CHS FOOTBALL FACES FORMER HEAD COACH TONIGHT AT HOME

Former CHS Coach John Power returns tonight

Columbia High School football returns home after a two-week road trip to take on Morristown High School tonight at 7 p.m. at Underhill Sports Complex.

Aside from seeking to better there 1-2 record, the Cougars take on former coach John Power, who left CHS last year after two seasons to head the Morristown squad, which is 0-3.  

"Columbia High School is a special place," Power told Maplewoodian.com today about his return. "Coach Mobley and the boys are working hard. And they will be a highly successful program. I wish them the best." 

Columbia High School also reminded students this week of a policy barring backpacks from those attending CHS football games at Underhill.

Principal Elizabeth Aaron, who said it was put in place two years ago, mentioned the rules in her regular email to parents this week:

See that portion below:

On Friday night, please join us at Underhill Field for a home football game at 7 pm against Morristown. Students are not allowed to bring backpacks to the field. Be sure they leave all bags at home. In addition, please take a few minutes to remind your students that the same high expectations we have for students at school are fully in effect at our school events!

SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES NEW MMS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, BUT HE CAN'T START FOR TWO MONTHS

The Board of Education on Thursday night approved the hiring of a new assistant principal for Maplewood Middle School, Dion Patterson, but he is apparently unable to start work for two months.

That prompted the board to hire an interim assistant principal, former CHS administrator Mike Healy, to serve through Nov. 30, 2016, when Patterson will become available.

Patterson replaces departing assistant principal Marc Gold who left for another position in another district. Patterson will be paid $104,142, more than $10,000 above Gold's salary of $93,702.

In addition, the board approved paying Healy $400 per day during his interim time.

In a related move, the board approved promoting South Orange Middle School English teacher Melissa Butler to the post of interim supervisor of English Language through the end of the school year.

That means her classes at SOMS will be affected and will have to get a new teacher after less than a month.

VILLAGE LOT CLOSED AGAIN FOR SEWER LINE INSTALLATION

From Maplewood Police today:

Advisory: Lot 7 (rear of 170 Maplewood Ave) will be closed at 0600 on 9/30/2016 for parking from Baker St to the Fire lane. Plan accordingly.

SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT ISSUES SAFETY NOTICE

From Schools Superintendent John Ramos: 

To the South Orange Maplewood Community: 

While we are very relieved that there were no casualties at the Townville Elementary School in South Carolina yesterday, the incident provides an important reminder that we must all work together and be vigilant in protecting our school community. In light of this incident, I wanted to remind our community that the safety of our students and staff is always the highest priority for the South Orange Maplewood School District.
We coordinate our approach to school safety with the Police and Fire Departments of South Orange and Maplewood.  Security procedures are established for all of the schools, and each school has a crisis management team.  Over the past few years, we have further strengthened our existing program with additional security equipment, training, and protocols, and last year we added security guards at both middle schools. 
Here are some of the steps we are taking to keep our students and staff safe:

1. Screening visitors before admittance. We ask the community to contribute to the overall safety of our students and staff by only entering the school through the main entrance, answering all questions posed by the office staff prior to admittance, reporting directly to the office (Elementary Schools) or security guard (Secondary Schools) to sign in upon admittance.  We ask visitors to comply with all directions given by school personnel while in the building.   
2. Continuing emergency drills.  We conduct state-mandated emergency drills – both a fire drill, and a security drill – at each school every month.  Security drills include non-fire evacuations and lockdown situations. We practice a different security drill each month, repeating them as necessary, to ensure that each security drill is practiced at least twice a year and that students and staff know what to do to protect themselves in various situations.  After each safety drill, we closely monitor our students’ reactions, and we evaluate our procedures to seamlessly blend these exercises into our standard safety practices.
3. Strengthening partnerships with towns and law enforcement.  Over the past year, members of the Administration and the Board of Education have met periodically with elected leaders and the Police Chiefs from both towns to strategize on how to best keep our communities safe, to share plans, and to coordinate our efforts.
4. Continuing to upgrade and enhance security equipment.  Each year we review our security equipment and upgrade as necessary.  Recent upgrades have included additional security cameras throughout the District, lighting upgrades to increase security in isolated areas, and new security measures in individual classrooms, enhancing both preventive and responsive mechanisms.

If you witness a suspected breach of security or suspicious behavior, please immediately notify the office staff or school administration, and please send an additional notification via email to schoolsafety@somsd.k12.nj.us. 
We appreciate your continued partnership and assistance as we work as a community to protect the safety and well-being of our students and staff.
Sincerely,
Dr. John J. Ramos, Sr.
Superintendent

HOBOKEN TRAINS STILL SUSPENDED DUE TO CRASH

From NJ Transit:


All service into and out of Hoboken remains suspended. Hudson Bergen Light Rail service has resumed full service.
All New York City bound trains (Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, MidTOWN DIRECT), Raritan Valley and Atlantic City lines will operate on a normal weekday schedules.
Main, Bergen, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines will continue to operate on a modified weekend schedule originating/terminating in Secaucus.
There will be limited rail shuttle service on the Montclair-Boonton Line west of Montclair State University.
There will be rail shuttle service on the M&E between Hackettstown and Dover.
The Gladstone branch will have its two regularly scheduled MidTOWN DIRECT trains in addition to rail shuttles between Gladstone and Summit.
Customers may experience overcrowding and possible delays caused by congestion.

Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line and Midtown Direct trains are operating on or close to schedule in and out of NYPS with residual delays. M&E Line train #6318 the 8:00am from Maplewood will make addtl' stops at Mountain, Highland Ave, Orange, E. Orange and Broad St., due to a train accident at HOB

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT TO APPROVE NEW HIRES

Reminder, the Board of Education meets in a special session tonight at 8:15 p.m. at the board offices, 525 Academy St.

The agenda, found HERE, indicates they will approve a confidential settlement agreement with a student, but no details are available.

In addition, the district will approve the hiring of a new interim supervisor of English Language Arts, Melissa Butler, and a new Maplewood Middle School assistant principal, Dion Patterson. 

Both replace staffers who resigned.

Butler is an English instructor at South Orange Middle School, while Patterson comes from the Piscataway Public Schools. See background on him at his LinkedIn page HERE.

HOBOKEN TRAIN CRASH SHUTS DOWN NJ TRANSIT SERVICE THERE

From NJ Transit:

Sep 29, 2016  09:22:33 AM All PATH service at Hoboken station is suspended.
Sep 29, 2016  09:14:17 AM Rail service is suspended in & out of Hoboken due to a train accident at Hoboken station. NJT bus and private carriers are honoring NJT rail tickets and passes.

Initial reports state it was NJ Transit Train 1614, which is on the Pascack Valley Line and does not come through Maplewood.

We will offer more details as they become available.

POLICE: AVOID CHS INTERSECTION DURING SCHOOL ENTRY

From Maplewood Police today:

Motorists avoid the intersection of Parker Ave and Prospect St between 7:45 and 8:00 due to high volume of traffic due to CHS entry

SCHOOL DISTRICT ENROLLMENT UP MORE THAN 100 THIS YEAR

Enrollment in the South Orange Maplewood School District has increased by more than 100 students this year, and by nearly 400 students since 2011-2012, according to data released this week.

Such enrollment increases are a concern given recent reports from the district of overcrowding in some upper grade classes and the recent cutback of 11 teachers, including nine at Columbia High School.

Data, seen below, released by the district indicates enrollment has jumped from 6,871 students in 2015-2016 to 6,972 for 2016-2017, a rise of 101. And that marks an increase of 381 since 2011-2012.

"There has been ongoing discussion at board meetings about both the budgetary impact of our growing enrollment and the need for the capacity assessment and planning work that we are currently undertaking," Board President Elizabeth Baker said via email when asked about the rising numbers.

LIBRARY TODAY: ESOL TO PRE-SCHOOL STORYTIME

ESOL Class Registration

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Register for ESOL classes.  Fee: $25
Classes and Conversation Groupto be held Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 am – 12 pm starting October 4 at the Hilton Branch.  Sponsored by Literacy Volunteers of American, Essex & Passaic Counties and the Hilton Branch.
For more information please call 973-566-6200 ext 217

Preschool Storytime

11:00 am – 11:30 am

Main Library * Ages 2 1/2 – 5 * Drop In

Create Space – Maplewood Library’s Makerspace is Open!

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Every Tuesday 5:00-8:00 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…

FORMER SCHOOLS CHIEF IS BACK, SORT OF

You may think you've seen the last of former Schools Superintendent James Memoli. But you haven't

The long-time SOMA district administrator, who served as interim superintendent in 2014-2015, retired a year ago when John Ramos was hired as superintendent.

But he's back.

Not as an administrator. He will be among the substitute Spanish teachers used in the district this coming year, according to Business Administrator Paul Roth.

So dar una buena acogida Senor Memoli!

"VICIOUS" PIT BULL ATTACK ENDED WITH DOGS DESTROYED

A pit bull attack last month that sent two women to the hospital with injuries suffered in a vicious, frightening attack on Tuscan Street ended recently when the last of the four dogs in the incident was destroyed.

The attack occurred on Aug. 11, according to a police report, which also painted a scary picture of three dogs who were "barking at and attempting to viciously bite at the legs" of one woman, while one victim was "bleeding profusely from multiple puncture wounds."

One victim was also described as being "pinned to the ground" by the attack.

Read the official descriptive account from the report HERE.

Township Health Officer Robert Roe said the dogs were picked up by animal control staff the same day and later destroyed with the permission of the owners.

He said the owner of the dogs had four pit bulls, but three were involved in the attack. Roe said one of the problems was the dogs were in a backyard with poor fencing and they were able to escape.

"He immediately agreed to have three of them euthanized and (later) agreed to have the fourth euthanized," Roe said. "I want to give him credit for making the responsible choice, hopefully the public is protected now."

He said the victims were hospitalized, but expected to fully recover. Roe said he filed a municipal complaint against the owners for having a vicious dog, but it was dropped when the owner agreed to have the fourth one put down two weeks ago.

Police did not reveal the incident in the regular weekly blotters at the time. Asked why, Police Chief Robert Cimino said via email, "I'm not aware of the specific reason it was not listed, but not every incident occurring in Maplewood is listed for every reporting period."

FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATION GREAT DEBATE AT LIBRARY TODAY

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

 

This fall, Maplewood Library will be hosting Great Decisions, America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. Participants read the materials provided and meet to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today. There will be 8 discussion meetings on Wednesday mornings from September 14 to November 9. Participants are expected to attend all sessions. Discussion Program materials will be provided by the library. Open to all. 
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Participants need to make a serious commitment to reading the material provided as well as the supplementary articles available online. 

Today: The Future of Kurdistan
October 5: International Migration
October 19: Korean Choices
October 26: The United Nations Post-2015
November 2: Climate Geopolitics
November 9: Cuba and the U.S.
Space is limited. To register, please email dakaslow@comcast.net
For more information go to www.fpa.org/great_decisions/

ARTURO'S CHS FIELD HOCKEY FUNDRAISER TONIGHT

Head to Arturo's in Maplewood Village tonight, mention Columbia High School field hockey and a portion of the bill will be donated to the team.

See the great menu HERE.

SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY

The Board of Education has called a special meeting for this coming Thursday, Sept. 29, at 8:15 p.m.

No email notice was given, although there is a notice on the district website.

See the agenda HERE.

It states only that the meeting is to discuss:

Confidential Settlement and General Release Std. ID#17445

Personnel  Fiscal

Personnel Substitute

The district did not immediately respond to a request for more explanation on what will be reviewed and why it could not wait until the next regular meeting on Oct. 17, 2016.

And, of course, there will be a public comment portion as always where residents can ask questions, offer their opinions, or even a pat on the back. Remember, they work for you!

THREE BURGLARIES NEAR COLLEGE HILL AND A STOLEN CAR MARK POLICE WEEK

From Maplewood Police today:

September 19, 2016; Burglary; At approximately 1:30 PM, officers responded to an alarm activation of a home on Harvard Ave.  Upon their arrival, they found that the home had been forcibly entered and jewelry was reportedly stolen. 

September 19, 2016; Burglary; Between 2:45PM and 3:30 PM a home on Oberlin St was entered.  At the time of the report it was unknown what was taken.

September 19, 2016; Burglary; During the daytime hours, a home on Girard Pl was forcibly entered.  Electronics and jewelry were reported stolen from the home. 

September 22, 2016; Motor Vehicle Theft; During the overnight hours a Mazda parked on Baldwin Rd was stolen.  The vehicle was recovered in Newark.

VILLAGE LOT NOW OPEN

From Maplewood Police:

Advisory: Lot 7 construction has been cancelled and Lot 7 will be open for parking today.

MORE CHS STUDENTS TAKING AP COURSES

Columbia High School students are taking Advance Placement, or AP, courses and exams at the highest levels in eight years, according to data released this month by the school district.

Business Administrator Paul Roth revealed the increase in AP activity at the Sept. 19 school board meeting.

The data states that 30% of CHS students took one or more AP courses in the 2015-2016 school year, a five percent increase over the previous year and the highest since 2008-2009 when just 23% took such courses.

He also indicated 24% of CHS students took one or more AP exams, the highest dating back to 2009-2010 when it was 18%. Also revealed was that 800 written AP exams were taken at CHS last year, the highest ever dating back to 2008-2009 when it was only 713. 

See the data charts HERE.

VILLAGE LOT CLOSED AGAIN TODAY FOR SEWER LINE INSTALLATION

From Maplewood Police:

Today, Lot 7 (rear of 170 Maplewood Ave.) will be closed for parking due to construction. Plan parking and travel accordingly.

BIG LIBRARY DAY: FROM BABY LIT TO BANNED BOOKS

Banned Books Week Sept 25 – Oct 1

12:00 am

Daily Trivia Questions–Come to the Main Library Teen Zone between 3:30-5:00 pm–answer the trivia question correctly and win a prize!

Baby Lit

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Main Library * Ages Birth – 2 1/2 * Drop In

Create Space – Maplewood Library’s Makerspace is Open!

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Every Tuesday 5:00-8:00 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…

Digital Device Clinic

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Get free one-on-one support for using your e-reader, tablet, smartphone, or other electronic device.  The clinics will take place during the Create Space drop-in hours. Open to adults, teens and children. 

Hilton Pajama Storytime

7:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Hilton Branch * All ages * Drop In
Come to Hilton – in your pajamas if you’d like – and hear some stories. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

FARMER'S MARKET TODAY

The Farmer's Market is on today at Indiana Street and Springfield Avenue from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Stop by for some goodies and fresh produce.

ENGINEER: CHS POOL COULD HAVE COLLAPSED, AND CAUSED HEALTH ISSUES

The Columbia High School pool was in danger of collapse that could have caused a severe flooding of the immediate area, according to the engineer who recently conducted a structural review of the facility that prompted district officials to immediately close it down. 

The report also indicates there were potential "health issues" because the ventilation system within the pool is no longer operational.

Thomas Andrasz, senior vice president of EI Associates of Cedar Knolls, authored the report that was issued to the district on Sept. 9, prompting the closing of the pool soon after.

The school board had approved the study, at a cost of $24,000, following previous concerns about the pool's future stability after it was found there were leaks in some areas.

"There is no way of predicting when there would be a collapse," Andrasz told Maplewoodian.com. "I think we were all surprised by the findings ... The core findings found the strength to be significantly less than we would specify today."

He later added, "reinforced steel under the pool and within the concrete is badly corroded."

The pool, built in 1928, is not in-ground, Andrasz said. It actually sits over a tunnel area that connects to basement storage areas and other spaces.

"Even if there wasn't anyone in the pool, there would have been an extensive amount of water released," he said. "The lower level mechanical space, the boiler room, would have had a significant amount of damage just from the water."

A copy of the report obtained by Maplewoodian.com indicates the structure is "inadequate" and suggests that the walls and pool deck "undergo major structural reinforcement or reconstruction."

It also found a potential health concern, stating, "The mechanical ventilation system within the pool natatorium is no longer operational. Lack of ventilation presents a health issue for the users. Lack of a functional ventilation system also causes an increase in humidity levels within the pool space, build up of airborne chlorides from the pool chemicals as well as additional condensation."

See portions of the report and images showing the corrosion and leakage HERE.

SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT ON JEFFESON AVE., NO INJURIES

... Scanner indicates a bus accident near the railroad trestle on Jefferson Avenue, no injuries and students released to parents ... No indication which school or students involved ... 

MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE LOT CLOSURE TODAY

From Maplewood Police:

On Monday, September 26th at 0600 hours, Lot 7(rear of 170 Maplewood Ave.) will be closed due to construction until further notice. Prepare to seek alternate parking especially during commuter hours

AUTUMN LEAVES SENIOR PARTY TODAY AT LES SAISONS

REPUBLICAN TC CANDIDATE: I WON'T VOTE FOR TRUMP

Mike Summersgill

Republican Township Committee Candidate Mike Summersgill says he does not support Donald Trump and will not vote for him in November.

"I don't support Donald Trump," Summersgill told Maplewoodian.com in an interview this week. "I didn't vote for him (in the primary) and I knew it was largely symbolic as many Republicans in Maplewood did."

Summersgill, who is facing Democrat Frank McGehee in the Nov. 8 election, made the comments during a lengthy podcast interview with Maplewoodian.com, which will be posted in early October. 

Donald Trump

"A lot of my concern around Donald Trump is I don't think he's qualified," Summersgill added. "He's done nothing to surround himself with good people to give him, A, good advice, or insight."

The question of Summersgill's view of Trump, as a Republican himself, has come up in the campaign as people have asked him if he will support the real estate mogul, whose record of lies, offensive comments and racist views has driven many Republicans away.

"I can't support someone that doesn't recognize they need the advice of people that know what they're talking about, and that could be on any issue," Summersgill said, later adding, "I don't want to see how that manifests itself with someone in the highest position in our country."

He also said, "I'm worried what the future holds and I would like to see us work past partisanship to compromise ... I can't really see at this point Trump changing enough to get my vote."

Asked if this means he will vote for Hillary Clinton, Summersgill said he had not made up his mind, but made clear it would not be Trump. 

"I really am taking a look at (Green Party nominee) Jill Stein, as well as the Libertarian candidate (Gary Johnson)," Summersgill said. "There's been some things around Hillary Clinton that have resonated with me that I wasn't aware of. Her start in politics, her service of children and as a lawyer, what she was advocating for. "

But, he said, "I don't find her likeable, which I think is the same as many people in the country. And then it's a matter of well, do you have to like a person for them to do a good job? The answer to that question is no. But it doesn't make it easier to pull the lever for them come November."

ART WALK AND MUSIC FEST TODAY

10 OPEN HOUSES TODAY

Find your next home or just see what the market is offering.

Full list HERE.

CHS FOOTBALL LOSES A TOUGH ONE

Columbia High School's football team lost a tough one in West Orange Friday night, 36-7.

See the stats HERE. 

But they come back home next week against Morristown at Underhill Field.

SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT'S AWKWARD ADMONITION

School Board President Elizabeth Baker on Monday was put in the awkward position of telling a group of residents who addressed the board that their comments could not be considered.

More than a dozen Columbia High School baseball players, past and present, and several parents, showed up in force to counter claims of harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) against CHS baseball coaches Joe Fischetti and Matthew Becht.

The district recently chose not to reappoint them for the 2017 season, posting a job opening for a new coach. The parents and students -- many of them in the CHS Baseball Boosters -- spoke out on their opposition to this decision and provided what they claimed were documents proving the dismissal of the coaches was unfair.

But before the attendees spoke during public comment, Baker told them that their comments could not be considered in the case of alleged bullying by the coaches because testimony in those cases had already been heard in the formal hearing process. 

"The district undertook an HIB investigation regarding the allegations in the baseball program and we hired an outside investigator," Baker told the crowd. "That investigation took place over several months, a report was issued to the superintendent and the superintendent has made findings.

"The board in accordance with the HIB procedure has considered those findings and took action. We cannot tell you what the allegations are, we cannot tell you who those parties are, we cannot tell you what the findings were."

"Numerous parties have requested appeals hearings, those appeals hearings were underway in our executive session, they're pending. the board is in a period of deliberation."

She said a decision would occur next month.

"Even when there is a decision, there are many details we cannot share with you," Baker explained. "That is the law and we have to follow it.

"Because we are in a period of deliberation and there have been actual hearings, any statements that are made tonight that you wish us to consider in the course of those hearings are not properly considered. They're not properly before the board. The parties to the proceedings have been able to present their evidence and testimony to the board. If they wanted to present witnesses they had the opportunity to do so."

"So while I understand there are many speakers here and I'm sure many people of goodwill who wish to be heard, your statement cannot properly be considered in the HIB hearing. It does not mean you won't have the right to speak, but we want everyone to understand the context for these statements and the process."

Later in the meeting, when one of the speakers, former CHS baseball player Steve Tomayo, a 2010 graduate, accused those who have criticized the coaches of making up the story, Baker had to step in again.

"When kids don't get what they want they will twist and turn every story to make it sounds like they deserve something," Tomayo said. "They will make up fake stories of bullying and drag a case on for more than a year.

Baker interrupted and stated: "I just want to advise you that the bylaws require that we speak in a respectful manner and that we don't violate students rights. I am warning you that I think your statement is treading that very fine line."

After he finished, she added, "I want to remind each and every member of this audience that we are a community that has to engage in a dialogue that is based on respect, even if we disagree, we may not engage in name-calling or accusations just because we disagree with a position that someone has taken."

TOWNSHIP FLU CLINIC TODAY

The Township is holding a flu clinic today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Town Hall.

And under new legislation passed this week, shots are free for Maplewood seniors and anyone on Medicare or Medicaid. $20 for everyone else. Adults only.

CHS FOOTBALL HEADS TO WEST ORANGE TONIGHT

The Columbia High School football team, fresh off their first victory of the year last week against East Orange, travels to West Orange for their next game tonight at 7 p.m.

West Orange High School's field is at 51 Conforti Ave., with a parking entrance on Pleasant Valley Way.

Head out and root them on!

TC CANDIDATES DEBATE TAXES, DEVELOPMENT AND SAFETY AT FIRST FORUM

The two candidates for Township Committee squared off in their first candidates forum Thursday night at the Hilton Neighborhood Association meeting at De Hart Community Center.

The challengers are running for the seat previously held by Marlon Brownlee, who resigned last month. His seat is now held by former Committeeman Ian Grodman, who was appointed to serve out Brownlee's term last week.

Republican Mike Summersgill and Democrat Frank McGehee discussed pedestrian safety, development, senior needs, library expansion, revaluation and property maintenance.

One area on which they disagreed was residential development, which McGehee supported with limits, but Summersgill was cautious about. 

McGehee promoted a tax-incentive program where residents would get a tax break for using local businesses, which Summersgill called a "terrible program," citing the loss of revenue.

Asked about the one issue they would like to see addressed, Summersgill said to complete the recent idea raised by TC member India Larrier of providing free feminine napkins in public women's restrooms, while McGehee cited the Township's sustainability goals, which improve environmentally friendly procedures.

See their opening statements below and the entire debate, courtesy of SOMA TV, below that:

TOWNSHIP CONSIDERING OUTDOOR CAFE ENCLOSURES FOR MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE

Enclosures like this are being considered for Maplewood Village

The Township is considering allowing businesses in Maplewood Village to construct outdoor enclosures to protect the tables and chairs used in outdoor cafes during winter months.

The Township Committee on Tuesday had a lengthy discussion on the matter and directed Deputy Mayor Nancy Adams to seek more information from the Maplewood Village Alliance, which is requesting the approval.

Initially, the idea was to allow such structures between November 1 and March 31, but require them to maintain the same four-foot walkway from the related curb.  

Currently the Township allows enclosures for doorways in the winter months, but these structures would be more expansive. 

Some TC members raised concerns about having them up as permanent structures for those few months, which could create a hazard in bad weather. Currently, all sidewalk cafes must be cleared each night and cannot be left out overnight. 

See the discussion below:

CHS STUDENT HIT IN 7-11 LOT

 From Maplewood Police:

On 9/21/16 at approximately 12:10 PM responded to 7-11 on Valley St for a reported pedestrian struck.  Upon the officer’s arrival, they discovered that a 15 year old female was struck in front of the building.  A 19 year old female was parking her vehicle in the parking space in front of the building when the vehicle lunged forward, striking the 15 year old that was walking in between the parking spaces and the building.  The vehicle struck and pushed the 15 year old to the side and then struck the building coming to a rest, The 15 year old victim had a complaint of pain to the leg and was transports to the hospital for evaluation.

From Maplewood Fire:

We were dispatched to a report of a person struck at Valley St. and Parker Ave. Upon arrival, firefighters found a person struck by a vehicle that had been pulling into the parking lot and then struck the building. Medical care was rendered and the person was transported to Saint Barnabas Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.