December 2010 Highlights (22)

A Year In Pictures

Kayin Robbins is a knight at a Maplewood library party in July.

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Added by News-Record on December 29, 2010 at 8:44pm — No Comments

A Year In Pictures

The duck race on Memorial Day in Maplewood.

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Added by News-Record on December 29, 2010 at 8:39pm — No Comments

A Year In Pictures

Maplewood fest in October is Meryl Layton.

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Added by News-Record on December 29, 2010 at 8:30pm — No Comments

A Year In Pictures

Alexander Keeling at a Morrow Church event, Maplewood, in October.

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Added by News-Record on December 29, 2010 at 7:02pm — No Comments

Yummy!

Maplewood Village hosted a petting zoo on Saturday and 5-year-old Amy Pacchia smiles as she feeds a miniature horse.

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Added by News-Record on December 22, 2010 at 9:43pm — No Comments

A devoted helper at St. Mark’s is recalled

James Callaway was remembered on Monday by his pastor as a man who had an unending devotion to his family and church — a man who would work behind the scenes without expecting anything in return.

Callaway, a Maplewood resident, was killed Friday after he was struck by a West Orange municipal truck that allegedly had been hijacked by an East Orange man minutes earlier. The driver was being pursued by West Orange and East Orange police, said acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino, and… Continue

Added by News-Record on December 22, 2010 at 9:42pm — No Comments

Alleged fleeing carjacker strikes, kills Maplewood man

A Maplewood man was struck and killed in East Orange Dec. 17 by a hit-and-run driver who allegedly had carjacked the vehicle earlier in the morning, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

James Callaway, 63, was coming out of St. Mark's AME Church in East Orange, where he is a trustee. A carjacked Ford Explorer, being pursued by police, drove on the sidewalk and hit Callaway, authorities said.

The driver, identified by police as 21-year-old Jamal Abdul Silvera, of East Orange,…

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Added by News-Record on December 17, 2010 at 6:17pm — No Comments

Local official lauded by governor for environmental efforts

Deputy Mayor Fred R. Proefta Jr. was honored Dec.15 for his environmental leadership at the 11th annual Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards ceremony in Trenton. Profeta, a leading environmental advocate, was one of 13 people from organizations and companies whose efforts the state commended, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.…

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Added by News-Record on December 16, 2010 at 3:04pm — No Comments

Town seeks legal action against market owner

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Maplewood will go to court against the owner of a Springfield Avenue grocery store who allegedly has been selling food without a license, officials said.

The township said it will seek a judge’s order barring the owner of Maplewood Market from purveying food and making him remove all stocks from the store. Court papers were due to be filed this week.

Aiman Abujudeh had his establishment license suspended in October, health officer…

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Added by News-Record on December 16, 2010 at 11:10am — No Comments

Officials: Keep tax exemption on local bonding

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Opposition by South Orange and Maplewood officials was immediate against eliminating the tax-exempt status of municipal and state bonds, one of the recommendations of President Obama’s deficit commission.

They said borrowing costs would increase at a time when towns already are struggling.

Towns use bonds to finance road repairs, buy fire trucks and pay for other projects. In turn, investors find municipal bonds attractive since the…

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Added by News-Record on December 16, 2010 at 11:05am — No Comments

SOMA officials join county group on shared services

Maplewood and South Orange will join nearly 20 municipalities throughout Essex County on expanding shared services and helping shape legislation and policy on such at the state and local levels.

The local leaders have recently established a group known as the Essex County Municipal Council Exchange, which promotes networking, mentoring and building relationships among elected officials who believe will lead more efficient and transparent local governments.

Both Maplewood Vice Mayor…

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Added by News-Record on December 13, 2010 at 10:42am — No Comments

De Luca favored to be mayor in 2011, democrat says

The head of the Maplewood Democratic Party said Dec.10 that he believes current Mayor Vic De Luca will again be mayor in 2011. The decision rests with the four incumbents of the Township Committee and incoming Committeeman Marlon Brownlee, a Democrat who overwhelmingly beat Republican Bart Albini in the November general election for an open seat, which belongs to Lester Lewis-Powder until Jan. 1. The committee is scheduled to have a public political caucus on Dec. 22 in Town Hall. Party…

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Added by News-Record on December 10, 2010 at 3:20pm — No Comments

It's no turf field, but 'this works'

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

With a snip of the scissors, Maplewood Mayor Vic De Luca cut the ribbon on Dec. 3 at the recently renovated De Hart Park on Burnett Avenue.

“It’s been a long process,” De Luca said standing on the grass field that is the centerpiece of a $1.3 million project.

He was joined by the four members of the Township Committee, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and others. The project, paid… Continue

Added by News-Record on December 9, 2010 at 3:00pm — No Comments

New zones by park

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

The Township Committee voted 5-0 on Dec. 7 to create a new zoning district that will affect a stretch of Dunnell Road by Memorial Park, Maplewood. Officials did not specify which properties will be included in the “parkside zone,” although that is expected in January.

They see the change as a marked improvement that limits the types of uses that could go in the area and imposes other restrictions. Prior to the… Continue

Added by News-Record on December 9, 2010 at 10:59am — No Comments

Developer proposes 24/7 store near Columbia High

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

A developer went to the Maplewood Zoning Board of Adjustment on Dec. 6 seeking permission to build an 1,800-square-foot convenience store at the Shell gas station near Columbia High School.

Ali Enterprises LLC also proposed other improvements to the Valley Street site, which still would retain the gas station. All the developer’s experts did not get to testify, and the next hearing will be Feb. 7.

During… Continue

Added by News-Record on December 8, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

Woman's Club gala day is 'sad'

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

The 94th anniversary of the Woman's Club of Maplewood ordinarily would be a day to celebrate.

Yet as they walked into their Woodland Road club house Friday afternoon, members knew this would be the last Founder’s Day celebration in the building.

“Heart-breaking” was how president Jo Ann Aponte put it, as the club expects to sell the property soon.

“Very sad,” Louise Noll, a 20-year-member, said before… Continue

Added by News-Record on December 7, 2010 at 2:12pm — No Comments

Federal Tax Credit Expires 12/31/2010

NOW is the time to replace your old, inefficient heating and air conditioning system with new High Efficiency equipment, to take advantage of the Federal Tax Credit savings! Save up to $1,500 (Tax Credit) and additional savings on local utility company rebates, plus save on your annual energy costs, too. Wishing you all a healthy, safe holiday season and a prosperous 2011. We look forward to servicing you. We're Serving NJ businesses and homes, and keepng them comfortable since… Continue

Added by Bornstein Sons, Inc. on December 6, 2010 at 1:17pm — No Comments

Towns may connect through green efforts

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Maplewood is interested in creating bike and pedestrian paths along the east branch of the Rahway River to connect with South Orange, a township official said Nov. 30. Vice Mayor Kathleen M. Leventhal said she is looking for members to sit on a task force that would examine the issue and come back with a report by this time next year. She said she envisioned turning a stretch of the river from Oakland Road north… Continue

Added by News-Record on December 2, 2010 at 11:30am — No Comments

Value of real estate jumps

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Property owners in Maplewood will learn this week what their revised property assessments will be based on the townshipwide revaluation, officials said.

Mayor Vic De Luca said Nov. 24 that he did not think the town will see the same savings in assessments that occurred during the revaluation 10 years ago. Property owners in the western end of town had the highest increases in assessments, while those in the… Continue

Added by News-Record on December 2, 2010 at 11:29am — No Comments

New law on bullying isn't new for district

Editor’s Note: The following story is part of a series about the new anti-bullying law and initiatives being organized statewide and locally.

By Christina Hernandez, Managing Editor

While Republican Gov. Chris Christie has yet to sign the nation’s toughest anti-bullying law into New Jersey legislation, one of the sponsors of the proposed “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights” is taking the fight against… Continue

Added by News-Record on December 2, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments