Bayonne to host vigil in memory of those lost to addiction
A vigil will be held on Sept. 5 at Bayonne’s City Hall, 630 Avenue C, to honor those who’ve lost their battle with addiction, to promote hope and healing for communities devastated by overdose deaths, and to speak out against those who stigmatize victims of drug addiction.
Bayonne resident Franca Kirsch and her family organized the vigil, working in coordination with GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing). Kirsch’s daughter, Christina Marie Kirsch, died of an accidental overdose on March 8, 2016. She was 28.
For more information, contact Franca Kirsch at 201-577-8264, or Aurora Chiarella at 917-696-7935. Information can also be found at grasphelp.org.
Youth Center to host Back to School kickoff
The Bayonne Youth Center will host a back to school kickoff on Aug. 31 from noon until 5 p.m. There will be food, games, and school supply giveaways to children in grades pre-K through 8 who attend the event.
For more information, contact the Bayonne Youth Center at 201-339-3019 or 201-455-5670.
Bayonne’s Kayak Event and Family Fun Fest set for Sept. 7
Mayor Jimmy Davis and the Bayonne City Council announced that “Paddle the Peninsula” is scheduled for Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at DiDomenico-16th Street Park. Kayakers 18 or older can hit the Newark Bay waterfront.
“Paddle the Peninsula will provide fun for all participants,” Davis said. “We look forward to this great event, which will take advantage of Bayonne’s prime location on the Newark Bay waterfront. Come and enjoy the day on the water with your family, friends, and neighbors.”
The kayakers will enter the bay from the park’s boat launch. Participants can either bring their own kayaks, or sign up to use kayaks provided at the waterfront.
Back on land, there will be a barbecue, games, and music provided by a DJ.
Registration is required. To register, call Jackie in Bayonne’s Department of Public Works at 201-858-6131.
Bayonne PAL opens registration
The Bayonne Police Athletic League basketball program is now accepting registration for the upcoming 2019/2020 season.
The winter season costs $100. New registrants are required to bring a child’s passport or birth certificate, along with proof of Bayonne residency, to 550 Ave. A. Registration ends on Aug. 30. For more information, call 201-858-6966 ext. 11 after 6 p.m.
Registration will be accepted Monday-Friday, 6-8 p.m.
Menendez rails against online gun accessory purchases
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and colleagues have called on the CEOs of Google, Amazon, and eBay to shutdown listings of shotgun rounds, ammunition clips, assault weapon components, and a drum magazine nearly identical to the one used in the Dayton massacre, which are up for sale in violation of their stated policies banning such sales on their platforms.
Several senators wrote letters to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and eBay CEO Devin Wenig.
“America is in the throes of a gun violence epidemic and it is incumbent upon corporate America to do its part to help end the carnage,” the separate letters read. “It is not enough to simply ban such sales. Effective monitoring and the suspension of accounts in violation of these policies is essential.”
After skipping sentencing hearing, Michael Hansen gets 20 years in prison
Michael Hansen, a former Hudson County Corrections Officer who pleaded guilty to killing two people in 2017 in a DUI incident, failed to show up for sentencing on Aug. 2 in Hudson County Superior Court.
Hansen pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by auto after a crash which killed Russell Maffei and Marie Tauro, former chair of the Jersey City Republican Party and former chair of the Jersey City Tea Party Alliance, respectively. Police reported that his blood alcohol concentration was .273 nine hours after the crash.
Over the two years since the incident Hansen remained free under pretrial release.
The Jersey Journal reported that he failed to show up to court on Aug. 2, but was found by police “eating a sandwich on a North Bergen stoop” and arrested. He reportedly told the court he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea.
Prior to his failure to appear in court, records indicate that Hansen was facing 20 years in prison. That sentence was made final on Aug. 2.
