Saturday, December 17, 2011

Friday, December 16, 2011

STOLEN CAR STOP, JUVENILES

......Scanner shows police on scene at Valley and South Pierson Rd. with juveniles and a stolen car....

Thursday, December 15, 2011

WORDS HONORED FOR DISABILITY WORK

This press release out this week:

New Jersey Independent Bookstore Honored as Role Model for Disability Employment and Training

[words] Bookstore of Maplewood Selected as a Winner of the 2011 Disability Matters Awar

By [words] Bookstore

Published: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 - 5:29 am

MAPLEWOOD, N.J., Dec. 14, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- [words] Bookstore in Maplewood, N.J., was recently recognized as a role model for Corporate America because of its initiative to help the disabled community, the largest and fastest growing minority segment today. [words] received Springboard Consulting's "Disability Matters" Small Business Award at Springboard's 5th annual banquet & conference held at Cisco Systems, Inc. in San Jose, California. Annual awards are presented to businesses that serve as role models for their initiatives to recruit, provide support and market to the disability community.

"We are honored to be the only business in New Jersey to receive this recognition," said Jonah Zimiles, a co-owner of [words] with his wife, Ellen Zimiles. "[words] is dedicated to serving the diverse spectrum of families in our community, particularly those with children or adults with a developmental disability. We strive to help Maplewood become a model community of inclusion through our respect for and engagement with customers and employees, especially those with autism."

Other Award honorees included Cisco Systems, KPMG, CSX Corporation and Best Buy. Nadine Vogel, founder and president of Springboard Consulting and the Disability Matters conference said: "As the mother of two children with special needs it is so personally gratifying to see the incredible commitment of our honorees to the full inclusion of people with disabilities and their families in so many aspects of their organizations. Their passion and dedication to high standards for this most important work, inspires employees and customers alike."

In support of its disability mission, [words] has just launched [words] BOOKPACKS. These book selections are custom-picked every other month by staff then packed and shipped by the [words] Book Brigade (participants in its vocational training program for young people with autism). Learn more at www.wordsbookstore.com/bookpacks.

TUSCAN PTA PUSHING AGAINST CHARTER SCHOOL

Tuscan PTA followed Superintendent Brian Osborne's recent opposition letter to the state about the charter school that would cost US about $1 million, with this letter to parents:

Dear Tuscan Families,

This note is an update on the petitions to express opinions on the charter school application in our district and to provide you with information to make informed decisions. The text below is from our PTA President's Council.

If you would like to discuss this further or have questions regarding the PTA President's Council meeting please contact me.

Sharon Huetz

PTA President-Elect

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ December 15, 2011

Dear Community Members,

Our petition opposing the Hua Mei Charter School received more than 500 signatures in less than 24 hours. If you haven't signed it and are worried about the financial impact a charter school would have on our already strapped school budget, you can find it here:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/somsdcharterconcerns2/

A decision is expected from the State by January 15th. It is estimated that this school, which is 1 of 17 charter schools still in the running for state approval, might cost our district $600,000 in its first year of operation, with that number increasing every year as the school grows and adds grade levels.

We also urge you to email Acting Commissioner Cerf and Governor Christie. This is a crucial time (decisions will be made on the charter reapplications in the next couple of weeks) and even a short email expressing your feelings about the Hua Mei Charter School is very important. If you believe that communities should make the decision about whether charters open in their boundaries, then also let them know that you strongly support the Charter Reform bills that are currently stalled in the Senate.

You can email Acting Commissioner Cerf at this address:

commissioner@doe.state.nj.us and you can call by using this number: Phone: 609-292-4450

Here is contact info for Governor Christie: 609-292-6000
or http://www.nj.gov/governor/contact

Additionally, a rally is scheduled for Friday, December 16th between 11 am and noon in Trenton. Many districts who are fighting charters will be there. If you'd like more information click this link:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2814547608597&set=o.241786522542296&type=1&theater

If you need more background information you can see the Presidents' Council letter to the community from earlier this week:

http://maplewood.patch.com/articles/op-ed-pta-presidents-council-weighs-in-on-charter-school-application

You can also refer to Superintendent Osborne's letter to the state opposing the charter:

http://maplewood.patch.com/articles/op-ed-osborne-s-letter-to-education-commish-on-charter-application

It is a busy time of the year but we only have a couple of weeks to voice our opinion on this issue. If you are concerned about the impact that a charter school will have on the educational experience of our district's 6,500 students, please take a few minutes to sign the petition and send a couple of emails.

Sincerely,

Cecelia Cancellaro and Suzanne Turner

Co-Presidents

South Orange Maplewood Presidents' Council

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

SCHOOLS SUPE OPPOSES CHARTER SCHOOL

PATCH has the letter from Superintendent of Schools Brian Osborne to the state opposing the Mandarin-language charter school, which would take about $1 million from our taxes:

Dr. Brian Osborne sent the following letter to N.J. Department of Education Acting Commissioner Christopher Cerf on December 8, 2011, on behalf of the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education. The letter concerns the October 2011 New Jersey Charter School Application for Hua Mei Charter School which would be located in Maplewood and draw primarily from West Orange School District and South Orange-Maplewood School District. NJ Spotlight reports that Hua Mei has made the first cut in the process; a final decision will be rendered on January 17.

Dear Acting Commissioner Cerf:

The South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education received a second application on behalf of a proposed charter school, the Hua Mei Charter School. If the application is granted in January, the Hua Mei Charter School would open its doors in September 2012. The proposal would establish a K-5 school to serve students in Maplewood, South Orange and West Orange, in a “Mandarin Immersion” setting.

BURGLARIES, ASSAULT AND WEAPONS MARK POLICE WEEK

This just in from Maplewood Police:

Maplewood Police Department

Press Release

December 13, 2011

December 6, 2011: Burglary. On 12/6/11, a Laurel Avenue resident (nearest Springfield Ave.) reported that a burglary had occurred to her residence during the daytime hours. Unknown suspect(s) reportedly gained entry through a rear first floor unlocked window and removed several hundred dollars worth of jewelry and a 46” RCA flat screen TV.

December 9, 2011: Assault. On 12/9/11, officers responded to the Burger King restaurant at 1833 Springfield Avenue on a report of a fight in progress. The caller had reported that five (5) males had jumped a customer in the restaurant. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a male who reported that he had become engaged in a verbal altercation with another male diner who was accompanied by four other males. He reported that the group of five 20-23 year olds circled him in the store, and then began to punch and kick him before leaving in a vehicle east on Springfield Ave. The complainant reported that he was not injured and that nothing was taken from him.

December 12, 2011: Burglary. On 12/12/11, a Prospect Street resident reported that at approximately 12:10 pm, while in a second floor bedroom, she heard a slam-type noise at her rear door. Her two dogs began barking and ran towards the rear door. As the victim followed, she observed her two dogs chasing after two individuals that were running down the driveway towards Prospect Street. The victim described the two suspects as black males, with one suspect between 18-30 years old, wearing a black sweatshirt, black knit cap, and gloves. The victim could not further describe the second suspect.

December 12, 2011: Attempted Burglary. On 12/12/11, officers responded to an alarm call at a Broadview Ave. residence and located a freshly broken window to a rear door. It appears the alarm and subsequent police response successfully deterred a burglary.

December 12, 2011: Weapons Offenses (Arrest). On 12/12/11, officers responded to a Newark Way business on a report of a dispute. Upon arrival, officers learned that Erroll Thompson, 28, of 64B Newark Way, Maplewood, NJ, had allegedly damaged a door to the business by utilizing a silver aluminum baseball bat to smash the door. Thompson had apparently accused a worked of stealing headlights from his vehicle. After further investigation, Thompson was arrested and charged with a variety of offenses including possession of a weapon (baseball bat).