BIKE AND AUTO THEFTS LEAD POLICE WEEK

From Maplewood Police today:

June 23, 2015; Bicycle Theft; During the daytime hours an improperly secured bicycle was taken from the bicycle rack at the train station.

 June 25, 2015; Auto Theft; Some time during the previous five days a Dodge Caravan was stolen from the parking lot of 50 Burnett Ave.

 June 28, 2015; Attempted Auto Theft; At approximately 12 PM, a resident of Van Ness Ter observed a male in their vehicle. The resident yelled at the male who fled on foot prior to the police department being contacted. Officers responded and checked the area, but were unable to locate the male. The victim’s Jeep sustained damage to the steering column consistent with an attempted theft.

OUR TEACHERS UNION JOINS ANTI-CHRISTIE PROTEST AT PREZ ANNOUNCEMENT

Some members of our teachers union, South Orange Maplewood Education Association, were among teachers protesting Gov. Chris Christie's presidential campaign launch today at Livingston High School.

See more on their protests HERE and below:

WATCH CHRIS CHRISTIE PRESIDENTIAL LAUNCH LIVE

Gov. Chris Christie plans to launch his presidential campaign today at 11 a.m. at Livingston High School.

Watch it live below:

KNIT KNACK'S LAST DAY IS TODAY - BIG SALE

From Knit Knack:

It is that time. Tuesday, June 30th is the last day.
11 to 6
Everything is on sale for 70%. 
I want to thank you all for being amazing. 

This was a great journey because of you.
Everyday was entertaining and fun. I love that you all 

felt comfortable enough to share your stories. 

Thank you for that and thank you for enjoying my inventory. 
I will cherish that past year.

OUR SIGN TRIBUTE/CRITIQUE

Now that the electioneering is over, we wanted to offer a tribute/critique of the signage used in these campaigns.

Maplewood has a wide-range of signs -- some good, some bad -- that catch our eyes.

Watch below:

HILTON PAJAMA STORYTIME TONIGHT

7:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Hilton Branch * Ages 2-10 * Drop in
All children must be accompanied by an adult.

MAPLEWOOD RESIDENT'S CHAIN SNATCHED IN SOUTH ORANGE

From South Orange Police:

June 20 - Chain snatch; A Maplewood resident stated that she was walking on Irvington Ave. on June 20 at approximately 5:35 p.m. in the area of the stores near Fairview Ave. when an unknown black male described as approximately 18 years of age having a tall thin build and was observed to be wearing a blue t-shirt snatched a chain from her neck. Once the actor grabbed the necklace from the victim he fled on foot west on Irvington Ave. The Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.

FARMER'S MARKET TODAY

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

CHS FOOTBALL STAR MARTINEZ IN STATE ALL-STAR GAME TODAY

Columbia High School's own Jimmy Martinez will be playing in today's Phil Simms North-South High School Football Classic all star game at Kean University.

Martinez, who is heading to play at Middlebury College after graduating last week, is on the roster for the contest set for 7 p.m. tonight.

See some highlights of his CHS career below:


 

JOB HELP AND PAPER UPCYCLE AT LIBRARIES TODAY

Northern NJ Professionals in Transition

10:00 am – 11:30 am

Main Library – Heed Your Calling: Discovering Your True Purpose
Terrence H. Seamon, Senior Consultant at Facilitation Solutions will guide you through a series of exercises that will lead you in the direction of greater clarity around the work you were meant to do in this life. 
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.
For more info about Professionals in Transition, go to: http://216.246.77.209/~shining/NNJ_PIT/

Paper Upcycle

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Main Library –  Ages 11 & up
Join us in making newspaper flower medallions and origami flower balls for decorating the Teen Zone and to take home.  Register at: paperupcycle.eventbrite.com

SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET TODAY AT TOWN HALL

The Associated Humane Society mobile van will be parked in front of Maplewood Town Hall today.

They will do low cost dog and cat spay neutering in the morning and well care such as rabies and distemper vaccination in the afternoon. Call 973-824-7080 x118 or x121 to make an appointment for spay/neuter. 

Well care in the afternoon is on a first come first serve basis. Contact the Maplewood Health Dept. for more info.

MAPLEWOODIAN OF THE WEEK: KIMBERLY BEANE

We wrote this week about Kimberly Beane, the school district administrator over K-5 math and science who decides middle school math placement, who offered a Facebook posting shooting back at some parents.

See it HERE.

It also is being claimed that she might have violated the district's social media policy.

For this, she is our Maplewoodian of the Week.

26 OPEN HOUSES TODAY

Big crop of homes to choose from, three on Park Avenue alone.

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

Full list HERE.

DROP OFF YOUR GOODS FOR MORROW TURNOVER SALE

MAPLEWOOD LEADS GAY MARRIAGE RULING CELEBRATION

Maplewood was front and center for celebrating the Supreme Court's landmark, 5-4, decision legalizing gay marriage nationwide on Friday.

North Jersey Pride held a victory rally in front of Town Hall where local residents and officials spoke out in favor of the ruling, but also pointed out more needs to be done such as a federal anti-discrimination law for gay rights.

See highlights below:

MORE THAN 100 STRAY CATS SPAYED/NEUTERED UNDER NEW PROGRAM

Maplewood Health Officer Robert Roe issued this notice Friday:

Furry Hearts Rescue reported in early June that they have helped 105 cats to be spayed/neutered in 2015. This kind of effort will over the course of several years reduce the numbers of feral cats. My sense is that if you want a cat as a pet, then you should be able to welcome the cat into your home. And, of course take good care of your pet cat that will include spaying/neutering.

On Monday, the Associated Humane Society van will be in front of Maplewood Town Hall to do low cost dog and cat spay/neutering. Call 973-824-7080 x118 or 121 to make an appointment. I want to congratulate and thank the many volunteers who have been getting dogs and particularly outdoor and feral cats spayed/neutered.

MAPLEWOOD WAS A PIONEER IN GAY MARRIAGE RIGHTS THAT LED TO TODAY'S DECISION

As the Supreme Court reaffirms the rights of same-sex couples with its landmark ruling today that legalizes gay marriage nationwide, Maplewood stands as a leader and even pioneer in the rights of gay couples.

As far back as 2009, when the Township Committee passed one of the first resolutions urging the state to legalize same-sex unions, to 2013's Town Hall celebration of many gay weddings -- including a mass ceremony on the steps of Town Hall -- Maplewood has been a great inclusive voice and home for same-sex marriage rights.

The North Jersey Pride Festival has been held in Memorial Park for many years, including just a few weeks ago, with a rally planned for later today to celebrate the decision.

Mayor Vic De Luca, meanwhile, has been an outspoken supporter of same-sex unions, including signing on to a similar Supreme Court brief just this spring.

But none of this would matter if most of the people of Maplewood did not do such a welcoming job of including same-sex couples in our community, from school classrooms to town events to simple day-to-day contact. We are very spoiled here at how much gay rights are promoted and how well same-sex couples are treated.

Now that the rest of the country is forced to provide the same protections and equal rights that many in Maplewood have been urging and practicing for years, let's hope that this becomes a non-issue and that our same-sex residents can be treated as equal as any other married couple as they deserve. And that those around the nation can take Maplewood's lead and do the same.

DE LUCA ON "GREAT RULING" FOR GAY MARRIAGE AT SUPREME COURT TODAY

Mayor Deluca performed first gay wedding in Maplewood

Mayor Vic Deluca, who has been one of the leaders statewide on gay marriage rights and led a historic day of same-sex weddings in 2013, issued this statement today on the Supreme Court ruling that declared same-sex marriage legal:

We are having a marriage equality decision day rally in front of townhall at 6:30pm. I think this is a great ruling for civil and human rights. Now same sex couples will be treated equally across America and their right to legally marry will not be based on a zip code. As we rejoice today, the struggle will continue to fight back against the more than 100 proposed state laws that will continue to erode the rights of same sex couples. 

RALLY ON GAY MARRIAGE RULING SET FOR MAPLEWOOD TOWN HALL TONIGHT

From North Jersey Pride:

Rally will be held 6:30 p.m. today, the day the U.S. Supreme Court announced its historic decision on extending marriage equality throughout the United States.

CO-SPONSORS:
– Garden State Equality
– ACLU-NJ
– Lambda Legal
– Human Rights Campaign
SUPPORTERS:
-Mayor Vic DeLuca, Maplewood
-Village President Sheena Collum, South Orange
-Newark LGBT Center, Newark
-Coda Kitchen and Bar, Maplewood
-College Democrats of New Jersey
-Marriage Equality USA
-Archbishop Carl Bean, Unity Fellowship Church
GOOD WEATHER LOCATION: Front steps of Maplewood Town Hall, 574 Valley St., Maplewood.

BAD WEATHER LOCATION: Inside the Burgdorff Center, 10 Durand Rd.

Join us at the official After Party at Coda Kitchen and Bar, 177 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ, following the Rally (cash bar, no cover).

DINOSAURS AT THE LIBRARY?

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Main Library * All ages * Registration Required
Have you ever wondered what it was like to walk amongst the dinosaurs? Come and get a taste when Field Station: Dinosaurs visits the Maplewood Library! Hear stories, sing songs, and dance, all before coming face to face with an incredibly life-like T-Rex! For more information, visit fieldstationdinosaurs.com
Register here

DID SCHOOL OFFICIAL VIOLATE DISTRICT FACEBOOK POLICY

We told you Monday about the Facebook posting (below) by school district administrator Kimberly Beane that appeared to show annoyance at parents who were critical of their children's math placement by Beane's office.

Now some are wondering if she violated a district social media policy that says, in part:

Employees must conduct themselves in ways that do not distract from or disrupt the educational process.

Electronic communications that are inappropriate and therefore prohibited include but are not limited to:

     Items that pertain to students, including confidential information;

     Any content that significantly affects the employee’s ability to perform his/her job or disrupts the educational environment.

Meanwhile, we have reached out to district officials and each school board member, none of whom have offered a reaction to the incident.