POLICE REPORT BIKE AND AUTO PART THEFTS, AND WHO HEISTED THAT ATM?

From Maplewood Police today:

December 22, 2014; Bicycle Theft; Sometime between 10AM and 3 PM two bicycles were stolen from an unlocked garage on Midland Blvd.
 
December 24, 2014; Burglary; At 0324 AM, officers responded to Express Laundry World on Springfield Ave on an alarm activation.  Upon their arrival it was discover that a vehicle had been driven into the front of the establishment and the ATM machine stolen.
 
December 26, 2014; Theft of Auto Parts; At approximately 08:30 PM a Boyden Ave resident observed a male remove the rear light and door handle from their vehicle before fleeing in a silver vehicle.

LORENA'S NAMED A TOP EATERY NATIONWIDE

The national restaurant website OpenTable.com dubbed Lorena's of Maplewood Village among its top eateries in the nation for 2014.


It was one of only three in New Jersey to be chosen

See the write-up HERE. 

And make a reservation HERE.

TOP MAPLEWOOD STORIES OF 2014

This was an interesting year for Maplewoodians, with positive successes and new directions, but also some scandal and tragedy. We assembled what we see as the top 10 news stories for our township in 2014. See if you agree.

10. Olivia Baker – The Columbia High School track phenom graduated last spring, but not before taking the state track world by storm and shattering many records while earning a post as an international contender. Now at Stanford University, Baker is a top prospect for the 2016 Olympics. You go girl!

9. The Woodland – After the controversial $1 million purchase of the former Woman’s Club, the Township re-christened the landmark spot with a new name and opened it for business. Since then, the location has become a hot spot for private events, concerts and is the new home for the fundraising Rent Party.

8. Lockdown – Columbia High School went into a serious lockdown on November 10 after one student was arrested with brass knuckles and a former student who had gotten into an altercation with him was at large. After several hours of tense, tight security, school was re-opened and the second assailant later arrested.

7. Racial Lawsuit – The ACLU on behalf of a group of African-American parents filed a complaint of racial bias with the federal Department of Education on how students in the district are given advanced placement and how they are disciplined. The district reached an agreement on some aspects, but others remain outstanding.

6. Zach Doubek –Maplewood Middle Schooler Zach Doubek drew high praise and support for a medical battle few his age have had to experience. Hit with a rare MRSA infection, Zach was in a coma for days at one point in 2014 and hospitalized for weeks. He has come through strong and is actually back playing basketball. A true hero.

5. De Luca and Larrier – Mayor Vic De Luca won yet another term on the Township Committee in 2014, along with fellow TC member India Larrier. De Luca, who won with one of his largest vote counts ever, is also set to serve again as mayor in 2015 for his seventh straight year. Larrier’s victory came despite her revealing opposition to gay marriage.

4. Post Office Redevelopment – One of the most controversial and altering projects in Maplewood history is the redevelopment of the current Maplewood Village post office. The initial plan was for Kings to relocate there with one developer. But when the supermarket announced it would not move, the first developer pulled out. That led to a scramble for a new firm, which was chosen in late 2014 and will build the retail/housing mix in 2015.

3. Coda Deaths – May 30, 2014 was a dark day in Maplewood Village when one construction worker inside the Coda restaurant was killed and another trapped after a stairwell structure collapsed. The eatery was shut down for weeks, but re-opened and remains in good business.

2. Nicole Dufault – The shock was swift and strong when Columbia High School teacher Nicole Dufault was arrested and charged with having sex with at least five under-aged students, allegedly on school grounds in some cases. Dufault made bail, but her trial is expected to receive heavy media attention.

1. School District Upheavals – The school district saw its biggest changes in decades this year. First when long-time Superintendent Brian Osborne left for a better-paying job in New Rochelle, N.Y., then later when new principals were appointed for Columbia High School, Maplewood Middle School and Jefferson School. Add to that three new school board members elected to replace three who chose not to run again and things could not be more different. The new superintendent will be chosen in early 2015.

WEEKLY RECYCLING DELAYED, DEAL ENDS UP IN COURT

We told you earlier this month about the planned expansion of Township recycling pick-up to weekly from the current bi-weekly schedule.

But we also told you at that time about the battle brewing between low-bidder Bella Cleaning and Carting of Ridgewood, which won with a $198,000 bid, and second-lowest bidder Gaeta Recycling of Paterson, which lost.

Well it seems that Gaeta was not happy that it lost out to Bella and has filed a request for an order to show cause in Superior Court, according to Mayor Vic de Luca. That filing has halted the planned Jan. 5 launch of weekly pick-up under Bella and set a Jan. 23 court hearing before Judge Thomas Verna of Essex County to decide if the bid was proper.

The bi-weekly pickup will remain in place until that date, township officials said. 

Stay tuned.

STROLLERS ANNOUNCES CAST FOR NEW SHOW

The Strollers announces the cast of their family show for the 2014-2015 season:

How the World Got Wisdom: A Celebration of African

Folklore depicts several tales from the rich treasure of African legend. These fables are enacted through dance, music, stories and scenes. While showing the colorful wealth of African history and folklore, these fables also make their morals relevant to contemporary life.

INTRODUCING OUR CAST!

Noah Akinnuoye ............. Maplewood            

Beverly McCutcheon........ East Orange

Teresita Blake Kellenyi .... Maplewood           

Doreen Oliver ................. Maplewood

Anne-Marie Christians ..... Newark                

Erica Philpot ....................Maplewood

Lucy Freeman..................Maplewood            

Mya Pope-Aparicio ...........Maplewood

Jacob Gonmiah ................Newark                  

Cassandra Rathevich .......Maplewood

Ashley Heacock ...............Maplewood            

Vicki Ridley .....................East Orange

Ibrahim Kamate ..............South Orange         

IlianaWeisberg ................Short Hills

Victor Kamate .................South Orange         

Rebecca Weisberg ...........Short Hills

Alex Klint ........................Maplewood

A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE FOR “FIRST NIGHT”:

We are performing a dance and a story at 5:00P and 5:20P

in the Columbia High School cafeteria downstairs on New Year’s Eve!  If you are partaking of the First Night festivities, come join us!

10 shows in January

For more information, go to www.TheStrollers.org or email themaplewoodstrollers@gmail.com