CAR CRASHES IN GARAGE

PATCH has the story:

A driver who lost control of his car while exiting the parking lot of the Parkwood Diner on Wednesday afternoon, crashed into the garage of a house across the street. 

According to Lt. John Tutunjian, the driver experienced a mechanical problem with his car as he drove out of the parking lot, causing him to accelerate into a garage at 71 S. Pierson St. 

YOUTHS WITH GUN PURSUED

...Scanner indicates police looking for three young men who were being pursued into Irvington from Elmwood Ave, one showed a gun...Two cell phones and a wallet allegedly taken...

BURGER KING NAPPER

...Scanner indicates Burger King folks called in that an elderly man is asleep and won't wake up....

LITTER AND GARBAGE PICK-UP LAWS PASS TC UNANIMOUSLY, SECOND VOTE NEEDED

The Township Committee Tuesday night unanimously approved the two ordinances on first reading aimed at eliminating garbage in Maplewood Village and on private property.

First, the proposal that would levy fines of $100 to $500 for property owners who do not remove litter on sidewalks and in gutters in front of their homes. It passed, 5-0, according to Township Clerk Liz Fritzen.

In addition, the same 5-0 vote passed through the ordinance requiring many shops in Maplewood Village to receive garbage pick-up at least four times per week.

Both ordinances require a second vote to become law and a public hearing, currently set for Aug. 7.

More background can be found HERE.

CHS PARENTS STILL MIFFED ON COMEDY SKETCH DISPUTE

PATCH is on the latest from Monday Night's School Board meeting:

Columbia High School parents say they still don’t understand why a high school comedy troupe’s last performance was cancelled.

Parents, who attended this week’s school board meeting, complained that the school district didn’t communicate with parents and students who were part of the Friday Night Live comedy troupe. The controversy happened in June, when the acting group did two shows at the high school’s Black Box theater, but the third show was cancelled abruptly by the school administration.

At the time, the district issued a statement that said one of the skits in the show was offensive and inappropriate, but declined to discuss the specifics, saying it would “compound the invasion of privacy of the several faculty members involved. The students moved the final performance of the show to the Maplewood Tennis Club.

Parent Talia Rothenberg complained at Monday’s meeting about a "lack of communication" during and after the show’s controversy.  Despite repeated requests, she said, "The group didn't have a chance" to speak to Superintendent Brian Osborne or Principal Lovie Lilly. "We needed someone who could answer back about the problem."

See our background on it HERE.

DE LUCA WEIGHS IN ON LITTER ORDINANCE

Mayor Vic Deluca has not yet responded to my request for comment on the litter ordinance up for introduction tonight, but he did post this comment on MOL. For some reason he seeks to criticize my headline rather than give a straight defense of the ordinance.

vicdeluca 9:21AM QuoteFlag

Joe Strupp (Yalestreetman) once again has posted an inflammatory headline to serve his own interests.

Here is language of the ordinance:

1) No person shall sweep or deposit in any street gutter, street or other public place within the Township the accumulation of litter from any building or lot or from any public or private sidewalk or driveway.

Anybody disagree with the objective of not having someone sweep or dump their personal garbage or litter onto the public streets?

2) Persons owning or occupying property shall keep the sidewalks in front of their premises free of litter.

We are talking about keeping the sidewalk litter free not the street. The street is the responsibility of the town. The sidewalk is the responsibility of the property owner. Who disagrees with wanting to keep our sidewalks looking good since it is a reflection of our homes and neighborhoods?

The last section of the ordinance deals with business and commercial properties and requires sweeping or removing litter at least once per day. I think this will help with some of the drifting of litter onto residential properties.

The ordinance is scheduled for introduction tonight (7/17) and a public hearing and final consideration on August 7th. Meetings are at 7:30pm and are held at the police and court building on Springfield Avenue (during the summer). 

HEAT ADVISORY FOR TODAY

Forecast for Today

Updated: Jul 17, 2012, 8:05am EDT

Heat Advisory from Tue, 1pm until Tue, 8pm EDT

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DayJul 17

99^°FHigh

Partly Cloudy

Chance of Rain:

0%

Wind:

WSW at 14 mph

Humidity:

38%

UV Index:

9 - Very High

Snowfall:

0 in

Sunrise:

5:41 am

Moonphase:

Waning Crescent

Past 24-hr Precip:

0 in

Past 24-hr Snow:

0 in

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. Near record high temperatures. High 99F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.

check back for updates at our weather bar above

PROPOSED LITTER LAW TARGETING PROPERTY OWNERS: MISDIRECTED?

On an issue first reported here Monday, the proposal by the Township Committee to potentially fine property owners for litter on the sidewalks and gutters in front of their property, it is tough not to seek an effort to keep Maplewood clean.


Current laws, of course, ban littering in the first place. But these clearly focus on those who engage in littering, not the owners of the land upon which the litter is dropped, who may well be victims.


However, one can see that it is easier to blame and possibly fine the owners of land where litter is found because you often do not see who has engaged in dropping the litter.


The fines proposed start at $100 for the first offense and grow to $500 for the third offense. Quite hefty. One wonders if people will have to police their sidewalks and gutters all day long. Likely not as the police and TC officials would seek to enforce such a law only if litter is unattended for days.


Similar to the snow shoveling law that requires landowners to remove snow from public sidewalks in front of their homes within 12 daylight hours of the snow ending.


I asked each TC member why this has come up at this time and have yet to receive an answer. Is it to raise money or clean up the township?


Still, it is another burden homeowners in town who already pay ridiculous property taxes and must keep up their homes need not bear. To those who would litter, perhaps this will be another incentive to hold on to that empty cup or trash piece of paper until you reach a garbage can.


If you want to weigh in on this or ask questions, go to tonight's TC meeting at 7:30 at the Police Complex on Springfield Ave.