Worker injured on construction site
On June 28 at about 1 p.m., the Bayonne Fire Department responded to 30 O’Brien Court for a report of a worker injured at a construction site. Firefighters arrived at the site of a new cul-de-sac development, and discovered one male injured by the apparent collapse of a concrete block wall. The worker was reportedly pinned under the concrete wall, and freed by workers prior to the arrival of emergency crews. Firefighters and EMTs attended to the worker, who was transported to Jersey City Medical Center for what appeared to be serious injuries.
Backpack program to start again
The Reverend Rose Cohen Hassan of Trinity Church, who serves as manager of Services at HIGHWAYS (Helping Individuals Gain Hope Will Always Yield Success), announced a second year of its backpack program.
HIGHWAYS is a program of the Windmill Alliance, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services for the handicapped and the disadvantaged in Bayonne.
While HIGHWAYS does a lot through its food pantry to feed people—distributing to people around the holidays as well as all year round, and clothing people though donations at its thrift store—Rev. Hassan came to realize that hardship can affect kids in different ways.
The program will start on July 15 and run until Aug. 12, seeking to collect school supplies for students whose families demonstrate a financial need. Families seeking a backpack of supplies have until Aug. 9 to register.
Back in Kearny, Rev. Hassan frequently purchased school supplies from a local retailer in bulk, after she realized that students from poorer families may be struggling not just with food and the cost of rent, but even to give their kids what they need to attend school.
For this reason, she decided that she needed to reach out to the community and get some help from people who can help supply children with some of the basics they will need to attend school in September.
“We will be asking for donations of backpacks, loose-leaf binders, loose-leaf paper, composition books, spiral notebooks, pens, paper, crayons, and anything else you tell us that might be useful,” she said. “I heard that the average student spends around $100 for school supplies each year. That’s a heavy load for a poor family, especially if they have two or three kids.”
Donations may be brought to the HIGHWAYS store at 284 Hobart Avenue between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
For more information, to donate, or register, contact Rev. Hassan at RCHassan@WindmillAlliance.org or call (201) 471-2634.
Sires to meet with Zimmer after helicopter crash
The helicopter crash on the Hudson River on June 30 highlights the need for improved safety and stricter standards for the air-tour industry, said Rep. Albio Sires who met with Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Councilwoman Beth Mason of Hoboken, and Freeholder Anthony Romano, as well as elected officials of Weehawken to request a ban on the helicopter tourist industry, They also expressed the concern both communities have about the increased helicopter traffic, safety issues, and quality-of-life impact.
“Tourist helicopters are completely out of control,” said Mayor Zimmer. “They are too frequent, too low, and too loud, and we need a mitigation plan along with the assistance of the Department of Homeland Security that puts the quality of life of our communities before New York’s tourism interests.”
“The health, safety, and welfare of residents is the number-one priority of elected officials. I am proud to work with Congressman Sires to find a solution that will stop the dangerous practice of tourist helicopters flying over our neighborhoods,” said Hoboken Councilwoman Beth Mason.
“The recent crash that took place this past Sunday on June 30, 2013 is another example of the need for stricter regulations banning helicopters along residential areas in Hudson County.” said Sires. “We must do more to prevent these types of terrible accidents and increase efforts to drastically improve safety before another tragedy takes place similar to the crash in 2009.”
While the Federal Aviation Administration has taken steps to improve the safety of the air-tour industry, several accidents have still occurred. The National Transportation Safety Board has repeatedly urged the FAA and tour operators to improve safety. The helicopter traffic over Hudson County has increased significantly; the helicopters are flying very low and very close to the shoreline along the Hudson River.
“I want to thank Congressman Sires for taking the lead on the important issues regarding the safety and quality of life for the residents of Weehawken pertaining to continued low-flying helicopters along the shorelines of Weehawken and our neighboring towns. I look forward to working with him and my colleagues on this very important issue,” said Weehawken First Ward Councilwoman Carmela Silvestri Ehret.
“Having helicopters fly at lower altitudes creates a constant noise nuisance and safety issues for those in New Jersey living along the Hudson River,” said Sires. “With 20,000 helicopters and other aircraft flying over the area, the FAA needs to do more to regulate this traffic. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation Committee I will continue to work with my colleagues and the FAA to ensure these actions move forward for the safety of residents in my district.”