Sires legislation would stop student loan interest rate hike
Rep. Albio Sires (D-13th) has cosponsored H.R. 4816, the “Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012,” which extends current student interest rates for one year and fully pays for the cost.
“Student loan interest rates are expected to double in approximately three months, and I am very concerned about how such an increase would impact current and future students,” Sires said on April 27. “This legislation is needed now to prevent students seeking higher education from being saddled with even more debt.
“This legislation was introduced by my colleague Rep. John Tierney of Massachuestts and his colleagues on the House Education and Workforce Committee to extend the current rate of 3.4 percent on subsidized Stafford student loan rates for one year. Over seven million borrowers are estimated to be affected by the increase on July 1, 2012. If this legislation is implemented, borrowers will save an average of $1,000 in loan repayment costs. H.R. 4816 is fully paid for by closing tax loopholes for oil companies.
“I spent years as a teacher and understand first-hand how important education is to our youth and to our nation,” said Sires. “Middle class families are struggling and higher education must remain affordable. This legislation is needed to extend the 3.4 percent interest rate for one year responsibly, and I am committed to policies that keep college affordable for years to come.”
Januska to head new UEZ improvement district
Megan Januska, who currently serves as executive assistant at the Town Center Management Corp., has been named to head the new improvement district under the Urban Enterprise Zone program.
In April, the City Council voted to absorb the Town Center operations into the UEZ. Januska has been has been with the Bayonne Town Center since November 2004.
Meanwhile, the Town Center Management Board has asked current Executive Director Mary Divok to remain on until June 30 when the merger is scheduled to take place.
Softball funding cancer research
Raeann’s Angels Relay for Life Charity softball game doubleheader takes place on June 8 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Gorman Field. The teams include Bayonne Police/Firemen ILA 158 Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bayonne Department of Public Works. There will be a 50/50 raffle, a 32-inch flat screen TV raffle, and a tricky tray raffle, plus Mister Softee will be there. All the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to help find a cure. There will also be a donation box there that night.
Recycling drop-off site opens on May 5
Mayor Mark A. Smith reminds residents of the new weekend hours for the Recycling Center located on Hook Road. The facility will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first weekend of every month except December, January, and February. The Recycling Center will be open this weekend, Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6.
These weekend hours are in addition to the regular weekday hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.
The Recycling Center is open to residents of Bayonne. However, building contractors will not be permitted to drop off any construction debris. Acceptable recyclable materials at the site include cameras, computers, televisions, telephones, tires, cardboard, radios, computers, and most other electronics. The drop-off center also accepts mixed paper, cans, bottles, and scrap metal – the same items that residents usually put out for curbside pick-up.
Residents may drop off wood and tree parts at the facility. In return, the Recycling Center offers mulch and chopped wood to the public, whenever these items are available. Bring your own containers for taking away mulch and chopped wood, because no containers are available at the site.
For more information, call the Department of Public Works at (201) 858-6070, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or the Recycling Center at (201) 858-6189, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
HCCC offers summer camp for teens
Hudson County Community College announced that it will offer a summer camp program for young women and men ages 14 to 17. The program, which will run from Monday, July 9 to the July 27, will provide instruction in graphic and digital design and in menu development and creative cooking. Sessions will be held each day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the College’s Culinary Arts Institute/Conference Center at 161 Newkirk Street, two blocks from the Journal Square PATH Station in Jersey City.
During the first week of the HCCC summer camp program, participants will be afforded the opportunity to learn and develop valuable graphic and digital design skills. In the second week, participants will be instructed in developing, designing and producing their own menus. The third week will include instruction on how to cook the items on those menus in the state-of-the-art kitchens of the College’s award-winning Culinary Arts Institute, the same kitchens used by Cake Boss Buddy Valastro for the cable TV show, “Cake Boss: Next Great Baker,” and by the producers of the Progresso Soup “Ring-Ring” commercials.
The cost of the HCCC summer camp program, which has been developed through the College’s non-credit Community Education division, is $995 and includes lunch each day. Space is limited, and parents or guardians interested in obtaining more information and registering their children may do so by phoning (201) 360-4224 or emailing rfairchild@hccc.edu.