Bayonne Bridge closed after collision
With no center divider to separate north bound from south bound lanes, two vehicles collided on the morning of Sept. 14 as one swerved across the center line into traffic coming the other way.
The bridge lanes are unusually narrow, and the accident forced the Port Authority to close traffic in both directions.
The accident occurred prior to the usual rush hour at about 4 a.m., according to Al Della Fave of the Port Authority police.
The driver of the van involved in the accident apparently left the scene by jumping into the back of a pickup truck that had stopped to help.
“Apparently the guy hijacked the vehicle that stopped,” said Mickey McCabe of McCabe Ambulance service, which responded to the accident.
Bayonne Police Chief Ralph Scianni said the driver of the van apparently stole the black pickup truck that had stopped to offer aid. Port Authority Police are looking for the pickup which has a vanity plate with the word “SALSA” on it.
“The people in the other vehicle were injured not seriously. They did not have life threatening injuries,” McCabe said.
McCabe Ambulance transported one victim to Richmond Hospital in Staten Island, Chief Scianni said. “An ambulance from the hospital transported the other.”
The bridge was closed to traffic in both directions from shortly after the accident until nearly 11 a.m. Rush hour traffic was severely affected in Bayonne with traffic diverted from Route 440 south onto the New Jersey Turnpike extension.
FBI agents check work station of city worker
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation presented city officials with a subpoena related to a specific employee of the city and his work station.
“We have been and will continue to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation into this employee,” the official release said.
As a matter of course, this employee has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
Under Civil Service and other regulations, the city cannot withhold pay unless there is a conviction of a crime.
The federal agent examined his work station in an investigation into alleged criminal activities that were unrelated to city operations, Mayor Mark Smith said, “We are cooperating fully with their investigation.”
Temporary extension to animal control contract
At its Sept. 19 meeting, the City Council is expected to extend its current contract with the Hudson County Animal Control Enforcement for a four-month period. Last month, the council sought new bids for the full year contract. The temporary contract will pay the company $5,833 per month.
Art exhibit opens at Bayonne Community Museum
The recently-formed Art Circle of Bayonne will have its first exhibit, beginning with an opening reception on Sept. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bayonne Community Museum, 229 Broadway. The reception will be free and open to the public.
Mayor Mark A. Smith said, “I am looking forward to this exhibit. This is an exciting opportunity for local artists to show their work at the Bayonne Community Museum. I urge our residents to visit the museum and enjoy this first event by the Art Circle of Bayonne.”
After opening night, the show will run from Sept. 24 through the 29. During those days, the show will be open Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.; and Saturday from 12 to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the show is free.
More than 50 artists who belong to the Art Circle will be displaying their work in the show. Bayonne residency is not required for membership in the group. Anyone interested in joining the Art Circle may obtain registration forms at the Ferdez Gallery, 237 Broadway. Artists must pick up their work on Sept. 30.
The Art Circle is working closely with the Bayonne Department of Municipal Services to ensure that the art show will be a success. Information about the show is available at the Ferdez Gallery, or by calling (201) 443-2681.
BHS holds auditions for winter musical
Bayonne High School Drama Society will conduct auditions for its winter musical on Sept. 24 and 25 in the auditorium from 3 to 6 p.m. Use door No. 23 by the high school tennis courts for access to the auditions.
Auditions are open to any resident of Bayonne between the ages of 8 and 18. Those auditioning are asked to prepare 32 bars of a solo from standard musical theater repertoire. A piano accompanist will be provided, but sheet music is required.
For additional audition requirements, visit bhsdramasociety.com or call (201) 243-1119.
County approves Open Space grants
Helping to defray the costs associated with developing or upgrading parks or preserving historic places, the Hudson County Freeholders approved $2.4 million grants at a recent meeting. This included a $250,000 grant for the Bayonne Riverwalk Greenway. These funds come from the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund, which gets its money from a one-cent dedicated surcharge to the county tax rate each year.
Cunningham co-sponsors economic growth legislation
Legislation sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono and Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham to promote the establishment of partnerships between institutions of higher education and the business community to increase collaborative research and innovation was approved recently in the Senate Economic Growth Committee.
The bill (S-1858) will implement some of the recommendations of the 2010 report by the New Jersey Policy Research Organization (NJPRO) entitled “Building Bridges between Academic Institutions, Business and Government to Bring Innovation to the Marketplace.” An independent public policy research affiliate of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, NJPRO surveyed business leaders, compared methods other states use to retain and attract firms, and recommended policies New Jersey could adopt to make its business environment friendlier.
Under the law, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) will serve as a liaison between the higher education and business communities. In this capacity, the EDA will facilitate the exchange of information and foster collaborations among higher education and business entities that will spur innovation in the state.
In addition, the law would require the creation of a database to include the research and development efforts and resources of colleges and universities located in the state. The purpose would be to provide business entities with ready access to information on the resources and expertise available at institutions of higher education. The database would be created and maintained by the Secretary of Higher Education in consultation with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the Business Action Center. The bill would also require each institution of higher education to assess the ability of its staff to write and prepare grant proposals and to develop staff training in this area to improve the institution’s potential for the award of federal grants.
The committee approved the bill with a vote of 3-0. It now heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee for further review.