SPECIAL CAMERON FIELD CHS BASEBALL TONIGHT

From The Baird:

The Columbia High School Cougar baseball team plays its third annual night game at Cameron Field tonight, against Montclair High School. The JV team plays at 5 pm, following by the Varsity game under the lights at 8 pm. 

The CHS Baseball Boosters will have a concession stand complete with grilled food and refreshments, Cougar baseball clothing, and our 2016 Baseball Yearbook. The Columbia players began their baseball careers in the South Orange/Maplewood Rec and Summer Travel programs. 

Last year's Cougar team finished with a school record 23 wins, and the Super Essex Conference, Liberty Division title. This year's team is ranked as one of the top teams in Essex County. So come out and cheer them on!

SINGER SZA FILMING IN MAPLEWOOD

SZA: Photo: Rolling Stone

R&B singer SZA was in Maplewood Friday filming a promotional project as part of a deal with Levi's to promote a concert in Camden Saturday night.

A member of her management team, who was on hand to oversee the production at a home on Oberlin Street, said it was part of the Levi's project, but offered few details.

Police showed up at one point because the crew had not obtained a filming permit. The Township did not issue a fine or a ticket, but offered a warning that future filming would require a permit.

MAKER MADNESS TODAY

COLUMBIA DANCE DAY TODAY

ANOTHER GREAT RENT PARTY TONIGHT

BIGGER VALLEY STREET SHUTDOWNS CONTINUE WITH MIXED NOTICE

Just hours after issuing an alert that Valley Street would only be closed today for two blocks between South Pierson Road and Sommers- Avenue today, police updated it to indicate a much longer stretch will be closed.

The latest shutdown has Valley Street from Tuscan Road all the way to Millburn Avenue closed until 4 p.m. today.

See below:

Advisory: Road Closure - Valley Street

Valley St.will be closed between Tuscan Rd.and Millburn Ave. from 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM on Friday, April 29, 2016.

Springfield Ave. traffic between Prospect St. and Millburn Ave. will be affected by the detour as well.

This is the latest closure in a week of shutdowns on the busy county road for New Jersey American Water work that has sparked traffic jams along side streets up to Springfield Avenue and lots of delays.

No previous notice was given before the closures began on Monday, with the only formal notice provided on Wednesday. Police have also identified that the work will continue until at least May 6.

CVS SHOPLIFTER ARRESTED

... Scanner indicates a juvenile arrested at the CVS on Valley Street, across from Columbia High School, for shoplifting ... No other details

MAPLEWOOD RESPONDS TO LAUNDROMAT FIRE ON IRVINGTON AVENUE

... Scanner reveals fire at the Ivy Hill laundromat on Irvington Avenue in Newark, just across the street from Maplewood ... Dryer fire ... Maplewood Fire is offering mutual aid .... Best to avoid the area ...

LEGAL BILLS RELATED TO CHS COACH PROBE TOP $15,000

As the school district investigation into Columbia High School baseball coach Joe Fischetti's alleged harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) of former players continues, the cost to taxpayers continues to mount.

In addition to paying $5,000 to outside investigator Leroy Seitz to review the district's own HIB findings against Fischetti, the case has also racked up more than $15,000 in outside legal bills.

You may recall that the district hired Seitz nearly two months ago to review its own investigation that found Fischetti had allowed harassment and bullying of at least two former players.

Despite that, and a lawsuit filed by one of the former players, the school board on Feb. 22 voted to re-appoint Fischetti as coach this season by a 6-3 vote. Board members Johanna Wright, Chris Sabin and Elizabeth Baker voted against the re-appointment.

At the same meeting, Superintendent John Ramos announced that an outside investigator would be brought in to review the findings. It was later revealed that investigator was Seitz.

The firm of Schenck, Price, Smith and King of Florham Park, meanwhile, have also been brought into the case. The firm is the district's outside legal counsel at $175 per hour. Records obtained from a public records request finds that firm has also charged $15,535.57 since January for its work on the HIB case.

Seitz, meanwhile, has yet to complete his review of the HIB findings against Fischetti after being hired more than two months ago. District officials said last week that he had been delayed by a personal emergency. He is the current superintendent of the Parsippany-Troy Hills school district.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR EARLY BIRD POOL REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

Today is the last day to sign up for the Maplewood Pool and receive the early bird discount.

If you register and pay before the end of today you can pay the $230 individual rate or $405 for a family of three to seven.

See all of the fee rates HERE. 

After today, those prices rise to $270 and $445 respectively.

And the pool apparently needs it after losing about $140,000 during the past three years.

Full registration information HERE.

MORE VALLEY STREET ROAD CLOSURES FOR FRIDAY ANNOUNCED

After finally advising motorists yesterday of the Valley Street shutdowns for N.J. American Water work that have been causing traffic chaos all week, the police department announced the next phase of the work for tomorrow.

A police notice issued today stated that a two block stretch of Valley Street, from South Pierson Road to Sommer Avenue, will be closed Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and vehicles will be detoured causing "additional traffic in the immediate area and on Springfield Avenue."

It also recommended, "that you plan an alternate route to avoid this area if possible."

Stay tuned for the next advisory as this will be continuing until May 6.

STREET SIDE BASKETBALL HOOPS LIMIT CHANGED, BUT IS IT FAIR?

The issue of street side basketball hoops has been on going for more than a year in Maplewood, with many residents angry that they were being ticketed for placing the hoops on the edge of lawns to be played in the street.

In early 2015, the Township Committee voted to allow such use between April 1 and Nov. 30, arguing that the winter months are problematic because of snow removal and other needs.

But even with that allowance, 17 summonses and tickets were issued to residents in just the last year, according to Township records. Several residents also complained that in March, when the weather was warm and sunny on many days, they were penalized for allowing their families to use the hoops.

Fines can run up to $1,000. Officials did not reveal what fines each of the recent tickets and summonses included. 

The TC voted at its April 19 meeting to shorten the restriction at least partially. After an update from TC Member India Larrier, the governing body reduced the restricted time by nine days, allowing use on March 21, the first day of Spring.

See some of the comments below:

 

BELMONT EATERY OPENS WITH GREAT FOOD, AND HISTORY

The long awaited opening of The Belmont Eatery took place this week.

We stopped into the Maplewood Village food spot to check out the burgers, dogs and salads and spoke with Jerome, one of the partners.

He said they're on a soft afternoon opening, but with dinner likely soon. 

But along with the great food, the reason to visit is also to see the great wall mural of Maplewood Village circa 1946 (see below). After you order lunch, see what the shops looked like some 70 years ago.

For instance, the jeweler and optician spots at Baker Street and Maplewood Avenue were a Whelan Drugs. And, of course, the Belmont name comes from the building in which they are located.

SUMMER ART EXPLORATION ANNOUNCED

From Maplewood Recreation:

Art Explorations Summer 2016
Registration is now open for the Summer Art Explorations program.  Children will travel the world through art and food; including making a snack each day based on the country that is being focused on.  It is geared for children 4 - 8 years old and runs Monday thru Thursday from 9:00 - 11:30 AM.  The program is located at the Woodland, 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood in the air conditioned parlor on the first floor.   The fee is $90.00 a week.   Registration with payment may be done at the Recreation Office, 574 Valley Street/Town Hall or online at http://register.communitypass.net/maplewood  Any questions please call 973 763 4202.
Week # 1 June 27th - June 30th  United States including celebrating the 4th of July
Week # 2 *July 5th - July 7th Mexico (*runs only for 3 Days $70.00)
Week # 3 July 11th - July 14th France including celebrating Bastille Day
Week # 4 July 18th - July 21st Africa
Week # 5 July 25th - July 28th Asia
Week # 6 August 1st - August 4th Australia & New Zealand
Week # 7 August 8th - August 11th  Brazil including celebrating the Summer Olympics
Week # 8 August 15th - August 18th Italy
Week # 9 August 22nd - August 25th The Netherlands & Belgium

VALLEY STREET ROADWORK SPARKS TRAFFIC, BUT WHY?

Residents have been hit for days with traffic backups and blocked roads due to roadwork being done on Valley Street between Tuscan Road down to Millburn Avenue.

The shutdowns have come without warning or notice and caused many side street traffic jams. And few police in place to direct traffic through the side streets.

Maplewood Police finally revealed what is going on today with a notice indicating it is New Jersey American Water doing upgrades that may last for at least another week.

See their notice below:

There will be ongoing work in the roadway during the weekdays on Valley St between Millburn Ave and Tuscan Rd. The work is being performed by NJ American Water and will typically last from approximately 9 AM to 4 PM as long as no unexpected obstacles are encountered. NJ American Water expects the work to continue until May 6th and then a 2nd phase of work to be performed in July. An update will be sent out once details of the 2nd phase are known.

As Valley Street is a county road, perhaps Essex County should have given a heads up as well.

MORE ON THE HILTON BEAR: POLICE FOLLOWED FOR BLOCKS, THEN TRANQUILIZED

We told you this morning about a bear that was found in a tree near the Hilton Library.

Police revealed more details, and photos, of the incident that actually began at 2:58 a.m. when the first reports were phoned in of a black bear walking through yards on Burnett Avenue and Marion Terrace.

Police found the bear and monitored it as it approached a tree on the Hilton Library property and climbed up.

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife was notified and responded by tranquilizing the bear and catching it in a safety net as it fell from the tree. The bear was then removed to an undisclosed wildlife location.

BEAR FOUND IN TREE NEAR HILTON LIBRARY

A bear found in a tree at the Hilton Library was removed this morning apparently without incident, according to witnesses and police.

The animal was spotted at about 7 a.m. in a tree on the Springfield Avenue side of the library's property and removed. Still seeking details on how it was removed and where it was taken.

Photo: Max Weisenfeld, Friends of Maplecrest Park

PLAN TO CUT EIGHTH GRADE ACCELERATED LANGUAGE ARTS DRAWS BOARD CONCERNS

A proposal to cut the accelerated language arts program for eighth grade students brought criticism and a litany of questions from school board members last week who plan to vote on the idea next month.

Board Member Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad raised the issue during her report on the Excellence and Equity Committee, saying it had been a major subject of discussion. The cut would not occur until the 2016-2017 school year begins.

Susan Grierson, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said the district wanted to eliminate the program, which allows some eighth grade students to receive ninth grade language arts and English classes while in middle school. She said concerns were raised over some material that was "inappropriate" for students of that age and some social concerns when they reach CHS and are in a class a grade or two higher..

"An eighth grader is very, very different socially, emotionally than a 10th grader," Grierson said. "The students are not getting high school credit and they still have to go to high school and take four years of language arts."

She added, "sometimes the course work is really inappropriate for them. They are sometimes two years or younger than the students they are sitting next to in class. The course selections are sometimes not age appropriate for children who are 13 or 14 years old ... class discussions can be on sensitive topics that some of these students don't have the maturity."

Board Member Beth Daugherty, who was the only current board member on the board when the accelerated program was approved in 2012, said "it was not well thought out."

"It was one of the things that came in kind of at the last minute," Daugherty recalled. "There was no planning of what the impact would be at the high school. It is a shame."

But other board members were reluctant to suspend the program without more information.

"I'm concerned that we are being asked to consider elimination of a course without the language arts curriculum being available to us or the pubic through our website," said Board President Elizabeth Baker. "If we are asking parents to believe that their student will be sufficiently engaged and challenged in another way we need to be transparent."

Board Member Madhu Pai added, "I don't think we should be making changes while the work is ongoing. We have a real problem in this district with differentiated instruction."

Board Member Donna Smith said removing the option may hurt efforts to expand choices and opportunities for students at a time when that is a priority.

"If we are trying to move toward individualized learning and choice it seems to me we are taking a step backward if we remove an accelerated course," Smith said. "Rather than just complaining about how it's working, I think there are ways it can be fixed."

Board Member Johanna Wright said simply, "I don't know why we are doing his."

The board requested more details on the specific curriculum and is expected to make a decision at its next regular meeting on May 12.

MONEY HELP AT THE LIBRARY TODAY

Money Smart Week: Bankruptcy Seminar

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) will be providing a FREE legal seminar for people considering filing for bankruptcy. The seminar will provide an overview of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process and other information to help you determine whether bankruptcy is the right choice for you.

Money Smart Week: Learn How to Pay for College Without Going Broke

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Main Library – For all parents and college-bound students.  You’ll learn:

• Why procrastination may cost you thousands of dollars and why everyone should file a FAFSA form
• Why the least expensive college may not be the most cost effective
• How to position your student to maximize their success both in and after college, and specific qualities to look for when searching for a college
• Why traditional college savings strategies like 529s, Coverdell ESA and children’s accounts can actually cost you money
• How to pay college bills in the most efficient way possible

Presented by EGE Group: CPAs and Consultants

ANOTHER BIG LIBRARY DAY: BABY LIT TO SMART MONEY

Baby Lit

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Main Library * Ages Birth – 2 ½ * Drop In
Tuesdays @ 10:30-11 am: 4/12, 4/19, 4/26

Hilton: Super Shel Silverstein

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Hilton Branch * Ages 6-12 * Drop In
Celebrate National Poetry Month by hearing some of the funniest poems ever written and do an art project based on a Shel Silverstein poem.

Create Space – Maplewood Library’s Makerspace is Open!

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Every Tuesday 6:00-8:00 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 Clinics

6:00 pm – 8:00 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. 

Money Smart Week: Nuts & Bolts of Financial Trading

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Hilton Branch – For ages 13 and up.  Want to know what it’s like to be a Wall Street trader? Play a simulated trading game! Learn what it means to buy and sell – and what you’re buying and selling! Click here to register. Taught by Michael Steiner.

POLICE ANNOUNCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKEBACK FOR SATURDAY

From Maplewood Police:

On Saturday, April 30^th, Maplewood Police Department will be hosting a Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 am -2 pm. 

This one-day event will provide residents with no cost anonymous collection of unwanted and expired medicines.  The Maplewood Police Department is located at 1618 Springfield Ave. 

Law enforcement, public health, and environmental professionals stand united in support of prescription drug take-back programs.  

INITIAL WATER TESTING IN SCHOOLS FINDS NO DANGEROUS LEAD LEVEL

The school district has tested water lead levels in three schools so far, according to Superintendent John Ramos who issued a note to parents today:

He did not provide specific data, but said the levels were "significantly below" the acceptable rate at Jefferson, Marshall and Tuscan schools.

He said results from the remaining schools will be provided as soon as they are completed.

See the entire note below:

SOMSD Community,

SOMSD has been testing district water sources for lead as a precautionary measure, in light of high levels of lead recently found in drinking water in neighboring towns.

We are testing all drinking water sources, including water fountains, food prep areas, ice machines, and nurse’s rooms. This is a lengthy process because of the timing of the sample collection and the multi-day process at the lab. 

We received the first results – for Jefferson School, Marshall School, and Tuscan School.  All results were significantly below the levels allowed by State and Federal regulations.

We will keep the community informed as the results come in for our other schools, which we expect to receive over the next week.

John J. Ramos, Sr., Ed.D.
Superintendent

WALGREEN'S SHOPLIFTER AND CAR THEFT LEAD POLICE WEEK

From Maplewood Police today:

April 20, 2016; Shoplifting; At approximately 9 PM, a male ran out of Walgreens holding unknown merchandise. The male then fled East on Springfield Ave.

April, 22, 2016; Auto Theft; Between noon and 1 PM, a Ford parked on Meadowbrook Pl. was stolen. The vehicle was later recovered in South Orange.

SHOULD YOU VOTE ON SCHOOL PROJECT FUNDING?

School Board Member Beth Daugherty

Should the school board place proposed capital projects on the ballot to gauge voter's opinions on them?

Board member Beth Daugherty raised the issue last week during her report on the Finance, Facilities and Technology Committee, which considers such projects before they reach the full board.

"If we have a big capital project, could we put it on the November ballot as an information-only question?" she asked. "That's something we need to get more information on."

She cited the discussion three years ago over the Columbia High School pool and a proposal then to renovate it or close it. She said that might have affected the school board race.

"It would be really nice if we could put a question on the November ballot that's just for information to get a community response," she said. "Whatever the question is."

Daugherty also happens to be up for re-election this year, along with board members Johanna Wright and Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad.

MAPLEWOOD OLYMPIAN MUHAMMAD AMONG TIME MAGAZINE'S 100 MOST INFlUENTIAL

As Maplewood's own champion fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad prepares for her trip to the Summer Olympics in Rio this year, she has scooped up many accolades for her work.

The latest is being named among the 100 most influential people of the year by Time magazine.

Time's latest issue said, in part: 

Photo:Time

Today Ibtihaj is one of the best fencers in the world—and an observant Muslim woman. This summer, she will represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. And when she competes for her country, representing all of us, she will be the first American Olympian to do so while wearing the hijab. Ibtihaj embraced what made her stand out, and she’s an Olympian because of it.

Read the rest HERE.

And make sure to root her on in the summer games beginning 
August 6.

LOTS OF LIBRARY TODAY: JOB HUNTING TO MOVIE MONDAY

Northern NJ Professionals in Transition

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Main Library – Promote Yourself Beyond Your Resume
No matter how great your resume is, it alone won’t land you needed interviews or that terrific job. Learn what information your resume does not provide prospective employers. Also learn about the social media and technology solutions you can use to effectively promote your experience, yourself and your brand.
The presenter is David Schuchman Information Technology professional and leader of the Professional Services Group of Mercer County
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.
More information about Professionals in Transition

Creative Coloring for Adults

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Main Library – Adult coloring is taking the world by storm. Coloring relieves stress, takes you away from your cares for a while, trains your brain to focus, and gives you a sense of accomplishment.  It may even help keep dementia at bay!  Each month, the library will provide a variety of designs and a supply of colored pencils. Just drop in: bring your own coffee and we’ll bring the cookies.

Movie Monday

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Main Library – Chilax, watch a movie and have a snack. We’ll be watching a baseball movie!

 

Friends Annual Meeting: All That Jazz!

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Main Library – The Friends annual meeting will feature guest speaker Jason Olaine, Director of Touring and Programming for Jazz at Lincoln Center.  With more than 25 years of experience in the world of creative music management and producing (and a professional musician himself), he has been associated with the Newport Jazz Festival and other major music festivals.
And if that’s not enough, he is a Grammy award-winning record producer, too–earlier this year he produced the Grammy-nominated album My Favorite Things, performed by the 12-year-old jazz piano prodigy Joey Alexander.
Jason will tell us about some of his experiences and adventures in the exciting world of modern music, so join us for an evening that is sure to be both informative and entertaining.
The meeting will be in Memorial Hall starting at 7:30 pm.  A brief business session and election of officers will precede the program, and refreshments will be served afterwards.

SOUTH ORANGE MAPLEWOOD TEACHERS PAY RANKS FOURTH HIGHEST IN ESSEX COUNTY

The South Orange Maplewood School District ranks fourth in the county in teacher salaries, according to a new report highlighted in today's Star-Ledger.

The report from the State Department of Education says the median teacher pay in SOMA was $74,698 in 2014-2015. That is topped only by Livingston, West Orange and Millburn. SOMA's average is actually less than the prior year when it was $77,379.

But it's still on the higher end of the spectrum, according to the report, which reveals that Northern Valley Regional High School District in Bergen County is the highest statewide at $95,418, while East Newark Borough School District has the lowest at $40,922.

The data may be a bit misleading as teachers receive salaries based in part on their years of service and academic degrees attained.

MAPLEWOODIAN OF THE WEEK: PARCC TESTING

We reported on the testing glitches and delays for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) this week that cut testing down for one day and cancelled it for another.

PARCC revealed it was a statewide glitch and not the fault of South Orange Maplewood School District officials. Still, is this another sign it is a mistake?

That makes PARCC our Maplewoodian of the Week.

LAST DAY FOR THE GROUNDLING AT THE BURGDORFF

After stumbling upon an outdoor production of a Shakespeare play in Manhattan, Long Island landscaper Bob Malone returns home inspired to write a play about his troubled marriage.

He hires two reluctant New York theatre professionals to spend a week at his home and stage the play in his garage, with a cast of colorful locals. 

The Groundling is a comedy exploring the meaning of the final moments of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, and how the power of theatre can affect the most unsuspecting, and perhaps most deserving, of us all. More info on dates and tickets HERE.

22 OPEN HOUSES TODAY

Another big open house day with lots of homes to visit, three on Wyoming Avenue alone.

So check out your next house or just see what the market is offering.

Full list HERE.

TOWNSHIP MOVES CLOSER TO 21 CIGARETTE BUYING AGE

The Township Committee moved closer to raising the age to purchase tobacco in town from 19 to 21 on Tuesday night, directing Township Attorney Roger Desiderio to create an ordinance that would do so.

All five TC members agreed that the ordinance should be drafted and considered at the next meeting in May. That is a change from February when the TC first discussed the idea and members Greg Lembrich and Nancy Adams were hesitant. They said Tuesday they had changed their minds.

See some of their comments below:



Currently, the statewide age for tobacco product purchases is 19, but several communities have raised it to 21. 

Mayor Deluca said he had discussed the idea with the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce, which had no objection to raising the age that would affect cigarettes, cigars, other tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

None of the TC members were swayed by a letter submitted from the New Jersey Food Council and read by Deluca that claimed the higher age would hurt local retailers. 

"We respectfully request that you reconsider drafting this ordinance," the letter said, in part, later adding, "in addition to the direct revenue loss, this restriction would impact ancillary sales from customers who purchase additional items when they purchase tobacco products."

An ordinance is likely to be considered at either the May 3 or 17 TC meeting.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION OPEN HOUSE TODAY

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm 

Members of the Maplewood Historic Preservation Commission will be at the Robert H. Grasmere Local History Center at the Hilton Branch.  Maplewood residents are encouraged to stop by and learn about the history and architecture of their homes. Come discover information and possibly early photographs of your Maplewood home. Local experts will be available to discuss repairs, replacement materials and resources on how to fix your home.  This is a free monthly event offered by the Maplewood Historic Preservation Commission.

GREAT PROSPECT CHURCH CONCERT TODAY

GIANTS' DEOSSIE AND WABC'S CHARLESWORTH HELP KICK OFF CHARITY GOLF

Some local celebrities on Thursday night helped kick off the promotion for the upcoming AV Hero Golf Tournament, which will raise funds in the name of Angelo Vayas to help fight brain cancer.

Vayas, the owner of Village Trattoria and a longtime local business owner, died tragically last year. The golf event in June is aimed at helping to promote efforts to end the brain cancer that took his life and help improve treatment.

Zak DeOssie

To get the word out this week, volunteers flocked to St. James Gate to sell shirts and caps and raise money. Among those in attendance was New York Giant Zak DeOssie and Channel 7 Anchor (and Maplewood resident) Michelle Charlesworth.

Michelle Charlesworth

DeOssie and Charlesworth served as celebrity bartenders to the packed crowd.

Find out more on the golf event HERE.

POLICE WARN OF WATER COMPANY SCAMS

From Maplewood Police today:

Over the past few months, many local municipalities have reported “Water Company” scams. In most of the cases elderly residents have been targeted. In most cases residents are approached by a male that reports that they work for the water company and that they need to check the water pressure or color of the water in the home. Usually, this individual is on their cell phone the entire time they are with the resident. They escort the victim around their home turning on facets and distracting them. While this is taking place, other individuals enter the home and steal cash and other valuables without the home owner noticing. In most cases, a vehicle is not observed and the individual leaves suddenly claiming they are going to a neighbor’s house or making some other excuse. Usually, the home owner notices open drawers and missing items following the departure of the male.

If someone comes to your home reporting they are from the water company(or other utility) and need to come into your home, do not let them in and contact the police immediately. Attempt to provide as much of a description of the individual, direction they leave and any possible vehicles they may come or leave in when calling.

RAMOS GETS AN F FROM RESIDENTS

Residents give Schools Superintendent John Ramos a broad mix of grades, from A to F, with the highest percentage, nearly 30%, flunking the schools chief on his first months at the helm. 

Our unscientific online survey asked residents to grade the superintendent since he took over in August. We received more than 90 responses.

While he got some A's, 13.5%, F was the most popular choice for Ramos with 29.7% giving him that grade.

See the results below:

What grade would you give Superintendent John Ramos on his first eight months on the job?

ABCDF

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

911 CALL: DELAYED AMBULANCE RESPONSE FOR CHILD SPARKED PANIC

The 911 calls related to the March 23 delayed response for a child having a seizure on Ridgewood Road, which prompted an angry outcry from some parents after it took 16 minutes for an ambulance to respond, paint a picture of panic and distress from several people on the scene as they waited for the paramedics to arrive.

At one point, a parent screams, "This is too long, where is the ambulance, where is it?"

One 911 operate tells a worried parent, "it looks much worse than it is."

Hear the calls below:



Maplewoodian.com obtained the recordings the same week that Mayor Vic Deluca updated residents stating the delays were caused by a "glitch" in which dispatchers incorrectly sought mutual aid from South Orange.