Bayonne: Friendly Place For Special Needs Kids: Event Introduces Community Members To Police, Emergency Departments; Groundbreaking At Baseball Field With Modifications
Bayonne to Hold Event for Special Needs People on October 17 With
Public Safety and Community Organizations
Editor’s note: We’ve previously covered the new developmental disabilities friendly park being developed at Wolfe’s Pond Park. Staten Island’s Senator Lanza hosts an annual resource fair for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Mayor Jimmy Davis and Police Chief Robert Geisler announced that the City of Bayonne is sponsoring an information night for Special Needs people of all ages in conjunction with public safety agencies and community organizations.
The event will be called Calming Sirens, and will take place at DiDomenico-16th Park (lower level) on Thursday, October 17, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The program is brought to you by the Bayonne Police Department, Mayor Jimmy Davis, the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the Bayonne Fire Department, McCabe Ambulance, the Bayonne Board of Education, Elisha DeMaria, and many other state and local agencies. The organizers offer their special thanks to the Bayonne Housing Authority.
Participating agencies include the City of Bayonne, the Bayonne Police Department, the Bayonne Fire Department, the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department, McCabe Ambulance, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, the Bayonne Police Explorers, the IMTT Fire and Rescue Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey Transit Police, BCB Bank, and the Bayonne Housing Authority.
There will be no sirens or loud noises sounding at the event.
The purpose of the event is to give people with special needs of all ages an opportunity to meet with emergency services in a calm, non-judgmental way.
Participants will have the opportunity to see fire trucks, police and sheriff’s cars, ambulances, motorcycles, and other vehicles. This will be a “Touch-A-Truck” event.
The public will also be able to meet officers and agency staff members.
Community resource information will be available.
Ground-Breaking Ceremony Held for Bayonne’s Buddy Baseball Field
Photo Caption – Bayonne Ground-Breaking: Public officials, Buddy Baseball players, and parents gathered for a ground-breaking ceremony at the playing field at 11th Street and Avenue E in Bayonne. Construction is starting on $2.4 million in renovations that will upgrade the field for children with special needs who play Buddy Baseball there. Pictured left to right: Public Works Director Tom Cotter, Second Ward Council Member Jacqueline Weimmer, Congressman Rob Menendez, City Engineer Rob Russo, City Council Member At-Large Juan Perez, Mayor Jimmy Davis, City Council President Gary LaPelusa, First Ward Council Member Neil Carroll III, Council Member At-Large Loyad Booker, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy, Hudson County Commissioner Kenneth Kopacz, former Public Works Director Gary Chmielewski, Recreation Superintendent Pete Amadeo, Buddy Baseball player Jacob Heuser-Parada, Buddy Baseball Press Secretary AvaJolie Angarita-Steneck, Board of Education President Jody Casais, Superintendent of Schools John Niesz, Buddy Baseball player Sarah Hunt, Buddy Baseball player Laith Khan, Buddy Baseball player Matteo Marino, parent Joel Rivera-Jusino, and Buddy Baseball player David Rivera-Carrero.
On Saturday, September 7, public officials joined Buddy Baseball players and their parents for a ground-breaking ceremony at the playing field at 11th Street and Avenue E. The ceremony marked the beginning of a $2.4 million construction project that will renovate the field for children with special needs.
The City of Bayonne received money for the construction from the federal, state, and county governments and from local developers. Known as the “Field of Dreams,” the renovation project will include a new playing area, dugouts, bleachers, fencing, and handicap access to and from the field and playground.
Speaking at the ceremony, Recreation Superintendent Pete Amadeo said that “Buddy Baseball brings the whole town together.” He thanked the parents, guardians, and fans for their support for the past nine years of Buddy Baseball. He recalled receiving a “Merry Christmas” message from Mayor Jimmy Davis on December 23, 2023, informing him that the Field of Dreams would be receiving $1 million in federal funds.
Describing Buddy Baseball’s role in the community, Mayor Davis said, “This is Bayonne. This is who we are.” He referred to the Buddy Baseball players, and said, “Everything we do is for them.”
County Commissioner Kenneth Kopacz recalled playing Little League baseball with Pete Amadeo. He praised the renovation of local parks and playing fields. Commissioner Kopacz called Buddy Baseball “the most special program.”
Congressman Rob Menendez thanked Mayor Davis, the City Council, Pete Amadeo, and “the entire team” for renovating the ball field. He said, “Our job is to bring resources back to our communities.” He credited his predecessor, former Congressman Albio Sires, for his work in obtaining federal funding for the Field of Dreams.
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy said, “It’s all about the kids.” He mentioned the great feelings in the community that the annual Buddy Baseball parade generates. County Executive Guy said that Buddy Baseball is something that “stands the hair on the back of the neck.”
City Council President Gary LaPelusa credited City Planner Suzanne Mack for her role in obtaining grant funding for the Buddy Baseball grounds which he called “the field of smiles.” Council President LaPelusa called Buddy Baseball “priceless.”
Superintendent of Schools John Niesz said that local support for Buddy Baseball is “absolutely tremendous.” Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Vecchiarelli called the occasion of the ground-breaking “an amazing day.” “We love the parents and children,” she added.
Maureen Hurley Brown, Board of Education Principal of Culture and Climate, recalled taking part in a meeting in Bayonne in 2012 that discussed ideas for special needs sports. She recalled that the discussion progressed from “They should” to “I’m going to.” Buddy Baseball resulted eventually from that discussion.
Towards the end of the ceremony, Pete Amadeo thanked the CFA Cheerleaders for their support of Buddy Baseball. He invited the Buddy Baseball players to the pitcher’s mound. Laith Khan, one of the players, said the renovated field would be “a very good thing.” He predicted that the field will look “so professional.” AvaJolie Angarita-Steneck, the press secretary for Buddy Baseball, said she was “very excited” about the field renovations. Finally, Buddy Baseball player Matty Kline ended the speeches by saying, “Play ball!”
Several participants from the ceremony posed with shovels and turned over some soil around home plate to symbolize the start of construction
Banner Image: Kid with firetruck. Image Credit – Jordan Whitfield
City of Bayonne
Bayonne is a community that retains many of the elements of a small town. One and two family homes, small apartment buildings, and small business predominate. There is a population of 62,000 people who take pride in their hometown and its history. Bayonne residents and their ancestors moved to the city from many parts of the world. During colonial times and the first century of the American Republic, the Dutch, British, and Africans were the first groups to arrive after the Native Americans. Subsequent waves of immigrants came from all over Europe, especially between the 1880s and the 1920s. In recent decades, sources of immigration have largely been represented from countries in Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeastern Asia. Each group has left its mark on the cultural, religious and political life of the community.
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