Navy ship to be named at Liberty State Park
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will announce the name of the next Virginia-class attack submarine, SSN-796, at a ship-naming ceremony scheduled for Sunday, May 24 at 10 a.m., at Liberty State Park.
The ceremony, open to the public, will be conducted at the park’s North Field located at 200 Morris Pesin Drive.
For more information on the Virginia-class submarine or the Secretary of the Navy, please visit: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4
Jersey City main library to remain closed during Memorial Day weekend
The Main Library in Jersey City, 472 Jersey Ave., will fully close Friday, May 22, including the full Memorial Day weekend, through Tuesday, June 2. The Main Library will reopen on Wednesday, June 3, at its regular time, 9 a.m.
Biblioteca Criolla, the Spanish department on the 4th floor of the Main Library, has been closed since Tuesday, May 12, due to the extensive and ongoing construction of new barrier-free restrooms on the fourth floor.
Extended hours at all branches will help alleviate the reduction in hours with the Main Library closing for two weeks. The branch libraries will have extended hours. Cunningham Branch, The Five Corners Branch, Greenville Branch, Heights Branch, Miller Branch, and Pavonia Branch will be open Monday & Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday & Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Marion Branch and the Lafayette Branch will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The West Bergen Branch Library is currently closed, until further notice.
Jersey City to lease school space from Hudson County Schools of Technology
The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) has entered into an agreement with the Hudson County Schools of Technology to develop the Community Education and Recreation Center (CERC) located at 180 Ninth Street as a STEM-focused middle school, helping build a pipeline for Jersey City students to pursue the advanced education in the science and technology fields necessary to succeed in STEM careers.
Explore 2000 Middle School, which serves students in grades six through eight at its location on Montgomery Street, will relocate to the CERC for the 2015-16 school year, enabling it to expand its enrollment by nearly 200 students and develop new, hands-on lab space. With a special focus on experiential project-based learning, the school will continue its strong-track record of preparing students for entry into competitive local high schools, including High Tech High School’s new, innovative mechatronics program developed in collaboration with local industry leaders and higher education partners. In addition to the Explore 2000, the County will offer a wide-range of adult career and educational programming at the facility, including industry-aligned coursework in advanced manufacturing, previously available only at the County’s North Bergen campus. At the same time, Jersey City community groups will continue to enjoy access to CERC’s gymnasium.
Explore 2000 will open at its new location this fall with approximately 80 students in grades six through eight, but plans to expand to serve approximately 240 students by the 2019-2020 school year. The middle school enjoys strong partnerships with state and local organizations, and nearly a third of the students participate in high school level courses. The county will also offer robust adult career education programs at the school, including advanced manufacturing classes, and educational classes, such as English as a Second Language (ESL) and GED programs.
U.S. Census Bureau reported Jersey City population growth led state
The U.S. Census Bureau reported said this week that Jersey City had the largest increase in population in the state between July 1, 2013 and July 1, 2014. Jersey City saw an increase of 3,284 people during that period.
Jersey City adds two senior buses
The Jersey City Department of Health & Human Services announced this week that it would expand of the Senior Affairs busing fleet with the addition of two new buses.
This announcement coincided with the 50th Anniversary of National Older Americans Month, which celebrates the contributions of senior citizens in America. This year’s theme for Older Americans Month is “Get into the Act” encouraging more senior activities
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said that the Division of Senior Citizens Affairs has visited more than 50 senior groups throughout the city to get their input on what programs they would like to see added or changed, and has used a survey to collect information. One of the top concerns for seniors was the bus scheduling, which has been expanded and improved, as well as purchasing of new buses. Other immediate concerns included adding more line dancing classes and expanding services for seniors at The Bethune Center.
The Division of Senior Citizens Affairs has also purchased computers for both city-run senior centers – the Joseph Connors Center on Paterson Street and the Maureen Collier Center on Bergen Avenue – and made both centers wi-fi accessible so any senior can use their laptop or tablet at the center.
Senior Affairs is also developing two new programs, “Conversations of a Lifetime,” which is a series of events helping seniors make their end of life decisions, and an Aging in Place home improvement program, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Hudson County, for small repair jobs – such as wheelchair ramps, door widening, louder doorbells – for seniors which will allow them to remain at home rather than going into a nursing home.
The Recreation Department has also expanded offerings for seniors by launching Senior Power Walk at Hudson Mall, senior power fitness as NJCU, and has doubled the number of senior shopping trips. Last year, the City hosted the first Senior Games, in which more than 100 Jersey City seniors participated in games like line dancing, basketball, billiards, and other activities.