A lengthy report this past week showed images of the village, including interviews with customer reps at Maplewood Stationers and Words bookstore.
Check it out below:
Sunday, April 30, 2017
CBS NEWS FOCUSES ON MAPLEWOOD FOR OLD-FASHIONED RETAIL IN AN AUTOMATED TIME
A lengthy report this past week showed images of the village, including interviews with customer reps at Maplewood Stationers and Words bookstore.
Check it out below:
DAFIS & DELUCA SIGNS ARE OUT, SUMMERSGILL GOES VIRTUAL ONLY AGAIN
You recall they were endorsed by the Maplewood Democratic Committee and are the only Democratic candidates on the ballot for the June primary. Deluca is seeking re-election to his seat, while Dafis is vying for the seat currently held by India Larrier, who chose not to run again.
He said via email:
No plans for lawn signs. We will be doing virtual lawn signs
again and hope to build on the $2500 we raised for charity last year.
The YMCA and Girls Helping Girls Period benefited from $500
donations. The CHS Cougar Boosters received $1500.
I think putting out lawn signs for an uncontested primary is
gratuitous.
Summersgill lost a previous bid for the Township Committee in 2016 against Frank McGehee.
17 OPEN HOUSES TODAY
Full list HERE.
Saturday, April 29, 2017
LOS LOBOS TO HEADLINE MAPLEWOODSTOCK 2017
Maplewood, NJ: The 14th Annual Maplewoodstock Music and Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, July 8, and Sunday, July 9, 2017, from noon until 10:00 pm each day. This free, two-day, live music and arts event will be held at Memorial Park, Maplewood, NJ, (160 Dunnell Rd, Maplewood, NJ, 07040 -- directly opposite Maplewood’s NJ Transit train station).
Saturday's Headliner is the legendary Los Lobos. Los Lobos’s dynamic songwriting, deeply poetic lyrics, thoughtful romantic and spiritual themes, and eclectic style are a uniquely American, in the rich literary tradition of legendary authors John Steinbeck and William Faulkner. Over 30 years after Los Lobos’ major label breakthrough How Will The Wolf Survive? -- their 1984 album that ranks #30 on Rolling Stones list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s – the band is surviving quite well and still jamming with the same raw intensity as they had when they began in that East L.A. garage in 1973.
Sunday's show will feature The Hip Abduction and then close with Headline Act Ruthie Foster. Ruthie Foster (based in Austin, TX) has described her live shows as “hallelujah time” and a mix of as “some blues, some folk, some soul, some rock, some gospel.”
A total of 24 bands will perform over the two-day festival. In addition to the music, there will be local arts and craft vendors, who bring unique offerings of handcrafted goods. It’s rare find of arts and crafts amid such a diverse musical program. In addition to the music and arts vendors, the Maplewoodstock festival will offer a food court – a cornucopia of options for the whole family from chicken fingers and tacos to lobster rolls and gluten free cupcakes -- a beer garden for kid-dodging parents, and a large KidZone with games, inflatable rides, crafts, and more for our youngest attendees and their minders.
“Our goal is to put on the best possible free music and art festival that we can – one with deep roots in the Maplewood community,” says Maplewoodstock Chairperson Drew Dix. “We love seeing old friends and neighbors – and new friends! – relaxing on their blankets and lawn chairs, enjoying their picnic baskets, and packing the hillside park for a family-friendly weekend of music, art, food, and the best of the Maplewood community.”
A full line-up of band bios, directions, and real-time updates can be found on the maplewoodstock.com website. EDITORS: More details can be found at www.maplewoodstock.com.
SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR SEARCH CONTINUES, JOB CHANGED SLIGHTLY
Dear SOMSD Community:
On Monday April 17th, SOMSD Administrators met with parents and guardians to discuss issues of particular interest to the Special Education community.
Kevin Walston, Assistant Superintendent for Administration, provided an update on the search we are conducting with Atlantic Research Partners for a new Director to replace Ella Rideau, who retired in December 2016. The initial search in Fall 2016 did not result in identification of a suitable candidate who had the right mix of expertise and experience in key areas. Atlantic restarted the search process in January 2017, using both advertising and outreach to professional networks.
In the process, the District and Atlantic expanded the role to include Youth Development, which adds responsibilities for overseeing 504s, guidance, intervention and referral services (I&RS) and social worker services to the previous responsibilities of the Director of Special Services. The newly reconfigured position is now titled “Executive Director of Special Services & Youth Development.”
Since the redefinition of the job, we have received and reviewed additional candidates, bringing the total candidate pool to 71 applicants. We plan to hold level 1 and level 2 interviews in early May.
David Lieberman, current Interim Director of Special Services & Youth Development, facilitated a discussion on ways the expanded role of this position will facilitate more seamless services for students, more effective communications for parents/guardians, and better support for staff. Mr. Lieberman also provided an update on some initiatives currently being worked on by the department.
More complete notes of the discussion are in the attached updates.
South Orange Maplewood School District
Friday, April 28, 2017
TEACHERS UNION PROTESTS BUDGET CHOICES AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Barbara Bracey, a teacher at Tuscan School, spoke for the teachers who appeared under the umbrella of their union, South Orange Maplewood Education Association, and cited several budget decisions, including Let's Talk and merit pay.
See her comments below:
See more on Monday night's budget discussion HERE.
PORTIONS OF RIDGEWOOD ROAD CLOSED TODAY
Advisory: There will be temporary closures on Ridgewood Rd today due to construction. Plan alternate routes
CHS SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL TODAY
Fifteenth Annual Columbia High School Shakespeare Festival
An all-day event in the CHS auditorium featuring
performances by members of the
CHS Shakespeare Festival Club,
SOMS Shakespeare Club, various
English classes, and anyone willing
to perform.
Student performances will occur throughout the day sprinkled
with video clips, trivia and contests presented by our student
emcees.
This year’s theme is The Women of Shakespeare:“And though she
be but little, she is fierce” (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 3.2.325),
selected to recognize the often overlooked female characters
of the canon.
The festival will highlight scenes from Macbeth, The Taming of the
Shrew, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado
About Nothing, Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet,
As You Like It, and Antony and Cleopatra.
Each period will begin with a Step Team performance inspired by
Othello. The Shakespeare Festival is open to the public and we
invite the entire MAPSO community to come and partake in the
festivities!
MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE PARKING LOT DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER WEEK
Now it appears it will be going on for at least another week.
See this notice from the Township:
Clarus Construction Update
During this closure, the sanitary sewer line will be completed; the curbing on the south side of the Clarus building will be installed; the north end of the Village Coffee lot from Maplewood Avenue to the railroad tracks will be re-graded, milled, paved; and the parking spots will be striped. By late afternoon on Friday, May 5th, ALL parking spots will be restored in the north end of the Village Coffee lot.
During this time, pedestrian access to the NJ Transit tunnel will remain open
And, of course, the sewer work being done is being entirely paid for by taxpayers.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
HOW TRUMP'S TAX PLAN WILL HURT MOST MAPLEWOODIANS
The culprit: loss of local tax deductions.
With one of the highest average tax bills in the state, at $14,626 in 2016, most Township homeowners get a nice break with the federal tax deduction for the local tax.
If Trump's tax plan, which is still a long way from taking effect, is instituted that break will disappear while tax breaks for corporations and the rich will increase.
"The elimination of the federal tax credit for local property taxes would be a disaster for Maplewood and the entire state," Mayor Vic Deluca said via email. "Maplewood residents who work in NYC will be impacted even more by the removal of credit for NY income tax. We need to fight this proposal which will benefit large corporations and wealthy people at the expense of middle income families across the state."
TAKE THE MAPLE LEAF DINER WAFFLE CHALLENGE TODAY
Introducing its Thursday Waffle Challenge.
As the sign states, if you can eat the Maplewood Village eatery's triple decker waffle "loaded with fruit" and Nutella you can win a milkshake.
The challenge is good all day today.
But if you finish it, will you have any room left to drink the prize?
NYC TRAIN DELAYS CONTINUE WITH NO END IN SIGHT
Apr 27, 2017 07:07:47 AM
Due to ongoing Amtrak track maintenance work and track inspections leading to speed restrictions, effective immediately and continuing until further notice, NJT customers traveling to and from NYPS will experience estimated delays of 15 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on weekends.
MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE PARKING DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY
On 4/27/17 (Thursday) through 4/28/17 (Friday), construction will take place on Maplewood Ave. at Inwood Pl. Please plan for delays and detours as well as parking modifications in the area.
The north-side section of Lot 7 (entrance of Maplewood Ave.) will also be closed due to the construction.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
WHAT, AN EXTRA DAY OF SCHOOL? OOPS!
Because of that, a notice was sent to parents alerting them that there would be no school on Friday, May 26 -- the Friday before Memorial Day.
The notice, found HERE, said only that "an extra day had mistakenly been scheduled for June."
It also notes that a delayed opening will now be held on the day after Memorial Day, May 30th. While no reason is given in the notice, Superintendent John Ramos said on Monday night that it would be for staff to have some kind of training in response to the recent string of bias incidents that included swastikas and offensive comments found at some schools.
OUSTED CHS BASEBALL COACH FISCHETTI LANDS NEWARK POST
 |
| Fischetti |
East Side Head of Athletics Adrian Bosolasco confirmed the hire, but declined to comment further on it Tuesday.
East Side Head Baseball Coach Steve Campos, a former CHS freshman baseball coach, said he was glad to bring Fischetti aboard when he took the top coaching spot at East Side this year.
 |
| Campos |
Fischetti left CHS coaching ranks at the end of last summer when the school board chose not to rehire him for the 2017 season. He remains a tenured physical education teacher at Columbia.
His departure ended a very lengthy and difficult time for the baseball program, which saw Fischetti accused of several instances of harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) dating back two years.
Those claims led to the hiring of an outside investigator last spring to look into the charges and the school board's decision to search for another coach for the 2017 season. One former student, David DeFranco, also filed a lawsuit against Fischetti, other coaches and the district claiming abusive treatment, which has yet to go to court.
Last fall, CHS hired James Whalen, a physical education teacher at Valley View Middle School in Denville who had been an assistant baseball coach at West Essex High School in North Caldwell since 2002, to coach the Columbia varsity baseball team.
Asked about having Fischetti as an assistant given his problems at Columbia, Campos said, "I'm happy to have him here, the kids love him ... Columbia's loss is East Side's gain."
CARJACKING LEADS POLICE WEEK
April 23, 2017; Carjacking; At approximately 8 PM, a male parked his vehicle at Express Laundry World and left the vehicle running. He came back to the vehicle and observed a male inside of it and he attempted to open the door, but was unable to. The male then began pulling away and the victim jumped onto the vehicle as he was driving away. The victim fell off of the vehicle in Irvington a short distance away and was subsequently transported to Rutgers University Hospital for Treatment.
April 17, 2017; Vehicle Theft; During the overnight hours, an unsecured vehicle was stolen from Bowdoin St. It was later recovered in Newark.
April 22, 2017; Theft from Vehicle; At approximately 6:45 PM, a male was observed attempting to steal tools from an unsecured work van on the 200 black of Elmwood Ave. The owner confronted the male who put the tools down and fled into Irvington.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
IF THIS MORNING'S TRACK DELAYS WEREN'T ENOUGH, POWER LINE PROBLEMS DELAY NYC TRAINS AGAIN
MidTown Direct trains are subject to up to 60 minute delays, and are expected to escalate, due to Amtrak overhead wire problems between the yard and Penn Station New York in the East River Tunnel.
NJT rail tickets and passes will be cross honored on NJT bus, Private Carriers and with PATH at NPS and NY-33rd Street and Hoboken.
YET ANOTHER DISABLED TRAIN DELAYING NYC TRAINS
Trains are subject to up to 45 minute delays in and out of New York, due to heavy congestion caused by an earlier disabled Amtrak train in Penn Station New York.
Beginning with train 6628 (10:25am arrival into NY), Midtown Direct trains will operate into Penn Station New York.
NJT rail tickets and passes will be cross honored on NJT bus, Private Carriers and with PATH at NPS and NY-33rd Street and Hoboken.
SCHOOL BOARD GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO BUDGET AND TAX HIKE; ELEMENTARY SPANISH REINSTATED
The board voted, 8-1, on the budget adoption, with Board Member Johanna Wright voting no.
As we reported last month, the budget includes the addition of some 14 staffers, including many middle school teachers, but with cutbacks in other teaching positions as well as fewer supplies and some textbooks.
The budget had initially included a cutback in elementary school Spanish programs that currently affect fourth and fifth graders. But those were reinstated just this week after district officials realized they were required by state law.
"Our due diligence has revealed that it is required by the state," Board President Elizabeth Baker said.
To offset that reinstatement the board chose to eliminate plans for two new math intervention instructors at the same $150,000 cost.
The tax hike is above the 2% annual state cap because the district is using what is known as "banked cap," which is an increase not taken in prior years.
The budget includes the addition of 11 employees. Among them are six middle school teachers (three at each middle school), one elementary school teacher, one special services teacher, a new high school assistant principal, one custodial supervisor, one part-time nurse and a part-time safety and security director.
But the budget also cuts between eight and 14 other employees, with up to five teachers - including Freshmen Latin classes at CHS, two physical education, and one each in math and science.
The budget adoption occurred on the same night that the district received two reports on future enrollment projections, which continue to rise, and the effect on overcrowding and building maintenance needs. They noted the changing demographics in the two towns, which indicate a rise in white populations and a reduction in those of people of color.
Several board members spoke out with frustration at the ongoing cost increase and lack of revenue, as well as state funding limits.
"I believe that this community as well as much of this state has been living under a financial delusion with a 2% (tax increase) cap and our clearly neglected facilities for decades and that it was just going to work out," Baker said.
Board Member Madhu Pai added, "We are making it impossible for certain groups of people to move into these towns because of our taxes. We need to invest, but we also have to be careful that we don't turn into Chatham because of who we allow to move into our towns."
AFTER DISPUTE OVER LEAF REMOVAL CONTRACT, FIRM REFUSES TO TAKE THEM
But they're still piled up next to the recycling center on Boyden Avenue awaiting removal.
And they're beginning to stink.
"The neighbors are complaining because it has an odor to it and it is only going to get worse," Township Administrator Joe Manning told the Township Committee last week when he updated them on the situation.
What's the problem? The company that was hired to remove the leaves last month has refused, claiming they are contaminated.
That contractor is S. Rotondi & Sons of Chatham, which was chosen from among six firms who bid for the removal contract way back in January.
See that memo HERE.
But S. Rotondi & Sons initially contested the awarding of the contract to Mazza, claiming the firm did not possess the proper N.J. Department of Environmental Protection permit to haul the leaves.
Bell reviewed Mazza's qualifications and found it did not have the permit and could not haul the 700 cubic yards of leaves required under the contract.
Bell indicated he then sought to award the contract to the second-lowest bidder, Marilyn Haggerty Farms of Washington. N.J. But a review of its bid found it lacked some proper certificates to operate within the contract.
Bell then suggested awarding the contract to S. Rotondi & Sons, which came in third with a bid of $6.94 per cubic yard (or $110,040).
But there was an initial delay in late February when Mazza objected to the awarding of the contract to Rotondi & Sons, claiming his firm could handle the job. The TC tabled approval until a review of Mazza could be completed.
Two weeks later, on March 7, the TC denied Mazza's objection and awarded the contract to Rotondi & Sons.
Fast forward to this week and Manning revealed that Rotondi had refused to remove the leaves, prompting the TC last week to pass an emergency resolution that allows Manning to hire another firm without bids so that they can be removed quickly.
As of Monday, the job had still not been done, but Manning said it would be moving ahead by Wednesday.
"It is a problem because those leaves are there and they are usually gone six weeks already," Mayor Vic Deluca said at the meeting.
Stay tuned!
"VILLAGE COFFEE" PARKING LOT CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION AGAIN
See it below:
From Maplewood Police:
4/25/17 Lot 2 closed from now until further notice for construction. The Dunnell road tunnel to lot 2 open to pedestrian traffic.
Monday, April 24, 2017
SCHOOL BOARD TO ADD BACK ELEMENTARY WORLD LANGUAGES, CUT NEW MATH INTERVENTION
There is a resolution on the agenda for tonight’s Board of Education meeting to give final approval for the 2017-2018 budget and to set the tax levy.
The final budget before the Board restores World Languages in the 4th and 5th grades. This is budget neutral, since reinstating the 2 Elementary World Language teachers will be offset by eliminating the proposed addition of 2 math intervention teachers.
The meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Columbia High School library.
The agenda for the Board meeting is available here.
You can watch the Board meeting via livestream here or on the Columbia Cable Network (CCN)\
- Maplewood: Channel 35
- South Orange: Channel 19
- FIOS Channel 22
CHS STUDENT DJ IS ALSO A NATIONAL NAME
 |
| DJ Ameer. Photo: Jet |
The CHS sophomore has become the official DJ for Inspirational Dance Company on Springfield Avenue and has been involved in several local fundraisers.
Jet magazine, a national publication, recently posted a great interview with Muhammed.
It states:
Showing an interest for DJ’ing at an early age. At the age
of 7 years old, he had his first Numark controller and an amazing ear
for music blossomed with a passion for House Music, Classic House and
80/90s music.
 |
| Photo: Jet |
See the full interview HERE. And more on his work HERE
CHS MANDARIN CHINESE LANGUAGE COURSE PROMPTS QUESTIONS, FEW ANSWERS
Many CHS parents last week received the formal offering from Dr. Ramon Robles-Fernandez, K-12 world languages supervisor, offering three sections of the course next year. It stated, in part:
Dear CHS Family:
We are delighted to be able to offer Mandarin Chinese classes at CHS in 2017-2018.
SOMSD has been selected by the US Department of Education to host a teacher of Chinese for the next school year to help us start a Mandarin Chinese program. We are excited to offer our students an opportunity to enroll in this course, and plan to offer 3 sections of Mandarin for next year. Sections will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and sections will be closed once we have reached the class size limit.
See it HERE.
Some were surprised at the option given that several basic courses in world language, including Freshman Latin at Columbia High School, were recently cut in the latest budget proposal, which is set for a final approval tonight.
The Mandarin courses have yet to receive school board approval and the offering gives no indication as to how they will be funded or if they will be available beyond one year.
We reached out to School Board President Elizabeth Baker and District Spokeswoman Suzanne Turner Friday to ask about the timing, funding and board approval.
Turner did not respond, while Baker said via email:
This will be covered at Monday's meeting. To the extent we are able to share information before Monday, Suzanne will get back to you.
Tonight's meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Columbia High School library.
JOB HUNTING HELP AT LIBRARY TODAY
Northern NJ Professionals in Transition
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
A MONEY SMART WEEK PROGRAMHilton Branch – Financial Planning During a Transition
Professionals in Transition have our April 24, 2017 Money Week Series speaker. It will be Bill LaChance a financial planner whose demographic is those in Job Search Transition. Bill has spoken to the group, (and other job search support groups) about the issues facing those in job search transition and tailors his talks to that unique demographic.
Several of those in transition have followed up with him for additional advice and services.
Network with other professionals who are currently unemployed or looking for new career opportunities. Meetings alternate between guest speakers and career workshops. Programs are free and open to the public. Subscribe to the group here.
