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NORTH BERGEN BRIEFS

Legal help available for citizenship applications

Holy Redeemer Parish in West New York will offer a workshop in partnership with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark to assist residents to receive free legal assistance to submit applications for U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization. The applicants will be solely responsible for the USCIS petition application fee. If the applicant cannot pay in full, the applicant can bring their 2016 tax return to determine if they can request a full or partial fee waiver.
The workshop is scheduled for Nov. 20, 6 to 9 p.m., at Holy Redeemer Parish, 569 65th St., West New York. There is no parish affiliation requirement. Call the parish ahead of time, 201-868-9444 to ensure the program is still running.

North Bergen’s Veterans Day event is Nov. 11

North Bergen’s annual Veterans Day event will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Recreation Center, 6300 Meadowview Ave.
The public is encouraged to attend and show their support for the many men and women who have served our country over the years, including those who lost their lives protecting our freedoms.
Freeholder Anthony Vainieri will be the master of ceremonies, joined by Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners. Numerous veterans will take part in the ceremony. Coffee and donuts will be provided.

Participate in a pedestrian safety survey and enter to win $100

Hudson Transportation Management Association (Hudson TMA), in collaboration with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and Hudson County, is working to improve pedestrian safety in New Jersey.
Together they have established an online survey regarding pedestrian safety. Your answers to this survey will help make this effort a success. All responses remain strictly confidential.
Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to a win a $100 gift card.
To participate go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WR3RMP9.

Soccer dinner honors league standouts

The North Bergen Recreation Department honored the players in the township soccer league with a dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the Recreation Center. Attendees enjoyed pizza, received their trophies, and listened to Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Commissioners Hugo Cabrera and Allen Pascual laud their play and sportsmanship.

Library Job Fair serves community

The North Bergen Free Public Library’s Community Job Fair on Wednesday, Nov. 1 was packed with a large array of vendors, including NJ Transit, Applebee’s, and Wegman’s Food Market. Many residents took advantage of the chance to learn about job opportunities, network with company representatives, and submit job applications.
The event was sponsored by the library, New Jersey Career Connections, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the NJ State Library.

Receive tax-free money to make energy-related improvements

Learn about the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Clean Energy Program, and find out how to receive tax-free money to make energy-related improvements for NJ residents, business, and government. Eliminate drafts during the winter, lower utility bills or operating costs, and improve the comfort of your indoor space.
Call 866-NJSMART or email info@njcleanenergy.com for more information, or visit njcleanenergy.com/tips.

BAYONNE BRIEFS

Daniel Israel, Staff Writer
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BAYONNE BRIEFS

Car show near Broadway

The new residential development “B22,” at 477 Broadway will host a car show on September 13 from 9 a.m. until noon.

Restaurants to resume indoor dining

Gov. Phil Murphy has announced that New Jersey restaurants can resume indoor dining on Friday, September 4. They must follow enhanced sanitation procedures.

Staff must wear masks; patrons must be masked unless eating, under age two, or they have a health issue.

Tables must be sat least six feet apart. Guests must place orders only at a table, and staffers must bring food and beverages only to tables.

Patrons may not walk around while eating.

Seating will be limited to a maximum of eight customers per table unless everyone is immediate family or from the same household.

Phone reservations are encouraged.

Municipal Pool to reopen

The pool will open for Bayonne residents only Monday through Friday, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.; weekends, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting.

Senior Swim will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

There will be no birthday parties or after-hour parties.

COVID-19 cases fluctuate

On Sept. 3, the Office of Emergency Management announced there were 21 positive cases.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 76 Bayonne residents have died.

A total of 1,353 residents tested positive, regardless of where that test was given, as of Sept. 3.

Cases at Bayonne Medical Center (BMC) remain low, as most residents recover at home. There is one patient at BMC as of Sept. 3.

Robbery reported

A male victim, 19, reported that while walking near West 16th Street, two males allegedly punched and kicked him about the head and body, according to the Bayonne Police Department.

The victim fell to the ground.The men allegedly removed the victim’s cell phone and keys before fleeing, police said.

The victim was transported to Jersey City Medical Center.

Church attendance increased

The Archdiocese of Newark announced that the attendance at its 212 churches in Hudson, Bergen, Essex, and Union counties has increased.

The number of people now permitted indoors for public liturgies, baptisms, weddings, and funerals has increased to 150 or 25 percent of capacity, whichever is lower.

Masks and social distancing are required. Pews and other surfaces are sanitized after each mass.

Those with compromising health conditions should not participate.

Bayonne man arrested after alleged sexual assault 

A Bayonne man has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a a girl, 13, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.

On Aug. 28, members of the HCPO Special Victims Unit arrested Eric Fischer, 38, of Bayonne, on charges that he allegedly sexually assaulted the girl, an acquaintance, on Aug. 18.

Fischer has been charged with sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, terroristic threats, hindering, and providing false statements.

Fischer was charged with a prior incident of alleged sexual contact with the victim on or about Nov. 1, 2019.

Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the HCPO Special Victims Unit at 201-915-1234.

The above charges are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Concrete manufacturing out, residential development in

Rory Pasquariello, Staff Writer
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Concrete manufacturing out, residential development in

The acceleration of development in Bayonne remains constant as the city council approved redevelopment plans and tax abatements for major development sites throughout the city at its regular meeting on Wednesday, July 19.

“If you’re looking to redevelop the area with higher-end places like Starbucks, you don’t want to have a cement manufacturing company come in and park and interfere.” – Joe Wisniewski

Concrete-block manufacturing plant denied

The council voted down a redevelopment plan for Clayton Block, a company that hoped to create a concrete block manufacturing plant from a property it owns but has not used since 2013 on Route 440 on the East Side. Many East Side residents came to June’s council meeting when the plan was introduced to speak out against it. Most of those residents came again to voice their concerns, which included noise, truck traffic, and pollution. “The reality is there is going to be a ton of trucks coming in,” said East Side resident Joe Wisniewski. “If you’re looking to redevelop the area with higher-end places like Starbucks, you don’t want to have a cement manufacturing company come in and park and interfere. “We [city council] all agree that it doesn’t fit our vision, and we have not changed our vision,” said Bayonne City Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski. “In that location, it doesn’t really fit.”

Development marches on

The council approved a 30-year tax abatement for a 120-room Hilton hotel at South Cove Commons. While the redevelopment plan has already been approved, further details emerged about the hotel. It will be a hybrid of hotel and residential development, supplying 60 residential units on the top floor, according to Bayonne Business Administrator Joe DeMarco. The hotel will also include a restaurant, bar, and a banquet hall. DeMarco said the city will generate revenue from the annual room tax applied to hotel rooms. “So there would be [revenue] that the city would generate from, dare I say it, out-of-towners,” DeMarco said.

Residents were surprised to hear for the first time that St. Joseph’s Church on Avenue E was recently sold by the Archdiocese of Newark to a subsidiary of PRC Group, a developer and real-estate owner. The council approved a preliminary redevelopment plan for the site, which includes the parking lot across the street. The plan is not yet finalized, but Ashe-Nadrowski said the developer is considering constructing residential buildings, as well as pitching in funds to help restore the pedestrian bridge next to the property on 25th Street that spans the light rail tracks to Prospect Avenue.

The development of the former Hi-Hat property on 190 West 54th Street, approved in 2003, has long been stalled. But the development picked up steam at Wednesday’s meeting, as the council amended the 25-year tax abatement agreed upon two years ago. The new agreement will generate the same amount of revenue as the former agreement. The developer is now planning to lower the number of planned residential units from 248 to 220 while increasing the size of each unit.

The previous abatement agreed to pay the city 12 percent of the development’s gross revenue for 25 years. The new agreement has the developer paying 10 percent of gross revenue for the first five years, 12 percent for the next seven, 13 percent for the following seven, and14 percent for the remaining five.

Another 25-year tax abatement was approved for the former Best Foods site on 99 Avenue A. The property, which once produced products such as Hellman’s Mayonnaise, had been an industrial site since the early 1900s. Then Unilever used the property for warehousing until it closed in 2003. Since then the property has lain dormant. Ashe-Nadrowski said the new agreement will bring in $6 million more than if left unused.

Rory Pasquariello may be reached at roryp@hudsonreporter.com. Follow him @rory_louis.

All Saints Catholic Academy to reopen with in-person instruction

Daniel Israel, Staff Writer
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All Saints Catholic Academy to reopen with in-person instruction

With New Jersey stuck in Phase 2 of reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, school districts across the state have opted to remain virtual for the start of the 2020 to 2021 school year.

Bayonne public schools are following a virtual-only instruction plan that will be reassessed monthly. But some private schools have opted to return to in-person instruction.

All Saints Catholic Academy will reopen under an in-person instruction plan, announced principal Sister Rita Fritzen. But students have the option of taking virtual classes.

Starting Sept. 9, students will begin classes either in-person or virtually, depending on their parents’ choice.

COVID-19 precautions

Temperatures will be taken daily before children enter the school.

Students will wear masks when entering the school, in the hallways, and while behind the desk shields. Students must have at least one spare mask in their possession at all times.

Teachers will give students breaks to take off their masks and will schedule times to wash their hands, use the restroom, and wipe down their desks.

Teachers will wear face shields and masks while teaching.

Masks must be solid colors with minimal designs and no words or messages, including political messages or offensive language. Cloth masks are allowed but must be washed daily.

The administration will determine what is offensive, and parents should inspect masks before purchasing them.

In-person instruction

For both in-person and virtual instruction, classes will run from 8:10 a.m. to noon from Sept. 9 throughout 11. Full-day sessions will begin Sept. 14.

Lunch will be in the classroom. However, the first month of school, no food service will be provided. Parents must provide water because fountains are not in use.

According to Sister Fritzen, food service will resume when all safety conditions have been met.

All supplies, lunch boxes, and materials must be labeled. There will be no bus service until further notice.

Gym classes will be small. Non-contact activities will be planned, with outside time throughout the day.

Virtual instruction

According to Fritzen, students will live-stream with their teachers in real time, using Google Classroom, not Class Dojo.

Teachers will not hold online hours and will not be available to students after 4 p.m.

Students will log in at 8:10 a.m. for attendance and must be present live on the screen in a uniform shirt. Students will see the teacher present the lesson in real time but will not see classmates.

Teachers will interact with in-person and virtual students during the lesson. They will allow virtual students breaks for breakfast and lunch.

On Sept. 8, one parent from each family will pick up their students’ textbooks. Times will be assigned and parents notified.

Virtual students can re-enter school and resume in-person instruction on Oct. 16 and again on Nov. 25. Parents must submit a written request.

Other expectations

Students in grades four through eight will be given a code of behavior and expectations for in-person instruction. Parents will be asked to sign a “Memorandum of Understanding” form from the Archdiocese of Newark before school begins.

A complete guide to the reopening of the school can be found on
the ASCA website and the Facebook page ASCA moms and dads.

All regulations are in compliance with Gov. Murphy’s guidelines
and those of the Department of Health, Fritzen said.

Anyone with questions can call the school at 201-443-8384 between 9 a.m. and 12 noon Tuesdays and Thursdays, while summer hours are in
place.

Fritzen said that the school will comply if the Hudson County Board of Health asks the school to move to virtual-only instruction. Classes will be live-streamed and follow a different schedule. Most likely, the day would end earlier, according to Fritzen.

“As we know, everything can change,” she said. “Things can be added. As we live through these uncertain times, let us continue to be careful and mindful and to take every precaution to keep our students safe and not take risks in the remainder of the summer days.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

‘Christmas Miracle’ turns to tragedy

Rory Pasquariello, Staff Writer
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‘Christmas Miracle’ turns to tragedy

A local priest suffered a heart attack on Dec. 22 while driving and crashed his car just hundreds of feet from the Bayonne Medical Center. He was a stone’s throw from the emergency room when he crashed into several parked cars on 29th Street and Avenue E.

A Bayonne firefighter, Ed Skelly, happened to be nearby at the time of the crash and alerted first responders. A Bayonne police officer, Ed Taveras, who happened to be inside Bayonne Medical Center heard the call over the radio and ran across the street to find the priest unconscious in his vehicle. Skelly, Taveras, and a third responder, Officer Michal Kucza, removed the man from the vehicle while Taveras fetched a defibrillator from his patrol car. The men performed CPR while EMS responders from McCabe Ambulance, Ruben Martinez and Anna Anikiej, wheeled him on a stretcher across the lawn and into the emergency room.

The stars were aligned for Reverend Monsignor Francis R. Seymour, 81, to survive what was considered a “Christmas miracle.”  But the miracle ended in tragedy on Dec. 27 when  he died from his injuries. Seymour was a priest at St. Cecilia Church in Kearny.

A life in the church

Seymour was born in Bayonne and attended St. Mary, Star of the Sea Grammar School before attending St. Peter’s High School in Staten Island and Seton Hall University in South Orange and Immaculate Conception Seminary, then in Mahwah.

“Today this local Church of Newark mourns a remarkable, respected and much-loved priest whose devotion to the people of God and to his brother priests was always strong and ever-growing,” Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, said in a statement. “Throughout his entire priestly ministry – spanning six decades – every county within the Archdiocese, and indeed, hundreds of thousands of people in close to 40 parishes experienced that love and caring, often at times of significant change or challenge.”

Seymour’s “devotion to the Church and to the priesthood was a hallmark of his life,” according to the statement. In 2013, on his 50-year anniversary as a priest, Seymour said, paraphrasing a quote by General Douglas MacArthur, “When I cross the river, my last conscious thoughts will be of the priesthood, and the priesthood, and the priesthood.”

“I want to extend my most heartfelt thanks to firefighter Skelly and officers Taveras and Kucza for performing their jobs so admirably,” said Bayonne Mayor James Davis on Dec. 23. “I also want to extend thanks to the medics from McCabe Ambulance, Ruben Martinez and Anna Anikiej, for their heroic efforts too.”

“Hundreds of thousands of people in close to 40 parishes experienced that love and caring, often at times of significant change or challenge.”– Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin

Common and treatable

When heart attacks strike, every second between the time of the attack and treatment is crucial for survival.

One in four deaths in the United States is caused by heart disease. That’s 610,000 Americans every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and one heart attack occurs every 42 seconds.

“Time is very important and we want to move things really fast,” Bayonne Medical Centers Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vinjay Singh told the Bayonne Community News in 2017. The hospital’s goal is to get a heart attack victim from the place he or she suffered the attack to the surgery table, or “door-to-balloon” in under 90 minutes because, as Singh said, “Every minute is tissue. Victim mortality rate goes up every minute, so you have to make sure you open up the arteries as soon as possible. So you need to be in a cath lab immediately and start perfusing [meaning to permeate with a balloon or stent] your heart again. That’s so important for us. I think that’s where the door-to-needle times are becoming more important for everybody.”

Rory Pasquariello can be reached at roryp@hudsonreporter.com 

BRIEFS

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BRIEFS

Legal help available for citizenship applications

Holy Redeemer Parish in West New York will offer a free workshop in partnership with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark to assist residents to receive free legal assistance to submit applications for U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization. The applicants will be solely responsible for the USCIS petition application fee. If the applicant cannot pay in full, the applicant can bring their 2016 tax return to determine if they can request a full or partial fee waiver.
The workshop is scheduled for Nov. 20, 6 to 9 p.m., at Holy Redeemer Parish, 569 65th St., West New York. There is no parish affiliation requirement. Call the parish ahead of time, 201-868-9444 to ensure the program is still running.

Philanthropist gifts Hudson Chamber and its non-profit base

The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce (HCCC) has announced the receipt of a $100,000 gift by philanthropist and former Congressman Frank J. Guarini, in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the chamber’s rebranding effort. It comes on the eve of Legends 10, the annual event at Liberty Science Center honoring outstanding members of Hudson County’s business community. The unprecedented donation was followed by additional gifts to 39 non-profit organizations who are members of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce.
“It is most important that our business community supports the good work of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce and harnesses the energy and dedication of our non-profit community. Our future depends on working together with a common purpose. Together, through the chamber, we can assure a successful and prosperous tomorrow.” Guarini stated.
The 129-year-old Hudson County Chamber of Commerce presently has a diversified membership of more than 600 businesses located throughout the County. It supports 50 programs annually and is ranked in the top 25 Chambers in the State of New Jersey by NJBiz.
Maria Nieves, president and CEO of the HCCC, recognized Congressman Guarini as a treasured leader, resource, and contributor to the energy and growth of business in Hudson County and the state:
“Frank Guarini’s timely support provides critical and immediate funding to a diverse and growing community of non-profit organizations in Jersey City which contribute greatly to elevating the city’s quality of life for all.”

The UBS Atrium Series presents its opening concert on Wednesday, Nov. 15

The UBS Atrium Series begins its 15th season of free midday music with a concert by the Django Festival All-Stars on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 12:30 pm. The concert will take place in the Atrium at 1000 Harbor Boulevard in the Lincoln Harbor section of Weehawken.
The Django Festival All-Stars bring the music of the legendary Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) fully into the 21st Century. Their unique, high-energy performances pay tribute to Reinhardt, who is considered one of the greatest guitar players of all time and the first European jazz musician to make major contributions to the development of the jazz guitar genre. Reinhardt’s driving, swinging style became known as “hot jazz” and it continues to grow in popularity.
The All-Stars honor the traditions of this French Gypsy Jazz while adding their own creative interpretations, arrangements, and original compositions with stunning virtuosity.
This internationally-renowned group stars members of one of Europe’s greatest musical families, guitarists Dorado Schmitt and his two sons, Samson and Amati. Also featured are virtuoso violinist Pierre Blanchard and accordionist extraordinaire Ludovic Beier.
In recent years, the Django Festival All-Stars have played top venues round the world, including the Kennedy Center, the Newport Jazz Festival, and the Montreal Jazz Festival, to name but a few. This past summer the All Stars played the Hollywood Bowl to great acclaim. The group also plays twice a year at their New York City home, Birdland.
All performances for the series begin at 12:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public and the venue is wheelchair accessible. Free parking is available in the adjacent outdoor lot and public transportation options include NJ Transit Bus 158 as well as the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Lincoln Harbor. For directions and more info, please check the HRPAC website – www.hrpac.org – or call the concert hotline at (201) 716-4540.

Praise and honor to St. Augustine’s School

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Praise and honor to St. Augustine’s School

On a busy corner of New York Avenue, sits St. Augustine’s School, a mainstay in this diverse community of Union City, New Jersey.  The Sisters of Charity opened its doors to this Catholic institution in September of 1891.   This historic red building that welcomed children for 129 years, was abruptly instructed by the Archdiocese of Newark to close its doors on August 3rd.  Now, St. Augustine’s School has joined the many other Catholic Schools with teachers and parents mourning the loss of a quality Catholic education.  For those of us who chose to stay twenty-plus years, it was not a job, but a genuine vocation to serve the children in this inner-city school.  So, before our school is seized by the realtors, I’d like to give St. Augustine’s School the praise and honor it deserves.

Our Sisters of Charity, past and present defined St. Augustine’s with their color, charisma, and strength of character.  From the first moment one walked into the school, you sensed the years of warmth and love.  From the lace curtains that swayed when the children passed them, to the cascading vines of the philodendron plants hanging from the award cases.  Like any good home, cherished photographs on the walls were prominently displayed with those that established the school.  The Sisters, with their Master and Doctorate degrees were excellent mentors for any new teacher.

St. Augustine’s was the first Catholic school in Hudson County to introduce Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences.  We applied this theory through a project called, “Raindrop by Raindrop.”  Our goal was to engage students with opportunities to use all their learning styles to explore, research and discover the history of Union City, the city where their school first opened its doors in 1891.  The passion for this project united students, teachers, and parents, rewarding us with our second Middle States Accreditation.  Because of our success with the Multiple Intelligences Theory, five of our teachers took an online course given by Harvard furthering their education for the good of our students.

Every Christmas season, the children gathered in the church to present the Christmas story to family and friends.  The lights bounced off the gold garland that adorned the girls’ halos.  Shepherd boys filed onto the altar to join the angels.  Collectively, they radiated a brilliance that swelled the hearts with Christmas joy.

Easter brought our seventh and eighth graders together to reenact the Easter story.  Their sensitive and reverential portrayal of the Stations of the Cross conveyed a genuine sense of sadness.  As the dim lights brighten, our “Jesus” walks down the aisle in a poised and triumphant stance conveying the message to the children that he is a champion that has conquered death.  The enthusiastic applause at the conclusion gave all a reason to rejoice.

In contrast, it is quiet now.  The hallway bulletin boards are bare.  There’s an echo in the classrooms and rows of empty desks, six feet apart, wait for St. Augustine children to wiggle into their seats.  Only those of us who walked the halls listening to classes of children singing, reciting, and giggling, understand the loss.  Before we knew it, the rug was pulled out from under us, depriving us of a chance to say good-bye and thank you to our class of children and parents.

Despite the decline in enrollment, Sr. Lillian Sharrock, S.C, principal, Sr. Johanna Quinto, S.C., vice-principal, and Dr. Joan Walters, S.C., tenaciously pursued every path, never giving in to despair.  The unfortunate misconception that was marketed to the newspapers was that St. Augustine’s merged with another school.  We did not merge; we were closed now and forever.    Ironically, in the past weeks, the Sisters received numerous phone calls from parents interested in registering their children for the 2020-2021 school year.  Regrettably, they had to turn families away to the already overcrowded and shrinking number of Catholic schools still open in the area.  With a profound sense of loss, the Sisters’ faith gave them the courage to accept the inevitable.

They may take St. Augustine’s School’s name off the building and take down the gold cross atop the corner turret, but for those of us who were fortunate enough to be part of its spirit and legacy, it will always remain St. Augustine’s School.

Mary Ann Franco

Teacher

1978-2020

St. Augustine’s School

Dedication of new bell and clock tower in Fitzpatrick Park postponed

Daniel Israel, Staff Writer
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Dedication of new bell and clock tower in Fitzpatrick Park postponed

A ceremony to dedicate a new bell tower in Fitzpatrick Park in Bayonne has been postponed, due to the need for electrical testing of the tower.

The ceremony, which had been scheduled for October 11, will be rescheduled as soon as circumstances permit.  A revised dedication date will be announced, according to Mayor James Davis.

The City Council voted unanimously in January of this year to award the contract for the construction of the bell tower to Picerno-Giordano Construction of Kenilworth for $250,275, the same contractor that conducted the renovations of Fitzpatrick Park. In March, the bells were shipped off to Cincinnati, Ohio to be revitalized.

The 35 foot tower will be the new home for three bells that used to ring at the former St. Joseph’s Church. The bell tower arrived on or around October 5 from the Verdin Bell Company in Ohio where the bells were polished, refurbished, and retoned.

A fourth bell from the former church will be placed inside City Hall at a later date. Details concerning the fourth bell will be announced after arrangements have been made.

“I am very proud that our Administration saved the bells of St. Joseph’s Church for future generations of residents to enjoy,” Davis said. “They will serve as a memorial to the Slovak immigrants of St. Joseph’s Parish who helped build Bayonne in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.”

Bell and clock tower en route from Ohio

The bell tower arrived in Bayonne on a truck. The tower will be lifted and put in place in Fitzpatrick Park at the corner of 27th Street and Avenue C.

A clock with four faces, one on each side, will be a prominent feature of the tower. The bells will be mounted inside the tower. They will be active bells, capable of making sounds along with music or tolling for the hour. The bells can be programmed to ring at specific times.

As Public Works Director Tom Cotter explained, “We will have a clock tower with all the bells and whistles.”

After the tower is in its new home, it will be hooked up to the electric line in the park. According to Cotter, the electricity will be tested to make sure that the clock and the bells work.

“Hopefully, within a few days after its installation, the bell tower will be ready to use,” Cotter said.

The bell tower includes a weather vane on its top. This kind of bell tower is placed frequently in town squares and shopping districts across the country.

The bell tower’s location, Fitzpatrick Park, is named after former Mayor Francis G. Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick served as Bayonne’s leader from 1962 to 1974.

Architectural plans for the bell tower in Fitzpatrick Park.

The history of the decades-old bells

The tower will use bells that were saved from the former St. Joseph’s Syriac Catholic Cathedral at the corner of Avenue E and 25th Street prior to the church’s demolition. The church was built by Slovak immigrants in 1909 and served the local community throughout the late 19th, the 20th, and the early 21st centuries.

While the façade of the church could have been preserved through designation by the Bayonne Historical Preservation Committee, the Archdiocese of Newark declined to do so. This paved way for developers to level the area and start from scratch, demolishing the approximately 112-year-old church to construct to two six-story residential redevelopments on the site.

The bells are all different ages from around the years 1897 and 1919. One of the bells is a former fire bell, and the other two were made for the church. Each has a different and distinct tone.

The tower was slated to be built near or as part of the new under-construction 25th Street pedestrian bridge before space limitations prevented that. Now the bell and clock tower will be constructed in the newly renovated Fitzpatrick Park, which underwent a facelift as well as storm water management upgrades.

The final portion of the park was finished on Christmas Eve in 2021, with the unveiling of a police-themed playground. When it is erected, the clock and bell tower will serve as the finishing touch to Fitzpatrick Park.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

Bayonne Briefs

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Bayonne Briefs

Clearing the way for 19 East

An L-shaped, six-story, 138-unit apartment building dubbed “19 East” is due to break ground soon, and construction equipment has been clearing the way all week long. Crews were on 19th Street last week demolishing the vacant Housing Authority building to make way for the new development. The building is an unusual shape. It will be perpendicular, with one part starting on 19 East 19th Street and extending into the center of the block and then back out to Broadway.
Ingerman Construction is the developer. The building should appeal to the young market, which puts a premium on walkability and public transportation to Manhattan. The new building will be in walking distance of the 22nd Street Light Rail and Broadway commerce. According to Ingerman, plans include 212 parking spaces on the bottom two floors, 24 studio apartments, 74 one-bedroom apartments, and 40 two-bedroom apartments. 19 East is expected to be completed in late 2017 or early 2018.

Man who allegedly strangled mother on New Years’ Eve charged with murder

Michael Metro, 49, has been charged for the murder of his mother, Kathleen Metro, 69, on New Years’ Eve, according to a statement from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was by asphyxiation.
The mother and son lived together in an apartment at Pamrapo Gardens on 50th Street and Avenue E in Bayonne. Michael Metro was charged with one count of murder in the first degree, according to the Prosecutor’s office.
On December 31, 2016, at about 10:50 p.m., police were dispatched to the apartment complex on a 911 call of a man injured in the courtyard behind the building. Michael Metro was found injured below an open third-story apartment window from which he may have jumped.
Police then found Kathleen Metro with visible trauma to her upper torso. She was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the statement.
Michael Metro is hospitalized at the Jersey City Medical Center being treated for “several injuries,” according to the statement. He is under supervision at the hospital and is being held without bail, according to officials.
Kathleen Metro’s death marks the 26th homicide in Hudson County in 2016, and the tenth allegedly stemming from domestic violence.

Rumors of St. Michael’s Church closing dispelled

Rumors have been swirling about the potential January closing of St. Michael’s Church on 23rd Street due to the building’s sale. But church services are going nowhere, and the building has not even been sold, according to Steve Belloise, Executive Director of Property Management at the Archdioceses of Newark.
Mass will continue every Saturday at 4:30 p.m., and on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for Italian Mass. Weekday morning Mass will continue to be held Monday through Saturday at 8 a.m.

Special meeting to address six-story apartment building on Avenue F

The Bayonne Planning Board will hold a special meeting and public hearing on Wednesday, January 4 at 6 p.m. for the public to voice concerns about the large apartment building scheduled for completion in 2019 on Avenue F between 23rd and 24th Streets near the 22nd Street Light Rail Station. The developer, Parkview Realty, is seeking preliminary and final major site plan approval to construct the mixed-use building after the city council approved the project in July.
The building will consist of 180 units, composed of 10 studios, 85 one-bedrooms, 63 two-bedrooms, 17 two-bedroom lofts, and five three-bedroom lofts, along with 3,000 square feet of commercial space and 189 parking spaces. Total construction cost is estimated to be between $40 and $50 million. These units will be marketed as luxury apartments.

Open house at historic Park Theatre in Union City

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Open house at historic Park Theatre in Union City

Entertainment veteran John Lant is excited to announce the re-opening of the Park Art Gallery and a sneak preview of the refurbishment project at the historic Park Theatre in Union City.

There will be live musical performances at the open house with tours of the theatre, refreshments and food by local vendors, along with the grand opening of the 2nd floor art gallery, the weekend of March 6-8. 2020.

The Park Theatre (also known as the Park Performing Arts Center) is located at 560 32nd St in Union City, New Jersey 07087.

The open house times are:
Friday, March 6, 2020 @ 6 PM – 10 PM
​Saturday, March 7, 2020 @ 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday March 8, 2020 @ 12 PM – 4 PM

The Park Theatre, a 1300+ seat house owned by the Archdiocese of Newark, was built in 1931 and had been an active performing arts venue, made famous by The Passion Play. In recent years it had fallen into disuse and in need of restoration. Under the guidance and artistic management of John Lant, and with the help of many volunteers, the Park Theatre is currently under a much needed refurbishment action plan, inside and out, and is again working to become an active arts center. With current Off-Broadway musicals for local schools and the community already planned throughout the Spring of 2020, it will once again become an arts beacon for the community.

“It is an exciting time at the Park Theatre, with the Performing Arts Center spaces, and the number of great new opportunities happening at the historic venue with our current operation and refurbishment of the property,” states Lant.

“Keeping within a mission of providing artistic and educational outreach for our diverse cultural communities that we continue to serve, our across the board offerings of theatre, film, dance, visual arts and family entertainment activities will not only enhance our patronage but the local business region as well.

From International theatrical touring groups, live music acts, educational offerings for schools, film festivals, dance programming, music recitals, to the curated national artists’ gallery, we will have many opportunities for you to “Come Play at The Park” over and over again.

As we move forward, we are in negotiations with several local theatre / music artist to begin in-house programming for adults and children, with our successful track record of producing musical theatre camps and youth and adult group musical ensembles, it is sure to be a hit.

In addition, we have a dedicated lounge space for special events, live webcasts, small screenings, podcasts, Q & A’s, meetings, and a place to hang out while visiting the Park Art Gallery.

We look forward to bringing great entertainment and having you cross a new threshold to the arts, here at the Park Theatre. Please join us for a special Opening Night Preview of things to come with an Art Exhibit Opening, walking tours in English and Spanish, live music and some delicious refreshments and food from local restaurants.”

The opening of the art gallery is an exhibit showing the work of the artist Cara London, a New Jersey artist known for her painterly representational work. (ParkTheatreNJ.org/gallery Use gallery@parktheatrenj.org for inquiries about the art exhibition.)

In addition to Lant and London, those already involved in the refurbishment project include Film/TV Producers John Harrison and James Dalton (Twisted Media NYC), International Film Host and Producer Maarten Cornelis, Off-Broadway Producer and Creator Eric Sirota, Music Producer Nathan Murphy (Nathan Murphy Productions), Costume Designer Jennifer Anderson, Local Artist of the Year and Broadway Performer / Playwright C.B. Murray (Dreamgirls, Pearl (Bailey) – the Musical).

If you are interested in booking the Park Theatre for a rental, performance, events, or want to join our ever growing volunteer force, all are welcome. Please contact John Lant at info@parktheatrenj.org for more information or to set-up an interview.

WHAT:
Open house, with art gallery opening and sneak preview of current refurbishment plan of the Park Theatre in Union City, New Jersey hosted by Executive and Artistic Director John Lant.

WHERE AND WHEN:
The Park Theatre, 560 32nd St., Union City, New Jersey
Fri. March 6 (6 PM -10 PM)
Sat. March 7 (12 PM – 4 PM)
Sun. March 8 (12 PM – 4 PM)
Website: ParkTheatreNJ.org
Contact: info@ParkTheatreNJ.org
phone 201-430-5067

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