Saturday, June 24, 2017
THE WOODLAND REVENUE ON THE RISE, BUT PAYOFF WILL BE A WHILE
Four years after the Township raised some eyebrows with its $1 million purchase of the former Women's Club (now The Woodland), annual revenue for the building is on a steady increase.But with more than $500,000 in additional funds invested in improvements and upgrades to the building, and total revenues since its opening at just above $200,000, it will be a while before the purchase is completely paid off.
Still, township officials consider the project a success already with annual income rising each year since the 2013 purchase and its popularity greater than ever.
"Its popularity has been very organic as word has spread," said Andrew Fishman, Maplewood cultural affairs director. "More and more Maplewood residents come there for events and that leads to more people booking it."
The financial data backs up Fishman's assertion.
Township records indicate annual revenue that began at $20,963 in 2014, grew to $62,284.37 in 2015 and $86,883.75 last year.
And in the first three months of 2017, the facility has brought in $31,491.50. At that rate, it is on pace to bring in more than $100,000 by the end of the year.
"I believe that the revenue has exceeded anyone's expectations," said Fishman, who added that the success has occurred with no real advertising. "All of the business it has attracted is by word of mouth."
The former Women's Club was purchased by the township in 2013, but was not marketed for events until mid-2014 when it was re-named "The Woodland." Along with its use for events, it has also added dozens of parking spaces to Maplewood Village parking after the township opened the lot to public parking.
But in addition to the $1 million purchase price, the Township has also invested $543,655.12 in improvements that included re-paving the lot, environmental clean-up, upgrading interior doors and kitchen areas, and the main room stage, electrical equipment and fixtures.
The Township Committee earlier this year approved some rate increases for out-of-town residents, but local users pay the same fees that have been in place since it opened.
Fishman is hoping to bring more annual and regular events to the space, noting the YMCA summer camp will be there this year and the SOMA Film Festival will move there in 2018.
"I would definitely like to see The Woodland used for more professional photographic and video shooting," he said. "I would like to see it on the radar of professional location scouts."
For more information on the facility and rental options, click HERE.
SPRINGFIELD AVENUE PARTNERSHIP CLEAN-UP DAY CANCELLED
Good morning -
FYI - We are canceling this morning's clean up on Springfield Avenue. Stay tuned for a new date!!
Have a great weekend.
Friday, June 23, 2017
RETESTED SETH BOYDEN FOUNTAIN FOUND TO BE SAFE, BUT WHY?
But the school district still has no information on why.
Superintendent John Ramos issued an update Friday that indicated the fountain, initially found to have a lead level of 444ppb (parts per billion), during tests in May was tested again last week and found to be at less than 1ppb.
State health officials consider a level of 15ppb or lower to be safe.
Ramos issued the findings in a note to parents Friday, but with no explanation for why the levels might have been so different on the different tests.
See that note below:
Dear SOMSD Community,
SOMSD has received the results of retesting the water fountain at Seth Boyden that had a finding of 444 parts per billion in the sample taken in May. Lew Corp, our testing company, took 2 samples from this water fountain last week, and followed the same State-mandated testing protocols. Both of the new samples had results of less than 1 part per billion of lead. The report is posted on the District’s website.
The other 8 water sources which had results above the action level of 15 parts per billion were retested this week, as were the 3 sources from SOMS whose original samples were lost and not included in the original report. We expect the results of these tests next week.
This summer, we are planning to replace all of the water fountains and/or faucets which had elevated lead levels in the initial testing, and we are installing filtration systems on all of our drinking fountains which provide drinking water or are used for food preparation, as a preventative measure. Although the replacement of the drinking fountains and/or faucets and the installation of filtration systems are not required by the State, we will undertake these measures to provide additional safety to our drinking water.
Notes from SOMSD’s June 17th Community Question and Answer Session on Lead in Drinking Water are attached.
We will keep the community informed of the status of our lead testing and remediation, as we continue to work to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
Sincerely,
Dr. John J. Ramos, Sr.
Superintendent
The school district revealed on June 12 that nine drinking water sources at five schools had lead levels above the 15ppb acceptable level, with the Seth Boyden fountain the highest. They held a forum on the issue last Saturday.
But then, as today, there was no explanation for why such levels were found.
Now as the district contends that the most toxic fountain is well within the safe levels, such information is raising more questions that it is answering.
SPRINGFIELD AVENUE GAZEBO MUSIC TONIGHT
Celebrate the rhythms of Brazil and New Orleans
RAIN OR SHINE !
Tonight at 7 p.m.
at the
Springfield Avenue Gazebo
with
Scott Kettner's Carnival Caravan
SCHOOL VIOLENCE, VANDALISM AND BULLYING ARE DOWN: SO WHY DOESN'T THE DISTRICT WANT TO COMMENT?
The report, issued earlier this year and just recently posted online, finds that the SO-MA district had 141 incidents of violence and vandalism in the 2015-2016 school year, down from 208 in 2014-2015 and 233 a year earlier.
Among those reports, the number of violent acts dropped from 105 in 2013-2014, to 95 in 2014-2015, and further to 82 last year.
Vandalism also decreased, from 67 incidents three years ago to 34 two years ago and just 20 last year.
Weapons were on the decline as well with 12 found on campuses in 2013-2014, 17 in 2014-2015, and only 11 last year.
These decreases also occurred as enrollment jumped by 120, from 6,752 in 2013-2014 to 6,872 in 2015-2016.
We then chose to look at reports of harassment, intimidation and bullying, or HIB, cases, which have been under scrutiny in recent years. The school board even had a lengthy training session on the topic several weeks ago.
Data supplied by the district found that HIB complaints were on the decline as well, with 95 HIB complaints filed in 2013-14, 70 in 2014-2015, and 37 in 2015-2016. As of May 3, 2017, there had been only 29 filed for this past school year.
We sought comment from the district on both issues on several occasions but they do not seem to want to give a reaction or a reason. Maybe they don't know why.
MAYOR DELUCA OFFERS UPDATED MIDTOWN DIRECT HOBOKEN DIVERSION PLANS
During Tuesday night's Township Committee meeting, Deluca stated that:
* The Township would seek to begin jitney service earlier, perhaps 4:45 a.m., to allow residents to make the three direct trains that will be running before 7 a.m. "Our plan is to get people as early to the train as possible," he said.
* New York and Hoboken monthly passes for July and August will be $91, about half the usual price, and will allow for free transfers to the PATH and ferries.
* Plans are being discussed to add a jitney for commuters who want to travel to South Orange for the direct buses being planned there by NJ Transit to New York.
* Police will allow commuter street parking to begin earlier, likely 4:45 a.m.
* The Maplewood Library will be making plans for work and meeting space via reservation and may open earlier to allow such use.
See his entire update below:
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