CNN IN MAPLEWOOD

CNN used a Maplewood home as the premise for its report on poor home sales.



But was it fair?

MEMORIAL DAY WAS GREAT

The Batmobile paid a visit to the annual parade, which also included the Duck Race and a great remembrance of our fallen heroes.

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DEM CANDIDATES SLUG IT OUT

All three candidates for Township Committee appeared at a De Hart Center Democratic Primary debate Thursday night, where Mayor Vic De Luca went hard on challenger Lee Navlen and boasted about his many accomplishments during his last years as mayor.


De Luca running mate and challenger India Larrier also spoke up, noting she has been a community activist for years. Both De Luca and Larrier claimed Navlen has not done as much as they did on the community front, with De Luca calling him AWOL.


A little sad to see the mayor go so negative on the challenger, but that is politics.


I was able to ask each how they would handle property taxes and short of squeezing everything out of the current revenue and seeking shared services, it was clear no hope remained for taxes to ever really level off or go down.



Then former Mayor Ken Pettis raised the issue of merging  with South Orange, a move each candidate offered different views on:

STATE SCREWS US AGAIN

A Supreme Court order to increase funding to the poorest schools means SO-M and others get less. Since we already get only 8% of our budget from the state, compared to a state average of 24%, this is a direct hit.


Give me a break.

TEACHERS UNION CUTS NEW DEAL

Looks like the teachers get a raise of 2.5% per year and retroactive, but the district saves good money on health care costs.


See more HERE

MAPLEWOOD SHOOTING

Patch reports the first aid squad was sent to 6 Highland Place Sunday.


See HERE

MAYFEST POSTPONED

Afraid of rain? Perhaps a bit too early, but here is the e-mail


The 2011 MayFest event currently scheduled for Sunday, May 15th from 11 AM to 5 PM is postponed until Sunday, May 22nd from 11 AM to 5 PM.

MAPLEWOOD MAN IS POSTER CHILD FOR STATE SCREWING US AGAIN

The Star-Ledger today ran a great story about how the fund to help pay for removing in-ground oil tanks was mismanaged. 


One Marty Lipp of Maplewood was among those given the shaft by the state, again.

MAYOR OFFERING CAMPAIGN SIGNS

Here is His tweet from today:


 DeLuca and Larrier campaign signs are in. Let me know if you want one for your lawn.

TEACHERS' CONTRACT REACHED?

Patch breaks the news via Twitter:

MaplewoodPatch 

  

There is a teachers' contract!!!! SOMEA now planning informational and then ratification meetings with membership. More to come!


PATCH story HERE

ROBBERY SUSPECTS UNDER CHASE

Scanner shows police searching for three back males at Jacoby near Boyden for alleged robbery. No other details....15-16 years of age suspects..difficult language barrier with victims...

TEACHERS UNION BACK DOWN? OR COVERING UP?

Looks like teachers who took their union problems out on students by keeping bulletin boards blank at Tuscan School, and others, are giving in, with signs that artwork is going up again.


But, word is this is just temporary as they prepare for upcoming art show and other events in which parents will come in.