WHAT'S IN A SCHOOL BOARD MAIL AD? AND DOES IT WORK?

With the school board election just three days away, the ads from the nine candidates up for the three seats on the board are flooding mailboxes.

We wanted to take a look at the ads and see how they are seeking your votes, and if it works.

We received big mailers from each of the three slates running, with two copies of the same one from the Wayne Eastman, Madhu Pai, Peggy Freedson team.

See theirs, front and back, below:

It takes advantage of the incumbency of Eastman and Pai, noting their "Board of Ed experience," and differentiating them from other candidates on issues of a school tax limit and open leveling. They also tout the recently approved "access and equity policy."

But declaring "A New Vision for South Orange Maplewood Schools" may be tough given two of them are incumbents.

For Marian Raab, Elissa Malespina and Shannel Roberts, pointing out where they are on the ballot is an effort to make sure voters can find them on the lengthy voting line, and shows they are not in the same location due to a random drawing of name placement by the county clerk.

On the other side, a personalized note to voters seeks a one-on-one messaging effort. 

Then there is the team of Chris Sabin and Annemarie Maini, who sent out the largest of the mailers and included a lengthy list of supporters, a move aimed at seeking support from you because someone you may know supports them. 

The ad's other side declares a need to "make a good district great" and "restore trust," a clear shot at incumbents and pointing to the concerns many have had with the board in recent years.

We have not received any mailers from challenger Dorcas Lind.

CHS FOOTBALL TAKES ON LIVINGSTON AT HOME TODAY

After two tough road games, Columbia High School football returns home to Lynn Profeta Field at 1 p.m. today.

The 3-4 Cougars take on Livingston in a big home game.

And, of course, its Halloween so dress up and give the visitors a scare! 

ALLEGED ROAD RAGE ASSAULT VICTIM SPEAKS OUT

We reported earlier this week on the alleged road rage assault on Prospect Street near Hilton Avenue that police said did not result in charges against anyone.

Now one of those involved, Elle Barnett, has told WCBS-TV about the incident in which she clams she was assaulted.

See it below:

SCENES FROM MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARTY

Halloween in the Village!

 

LOTS OF SELF-FUNDING IN SCHOOL BOARD RACE

While all of the school board candidates financial disclosure statements have not been filed, and are not all required until after Election Day, those that have been submitted offer some insight into what the campaigns are spending and where the money is coming from.

The team of Marian Raab, Elissa Malespina and Shannel Roberts have raised at least $2,845, with $1,500 of that from the New Jersey Education Association, the state-level umbrella group for the South Orange Maplewood Education Association, which endorsed the trio.

Raab also contributed $600 of her own money, while Malespina donated $1,300. 

Meanwhile, the duo of Chris Sabin and Annemarie Maini have raised at least $3,802, with most of that -- $3,302 -- coming from Maini herself.

For incumbents Wayne Eastman and Madhu Pai, and their running mate, challenger Margaret "Peggy" Freedson, total contributions have reached $4,390, with $3021.06 already spent.

Among the contributors to Pai, Eastman and Freedson is fellow board member Donna Smith, who donated $500. Eastman and Freedson have each also contributed $500 to their joint campaign committee.

Candidate Dorcas Lind has not filed any financial disclosure forms.

VIDEO: TREE DOWN ON PROSPECT, POWERLINE FIRE, BLOCKED ROAD

We first reported this morning on the tree that fell on Prospect Street near Sommer Avenue, knocking down a power line, sparking a fire and forcing some portions of the street to be closed.

Here is video of the scene and one witness's account:

LARGE TREE FALL KNOCKS DOWN POWER LINE, SPARKS FIRE AND ROAD CLOSURE

A large tree was uprooted and fell across Prospect Street near Sommer Avenue, ripping down a power line that caught fire and trapping two cars briefly, according to witnesses. The power lines were on fire and the incident forced the closure of Prospect between Bowdoin Street and Harvard Avenue as PSE&G crews worked on the situation.

One witness reported hearing what sounded like a truck rumbling down the street and said lights flickered in her home when the tree fell at around 9:46 a.m. Power was out for much of the area for about 45 minutes, including a stretch of Springfield Avenue in which traffic signals were out for that time.

We will report more details and post video soon. 

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE SURVEY EXTENDED

The Nov. 3 school board election is only a few days away and if you have not taken our online survey, please do.

We are extending it through Saturday night so take it HERE.

It is free and anonymous. Just click on and choose the three candidates for whom you plan to cast your ballot.

See our questionnaires from each candidate HERE before you vote online.

Results on Sunday. Thanks!

MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARTY TODAY

From the Chamber of Commerce:

Today
3:00pm - 5 p.m.
Maplewood Village http://maplewoodchamber.org
The Annual Halloween Costume Contest sponsored by the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce and Maplewood Village Alliance will be held in Maplewood Village, from Baker St to Durand Rd. 

There will be entertainment, costume judging, trick or treating. 

Special thanks to the Village Merchants for their support.

ANOTHER SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES NIGHT TONIGHT

One more chance to hear from the school board candidates tonight at 8 p.m. as the Upper Wyoming Neighborhood Association hosts them.

The event is at 472 Mayhew Court, South Orange.

VISIT LICKT'S NEW GELATO SHOP TODAY

If you haven't checked out the new Lickt gelato shop at 411 Ridgewood Road, today's the day.

The shop, which serves the great frozen treats you've seen at Maplewoodstock and other events, is on a soft opening, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. each Thursday, at least for now.

Stop by and check them out.

SCHOOL DISTRICT ISSUES ALERT ON RECALLED INJECTION PENS

From the school district today:
     

It has come to the district’s attention this morning that Sanofi US is voluntarily recalling all Auvi‑Q® (epinephrine injection, USP). The recall involves all Auvi‑Q currently on the market and includes both the 0.15 mg and 0.3 mg strengths for hospitals, retailers and consumers. This includes lot number 2299596 through 3037230, which expire March 2016 through December 2016. The products have been found to potentially have inaccurate dosage delivery.

The School District carries 2 Mylan EpiPen 2-Pax in stock at each school. We do not carry Auvi-Q. However, we are aware that many families have sent in Auvi-Q EpiPens, and we advise that parents/guardians contact their health care provider for further directions regarding the recall.  Detailed recall information is included in this memo.

Dr. Reginald Coleman
School District Physician

MAPLEWOOD ASSEMBLY MEMBERS JASEY, MCKEON IN TOUGH BATTLE

Jasey and McKeon

It was a Democratic Party lovefest at The Woodland on Wednesday night as Township Committee candidates Greg Lembrich and Nancy Adams, who are considered a lock to win the two open seats on the TC, joined other Democrats seeking to keep higher offices.  

And it's the higher offices that may be in trouble

Assemblymembers Mila Jasey and John McKeon, Democrats in the 27th District who have held their posts since 2007 and 2001 respectively, are facing a real challenge from the Republican party candidates.

With the 27th District, which includes Maplewood, having expanded after the 2010 census to include parts of Morris County, the GOP support is much bigger.

And their Republican opponents, Tayfun Selen of Chatham and Wonkyu "Q" Rim of Whppany, are making a major push.

So much so that at last night's event, Jasey and Lembrich urged residents to make sure to vote and urged others to stave off the GOP challenge:

 

Along with Adams and Lembrich, attendees supporting Jasey/McKeon at the event included Mayor Vic De Luca, former mayor Fred Profeta, South Orange Village President Sheena Collum, and Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin, a former Maplewood resident and Columbia High School graduate.

Republican Wonkyu "Q" Rim

And the race has heated up Jasey and McKeon campaigning, even in Maplewood, a Democratic stronghold where more signs than usual are out for them.

A look at campaign contributions and spending indicates McKeon and Jasey have a real fight on their hands as the state Republican Party has dumped thousands of dollars into the Selen and Rim campaigns.

Recent campaign disclosure documents reveal Rim has raised more than $146,000, with $15,000 of that from state GOP party funds. Selen, meanwhile, has raised about $61,000, with about $15,000 from similar Republican party coffers.

Republican Tayfun Selen

Jasey has an ample campaign warchest of her own, disclosing she has raised just over $137,000, with several prominent Maplewoodians among her contributors. Those include Profeta and School Board Member Beth Daugherty, who each gave $1,000.

The New Jersey State Democratic Committee also kicked in more than $16,000 to Jasey, along with two major political action committees representing the New Jersey Education Association and New Jersey Laborers, who gave her $8,200 each.

For McKeon, the campaign funds are larger, with more than $187,000 raised. The same NJEA and Labor's PACs also donated to McKeon, with $8,200 and $5,000 respectively, as did the state Policeman's Benevolent Association, who donated $1,000.

He also received more than $16,000 from the state Democratic Party.

SCHOOL DISTRICT VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM DOWN, BUT NOT EVERYWHERE

Incidents of violence and vandalism at South Orange Maplewood Schools are down this past year from the previous year, according to a report issued last week by the district.

Statistics (below) reveal there were 216 reports of violence, vandalism and related offenses at the district's schools, down from 244 the previous year. 

But the number is still among the highest in the past 10 years, according to stats that indicate there were only 150 incidents in 2012-2013, 180 in 2011-2012 and just 93 in 2010-2011.

The numbers are somewhat inflated as incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) were not reported until 2012-2013.

While violence incidents were down this past year, from 105 to 95, and vandalism was almost cut in half, from 67 to 34, weapons and substance abuse incidents were up.

See the stats below:

On a school-by-school basis, Columbia High School had the most incidents with 90, followed by Maplewood Middle School at 53.

Seth Boyden had the most incidents among elementary schools with 28, and 26 of those from violence. Seth Boyden even topped South Orange Middle School, which had 25 total incidents.

Clinton School was next with 12, while all of the other elementary schools had five incidents or less each.

See those stats below:

LOTS OF LIBRARY: FROM CREATIVE TEENS TO IMMIGRATION

TEENS CREATE: Squishy Circuit Battery

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Hilton Branch Create Space * Grades 6 and up * Registration Required
Make a battery out of playdough, nails and copper wire. Experiment with a voltage meter and LEDs to test your battery.
Register at: http://squishycircuitbattery.eventbrite.com

The Day of the Dead Celebration

4:00 pm – 4:45 pm

Hilton branch * Ages 5 – 12 * Drop In
Learn about the Mexican Celebration The Day of the Dead. Hear a story, make a craft, see a movie, have a snack. A different take on Halloween!

Create Space – Maplewood Library’s Makerspace is Open!

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Every Tuesday 6:00-8:00 pm, Thursday 5:00-8:00 pm, and Saturday 10-1 pm.   Patrons can use Rhino 3D software to build a model, print an object on our 3D printer or use our new color printer or laminator.  There are also Snap Circuits, Squishy Circuits, littleBits and SparkFun kits for the kids. Raspberry Pi single board computers are also available to learn more about computer science.  More information about the Create Space…

Hilton Immigration Seminar

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Immigration attorney Cesar Martin Estela will talk about family-based immigration petitions, including permanent residency requirements, DREAM ACT, temporary protected status, and refugee and asylum status. The attorney is fluent in Spanish, and a French-Creole translator will also be present.
This workshop is presented by Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, which provides free legal services to New Jersey’s underserved residents.

EDUCATION SUMMIT TOPICS RELEASED: FROM DISCIPLINE TO PROFILING BLACK STUDENTS

The school district recently announced an Education Summit set for the evening of November 10 at Columbia High School.

Here is the list of topics to be addressed in the different forums:

Education Summit Topics

Creating a District Culture of Respect, High Expectations, Support and Innovation

Please note:  There will only be time to participate in ONE topic during the evening of the Education Summit.  There will be time for general discussion at the very end, and multiple opportunities to discuss all topics in the 30 days after the Summit.

•        Access & Equity / Academic placement

•        Achievement Gap 

•        CHS – Fostering a Culture of Respect and High Expectations (Issues may include:  Access and Equity/Choice, Setting all students up for success, Discipline, Increasing the Graduation Rate, Supporting students in post-CHS studies)

•        CHS – Reimagining the High School Experience (Issues may include: School start times/school hours, Rethinking homework, Alternative paths, Career Prep)

•        Creating Innovators

•        Cultural Competency

•        Deep Engagement and Exhilarating Experiences of the Whole Student in Their Learning (Issues may include fields of study such as STEM, Arts education, Humanities and Social Justice; and also may include 21^st Century Learning approaches such as Interdisciplinary connections, Curriculum alignment, Writing across the curriculum, Project-based learning, and regular updates to ensure relevance)

•        Discipline (Issues may include: Restorative Practices, School Culture)

•        Extended School Day/After School Activities

•        Family/School Connections

•        Gifted and Talented Strategies

•        Life Skills and Healthy Choices (Issues may include: Developing Leadership, Organizational Skills, Planning for the future, and Drug-free schools)

•        Meeting the Needs of ALL Learners – Struggling, Middle, and Advanced (Issues may include: Supports for academically struggling, middle of the road, and advanced students; from preschool – post-CHS; Boys’ Development)

•        Profiling Black Students

•        Redistricting/School Pairings

•        Refreshing Our Buildings to be Relevant for Today’s Learners (Issues may include Capital Improvement Plan, Facilities)

•        Reimagining Public Education (Issues may include: Blow up the plan, Role of homework, Personalized learning plans)

•        Reimagining Seth Boyden

•        Resources (Issues may include: How do we offer more with less?  Maximizing dollars without sacrificing quality, State funding, Partnering with outside organizations, Class size)

•        School Safety (Issues may include SROs/security guards)

•        Social/Emotional Learning

•        Special Education (Issues may include:  Communications, Administration of Services, Curriculum

Access, Elementary School Services, Secondary School Services)  

•        Supporting Excellent Teaching/Professional Development

NO ARRESTS IN MOTORIST-PEDESTRIAN ASSAULT, BUT BOTH SIDES ADVISED

From Maplewood Police today: