MORE JITNEY NEWS ON NEW SCHEDULE, CANCELLATIONS?

So the Township has some more info on the new Jitney schedule, noting a change in the route names and the loss of the jitney at Yale/Tuscan streets, moved a block away to Tuscan/Bowdoin intersection.

Dear All,

Please be advised that effective Monday, March 3, 2014, the Maplewood Jitney Bus Services will be operating under a new schedule.

The new Jitney schedule is now available under the Department of Public Works webpage and the Township Clerk webpage. The new schedule reflects time changes due to the new NJ Transit rail schedule, as well as the addition of the Maplecrest Jitney route.

Please note that the new Maplecrest Route will stop at locations previously assigned under the Hilton Route. In addition, the Tuscan Rd. and Yale St. stop has been moved to the corner of Bowdoin St. and Tuscan Rd.

To view the new Jitney Bus Schedule, click on the link below.

Jitney Bus Schedule – Effective March, 3, 2014.

And then, after telling us about all of the Jitney changes for Monday, they add this note that it may be cancelled Monday morning with the coming snow. Nothing like a vague warning:

 

Attention: On Monday, March 3, 2014, all morning Jitney Bus Services may be cancelled depending weather conditions.  

Thank you.

NJ TRANSIT DELAYS DUE TO AMTRAK BRIDGE

From NJ Transit.com:

Trains are now subject to 30-60 minute delays in/out of NY due to an earlier Amtrak Portal Bridge opening. MTD has resumed in/out of NYPS

12 ANGRY JURORS PREMIERES TONIGHT AT THE STROLLERS

JITNEY SCHEDULE CHANGES MONDAY

From the Township:

Please be advised that effective Monday, March 3, 2014, the Maplewood Jitney Bus Services will be operating under a new schedule.

The new schedule will be available under the Department of Public Works webpage and the Township Clerk webpage. The new schedule reflects time changes due to the new NJ Transit schedule, as well as the addition of the Maplecrest Jitney route.

To view the new Jitney Bus Schedule, click on the link below.

Jitney Bus Schedule (effective 3-3-2014)

HELP THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN Y MISSION

South Mountain Y mission:

 

Strengthen community through
youth development, healthy living
and social responsibility.

 

In service to this mission, our YMCA makes a simple promise: "No one will be turned away due to their inability to pay full price."  Last year the South Mountain YMCA raised over $180,000 and awarded over $250,000 in direct financial assistance
 to local families.. 

 

How did we use our resources? 

*  907 children participated in one of 14 different Y camps last summer, and 1 in 9 children who attended camp received financial assistance. 

*  Over 250 children a day attend the Y's preschool Early Childhood Learning Center and 1 in every 6 children in the Center receives financial assistance.

The Annual Campaign, which ends March 12th, helps the YMCA keep its promise. Thank you so much to all who have given so far!  We are at 74% of our goal!

Won't you consider supporting our mission? 

Your donation to the 2014 Annual Campaign will ensure the availability of Y programs to all members of the community. When you support the Y, you make a meaningful, enduring impact right in our own neighborhood. 

 

Thank you in advance for your consideration.  Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation.  Remember, many companies match employee's gifts. Please check with your HR department to see if your company has a matching program. This linked list from 2013 is only a partial list and is always changing.  Some companies even provide 2:1 and 3:1 matches!  Matching donations help to send even more children to camp!

BOW WOW BOOK CLUB

Ages 3-8 * Drop In  

6pm - Hilton Branch
 
Come to Hilton Branch and read to a dog… they LOVE stories! Sign up for a specific time, or just drop in

NORTH JERSEY PRIDE PLANNING MEETING TONIGHT

MAPLEWOOD MAN AT CENTER OF NEW YORK NEWSPAPER INTRIGUE

The New York Times reports:

Bill Gifford was managing an ice cream shop in Maplewood, N.J., last summer when a customer, Ken Kurson, the editor of The New York Observer, came in with an unorthodox request. He wanted Mr. Gifford, a 28-year-old political science major who was seeking a new job but had almost no journalistic experience, to write an article about the New York attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman. 

Mr. Kurson described Mr. Schneiderman as a “bad guy” and a “phony,” and hired Mr. Gifford for the writing assignment, Mr. Gifford said. But after several weeks, and after being sent negative articles about Mr. Schneiderman, Mr. Gifford said on Wednesday, he became convinced that the article “was supposed to be basically a smear piece” and he quit the job. 

The Observer was not deterred. It hired another freelance reporter to keep working on the piece, and on Tuesday it published the finished product — a searing, 7,000-word indictment of Mr. Schneiderman, portraying him as vindictive and politically opportunistic. 

The article also included a robust defense of Donald J. Trump, whose education business was being sued by Mr. Schneiderman’s office, seeking $40 million in restitution. More materially to the critics, Mr. Trump is the father-in-law of The Observer’s owner, Jared Kushner, and an acquaintance of Mr. Kurson.

Read more HERE.

VERJUS HOSTS MIDNIGHT MADNESS FUNDRAISER TODAY

 

Enjoy a fabulous lunch or dinner at VERJUS today, and know that 30% of your total tab will be donated to MIDNIGHT MADNESS, the night-long CHS drug and alcohol-free graduation celebration! To make sure that Midnight Madness gets credited for your meal, call Verjus at (973) 378-8990 to make your reservation (do not use OpenTable or the Verjus website), and say that you are supporting CHS Midnight Madness! Thank you, and bon appetit!
Verjus, 1790 Springfield Ave., Maplewood

TECH ZONE FOR TEENS TODAY

3:30-6:00 pm Main Library

Join us in Memorial Hall to play Wii, Playstation 2, use laptops or just hang out. 

Tech Zone is run through a partnership between YouthNet and the Maplewood Library.

COUNTY BUDGET TO INCREASE $16 MILLION

Alt Press reports:

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. presented the 2014 Essex County Budget at Monday's State of the County Address in Cedar Grove.
While highlighting accomplisments and ongoing plans for improvements in Essex County, DiVincenzo, who is running for a fourth term as Essex County Executive, explained the need to increase the budget 1.5% in an article published by the Alternative Press on Jan. 31. The proposed 2014 budget, totaling $749 million, is a $16 million increase over the 2013 adopted budget.

See more HERE

ARMED ROBBERY LEADS POLICE WEEK

From Maplewood Police today:

February 21, 2014; Burglary:  A resident of Berkley St 

reported that sometime during the overnight hours someone opened 

a basement window and removed a laptop from a table that was under 

the window.

February 23, 2014; Robbery: At approximately 5 PM, two adult males from Union 
were walking in the industrial part of Rutgers St when they were approached by a 
male wearing a ski mask.  The actor displayed a handgun and demanded their 
belongings.  He then fled the scene towards Newark Way with one of the victim’s 
phones and a small amount of cash.  No one was injured during this incident.

All incidents are currently under investigation by the Detective Bureau.  
Residents are asked to practice good crime prevention techniques and secure 
their homes, garages and automobiles when left unattended.

LIBRARY CODING CLUB TODAY

Hilton Coding Club Wednesdays

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Hilton Branch – 4 week session – Grades 4- 8
Get involved in the coding craze!  In these four weeks you will learn basic coding techniques and use the program created by the organization Coding.org.  Taught by Mrs. Latimer, Clinton School Librarian.  Click here to register.

PODCAST - FRED PROFETA DISCUSSES SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION DAM PLANS

We caught up with former mayor and consummate environmentalist Fred Profeta to discuss one of his latest efforts, blocking plans for a destructive dam to be built in South Mountain Reservation.

The former Township Committee member filled us in on the plan that could seriously hurt the reservation, which has one-third of its land in Maplewood.

Find out more at the Save Our Reservation Facebook page HERE.

The South Mountain Conservancy is also weighing in against the project.

Listen to our interview with Fred below:

OBAMACARE SIGN-UP HELP TODAY

Affordable Care Act Enrollment Assistance 

You can still apply for a Health Care Plan. Get free help choosing and enrolling in a plan that’s right for you. 

This service is offered by Cognosante, contracted directly by the Use Dept. of Health and Human Services. Drop in: no appointment needed. 

10 am to 3 pm at Main Library

BLACK HISTORY MONTH MUSIC TODAY AT HILTON BRANCH

Black History Month Music
All Ages * Drop In 

6:30pm - Hilton Branch 

Come to hear Rhonda Denet, singer extraordinaire, sing the music of the Black Experience in America. 

See her work below:

 

SOUTH ORANGE MIDDLE SCHOOL STAFF CLAIMS POOR TREATMENT

One of the major issues that arose at Monday night's Board of Education meeting was the claim from teachers and staff at South Orange Middle School that the school is a horrible place to work and that they are mistreated and fearful of management.

One staffer spoke below, while at least two dozen others stood in support




Missing from the meeting was Principal Joseph Uglialoro. 

Maplewoodian.com is reporting on this issue because many Maplewood students attend South Orange Middle School.

TUSCAN SCHOOL FINALLY DOES WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE DAYS AGO

So just to update the story we have been following about the terrible response to icy and snowy areas of Tuscan School, we found a Tuscan employee and Principal Malikah Majeed finally doing what we suggested days ago and removing the ice from the playground with a pic.

They also spread sand around, although it had to be donated by a parent and was initially refused once.

SCHOOLS SUPE: SOMS PRINCIPAL DIDN'T ENTER GIRLS LOCKER ROOM, PARENT ANGRILY OBJECTS

The touchy issue of allegations against the South Orange Middle School principal for allegedly entering a girls locker room while girls were changing was finally raised in a public forum Monday night.

Superintendent Brian Osborne brought up the issue of claims against SOMS Principal Joseph Uglialoro during his regular report at Monday's school board meeting, stating that the allegations raised last fall were found to be false following investigations by the school district and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

His comments are below:



But the mother of one of the girls who alleged the improper behavior, Genese Alicea, also spoke up and claimed the district's closing of the case was improper.

Her comments are below.

 

We had heard about the allegations as well earlier this year but chose not to report them as we were not able to obtain any records or reports, despite requesting them. 

The activities of SOMS are relevant to Maplewood because numerous Maplewood students attend the school as part of the district's enrollment arrangement. 

CHS MARCHING BAND WANTS YOU

7:00 pm.   
Where:  CHS Music Suite.   
Who:  Peter Bauer, Director of Bands (a/k/a, IMHO, "Peter the Great")  
What:  A meeting for parents of incoming freshman who are interested in joining the marching band.

I want to pass along a tip that will pay off in so many ways that I can't really do justice, but I will try.  If your child pays a band instrument (or is musically inclined and wants to take up a band instrument), I want to strongly encourage them to sign up for the CHS Marching Band and you can learn more about that, at this meeting. 

Marching Band at CHS is the most awesome and fun experience you as a parent can have and its lets you be involved in your child's high school life (because otherwise, forget it, you will know nothing or see nothing).  Oh, yes, it is also an amazing experience for your kid, seriously.  If they are in the marching band, they will start 9th grade with 75 great friends from all grades who will help them out in a pinch.  They will be an integral part -- from their first year in Band to the their last year -- in the activity.  Unlike a varsity sport or club sport, where for the most part the freshmen and sophmores have to sit on the sidelines while the Juniors and Seniors do all the good stuff, everyone in Marching Band is on the field and just as important as every other member of the band.  And for what the experience with leave them with?  Just read the CHS Cougar Marching Band Guiding Principles from the Marching Band Handbook, it gives you an idea of the values that Marching Band instills:

JAZZ NIGHT AT THE PARK WOOD DINER

7 - 8:30 PM

The Well Fed Trio -- Joel Perry, John Straus, and Tim Metz -- plays jazz and Mardi Gras music at the Parkwood Diner. 

Have some food, and listen to the musical guests who join in. Our regular bassist, Jim Buchanan, will be back soon.
BYOB

CHS STUDENT FOUND WITH DRUGS, KNIFE

...Scanner indicates a student at Columbia High School found with controlled dangerous substance and a knife...police responding...

TUSCAN SCHOOL HAZARDS STILL NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY

Amazing that the poor management of weather-related hazards at Tuscan School continued yet again today.

As the photos below note, the dangerous path from Harvard Avenue to the playground remained slippery and snow and ice covered and the poor hazard tape that had been placed across one of the entrances after police were called by a parent was knocked down. There was also no blockage to the path for the playground side.

Of course, no one bothered to try to clear the path of the hazard.

Also, much of the playground area was dangerous, covered with slippery ice and, instead of removing the ice, small warning signs were placed on the area around it.

Another sign that the management of Tuscan, Principal Malikah Majeed, is inept. She was seen speaking with a school worker about it, who told her only that the tape had fallen off. She offered no directive to removed the hazard.

This should be addressed at tonight's school board meeting set for 7:30 p.m. at the board offices, 425 Academy Street. 

 

GREEN DRINKS TONIGHT

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT - SPEAK UP

The Board of Education meets tonight for its monthly meeting, at 7:30 p.m., at the Board offices.

See the Agenda below.

This may be a place for Tuscan School parents concerned about the recently reported neglect of student safety to voice their concerns.

Feel free to show up and speak about any issue to the board. Remember, they work for you.
 

BOARD OF EDUCATION School District of South Orange Maplewood NJ 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ 07040               AGENDA    PUBLIC BOARD MEETING Monday, February 24, 2014
7:30 PM	REGULAR MEETING
		Call to Order – Announcement of Notice Roll Call Pledge of Allegiance Board Acknowledgement Board Recognition Approve Board Minutes:  Executive & Public Session Minutes: January 27, 2014
7:35 PM	SUPERINTENDENT’S MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT ON DISTRICT GOALS
7:50 PM	HEARING OF INDIVIDUALS AND DELEGATIONS
8:20 PM	DISCUSSION
	NJ Department of Education School Performance Reports 2014-2015 Budget Gifted and Talented Committee Reports Policy 5350 Pupil Suicide Prevention – 2nd reading
9:30 PM	ACTION
	3113	Personnel Fiscal
	3114	Personnel Substitute
	3115	Transfer/Removal Of Non-Domiciled Students
	3116	Out Of District Placements
	3117	Field Trip Destinations
	3118	Approve: Policy 5350 Pupil Suicide Prevention
	3119	Approve: Affirmation of Harassment, Intimidation And Bullying (HIB) Incidents For The Month Of November 2013
	3120	Suspensions
	3121	Employee Agreement
	3122	Financials
9:45 PM	HEARING OF INDIVIDUALS AND DELEGATIONS
10:00 PM	The Board of Education will meet in Closed Session on Monday, March 17, 2014, at 6:30 pm in the Superintendent’s Office to discuss personnel and legal issues, negotiations and other matters to be announced at a later date.  Immediately following the Closed Session, the Board of Education will meet in Public Session at 7:30 pm in the District Meeting Room, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ.  Action will be taken.
	The Board of Education will meet in Closed Session on Monday, April 28, 2014, at 6:30 pm in the Superintendent’s Office to discuss personnel and legal issues, negotiations and other matters to be announced at a later date.  Immediately following the Closed Session, the Board of Education will meet in Public Session at 7:30 pm in the District Meeting Room, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ.  Action will be taken.

DURAND-HEDDEN HOUSE HONORS MAPLEWOOD THEATER LEGACY TODAY

The Maplewood Theater: The Forgotten Saga
  Durand-Hedden House

Most Maplewoodians catching the latest movie at their village six-plex have no idea that the theater in actuality has a long theatrical history dating back to 1927. Beginning life as one of the largest combined vaudeville/movie houses in New Jersey, the Maplewood theater struggled along for a decade before becoming the setting for a series of highly popular summer stock shows featuring a myriad of major Broadway and Hollywood stars including Helen Hayes, Ingrid Bergman, Tallulah Bankhead, Paul Robeson and “Maplewood’s Own”, Teresa Wright. 

Legendary Tony Award winning producer Cheryl Crawford made Maplewood her theatrical home for three years in the 1940’s and launched her successful version of Porgy and Bess in this very theater on Maplewood Avenue. After another brief stint with legitimate theater in the early 1950’s, the Maplewood Theater settled back into being a popular neighborhood movie house, which evolved into multiple theaters in 1988.

Extensive research has located drawings and photographs of the original Pompeian themed interior, productions photos and playbills from the live show era, early movie memorabilia including a Wurlitzer theater organ console, staff photos from the 1970’s and more.

STAR-LEDGER FINALLY COVERS MAIL DELIVERY STORY

We told you days ago about Maplewood's mail delivery problems and Rep. Donald Payne Jr's office looking into it.

Well, The Star-Ledger finally caught on to the story and wrote about it today.

They report:

MAPLEWOOD — Neither rain nor snow should keep mail carriers from completing their appointed rounds except, it seems, in Maplewood.
Township residents say mail delivery has been erratic for weeks — they’ve been waiting for important tax documents, time-sensitive paperwork for college applications and packages — and their patience is on thin ice.
MaryPat Porinchak said she’s only received her mail three times at her Salter Street home this month. She’s made sure her sidewalks and drive are cleared of snow. When she sees her mailman, Porinchak said she pounces at him.
“I kind of accost him and I say, ‘where have you been?’” she said.
Several residents say the delayed deliveries began in January, the same month that the Maplewood Post Office got an acting postmaster to fill the vacated postmaster position, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service confirmed.

See the rest HERE.

12 OPEN HOUSES TODAY

A long list of homes with open houses today means plenty to choose from.

And the weather is in the 50s, no rain (or snow) so get out and check them out.

Your next home could be found today, or just see what is selling for what.

Full list HERE.

MAPLEWOOD ART WALK AND MUSIC FEST CALL FOR ENTRIES

 

Artist submission instructions can be found here: http://maplewoodvillagenj.com/artwalk/artist-information/

HILTON SWAN LIBRARY CONTEST - SHOW YOUR CARD

Calling all kids and teens! When you show us your library card at the Hilton Branch, we’ll drop your name into the elegant swan and you’ll be eligible to win a prize from a local vendor.

 Parents checking out items on behalf of their children do not qualify.

SPRINGFIELD AVENUE CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Lots of great stuff to celebrate Black History Month on Springfield Avenue.

 

See the list HERE

STORY SLAM TONIGHT

DON'T LITTER ON THE SLEDDING HILL, DO WE HAVE TO TELL YOU?

A reminder folks, if you leave sleds or pieces of broken sleds and coasters on the hill at Memorial Park, it is still littering. 



And it is unacceptable.

TUSCAN SCHOOL DANGERS INCREASE, PRINCIPAL RESPONSE WEAK

Tuscan's poor response to dangerous paths

So the lack of response at Tuscan School to the continued safety hazards from the snow and ice seemed to get only worse this week.

Just a week after fire officials warned the school of problems from icy paths and snow, police were called to the school Thursday by angry parents who were upset with the icy walkway both from Harvard Avenue to the playground, and along the sidewalk on Tuscan Road. 

Both areas were extremely slippery and dangerous and seemed to have been ignored by school officials and Principal Malikah Majeed.

Several parents told us they had reached out to Majeed about the problem and were told to call police, who showed up and warned the school. There were also several cases of students and adults reporting bloody injuries from painful falls on the ice and snow.

Majeed's answer was to put up a small caution notice along the pathway from Harvard, but apparently do nothing about the ice itself.

She then sent parents an arrogant robocall (below) that claimed she had responded to parents when she had only ignored their concerns once again.

This situation has gone from inept management of the school grounds to dangerous hazards. The school district must do something to make sure these problems do not continue. If that means ridding us of this poor principal then do it.

CHS FENCING HEADING FOR ANOTHER STATE TITLE

PATCH reports:
 
The Columbia High boys and girls fencing teams will each compete for the state championship next week.

The defending state champion boys beat Livingston 14-8 in the Final Four Wednesday at NJFA in Maplewood, while the 2012 state champion girls upended Ramapo 14-6 in the semifinals.

The top-seeded boys will face No. 2 Bernards and the No. 1 girls team will battle third-seeded Ridge next Wednesday at Morris Hills High School at 7:30 p.m.

RUBY BRIDGES MOVIE SCREENING TODAY FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH

 

Come and see the movie about Ruby Bridges, the first black child to attend an all-white school in the South.

Hilton Library - 4 p.m. Free

UPDATE: ICY DANGERS ON TOWNSHIP STREETS, AND SCHOOLS

Tuscan School path an icy danger Thursday. Photo: Laura Svensson

UPDATE: We just received  a robo call from Majeed taking credit for the response to the icy paths when it was actually police ordering her to do so.

Pedestrians trying to navigate many of the public sidewalks around town today found some dangerous footing, with sidewalks along schools and some parks, such as Memorial Park, were bumpy, icy paths that were sure to cause potential danger and accidents.

Among them was an icy patch from Harvard Avenue into Tuscan School's playground, which was only blocked off for safety after parents complained to the school district and police, not through any effort from Principal Malikah Majeed.

And a walk along Valley Street next to Memorial Park also showed some hazardous icy steps that are under the township's responsibility to clear or face lawsuits if injuries occur. Lawsuits that will cost taxpayers.

PRE-SCHOOL STORYTIME TODAY

	Storytime Programs No registration required - All children must be accompanied by an adult Valid Maplewood library card required MAIN LIBRARY: 11 a.m. Ages 2 ½ - 5

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE DISCUSSES CAPITAL BUDGET

Alt Press reported, among other things:

The Finance Committee recommended a capital of $3,166,522 with $158,326 coming out of the current budget for a down payment. The remaining $3,008,196 would need to be bonded, said De Luca.
“We are retiring $3,245,000, so the new debt is 93 percent of what we are retiring,” he added. “Most of that is fueled by some big ticket items: a new Jitney and a fire engine, in addition the repaving of Springfield Avenue.”
Another $70,000 was added to the Council on Affordable Housing, which had gone down to about $4,000. They also added $130,000 to the parking lot improvement at 60 Woodland Road.

Read the rest HERE.

WASTE MANAGEMENT PICK-UP PROBLEMS FOUND

First, as we noted earlier , postal delivery problems were sparking concerns.

Now it appears some Waste Management customers have been having problems.

The Township issued this notice:

Waste Management missed garbage pick up.

We understand that a number of Maplewood households have been experiencing missed garbage pick ups. If you're a Waste Management client, please call WM at 800-371-7329 and schedule a subsequent pick up.

MAPLEWOOD ROCK OPERA STAR'S FREE PARTY BUS TO BASH TONIGHT

 

Alexander Kariotis

Back by popular demand... The all ages, free party bus from Maplewood to NYC for Alexander Kariotis & the Rock Opera Orchestra at The Cutting Room. Take it round trip, or just home from the city. Reserve your seats at AKRockOpera@gmail.com. Buy tickets online for the show at TheCuttingRoomNYC.com. This is a benefit for She's the First, whose founder, Tammy Tibbets, was just named one of the '30 People Under 30 Changing the World' by TIME Magazine. A wonderful evening for a wonderful cause!!!!!!

She's the First sponsors girls’ education in the developing world with the goal of creating first-generation graduates and our next generation of global leaders. http://www.shesthefirst.org/

MAPLEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL STILL AN ICY HAZARD

A check on the paths around Maplewood Middle School finds a dangerous, icy sidewalk and pathway. Icy enough for the school to place a warning sign, but apparently not enough for them to clear it as our video below indicates. When someone gets hurt and sues, it is our tax dollars that pay, and if it is one of our children that gets hurt, they suffer.

BABY LIT STORYTME THIS MORNING

		11:00 am - 11:30 am Hilton Branch * Ages Birth – 2 1/2 Stories, fingerplays, songs, and more!  Valid Maplewood Library card required. Drop In * No registration required.

CONGRESSMAN PAYNE'S OFFICE LAUNCHES MAPLEWOOD POSTAL DELIVERY INQUIRY

After receiving numerous complaints from Maplewood residents about postal delivery delays and days without mail delivery,  Rep. Donald Payne Jr's office has launched its own inquiry into the issue, a spokesman told Maplewoodian.com.

“He is looking into it because we have had a lot of calls into the office, complaints, " the spokesperson said. “It looks like it is just Maplewood so we are trying to figure out why. We called into the regional office and Northern New Jersey district office of the postal service."

Problems continued Tuesday as many, like us, received mail after dinner and others still have not received it.

Payne's office added that complaints date back to January. Anyone wishing to register their own concerns can call Payne's office at 973-645-3213.