Maywood Matters

New Bulletin Board Previews!

2010-11-20T14:23:00.001-05:00

MaywoodBiz.com now features its very own bulletin board on which residents, their friends, and visitors can post opinions, comments, and pictures for all!

Although there is no moderator, users must agree to a reasonable degree of decorum.

Posts will not be deleted if they fall within the specified terms and all users are assured complete anonymity! (Not even the author of the board/site knows a user's identity).

The Bulletin Board can be accessed through the COMMUNITY CENTRAL link on the main page of MaywoodBiz.com, or you can go directly to:
http://MaywoodBiz.com/bb

Enjoy, and thank you!
MaywoodBiz

Bike and Board Banter...

2010-08-14T13:23:00.001-04:00

During a recent council meeting the topic of skateboarders was discussed, primarily as a safety issue.

Although many agreed that measures were needed to curtail this late-night activity, Mayor Eustace seemed to think otherwise. This was reflected in several quotes appearing in the COMMUNITY NEWS.

One of those quotes read: "Restaurant owners don't live in town. The kids do live in this town. People who run restaurants don't want kids who aren't spending money. Kids aren't spending money at 11 at night. They do want kids in the daytime when they are spending money. So, it's OK for kids to be there at certain hours? I don't like that."

It is a familiar cry, one which wants our youth to have everything we were denied, and one which removes a negative reply from a child's request. But where would we be today if every request we made as a child was granted regardless of the effect on others or at the expense of one's safety?

The issue of skateboarding however is not to be confused with allowing our children to be children. It is an issue of safety; the children's safety as well as the safety of others.

If you are a Maywood resident, I am sure you have experienced the bone-chilling effect of a near-miss of a skateboarder (or bicyclist) while driving at night. I am sure you have experienced the difficulty of navigating the sidewalks of Pleasant Ave through boarders and bikers. And I am sure you have experienced a near collision as you opened a door to leave a store on Pleasant.

If a boarder or biker is struck by a vehicle, or collides with a pedestrian, fault will not matter.

I am in no way an attorney nor versed at all in law, but I would think one solution to be simply a matter of enforcement of existing statutes. (see Borough of Maywood Ordinance § 121-5. Safety rules, which refers to Title 39 of the Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation laws of the State of New Jersey.) This would in some way afford the means to at the very least limit the problem, if not curtail it entirely. Specifically 39:4-10.1 which requires anyone under 17 years of age that rides a bicycle to wear a helmet. (On August 1, 1998 this helmet law was extended to include roller and inline skates and skateboards.)

In addition, the same state statute requires lighting on bicycles at nighttime. (39:4-10 Lights on Bicycles.
When in use at nighttime every bicycle shall be equipped with: 1) A front headlamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front; 2) A rear lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the rear; 3) In addition to the red lamp a red reflector may be mounted on the rear.)

The enforcement of traffic laws presently written would be a start to solving the safety issue while at the same time allowing our youth to skateboard or bicycle the road to adulthood.

Your comments are most welcome!

Bergen Blue Laws Battered

2010-03-19T08:34:00.002-04:00

Bergen County has one of the last remaining blue laws in the United States that covers virtually all selling. The irony is that as one of the largest and most popular commercial shopping cores of the New York metropolitan area it is almost completely closed on Sunday (grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and restaurants are among the few businesses allowed to operate).

Repeated attempts to lift the law have failed as voters either, see keeping the law on the books as a protest against the trend of increased hours and days of commercial activity in American society, or simply enjoy the sharply reduced traffic on major roads and highways on Sunday that is normally seen the other days of the week.

Governor Christie is presently seeking to repeal Bergen County's Blue laws.

To present your opinion, use the poll on the right and choose ANY of the answers that may apply.

You may also post your comments anonymously below:

Governor to Ban Blue?

2010-03-17T08:03:00.001-04:00

Governor Christie proposed raising $65 million in sales tax revenue by repealing the county’s longstanding ban on Sunday business.

Paramus could become the last bastion of blue laws if the state law is repealed.

Those quiet Sundays may be a mere memory as the roar of traffic drones out the sizzling sound of the steak on the grill. Impromptu invitations will be replaced by planned parties to allow for travel time through the neighboring Bergen towns.

And that's just one issue of change!

Here are several other ways the Budget changes could affect you:

• Property tax rebates are being cut 75 percent. The money would not be mailed to you in check form but instead will come as a credit on property tax bills in May 2011.
• A reduction in state aid to municipalities and school districts by more than $1.2 billion in total. If Gov. Christie doesn’t get new laws limiting property tax increases, local government may raise the tax — or drop services and lay off workers.
• Seniors will pay more for prescriptions. Co-pays on name-brand drugs could increase from $7 to $15, in addition to a $310 deductible.
• Student financial assistance would be cut $15.2 million. Tax credits for high-tech businesses will be cut in half, to $30 million. Few of the 2,112 line items in the budget were not touched.
• Long-term, the calls for public employee pension reforms and push for laws allowing towns and school districts to get the upper hand on employee unions could cut property taxes.

Let your voice be heard....

March Winds, 2010

2010-03-15T08:15:00.001-04:00

Let us know how YOU fared during the March Nor'eastner of 2010...
Post your comments here!

If you have video footage we;d like to see it!

Comments Open To All!

2010-03-12T08:02:00.000-05:00

Effective immediately ANYONE may post a comment, anonymously or not!

All comments are the responsibility of the poster and are subject to prevailing rules of etiquette, logic, and law. MaywoodBiz.com is not liable for the opinions and views expressed by individuals. The posting of any and all comments on Maywood Matters is not to be interpreted as endorsement of same.

Sexually explicit and potentially libelous or slanderous comments will be filtered.

DPW Scores High!

2010-03-05T05:56:00.000-05:00

With only 5 days left to cast your opinion in the poll to the right, results thus far have only been positive regarding the snow removal efforts of our last snowstorm.

17% of the participants in the poll have exclaimed this to be the best job yet, while an impressive 76% felt they could not have done a better job themselves!

As of the time of this posting there are five (5) days remaining to the poll.

Mayor Seeks Freeholder?

2010-03-03T07:05:00.003-05:00

The "word" is that Mayor Eustace is among eight (8) Democratic candidates vying for three (3) Bergen County Freeholder positions.
You may read a quick clip HERE

Under New Management!

2010-02-28T21:37:00.003-05:00

While we have recently changed hands there are no current plans to change content, services, or availability.

Among those services presently offered FREE are:

1. Free calendar listings for all Maywood organizations
2. Free business listings for all businesses located within the borough
3. Free listing of coupons for local businesses
4. Free blog (Maywood Matters) for all users

Future plans include:

1. Profiles of local business owners
2. A menu page for all local eateries
3. Monthly surveys for residents to complete
4. and possibly a "classified" listing page

We will remain open to suggestions.

Our contact email is: Rich@MaywoodBiz.com
Our snail-mail address is: 150 B West Pleasant Ave, Maywood, NJ 07607

MaywoodBiz.com to transfer ownership

2010-02-03T15:51:00.000-05:00

By February 15th we will be transferring ownership to another party (negotiations are presently underway).

Upon completion of the transfer notice will be posted on this blog, on the nj.com forum, and on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/MaywoodBizcom )

Please check either of these venues for the announcement!

Light up the Night

2009-11-23T16:53:00.000-05:00

Proposed Billboard for the Duane Read property on Maywood Ave & Essex Street?
(The footage of this Clear Channel billboard was shot from directly in front of a house on a residential street less than a hundred feet away. This video was found on YouTube; the author was 12261942)

Even with changes in the original specs, many in town feel that it is unwarranted and the "income" will not justify the effect on Maywood's quality of life.
It is is on the Planning Board agenda again for 11/24 at 7:30 p.m.

Please attend and let your voices be heard!

The statements above are not necessarily those of MaywoodBiz.com and are stated here only to promote discussion and solicit opinions on such topics.

Thank You Dagburn

2009-10-14T14:04:00.007-04:00

And now for something completly different

Big Bird

2009-10-14T09:35:00.003-04:00

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

I saw one of these guy while out walking early today. After some searching I found out he or she is a Sharp Skinned Hawk. But looking up the description it might well as been a female Cooper's hawk because they are larger especially the females. It looked huge, slowly cruising right at me on Grant ave then banked right, up Mendez about twelve feet off the ground wings spread wide exposing this beautiful light underbelly.
She was not at all frightened and landed on a low branch on Palmer and Mendez with a limp squirrel in her talons. When I walked up the street to watch she was tearing up her catch.

Planters Persistently Pummeled

2009-09-29T23:50:00.001-04:00

In light of the frequent attacks on the planters placed precariously on the turn-around "dots" located at various intersections of Pleasant Avenue, one would have to question the Borough's reasoning for not deeming them a potential hazard to the lives, limbs, and wallets of every resident of this fine Borough.

The initial question should be if these planters conform to or meet in any way the minimum requirements of the New Jersey Department of Transportation as defined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD.

In addition, one would have to ask whether the Doctrine of Attractive Nuisance would perhaps apply should one of these planters be inadvertently struck by a vehicle driven by an adult and whose passengers were children.

At what point will the Borough of Maywood no longer enjoy the privilege of Sovereign Immunity and suffer the consequences of a victim's plea for compensation should these victims find victory in a court of law?

Is the Borough of Maywood exposing themselves and by proxy the taxpayers of the Borough of Maywood to future lawsuits and future financial burdens by their failure to recognize that these planters, regardless of their aesthetics, present a hazard to the drivers and passengers of vehicles navigating the intersections of West Pleasant Avenue?

The statements above are not necessarily those of MaywoodBiz.com and are stated here only to promote discussion and solicit opinions on such topics.

No Bicycles on Sidewalks! Please!

2009-09-24T15:30:00.002-04:00

How about looking into passing a new ordinance prohibiting bikes and skateboards on the sidewalks. Especially downtown on Pleasant Ave! I just nearly got slammed by a bike as I was leaving the UPS store. I could just imagine if I was leaving a store with a door that opens out right onto the sidewalk.

Some one is going to get seriously hurt the way those kids speed on the walkways!

This is a test!

2009-09-09T20:50:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to see if this blog would really let me post as a contributing author...
if it works, I hope others will follow.

Thank you, StandardSix...

2009-09-06T08:33:00.002-04:00

Thanks to you for bringing attention to the video of Congressman Mike Rogers' opening statement on Health Care reform in Washington D.C.

It was a great listen!

I offer it here for discussion and/or comments.

NJOEM Kicks-off National Preparedness Month

2009-09-01T15:46:00.002-04:00

Over the next few weeks, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management will deliver several key emergency management initiatives and messages designed to help New Jersey residents empower themselves and their families in the event of a natural or manmade emergency. The basics of preparedness for virtually all hazards are the same: Get a Kit, Make a Plan and Stay Informed. Following the appropriate steps and being ready "now" means that residents will be ready for any disaster or crisis that may affect New Jersey.
Go to: www.ready.nj.gov/media/pr082709.html or click on the News Around Town link on MaywoodBiz's main site to see exactly what the appropriate steps may include.

Coupons Coming...

2009-08-30T16:19:00.001-04:00

As an added service (FREE, might I add!) to Maywood businesses, we will be constructing a "Coupon Page" to which Maywood Residents and their friends may go to download special savings coupons to be redeemed at their favorite (or soon-to-be-favorite) local business!

Check back often for new coupons; they will be added as offered by the businesses!

And Businesses.... Please contact: info@MaywoodBiz.com to have your coupons added! FREE!

Anonymous Suspended...

2009-08-27T11:56:00.004-04:00

Due to a glitch in the blog service we have temporarily suspended anonymous comments. Hopefully we will be able to resolve this shortly.

You may still leave comments with OpenId, AIM, Livejournal, Wordpress, or Typepad OR just register for the blog (it takes but a moment)

Thank you for your patience.
(And thank you, StandardSix for pointing out the problem)

MaywoodBiz.com

Calling All Contributors!

2009-08-25T14:15:00.002-04:00

The MaywoodBiz blog is now accepting contributing authors. As a contributing author you can start new posts as well as comment on anyone else's post.

To become a contributing author please send your email to: info@maywoodbiz.com

If you do not wish to be identified by your existing email, set up another email through hotmail, gmail, or similar, and then send your request using that email.

This blog can support up to 100 contributing authors!
Thank you

Blog Format Comments

2009-08-24T06:08:00.000-04:00

It has been suggested that this format is not as accessible or as visible to people as that of the forum on nj.com.

Although I must agree that the nj.com's format is much simpler by the manner in which the threads and their comments are listed, I do think that once THIS blog format becomes familiar, it too will seem simple.

If you have any suggestions on helping this blog grow, please step forward...

The issue of...

2009-08-23T10:32:00.001-04:00

Has anyone experienced the road challenge of the local Maywood youth?

I have!

Several young teenagers recently blocked my car while I was making the turn-around by the Maywood Post Office (Palmer Ave). Not only were they causing unsafe traffic conditions, they were also riding their bicycles in the dark without the state mandated lighting. Someone is going top get hurt or killed!

Evidently the police do patrol Pleasant Ave in the evenings but have either been unable
to or unwilling to control them!

Please comment (you can even comment anonymously)

welcome

2009-08-21T22:53:00.000-04:00

This is just a test post to check the format; if someone chooses to comment, please do!