STOLEN CAR, ROBBERY AND NUMEROUS BURGLARY ACTS LEAD POLICE WEEK

From Maplewood Police today:

November 17, 2013, Auto theft; During the overnight hours, a vehicle was stolen from a home on Madison Ave and driven down the street into another vehicle.  The vehicle it was driven into had all four tired and rims stolen from it.

November 11, 2013, Robbery; At approximately 745 PM two males approached a male and female pedestrian. The actors demanded the victim’s iphone before taking it

and entering the passenger side of a stolen Dodge Caravan.  The vehicle then

fled East on Springfield Ave.  There were no injuries to the victims.

November 12, 2013, Burglary; A home on Prospect St was entered between 930AM and

130 PM.  Damage was found to a door and electronics and jewelry were reported

stolen.

November 12, 2013, Burglary Attempt; During the daytime hours damage was found

to the door of a home on Mountainview Terr.  Entry was not gained to the home.

November 14, 2013, Burglary; Between 9PM and midnight, an apartment of a home on

Menzel Ave was forcibly entered.  Electronics, cash and a watch were reportedly

stolen from the home.

November 15, 2013, Attempt Purse Snatch;  A female carrying groceries into her

home on Woodside Rd was approached by two males that attempted to steal her

purse.  They were unsuccessful in their attempt and fled East on Woodside Rd.

November 17, 2013, Burglary of Motor Vehicle; A vehicle in the driveway of a

Walton Rd residence was forcibly entered.  An Ipod and several other items were

removed from the vehicle.

TEACHER'S UNION PROPAGANDA CONTINUES, DURING PARENT CONFERENCES

So a couple of years ago, the teacher's union in our district, South Orange Maplewood Education Association, negotiated half-days for the days when they have parent-teacher conferences.

We have also chronicled their past in-school efforts to protest, which include wearing SOMEA T-shirts in school and leaving some bulletin boards blank.

Now we find that during the parent-teacher conferences, which continue this week, they are handing out SOMEA pens, with varied verbal messages to let parents know that the union is in a current stalemate.

TRANSPORTATION JOB HELP TODAY

10 a.m. Main library

Anthony Campo, the Director of the New Jersey Transportation, Logistics and Distribution Network, will be sharing details on this growing field within the state of NJ. 

Numbers of positions in this area are projected to grow by 23% by 2020. (In addition to truck drivers and warehouse workers in this field,) there is need for accountants, sales, marketing, operations, legal, safety, training and administrative professionals. Come learn from a man who has spent over 25 years in all aspects of this industry.

CHS POOL AMONG SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES TONIGHT

The Board of Education plans to meet tonight at 7:30 to, among other things, consider the capital plan for Columbia High School, which includes a controversial decision on renovating the CHS pool.

See background on that and the petition against it HERE.

Agenda HERE.

ST. JOE'S PASTOR LEAVING, ADDS TO DISARRAY

St. Joseph's Church has had a whirlwind of change and challenge in the past few years, and now comes word that its pastor, Rev. Eustace Edomobi, is leaving.

Since he replaced former pastor, Rev. Michael Saporito, many in the parish have been frustrated with his lack of communication and oversight, with some pleading with the Archdiocese of Newark to intervene.

A major incident that added to concerns was the March 2012 assault on a church employee, and later word that the parish had fired her for not being able to return to work after her horrible tragedy.

In today's church bulletin, Father Eustace addresses his departure, but with little explanation, with this note:

PERSEVERING IN HOPE

I thank you, Brothers and Sisters, for your great show of support, encouragement and understanding in the last few weeks when I announced that my duty as your pastor will end on February 1, 2014. I know that something like this is unsettling and can create confusion and the circulation of accounts that are simply not true. So that is why I told you up-front what had taken place during my vacation, so that you could hear the facts from me and not get caught up in misinformation or rumor. 

The true character of the St. Joseph Community showed itself in the numerous offers to help and solidarity to me as your pastor, as I look forward to a new assignment.  To all who by phone call, visit or e-mail have sent words of encouragement, I offer sincere gratitude from my heart. For now, let us work together as family by meeting one another’s spiritual and emotional needs so we can move forward.

Today in the Gospel, our thoughts are directed to the end of times. Like everything in life, whatever has beginning will have an end. We all have times in our lives where we believe our worlds are coming to an end. These are usually times of high stress and intensity, huge disappointment, great upset, and despair.  They can be caused sometimes by events not of our making, by incidents that concern our family members, friends, world events, or natural disasters. 

The more people are involved, the greater the stress, unease, and chaos. We experience things like:  illness or death of loved ones, divorce, hurricanes, war, and end of Pastorate or even thoughts about the end of the world itself.  Certainly, in each of these events or thoughts, the world as we have come to know it seems to come to an end. The consoling message of today’s Gospel is that in all that we experience, Christ is near, Christ is present and Christ will see us through. Luke tells us that, in these moments, “not a hair on our heads will be destroyed,” for God is there. Our task then is to look for Him, to persevere, and not to lose hope. 

Grace and Peace of the Lord,

Fr. Eustace

This can only offer more uproar in the church's daily life, which has seen many members depart out of frustration.

Hopefully whoever takes over can give the church the resurrection it needs.

A BIG 16 OPEN HOUSES TODAY

Lots of open houses today, including a few rental units.

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

Check the list HERE.

NEW CHS POOL PROPOSAL FACING DECISION MONDAY, PETITION NOW

The decision to renovate the antiquated Columbia High School swimming pool will face the Board of Education on Monday night as part of the big capital plan.

And the opposition is strong.

One sign is the website urging residents to sign a petition against the proposed $8 million idea. It claims to have more than 300 signers so far.

See it HERE.

But if they do not have a pool, what will it cost in time and money to take students elsewhere for such classes and team competition?

Here's an idea, get some private and corporate donations. What is wrong with that?

See the entire school board agenda HERE.

TURKEY TROT RUN TODAY