Bayonne man killed in Turnpike crash
Local officials say a 58-year-old Bayonne man may have suffered a heart attack that resulted in his fatal crash into a concrete barrier near the 14 C interchange of the New Jersey Turnpike Extension the morning of Feb. 27.
Zygmunt Kmjieck was reportedly driving westbound in the left lane when his Jeep Liberty struck the barrier. According to the state police, he was pronounced dead at about 5:28 a.m. Wet conditions may have contributed to accident, local officials said. They are awaiting a report from the state police.
SBA extends deadline for Hurricane Sandy victims
The U.S. Small Business Administration has extended the deadline for Hurricane Sandy survivors in New Jersey to return applications for physical damage to April 1, 2013.
Individuals and businesses will continue to be served one-on-one when the existing Disaster Recovery Centers located in Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean counties transition to SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers on Friday, March 1.
“Survivors who receive a SBA disaster loan application should submit it as soon as possible to receive consideration for a loan to help with their recovery,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA Field Operations Center East. “SBA’s Customer Service Representatives are available at the centers to provide one-on-one assistance in completing their applications.”
Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Additional information on the locations of recovery centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov.
Public information meeting on rapid transit study
Working together, Hudson County, Jersey City, and Bayonne started the Bayonne/Greenville/Journal Square Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study to improve bus service between Bayonne and Journal Square. The purpose of the study is to explore ways to enhance public transportation opportunities for daily commuters.
The study team will be holding a public meeting on March 12 to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about BRT, transit technologies, and the study results, as well as the chance to provide input on potential routes for a BRT service.
The hearing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center, 140 Martin Luther Jr. Drive in Jersey City.
If you are unable to attend the public meeting presentation and would like more information or would like to submit comments for the study team, please email: feedback@BayonneJerseyCityBRT.com or visit www.bayonnejerseycitybrt.com.
HCCC in finalist in excellence awards
Hudson County Community College (HCCC) is one of just 25 community colleges from across the United States to be named as a finalist in a new national program to recognize innovation and promising practices among two-year colleges. The new program — The Awards of Excellence — is sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), and was established by that organization to align with key recommendations of the 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges. Finalists were chosen by a specially appointed committee of the AACC Board of Directors based upon specific and measurable criteria.
HCCC is a finalist in the Student Success category, as is Central New Mexico Community College (NM), Phillips Community College (AR), South Texas College (TX), and Tarrant County College (TX). HCCC is the only New Jersey two-year college among the 25 finalists.
“It’s an honor for Hudson County Community College to be selected as a finalist, and to be recognized for the work being done to help ensure that our students succeed,” said HCCC President Dr. Glen Gabert.
Dr. Gabert said, “Our nomination submission details the many innovative programs implemented here at HCCC that have been designed to meet the specific needs of the men and women of our community.” These include pre-college courses that better prepare students to successfully complete their studies and earn their degrees, and making one-on-one counseling and tutoring as well as faculty and peer tutoring more available. “As a result, the College’s retention rate has risen from 46.4 percent to nearly 60 percent, and the overall two- and three-year graduation rate has risen 66 percent in the past five years,” he said.
The AACC awards will be presented at the 2013 AACC Convention in San Francisco on April 23.
Hudson County Surrogate to appear at St. Joseph’s Senior Citizen Club
Hudson County Surrogate Donald W. De Leo will be addressing the members of the St. Joseph’s Senior Citizens’ Club of St. Michael/St. Joseph’s Parish of Bayonne, on the subject of: “Updated Information on Wills, Living Wills, Living Trusts, and Stories from your Hudson County Surrogate’s Court” on Monday, March 18, 2013, at 1 p.m. The location will be at the St. Michael’s Madonna Hall, Church Lane (between 23rd and 24th streets), in Bayonne