LOCAL OPERA STAR MIRABAL SERENADES TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING

Residents who attended the reorganization meeting of the Township Committee on New Year's Day were treated to a great performance by local opera star Lori Mirabal.

See her wonderful songs below and find out more about her HERE.


 

NO OPEN HOUSES TODAY

Another week of no open houses in Maplewood.

So root on the Jets or Giants as you wish, but get out on this nice day.

BAKER EXPECTED TO BE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT

Elizabeth Baker is the odds on favorite to become the next school board president, according to sources close to the negotiations. 

When the board reconvenes Monday at its annual reorganization meeting, Baker is expected to have the majority votes needed to be the next president.

During that meeting, newly elected members Chris Sabin and Annemarie Maini will be sworn in. They replace former board members Jeffrey Bennett, who chose not to run for re-election, and former board president Wayne Eastman, who was voted off the board. Incumbent Madhu Pai, who won re-election, will also be sworn in to another term.

Baker, who has served on the board for only one year, was a supporter of Maini and Sabin, and ran last year with Board Member Maureen Jones. She has proven her ability to work with other members and raise questions related to budget issues, taxes and other concerns of the district.

Baker declined to comment on her potential presidency. She needs five votes of the 9-person board to gain the seat.

Monday's meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. at the board offices, 525 Academy St.

OBAMACARE HELP TODAY AT LIBRARY

10:00 am – 12:00 pm Hilton Branch – A trained in‐person assister will help you find a plan to fit your budget—one that covers emergencies, doctor visits, prescriptions, hospitalization and maternity care. Pre‐existing conditions, too.
What to bring:

• Social Security Numbers for all household members (or immigration documents)
• Employer and income information for every member of your household who needs coverage (from pay stubs or W-2 forms)
• Current health insurance plan information for everyone in the household

10 am to Noon

Brought to you by the Oranges ACA Navigator Project,under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S.Department of Health and Human Services.

ADAMS, LEMBRICH SWORN IN TO TC; VOW INCLUSIVE, PROGRESSIVE WORK

New Township Committee members Greg Lembrich and Nancy Adams were sworn in today during the annual reorganization meeting where Mayor Vic Deluca was chosen to be mayor again and Adams took the deputy mayor post.

After their swearings-in, Adams and Lembrich used much of their time to thank supporters and offer thoughts on the challenges ahead.

See portions of both of their speeches below.

MAYOR DECLARES STATE OF TOWNSHIP "EXCELLENT," ANNOUNCES TRAFFIC SUMMIT

Mayor Vic Deluca declared the state of Maplewood to be "excellent" in his annual State of the Township address today, in which he tallied a long list of accomplishments and announced some new plans for 2016 that include a pedestrian safety summit.

"...our fundamentals are very sound," he declared. "But there is also another aspect to our community that makes it extraordinary. We are inclusive, open and welcoming, a desirable place that people choose to live in and raise a family."

The mayor went on to cite police stats showing crime is down again and promoted accomplishments from filling more than 860 potholes to planting 100 new trees.  

For 2016, he stated the Irvington Avenue improvements would be starting and a Traffic Summit held to help improve safety, citing the recent pedestrian accidents along Prospect Street.

"If I had two words to share with the drivers in town they would be SLOW DOWN," he said. "In the past 70 days, we have had two pedestrians hit by cars and that is two too many. We are a walking town and need to focus more energy on pedestrian safety and enforcement of traffic laws."

He said the traffic summit would include residents, police, and transportation and safety experts from surrounding areas and colleges.

See his entire address HERE.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WELCOMES LEMBRICH, ADAMS TODAY

The Township Committee holds its annual reorganization meeting today at Noon at Town Hall.

Newly elected TC members Greg Lembrich and Nancy Adams will be sworn in and Mayor Vic Deluca will be formally appointed as mayor for his eighth straight year. He will also deliver his annual State of the Township address.

We will have details of it here immediately after.

HAPPY 7TH ANNIVERSARY MAPLEWOODIAN.COM

It's been seven years since Maplewoodian.com launched back in December of 2008, primarily to offset the lack of daily news about our wonderful town.

You may recall it was when former Mayor Ken Pettis resigned and the news got little attention. There were no other news sites and only Maplewoodonline, where rumor and third-hand unchecked facts abound.

We launched and have been going strong ever since with breaking news, in-depth reports, insights and our favorite animated videos and scanner reports. Thanks much for your support.

Please help us keep it going with tips to editor@maplewoodian.com (always confidential) and supporting our advertisers.

We are also launching a donation system that lets you give as you wish to help keep the site going. Just click on the Buy Now tab on the top right and give as little or as much as you wish.

Thanks and keep reading.