Tag Archives: Bayonne
Shoreline Clean-Up at Rutkowski Park Bayonne Set for Saturday, March 23
Bayonne Nature Club Volunteer to Shoreline Clean-up of Rutkowski Park in Bayonne
 
Bayonne Mayor Mark A. Smith  announced that the Bayonne Nature Club has volunteered to lead a shoreline clean-up at Mayor Richard A. Rutkowski Park on Saturday, March 23, at 10:00 a.m. Rutkowski Park is located in the northwest corner of Bayonne, on Newark Bay, just above the northern end of Stephen R. Gregg-Bayonne County Park. Mayor Smith said, “I would like to thank the Bayonne Nature Club volunteers for spearheading this shoreline clean-up. Their efforts will help to maintain the park in its natural condition. The Bayonne Public Works Department will provide logistical support for the work of the volunteers. The Nature Club and the City of Bayonne encourage any interested organizations and individuals to join the shoreline clean-up on Saturday.â€
Continue reading Shoreline Clean-Up at Rutkowski Park Bayonne Set for Saturday, March 23
Shop Bayonne! Introducing a Property Tax Reward Program
by Evelyn Bonilla
 On March 1st the program was introduced to Bayonne business owners and Bayonne residents at a special luncheon hosted by the Bayonne Urban Enterprise Zone and the Bayonne Special Improvement District.  And a special mailing will go out to Bayonne Businesses and Bayonne residents explaining how the program works.
 “Shop Bayonne†is a program initiative that provides a tax credit to residents who make purchases from local businesses in town. Once you enroll in the program, you are assigned a property tax card similar to the reward cards you get in other stores; you’ll use it when you make your purchases with local merchants who are participating in the program. Residents who use their PTC-Property Tax Card will accumulate property tax dollars towards their tax bill.
Continue reading Shop Bayonne! Introducing a Property Tax Reward Program
River View Observer Financial Views-Declining Debt, New Tax Revenues Lead to Moody’s Upgrade of Bayonne’s Bond Rating
 
Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the City of Bayonne’s bond rating from Baa1 with negative outlook to Baa1 with stable outlook. Smith said, “This upgrade is very good news. It shows that Bayonne has made significant financial progress during my Administration. Moody’s has raised Bayonne’s rating for the first time in more than five years. Our hard work and fiscal discipline are paying off. We have turned a corner and are moving in the right direction.â€
           Moody’s cited several factors in its decision to improve Bayonne’s rating: 1) The agency recognized that the Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority’s (MUA) joint venture with United Water and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) removed $120 million from the local debt burden. The transaction paid off all the MUA’s debt and a portion of the debt of the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Agency. 2) Moody’s noted that the City no longer has any deferred charges. All charges deferred in the past have been paid off. 3) The City of Bayonne has a declining reliance on tax anticipation notes (TANS) to cover its cashflow needs. 4) Bayonne has a large tax base. 5) Bayonne has declining debt. 6) Bayonne has new revenues from payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTS) coming from newly developed properties. Continue reading River View Observer Financial Views-Declining Debt, New Tax Revenues Lead to Moody’s Upgrade of Bayonne’s Bond Rating
Applications Available for April Art Exhibit at Bayonne Museum
MUST BE A MEMEBER OFART CIRCLE OF BAYONNE
OPEN TO ALL ARTISTS FROM ALL AREAS
           The Art Circle of Bayonne announced that applications are available for artists to exhibit their work April 13 to 19, 2013 at the Bayonne Community Museum.
The April show will display the following types of art: photography, mixed media, oil paintings, acrylics, and watercolors. Limited space will be available for three-dimensional art. All work submitted must belong to one of the foregoing categories. There will be an entrance fee of $10 per artist, payable to the Art Circle of Bayonne. Participation will be limited to sixty artists. Applications will be available Monday through Friday, except holidays, at the Bayonne Recreation Division, Room 13, at City Hall, 630 Avenue C. The deadline for applications is Thursday, March 28. Applications will also be available by e-mailing [email protected].
           Participation in the exhibit is open to members of the Art Circle of Bayonne. It is not necessary to be a Bayonne resident to join the organization. Membership in the Art Circle is available for $25 per year. To join the Art Circle, please send an e-mail to [email protected].
           The opening reception for the April art show will take place on Saturday, April 13, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.
This will be the second art show at the museum in 2013. Other events will be scheduled throughout the year. Details will be announced.
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Bayonne Starts Amnesty Program for Certain Illegal Apartments and Unregistered Dwelling Units
Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that applications are available for the City of Bayonne’s amnesty program for certain illegal apartments and unregistered dwelling units. Those documents are available from the Building Department in Room 13 at City Hall, 630 Avenue C. Mayor Smith said, “In recent years, illegal apartments and unregistered housing units have become a problem in many urban communities. These types of dwellings raise a variety of concerns about safety and the quality of life in our neighborhoods. My Administration has taken the lead in addressing this serious issue in our community.†Continue reading Bayonne Starts Amnesty Program for Certain Illegal Apartments and Unregistered Dwelling Units
Bayonne Residents:Payment for Building Permits Moved to Tax Collector’s Office
           Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that payments for building permits are being moved from the Building Department in Room 13 in City Hall to the Tax Collector’s Office/City Cashier in Room 7, effective Monday, January 28.
 Those seeking building permits will still file their applications and pick up their permits in at the Building Department in Room 13.
 Mayor Smith said, “By moving permit payments to the Tax Collector’s Office/City Cashier, we are beginning the process of centralizing payments for various fees and permits.
 This move is part of my Administration’s drive to create a more efficient municipal government.â€
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City of Bayonne Opens Warming Centers
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       Bayonne’s Mayor Mark A. Smith has a message for the residents of Bayonne, advising them  to take the necessary precautions to stay warm and avoid excessive exposure to the cold. He said, “Please look in on elderly or disabled neighbors and relatives to make sure that they are safe. If you are a tenant and your landlord is not supplying adequate heat, please call 201-858-6900 to file a heating complaint which our inspectors will investigate.â€
           Mayor Smith continued, “If you or persons you know do not have access to a place to keep warm, the City of Bayonne will be opening three warming centers to provide shelter during these winter conditions.â€Â
The 4th Street senior center (4th Street and Story Court), the 56th Street senior center (56th Street and Avenue B), and the Firehouse Recreation Center at 597 Broadway (27th Street and Broadway) will all have extended hours to accommodate those who need to keep warm. The centers at 4th Street and 56th Street will be open evenings until 8:00 p.m. until further notice. The center at 27th Street and Broadway will be open around the clock until further notice, and will be equipped with cots and blankets.Â
Mayor Smith concluded, “Stop by any of these centers to get warm.â€
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New Shopping Program to Boost Bayonne Businesses and Reduce Property Taxes
     Bayonne’s Mayor Mark A. Smith recently announced that his Administration will present a proposal for a Shop Bayonne Card that would encourage people to shop locally and save on their property taxes at the same time. Mayor Smith said, “Bayonne stores and professional services need to increase their numbers of customers, and Bayonne property owners can reduce their tax bills. The Shop Bayonne Card will achieve both goals. We are very excited about this proposal, which will be a win-win for the people of Bayonne.â€Â Mayor Smith thanked Second Ward Council Member Joseph Hurley for bringin this program to my attention.”
           This spring, the City of Bayonne will mail Shop Bayonne Cards to every known household in the community. The cards will appear similar to credit and debit cards, complete with a magnetic strip on the reverse side. Mayor Smith explained, “They can be used only at participating Bayonne businesses.â€Â Smith continued, “Each participating enterprise will offer its own percentage of the purchase price, which will be transferred into a special property tax reduction fund for each cardholder. When Bayonne residents receive the cards in the mail, they would need to activate them before taking them to local stores and offices.â€Â The cards must be registered online at www.propertytaxcard.com. Every time a resident shops at a participating merchant and they swipe the card, the amount of the discount will be registered on the Internet. Consumers will be able to check their progress online throughout the year.  Continue reading New Shopping Program to Boost Bayonne Businesses and Reduce Property Taxes
Calling all Foodies! Hudson Restaurant Week and A Taste of Hoboken invite Foodies to Feast
 By Sally Deering
It’s January and the winter blahs are knocking on the door, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit home with another Lean Cuisine. Why not skip the frozen dinner, throw on your overcoat and head out for some yummy neighborhood dining during Hudson Restaurant Week and a night of yummy delights at A Taste of Hoboken. Both events are a terrific way to spice up these cold wintery days – and nights.
 On Tues, Jan. 22, A Taste of Hoboken, the Hoboken-North Hudson YMCA’s annual gala fundraiser celebrates its 22nd anniversary. It will be held at Stevens Institute of Technology’s Canavan Arena in Hoboken with 40 restaurants, bakeries and cafes participating. These eateries will be offering tasty bites from the dishes on their menus and some chef surprises, too.  And for the first time since A Taste of Hoboken started all those years ago guests will have the opportunity to sample beer and wine from all over the world. Continue reading Calling all Foodies! Hudson Restaurant Week and A Taste of Hoboken invite Foodies to Feast
