PAY-AS-YOU THROW GARBAGE IS HERE AFTER ALL

Even if the township chose not to switch to pay-as-you-throw garbage for this year, Waste Management has launched the first salvo to get the business with emails stating:

New services are available from Waste Management such as "pay as you throw" and one container service. Please click on the attached document for more information.


The email, actually sent on the township's email system, also included this flier:

MAPLEWOODSTOCK T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST

This comes from the Maplewoodstock site:

Our community is so vibrant and rich with creative and passionate people, we again ask to rely on you to create the t-shirt design for Maplewoodstock 2012.

This year, we eagerly anticipate fresh t-shirt ideas for the Maplewoodstock 2012 Music & Arts Festival.

As you may know, Maplewoodstock t-shirts and merchandise are a staple tradition to this event — the sales of which significantly off-set the costs to host our two days of glorious sound and fun. Be a part of this tradition; provide the creative face of this year’s event!

Submit your design by 11:59 pm, Sunday, March 4, 2012.

It must be a digitally-created (almost camera-ready) concept design in JPG or PNG format. If your design is chosen, you will then be asked to supply a final digital, layered, color-separated within the week of the winning decision.

• Must say “Maplewoodstock” and “July 7 & 8, 2012″ on it.
• Should convey a community music and art festival (we’re not a bowling tournament).
• Must work on a variety of backgrounds (e.g., white, black, pink, blue).
• Limited to 4 colors and 2 additional shades of the 4.
• Yes, you can submit more than one design.

There is a second t-shirt design chosen for kids and our “Kid Zone” . . . so youthful, playful designs welcome for the kids wear.

What do YOU get?

• The adoration and appreciation of the town.
• Named credit on the design / t-shirts and Program Booklet.
• Gift certificate to a local restaurant.
• Bragging rights for the rest of your life and a spot in Maplewoodstock history.

So, start designing; since we are no longer looking for something that works as a logo, your creative options are greater this year. Then, email your design to maplewoodstock@gmail.com with the Subject “T-Shirt Contest” by March 4, 2012.

LOBBYING IN FAVOR OF SCHOOL CHANGES

A group has been pushing for approval of Superintendent Brian Osborne's changes to middle and high school offerings, handing out this flier at the train station:

GAY MARRIAGE DRAWS POSITIVE SUPPORT IN MAPLEWOOD

Mayor Vic De Luca, a longtime gay marriage advocate, is among the locals supporting the same-sex marriage bill passed by the legislature this week.
He Tweeted Thursday:
Vic De Luca @Vic_DeLuca 

Way to go NJ Legislature on passing marriage equality legislation. Christie's veto will only block history for a time bit.ly/weDU52

Schools Superintendent Brian Osborne, who has become quite the Tweeter these days, tweeted this:

Brian Osborne @SOMSDsuper

Many SOMSD kids are being raised by loving parents who deserve right to marry. Thanks to NJ legislators who voted to support SOMSD families.

As for Gov. Christie, who plans to veto the bill and wants it on the ballot, he is showing a clear lack of leadership. He knows this law is the right thing to do, but will punt so he can seem conservative down the road. A real leader would realize same-sex marriage is right and he can make history, and maybe a few progressive fans, but chooses to follow the sleazy politician cop out.

STORY SLAM TONIGHT

MAPLEWOOD COUNTRY CLUB CHALLENGES PROPERTY TAXES IN COURT

News-Record has a great item about the Maplewood Country Club challenging its tax assessment.


As the second-largest property taxpayer in town, this could mean something.


The paper reports:

The Maplewood Country Club, the town’s second largest taxpayer, is challenging the numbers the township uses to calculate its property-tax bill.

The club, whose property spans some 89 acres, appealed its tax assessment of roughly $17.4 million in March, court records showed Feb. 14.

Records on file in Town Hall put the assessments at a little less than those contained in court records — at about $17.2 million. Last year the club paid $538,640 in property taxes, township records showed.

Mayor Vic De Luca said Tuesday that there is “substantial” difference in what the two sides think the figure should be. He declined to elaborate, saying the township generally does not discuss legal matters.

SOUTH ORANGE NIXES SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION MOVE

Early word is that the South Orange Village Trustees Wednesday night declined to vote in favor of a school district election move from April to November.


The School Board, naturally, voted against it last week, while the Maplewood Township Committee approved.


We discussed this at this week's podcast HERE.

MAPLEWOODIAN PODCAST 2 - REPORTER ROUNDTABLE

This is the second reporter roundtable with Mary Mann of Patch.com and Philip Sean Curran of the News-Record.


Topics include the possible change in school board elections to November, increased pool fees and the debacle of  De Hart Field. Also, what about the Democratic Party monopoly in town?


Listen below and let us know what you think.