Secaucus warehouse employees bound, injured in robbery attempt
The Secaucus Police Department confirmed the arrest of two individuals in connection with an attempted robbery Monday morning at the Restaurant Depot at 777 Secaucus Road.
According to Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Corcoran, six Restaurant Depot employees were overpowered and then bound by two suspects at around 6:08 a.m. Monday morning. One of those beaten, according to Corcoran, sustained a cut to his forehead and the back of the head. He was treated at Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center and released.
The would-be robbery was interrupted when another employee arrived for work, saw what was taking place, and alerted police.
The two suspects – Manuel Cavero Lopez, 46, of Jersey City and Victor Pagan, 49, of Bayonne – were apprehended by Secaucus Police officers, with assistance from NJ Transit Police, according to Corcoran.
The police chief declined to provide details on whether the attempted robbery was an inside job, or whether the men were armed, as had been reported in earlier news accounts.
One Secaucus Police officer injured his knee during a pursuit of one of the suspects. An NJ Transit officer also sustained a sprained ankle. Corcoran said the Secaucus Police officer is “fine.” He did not know the status of the NJ Transit officer.
Lopez and Pagan, who are currently in the custody of Secaucus Police, have been charged with robbery, aggravated assault, and making terroristic threats.
Restaurant Depot sells wholesale supplies to restaurants, caterers, and other food service businesses.
State lawmakers approve anti-bullying legislation
By an overwhelming majority New Jersey lawmakers in the General Assembly and Senate on Monday approved beefed up anti-bullying legislation that advocates call the toughest of its kind in the nation.
The legislation will give schools and alleged victims of bullying new legal tools to report harassment and new steps to prosecute those allegedly responsible.
Among some of the key components included in the proposed law: teachers, administrators, and school board members would be required to complete anti-bullying training; harassment, intimidation, and bullying could be considered “good cause” for suspension or expulsion, even if it’s a first offense; colleges and universities would be required to adopt an anti-bullying policy that would include harassment and intimidation in the code of conduct given to all students, and schools superintendents would be required to appoint an anti-bullying coordinator.
It would require school districts to form school safety teams to review complaints of alleged harassment. In addition, districts would be graded on their efforts to address bullying.
The bills now await the signature of Gov. Christopher Christie.
The governor has not stated whether he will sign the bills into law and has said he has concerns over their constitutionality.
Our bullying poll results are in
Speaking of the anti-bullying legislation, last week the Reporter asked readers if they thought a state law against bullying would work. Polls closed on Thurs., Nov. 25 and the results are in. To see how readers voted, visit www.HudsonReporter.com.
Santa Claus is coming to town; street closures announced
The Thanksgiving bird is still in the fridge, but the holiday season marches on!
Secaucus will hold its 15th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sat., Dec. 4, kicking off the festivities with a parade from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The parade will start at the corner of Farm Rd. and Paterson Plank Road and head south toward the center of town. The tree gets lit at 9.
In a break from recent tradition, the town Christmas tree will be in the Plaza, rather than Buchmuller Park, to give the event a more open, community feel, according to Mayor Michael Gonnelli, and to involve more Plaza-area businesses.
To accommodate the parade Paterson Plank Road will be closed. As an alternate route to the North End from 7 to 8 p.m., please use Route 3 West to the Maple St. ramp, then take a right onto Radio Avenue.
The following day, on Sunday, Dec. 5 from 12 to 4 p.m., Santa will pose for photos with wishful kids at the Plaza Courtyard in Harmon Meadow near Houlihan’s. Arrive early: Santa will give free gifts to the first 500 children to show up – and their photos with the fat jolly fella will be free.
The event is sponsored by Hartz Mountain Industries and the Town of Secaucus.
What’s in a word?
Using quotes and passages from legends in the fields of entertainment, sports, religion, business, politics, and education Barbara Kent – author of the book “Success: In the Words of the Masters” – will offer insight on how to achieve. Kent will read from and sign copies of her book on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center. Free. For additional information, call (201) 330-2083. Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center, 1379 Paterson Plank Road, Secaucus.
$10M grant to ease traffic congestion in Secaucus, North Bergen, JC
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) Board of Commissioners has approved a plan to use a $10 million federal grant from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation to modernize 128 intersections with traffic lights throughout the Meadowlands District, including 32 intersections in Secaucus.
The grant will enable New Jersey to implement the Meadowlands Adaptive Signal System for Traffic Reduction, which the NJMC promises will help boost the local economy by improving traffic flow through the region.
Specifically, the Adaptive Signal System uses traffic signal software, real-time vehicle image detection tools, and wireless communication to modernize and improve upon traffic lights. The timing of traffic signals will be adjusted based upon changing traffic flow.
At present most traffic signals in the region are controlled by outdated, 20-to40-year-old hardware and pre-timed signal patterns that are out of sync with other nearby traffic lights, according to the NJMC. The state agency estimates the Adaptive Signal System will cut travel delays by 1.2 million hours per year, reduce gas consumption by more than 1.2 million gallons annually, and slash greenhouse gas emissions by more than 11,000 tons each year.
In addition to the 32 intersections in Secaucus, the grant will also be used to improve 23 intersections in North Bergen and 11 intersections in Jersey City.
Career building workshop at library
Workforce development professional Glenda Blakely will lead a three-part workshop, “Resume, Networking, and Career Options,” at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center beginning Tues., Nov. 30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The remaining two workshops will be held on Tues., Dec. 7 and Tues., Dec. 14, also from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The workshop will cover what to do and what to avoid when updating a resume, how to maximize its potential, and networking tips. Each 90-minute session will address specific themes, including “refining your resume,” how to “network yourself into your next position,” and “career options and resources for adult learners.”
Participants are strongly encouraged to bring copies of their resumes.
The workshop is free, but registration is required. Space is limited. To register, call (201) 330-2083. Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center, 1379 Paterson Plank Road, Secaucus.