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It's ON! It starts off with a kickball tournament at 9 a.m., a cornhole tournament at the ice rink at 10, pig races start at 2 p.m.

Updated Sat, May 31, 2025 at 2:30 pm ET

SECAUCUS, NJ — The town of Secaucus will mark the 125th anniversary of its founding this year, 2025, and Mayor Mike Gonnelli and the Secaucus town council will host a grand "Secaucus Day" celebration on May 31, 2025.

11 a.m. - 9 p.m. at Buchmuller Park, center of town Here is the schedule of events from the town: https://secaucusnj.gov/residen...

The pig races will begin at 2 p.m. on the basketball courts behind the ice rink.

Let’s get together for a fun day of music, games, concerts, performances, rides, food, fireworks and more as we celebrate Secaucus’ 125th Anniversary! The center of Town including Buchmuller Park, First Avenue, Little League Field and surrounding areas will be abuzz with excitement. Show off your Secaucus pride with commemorative t-shirts (available in adult and youth sizes) and special mugs.

From the town: "Let’s get together for a fun day of music, games, concerts, performances, rides, food, fireworks and more as we celebrate Secaucus’ 125th anniversary! The center of town including Buchmuller Park, First Avenue, Little League Field and surrounding areas will be abuzz with excitement."

Find out what's happening in Secaucusfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The town of Secaucus became a borough in 1900, so 2025 is its 125th birthday. Secaucus was incorporated as a town in 1917, following a public vote by the residents living here that they wanted to form a Township. What does it mean when a town becomes incorporated? It means the town can create its own municipal laws, elect a mayor and town council, have its own purchasing power, etc.

The NJIC will see a new program take the reins as the lead dog of the conference on Monday night in Secaucus.

This year’s NJIC championship game will feature a battle between Pompton Lakes and Secaucus, who will both seek their first respective conference championships.

Secaucus knocked off two-time defending champion Harrison in the NJIC semifinals on May 21, 14-13, to reach the championship game.

It was a redemption win for the Patriots, who lost to Harrison in the NJIC-South divisional game last year.

“The girls just looked at it as another game and a chance to play football. They played really well,” Secaucus coach Tom Curry said of the victory over Harrison in the NJIC semifinals. “We were very sound on defense with our tackling.”

Secaucus’ victory over Harrison in the NJIC-South divisional game also came just two days after the Patriots suffered a 31-7 loss to the Blue Tide.

Becoming NJIC champions will mark a single-season record of seven wins for Secaucus since they started the girls flag football program back in 2021.

“We have a very tight-knit group,” Curry said. “The girls have done a good job buying into what coaches are teaching them on the field and how to build the program.”

Pompton Lakes scored redemption as well in the semifinals by scoring a 6-0 win over Leonia in the NJIC-North divisional game.

The Cardinals have jumped from three wins to six wins this season under third-year coach Julie Williams.

“It made our entire season,” Williams said of the win over Leonia in the NJIC semifinals. “It was great to see the girls rewrite the end of the story.”

Here’s a look at both teams heading into the NJIC championship game. The winner will advance to the North/Central state tournament.

Pompton Lakes (6-3) at Secaucus (6-1)| BRACKET

Head Coach: Julie Williams (9-6 dating back to last season)

Offense: The Cardinals are led by juniors Madelyn DiPillo and Calyx Carfi. Both three-year starters have taken their game to the next level to help Pompton Lakes make it to the NJIC championship game, Williams said.

DiPillo has tallied 1,015 yards from the quarterback position and leads the Cardinals with 11 total touchdowns this season. Carfi continues to shine as a flex position player on the Pompton Lakes offense, recording 751 total yards and seven total touchdowns.

Junior Ava Tumminia has also been a key factor in the Cardinals’ offense, racking up 455 total yards of offense and three total touchdowns.

Defense: The strength of Pompton Lakes centers around its defense, which has only allowed three touchdowns over the last five games. In that span, the Cardinals have recorded three shutouts. Junior Gianna Tumminia leads the unit with 46 total flag pulls and two interceptions. Junior Zure Papraniku has six sacks as part of her 29th total flag pulls for Pompton Lakes this spring.

“The defense has really stepped up,” Williams said. “They’re doing a good job reading the offense and pulling flags. It’s been fun to watch.”

What to expect

The goal at the beginning of the season for Williams and the Cardinals was to win just one more game than they did last year and continue to grow as a team. Williams has watched her Pompton Lakes squad do that and much more with six wins and a chance to make it to the North/Central tournament. If the Cardinals continue their string of great success on defense, an NJIC championship is well within their reach.

“The commitment to the sport and the mindset of wanting to get better and better has made a huge difference this season,” Williams said. “It’s a testament to the hardworking girls we have.”

Head Coaches: Tom Curry, Charlie Voorhees (12-3 dating back to last season)

Offense: The quarterback-wide receiver duo of sophomore Julia Pozo and freshman Ava Illuzzi makes Secaucus a dangerous offense to defend. Pozo had two total touchdowns in the win over Harrison during the NJIC divisional round. Pozo’s touchdown pass in the victory was hauled in by Illuzzi, who caught all three of her sophomore quarterback’s touchdown passes in the team’s impressive 19-13 win over Wood-Ridge earlier in the season.

“The emergence of Julia Pozo at quarterback and Ava Illuzzi playing well in her first year has been great to see,” Curry said. “They are setting new standards for us.”

Defense: After giving up four touchdowns to Harrison in their first matchup this season, Secuacus held the defending champions to only two touchdowns in the semifinals. In its two previous home games this spring, Secaucus had only allowed one touchdown.

What to expect

Dating back to last season, Secaucus stands with a mark of 12-3, and all of its losses have come at the hands of Harrison. With flag football continuing to take off across the state, Curry said he and co-head coach Charlie Voorhees have seen the level of talent in their squad grow year by year. Even though this is a young Secaucus team, they cannot be discounted on the gridiron and have the talent to hold up the NJIC title at the end of Monday’s contest with Pompton Lakes.

“The sky’s the limit for a lot of these girls [playing flag football], Curry said. ”They’ve done a phenomenal job buying into the sport. It’s unbelievable to see."

Steven Bassin can be reached at SBassin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @SBassin_Sports

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NEWARK, NJ – Fans attending the upcoming The Weeknd concerts at MetLife Stadium can get there safely and conveniently using NJ TRANSIT.

On The Weeknd’s three show dates, June 5, 6, and 7, NJ TRANSIT will operate its BetMGM Meadowlands Rail Line service between Secaucus Junction and MetLife Stadium. Rail schedules between Secaucus Junction and MetLife Stadium will be available soon on njtransit.com/MetLifeStadium.

Note: Customers traveling on NJ TRANSIT trains to MetLife Stadium should purchase their round-trip tickets from their originating station TO MEADOWLANDS STATION to avoid delays boarding trains. Tickets purchased on the train will include a $5 surcharge for each ticket.

Download NJ TRANSIT’s Mobile Appto purchase tickets, view schedules, get service alerts and more!

Rail Service to MetLife Stadium (Meadowlands Station)

Penn Station New York to MetLife Stadium: There is no direct train service from Penn Station New York to MetLife Stadium. Customers may take any NJ TRANSIT train that stops at Secaucus Junction and then transfer to special Meadowlands-bound trains. Departure boards at Penn Station New York will display SEC on trains that stop at Secaucus.

Secaucus Junction to MetLife Stadium: For events with rail service, trains will operate between Secaucus Junction and MetLife Stadium on the BetMGM Meadowlands Rail Line. The start time for the rail shuttle varies based on the scheduled start time of the event. Please check njtransit.com/MetLifeStadium for complete rail timetables for each event as the concert date approaches. During peak periods prior to an event with rail service, trains operate approximately every 10-20 minutes. Customers are advised to consult the rail schedule for the event to note when the final train leaves Secaucus for the stadium.

Hoboken to MetLife Stadium: There are no direct trains from Hoboken to MetLife Stadium. Customers can take any Main, Bergen County, Pascack Valley or Port Jervis Line train to Secaucus and transfer to Meadowlands-bound trains.

Rail service from MetLife Stadium (Meadowlands Station)

MetLife Stadium to Penn Station New York: There is no direct train service from MetLife Stadium to Penn Station New York. Customers must take trains to Secaucus Junction and then transfer to any NJ TRANSIT train traveling toward New York.

MetLife Stadium to Secaucus Junction: For events with rail service, all trains will operate between MetLife Stadium and Secaucus Junction on the BetMGM Meadowlands Rail Line. The start time for the rail shuttle back to Secaucus Junction varies based on the time of the event. Please check njtransit.com/MetLifeStadium for complete rail timetables for each event as the concert date approaches. During peak periods following the event, trains will operate at least every 15 minutes on a load-and-go basis until the crowds dissipate, and then as needed. For evening events, please check your connection times at Secaucus to allow ample time to connect to the last train of the evening to your final destination. Customers heading back to Secaucus should purchase tickets in advance to speed boarding and avoid $5 surcharge for each ticket.

MetLife Stadium to Hoboken: Following an event, there will be limited direct service on select trains from Meadowlands Station to Hoboken. At other times, customers must transfer in Secaucus.

Customers are strongly urged to plan ahead and carefully check rail schedules for service from Secaucus to Penn Station New York and Hoboken Terminal after the event. Following an event, there will be limited direct service from Meadowlands Station to Hoboken. Download the NJ TRANSIT Mobile App for real-time departures and schedule information. Plan your trip, buy and display passes and tickets and get real-time bus and train status for your trip with the NJ TRANSIT app. Mobile tickets include a barcode to scan for access through the fare gates in Secaucus. Select Meadowlands as the destination for events at MetLife Stadium.

Important note: The closer you are to the front of the line following an event, the shorter the wait time is for a train to Secaucus. The number of customers traveling by rail and where you are on line will determine your wait time to board trains from MetLife Stadium to Secaucus. In advance of events, customers are strongly advised to check the departure times of final train connections from Secaucus.

Travel Tips

About NJ TRANSITNJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

Voorhees has been interim superintendent since last spring, when the BOE put Erick Alfonso on a $183,977 paid leave, but never said why.

Carly Baldwin, Patch Staff

|Updated Wed, May 14, 2025 at 4:33 pm ET

SECAUCUS, NJ — The Secaucus Board of Education is now advertising for a permanent superintendent, the Board announced at their Monday night meeting (watch here).

Patriots athletic director and head football coach Charlie Voorhees has been interim superintendent since last spring, when the BOE put Erick Alfonso on a $183,000 paid leave, but never said why.

Mayor Mike Gonnelli spoke Monday night and urged the school board to give Voorhees the job. He urged them to look "inside" for the top job of running the Secaucus school district, meaning look for someone who already works in the district, or was raised in town.

"We have an assistant superintendent now who is doing a hell of a job," said the mayor (he meant acting superintendent, not assistant). "I can't say give him the job, but he is doing a hell of a job. I have not had one complaint from anybody at all. No complaints at all. And we gained someone from the inside. That's what we need. We don't need an outsider. We had enough experience prior to this with the outsiders."

"We got somebody from the inside. And that's what we need," he continued. "I just hope you vote with your conscience and you vote for what this town really needs ... We need Charlie."

Find out what's happening in Secaucusfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Voorhees has not said if he will apply, but Gonnelli's public support Monday night indicates he wants the job.

The Secaucus school board has never said why they put Alfonso on leave. (At the time he was fired, Alfonso was attempting to lead the district on a very controversial redistricting, but that is not at all related to why he was fired, sources told Patch.) However, the board was never able to legally void Alfonso's three-year contract, which resulted in Secaucus taxpayers paying Alfonso a total of $183,977 for the past year he has not worked. Alfonso's paid leave was March 20, 2024 through April 21, 2025, at which point he officially resigned.

Gonnelli has always spoken highly of Voorhees. When the Board first put Voorhees in the top job last April after the Alfonso debacle, Gonnelli praised the decision, saying:

"Mr. Voorhees was born and raised in Secaucus and is committed to the town ... Leadership in the district flows from the superintendent and board members. Everything rises and falls on leadership ... Selecting a permanent superintendent in the near future is one of the most important decisions the board will have to make for our community."

In February, Gonnelli said in this article of the BOE firing Alfonso: "They had no reason to get rid of him."

Gonnelli previously said the way the Secaucus BOE handled Alfonso was "totally ridiculous and a waste of taxpayer money," and that he was "very disappointed in the Board of Education members."

Watch the Monday night meeting; Gonnelli starts speaking at 1:22:

Voorhees does not hold a certificate to be superintendent, however he could still get the job if the Board chooses to hire him. Currently, he has to be re-approved as acting superintendent every 90 days by the Board and Hudson County.

The Board voted Monday night to post an ad to find a permanent superintendent, with Voorhees remaining acting superintendent until September 2025. That ad will be posted internally on the Secaucus school district website, and the district will also advertise externally.

Interviews with superintendent candidates will take place this summer.

Also, at their April 30 meeting the school board passed a budget that brings a small increase to the school tax levy. It averages to be about $70 more per home, said Gonnelli. The tax increase takes effect in July.

The town of Secaucus also passed its own budget this week, which brings no tax increase for homeowners. Gonnelli did say Hudson County is currently working on its 2025-'26 budget, and he is nervous there will be a tax increase from the county.

"This town is run well on the municipal side," said Gonnelli Wednesday.

The school board will not be using an executive search firm to find a new superintendent, Board lawyer Stephen Fogarty said Monday night. But the board may hire such a firm if it can't find a superintendent on its own, he said.

Prior: Secaucus Paid Superintendent $183,977 For Year Of Not Working (Feb. 2025)

Charlie Voorhees Named Acting Secaucus School Superintendent (April 2024)

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SECAUCUS, NJ — The latest marijuana dispensary to open in Secaucus, located at 30 Wood Avenue, plans to open this summer.

It may be the end of June or July, a representative from the company told Patch Friday. They need to get final approval from the state before opening. The pot shop is called Illicit Gardens and they announced here on their website they are planning a summer opening.

Illicit Gardens is located directly behind Meadowlands Plaza hotel and La Reggia. The owner owns and operates other pot dispensaries in the area: La Vida Gardens in Belleville, CannaVibes in Elmwood Park and is planning a second Illicit Gardens to open in Carlstadt.

Once it opens, this will be the only marijuana dispensary currently located in Secaucus. Another pot store, Floro Secaucus, expressed interest opening in town, but has since backed out, Mayor Mike Gonnelli said Friday.

Floro sought to open either in or near the existing pet cremation business on Castle Road. It does not appear Floro ever obtained their license from the state.

Find out what's happening in Secaucusfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Once it opens, Illicit Gardens will sell retail marijuana to anyone 21+; it will not just be medical marijuana. They do not have a license to grow marijuana on site. Illicit purchased all the assets and the Class-5 marijuana license from Harmony, the dispensary that used to be open at 500 Castle Road but then suddenly closed in 2023, amidst infighting between the owners, allegations they were diverting money to a cannabis business in Israel and allegations they were $30 million in debt.

Harmony actually did have a license from the state to grow marijuana on site, but Illicit did not purchase the grow license from them.

The town of Secaucus used to only allow marijuana to be sold in the area around where Harmony was located. In fact, the town passed an ordinance making it illegal for marijuana to be sold in Secaucus except in five lots centered around 500 Castle Road.

But in 2024, the town Council took a majority vote to expand where pot stores can open, after Illicit expressed interest in renting the building at 30 Wood Avenue.

Gonnelli continues to say a retail pot shop will bring in a lot of tax revenue.

"I hope they make a lot of money, and a lot of tax dollars for us," Gonnelli said Friday of the impending opening.

These are the two zones where marijuana can be sold in Secaucus:

The town of Secaucus established a Secaucus Cannabis Board, which will monitor how Illicit Gardens operates. Town administrator Gary Jeffas, Police Chief Dennis Miller and the town lawyer sit on that board. The town of Secaucus will only allow two marijuana businesses to operate at one time.