About 200 members of a medical workers union and their supporters rallied in front of the Bayonne Medical Center today as car horns blared from supporters driving past.

The workers, members of Health Professionals and Allied Employees, wore red t-shirts reading, "We're by your side, we're on your side."

"The overarching issue is that you have appropriate staff at every shift, every unit, every day," said HPAE spokeswoman Jeanne Otersen.

HPAE represents 800 workers at BMC. The union's current labor contract is expiring on May 31 and it's in the process of negotiating a new deal with Hudson Holdco, owners of the Avenue E hospital.

Union members at the rally expressed concern about staffing levels, patient care, health insurance coverage for union members, cost-of-living raises and sick time.

"It's too early to suggest we wouldn't reach a settlement but it's important the hospital is aware of the issues and take these issues seriously," said Otersen.

Union and hospital officials have met eight times at the negotiating table since April and expect to hold negotiations everyday next week, HPAE officials said.

"Our main concern is quality patient care," said HPAE local president Donna Benjamin.

"I want a fair contract, good wages, better insurance. We need staff (and) they're sending people home," said Eugene Pytlik, a Bayonne resident who has worked at the hospital for 22 years as a cook.

Mary Mack, a 17-year nurse at the hospital, said, "There's minimal amount of staff and it's not enough."

A hospital spokeswoman could not be reached to comment.

A Union City student will take home two prizes from the prestigious Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Mervy Michael, 18, a senior at the Academy for Enrichment and Advancement at Union City High School, won a fourth-place award in the fair's Environmental Sciences category and a first-place "special" award from the U.S. Air Force.

Mervy competed in the fair, held in Pittsburgh this year, as one of the top two winners of The Jersey Journal's 2012 Hudson County Science Fair.

Her project, "The Removal of Harmful Contaminants in Water Using Low Temperature Microplasma," studies ways to purify water.

She will receive $500 for her category win and $3,000 for the Air Force special award, Intel announced today.

Also representing Hudson County in the weeklong competition among more than 1,000 science whizzes from around the world was Jan-Alfred Aquino, 17, of Bayonne High School.

Jan-Alfred conducted research in cellular and molecular biology for his project, "In Vitro Inhibition of EcoRI Methyltransferase by Epigallocatechin-gallate."

Mervy, Jan-Alfred and scores of other award winners from the Hudson County fair will showcase their winning projects for the public on Thursday during the fair's Medal Day celebration at New Jersey City University in Jersey City.

The elementary and high school students will "talk science" with parents and neighbors, school officials, community leaders and their counterparts from throughout Hudson County.

The event is open to the public and will be held in the Multipurpose Room of the NJCU's Gilligan Student Union. All are invited to drop in between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to view the winning projects and meet the students who developed them.

The 2012 Hudson County Science Fair was held in March at Liberty Science Center.

An awards ceremony was held at St. Peter's College last month.

In addition to The Jersey Journal, the Hudson fair was sponsored by Fidelity Investments, Liberty Science Center, PSE&G, Comcast, St. Peter's College and New Jersey City University.

Editor's note: Hudson County students attending the 2012 Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, which began Sunday, are blogging from Pittsburgh all week. Students Jan-Alfred Aquino of Bayonne and Mervy Michael of Union City, the top two winners of The Jersey Journal's Hudson County Science Fair, competed.

By Chris Kennedy / For The Jersey Journal

On the fifth day of the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, the citizens of Pittsburgh and the surrounding area were invited to view the event for Public Outreach Day.

This outreach included guided tours for students of the greater Pittsburgh area led by the ISEF student observers, who at this point knew the complex by heart.

The Hudson County observers each led a group of students ranging in size from a few dozen to nearly 1,000 to a variety of destinations within the David Lawrence Convention Center. These included an introductory video that  embodied the essence of ISEF and offered a preview of events to come. The students were then led to an expo involving countless technology firms and colleges that  offered information on careers and services.

As groups of eager middle and high school students perused the information booths, Hudson County's two finalists, Jan-Alfred Aquino of Bayonne and Mervy Michael of Union City, were preparing their stations for the wave of students and visitors expected to crash upon the shores of the more than 1,600 exhibits.

As the student observers led their groups with element-themed flags, the students all entered the exhibition hall. Questions were asked about each project as they garnered interest and inspired a new group of students to explore careers and interests in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

After a mock forensics lab was explored and analyzed by the students, they left the convention center with a new perspective on the importance of scientific exploration and progress.

Once we completed our duties, the student observers and finalists met to witness the Special Awards Ceremony, where finalists won scholarships and travel opportunities. With more than 70 major organizations offering awards, the ceremony lasted late into the evening.

Mervy, of Union City High School, won a first-place United States Air Force Award. For this honor, she received a medal, plaque and a $3,000 award. Once again, Hudson County has left its mark on the Intel ISEF.

The Final Awards Ceremony, on May 18, will conclude the ISEF experience. Although yesterday was a long and tiring day, it was a fulfilling experience that gave us all an opportunity to spread our passions for science, technology, engineering and mathematics among the people of the great city of Pittsburgh.

Previous student blogs:

Day 4: The judging begins

Day 3: Meeting Pulitzer Prize winners

Day 2: Opening ceremonies

There's always something interesting to see in Hudson County! Here are today's featured photo galleries:

• The Military Parade of Ships to kick off Fleet Week in the Hudson River

• Former Giants receiver Amani Toomer discusses healthy pizza tips with West New York students

• A Day in the Life: John F. Kennedy Boulevard offers sights, experiences, culture

• 2012 Senior Prom Photos: Marist High School, Bayonne

Want more photos? Like us on Facebook to get the latest Hudson County news and see our Photos of the Day.

John F. Kennedy Boulevard, a major thoroughfare that cuts through more than half of Hudson County, is a major commercial, residential, and recreational highway.

Spanning the length of Bayonne to North Bergen, the Boulevard provides a cultural exchange between the diverse communities it travels through.

The urban artery also offers access to a variety of historical landmarks and sweeping views of the New York skyline for those interested in exploring Hudson County's wonders.

Full photo essay from The Jersey Journal:
A Day in the Life: John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Hudson County