Bridge weekend closures to resume as work continues on ‘Raise the Roadway’ project
The Bayonne Bridge will be closed from 11:59 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, as work proceeds on the “Raise the Roadway” project, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced on July 28.
The scheduled weekend work will expedite the safe removal of portions of the structure of the bridge and for the lifting of large steel and concrete sections onto the bridge, a spokesman said. The Port Authority urges motorists to consider using the Goethals Bridge as an alternative.
The bridge will also be closed to traffic the weekends of Aug. 8-10 and 15-17 from 11:59 p.m. on Fridays to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Weekend closures are necessary to position equipment and support steel work at the bridge’s main span and support towers.
To receive the latest updates, travelers should register for bridge and tunnel alerts at http://paalerts.com/, call 511, or visit www.511NY.org or www.511NJ.org.
The $1.3 billion bridge project is designed to raise the navigational clearance under the crossing to 215 feet to allow larger, modern ships to travel under it and to provide commuters with a modern roadway with 12-foot lanes, shoulders, a median, and a 12-foot shared bike and pedestrian path.
Mayor Davis hires chief of staff
Mayor James Davis has hired his nephew to be his chief of staff, according to an online report.
Andrew Casais, 23, of Roselle Park will be counselor to the mayor, Bayonne Local reported on July 21.
Casais’s previous experience includes working for eight months as a clerk for Allendale borough and as a Republican Committeeman in Allendale, the report said.
Neither Casais nor Davis could be reached for comment. The city has not released what Casais’s salary will be.
Group formed with beautifying city as goal
The first meeting of the Beautify Bayonne group will be held Aug. 22 from 7 to 11 p.m. at All Fit Studios, 196 Broadway.
Group members, many of them community artists, invite anyone from the city to join them for “some wonderful displays of our community artists, to share some laughs, to make new friends, and to reacquaint themselves with some old ones, too,” said spokesman Richard Dwyer.
“Let’s be the arts-friendly community that we dream of,” he said.
All artists (all mediums) interested in exhibiting their work should contact Lou Segura, All Fit Studios, (201) 851-2349, for more details.
Anyone who wants to register for Beautify Bayonne, but is not able to attend the first meeting, should contact Segura as well.
CarePoint announces medical staff president at hospital
CarePoint Health announced on July 22 that Dr. Howard Levine has been elected president of the medical staff at Bayonne Medical Center.
The election marks the fifth time Dr. Levine will serve as president by a vote of staff physicians.
The president represents medical staff interests in relation to the administration at Bayonne Medical Center.
“This is a job I know well and I enjoy,” Dr. Levine said. “As president, I hope to be able to create an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and fluid communication between the medical personnel and the administration to best serve the Bayonne population.
Dr. Levine completed his family practice residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He was awarded board certification in family medicine in 1990 and received a certification of added qualification in geriatrics in 1995.
Dr. Levine maintains offices in Bayonne and Jersey City.
Bayonne students help in removal of major debris from city waterfront
The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission recently announced the successful removal of floatables, debris and trees – including several wood pallets and two 55-gallon construction drums – from the Newark Bay and Bayonne shorelines, the group reported on July 22.
This year’s cleanup was the result of PVSC’s partnership with Bayonne’s “Cleaner and Greener” program, which was started by a Bayonne High School science teacher. The program goals are to provide an opportunity for the students to clean up their community’s shoreline and to teach students about the importance of a clean environment.
During two weeks in the spring, nearly 1,000 students from Woodrow Wilson, Washington Community, Horace Mann, Robinson, Lincoln Community, Midtown Community, Bailey, Mary J. Donohoe, Henry Harris, and Bayonne High schools spent designated school class periods cleaning up neighborhood parks and beachfront. Among them were: Rutkowski Park, Stephen Gregg Park, Donald Ahern Veterans Memorial Stadium, 16th Street Park, Robbins Reef Yacht Club, Dennis Collins Park, and the Bayonne High School shoreline. The students removed enough garbage and debris to fill a 30-yard dumpster.
“PVSC’s partnership with school-based organizations such as Bayonne’s K-12 system, demonstrates the good work that can be done to keep our waterways and shorelines clean,” said Michael DeFrancisci, PVSC’s executive director. “I want to commend all the students and staff for giving back to the community and helping the environment. We look forward to continuing to provide assistance toward efforts to keep our waterways clean.”
Tickets available for New York plays featuring Bayonne residents
Individuals wanting to see plays featuring a Bayonne director and actor can still get tickets for the performances at a New York City theater.
“Grief” and “The Encounter” are running at the American Theatre of Actors, 314 West 54th St., through Aug. 10.
Both productions are directed by Bayonne resident Robert Lise. The one-act play “Grief” features Bayonne resident Dan Gregory playing “Buster.”
“Grief,” set in Upstate New York, is the story of family members grieving various issues.
The plays are presented Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Tickets are available by calling (212) 581-3044 or by purchase at the door.