BRUSH FIRE THREAT ELEVATED

This from National Weather Service for Western Essex County:

ENHANCED THREAT FOR THE SPREAD OF BRUSH FIRES LATE THIS MORNING INTO THIS EVENING...

DESPITE SOME LIGHT RAIN OVER THE WEEKEND... THE REGION REMAINS VERY DRY. WINDS GUSTING TO 20 TO 25 MPH AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES DROPPING INTO THE TEENS THIS AFTERNOON WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FINE FUELS TO DRY. THE COMBINATION OF WINDS... LOW HUMIDITY AND DRYING OF THE FINE FUELS SUCH AS GRASSES AND BRUSH WILL RESULT IN AN ELEVATED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRES LATE THIS MORNING THOUGH SUNSET.

TC MEETING TONIGHT: POOL COST HIKE, SUMMER TC MEETINGS, ETC.

Tonight's agenda seems pretty quick, but a few discussion items about the proposed summer TC meetings outside of town hall and in another air conditioned location.


Also, a $200,000 additional bond appropriation for the pool renovations, which will likely be paid back.


Nothing on the agenda about the Maplewood Village bulletin board controversy, but you can bring it up, along with anything else you want, at public comment time.


See HERE

ROBBERY ARREST, BURGLARY AND STOLEN ART SUPPLIES MARK WEEK

Maplewood police issued this weekly report Monday night:

March 27, 2012: Attempted Burglary. On 3/27/12, officers responded to an Orchard Rd. residence on an alarm activation. Upon arrival, Officer Tannenbaum discovered an open window along the south side of the residence. Officers subsequently conducted an interior check of the home, where they determined that a window mounted air conditioner had been pushed inside in order to attempt entry to the residence. No items were reported disturbed or removed by the homeowner.

March 27, 2012: Warrant Arrest. On 3/27/12, Officer J. Moen conducted a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle being operated by Delroy Cranston, 22, of 472 Boyden Avenue Maplewood. Officer Moen learned that Cranston possessed an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of East Orange, NJ. He was subsequently transported to police headquarters where he posted bail and was released pending court appearance.

March 28, 2012: Robbery Arrest. On 3/28/12, a team of Maplewood Police Department Detectives and Officers led by Detective Lieutenant J. Perna arrested Jeremy C. Mayes, 21, of 8E Dorado Drive, Morristown, NJ on charges of Robbery. The warrant arrest was the result of a comprehensive investigation stemming from the robbery of a Crestwood Drive, Maplewood resident reported on March 9, 2012.

March 29, 2012: Theft from Vehicle. On 3/29/12, an Oakview Avenue resident reported that unknown actor(s) had entered her vehicle during the overnight hours and removed a canvass bag of art supplies. The bag was subsequently located on nearby Norfolk Ave. There were no signs of forced entry.

March 29, 2012: Burglary. On 3/29/12, officers responded to a Hughes Street residence on an alarm activation. Upon arrival, officers discovered an open first floor window with shattered glass on the ground below the window.  The Detective Bureau is investigating.

CHS HAS STATE FENCING COACH OF THE YEAR

Star-Ledger reports:

Ibtihaj Muhammad of Columbia High is The Star-Ledger's girls fencing state Coach of the Year for 2011-12

 

When Ibtihaj Muhammad decided to return to Columbia High to coach, her goal was simple -- to help her team earn the respect due a champion.

Earning the respect of her fencers has never been a problem for Muhammad, who fenced for Columbia from 1999-2003 as part of three state championship teams and knew what it took for a team to succeed.
After fencing for Duke University, Muhammad returned to Columbia in 2009 to coach, bringing her credentials as an Olympic hopeful in sabre — she is currently ranked No. 3 in the USA Fencing rankings and is a member of the U.S. national senior team.

Muhammad, who has a deep knowledge of the sport, is a tireless worker and a fierce competitor. That's why she was able to win over her fencers so quickly and gain the respect of her fiercest coaching rivals like Gov. Livingston's Vince Paragano.

JAZZ NIGHT TONIGHT AT PARK WOOD DINER

Time:	7:00pm
Information:	The Well Fed Trio -- Joel Perry, John Straus, and special guest , Tim Metz -- plays jazz and other politically incorrect music from 7 - 8:30 at the Parkwood Diner in Maplewood on Monday, April 2. The local schools are closed this week, so come celebrate with us if you're around. And BYOB.

POOL RENOVATION COST HIKE SPARKS TOWNSHIP LOAN

The Maplewood Pool renovation, which includes new slides and other upgrades, will require another $110,000 in funding for a deck improvement.


The new cost sparked the Township to provide another $200,000 in funds via a bond ordinance that is up for approval at Tuesday night's Township Committee meeting.


See agenda HERE.


Even though the pool is self-sustaining and uses no tax money, the township will provide the funding under a loan-type agreement, according to Township Administrator Joseph Manning.


He explained it in an email this way:

The $200,000 is in addition to what was previously expected for renovations. When the contractor started to remove the concrete decking it was discovered that what was suppose to be four inch decking was in many areas 12 inch decking and this cause a change order in the amount of $110,000. We added some additional funds so they were available in case any other change orders were needed.

The Township borrows for the pool capital project and the pool operating budget reimburses the principal and interest payments. So as long as the pool can cover these reimbursements and its other operating expenses, it is self-sustaining.

This follows the approval of a 30% increase in pool fees for this season, previously approved by the TC.

ZONING BOARD TONIGHT - LEARN SOMETHING

The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets tonight.


Agenda HERE.


Tonight's cases seem pretty routine, but if you have never attended one of these meetings, worth a stop by as you can see how they work and what goes into approving changes to our township and why.

19 MAPLEWOOD OPEN HOUSES TODAY

       
  LISTINGS IN GREEN ARE LESS THAN 2 WEEKS ON MARKET!

No:	Hours	Address	List Price	Style	RM	BR	TBT	Gar	BSMT
1	2-4	465-73 VALLEY ST*	$169,000	Hi-Rise	6	2	2	1	No
2	1-5	59 FERNWOOD RD*	$234,999	Colonial	5	2	1.1	3	Yes
3	1-4	90 HILLCREST RD*	$249,000	Colonial	7	3	1.1	0	Yes
4	2-4	155 Lexington Ave*	$300,000	Cape Cod	7	4	2	1	Yes
5	1-5	37 Essex Ave*	$325,000	Colonial	7	3	2	1	Yes
6	1-4	24 E Cedar Ln*	$355,000	Colonial	7	3	1.1	1	Yes
7	1-4	626 VALLEY ST*	$397,800	Colonial	9	4	2.1	2	Yes
8	1-4	106 Oakland Rd*	$399,900	Colonial	9	4	2	2	Yes
9	1-5	138 OAKLAND RD*	$399,900	Colonial	10	3	1.1	0	Yes
10	1-4	14 Amherst Ct*	$400,000	Colonial	9	4	1	2	Yes
11	1-4	148 GARFIELD PL*	$469,000	Colonial	6	3	1.1	2	Yes
12	1-4	11 PARK AVE*	$469,900	Colonial	7	3	1.2	1	Yes
13	1-4	14 Lancaster Ave*	$510,000	Colonial	9	4	1	0	Yes
14	1-5	73 Oakland Rd*	$525,000	Colonial	12	5	1.2	1	Yes
15	1-4	7 Lincoln Pl*	$529,000	Colonial	9	4	2.1	2	Yes
16	1-4	10-12 Oberlin St*	$550,000	Colonial	8	4	1.2	4	Yes
17	1-4	57 CURTIS PL*	$595,000	Tudor	10	5	3.1	2	Yes
18	1-4	16 Girard Place	$595,000	Colonial	10	4	2.1	2	Yes
19	1-4	77 Collinwood Rd*	$1,199,000	Cust Home	10	5	4.1	2	No