WOMEN'S TRIVIA AND BABY LIT AT LIBRARY TODAY

Women’s History Month Trivia

12:00 pm

Win candy with the right answer!
Tuesdays @ Hilton Branch: 3/14 and 3/21
Wednesdays @ Main Library: 3/15 and 3/22

Hilton Baby Lit

11:00 am – 11:30 am

Hilton Branch * Ages birth – 2 ½  * Drop In * All children must be accompanied by an adult
Wednesdays @ 11-11:30 am: 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29

BIG TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING TONIGHT: FROM LEAF BLOWERS TO POOL FEES, AND MORE

The Township Committee has a pretty lengthy agenda for tonight's meeting, with issues ranging from pool fees to portable storage unit restrictions.

Oh yeah, and of course, leaf blowers.

See the full agenda HERE. 

Among the items being considered are:

* An ordinance to expand the summer leaf blower ban and institute hourly limits year round. See more on that HERE.

* An ordinance that would place restrictions on portable storage units, or PODS, in town. Details HERE.

* Approval of Maplewood Pool fees for 2017 that will include a new weekend-only discount.

* A change to the No Turn On Red restriction at Baker Street on to Valley Street, which will allow such turns between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The TC will also introduce the 2017 fiscal budget. See the background on that HERE.

And, of course, you can speak at public comment. So show up, give them a piece of your mind, ask a question, or just a pat on the back.

Remember, they work for you!

The meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 576 Valley St.

SLAVE AUCTION CONTROVERSY/APOLOGY AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

The recent slave auction lesson controversy, which saw students at one school drawing posters and those at another engaging in a mock auction, was center stage at Monday night's school board meeting as Superintendent John Ramos offered an apology and several residents spoke out against the incidents.

Ramos opened the meeting with a lengthy statement that was part apology and part explanation for the events that came to light last week:

You recall the issue first arose last week when fifth-grade students at South Mountain School made slave auction posters, which were then posted around the school as part of a lesson. 

Days later it was revealed that one fifth grade class at Jefferson School had taken it upon themselves to hold a mock slave auction when their teacher was absent and a substitute in charge. Jefferson Principal Kim Hutchinson on Monday sent a letter home to parents indicating she was concerned that some of those students displayed a "jovial" and even "comedic" attitude toward the event.

At Monday night's meeting both board members and residents spoke out with different views of the situation, with some saying students need to learn the worst of our history, although admitting it might have been handled differently.

See those below:

AVALON BAY FIRE DEEMED NOT SUSPICIOUS, BUT STILL NO CAUSE

The Avalon Bay fire that destroyed part of the 235-apartment complex being built at Boyden and Springfield avenues last month, and raised concerns about the developer's safety record, is not considered to be suspicious, according to Fire Chief Michael Dingelstedt.

But the cause is still unknown

The chief said he was informed by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, which took over the investigation of the Feb. 4 fire, that they could find no proof of any suspicious cause or activity related to the six-alarm blaze.

See his statement to Maplewoodian.com below:  

I was advised by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office that, 

based on their investigation, there is nothing suspicious regarding 

the cause of the fire. The cause is undetermined due to the extent 

of the damage. The Prosecutor's Office may be able to 

provide additional information related to their investigation.

The Prosecutor's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

Mayor Vic Deluca also confirmed the latest update.

Avalon Bay has said it plans to rebuild the damaged portion and finish the project, although it will be delayed beyond the original timeline. The Township has also increased its safety requirements for the project and others in town, with a ban on propane heaters at the site and others.

BIG LIBRARY DAY TODAY: FROM COMPUTERS TO PAJAMA STORYTIME

Hilton Computer Explorations

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Computer beginners and intermediate users can get help with:

• Using a mouse
• Creating basic documents
• Managing an email account
• Searching the Internet
• Viewing photos online

The instructor will help with your specific needs. No registration needed.

Hilton Job Search Support and Strategies Workshop

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Looking for a job? Need help searching for jobs, creating materials to market yourself, or preparing for interviews? Whether you are just starting or need some support in the middle of your search, we can help. We offer assistance with:

• Preparing for your job search
• Resume design and editing
• Online application support and guidance
• Interviewing practice
• Self-promotion tools and resources, including flyers and  social media posting

Drop in. No registration needed. Additional dates will be announced.

Women’s History Month Trivia

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Win candy with the right answer!
Tuesdays @ Hilton Branch: 3/14 and 3/21
Wednesdays @ Main Library: 3/15 and 3/22

Hilton Preschool Storytime

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Hilton Branch * Ages 2 ½ – 5 * Drop In * All children must be accompanied by an adult
Tuesdays @ 4-4:30pm: 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28

Create Space – Maplewood Library’s Makerspace is Open!

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Every Tuesday 5:00-8:00 pm, Thursday 5:00-8:00 pm, and Saturday 10-1 pm. Patrons can use Rhino 3D software to build a model, print an object on our 3D printer or use our new color printer or laminator.  There are also Snap Circuits, Squishy Circuits, littleBits and SparkFun kits for the kids. Raspberry Pi single board computers are also available to learn more about computer science.  More information about the Create Space…

Digital Device Clinic

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Get free one-on-one support for using your e-reader, tablet, smartphone, or other electronic device.  The clinics will take place during the Create Space drop-in hours. Open to adults, teens and children. 

Hilton Math Tutoring

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Hilton Branch * Drop In * Grades K – 7

Have questions about your math homework? Come work with Danielle Perrotta, who has years of experience working with the school district’s math system. She specializes in working with students in grades K-7. 

Pajama Sing-a-Long Storytime

7:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Hilton Branch ● All Ages ● Drop In ●
Come comfy-cozy in your PJ’s, hear stories, and sing songs! The best bedtime treat around!

FREE DIABETES AND BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING TODAY

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Find out if you are at risk for diabetes or high blood pressure with a free screening. Educational materials and individual counseling are also provided. (Additional charge of $10 if HbA1c screening is desired.)

"JOVIAL" MOCK SLAVE AUCTION VIDEO PROMPTS NEW JEFFERSON NOTE FROM PRINCIPAL

It appears that video of the controversial mock slave auction held by students at Jefferson School, and revealed last week in a note home from their teacher, has prompted a further explanation from the school's principal to all school parents.

The principal sent a note to parents of all students in the school Monday, which also offered concern that some of the students treated the issue "lightly" and even in a "jovial" manner. 

The note stated in part:

When we had the opportunity to view the full video last week, we were concerned to see how lightly students treated the topic. The jovial nature of the video suggests that either there is a lack of understanding about the true barbarity of a slave auction, or a lack of awareness of how treating this topic comically is offensive. As ------- explained in her earlier letter, she has already used this as a teachable moment to reinforce the gravity of this part of our history and the importance of social justice and acting as responsible members of our school community. 

We believe that additional work remains to help our students consider how their actions can have a negative impact on others, even if unintended, how joking about slavery is disrespectful to all Americans, especially to the African American community, and that certain matters should be treated with a degree of heightened sensitivity. 

Editor's Note: We have chosen to remove our link to the entire letter and the names of administrators involved out of concern for possible backlash against them.

SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT PROMISES REPORT ON BIAS AND RACIST INCIDENTS

School Superintendent John Ramos is promising what he described as a "comprehensive chronology" of the events related to the recent racist and bias incidents in some schools, ranging from racist graffiti to swastikas.

He said the report will be provided to the school board by next Monday. It will likely review the racist messages found at South Orange Middle School and swastikas at SOMS and South Mountain Elementary School. It is unclear but probable it may also include the slave auction images and activities at South Mountain and Jefferson schools.

"The district has been contending with a complicated set of issues of late," Ramos said during Saturday's special school board budget meeting. "In order to provide the Board of Education with a comprehensive chronology of events for both the recent bias incidents in our schools and incidents where reports of bias instruction have been made, the superintendent will provide a report to the Board of Education by March 27 that includes the following information for each incident: a description, date, timeline, content, and subsequent communication and decision points related to the incident where such communication included interaction between my office and any of the following: building leaders, strategic leadership team, anti-bias experts, community leaders and the Board of Education itself."

Ramos also said the report would indicate information on decisions made in reaction to each incident, if it was investigated, if it was found to be a case of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB), if police were contacted, who made that decision, if a decision was made for further action, and the outcome of any decision.

"This report should help clarify matters for both the Board of Education and the community in regards to the incidents we have been experiencing of late," Ramos said.

School Board President Elizabeth Baker added, "I want to make clear to the public that the board is asking for this information not as part of a blame game or finger pointing, but to have a clear understanding that we can share to the extent we are allowed to by law about what exactly has happened."

The board is also set to meet tonight for its regular monthly meeting, which is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Montrose School, 536 Clark st., South Orange.