Vote on Tuesday

Democrats and Republicans will hold party primaries this Tuesday, June 8.

For Town Council, the Secaucus Democratic Committee has three candidates running: former police officer Robert Zych, candidate for the 1st Ward; businesswoman Nancy Mateo, candidate for the 2nd Ward; and school administrator and former Secaucus Board of Education Trustee Mark Bruscino, in the 3rd Ward. Bruscino is challenged by young incumbent Board of Education Trustee Michael Makarski, who works for Vision Media, a political consulting firm in Secaucus. Makarski is not running as part of a slate.

The three winners will face a slate of Independents in November. For previous articles on the candidates, see last weekend’s newspaper.

This year there are no Republicans running for the Town Council, but there are GOP races for other elected offices countywide.

Incumbent Hudson County Sheriff Juan Perez switched his political affiliation earlier this year to run for reelection as a Republican. Challenging Perez for the Republican nomination is Christian Araujo, a former sheriff’s officer of Secaucus.

The Democratic candidate for Hudson County Sheriff, Frank Schillari, also from Secaucus, is running unopposed for the nomination. Thus, he will face either Perez or Araujo in November.

Republicans Michael Agosta, Sergey Shevchuk, and John Aslanian are seeking the nomination for Congress. They hope to be the one in November to oppose 9th District Congressman and incumbent Steve Rothman, a Democrat, who is running unchallenged in the Democratic primary.

Independent candidates do not participate in the party primaries. They will file their petitions this week and will compete in the November general election.

The polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

D’Agostino grocery store considers Xchange

Nick D’Agostino, CEO of the New York-based food store chain D’Agostino, took a 90-minute tour last week of a retail site at Xchange at Secaucus Junction. The chain is weighing whether to open a food store at the luxury rental development near the Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station in Secaucus.

D’Agostino was joined by the company CFO and one other official from the food chain, according to Town Administrator David Drumeler. Drumeler and Mayor Michael Gonnelli joined the company officials on the tour as well.

“We’re optimistic about their interest in Secaucus and the site at Xchange,” Drumeler said after the tour ended.

Town officials confirmed last month that D’Agostino was considering a move to Secaucus.

If a store were to open in town it would be welcome news to local residents who have complained about the lack of grocery options in Secaucus.

Secaucus lost its last major supermarket in May 2009 when the Stop & Shop at Mill Creek Mall closed. In 2004, Secaucus had lost an Acme supermarket in the center of town. Because of these closures, most residents must travel to other towns to shop for food.

The Secaucus Walmart recently renovated its “super center” to include a new food store within its retail space. However, a few residents have complained that they still wanted a more traditional grocery store in town. And Secaucus officials – including Drumeler, Gonnelli, and former Mayor Dennis Elwell – have been trying to attract a small grocery chain to the town.

The Xchange development includes 30,000 square feet of retail space. Drumeler estimates that a D’Agostino store could encompass 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of that space.

A ‘Cacophony’ from Liverpool, by way of Secaucus

The Secaucus High School percussion ensemble will present “Cacophony: Scenes from Abbey Road” on Tuesday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at the Arthur F. Couch Performing Arts Center.

The show is an original musical production written by Ed Marsh, director of the percussion ensemble, and Clarendon School Band Director Sean Sonnett, and will be performed entirely on percussive instruments.

The show will include students in the sixth through 12th grades, most of whom are involved in the marching band. The ensemble traditionally consists of drum line members, band and color guard members. High school alumni Tyler Andreula (assistant director), Sue Bartolozzi, John Rubio, and Joe Verducci will round out the ensemble.

The show will also feature the Clarendon Rock Band and the Ralph Wiggum Experience.

Tickets are $3 at the door. One dollar from each ticket will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Don’t cook – for charity

The Secaucus Knights of Columbus asks that everybody take a night off from cooking on Wednesday, June 9, and have a meal at Wendy’s, 16 Meadowlands Parkway, Secaucus. That night, from 5 to 9 p.m., the Knights and Wendy’s are teaming up to raise money for the organization’s Seminarian Fund and the Secaucus Community Development Center, a project to be launched by Wrap 4 A Smile.

Through the Seminarian Fund, the Knights provide financial assistance to students studying for the Catholic priesthood. Wrap 4 A Smile hopes to open a community center for low-income and disadvantaged youth.

On June 9, Wendy’s will donate a portion of food and beverage sales to these two charities.

For more information please call Neal McGarrity at (201) 223-7967 or Paul Pinkman at (201) 866-8621.