CHICKEN RAISING CLINICS

With the township allowing a limited number of permits for raising chickens in town, two classes to advise would-be chicken coopsters on the rules are planned.


Just issued from town hall:

Two duplicate orientation sessions on the Township Backyard Chicken Raising Pilot Program will be held.  The first will be this Saturday Jan. 7 at 2:00 pm at the Baker St. Library and the second one will be on Wed. Jan 11, at 7:00pm.  Any one with questions on this program is advised to contact the Maplewood Health Dept. at healthofficer@twp.maplewood.nj.us  or 973-762-8120 x4400

MAPLEWOOD AVE. BLOCKED OFF

.....Scanner reports Maplewood Ave from West Parker to Jefferson blocked off for a crane...

BEER GARDEN APPROVED

On a night when the Township Committee asked the city attorney to draft an ordinance banning public smoking in parks and other locations, the same group approved a pilot plan to allow a beer garden at Maplewoodstock this summer.

The 3-2 vote had India Larrier and Marlon Brownlee opposing the beer garden, with Mayor Vic Deluca, Jerry Ryan and Kathy Leventhal approving.


Meanwhile, Police Chief Robert Cimino voiced opposition to the idea in a letter to the TC, according to PATCH.

PUBLIC SMOKING BAN COMING?

TC members discussed the possibility of a ban on smoking in public tonight.


PATCH reports:

....presentation on public smoking for the Board of Health meeting (the Board of Health meeting that takes place within the Township Committee meeting). First, new Township Committee member India Larrier was elected President of the Board of Health for the year 2012. Dr. Fred Jacobs, a pulmonologist and former NJ State Commissioner of Health, presented on smoking in outdoor places. Jacobs said that even casual amounts of exposure in the right person can have detrimental effects — especially in children. He said that about 45,000 to 50,000 Americans exposed to second hand smoke die every year. Smoking also represents billions of dollars of health care costs every year, and is the single most preventable cause of death, said Jacobs. Already, smoking is not allowed in most indoor public places in the State of New Jersey (excluding gaming floors in Atlantic City casinos). Committeeman Jerry Ryan asked Jacobs about the enforceability of such a ban. Jacobs countered that he felt that most people obey the law, and that it sends the right message although it is difficult to enforce. He said that violations of the indoor air act can go up to $1,000, but that media exposure rather than fines were what made such bans work. Mayor DeLuca said the Committee had looked at ordinances in Union County and in Paramus. In Union County, violators are only ticketed after being ordered not to smoke. Paramus has an outright ban on outdoor smoking in parks. Jacobs noted that school-based activities in parks already are covered by a ban. He also argued against segregating parts of the park. "You should go all the way," said Jacobs, who encouraged including sidewalks. Town Counsel Roger Desiderio asked where the state was on enacting a ban and wondered if there were challenges on these locals ourdoor ban ordinances based on the fact that the state did not have an act banning outdoor smoking. Jacobs said that the smoke free air act of 2006 had made it easier for municipalities in New Jersey to be as restrictive as the state and that there had been no major challenges to the ban. DeLuca noted that New York City had phased in its ban on smoking in parks and asked what the right time frame might be. Karen Blumenfeld, Executive Director of GASP, suggested 30, 60 or 90 days for phase-in but encouraged the town to have such a ban in place by spring when people are beginning to use the parks heavily — so as to avoid confusion. Maplewood resident Drew Dix felt that perhaps smoking should be a personal choice and that people could extinguish their cigarettes when asked at events such as Maplewoodstock. As stage manager of Maplewoodstock, he said, however, that he would enforce the ban if passed. Committeeman Marlon K. Brownlee asked about temporary bans for events (Blumenfeld said that, yes, this had happened). Health Officer Bob Roe said he supported such a ban. DeLuca said that the Board of Health was looking for direction from Roe on what the boundaries should be — the curb of the sidewalk or not? and would Oakview Avenue within the park be included in its entirety in the ban? The Committee seemed to run 3-2 in favor of such a ban, with DeLuca, Leventhal and Brownlee in favor and Ryan and Larrier with reservations — particularly around enforcement. The Mayor instructed Desiderio to move forward on drafting an ordinance.

MAPLEWOOD CARJACK ENDS IN NEWARK

From NJ.COM:

NEWARK — Two teenage Newark residents were arrested today after they led police on a chase that spanned across Hillside and Newark and ended only when they smashed the vehicle through a South Ward storefront, authorities said.

Andrew Cappel Jr. and Tamanisha Mitchell, both 18, were captured near Hawthorne Avenue and Leslie Street after Cappel drove the carjacked vehicle through a storefront window, injuring a 48-year-old pedestrian in the process, said Lt. Vincent Ricciardi, a Hillside police spokesman.

The chase began around 12:10 p.m. in Hillside, when officers noticed Cappel and Mitchell riding in a 1998 Acura that had been carjacked earlier in Maplewood, said Ricciardi. Police ordered Cappel to pull over near Williamson Avenue and Aldine Street, according to Ricciardi, but the teenager sped off and led officers on a chase into Newark.

The Acura struck a 48-year-old woman near Leslie Street as Cappel slammed the car into a storefront window. With officers close behind, both Cappel and Mitchell took off on foot, but were arrested by Hillside Police a short time later, Ricciardi said.

The unidentified woman was taken to University Hospital in Newark for treatment, according to Ricciardi, who did not know the extent of her injuries.

Cappel was charged with aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and various weapons offenses, said Ricciardi. He will be held at the Union County jail.

Mitchell, who was charged with resisting arrest and receiving stolen property, was released with a summons.

THEFTS MARK WEEK, BUT ALSO AN ARMED ROBBERY ARREST

Maplewood Police issued this release today.....

Among the crimes, several thefts of cars left running; not a good idea.

On December 20th 2011, Detectives AND Crime Suppression Team officers from the Maplewood Police Department attempted to served an arrest warrant on Thomas Lloyd Jones, (DOB 12/13/1978) of 65 Randolph Place, Orange,  NJ in a pre-dawn operation. Jones was being sought for his involvement in an armed street robbery which occurred on December 19, 2011 near the intersection of Jacoby Street and Schaefer Road. Jones managed to elude detectives by climbing out of a third story window and making his way to the ground. Jones discarded a 9mm pistol believed to have been used in the armed robbery prior to fleeing the scene. Detectives apprehended Jones several hours later while he was traveling in a car operated by Gwyton Jones (DOB 10/23/1964) of 14 Melman Terrace, Maplewood, NJ. Detectives made the arrest at the intersection of Page Terrace and Clark Street in South Orange. Jones was identified by the victim of the robbery and was subsequently charged with Armed Robbery; Weapons Possession; and Weapons Possession with an Unlawful Purpose. Gwyton Jones was charged with Hindering the Apprehension of a Suspect, Eluding Police and Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.

December 27, 2011: Theft from Auto. On 12/27/11, a Hackettstown resident reported that unknown suspect(s) gained access to her unlocked vehicle that was parked in a driveway on Madison Ave., and removed a Gateway notebook computer and $10.00 in cash. The incident reportedly occurred between 8:00 pm on 12/13/11 and 9:04 am on 12/14/11.

December 27, 2011: Theft from Auto. On 12/27/11, an Orchard Road resident reported that unknown suspect(s) gained access to her parked vehicle and removed $4.00 in cash. The incident reportedly occurred between 11:00 pm on 12/23/11 and 11:59 am on 12/24/11.

December 27, 2011: Theft. On 12/27/11, a Girard Place resident reported that on 12/19/11, unknown suspect(s) opened a package that had been delivered by UPS and removed a dress valued at $60.00.

December 28, 2011: Auto Theft. On 12/28/11, a West Orange resident reported that at approximately 7:58 am, an unknown suspect removed his vehicle that had been left running in a Valley Street driveway. The suspect, described as a black male with a beige hooded sweatshirt, then struck a parked vehicle as well a wooden railing in the driveway before fleeing south on Valley Street.

December 28, 2011: Auto Theft. On 12/28/11, a South Pierson Road resident reported that at approximately 8:15 am, an unknown suspect removed his vehicle that had been left running in the driveway.

December 29, 2011: Theft. On 12/29/11, a Baker Street resident reported that a cell phone was removed from a box delivered by UPS. According to the victim, at approximately 11:15 am, she heard her front doorbell ring. When she answered the door, she observed an unknown female attempting to place packing material into a box. The subject then fled in an unknown direction. Upon inspecting the package, the victim realized that the T-Mobile Samsung Dart cell phone valued at $109.00 was missing from the package. The suspect is described as: Thin white female, 5’4”, with medium brown hair.

MAPLEWOODSTOCK BEER GARDEN ON TAP TONIGHT

At tonight's TC meeting, the proposal for a beer garden at the annual event will be discussed.


See agenda HERE.


And, as always, speak out on any issue you wish at public comment.

ANTI-CHARTER SCHOOL PROTEST PLANNED FOR FRIDAY

As the plans for a Chinese immersion charter school in Maplewood inch closer to reality, organizers of the opposition are planning to protest at a gathering Friday at 4:30 p.m. at De Hart Community Center.


PATCH reports on the move HERE.


Meanwhile, a petition against the move that could cost our over-taxed school district upwards of $700,000 to start is nearing 1,000 signatures. Sign it today HERE.