Jersey City man indicted in alleged murder of Bayonne woman
Anthony Shuler, 28, of Jersey City, was indicted on December 16 after allegedly fatally shooting Bayonne resident Diamond Robinson, 26. He was indicted by a Hudson County Grand Jury on a number of charges, including first degree murder.
The Bayonne Police Department responded to a report of potential domestic violence on September 22 at around 5 a.m. On the scene at 484 JFK Blvd., police identified Robinson as unresponsive with a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office declared it a homicide.
Shuler is being held pending trial.
Hoboken ban on Styrofoam and carryout plastic bags begins in March
An ordinance banning the use of all single service Styrofoam products, as well all carryout plastic bags from food service and retail establishments will begin in Hoboken on March 8.
The new regulations will help to advance Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Some exceptions apply, such as pharmacy prescription bags.
Retail and food establishments must make paper bags available for a fee of 10-25 cents per bag.
Bayonne blood drive
New Jersey Blood Services will operate a blood drive on January 3. It will take place at St. Henry’s Catholic Church at 77 West 28th St. from 1 to 7 p.m. Donors will receive free mini-medical exams at the church prior to donating.
Those eligible must be age 16 with parental consent, weigh at the minimum 110 pounds, be in good health, and meet all FDA and NJ State Department of Health donor prerequisites. Donors over 75 may participate only with a doctor’s note.
Hoboken Police initiative on pedestrian safety begins
On Dec.13, the Hoboken Police Traffic Unit conducted the first of two Holiday Pedestrian Decoy Traffic Initiatives in which an officer dressed in plain clothes crosses within the crosswalk and stays on the lookout for violations. This detail is part of the city’s Vision Zero Campaign which aims to prevent all pedestrian injuries and traffic-related deaths by 2030.
The traffic initiative took place at three intersections across the city elected because the police department received the most complaints about those intersections through the department’s traffic email address at traffic@hobokenpd.org.
They were Eighth and Madison streets, Newark and Adams streets, and Fourth and River streets.
North Bergen crackdown on impaired driving
On December 18, North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the board of commissioners declared their support for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2019 Year End Holiday Statewide Crackdown. Until January 1, 2020, the campaign pledges to increase awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving.
“During the past five years New Jersey’s roadways experienced 36,778 crashes and 679 fatalities involving impaired drivers,” Mayor Sacco said reading the proclamation. …The year end holiday season is traditionally a time for social gatherings which include alcohol.”
State Senate approves CROWN Act
On Dec. 16, the New Jersey State Senate passed the “Create a Respectful and Open Workspace for Natural Hair Act” or CROWN Act. In a 37-1 vote the senate approved the bill sponsored by Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, Senator Nia Gill, and Senator Shirley Turner.
Under the CROWN ACT, discrimination on the basis of hairstyle, type or texture is now prohibited under the Law Against Discrimination. It was amended so that the term “race” applies to the protected hairstyles and textures. The new law includes braids, locks and twists as some of the protected hairstyles.
Free events at the Jersey City Library
The Jersey City Free Public Library will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 1 for Near Years Day as well as Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
But throughout the month the library has several special programs, community awareness meetings, and celebrations at their various locations.
For more information or to see a full list of upcoming library events go to https://www.jclibrary.org/programs/monthcalendar/2020/1/-
Palisades Medical Center hosts health seminar
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center will hold a seminar on Metabolic Syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
The public is invited to attend at 6 p.m. in the Medical Center auditorium at 7600 River Road, North Bergen.
Free admission, free parking, and free beverages will be available.
Contact Nikki Mederos at 201-854-5702 or nikki.mederos@hackensackmeridian.org to register.
Give blood; Support a Boy Scout.
Hoboken Boy Scout Troop 146 will host a blood drive on Jan. 11 with the Red Cross to help local hospitals.
They have a goal to achieve 48 pints of blood, beating last year’s record.
Blood stores are always very low in the post-holiday.
Sign up to give blood at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive. Type in the zip code 07030 and pick a time at the “Saint Francis Parish Center” between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Walk-in donors not accepted. Saint Francis Church is at 308 Jefferson St.
