Town of Secaucus
On tap
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Library 10th Anniversary Celebration
The re-scheduled event to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Secaucus Public Library building will take place on Sunday, June 2. The celebration is being called “A Decade of Service in Our New Building” and will be highlighted by “Alice in Wonderland Journey to the Secaucus Library,” presented by Tempest Productions. Refreshments will be served and music will be provided by Karen Stern on the harp and Sharon Levin on the flute. The state-of-the-art building was opened on January 4, 2003, but the celebration was postponed as the town dealt with the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The 10th anniversary of the building is shocking to many of us that may feel like the library was…
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Reminder: Secaucus Memorial Day Parade Today
The 2013 Secaucus Memorial Day Parade takes place today. The Grand Marshals for this year’s parade are Anthony Argenziano, John Cingirre, Jospeh DeMartine, Henry Fett and Anthony Mongelli. As usual, the parade will begin at Secaucus High School at noon and end at the American Legion on 2nd Street and Centre Ave.
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Illegal Farm Animals Discovered in Secaucus
A man who was keeping various farm animals on Secaucus Road was ordered to move them out of town before Saturday, according to a report in the Jersey Journal. The owner of the lot was not a Secaucus resident but the man was keeping ducks, roosters, hens and turkeys in a coop at 210 Secaucus Road for the past five years. The ownership of such animals against a town ordinance which prohibits the breeding or raising of farm animals. The man’s name was not released, but he is a Cuban native, so it is unlikely to be MacDonald. Jersey Journal: Man told to get his ducks, chickens, and turkeys out of Secaucus
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FreshDirect Now Serving Secaucus
Exciting news for Secaucus residents that like to take advantage of home grocery delivery services: online grocer FreshDirect is now serving Secaucus. Since being founded in 2002, FreshDirect has served most of New York City and its surrounding areas, including Hoboken and Jersey City and parts of Bergen County. But only recently has it added Secaucus to its area of coverage, which is significant because, the town doesn’t have a supermarket (we refuse to acknowledge Walmart). Some Secaucus residents received mail offers of $100 off their first two orders, It is an intriguing alternative for those that have already been using Shop Rite from Home or the Stop & Shop partner Peapod.
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Town Fighting Tax Increase
Mayor Michael Gonnelli joined the mayors of Hoboken and Weehawken in protesting the proposed 2013 Hudson County budget, which could raise Secaucus’ taxes by more than $2 million. Gonnelli, Hoboken’s Dawn Zimmer and Weehawken’s Richard Turner held a press conference last week urging the county government to curtail spending rather than hiking taxes. Taxes would increase 4.4 percent overall, with Hoboken, Weehawken and Secaucus paying the most due to increasing property values. “These are tough times,” Gonnelli said. “People are out of work. The economy is tough. We are just starting to rebound. We are now asking people to dig in their pockets to pay for the increase in county taxes.” There will be a public hearing…
Schools
Prom Dress Controversy
The principal at Readington Middle School in Readington Township has caused a stir in New Jersey by banning girls from wearing strapless dresses at the school’s upcoming prom. According to the principal, the ban was implemented because the dresses would be “inappropriate” and “distracting” to boys. Of course, everyone knows there is nothing you could put a teenage girl in to prevent a teenage boy from being distracted. Parents are petitioning the school to overturn the controversial policy before the event on June 12. It remains to be seen if such restruction will catch at future New Jersey proms – including in Secaucus – or if Readington’s ban will be quickly swept aside. Yahoo!: New Jersey…
State: Secaucus Schools ‘Lag’
Secaucus schools lag in several areas like academic performance and performance on statewide tests compared to peer schools and others statewide, according to the latest round of “report cards” released by the state. Secaucus High School was found to lag — “lagging” is defined as the 20-39% range — in academic performance, outperforming only 24% of its peers and 37% of schools statewide. SHS was found to be about average for college and career readiness, but it ranked very high for graduation and post-secondary performance, outscoring 91% of its peer schools. Secaucus High students outscored only 29% of peers on the statewide HSPA test for Language Arts and only 19% of peers for Math. Statewide,…
Election Losers Sore
MaryAnn Weiner and Salvatore Manente are citing Mayor Gonnelli’s “political machine” for their losses in Tuesday’s school board election, according to a report in The Record. Weiner and Manente got the fewest votes in the six-person race (unofficial results indicate a large margin) and feel they were bested because the mayor and Town Council actively supported the eventual victors. The underlying implication is that the winners of the election will now be beholden to the mayor and the council, a charge the newly-elected John Gebasio denies in the article. Gerbasio received the most votes in the election while school board president Jack McStowe and Kathy Huber-O’Connell were also elected. The Record: 2 Secaucus incumbents say ‘machine’…
Budget Passes, Voters Oust Incumbents
Secaucus voters ousted two incumbents for the Board of Education Tuesday night while board president Jack McStowe was re-elected and the $35M budget passed by a wide margin for the first time in three years. John Gerbasio and Kathy O’Connell easily defeated sitting trustees Sal Manente and MaryAnn Weiner with 1,513 and 1,429 votes, respectively. Manente garnered only 546 votes while Weiner picked up 558. Former trustee Tom Troyer got 409 votes. Voters approved the $32M levy for the $35M school budget by a 1,232 to 707 margin, or 64% to 36%. They also approved an addition $175K in spending for security personnel and training, 57% to 42%, showing safety is still on the minds…
Reminder: School Board Elections Today
Reminder, Secaucus will hold elections today to choose three Board of Education members as well as weight-in on school budget measures. Board president Jack McStowe, along with current trustees Sal Manente and Mary Ann Weiner are running for re-election while facing challenges from candidates John Gerbasio, Tom Troyer and Kathy Huber-O’Connell. The Board of Education has a lot on its plate, including choosing a new Superintendent of Schools to replace the outgoing Cynthia Randina. Here is a quick breakdown of the candidates: John A. (Jack) McStowe, 60: Currently the President of the Board, seeking his third term. Head of the Secaucus recreational soccer program and 40-year resident of the town. Mary Ann Weiner, 65: Former teacher…
School Board Elections Tuesday
Secaucus will hold elections on Tuesday to choose three Board of Education members as well as weight-in on school budget measures. Board president Jack McStowe, along with current trustees Sal Manente and Mary Ann Weiner are running for re-election while facing challenges from candidates John Gerbasio, Tom Troyer and Kathy Huber-O’Connell. The Board of Education has a lot on its plate, including choosing a new Superintendent of Schools to replace the outgoing Cynthia Randina. Here is a quick breakdown of the candidates: John A. (Jack) McStowe, 60: Currently the President of the Board, seeking his third term. Head of the Secaucus recreational soccer program and 40-year resident of the town. Mary Ann Weiner, 65: Former teacher…
Crime
Car Thefts Spark Warning
Three cars stolen in similar fashion over the past month have sparked Secaucus Police to issue a warning to residents who leave their keys in the ignition of vehicles. First Ward Councilman Gary Jeffas said the recent thefts occurred after people left their car engines running and jumped out to run a quick errand. “Take the time to shut it off and lock it if you’re just running out,” said Jeffas, passing along the reminder at the request of the police. First Ward Councilman Rob Costantino said he was previously the victim of a similar theft. “It does happen,” he said sheepishly. “So please, listen to Gary.”
Town Examines Gun Control
The elementary school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut has sparked a nationwide debate on gun control that reached the Secaucus Town Council last month to urge the town to adopt stricter gun laws. Secaucus resident Don Evanson addressed the council with a number of suggestions, including a weapons census and a buyback program, among others. “The Town Council has an obligation to protect, not just the children of Secaucus, but all 17,000 residents of this wonderful town.” The Hudson Reporter has an in-depth piece on Evanson’s comments as well as the town’s response and potential future actions. Hudson Reporter: Gun control in Secaucus Resident’s remarks prompt look at what can be done locally
Secaucus Man Choked by Union City Mayor?
Secaucus resident Ray Mitchell has accused Union City mayor Brian Stack of choking him at a Union City Christmas party, according to the The Jersey Journal. Mitchell alleges that Stack approached him at the party to question his appearances at Union City public meetings. Stack accused the 33-year-old Mitchell of being ”spy” before attempting to choke him. Stack denied the charges in a statement released by Union City spokesman Mark Albiez but a hearing date has been set for January 7 after Mitchell filed assault charges. The Jersey Journal: Secaucus resident says Union City Mayor Stack choked him at holiday party
Fire House Misconduct
Following a series of incidents that included alcohol, fighting and destruction of public property, the recreation room at the North End Fire House has been shut down by town officials, according to the Hudson Reporter. The fire house, which is located on Paterson Plank Road near Huber Street Elementary School, was closed indefinitely by the Secaucus Police Department on Sunday and an investigation is underway. The fire fighters are still able to respond to calls, but the second floor and back rooms – which included a full bar and flatscreen TVs – have had their locks changed. Punishment will be handed out by the fire chiefs and Town Attorney Anthony D’Elia will examine potential disciplinary actions. To make…
Bank Thief Busted
A man charged for trying to withdraw money from a bank in Vermont under an assumed name in March was busted while attempting to commit the same exact crime at the Capital One Bank in Secaucus earlier this week. Cary L. Kleiner filled out a withdrawal form for $3,200 under his victim’s name. He had acquired a New York driver’s license with his photo on it and an American Express card in his victim’s name in an attempt to assume the person’s identity. The 41-year-old Kleiner made a court appearance in Jersey City yesterday and was charged with identity theft, forgery, using a false license, fraudulent use of a credit card and resisting arrest. His bail…