Fix of city’s wind turbine delayed indefinitely
The repair of the 270-foot wind turbine at East Fifth Street, first anticipated for November and then late December, has been pushed back once again because of a problem with a bearing replacement part, a city official said on Friday, Dec. 11.
The turbine, which takes the wind blowing off the Kill Van Kull and turns it into energy savings of more than $200,000 a year for Bayonne, was shut down in June after the company monitoring the device noticed a problem. The machine has been idle since.
Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority Executive Director Tim Boyle said that the latest delay in fixing the turbine arose from an examination of the bearing part.
“It failed the quality assurance check in November,” he said.
Boyle said there is now no timetable on when the turbine can be fixed, since it is not yet known when another bearing can be obtained.
“It’s not an off-the-shelf item,” Boyle said. “It’s a hard part to get.”
The city at first was told the repair of the turbine would cost $350,000 and require the disassembling of a large 77-ton piece, according to Boyle. In October, the city learned the cost would be $298,000 and would involve only the bearing.
The wind turbine is owned by the BMUA, but is operated and maintained by Suez Water, the city’s water provider.
City and district to hold ice rink rededication ceremony
The city of Bayonne and the Bayonne School District will hold a rededication ceremony of the Richard L. Korpi Ice Rink on Friday, Dec. 18 at 6:45 p.m.
Those present will include Mayor James Davis, City Council members, Schools Superintendent Patricia McGeehan, Board of Education members, and others. The public is invited to attend.
The ceremony comes after the city’s nearly $2 million investment in reconstructing the facility.
“This collaborative effort between the city and district will provide a high-quality facility for the Bayonne community for years to come,” Chief of Staff Andrew Casais said in a statement.
The ceremony will be immediately followed by a regular season varsity hockey game between Bayonne High School and Old Tappan. The game is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m.
The Korpi Ice Rink is on the campus of Bayonne High School at 667 Ave. A.
Bayonne High School English Club holds holiday book drive
Believing that books have the power to “inspire, educate, entertain and maybe even delight,” the English Club at Bayonne High School decided to sponsor a holiday book drive, according to BHS teacher Sandra Gonzalez.
“The English Club wanted to support a love of reading and ensure that everyone had access to reading a book.
The books collected will be donated to the Better World Books website.
“It is an opportunity to give back to those in need and support literacy at the same time,” said Amber Townes, an English Club member.
Books have been arriving in Gonzalez’s classroom for the past three weeks in support of the club’s mission and book drive.
The book drive will run until Dec. 23. For information about how to donate, email Gonzalez at sgonzalez@bboed.org or call (201) 858-6293.
The club hopes to continue its mission by holding events in the school and in the community that bring people together for the love of reading. Members are planning a student celebration of reading, writing, and poetry.
Liberty Realty donates holiday pies in JC and Hoboken
At Thanksgiving, with the help of Liberty Realty’s agents and staff, the Liberty Board of Realtors donated more than 125 apple pies to Major Vanessa and Major Ernest at the Salvation Army on Bergen Avenue in Jersey City.
“A special thank you to Joe Covello, president of Liberty Realty, for supporting the cause and allowing the LBR pie committee team to turn 525 Washington Street into ‘Pie Central,’” said Margaret Jager Watson, Liberty Board member and 525 Washington St. office manager. “As always, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the Liberty family.”
The pies made a great addition to the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving dinner, Majors Vanessa and Ernest said.
Sires condemns Trump’s comments regarding Muslims
Calling it “prejudiced, divisive, and incorrect,” U.S Representative Albio Sires derided Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s comment about stopping Muslims from entering the United States.
Sires said, “Donald Trump’s calls for a ‘total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States’ is an egregiously offensive and unconstitutional proposal that strikes at the very heart of what makes this nation great. He is cutting away at the very freedoms our forefathers fought for when creating the United States of America.”
“I strongly condemn the hateful and bigoted comments Trump has continued to make,” Sires said. “With all of the legitimate problems facing Americans today, these intolerant comments are counterproductive to solving our nation’s most challenging security concerns.”
Sires said that American citizens who practice Islam have contributed to the U.S. for years, including the thousands who serve in the U.S. armed forces.
“Many of whom, unfortunately, have made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our homeland,” Sires said. “Not only do these divisive statements wrongly vilify hardworking Americans, but they play into the hands of ISIL by promoting their false ideology that America is against Islam. Islam is a religion of peace.”