Ground-Breaking Ceremony at Russell Golding Park in Bayonne: The City of Bayonne held a ground-breaking ceremony for the renovations at Russell Golding Park on Avenue E.  Public officials and representatives of Picerno-Giordano Construction (the building contractor) and Center State Engineering took- part in the ceremony. Pictured from left to right: Public Works Director Tom Cotter, Contractor Rich Giordano (Picerno-Giordano Construction), Engineer Rob Russo (Center State Engineering), Mayor Robert Kubert, First Ward Council Member Neil Carroll, City Council President and Third Ward Council Member Gary LaPelusa, Council Member At-Large Loyad Booker, Congressman Rob Menendez, State Assemblyman Will Sampson, Maureen Hurley Brown (Principal, Climate and Culture, Bayonne Board of Education), Council Member At-Large Juan Perez, Samuel Schroeder (Chief of Land Acquisition and Design and  City Planner Suzanne Mack

On May 4, the City of Bayonne held a ground-breaking ceremony at Russell Golding Park, which is located on Avenue E between 48^th and 51^st Streets.  According to Public Works Director Tom Cotter, the nearly one-acre-sized park is having “a total renovation.”  A combination of federal and county funds is behind this $5.75 million park reconstruction.  The project received $5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and $750,000 from the Hudson County Open Space Fund.

            At the ceremony, City Council President and Third Ward Council Member Gary LaPelusa said it was “a great day in the City of Bayonne.”  He noted that the renovated park will feature new playgrounds, basketball courts, pickleball courts, and other features that will enhance the northern gateway to Bayonne.  Council President LaPelusa thanked Congressman Rob Menendez for supporting the federal funds for the park project. 

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            Mayor Robert Kubert announced that the Bayonne Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will participate in Take-Back Day. This event will allow the public to rid their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Take-Back Day will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents are encouraged to bring their medications for disposal to the front lobby of City Hall, 630 Avenue C, between 27^th and 28^th Streets.  The service is free and anonymous.  Residents are encouraged to remove their names from medication bottles.  Law enforcement recommends removing prescription labels that contain any personal identifying information. 

The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps.  Only pills and patches will be accepted.  

            Mayor Kubert said, “I urge Bayonne residents to take part in Take-Back Day if they have unneeded prescription drugs at home. Your participation will help make Bayonne a safer and healthier community.” According to the DEA, medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.  Rates of prescription abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets.       

Public health agencies advise that some methods for disposing of unused medicines, such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, pose health and safety hazards.

             On Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., drop-off parking in Bayonne for Take-Back Day will be available in front of City Hall on Avenue C, between 27^th and 28^th Streets.

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