Alleged incident between officers being investigated
A dispute that allegedly took place between two Bayonne police officers on Friday, June 5 near 51st Street and Avenue E is currently under investigation, multiple sources have confirmed with the Bayonne Community News.
While some news outlets have reported that an officer hit a second officer with his vehicle and dragged him for several feet, a city hall source said that depiction of what may have occurred is inaccurate. Mayor James Davis has been quoted as saying that the second officer may have possibly been struck by the vehicle’s side-view mirror.
The Bayonne Police Department did not return telephone and email requests seeking information about the matter.
Port Authority announces Bridge closures
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced closures of the Bayonne Bridge as part of the “Raise the Roadway” Navigational Clearance Project.
The remaining multi-hour closures for this week are: Thursday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday, June 12; and Friday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. until 8 a.m. Sunday, June 14.
Closures are weather dependent.
For email alerts on project closures and other information, subscribe to eAlerts at PA.alerts.com.
Turnpike announces closure for toll plaza project
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has announced a closure for the weekend of Friday, June 12 through Monday, June 15 as part of the Interchange 14A Improvement Project.
The western most toll lane (exiting the turnpike, right side) will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday, June 12 to 5 a.m. Monday, June 15 for new toll-lane construction.
Work will continue on the turnpike service road, across from East 53rd Street, to install a temporary bridge foundation.
“Periodic traffic impacts will be experienced, including lane closures and short-duration service road closures,” said Tim Snow, field project engineer.
The work will be supported by the Bayonne and/or Jersey City police departments.
Bayonne man vying for Sinatra title again
Bayonne native Joe Vozzella will be performing in this year’s Sinatra Idol Contest on Thursday, June 11 at 6 p.m. between 4th and 5th Streets on Frank Sinatra Drive in Hoboken.
Vozzella will be singing his rendition of “My Way,” The Chairman of the Board’s signature song.
This will be his second year in the contest, and he urges Bayonne residents to come and cheer him on at the free event.
“It’s going to be a great show,” Vozzella said.
In the event of rain, the competition will be held in the DeBaun Auditorium, 5th and Hudson streets.
Since 2015 would have been Sinatra’s 100th birthday, the city of Hoboken is celebrating the occasion all weekend long, with observances beyond the singing competition. Go to hobokennj.org for more information.
Concert to feature jazz and Broadway tunes
North River Sing Community Chorus, a group devoted to The Great American Songbook, will host its second-ever concert on Friday, June 12 at 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 83 Wayne St. (between Jersey and Barrow) in downtown Jersey City.
The program will include works by Stephen Sondheim, Fats Waller, George and Ira Gershwin, Jersey City native Jerry Herman, and other 20th century songwriting greats. A coffee and pastries reception will follow the hour-long performance.
Admission is free and open to the public (with a requested donation of $20 per person).
North River Sing was founded last year to meet the untapped need for a community chorus in the area. The group has more than 30 members, hailing primarily from Bayonne, Jersey City, and Hoboken.
For more information on the chorus, visit northriversing.org.
Bayonne High Tech students star in competition
High Tech High School students from Bayonne rose to the occasion at the 32nd Annual Orlando Saa Foreign Languages Poetry Recitation Contest held at William Paterson University in Wayne, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, High Tech principal.
Sara Bendaoud of Bayonne earned second place for the advanced level in the French poetry contest.
Bayonne students also excelled in the Japanese poetry contest: Taeka Hayashi and Joseph Saylor earned first place for native level and third place for intermediate level, respectively.
In addition, Bayonne resident Ivana Rodriguez participated in the Spanish poetry contest.
“All contestants did great work representing High Tech High School,” said Dr. Laje Gashi, High Tech language and culture instructor.
The Orlando Saa Foreign Languages Poetry Recitation Contest is sponsored by WPU’s
Department of Languages and Cultures.