. Now, Dr. Reber’s efforts are being recognized on a national level by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), which named him CEO of the Year at the organization’s annual convention held April 5-9, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.

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Education

How Hudson County Community College’s Hudson Scholars Program Became a National Student Success Model

The game-changing retention and completion model resulted from the bold choice to pursue a rare opportunity and develop an innovative idea.

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) President Dr. Christopher Reber (back row center) is pictured here with Hudson Scholars students.

 Recently, Hudson County Community College’s (HCCC) innovative and transformative Hudson Scholars program was presented the prestigious Bellwether Legacy Award for impacting student success in retention and college completion, particularly for those from traditionally underserved groups. The Legacy Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Bellwether College Consortium, is just one of many national accolades Hudson Scholars has received in the past two years. Others include the League for Innovation in the Community College’s 2022 Innovation of the Year Award, Bellwether 2023 Instructional Programs and Services Award, and Provident Bank Foundation’s prestigious 2023 Signature Grant ($100,000).

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Bayonne News, Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com, Events

MAYORS CORNER-BAYONNE MAYOR JAMES DAVIS-Hudson County Resource Fair Comes to Bayonne Saturday, March 16

            Hudson County Executive Craig Guy is bringing several county services to Bayonne for a resource fair on Saturday, March 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The event will take place at Nicholas Oresko School (School #14), which is located at 33 East 24th Street, by Avenue E. 

            Representatives of county departments and agencies will be on hand to help you obtain services and information that deal with economic relief, childcare, small business, transportation, rental and housing assistance, mental health, senior care, employment, veterans’ services, the Hudson County Schools of Technology, the Hudson Regional Health Commission, the Hudson County Improvement Authority, Hudson County Cultural and Heritage Affairs, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, Hudson County Corrections, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, among others. 

At the resource fair, flu shots will be available. If you have not received your flu shot yet, please take advantage of this inoculation.

The fair will provide a great opportunity for Bayonne residents to learn about services that could help them and members of their families.  I urge our residents to stop by the resource fair to learn about county services.  You might discover something new and could meet people who would help you in a time of need.

            During 2024, there will be resource fairs in all twelve municipalities in Hudson County.  County Executive Guy is holding these fairs so that more people can learn about the services that the county has to offer them.  Last year, the State of New Jersey concluded that 30% of the state’s residents are not aware of the benefits that they are entitled to receive.  As a result, county governments and other agencies are improving their efforts to reach out to the public.  The City of Bayonne appreciates the efforts that Hudson County is making to assist and inform our residents.

            Other Hudson County resource fairs will be held or have taken place in Kearny – March 2; Union City-March 30; Jersey City-April 13; Hoboken-April 27; North Bergen-May 11; West New York-May 25; Secaucus- June 8; Harrison-June 22; Weehawken-July 6; Guttenberg-July 30; and East Newark-August 3.  Times and locations will be announced by our county government.

I would like to thank County Executive Craig Guy and all of the representatives of county departments and agencies for planning this series of resource fairs for the people of Hudson County. 

Bayonne News

Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall Of Honors Awards Banquet 2024

Grandmaster Austin Wright (far left) proudly displays his trophy from the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Honors Awards Banquet

Congratulations to Grandmaster Wright for his induction into the Action Martial Arts Hall Of Fame for over 50 years of dedication and contributions to the world of Martial Arts. 

Grand Master Wright nominated Sensei Joseph Bizarroque for Top Rated Sensei of The Year and Sempei Thomas Cushing for Outstanding Dedication to the Martial Arts.

The banquet was held at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. on January 27, 2024. 

Movie stars Michael Jai White, Benny The Jet , Don The Dragon Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock to name a few were in attendance and received awards at the Hall Of Honors Banquet along with Team Wright.

Bayonne News, Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

Universal Warrior Arts Team Wins Numerous First-Place Titles at the Battle of the Dragons National Championship in Atlantic City

Last month on January 28, 2024, Team Wright Won Numerous First Place Titles At The Battle Of the Dragons National Championships in AC, NJ.

The event sponsored competitors from NJ, NY, PA, MD, CA, and FL. Also, students came from international countries such as Russia, Trinidad, and Brazil to name a few. 

These are the following results:

Sempei Thomas Cushing Age 65, 2nd Dan Black Belt took 1st place in the Weapons, Forms and Sparring 65 and older Men’s division.

Abdul Haseeb Abdul Sameer Age 15,1st Dan Black Belt took 1st place in the Weapons, Forms and Sparring 14 and 15 year old Boys division. 

Jesus Ortiz Age 15, Green Belt took 1st place in the Forms and 1st Place in the Sparring 14 and 15 year old Boys division.

DJ Conyers Age 31, Green Belt took 1st place in the Forms and Sparring 30 to 39 year old Men’s division.

Lee Johnson Age 58, White Belt took 1st place in the Forms and Sparring 45 to 59 Beginners White and Yellow Belt division.

Maira Chugh Age 10, Green Belt took 2nd place in the Forms 10 to 12 year old Girls division.

Bayonne News, Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

STATE ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS IN SENIOR FREEZE PROGRAM FOR PROPERTY TAXES

MAYOR’S CORNER –Bayonne Mayor James Davis’s Column

Mayor Davis 2018 Inaugural
Bayonne Mayor James Davis

In mid-February, the New Jersey Department of the Treasury began mailing applications for the 2023 Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Program. The state has announced good news for senior taxpayers. The program has increased the income limit so that more people are eligible to apply. The New Jersey Treasury Department also eased the residency requirement for first-time applicants.  I would like to thank our state leadership for making these welcome changes to the tax system in New Jersey.

According to the New Jersey Treasury Department, “Senior Freeze reimburses qualifying seniors and disabled residents for increases in property taxes or mobile home park site fees on their principal residences. A new law passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Murphy…expanded the program to increase the income limit for the program to $150,000 (previously $99,735 for the 2022 season), and to eliminate the requirements that an applicant must be a New Jersey resident for ten consecutive years.”  The reimbursement takes place after the year in which the property taxes were paid.  That is why the program just announced in 2024 is called the 2023 Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Program.

According to the New Jersey Treasury Department, “To qualify for the reimbursement, taxpayers must meet all the eligibility requirements for each year from the base year through the current application year. Eligibility must be continuous; otherwise, a new base year must be established.”

The state announced the following requirements for taxpayers to be eligible for the 2023 Senior Freeze:

  • Be age 65 or older on December 31, 2022, or receive Social Security disability payments on December 31, 2022, and also on December 31, 2023; and
  • Own and live in their home or lease a site in a mobile home park for a manufactured or mobile home that they owned since December 31, 2019, or earlier; and
  • Paid all 2022 property taxes by June 1, 2023, and all 2023 property taxes by June 1, 2024; and
  • Their annual income was $150,000 or less in 2022 and $163,050 or less in 2023. With some exceptions, all income must be taken into account, including Social Security, pension, etc.
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Education

Hudson County Community College NamedLeader College of Distinction by Achieving the Dream

Hudson County Community College has substantially increased student retention and completion over the past five years. Pictured here, are joyful members of the HCCC Class of 2023

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has earned “Leader College of Distinction” designation from Achieving the Dream (ATD), the national reform movement of high-achieving community colleges. The honor is bestowed upon innovative higher education institutions that demonstrate sustained and significant outcomes in the advancement of student success. HCCC is one of six Leader Colleges to receive this honor.

ATD is the acclaimed national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community colleges as hubs of equity and mobility in their communities. ATD created the Leader College of Distinction Award in 2018 to recognize colleges that meet challenging student success goals. It is the highest designation of institutional success outcomes in the ATD network of colleges.

“This recognition is important to our colleges. It affirms to their faculty and staff and communities the importance of their student success work and that they are making progress on important milestone metrics in their journeys,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, President and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “Hudson County Community College is an exemplar of excellence within the ATD Network. It is driving accelerated and scaled gains in equitable student success results, which affect substantive improvements for students, families, and the community HCCC serves. Their dedication and hard work both inform and inspire other colleges, and we admire them for their work.”

HCCC joined the ATD network of 300 colleges in January 2019 and achieved Leader College status last year by demonstrating continuous improvement in retention and graduation rates, especially among Hispanic and African American students; attending annual ATD DREAM meetings; filing annual student success action plans and reports; and serving as an invited presenter at ATD national meetings and webinars.

“We’re proud to be named a Leader College of Distinction, and thank our Trustees, faculty, staff, and students for helping produce transformative results that empower our students and our community,” said HCCC President, Dr. Christopher Reber. “ATD’s mission aligns with our College’s mission of opening new pathways for our most vulnerable learners and helping ensure that students achieve their academic and professional goals. Seeing our students complete degree and certificate programs, become gainfully employed, and engage in civic participation is inspiring, and compels us to continue building upon our successes.”

Hudson County Community College utilizes evidence-based data and programs and ATD best practices to shape policy and practices that result in student success:

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