NATIONAL NIGHT OUT TONIGHT

 

From Maplewood Police:

Maplewood Police Department invites the public to join them in the National Night out against Crime. This year marks the 29th year the National Association of Town Watch will hold its annual nationwide crime prevention event. Maplewood's Night Out will be held tonight 6 to 9 p.m. at the DeHart Community Center at 120 Burnett Ave. 

The event is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, strengthen police-community partnerships, and to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and are fighting back. 

Event will include pictures with Batman, Karate demonstration, wiffle ball home run derby, plus prizes and give-aways for adults and kids. Hot dogs, refreshments and Italian ice will also be available. All members of the community are cordially invited to participate in this year’s program.

SUPERINTENDENT TAKES THREE-WEEK VACATION, MMS PRINCIPAL RECRUITING DELAYED

Superintendent John Ramos

The most recent note to parents from the Maplewood Middle School parents association indicated that interviews for the new Maplewood Middle School principal would not occur until Aug. 22, three weeks from now.

It turns out that is also when Superintendent John Ramos is on a three-week vacation. 

Emails to him were greeted with this response:

I am currently out of the office returning on August 22. For immediate assistance, please call 973-762-5600 ext. 1820 or 1821. Thank you.

This is at a time when the district is seeking to replace both former MMS principal Jerrill Adams, who resigned suddenly in June, and assistant principal Marc Gold, who is leaving for a similar job in Morristown. 

Assistant Principal Louis Brown is serving as interim MMS principal until a new person is found.

Among those who have been interviewed for the position is former Livingston and Vernon superintendent John Alfieri. He told Maplewoodian.com he had interviewed for the MMS post but had not heard either way if he had been chosen for further review.

Ramos said last month the district had decided to reopen the MMS principal recruiting process, saying none of the first round of candidates had advanced to further reviews.

See the job posting for the MMS position HERE.

FIRST AID SQUAD TOPS TC MEETING TONIGHT

The Township Committee meets tonight an hour later than usual, at 8:30 p.m., due to the National Night Out event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at De Hart Park.

On the TC agenda are resolutions to cut ties with the now defunct Maplewood First Aid Squad and approve a new agreement with the South Orange First Aid Squad to provide service to Maplewood.

The governing body also plans to approve the demolition of the former Bumper to Bumper auto service building at Yale Street and Springfield Avenue. See background on that site HERE.

The meeting is set for the Maplewood Police Headquarters, 1618 Springfield Ave. 

LOTS OF LIBRARY TODAY - BABY LIT TO DIGITAL DEVICES

Baby Lit

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Main Library * Ages birth-2 ½ * Drop In  Tues @10:30am: 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9

Pool Craft

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Maplewood Community Pool *  All ages * Drop In 
The library comes to you at the pool with hands-on crafts delivered during adult swim times!

Digital Device Clinic

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Get free one-on-one support for using your e-reader, tablet, smartphone, or other electronic device.  The clinics will take place during the Create Space drop-in hours. Open to adults, teens and children. 

Create Space – Maplewood Library’s Makerspace is Open!

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Hilton Branch – Every Tuesday 6:00-8:00 pm and Thursday 6:00-8:00 pm. Patrons can use Rhino 3D software to build a model, print an object on our 3D printer or use our new color printer or laminator.  There are also Snap Circuits, Squishy Circuits, littleBits and SparkFun kits for the kids. Raspberry Pi single board computers are also available to learn more about computer science.  More information about the Create Space…

TC MEETS AN HOUR LATER TUESDAY DUE TO NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Tuesday night's Township Committee meeting will begin one hour later than usual due to the National Night Out festivities at DeHart Park, which take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

That means the TC will meet at 8:30 p.m. at police headquarters, 1618 Springfield Ave. See the full agenda HERE.

This will be the only TC meeting in August, with the next one set for Sept. 6.

POLICE ALERT: ELMWOOD AVENUE AND GIRARD PLACE ROAD CLOSURES TODAY

From Maplewood Police today:

Elmwood Avenue will be closed in both directions between Boyden Avenue and Essex Avenue until further notice. Plan Alt. Route.

Girard Place will be closed due to construction in both directions between Valley St. and Osborne Terrace until further notice.

Park Avenue closed between Hubert Place and Valley St. until further notice, due to road construction

HELP MAPLEWOOD FENCER CARRY THE FLAG IN THE OLYMPICS

We've been telling you for months about Maplewood's wonderful Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the CHS graduate who will be competing in Rio this month.

See the great ESPN story on her HERE.

Now you can also help her to be selected to carry the United States flag in the opening ceremonies this week.

Just vote for her HERE.

FARMER'S MARKET TODAY

The Farmer's Market is on for today, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Indiana Street and Springfield Avenue.

Come by and check out the local veggies and fruits, and more.