BAYONNE, NJ - Mable the therapy dog and her handler Nadja Carneol paid a visit to Bayonne students on March 8.
Trained to provide affection, comfort and support to people, often in settings such as hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospices, or disaster areas, visits by therapy dogs have become more common in school settings, an effort to address the increasing mental health needs of students and improving their overall well-being.
Existing research has concluded that therapy dogs in schools have a positive impact on students’ social-emotional needs, showing that their presence helps reduce anxiety, promote feelings of happiness and belonging, assist with deregulation/de-escalation of a mental episode, reduce negative behavior, and improve students’ mental well-being.
BAYONNE, NJ - A Staten Island man was arrested by Bayonne police on Saturday after he reportedly lost control of the stolen vehicle he was operating crashed into a traffic light post causing it to fall into the roadway.
According to Captain Eric Amato, the suspect, Tyzay Leecraft, left several other people injured when he struck their vehicles in his attempt to escape from the NYPD who had pursued him across the Bayonne Bridge.
Leecraft was arrested and charged with several crimes.
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - Members of the Bayonne Police Department appear to have brought an end to a long-running scam in which victims were sold stolen cars via Facebook Marketplace.
On Friday, Captain Eric Amato reported that two New York men, Devonte A. Thomas and Justin I Wright, both 23 years old, were arrested and charged with a number of crimes related to their reported criminal actions.
Working from an investigation that was launched in late 2023, Bayonne detectives responded on Friday to a call from a victim of one of the past incidents who advised them that they were attempting to purchase a vehicle on Facebook Marketplace from a male they believe to be the same one that sold them a stolen car in the past.
Detectives confirmed that the vehicle for sale was reported stolen out of Newark and responded to West 37th Street, the location that the seller and buyer agreed upon to make the sale, where they conducted surveillance and observed the vehicle that was to be sold parked on the street.
A plain clothes detective then approached the vehicle before the suspects approached the detective and opened the vehicle using a key fob in Thomas’ possession. Following this, Amato said, several detectives approached the actors and identified themselves as police officers, arresting the two men who tried to escape via foot.
A search at the scene led to the recovery of a US Passport in Thomas’ possession bearing the name Alazim Olasupo Odu, the same used on Facebook Marketplace, as well as a fraudulent New York State vehicle title bearing the same name.
Amato further reported that in addition to believing other victims of the scam exist that have not yet come forward, other instances of similar crimes took place on November 3, 2023, January 16, 2024, and January 18, 2024, involving the fraudulent sale of a stolen vehicle each time, with total proceeds amounting to $26,500.
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - Thousands of “Irish” lined Broadway to watch the 2024 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Bayonne on Sunday. Of course, since it was held on St. Patrick’s Day, following the old adage, regardless of background, everyone was Irish, at least for the day!
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is typically Bayonne’s largest of the year, drawing people from around the region, not to mention public officials and those seeking higher office. Those Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, seeking to unseat Rep. Rob Menendez, who was also part of the blocks long march.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey, running for Mayor of Jersey City, also made an appearance, along with New Jersey State Senator Angela McKnight and her running mates Assembly members Barbara McCann and William Sampson.
Mayor Jimmy Davis, fresh off the one-block parade he hosted on Friday, and Council President Gary LaPelusa, whose portrait was recently hung in the City Council Chambers, were joined by other members of the city council in celebrating that day dedicated to Ireland’s patron saint.
Marchers from many of the local schools made their way up Broadway as did many Irish groups from Bayonne and beyond.
Grand Marshal Sheila O'Boyle Hudacko led the parade, joined by a host of other Honorees including Pat Conway, County Cork Association; Casey Hudacko, County. Donegal Association; Ian Hudacko, Irish American League; and Eileen McGarvey Gill, Shamrock Society of Bayonne.
Summing up the family-friendly affair, with Irish brevity was County Executive Craig Guy who said simply: “It’s a good day.”
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - Bayonne City Council President Gary LaPelusa, Sr. has had his official portrait hung inside the Dorothy Harrington Council Chambers at Bayonne City Hall. LaPelusa has served in the position since 2022.
LaPelusa's portrait has joined the gallery of city council presidents on the back wall of the Council Chambers. The ten council presidents featured are those who have held office since 1962, when Bayonne's current mayor-council form of government began. The side walls bear the portraits of Bayonne's 27 mayors since it became a city in 1869.
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - Bayonne's Irish eyes were smiling Friday as the recently established one-block parade brought a start to the St. Patrick's Day weekend with a short march down 31st Street from Avenue C to Broadway.
The final destination of the celebration was Hendrickson's Corner, where hundreds of revelers kicked off the weekend with music from a pipes and drum corps and high hopes that the springlike weather would also greet the thousands that are expected to line Broadway for the more traditional St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday.
Angelica Romero served as Grand Marshal of the one block parade and was greeted with cheers as she led the march before posing for photos with her sash and smile.
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - Bayonne firefighters spent most of Wednesday morning battling a three-alarm fire on West 42nd, a blaze that prompted city officials to urge residents to close their windows to avoid smoke.
The fire, first reported at 12:39 a.m., caused considerable damage to the two family home at 79 West 42nd Street.
Upon arrival, Fire Chief Keith Weaver reported, firefighters attempted to make an interior attack on the fire, however, due to heavy fire conditions and a report of large amounts of ammunition in the attic, members were pulled out to fight the blaze in a defensive posture. Companies used multiple handlines and a tower ladder to fight the fire, which necessitated the support of fire departments from neighboring communities.
No injuries were reported and the fire was deemed under control at 6:27 a.m.
“Our firefighters did an excellent job in containing this stubborn fire to the home of origin,” Weaver said, adding his gratitude to the departments that provided assistance. “Adjacent homes are within a few feet of this house, and a persistent attack kept the flames in check.”
The five occupants of the home were displaced and placed in the care of the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management and the Red Cross and an investigation to determine the cause of the fire is underway.
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - The list of Congressional Medal of Honor winners with Bayonne roots is set to grow again.
On Thursday, March 21, a ceremony will honor members of the “Ghost Army,” a group of 1,100 men that served during World War II and were tasked with fooling he Nazis with phony placements such as inflatable tanks, fake radio communications, and stand in generals. Many of those involved with the program during the war were artists and engineers, career soldiers and draftees.
Among those being honored is Thomas Sherlock who lived in Bayonne until after the war. Born in 1921, Sherlock was recruited into the Ghost Army out of Pratt Institute.
The role of the Ghost Army was not recognized until files on the program were declassified in 1996. President Joe Biden signed a law in 2022 honoring these men.
“It is wonderful that the members of the Ghost Army are finally being recognized for their heroic role during World War II,” Mayor Jimmy Davis said, noting that Sherlock has left a legacy of photographs from his days in the Ghost Army. “I am glad the public is able to get a glimpse of the activities of these masters of wartime deception who helped defeat the Nazis.”
“Bayonne has played a storied role in America’s military history,” Davis added. “We are proud that our native son, Joseph Sherlock, and his colleagues are receiving this richly deserved honor from our country.”
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - The body pulled out of Newark Bay in Bayonne on March 5 has been identified as Hayley Erin “Lee” Avestruz Alvaradon. An 18-year-old Jersey City woman who has been missing since December.
The Hudson County Sheriff’s Department recovered the woman in the water near Stephen R. Gregg Park at around 1:30 pm.
Authorities said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene and was not identified at that time. The cause of death is still pending as the results from the medical examiner has not yet been released.
BAYONNE, NJ - Grace Lutheran Church will hold an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m.
The church is located at 836 Avenue C.
Easter services will be held on March 31 starting with a brunch at 10:00 a.m. followed by worship at 11 a.m.
Pastor Sarah Fryman said Lutheran ceremonies are very similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church, so Catholics and others would find a comfortable and familiar environment.
“We also have a soup and sandwich supper with worship Wednesday, March 20 beginning at 6:00 p.m.,” Rev. Fryman said.
BAYONNE, NJ - A Bayonne police officer was justified in firing his weapon at a suspect who reportedly rammed his vehicle into numerous police vehicles.
The incident, as previously reported, took place on July 23, 2023.
On the night of the incident, Bayonne police officers approached the vehicle in a parking lot located at 1088 Broadway after they determined that it matched the description of the car that had driven away from a gas station on 53rd Street near Avenue E without paying for gas.
During the interaction with police, the driver of the vehicle, Kelvin Ortiz, 36, Jersey City, reversed and backed into numerous police vehicles. He then drove his car up on the side of the parking lot over the curb, making a U-turn and drove in the direction of Officer Rafael Ocasio as he fled the parking lot.
Ocasio discharged his weapon six times, striking Ortiz who was later treated at a local hospital where he remained for two weeks before he was discharged. Ortiz was charged with Eluding, four counts of Aggravated Assault, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.
The investigation included interviews of witnesses, photographs, body worn camera footage, physical evidence collected by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office’s Crime Scene Unit, and ballistics evidence that was examined by personnel from the State Police Department’s Firearms Unit. This evidence, along with recorded interviews given by the three Bayonne officers on scene at the time of the shooting and the officer who fired his weapon, was presented to the grand jury.
"Our officers work to protect our citizens, each other and themselves and do a great job doing that," Mayor Jimmy Davis said following the decision. "Our officers acted professionally with respect to this incident."
BAYONNE, NJ - The phrase “planning for the unthinkable” is often used when coming up with scenarios for table top exercises emergency service agencies go through as part of their continuous training.
Last year, however, just before the Bayonne Department of Emergency Management held such an exercise considering response to the derailment of a train, the scenario became all too real.
More recently, many of Bayonne first responders, and more, including the Bayonne Police Department, the Bayonne Fire Department, the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management, McCabe Ambulance, the Bayonne Board of Education, the Bayonne Housing Authority, representatives from local hospitals, municipal services, the Department of Health, and other members of the Bayonne Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) which is made up of entities inside government and private sectors in town, came together to consider what response to a major bus accident might look like.
For those familiar with Route 440 at the border of Jersey City and Bayonne, the disaster envisioned by officials is certainly plausible, and it could happen in the blink of an eye, testing local and region resources, putting a strain on what would be needed to help save lives and reduce the level of chaos.
Those participating in the exercise were asked to imagine that the incident had taken place at about 9:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning, response set into motion when a passing motorist calls 911 and tells the dispatcher that there has been a bus accident and roll over on Route 440, in an area known at “the loop” near Rutkowski Park.
Seated in a room with a large screen and around a table, the professionals from the various fields outlined some of the issues each would face in dealing with such a situation, what resources they would need to bring, and what other agencies they would seek to help deal with the crisis.
According to the scenario, the police and fire departments dispatch responders to the site and arrive there about 9:05 a.m. McCabe Ambulance and the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management are also dispatched.
Mike McCabe, president of McCabe Ambulance, said while all such situations tend to be chaotic, their efforts at the scene focus largely on minimizing the confusion, setting up predictable procedures for dealing with victims and those others who might not be injured.
While Bayonne OEM Coordinator Edoardo “Junior” Ferrante said the purpose of the exercise was to develop a plan ahead of time so that responders don’t have to figure out details at the scene, many questions can’t be answered until the situation occurs. However, establishing procedures such as setting up a place to bring the victims and setting priorities for each level of injury – such as where to bring the most critical patients, and what to do with those victims that have not been injured, still need to be accounted for.
Based on previous disasters, responders know that non-injured victims might want to leave the scene. Nobody can stop them, but still officials need to know where people are, a challenge.
In the casualty and the triage centers, victims will be categorized by the level of injury – red, yellow or green, red being the most critical and in the most need for immediate evacuation to a medical facility.
Injured victims might be transported to area or regional hospitals depending on the severity of their injuries, the uninjured may also need temporary refuge where family members and others might find them. The group suggested the school district might provide the local hockey rink, which has multiple areas for victims, even media if necessary.
On the scene decisions, however, are made by one central command to also avoid confusion, although unlike other towns, the OEM operations center will not be in city hall, but most likely located on a trailer near the site of the accident to make critical decisions that local public safety officials cannot make.
What resources from beyond Bayonne are needed, depends on the situation. But since the imagined incident occurred on the border of Jersey City and at a critical transportation nexus, public safety officials from Jersey City would also be involved. Road closures would be necessary and other traffic issues would arise. The situation could require mutual aid from further away, including medivac helicopters to transport the most seriously injured to regional trauma centers in Jersey City or Newark.
The city public relations officer, Joe Ryan, would likely be tapped to set up a press conference, and to issue a press release detailing some important information such as contact numbers for family members seeking to learn about their loved ones. Where to put media becomes another issue, since journalists – especially TV networks – will want images from the accident scene as well as access to family members for follow up coverage.
In addition to physical injuries, Suzanne Cavanaugh, Bayonne’ Director of Municipal Services pointed out, the otherwise uninjured might find themselves dealing with trauma, necessitating the drafting of school nurses, guidance counselors and police and fire chaplains to provide comfort.
Indeed, officials reiterated to TAPinto Bayonne as the exercise drew to a close, it’s impossible to consider every detail in what would surely be a fast moving response, but exercises such as this one offer the reassurance both to potential responders, as well as to those impacted by any incident, that a singular focus would dominate every aspect of the response: to save lives.
BAYONNE, NJ - A traffic stop by Bayonne police led to a slew of charges against a Newark man after officers reportedly recovered narcotic paraphernalia and a fully loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun equipped with a large capacity magazine.
According to Captain Eric Amato, Lawrence J. Lewis was pulled over at approximately 10:19 p.m. on March 9 after he was reportedly observed driving a 2017 Audi at a high rate of speed in the area of 33rd Street and Avenue C.
During the arrest process, it was also determined that Lewis was categorized as a certain person prohibited from possessing weapons.
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - Students at William Shemin Midtown Community School participated in a 7-week grant piloted by the Hudson County Arts in Education Program (AiEP), thanks to a literary journey through “Literature to Life” (Lit to Life). This fantastic grant was obtained by Nancy Ruane, Director of ELA at the Bayonne Board of Education. Over the course of seven weeks, the students welcomed teaching artist Farbeon Saucedo every Wednesday, culminating in a one-person play of "The Giver," performed by Aurea Tomeski.
Each week, the 8th-grade students at WSMCS were afforded the opportunity to unleash their creativity through various forms of writing in immersive literacy workshops. Under the guidance of ELA teachers Jason DeAngelo and Angela Laszkow, students dug into diverse genres, honed their writing skills, and cultivated a deeper understanding of the art of storytelling, particularly through poetry. The culmination of the program saw students bravely presenting their poetry pieces before their peers, teachers, and esteemed guests from the Hudson County Arts in Education Program (AiEP) and “Literature to Life” (Lit to Life). Their pride in their work was evident, reflecting their dedication and growth throughout the program.
The journey for the 8th-grade students at William Shemin Midtown Community School extended beyond mere academic enrichment; it sparked a lifelong passion for reading and storytelling. Through their exploration of literature, these students uncovered the profound impact words can have, setting the stage for a future enriched with literary discovery and creative expression. Their experience not only improved their academic pursuits but also illuminated the transformative power of literature, leaving a permanent mark on their journey ahead.
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BAYONNE, NJ - Hudson County Executive Craig Guy is coming to Bayonne, and he’s bringing help.
On Saturday, March 16, Guy will host a county services resource fair 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Nicholas Oresko School (School #14), 33 East 24th Street, by Avenue E.
Representatives of county departments and agencies will be on hand to residents obtain services and information that deal with economic relief, childcare, small business, transportation, rental and housing assistance, mental health, senior care, employment, and veterans’ services,
Among those participating will be 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.
BAYONNE, NJ - The City of Bayonne is now accepting applications to join the Bayonne Police Department.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, and residents of Bayonne as of April 1, 2024. All applicants must maintain continuous Bayonne residency up to and including the time of appointment. Applicants must be no older than 34 years old as of this date unless a recognized exception to this requirement exists and must possess a high school or vocational diploma or an approved High School Equivalent Certificate as well as a valid New Jersey Driver's License at the time of appointment.
Applicants will be required to complete a written examination administered by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. Applications must be completed online on the Civil Service website. A fee of $35.00 must accompany the application unless it is waived based on circumstances indicated in the application package.
The closing date for the receipt of applications is April 1, 2024. All applications must be submitted on or before this date. The examination is tentatively scheduled for Summer 2024.
Applicants that have difficulty accessing a computer may utilize the internet capable computers at the Story Court Branch of the Bayonne Public Library located at 16 West 4th Street.
A member of the Bayonne Police Department Community Policing Unit will be available to assist members of the public in submitting their application for the examination at the Story Court Branch of the Bayonne Public Library on March 12th, March 21st, and March 28th between the hours of 5pm to 8pm.
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - Bayonne’s public safety efforts will get a boost thanks to $1.3 million in funding secured by Rep. Rob Menendez.
According to a statement from Menendez the federal dollars secured for the Public Safety Technology and Equipment Project will be used to purchase, install, and operate technology and equipment for the Bayonne Police Department, improving communications and streamlining management of major incidents, emergencies, and disasters.
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - A dead body was recovered from the water near Stephen R. Gregg Park in Bayonne at about 1:30 p.m. on March 5, according to authorities.
The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office reported that a female body was recovered from the Newark Bay The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and has not yet been identified, officials said.
The cause of death is still pending the results from the medical examiner.
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - A teacher at Bayonne High School has been charged with Endangering the Welfare of Child and Simple Assault following an incident that occurred on school property on Monday, January 22, 2024.
According to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, an investigation found that on Monday, January 22, 2024, two students were involved in an altercation on school property. After multiple staff members intervened, Joseph Mingoia, 68, struck a female juvenile in the head with a closed hand. Mingoia has been on administrative leave since the incident occurred.
Mingoia is due to make his first court appearance on Friday, March 22.
]]>BAYONNE, NJ - With less than a week before the curtain rises on the Bayonne High School Drama Society production of Legally Blonde, the Musical, students are living up to the old adage of how to get to Broadway – practice, practice, practice.
Thirty five students from grades 9 to 12 are involved in the performance of this year's Spring production, with another 13 students working behind the scenes as stagehands.
The production will also include at least one if not two dogs, one of which already has acting experience in the previous production of The Wiz two years ago.
Lori Alexander, director and a former Broadway performer and Bayonne High School Musical Theatre teacher, said the high school generally puts on a drama production in the fall, and a musical in the spring.
The visit to the practice came as all the tech was loading in and students were working scenes in what Anderson called being in “the pocket of the awesome chaos that is the beginning of tech week.”
Indeed, even as performers worked out their routines on stage, stagehands scrambled around them, putting together the multi-level set against which the actors performed.
The Musical is set to hit the stage from March 8 to March 10.
A number of the performers have been in past productions both in the spring and the fall.
Over the last two years, the school put on The Wiz and Rent for its spring festivals, and while Legally Blonde may seem a cute step back from the edge of the very serious Rent, it is not as lightweight as many people believe, depicting the growth of its main character Elle, played Doris Gonzalez,going to college in pursuit of a boy and discovering a higher aspiration that allows her to make a meaningful contribution to her fellow schoolmates and society.
The musical, based on the popular movie of the same name, follows the journey of Elle Woods, a determined and optimistic sorority girl who sets out to conquer Harvard Law School.
Gonzalez, who plays the lead, is not a natural blonde and so will be wearing a wig – which is the least of her challenges, since she said she is trying to evoke the character, not simply duplicate the performance of the original. A senior due to graduate this year, Gonzalez is looking to pursue a career in musical theater.
Eddie Lubach plays Emmett and Sharon Hayes plays Professor Callahan, both key roles.
Hayes is tasked with reprising a role originally played by a man, while Luback said his challenge in the role singing is out of his range. While Lubach also hopes for a future in theater, his goal is to become producer, although he’s already left his mark on Bayonne High School Theater after having performed in Rent and Once Upon An Island in the past.
All three students appeared well up for the challenges of a musical performance in a show that will put their skills to the test.
In addition to Anderson as the director,the Musical Director is Shane Turner.
Other Musical Staff include:
Choreographer - Jordan Pratko
Conductor - Samantha Herskowitz
Production Supervisor - Brendan Wahlers
Technical Director - Danny Griffin
Scenic Artist - Laura Klinck
Set Construction Alex Calianese
Other principal actors:
Warner Huntington III - Jose Silva
Vivienne - Juliana Raitelu
Paulette Buonufonte - Zuri Lewis
Brooke Wyndham - Nico Taylor
Aaron Schultz - Noah Irwin
Sundeep Padamadan - Kenneth Nunez
Enid Hoopes - Erika Sanchez
Whitney - Carly Bowdish
Dewey - Piotr Luczyn
Legally Blonde will be performed in the Alexander X. O'Connor Auditorium at Bayonne High School, 669 Avenue A, Bayonne, NJ. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
Performance Dates:
Friday, March 8, 2024, at 7PM
Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 7PM
Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 2PM
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