MISSING MAN FOUND

A follow up to the news from last night and this morning about the missing resident was issued today from Maplewood Police. 

He has been found.

Official word below:

Maplewood PD NJ: Alert Missing Person Update Mr. Charles Ziegler located ...

Missing Person Mr. Charles Ziegler located. Thanks for all that assisted.

NO OPEN HOUSES TODAY?

 

No one wants to look at houses on Thanksgiving weekend?

Apparently not as there are no open houses listed this week.

More time for football then.

Check back next week!

MAPLEWOODIANS OF THE WEEK: BOARD OF EDUCATION

The Board of Education had a busy week, beginning with word from Business Administrator Cheryl Schneider that enrollment increases and "aging" facilities will hit the upcoming budget talks hard.

The board on Monday night then heard from angry parents about math program problems, while others pushed for the proposed gifted and talented program, which the board approved, 9-0.

Finally, the board continues to search for a new superintendent and updated residents on the search.

All of this earns the board notice as Maplewoodians of the Week.

POST-THANKSGIVING EATING DISCUSSION AT ETHICAL CULTURE TODAY

Martha Gallahue: Post-Thanksgiving Colloquy on Eating — as a social bond or private struggl. 

11 a.m. 516 Prospect St., Maplewood.

Martha will lead a discussion on our uneasy relationship to eating, what food means to us, and how it is intertwined with other aspects of our lives.

The Ethical Culture Society of Essex County is a progressive non-theist religion dedicated to living ethically in a complex world. Founded in l876 and established in Maplewood in l945, over the years the ethical culture movement (known as The American Ethical Union) has been instrumental in launching Planned Parenthood, the NAACP, Visiting Nurses, New York Settlement House, Fieldston School, and National Ethical Service at the UN. 

The Society began a long-running Ethics for Children program and most recently, Essex Time Exchange (a time bank facilitating the exchange of services) among other initiatives. The Maplewood Society was the first peace site in the country. Its motto is: to act so as to bring out the best in ourselves by bringing out the best in others.

 

MORE DETAILS ON MISSING MAN THAT PROMPTED MANHUNT: STILL MISSING

We first told you last night that Maplewood Police were looking for a missing person as they fanned out across the area and even brought in helicopters.

Now comes information from Maplewood Police on the details of the incident with this alert:

MPD looking for missing white male 71yo Charles Ziegler.

Last seen 134 Boyden Ave. 

Subject poss wearing t-shirt, boxers any info dial 911. 

 

Police updated the situation to Maplewoodian.com this morning indicating the man was still missing. 

More information as it becomes available.

POLICE ON MANHUNT

...Scanner indicates police searching for a missing person, may have gotten on a Springfield Avenue bus, no more details ... Also checking areas near Prospect Avenue toward South Orange ... Unclear if victim or suspect ...Police extending overtime to two officers to aid in manhunt...

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IS HERE

DURAND-HEDDEN GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST

The Durand-Hedden House is inviting bakers and confectioners of all ages to take part in their 2nd annual Gingerbread House Competition. Individuals, families, and food professionals are invited to enter. Any structure – real or imaginary – is eligible. Entries will be exhibited at Durand-Hedden from December 7 and 12 - 14 and then at the Hilton library branch from December 15 to January 10. Enter Now!

Entering & Qualifying

The competition is open to all individuals, businesses, families, food professionals or any other combinations. Please complete an entry form for the team (include only the team captain’s contact info.) School-based teams may list the classroom teacher as team captain.

1. Any structure - real or imaginary- is eligible e.g. house, train station, castle.
2. Kit houses are permitted.
3. Youth entries can have a cardboard foundation, but it must be covered with an edible product. Adult/Professional entries must be entirely edible except for the base.
4. Base not to exceed 20” X 24”.
5. Entry may be given a name, e.g. Pumpkin House.
6. Entry must have been constructed in 2014.
7. Participants must register for the competition by December 4, 2014.
8. Drop off time for entries is Saturday, December 6, 2014 from 1-3 PM. To make other arrangements call 973-763-7712 or email info@durandhedden.org.
9. Entries will be on display at the Durand-Hedden House for a week, then transferred to the Hilton Branch library at 1688 Springfield Ave and remain on display there until January 10, 2015. To opt out of the Hilton display you must remove your entry from the Durand-Hedden House by 4PM on Saturday, December 13, 2014.
10. Pick up of entry must be done by the 1PM closing time of the Hilton library on Saturday, January 10, 2015. Entries remaining will be discarded beginning at 1PM that day.
11. Durand-Hedden House reserves the right to refuse any entry deemed inappropriate.

ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH HOLIDAY BAZAAR

2014 Holiday Artisans Bazaar

10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

St. George's Church is holding its second annual Holiday Artisans Bazaar today. 

Shop our fantastic fair filled with beautiful items handcrafted by local artists.

Our talented neighbors craft amazingly beautiful and unique items – perfect gifts for family friends, and yourself! Gifts include jewelry, clothing, fiber, home decor, and gourmet goodies. We'll have hourly raffles, and tasty treats to sustain you while you shop.

St. George's Church  550 Ridgewood Rd.

KNIT KNACK SMALL BUSINESS EVENT

Knitknack is a Small Business!!!

To celebrate, we are having a HUGE Sale 

and a Big Birthday Party too!! Wahoo!!!

The fun will happen 10:00am to 6:00pm

And you are invited!!!!!

Food, Cupcakes, Fiber, What else is there???

See you Tomorrow!

MMS CHARITY FUNDRAISING CAUGHT IN SELECTIVE DISTRICT POLICY

So it appears that one school's effort to raise money for a worthy cause has been caught in district bureaucracy.

Many residents offered donations to the Maplewood Middle School's recent walk-a-thon aimed at raising money for two good causes: Nothing but Nets and the U.N. Foundation Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Apparently some $900 was raised so far.

But now comes word that a district policy against having students raise money through the school for charities has prompted this letter returning checks and asking people to donate through another channel.

If you do get such a letter and are asked to void a check and send a new one to the charity directly, please do so. Do not let these kids and their great deeds suffer because of district policy that appears to make no sense.

We reached out to the middle school and the district for a reason for such limitations, but have received none yet. 

A search of the school district policies finds there is a provision barring the use of school organizations or student groups to raise funds for entities outside of the school, apparently to:

"protect pupils from unnecessary pressures and the instructional program from disruption"

See it below:

5830  PUPIL FUND RAISING

 

The Board of Education herein limits the solicitation of funds by and from the pupils of this district in order to protect pupils from unnecessary pressures and the instructional program from disruption.

"Pupil fund raising" means the solicitation and collection of money by pupils, on or off school premises, for any purpose associated directly or indirectly with the school district or under circumstances in which the solicitors are identified as pupils of this district.

Permitted Activities

Pupils may solicit and collect money on behalf of approved school organizations.  Fundraising is allowed for the following activities:

1.    Sponsored activities as described under Policy 2430,
2.    Athletic teams under Policy #2431, 
3.    An entire class, or
4.    A school P.T.A. or Home and School Association.  

All funds raised must be used for purposes as described in the charter or bylaws of the fundraising entity.  Fundraising by any other organization or for any other purpose must be expressly approved by the Superintendent.  

Prohibited Activities    
Unsupervised solicitation by students, whether alone or in groups, is prohibited.  In no event shall fundraising be contingent upon a student’s performance or outcome.  The Board discourages incentives or awards based upon the amount of funds raised by students or groups of students.  

External Organizations
The Board recognizes that in some instances the use of an external organization may help raise funds for school purposes. These organizations may include, but are not limited to, publishers, wholesalers and manufacturers selling goods or services at a discount as well as those providing specialized services (local memberships, retail discount cards, etc.).

Approved school organizations may engage external entities to help raise funds for school purposes, provided the school organization has obtained written approval of the Superintendent or his/her designee prior to commencing fundraising activities.  External organizations are expected to abide by those activities permitted and prohibited by this policy.  In addition, external organizations and their representatives are prohibited from taking part in solicitations or other fundraising activities.

But this would seem to be selective enforcement as numerous past examples of student-run efforts to raise funds for outside charities can be found, including a Columbia High School 2011 Haitian relief program that earned awards and the CHS Italian Cultural Club's Sicily Night, a portion of which funds:

"a contribution to a worthy charity. Past charitable recipients have included Relay for Life of West Orange (American Cancer Society), the National Italian American Foundation (as a donation towards one of their scholarships for Italian Language) and the relief for the earthquake in Abruzzo, Italy in 2008."

CHS also has a charity club.

THANKSGIVING WALK TODAY

 10 a.m.

Count on Yourself Coaching (Risa Olinsky), Maplewood Loves Wellness and FreeWalkers will host a 2.5 hour (approx. time) walk/hike in South Mt Reservation to support M.E.N.D. (Meeting Emergency Needs with Dignity.) The morning will begin with a group walk on the paved road to Washington Rock from the Dog Park. For those who want to walk only, you can easily turn around at this time and return to the starting point. Hikers will continue down the trails for 2 - 2.5 hours. Children physically able to hike the distance are invited with parents.

Dogs ON LEASH who LOVE people and other dogs are welcome. Participation in this event is voluntary and at your own risk, your responsibility. If you choose to cut your hike short, please be sure you know how to get back to the starting point on your own. South Mountain reservation maps are available to purchase around town.

Appropriate clothing, boots and hiking poles are recommended, along with water. DONATION REQUESTED: We ask that you bring along cans, boxes or plastic jars of non-perishable food to donate to MEND to help us fill the food pantries in the community. Questions? Reach out to Risa Olinsky at 201-618-5582 or risa@risaolinsky.com. In the event of bad weather call 973-761-5758 at 9 AM on Friday, 11/28 for a recording regarding any changes or cancellation.

POST-THANKSGIVING DIGESTIVE YOGA

A Kundalini Yoga Experience with Kathleen Good
 
Friday, November 28, 9-10:30am ~ $20 donation

Shakti Yoga and Living Arts - 1861 Springfiel;d avbe.

“If digestion is slow and imbalanced, disease rejoices….”  Yogi Bhajan

On Thanksgiving we gather with loved ones to express our gratitude and share the bounty of the season.  The day after Thanksgiving we feel the result of too much turkey, too much pie, too much football and too many Black Friday ads! When we accumulate more than we process, whether its food, thoughts or emotions we become weighed down, feel sluggish, we do not think clearly.
If you overdid it or you simply want a peaceful place to be on Black Friday morning join us for Post Thanksgiving Kundalini Yoga.
 
We will practice:

• Pranayama to strengthen the nervous system and adjust digestion
• A Kundalini Yoga kriya to improve digestion, detoxify, and move the energy of the body and mind to stay light and vitalized
• A Meditation to express gratitude for all our experiences! 
•  REGISTER `

MAPLEWOOD MAN ARRESTED AT AIRPORT FOR LIQUOR THEFT

From NJ.com:

NEWARK — A Maplewood man was arrested today on charges he stole thousands of dollars worth of liquor from a restaurant at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Leon Jiles, 29, allegedly stole several bottles of liquor from the Caliente Cab Company, located in the airport’s Terminal C, on at least three occasions. 

He was most recently spotted leaving the restaurant with several bottles of liquor during the early morning hours of Oct. 24, Port Authority officials said, and detectives later determined he had committed the two previous thefts.

In all, the value of the liquor he stole was more than $3,000, according to police.

Authorities learned that Jiles had pending criminal charges in both Essex County Superior Court and Newark Municipal Court, where officers caught up to him on Tuesday.

He is charged with burglary, theft and criminal trespassing, and is being held on $35,000 bond.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE

THE THANKSGIVING GARBAGE RIP-OFF STRIKES AGAIN

So for those of us who have garbage pick-up on Mondays and Thursdays, which are many in Maplewood, today is more than a holiday.

It is another chance for both Waste Management and Waste Industries to rip us off.

On a day to be thankful, many of us are properly unthankful because we get to have one less day of garbage removal at a time when many of us create more garbage.

And we get to pay the exact same amount.

As you know if you have this dilemma, today's garbage, piling up since Monday, will not be picked up until, well, next Monday.

The garbage companies and the Township that contracts with them, could offer holiday pickup, or could require that it be picked up on the next day.

But, instead, they let you put out twice as much garbage on Monday. How nice.

You get to keep a week's worth of garbage around for raccoons and other animals to break into, and to overload your cans on Monday.

And during a week when many of us likely have more garbage because of the holidays, guests and larger meals, the rip-off is twice as much.

Perhaps the Township could stipulate in its contract with these firms that when holidays fall on garbage pickups, the garbage collector must pick them up anyway.

If not, we should get another garbage contract. And if the Township Committee is not willing to do this, perhaps get another Township Committee.

SPECIAL RENT PARTY TONIGHT

FERGUSON NON-INDICTMENT REMEMBERED AT CHS

Michael Brown

The protests out of Ferguson, Mo. this week in reaction to the local prosecutor's decision not to indict the police officer who shot and killed unarmed resident Michael Brown were not lost on those at Columbia High School.

First, Principal Elizabeth Aaron spoke out about the situation during Tuesday morning's announcements and urged students to remember Brown. (See her remarks below)

Then about 100 students reportedly staged a walkout in protest of the Ferguson non-indictment that went until third period and remained peaceful.

"Students seemed to put thought and care into organizing their actions," Aaron told Maplewoodian.com via email.

See Aaron's full morning address below:

Yesterday, a grand jury in the town of Ferguson, Missouri chose not to hand down an indictment against a police officer who shot and killed an unarmed teenager, Michael Brown, this summer.  
     
Mr. Brown was killed on August 9. The grand jury had been meeting since August 20 to determine whether the police officer, Darren Wilson, should be charged with a crime. In reaching their decision, the 12 citizens of the grand jury viewed photographs, forensic evidence, medical reports, heard the testimony of witnesses, and heard testimony from Mr. Wilson. 

While we were not present for those deliberations, and were not present in Ferguson on August 9, and cannot know what those present thought or felt, we do know what we feel and think today in response to the grand jury decision. That is different for each of us. 

The FBI and the Department of Justice are still conducting their own investigations of potential civil rights abuses and discrimination that may have played a role in the death of Mr. Brown. 

In 1963, Martin Luther King wrote a letter to clergy in Birmingham, Alabama while he was in jail as a result of his actions in the fight in that American city and nationwide for liberty, equality, and justice for everyone in America. 

He wrote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” 

Columbia, I humbly and sadly offer to you this morning that we are all affected by the events in Ferguson. I offer to you also that I think America is an imperfect place. On any given day, our nation’s politics and policies work really well — for some of us. And on other days, our politics, or policies, or economy, work against us, or some of us. America did not work for Michael Brown on August 9. And our nation is worse off for it. This is a painful and shameful fact. 

Today, I will stand and salute the American flag because I believe it is an affirmation of the nation I think can and should work for all of us. It is my job, and I will work with all of you, as a teacher, your principal, a citizen, and a scholar, to make America work better for you, all of my students. 

I invite you to join me. I say the Pledge of Allegiance this morning for Michael Brown.

WIN TICKETS TO SOPAC'S JAZZY NUTCRACKER

UPDATE: We have a winner!

We are proud to offer another ticket giveaway for the South Orange Performing Arts Center.

In keeping with the upcoming holiday spirit, we have two tickets to see Graham Lustig's A Jazzy Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 6. 

To win the pair of freebies to the 7 p.m. show that day, send your name and email to editor@maplewoodian.com. First email wins them.

Aside form being a fun holiday show, this performance includes some members of the Columbia High School marching band. Good luck!

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT

You know the storm is coming, but here is the official word from the National Weather Service:

Winter Storm Warning for Western Essex, NJ

Issued by The National Weather Service New York City, NY

Wed, Nov 26, 5:24 am EST

• ... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY...
• * LOCATIONS... INTERIOR PORTIONS OF THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY AND PORTIONS OF INTERIOR NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY.
• * HAZARD TYPES... HEAVY SNOW.
• * ACCUMULATIONS... SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 6 TO 12 INCHES... HIGHEST IN ORANGE COUNTY.
• * VISIBILITIES... ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.
• * TIMING... A MIXTURE OF RAIN AND SNOW THIS MORNING WILL CHANGE TO ALL SNOW BY EARLY AFTERNOON.
• * IMPACTS... THE SNOWFALL WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT HOLIDAY TRAVEL... MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS AT TIMES.
• PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
• A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

NJ TRANSIT CROSS-HONORING TODAY

From NJ Transit.com:

Travel Alerts Nov 26, 2014  05:31:53 AM  
NJ TRANSIT will offer full system-wide cross-honoring Today, Wednesday, November 26, due to the expected winter weather conditions.

LIBRARIES EARLY CLOSING TODAY

From the Maplewood Library today:

Day before Thanksgiving-Both libraries close at 1:00

ROBBERIES AND BURGLARIES MARK POLICE WEEK

From Maplewood Police today:

November 18, 2014; Burglary; At approximately 9:15 AM, a home on 44th St was entered and a cell phone stolen.
 
November 19, 2014; Robbery; Sometime between 8:30 and 9:45 PM an adult male was transferring items into his neighbor’s vehicle on Evelyn Court.  While doing so he was approached by two males that displayed what he believed might be a handgun.  The demanded his belongings and took the neighbor’s car as well as his wallet and cell phone.  The vehicle was recovered the following day in Newark.
 
November 21, 2014; Robbery; At approximately 4:30 PM, a juvenile walking on Rutgers St lent his phone to a male described as approximately 20 years old.  The male then placed the phone inside his pocket and began walking away.  The juvenile began following him until the male turned and threatened him.  The juvenile later responded to headquarters to report the incident.
 
November 23, 2014; Burglary; Between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM entry was forced to a home on Van Ness Ter.  A gaming system was reported stolen.
 
November 23, 2014; Theft of Purse; At approximately 7:15 AM, a two male grabbed a purse off of the shoulder of a female walking on Irvington Ave.  They then ran towards Irvington with the purse.  No contact was made with the victim and no injuries were sustained by the victim.