Three men arrested in Avenue C shooting
Anthony Williams, 23, who was wounded as a result of a gun shot in car parked near Avenue C and 16th Street on Sunday, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intend to distribute, and intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school. He was also charged with conspiracy and hindering apprehension.
Christopher Seawell, a passenger in the car, was also charged with the same offenses.
Devlin Megargel, 19, of Bayonne was charged with weapons and drug charges, as well as resisting arrest, carjacking, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Police Captain Walter Rogers described the shooting as an alleged “drug deal gone bad.”
Rogers said the weapon went off in the car about 4:30 p.m., in what appears to have been an allegedly prearranged meeting, during a brief scuffle inside the car over the weapon, resulting in Williams being wounded in the arm.
Rogers said all four occupants in the vehicle jumped out. Two fled on foot. Megargel allegedly slipped behind the wheel and drove away.
Williams was taken to Jersey City Medical Center where he was treated and released for a wound to the arm. The vehicle was later found near 19th Street and Avenue C. Rogers said a bullet fragment was recovered from its interior.
Police later arrested Megargel at his home, after he allegedly tried to flee through a rear window. Police said a search of the house found additional marijuana.
Megargel’s brother, Diamond Britton, 20, was charged with hindering the investigation when he allegedly told police Megargel was not at home.
Bayonne man sentenced to nine years for child porn
Richard D. Rowley, 53, of Bayonne, was sentenced on Monday to 108 months in prison for trading images of children being sexually abused, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Rowley previously pleaded guilty to an “information” charging him with one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano imposed the sentence in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Rowley admitted that from March 7, 2009 through May 3, 2009 he received images of child pornography and shared them over the Internet. The images included graphic depictions of children under the age of 12 suffering sexual abuse.
As part of his guilty plea, Rowley agreed to forfeit the computers and computer accessories which he used to commit the offense. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Pisano sentenced Rowley to serve five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI Newark Division’s Cyber Crime Task Force under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; the Orange County, Va., Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Mark Amos; and the Bayonne, Police Department under the direction of Chief Robert Kubert with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney José R. Almonte of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.
Omni nursing home project to resume construction
After legal issues delayed it for almost two years, the Omni nursing home project will resume construction on Broadway between 29th and 30th Streets. This is the first nursing home in Bayonne, and is considered the centerpiece of a medical zone that includes nearby Bayonne Medical Center and a number of medical offices along the Broadway shopping corridor.
“The resumption of this project is a key element towards revitalizing Bayonne’s economy,” said Mayor Mark Smith. “We look forward to the creation of new jobs during the construction phase and permanent professional jobs after the building is completed. After the facility is operational, those employees will provide a boost to Broadway by spending money in nearby stores and restaurants.” Smith continued, “The nursing facility will also enable our residents to have convenient healthcare options right here in our hometown.”
Omni Health Systems has filed requests with the Bayonne Planning Board for minor modifications of the plans originally approved for the project three years ago. The City of Bayonne has begun its technical review of the amended plans this month. Subsequently, the Planning Board will consider Omni’s proposed amended site plan.
The Bayonne Zoning Board of Adjustment approved the original plans for the 120-bed facility in February 2009. Following that approval, project preparations moved forward with the demolition of the former New Jersey Bell Telephone building at the corner of 29th Street and Broadway. The site was cleared, and covered sidewalk scaffolding was erected. Before making additional progress, the construction project was halted as a result of legal claims made involving the former owners of Bayonne Medical Center. One of the claims sought to void the hospital’s earlier sale of the Broadway property to Omni. The shadow of the hospital’s bankruptcy proceedings delayed the project until November 2011, when Judge Stern of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court issued a summary judgment decision in favor of Omni. That decision threw out all of the bankruptcy claims and cleared the way for the resumption of the Omni project.
In the interim, Omni had moved forward with other state and local approvals needed for the project.
The existing plans call for the construction of a ten-story nursing and rehabilitation center that would provide an estimated 250 jobs. Omni will construct the nursing and acute care facility as originally planned. However, Omni has proposed some modifications to the ancillary portions of the property. Pending municipal approval of the modified plans, Omni would anticipate resuming construction activities sometime this summer. Thomas O’Connor, an attorney for Omni, stated, “Omni is excited to finally be able to move ahead with this facility, which it believes will help to meet a critical need for long-term healthcare in the City of Bayonne.”
Hudson County Student Art Expo to open
The 2012 Hudson County Alliance of Teen Artists Committee has been working all year in preparation for their three annual spring events.
From May 7 to the May 12, the 26th annual Student Art Expo will be presented in the Free Public Library and Cultural Center of Bayonne, 31st Street and Avenue C. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 3:30 to 9 p.m.; Friday, 3:30 to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On May 10 at 7 p.m., the awards ceremony will be held. Students from North Bergen High School will be performing. The host school for this year’s event is Memorial High School of West New York.
From May 14 to the 23 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Justice William Brennan Courthouse, the art exhibit will be in the Rotunda area at 583 Newark Ave., Jersey City. Selected pieces of visual art representative of the schools that participated in the Hudson County Alliance of Teen Artists Student Art Expo will be on display. On May 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Performing Arts Festival will be held at New Jersey City University, 2039 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City. Monica Tone, Department of Education Manager, assisted in coordinating this project with the Hudson County Superintendents Round Table.
The Hudson County Alliance of Teen Artists is funded by the Hudson County Division of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourist Development, Thomas DeGise, County Executive and Board of Chosen Freeholders, Hudson Department of Education Manager Monica M. Tone, and the Hudson County Superintendents Round Table, North Bergen Board of Education, Bayonne Board of Education, and New Jersey City University.
For information, contact Joan Hajducsek Rosen at (201) 401 6678 or George Haviland (201) 707-9293.
Hudson chamber partners with United Way for live benefit
The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Hudson County will present “We are Hudson – The Live United Benefit” on May 14 at the Roxiticus Golf Club in Mendham at 10 a.m.
Two leaders, who have embodied the spirit of the Mary T. Norton, New Jersey’s first Congresswoman, will be honored: Joanne Bruno, vice president for Academic Affairs at New Jersey City University and Jean Quinn, vice president of Public Relations at The Provident Bank. Both honorees have made outstanding contributions to the success of United Way programs in Hudson County.
“The Chamber believes that a strong non-profit community is imperative to making the County a great place to do business,” said Maria Nieves, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “We’re pleased to join efforts with the United Way and support their mission to provide critical resources to the underserved in our community.”
“We Are Hudson brings the mission of both the Chamber and the United Way into action,” said Dan Altilio, President of the United Way of Hudson County. “The United Way is committed to mobilizing the caring power of our leaders in government, the non-profit and corporate sectors. We can think of no better partner than the Chamber in this effort.”
The benefit event, proceeds from which will support both organizations, will include a day of golf and tennis. Registration is at 10 a.m. and the Mary T. Norton Awards Dinner is at 6 p.m. Individual dinner tickets are available.
To register for this event, contact the chamber at achinni@hudsonchamber.org.
HCCC foundation launches scholarship appeal campaign
The Board of Directors of the Hudson County Community College Foundation announced that it will embark on a fundraising initiative to expand the world of possibilities for Hudson County residents.
In April, the HCCC Foundation began its Annual Scholarship Appeal, which is designed to increase the number of scholarships provided to deserving HCCC students.
“Our student scholars include recent high-school graduates, single moms who delayed pursuing their higher-education goals, working men and women who want to provide for their families with careers, not just jobs, and individuals who have been in the workforce and now find it necessary to retool or reinvent their lives,” said HCCC Vice President for Development Joseph Sansone.
Sansone said that thanks to the generosity of its donors, the HCCC Foundation has provided more than $1.5 million in scholarships over the years. A donation of $3,200 will fund a full scholarship and $1,600 will fund a partial scholarship.
“We want the members of our community to understand that no donation is too small and every gift is greatly appreciated and will go a long way in helping our students achieve their academic goals,” said Sansone.
For more information about the Hudson County Community College Foundation and the Annual Scholarship Appeal, email jsansone@hccc.edu or call (201) 360-4006. Information about the College’s Foundation is also available through the College’s website at hccc.edu/FoundationDonor/.