The Maplewood Leaflet

Transcription

1 2018 Summer Edition The Maplewood Leaflet Editor in Chief: Sonia Alves-Viveiros, Township Business Administrator Assistant Editor: Jason Sieira, Assistant Township Administrator Unveiling of the Maplewood Rainbow Crosswalks Maplewood Township proudly unveiled its permanent rainbow striped crosswalks on Valley St. and Oakview Rd. On June 7 th the Township of Maplewood unveiled the permanent rainbow crosswalk as part of the Maplewood and South Orange s month-long celebrations of Pride. Valley Street is the first county road in the state of New Jersey to have a rainbow crosswalk and Maplewood is proud to be one of the few municipalities in the world to have this symbol of diversity and inclusion adorn their streets permanently. This free family-friendly event on the front steps of Maplewood Town Hall attracted township residents and visitors from neighboring communities. Attendees took family photos and selfies with the rainbow crosswalks.

2 Administration Department Administration Department 574 Valley Street - (973) Maplewood, New Jersey Maplewood Appoints a New Assistant Township Administrator On June 19 th the Maplewood Township Committee appointed Jason Sieira to the position of Assistant Township Administrator. Since graduating with a Master s in Public Administration from Kean University in 2014, he has traveled nearly the entire length of the Garden State Parkway working in various finance positions in the Borough of Emerson, Village of Ridgewood, Union Township, and Ocean City. After several years in the private sector, Jason applied to the MPA program at Kean University to transition into a career in public service. While at Kean, he focused his coursework on public finance, urban policy, and government spending s impact on the economy. In his most recent position with Ocean City as the Manager of Capital Planning, Jason developed a $100 million 5-year capital plan, helped the City receive nearly $500 thousand in grants, and secure the reimbursement of more than a $1 million in grant funding. As Assistant Business Administrator, he will be responsible for assisting the Business Administrator, Sonia Alves-Viveiros, in the day-to-day operations of the municipal government, and head the human resources and IT departments. Also, he will serve as the town s Affordable Housing Liaison and manage the Maplewood Farmers Market. He brings a desire to learn and a passion for government to the Maplewood Township s Administration office. He believes his work in various environments and having experience in the public and private sectors will enable him to help Maplewood Township maintain its high standards of government service. He is excited for the opportunity to service Maplewood s residents, committee, and Township employees.

3 Affordable Housing Does your home need repairs? Residents who qualify for this program can receive up to $20,000 in repairs. or call (609) for additional information. Visit Do you qualify for Affordable housing? Visit for a pre-application process or call (609) Ext. 29 for additional information.

4 FROM THE ESSEX COUNTY CLERK

5 FROM THE ESSEX COUNTY CLERK CONT D NOTARY PUBLIC APPLICATION INFORMATION A Notary Public Serves as an impartial witness to the signing of documents, attest to the signature on the document, and may also administer oaths and affirmations. This certification is valid for a Five (5) year period. PRE-REQUISITES FOR A NOTARY PUBLIC COMMISSION 1. A Notary Public must be a resident of New Jersey or a resident of an adjoining state who maintains or is regularly employed in an office in New Jersey 2. Must be 18 years or older 3. May not have been convicted of a crime under the laws of any State or the Federal Government, for an offense involving dishonesty, or a crime of the first or second degree. Outreach Locations: Hall of Records, 465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Rm 241, Newark, NJ Monday- Friday, 8:30-4:00pm Monthly Outreach locations (see schedule) Belleville, Caldwell, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Livingston, Maplewood, Montclair, Newark, Nutley, South Orange, West Caldwell, West Orange Visit one of our Notary Public Service Outreach Center or apply online with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) website at No appointment is necessary. Fill out the application and provide a check or money order for $25.00 for the Notary. Make Check or Money Order payable to TREASURER, STATE OF NEW JERSEY. Bring $15.00 in Cash or Money Order for the Notary Service Processing Fee.

6 Public Works Department Maplewood Public Works Department 359 Boyden Avenue - (973) Maplewood, New Jersey Jitney Service Returns July 2 nd In order to provide better services to the Maplewood Community, the following amendments will be made to our jitney schedules, effective Monday, July 2nd: Elmwood Route: This will be the debut of a new route to transport passengers along Elmwood Ave. beginning at Boyden Ave. Parker Route: The following changes are being implemented: o Elmwood at Essex Rd. has been REMOVED from the Parker route. Passengers currently boarding the Parker at this location will now board the Elmwood bus at the same location. o Lancaster Elmwood Ave. has been removed from the Parker route. Passengers currently boarding the Parker at this location will now board the Elmwood bus at the same location. o Prospect Oakland Rd. has been removed from the Parker route. Passengers currently boarding the Parker at this location will now board the Elmwood bus at the same location. o o New Stop Added: Parker Baldwin Ave. New Stop Added: Prospect Summit Ave. Wyoming Route: New Stop Added: Mountain Ridgewood Rd. Hilton Route: New Stop Added: Indian Springfield Ave. Please visit the following link for all of the new jitney schedules slated to take effect on Monday, July 2, 2018: Please call the Department of Public Works at (973) with any inquiries.

7 Health Department Maplewood Health Department 574 Valley Street - (973) Maplewood, New Jersey Maplewood Health Department Updates Website The Maplewood Township Health Department has updated their Community Healthcare Resources page. Individuals searching for resources on Mental Health can visit: Medicinal marijuana resources including service providers, guidance on how to apply and the medical conditions that qualify, and the laws and regulations for the administration and distribution of medicinal marijuana in New Jersey. Residents looking for LGBTQ friendly healthcare providers: Medical Equipment Donations Contact the Maplewood Health Department if you are in need of medical equipment (wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, etc.). The Maplewood Health Department is also taking in donations of medical equipment, which is loaned out to residents at no cost. Call (973) x4300 or x4400 for more information. Rabid Raccoon Identified in the Area: Get Your Domestic Pets Vaccinated with Rabies Virus Vaccine On Friday, St. Hubert s Animal Control captured a young male raccoon and identified that it was infected with rabies virus. The resident who made the call to the Maplewood Health Department noted that the raccoon was acting strangely. St. Hubert s Animal Control confirmed that the raccoon was not behaving appropriately. According to the NJ Department of Health, rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus. The virus is found in the saliva of a rabid animal and is transmitted by a bite, or possibly by saliva contamination of an open cut or the eyes. If left untreated, rabies attacks the nervous system and causes death. According to the Humane Society, in the "furious" form, wild animals may appear to be agitated, bite or snap at imaginary and real objects and drool excessively. In the "dumb" form, wild animals may appear tame and seem to have no fear of humans. There are other signs, such as the animal appearing drunk or excessively wobbly, circling, seeming partially paralyzed, acting disorientated or mutilating itself. However, most of these signs can also be

8 indicative of other diseases like distemper or lead poisoning. Few behavioral signs are telltale of rabies alone. It should be clarified that a raccoon seen in the daytime, especially in the spring, can be common and is not an uncharacteristic sign as they are searching for food for their young. At no time should a resident approach or attempt to feed a wild animal as the animal may be sick but not exhibit symptoms. At this time, the Maplewood Health Department would encourage all residents with domestic animals to get their dog and/or cat vaccinated for rabies, especially if your dog and/or cat go outside in the yard or wander around the house. A rabid raccoon or other wild animals may be aggressive and approach or even attack an animal. The Maplewood Health Department oversees the contract for animal control with St. Hubert s Animal Services and licenses all cats and dogs in Maplewood, annually. Rabies vaccination is imperative to animal and human safety that is a requirement for all dog and cat license applications. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Maplewood Health Department, Health Officer, Robert Roe, (973) x4400. Why are Letters Missing from the Maplewood Logo? This summer, The Township of Maplewood is joining the American Red Cross along with other organizations and businesses in a national movement, Missing Types, to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation. The idea behind the innovative Missing Types campaign is that we might not realize how vital certain letters are until they re gone. A, B and O are our blood types, and when not enough people donate, A s, B s and O s may be missing from hospital shelves. This trend isn t just a U.S. issue; it s global. The Missing Type campaign was born in 2016 in the U.K. to help address the dropping number of new blood donors, and the movement has grown each year since. This year, there are already 18 countries planning to be part of the movement during the same period. The Red Cross is asking for your help to fill the missing blood types by inspiring 370,000 new blood donors across the U.S. to take action this summer. Together, we can reverse the trend before it s too late for patients in need. According to the American Red Cross, the Red Cross (as well as other blood donation facilities) continuously relies on the generosity of volunteer blood donors to help patients in need: cancer patients, trauma victims, heart and other surgery patients, newborn babies, and birthing mothers. The need for blood is constant, but there aren t enough new blood donors being added to the ranks to help those in need. In fact, the problem is an alarming one: Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. Only three percent of people in the U.S. give blood in a given year. Engagement from new blood donors has declined steadily for most of the past decade.

9 But you can help. One pint of blood can save three lives. This summer, there will be two blood drives in Maplewood- a perfect time to donate blood: 1. 4 th of July Community Blood Drive, through Community Blood Services. Location: The Bloodmobile will be located at Memorial Park. Time: 11 AM-2:30 PM. To schedule an appointment, please call: (201) If you have a medical question, please call (201) Donor guidelines: donors must weigh at least 110 lbs, eat before donation, bring ID and drink plenty of water before and after donation. 2. August 20 th American Red Cross Blood Drive, Location: The Woodland, 60 Woodland Rd. Time: 2:30 PM-7:30 PM. To register, call (800) RED CROSS or

10 Police Department Maplewood Police Department 1618 Springfield Avenue - (973) Maplewood, New Jersey Maplewood Police Department to Host 35 th Annual National Night Out On Tuesday, August 7 th at Dehart Park from 6:00 pm 9:00 pm the Maplewood Police Department will be hosting the 35 th Annual National Night Out Event. If there are any residents or business owners wanting to take part in the event or make a contribution to the evening, your participation will help make the night a success. Please call the Maplewood Police Department Community Service Bureau at (973) ext with any inquiries.

11 Maplewood Green Team

12 Maplewood Green Team

13 From the Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department 574 Valley Street - (973) Maplewood, New Jersey Maplewood Kids Camp Where Memories are Made Where else can kids be a meteorologist for a day, swim twice a week and safely check out the habitat of wolves, while having fun and making friends? Maplewood Kid's Camp! Maplewood Kid s Camp is open for registration, and planning an unforgettable summer for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade! Maplewood's Kid's Camp will focus on nature, learning, fun, and teamwork, with topnotch counselors and Directors there to ensure each day, is a new adventure. Kid s Camp features two days of morning swimming at the Maplewood Community Pool, Tuesday mornings with an in-service special guest and activity, Thursday field trips and a gardening, sports, craft and free play to name a few fun happenings. Kid s camp has three options for registration: Full day (9:00 A.M. 3:30 P.M includes drop off and pick up): $ per child, per session. Half day (9:00 A.M. 1:00 P.M. includes drop off and pick up): $ per child, per session. Full Day plus aftercare (9:00 A.M. 6:00 P.M. includes drop off and pick up): $ per child, per session To register, please visit:

14 Week 1: June 26th: in-house Magic show, June 28th: field trip Boat Craft Week 2: July 3rd: in-house Science Tellers, July 5th: field trip Liberty Science Center Week 3: July 10th: in-house Meteorology Event with John Marshall, July 12th: field trip Lakota Wolf Preserve Week 4: July 17th: Aunt Selma visits the camp, July 19th: Point Pleasant Boardwalk Week 5: Tuesday, July 24th: in-house- Inflatable Outdoor Activity Day, Thursday, July 26th: Field Trip- Turtle Back Zoo Week 6: Tuesday, July 31st: in-house- Lets Bloom Together planting day, Thursday, August 2nd: Field Trip- Reeves-Reed Arboretum Week 7: Tuesday, August 7th: in-house- Planetarium inside the woodland, Thursday, August 9th: Field Trip- Essex County Environmental Center Week 8: Tuesday, August 14th: in-house- Kid's Challenge Obstacle Course, Thursday, August 16th: Field Trip- Newark Museum Scott Donie's Dive Camp 2018 The dive camp will be an intensive camp experience for divers of all ability levels. We will encourage all participants to challenge themselves in a safe and friendly environment. We will include diving specific dryland warm-ups, exercises and skills drills. Exclusive talks by Scott Donie ranging from diving basics to stories of his experiences competing at the Olympic Level. Advance coaching available for competitive divers. Location Maplewood Community Pool Time: 9am-2pm August 13th-17th Ages: 8-18 Cost: $500 To register please visit:

15 2018 Mermaid Camp Come learn to swim like a mermaid and learn all about the sea! Mermaids get to KEEP their tails to continue the fun! Location: Maplewood Community Pool Time: 8am-2pm August: 13th - 17th, 2018 Ages: 8-18 Cost: $300 To register, please visit:

16 Join the Maplewood Community Pool today! A perfect mix of entertainment and relaxation, the Maplewood Community Pool will fill your summer with fun! PHOTO CREDIT: Live, Love, Lens Photography To sign up: Pool Activities: Water aerobics: Tuesdays-Thursdays starting 7/10-8/30 Float Nights: 8/29, 7/13, 8/3 Live bands at 6:30pm: 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1,8/8, 8/15 DJ nights: 6/26, 6/29, 7/13, 7/17, 7/24, 7/28, 7/31, 8/3, 8/7, 8/14, 8/17, 8/21, 8/28 Dive-in movie starting at 9pm: 7/12, 8/9 Inflatable Fun Day 1-3pm: 7/28 Senior Picnic: 9/5 Dog Days of Summer Event: 9/8

17 SOMA Two Towns for All Ages Senior Property Tax Programs Senior Homeowners: The cost of property taxes in Maplewood - and all across New Jersey has risen over the past several years, making it harder for people to stay in the town they love. The state offers two property tax programs that can save you money and keep your property more affordable. The programs are based on income, not the price of the house. So even if the value of your house has increased dramatically since you purchased it 30 years ago, you may still be eligible for these property tax programs. Property Tax Reimbursement (Senior Freeze) Eligible senior citizens and disabled persons can be reimbursed for property tax increases on a principal residence. Eligibility requirements, including income limits and program benefits, are subject to change by the state budget. You (or your spouse/civil union partner) may be eligible for reimbursement if you meet all of the following requirements from base year through application year: You are 65 or older or receive federal Social Security disability benefits. You lived in New Jersey continuously for at least the last ten (10) years, as a homeowner or renter. You owned and lived in your current home for at least the last three (3) years. You fully paid the property taxes due on your home. For additional information Questions: , Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hear recorded information or order an application: Online: Homestead Benefit (for homeowners) To receive a 2015 Homestead Benefit, your 2015 New Jersey gross income cannot have exceeded the amounts below. The income amounts apply to single individuals, married/civil union couples living in the same or separate residences. $150, or older, blind or disabled on Dec. 31, $75,000 - under 65, not blind or disabled on Dec. 31, For additional information Apply by phone: Apply online: Questions: , Monday through Friday except holidays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Online: NJHomesteadbenefit@treas.State.NJ.Us

18 Cultural Affairs Maplewoodstock is a free two-day local music and arts festival in Memorial Park on Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15. The festival is celebrating its 15 th year of music, art, family fun and food in our historic park. The event kicks off at noon both days and goes to 10:00 pm. Saturday s featured artist is New Jersey native Daniella Cotton, and the headliners are legendary reggae band Third World. On Sunday the featured act will be the eight-piece band The Suffers and headliner Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band closing out the event. Street parking is available nearby. However Oakview Avenue between Valley Street and Dunnell Road will be closed to vehicle traffic. Dunnell Road in front of the train station will be closed to accommodate vendors and musical arts. For more information visit

19 Cultural Affairs Continued Maplewood Concert Band - Chestnuts in the Park Wednesday, July 11, :00 PM - 8:00 PM Maplewood Memorial Park Join the Maplewood Concert Band for their annual appearance at the Amphitheater in Memorial Park MPD Movies in the Park -- The Incredibles Wednesday, July 18, :00 PM - 10:00 PM Dehart Park Join the Police Department for this season's Summer Movie Series. Bring your favorite blankets and chairs. These events are FREE and open to the public. charge and open to all; no prior purchase required. Meet the Author of WHEN KATIE MET CASSIDY, Camille Perri Thu, Jul 19, :30 PM 9:00 PM [words] Bookstore Book presentation and signing with author Camille Perri in connection with her novel and People Magazine Summer Pick "When Katie Met Cassidy." This event is free of

20 Cultural Affairs Continued MPD Movies in the Park -- Minions Thursday, August 23, :00 PM - 10:00 PM Maplewood Memorial Park Amphitheater Join the Police Department for this season's Summer Movie Series. Bring your favorite blankets and chairs. These events are FREE and open to the public. U.S. Army Field Band & C Chorus to perform in Maplewood s Memorial Park on Labor Day Weekend. Sunday, September 2, :00 PM 7:00 PM Memorial Park U.S. Army Field Band and Chorus to perform in Maplewood s Memorial Park on Labor Day Weekend.

21 Maplewood Library Maplewood Memorial Library located at 51 Baker Street Hilton Branch Library located at 1688 Springfield Avenue Maplewood, New Jersey The theme for the 2018 Summer Reading Program is LIBRARIES ROCK! We have programs and prizes for kids, teens and adults. ADULTS Pick up prize entries at Main Library or Hilton Branch. Every book read = one entry. You can enter every time you finish a book. Ten winners will receive a Libraries Rock goody bag, and one grand prize winner will receive a Fire HD 8 Tablet with Alexa. Adult 18 and over with a resident Maplewood Library card in good standing are eligible. Enter June 18 to August 18. Summer program offerings include drop-in crafts for adults, bedroom feng shui, origami, pressed flower bookmarks, yarn & fiber arts and more. Get a brochure at Main Library or Hilton Branch or on our Adult Summer Reading webpage TEENS Summer is a chance to read what you want to read, when you want to read it. Fiction? Sure! Non-fiction? Super! Graphic novels, comic books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, ebooks, audiobooks, podcasts: nothing is off limits. The more words you encounter over the summer, the better off you'll be in the next school year. And...The more you read, the better your chances to win cool prizes, too. Any time you spend reading, listening to a podcast, etc., submit your time in a Prize Entry. Our 4 top readers will win their choice of one of four prize packs. Register for the summer reading club HERE. Check out some suggested summer reads from the district teachers and librarians on carts at the library or

22 Middle and High School students may register for one of our Create Camp programs, and High School students may register for our Village 2 Village program. Find out more HERE. KIDS Listen to live music, discover the science behind the world, learn a new skill, or move to the beat of your own drum all summer long! Enjoy fun-filled programs for all ages. Kids can earn prizes for reading, writing, and attending programs. Participation is easy and free, even if you are away. Keep your brain engaged this summer! At Main Library: Earn prizes and mobile pieces for every hour you read or write. Get DOUBLE credit for attending programs and QUADRUPLE credit for writing. At Hilton Branch: Earn prizes for time spent reading, writing, and attending programs! Don't forget to pick up a weekly maker kit, too! Get the Summer Reading Club flyer at Main or Hilton, or on our website HERE. HYPERLINKS Adult Summer Reading webpage: Teen registration: Create Camp: Kids Summer Reading Club:

23 Neighborhood Summit, hosted by the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race July 10, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm, The Woodland, RSVP at info@twotowns.org Calling all Neighborhood Association or Block Group Leaders! The Coalition on Race's Residential and Neighborhoods Committee wants to bring you and those who are inspired to get more involved together at the Neighborhood Summit to learn how to make a difference in your community. You will connect with municipal services and learn how to organize your neighbors (block or neighborhood associations). Breakout sessions will allow you to discuss timely local matters and methods to build community. Participant names will be entered for a chance to win a visa gift card to help with neighborhood community building.

24 Maplewood Village Alliance & Springfield Avenue Partnership Maplewood Village Alliance PO Box 1360 Maplewood, NJ Ahhh, summer! Everyone's favorite time of year, and in Maplewood Village, there's a lot going on this season! On June 7th, we enjoyed a gorgeous evening and a great crowd for Girls Night Out! We estimated about 500 women come through town to enjoy all the fun things our merchants had in store for them. A perennial favorite event, this year proved no different. Stay tuned for August's Endless Summer promotion which will include sidewalk sales, selfie scavenger hunts and more. In the business arena, we celebrated a grand opening for Abby Haliti Salon at 160 Maplewood Avenue. They pulled out all the stops and had a super fun grand opening event. We're also looking forward to two new businesses in town: Altopiano's is coming to 5 Highland Place. This is a major renovation, so it's taking time, but stay tuned. They're hoping for a holiday opening. Lot 7, behind Arturo's, underwent a landscaping facelift and wow does it look nice! See the picture here and be sure to note it when you go by. It looks so pretty now! Thank you to Allison Ziefert, Keller Williams and Fred Shandler of Arturo's for sponsoring the project. The old Toomey's at 104 Baker Street, is now a public (temporary) parking lot! Thanks to the Township Committee for making this happen. For now, there are ten new parking spots available. Also, at 178 Maplewood Avenue (the old Shenanigan's) there will be a new business called Chaise Fitness. This is their third location, the owners are local residents and we're confident it's going to be fabulous. Chaise is a unique workout that combines pilates, ballet, and strength training so prepare for an amazing overall body workout.

25 Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 30th, when our annual Art Walk & Music Fest takes place! Over 40 artists, great music, and kid activities! 11:00-5:00. See you there!

26 Township Meeting Schedule July Time Place 2 Zoning Board of Adjustment 8:00 PM MB 3 Township Committee Meeting 7:30 PM MB 10 Planning Board Meeting 8:00 PM MB 18 Township Committee Meeting 7:30 PM MB 21 Talk to the Township Committee 9-12 PM Walgreens Springfield Avenue August Time Place 1 Property Taxes Due 7 Township Committee Meeting 8:00 PM MB 6 Zoning Board of Adjustment 8:00 PM MB 14 Planning Board 8:00 PM MB 21 Township Committee Meeting 7:30 PM MB 16 Historic Preservation Commission 8:00 PM MB September Time Place 4 Township Committee Meeting 7:30 PM MB 5 Zoning Board of Adjustment 8:00 PM MB 11 Planning Board 8:00 PM MB 16 Talk to the Township Committee 9-12 PM Maplewood Village Corner Baker Street and Maplewood Avenue 17 Township Committee Meeting 7:30 PM MB Key Location MB - Municipal Building, 574 Valley Street DPW - Public Works Recycling Center, 359 Boyden Avenue MPD - Maplewood Police Department, 1618 Springfield Avenue Township Committee Meeting Agenda is posted on the website prior to each meeting. Township Committee Meetings are broadcast on Comcast Channel 35 Or FiOS Channel 24. In addition, tune into the Township s YouTube channel listed below for a live broadcast.