HEAR CHS' UNACCOMPANIED MINORS TONIGHT

HILLARY CLINTON LAWN SIGN SET ON FIRE

Vandals apparently set a Hillary Clinton lawn sign on fire early this morning, according to a College Hill homeowner who said a passer by alerted him to the flames before they spread.

The resident, who requested that his name and address be kept confidential, said he was informed shortly after 1 a.m. when someone rang the bell and told him about the fire.

The homeowner said he doused it with a hose and called police, who took a report.

No other damage was done, but the incident has raised concerns about such action from a vandalism and safety standpoint.

"This is not Maplewood," he said.

ASBESTOS TEMPORARILY HALTS POST OFFICE DEMOLITION

The demolition of the former Maplewood Village Post Office was recently halted after asbestos was found on the property, according to Mayor Vic Deluca.

He referred questions to JMF Properties, which is handling the demolition and pending construction of a three-story, 20-apartment, five retail shop complex.

But the mayor did say via email:
 

We know asbestos was discovered in the glue holding down some floor tiles. JMF deals with the state on asbestos issues. The Township will allow demolition to start once we receive a certification from JMF that the clean up has been completed. 

Vic

JMF did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

REGISTRATION FOR LEARNING ENGLISH CLASSES

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Register for ESOL classes.  Fee: $25
Classes to be held Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 am – 12 pm from July 5-September 22 at the Hilton Branch
Classes sponsored by Literacy Volunteers of American, Essex & Passaic Counties and the Hilton Branch.
For more information please call 973-566-6200 ext 217

VILLAGE PARKING PROBLEM HITS HOME ON WEDNESDAY

Parking in Maplewood Village, which has already been reduced due to the demolition of the former post office, was further affected on Wednesday for a variety of reasons.

Among them, Kings delivery trucks that can no longer back up from the Ricalton Square lot taking up parking spaces along Maplewood Avenue.

Get used to it, folks, as the demolition and construction of a new three-story housing/retail complex will go on through early 2017 at least.

SCHOOL DISTRICT RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENT TONIGHT

FRONT DOOR PACKAGE THIEVES STRIKE; TWO ARRESTED

From Maplewood Police today:

May 25, 2016; Package Theft; Sometime during the previous few days packages were removed by unknown person from the front of an apartment on Boyden Parkway.

May 29, 2016; Package Theft; At approximately 4 PM, a witness observed two juveniles remove packages from the front of a home on Prospect St.  Officers were able to stop a group of males a short distance away.  Two of the males, both 15 years of age from Irvington and Hillside were identified as the actors and were arrested.

MOST MAPLEWOOD CRIME DOWN IN LATEST STATE REPORT

Total crime dropped in Maplewood in 2014, according to the state Uniform Crime Report for that year that was just released.

The New Jersey State Police issued the report last week that indicated a drop in total crimes reported from 529 in 2013 to 450 in 2014, the last year for which statistics are up to date.

The report, found HERE, also indicated non-violent crimes dropped from 487 incidents in 2013 to 405 in 2014, but violent crimes inched up from 42 incidents to 45 during the same period.

The total crime rate per 1,000 residents dropped from 21.9 to 18.4, while the non-violent crime rate also was down from 20.2 to 16.5.

The murder and rape numbers remained at zero, with robberies slightly down from 38 in 2013 to 36 in 2014. 

Aggravated assaults more than doubled, from four in 2013 to nine in 2014.