News-Record's Highlight – September 2010 Archive (20)

Maplewood elementary school to unveil its outdoor classroom

School and local officials, New Jersey American Water representatives, community members, teachers and students will kick off the Jefferson Elementary School Outdoor Classroom Initiative on Oct. 1 from 9 to 11 a.m. at 518 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood.

The event will feature a “Birds of Prey” demonstration by the Avian Wildlife Center and an unveiling and dedication of the WILD Schoolyard Restoration Area, which will provide students a hands-on laboratory for learning about water… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 29, 2010 at 11:30am — No Comments

Jitney fees, parking permits remain flat

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Commuters will not have to pay extra for an annual pass to ride Maplewood’s jitney bus or park their cars on the streets, officials decided Sept. 21.

The Township Committee opted to keep 2010 rates in effect for next year.

That leaves the annual jitney pass at $80, the parking permit at $200 and the combined jitney pass and parking permit at $215.

Deputy Mayor Fred R. Profeta Jr. said the… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 27, 2010 at 1:07pm — No Comments

Maplewood man creates similar recipe to Hy's chessecake

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

As a boy growing up in Maplewood, Scott Matrinec loved when his mom sent him to Hy’s Cheesecake on Springfield Avenue.

The bakery left town about 30 years ago, to the disappointment of many who never found a cheesecake that tasted as good.

But now as a pastry chef, Matrinec has created his version of the popular cheesecake that customers say tastes like the creamy, unforgettable original.

Today, the… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 24, 2010 at 2:21pm — No Comments

Closing date finalized for Valley Street A&P

The A&P on Valley Street in Maplewood will close Oct.15, said Township Clerk Elizabeth J. Fritzen. She said the store’s corporate office provided that date in a phone call Sept. 23, and that she asked for the information to be put in writing.
On Aug. 13, the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Inc. announced that it plans to close 25 stores in five states.

— Philip Sean Curran

Added by News-Record on September 24, 2010 at 1:48pm — No Comments

No one injured or arrested in library evacuation

About 40 to 50 people evacuated Maplewood Memorial Library on Sept. 20 because a girl sprayed a substance initially thought to be Mace inside the building, said library Director Jane E. Kennedy.

Local police and fire departments responded to the scene for the 3:30 p.m. incident, with the street closed to traffic.

A fan was brought in to clear the air inside, with the library evacuated for 30 to 45 minutes. No one had to go to the hospital, Kennedy said.

The girl, a pupil at… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 23, 2010 at 2:40pm — No Comments

District receives aid, but not for paras

Superintendent of Schools Brian Osborne said at the Board of Education meeting on Sept. 20 that the roughly $215,000 the district received in federal funding will not be used to rehire the 76 paraprofessionals outsourced to Essex Regional Educational Services Commission last school year because of budget cuts.

“This is not enough to take back the paraprofessionals,” he said. “It’s not even close.”

Although the district saved $1.5 million in outsourcing such positions, the district faced… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 22, 2010 at 11:54am — No Comments

Math audit will be discussed

School officials are expected to discuss the results of a recent math audit at its Board of Education meeting in October, Superintendent of Schools Brian Osborne said on Monday at the board meeting.

The results of the audit, conducted by Phi Delta Kappa International, which performed the English Language Arts audit two ears ago, were presented to the public in June. The audit is available online at somsd.k12.nj.us.

According to the 183-page document, auditors found fault in the… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 22, 2010 at 8:32am — No Comments

No power outages, injuries reported after storm

Maplewood and South Orange emerged unscathed from the severe storm that rolled through the area late in the afternoon on Sept. 16., officials said.

PSE&G said no customers in either town lost power, as outages were contained to the central and southern parts of the state.

Maplewood police and fire departments reported no major storm-related incidents.

However, a four-story apartment building on Turrell Avenue in South Orange was struck by lighting, fire Chief Jeffrey M. Markey… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 17, 2010 at 1:33pm — No Comments

Magazine poll ranks CHS in top 25 percent

According to New Jersey Monthly’s recent ranking of 322 public high schools in the state, Columbia High School in Maplewood made the top 25 percent.

Developed by Monmouth University Polling Institute, the ranking system is based on an analysis of data from the state Department of Education’s most recent School Report Card, which measures the success of a school based on environment, student performance and outcome and the school’s factor group.

According to an e-mail sent Sept. 17,… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 17, 2010 at 10:30am — No Comments

Murder victim a woman

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

A Newark resident was shot to death in a cousin’s apartment on Jacoby Street Sunday morning and authorities continue to look for the killer.

Victoria Carmen White, 28, had gone to the 43rd Street Cafe in Irvington with her cousin, where they met two men, White’s relatives said Sept. 13.

The two men later were let into the first-floor apartment, although the Essex County Proscutor’s Office would only say… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 16, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

7-Eleven makes way onto Springfield Avenue

A proposed 7-Eleven, the subject of a developer’s lawsuit, will be built on Springfield Avenue, the Maplewood Planning Board decided Sept. 14 in agreeing to settle the litigation.

1712 Springfield Commons LLC sued the board last year for denying its application for the convenience store. The case was pending an appeal in court, with the board having won the first legal challenge.

To resolve matters, 1712 Springfield Commons modified its plans. The settlement proposal the board… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 16, 2010 at 10:43am — No Comments

Gender and name of Jacoby Street homicide victim clarified

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has issued a clarification of the victim’s name and gender that was fatally shot Sept. 12 at a private residence at 159 Jacoby St., Maplewood, according to a statement they released on Sept. 13.

The victim’s legal name is Victoria Carmen White, 28, of Newark.

Authorities said following an examination by the medical examiner and further investigation, it was confirmed that the victim was a post-operative transgender female having undergone sex…

Continue

Added by News-Record on September 14, 2010 at 9:10am — No Comments

County, local police investigate homicide on Jacoby Street

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Squad and Maplewood police are investigating a homicide that happened Sept. 12 at 5 a.m. at 159 Jacoby St.

James White, 29, of Newark, was pronounced dead at the scene when police arrived, according to a prepared statement sent from the Prosecutor’s Office on Sept. 13.

The statement didn’t disclose details of the incident, such as how the victim was wounded or why the victim was at that location.

But, the statement did report that…

Continue

Added by News-Record on September 13, 2010 at 11:30am — No Comments

State aid requires checklist

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

South Orange and Maplewood officials have until the end of the month to fill out an 88-question checklist that would determine how much of their final 2010 state aid payment they will receive.

Municipalities around New Jersey are doing the same thing, a requirement the Legislature approved as part of the state budget. The Christie administration has said the “best practices initiative” is aimed at bringing “greater accountability, responsible… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 9, 2010 at 10:45am — No Comments

Water company could have been 'more proactive'

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

New Jersey American Water could have done a better job of notifying the public about a problem with brown water last month, said Maplewood health officer Robert D. Roe.

His comments came after representatives of the utility spoke before the Township Committee, acting in its capacity as the local board of health. Roe said he felt the company could have been “more proactive.”

The water company explained the problem that occurred with the… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 9, 2010 at 10:43am — No Comments

A&P to close next month

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Agatha Illuminati had finished shopping at the A&P on Valley Street when she heard the news Sept. 3 that the food store would close next month.

“You’ve ruined my day,” she said as she carried a plastic bag of corn in her left hand. “I feel very bad about that.”

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Inc., the Montvale-based owner of A&P and Pathmark, announced Aug. 13 that it plans to close 25 stores in five… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 8, 2010 at 10:05am — No Comments

7-Eleven may be allowed on Springfield Avenue

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

The Maplewood Planning Board is expected to decide Sept. 14 whether to permit a 7-Eleven convenience store on Springfield Avenue to settle a lawsuit the property owner brought against the board.

The owner, 1712 Springfield Commons LLC, sued the board in April 2009 after its application requiring three variances was denied. The Planning Board won the initial round in court, although the case is being appealed.

But the two sides met in… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 8, 2010 at 9:11am — No Comments

Maplewood native leads fine arts in district

By Christina Hernandez, Managing Editor

Anthony Mazzocchi said he “accidentally” became an educator.

“I wanted to move back to New York from L.A. and would take any work in order to do so,” said the 36-year-old who grew up in Maplewood. “It ended up that the work happened to be a middle school band job, not a Broadway show.”

Mazzocchi, however, looks at it this way: If he never would’ve become a teacher, he never would have been… Continue

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

Committee may OK contract for avenue plantings, upgrades

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Maplewood will embark on the final phases of an eight-year facelift of Springfield Avenue seen as a critical public investment to spur later private development.

Since work began in the fall of 2002, the township has installed 125 planters, planted more than 100 trees, laid new sidewalks and made other streetscape improvements.

“It’s created a pedestrian-friendly environment that is inviting to shoppers, browsers and visitors to… Continue

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

Education foundations a vital resource to districts

By Christina Hernandez, Managing Editor

How will local school officials across the state be able to provide a quality education with already cut-to-the-bone spending plans and a new 2 percent property tax cap?

Perhaps, district leaders could find some solace in their financial woes by reaching out to organizations dedicated to bringing innovative learning to schools: education foundations.

With the new capped tax levy, limited aid and state education and… Continue

Added by News-Record on September 2, 2010 at 11:17am — No Comments