FARMER'S MARKET IS ON TODAY

The Farmer's Market is open again today at the new location, 1848-1852 Springfield Avenue near Yale Street.

Stop by from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. for some eats and treats and fresh produce as always.

APPARENT ASSAULT NEAR CHS

Police responded to a location near Columbia High School this morning on an apparent report of an assault near the corner of Valley Street and Parker Avenue.

Cops on the scene had no details, but at least one ambulance was on location. District officials indicate that the incident had nothing to do with CHS students or personnel.

We will provide more details as they become available.

DELUCA ISSUES UPDATE ON NJ TRANSIT MIDTOWN DIRECT DIVERSION PLAN

Mayor Vic Deluca posted a new update on the coming NJ Transit Midtown Direct diversion of trains to Hoboken for July and August with information on jitney changes, monthly passes and a possible direct bus route to New York.

As we have reported in the past, the transit agency is re-routing all NYC-bound trains to Hoboken between July 10 and September 1, except for three early-morning trains. See information on those HERE.

Deluca's update indicated commuters should buy the monthly Hoboken pass for July to enable cross-honoring with PATH and the ferries; Maplewood jitney schedule may be adjusted to help accommodate the changes to train schedules; and talks are occurring with a private bus company to run direct buses from Maplewood to NYC.

See Deluca's update below:

NJ Transit Update – June 18, 2017

Monthly Rail Passes – If you are purchasing a monthly rail pass for July, buy the reduced Hoboken monthly pass and not the NYC pass.
You will be able to use the Hoboken monthly pass on the NYC trains before July 10th and for the early morning trains to NYC starting on July 10th. The Hoboken monthly pass will be used for cross honoring with PATH, NJ Transit buses and the ferries. You will be able to use the Hoboken monthly pass on weekend trains directly to and from NYC.

Maplewood Jitney
The Township Committee asked municipal administrators to explore starting the jitneys earlier to accommodate commuters riding the very early NYC direct trains (5:04 and 5:49).
The balance of the jitney schedule will be adjusted to meet NJ Transit’s revised morning train schedule. The evening jitney schedule will be adjusted to meet NJ Transit’s revised evening train schedule. 

Direct Buses to NYC
NJ Transit has refused to put buses at the Maplewood Train Station or other Morris and Essex Train Stations other than South Orange and Newark Broad.
We are exploring if we have the capacity to run a jitney bus to take Maplewood commuters to South Orange to board the NYC direct buses.
We also are speaking with a private bus service (Skedaddle) to see if there is a way to get bus service provided from Maplewood. This service will be at a premium price and there will be no cross honoring with a NJ Transit rail ticket. 

PATH Cross Honoring
According to NJ Transit, operational and layout restrictions will allow it to honor Hoboken rail tickets only at Hoboken, 33rd Street and the World Trade Center. NJ Transit rail tickets will not be cross honored at Christopher, 9th, 14th and 23rd street stations.
Parking at the Maplewood Train Station
Commuters with valid Maplewood parking permits will continue to be able to park on the streets surrounding the train station. The Police will issue an operational order allowing commuter parking with a permit earlier than 6am to allow for boarding the earlier trains to NYC and Hoboken.

NJ Transit Ambassadors
We asked and NJ Transit agreed to have ambassadors at the Maplewood Train Station before July 10th and the first week of the Hoboken diversion to answer questions and assist commuters in making the best travel decisions.
We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Please visit the FAQs NJ Transit has put up on its website

JOB HUNTING HELP AT MAIN LIBRARY TODAY

10:00 am – 12:00 pm
 
Hilton Branch – The Value Proposition: Why Do People Say Yes?
The essence of marketing is the message. The essence of the message is the value proposition. Learn how to articulate a forceful value proposition so that clients, hiring managers or decision-makers can determine how you align with the needs of their organizations. The presentation includes both the conceptual and practical aspects of the value proposition, including its 4-part structure, methods for intensifying the force of the statement, and techniques for deploying a well-crafted value proposition across print, online, and verbal channels.

Presenter Chip Hartman was one of four lead web developers who built AT&T’s first internal news portal, The InfoCenter@AT&T. His business, ChipHartman.com, provides branding and value proposition development services.

Network with other professionals who are currently unemployed or looking for new career opportunities. Meetings alternate between guest speakers and career workshops. Programs are free and open to the public. Subscribe to the group here.

SUMMER CONCERTS ANNOUNCED AT THE GAZEBO

SCHOOL LEAD WATER FORUM RAISES QUESTIONS, CONCERNS; AND WHY IS THE MOST TOXIC FOUNTAIN STILL ON?

District, health and environmental officials at lead forum

About 50 residents and parents attended a lengthy community forum Saturday morning at Seth Boyden School to demand answers and hear new details related to the recent findings of unacceptable levels of lead in several drinking sources at five district schools.

The meeting that included district officials, school board members and health officers from Maplewood and South Orange followed Monday's revelation that nine drinking water sources at five schools had levels above the 15ppb lead limit, including one drinking fountain at Seth Boyden that tested at 444ppb.

The infamous "444" fountain at Seth Boyden was still on

School district officials said that all of the drinking water sources found to be above the limits had been shutdown and were being retested. But when we checked on the Seth Boyden fountain found to have the 444 ppb limit, it was only covered with plastic and was still providing water.

During the meeting, district officials also claimed that setting up lead testing in students was difficult and limited in terms of funding. Maplewood Health Officer Robert Roe, however, said the Township would seek to provide such testing for any family that needed it. A representative of The Lew Corporation of Mountainside, which conducted the recent testing, also spoke.

See those comments below:

Later in the meeting several residents and parents spoke out about the need for more information and asked questions about how and why the testing was done and their fears for children's health. 

See those comments below:

SIX OPEN HOUSES TODAY

Make sure to wish dad a happy Father's Day, then check out your next home.

Or just see what the market is offering.

Full list HERE.

CHS GRADS RETURN TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Seth Boyden alum back to where it began

Several district elementary schools launched a great new tradition on Thursday for graduating Columbia High School seniors who were invited back to their schools to celebrate their pending graduations.

For many it was the first time

Tuscan alum return to their old school

back since their own fifth grade "clap-out" graduations to middle school seven years ago.

CHS officials helped make the event happen by issuing caps and gowns a week before the June 22 graduation set for next Thursday.  


See one video from Jefferson school where they appeared to re-enact their clap-out from way back below: