| Author | Message | ||
     Straw Kennedy Supporter Username: Strawberry Post Number: 7166 Registered: 10-2001  |
"I have nothing against David, nor Fred, nor any of the members of the TC. Any differences I have, I say to them in a public meeting or in person, not on a message board for the most part." and Art dosen't?  For the record, Art is asking all the right questions.. | ||
| Monster© Supporter Username: Monster Post Number: 3068 Registered: 7-2002  |
Art, I'm not taking sides, I don't know what my exact words would be when confronting someone in this situation, of course I would ask what happened, and maybe a few words would cross my lips that would be red dots here. THinking about the whole thing now, maybe neither will get my vote. Is it a fact that the gates are owned by the town, or are we just going by what someone said? If the gates are owned by the town, then there was no responsibility to go ring Fred's doorbell, maybe the question that should be asked is whether David contacted anyone in the proper dept. of the town concerning this? If there was no damage to the gate, there really shouldn't be any reason to contact anyone. For all we know (after all, we weren't there) someone went out to the gate and did damage to the gate after David drove off. | ||
| Sarah Macyshyn Citizen Username: Sarahzm Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2003 |
As a realtor who sold the property at 1 Curtiss Place, formerly owned by Frank Nolan - I can tell you that the stone walls and gates are the property and responsibility of each individual property owner. Several years ago ( I am guessing around 12) the roof of the Curtis gate was severely damaged by a truck that sideswiped the gate. Frank lobbied unsuccessfully to get his neighbors to chip in, then asked the town to fix it. It is my understanding that the town initially refused - but after some major lobbying - the town had the repairs done. Also - as far as I know, there were at least 3 witnesses to the Huemer accident, two people on Hickory and one person walking a dog on Ridgewood Road. My source, the dog walker, said that the car jumped the curb and hit the gate and the wall. She doesnt know who David Huemer is ( new to town) but she said a young guy with white hair got out of the car, and one of the people on hickory spoke to him and he seemed unhurt. He then went around and checked the front of his car, which was crunched, and had gone through part of the gate and into the wall which was unharmed. He then got into his car and drove away. She said the car was kind of impailed into the gate, and the gate creaked and moved when he backed out - and that she could see there was damage to the gate from across the street. That's all I know | ||
| Factvsfiction Citizen Username: Factvsfiction Post Number: 301 Registered: 4-2006 |
Are Maplewood politicos going to the matresses? (Making a mental note to stay off Ridgewood Road) | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 14104 Registered: 1-2003  |
As my sister once said, "How silly is Maplewood?" | ||
| mplwdian Citizen Username: Mplwdian Post Number: 136 Registered: 3-2003 |
Wendy- By repeatedly protecting a friend who doesn't behave in a responsible fasion you are not hepling him. Haven't you ever heard of being an "enabler"? I find the argument that Huemer didn't realize there was damage to the gate very hard to buy. Apparently, the car had significant damage and could barely move off of the gate. He only emailed Profeta days after the accident because he was prompted to by one of the witnesses. I also heard that he looked out of it, refused all assistance from witnesses and only seemed concerned with getting away from the scene as fast as possible. Why? Maybe he was just ashamed and wanted to avoid the whole situation and that's why he didn't come forward right away. What would you say if it were Profeta who ran into Huemer's house and behaved in this way? | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 14996 Registered: 10-2001  |
All kidding aside (and there is a full report from Sbenois Engineering on the way) that gate did not suffer minor damage. It's pretty significant. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 11423 Registered: 5-2001 |
S, was that you with Fred checking things out at The Gate this afternoon about five pm? I happened to drive by and there were a couple of people there, kinda shaking their heads. I always wondered why it took so long for the truck damage to be repaired. Now I know. Sarah, thanks for the information. | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 14997 Registered: 10-2001 |
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| Straw Kennedy Supporter Username: Strawberry Post Number: 7168 Registered: 10-2001 |
Actual scene moments after crash.  | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 1815 Registered: 5-2001 |
S - I was at the gate today doing some re-checking (there are witnesses who may or may not come forward) From my re-checking - I did notice some chalky blue smears on the metal posts, and lots of rust spots, some fresh-looking and many old. It looked to me like the gate has been struck many times, there are bent portions with old rust and new - and one lower pole is missing - but it's difficult to tell if it's been missing for years or last week. I agree the gate is damaged, but it's hard to tell if it's new damage or cumulative. When I looked at the gates the first time, I saw all the rust and figured it was very old damage. My fellow sleuth debated that a carrot peeler left overnight in the sink can leave a rust stain in the morning. Huemer hit the gate, and should have called the police or some authority. If he didn't do that, it's shameful. On the other hand, airing dirty laundry isn't helping Maplewood. It's really a private matter even though it involves public servants. The voters lose confidence in their leaders when they snipe away at each other again and again. A lot of us newcomers moved here from Hoboken to get away from this nonsense. | ||
| letters Citizen Username: Letters016 Post Number: 537 Registered: 5-2005  |
Yesterday, I saw Ken Pettis in town. I told him that, in my opinion, all of this bickering, while amusing at first, is becoming an embarrassment for the town. I really hope that people outside of M/SO don't see any of this. It is developing into something somewhat childish, to say the least. On the way home, I saw Dave Huemer as I passed his house. I stopped and spoke with him also, indicating my displeasure with this ongoing one-upmanship. I then asked him about the gate, seeing that he is probably the one who has the most knowledge of it. Not surprisingly, he gave a different account than what was reported, and his story seemed logical given what I already knew about the gate and the current differences of opinion on the TC. And before anybody slams me, YES I know I only talked to one of the parties, therefore only getting one side of the story. I haven't seen Fred Profeta lately and I don't ride around town looking for TC members either. It just so happened that I saw Ken and Dave on my way home. | ||
| Fruitcake Citizen Username: Fruitcake Post Number: 293 Registered: 9-2003 |
I don't want to hear Letters' version of Huemer's version. I want to read the police report. There is a police report, isn't there? | ||
| Fruitcake Citizen Username: Fruitcake Post Number: 294 Registered: 9-2003 |
Lydia, Your suggestions are sensible and mature. But really, girl, what do you expect from a voyeuristic public? Think about this a minute. There are 23,000 people in Maplewood and something like 8,000 homes. There are only 5 members of the Township Committee, and one of them whacks his car into the fence at the home of another, his main political rival. Folks will be obsessing about this for weeks, maybe months. This is America, baby. | ||
| mplwdian Citizen Username: Mplwdian Post Number: 137 Registered: 3-2003 |
Lydia- It's more than dirty laundry and an airing of a private matter. I posted this already on another thread but here it is again: The relevant statute is NJSA 39:4-129. There is no dollar amount of damage that is required for the crime. But if the damage exceeds $250, the driver is presumed to know that he damaged the property. And even if the damage is less than this, the presumption applies if the driver knows that he was involved in an accident. The driver must notify the owner of the damaged property immediately. If he can't find the owner, he must report it to the police immediately. The crime is punished by a fine of not more than $400, or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days. In addition, the driver loses his license for 6 months. | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 1816 Registered: 5-2001 |
Letters,
YES!!! One teensy quibble letters - to call their behavior "childish" is unfair to children.  It reminds me of that movie "War of the Roses" - they fought and fought and the ending wasn't pretty. | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 14998 Registered: 10-2001 |
Lydial, I agree with you regarding the gate. It looks pretty beaten up but it's impossible to tell whether all of that is new damage. And the blue paint looks very chalky - not at all like it's from a car. The whole thing is dumb and it was AN ACCIDENT. Sheesh. Let's give Huemer a break. | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 1817 Registered: 5-2001 |
Hee hee - "Let's give Huemer a break" How about "Let's give Huemer a brake? I've been pretty fair to both sides S. - yes? Profeta is one of the best and smartest people I've ever had the honor to know, and he has accomplished more in 2-4 years on the TC than people with a decade's worth of experience can only dream about. Huemer is one of the most engaging and magnetic people I've ever met. However I think Huemer has a long way to go between making friends and being an effective TC member. That aside, I really really think both TC members should take it outside. | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 14999 Registered: 10-2001 |
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| letters Citizen Username: Letters016 Post Number: 538 Registered: 5-2005 |
Fruitcake, "I don't want to hear Letters' version of Huemer's version." Excuse me, but I said: "Not surprisingly, he gave a different account than what was reported" I did not give his version, other than to say it differed from what was reported, because it was only one side of the coin. I continued by saying that: "his story seemed logical given what I already knew about the gate and the current differences of opinion on the TC" In other words, I have seen this gate in the past. It looked exactly like what an 80-90 (whatever) year old gate that hasn't been maintained should look like. But, neither did I say that Huemer's version was 100% accurate, or suggested in anyway that I thought this to be true. I purposely kept that objectivity to myself simply because I haven't spoken with Fred, and if I'm really lucky I won't as I think this whole thing has been blown way out of proportion. I merely pointed out what should be obvious to everyone else. If you talk directly to Fred or Dave, you will undoubtedly come up with two different stories, both of which differ from the "Wretched News" story. | ||
| The Libertarian Citizen Username: Local_1_crew Post Number: 2034 Registered: 3-2004  |
it is amazing what you people will get worked up about. | ||
| letters Citizen Username: Letters016 Post Number: 539 Registered: 5-2005 |
You're an interesting person, Libby. I think that offer that Tom & I made to you is still good. Any chance on taking it? | ||
| mwsilva Citizen Username: Mwsilva Post Number: 495 Registered: 5-2002 |
Now that we have the Patrick Kennedy thing, perhaps the solution is that Democrats should not be allowed to drive/ Think about that. | ||
| FlyingSpaghettiMonst Citizen Username: Noodlyappendage Post Number: 102 Registered: 11-2005 |
Or the Republicans to go duck hunting??? | ||
| Factvsfiction Citizen Username: Factvsfiction Post Number: 320 Registered: 4-2006 |
Your political races are almost as good as Newark. Keep up the good work. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 9359 Registered: 4-1997  |
Behold: Gategate (it had to happen somewhere) I'm just glad David is OK. Gates are secondary in the grand scheme. | ||
| dytunck Supporter Username: Dytunck Post Number: 282 Registered: 3-2001 |
Dear Dave (the best) What would you call a scandal that involved Bill Gates jumping from the Watergate Hotel's gates into the Potomac? Please advise. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 9361 Registered: 4-1997 |
GatesH2Ogate | ||
| dytunck Supporter Username: Dytunck Post Number: 283 Registered: 3-2001 |
Hmmmm Ok I was gonna go with: Gates' Watergate's Gates Water-gate | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 15000 Registered: 10-2001 |
A Fatal Windows Error | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 9362 Registered: 4-1997 |
Blue Screen of the Potomac | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 15001 Registered: 10-2001 |
Blue scream of death | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4915 Registered: 1-2004  |
Wow and I thought South Orange politics were bad! | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3407 Registered: 5-2001 |
Straw - re "I have nothing against David" Many of your past posts on this board would seem to indicate otherwise. | ||
| Factvsfiction Citizen Username: Factvsfiction Post Number: 323 Registered: 4-2006 |
Is Corchado and Ramos going to come in to Maplewood and endorse their respective candidates Profeta or Huemer? They could bring their sound trucks and battling supporters to make it even more colorful a race. Just the Aunt- Saw a "Corey Booker for Mayor" sign on a Newstead lawn in S.O. the other day. Are you permitted dual city voters? | ||
| Straw Kennedy Supporter Username: Strawberry Post Number: 7170 Registered: 10-2001 |
Sac, I was quoting someone else. Regarding my opinion of David, I'll be frank. He's done nothing as a TC member to improve our town. He was part of a rude, crude anti-Fred movement during the election. He has done nothing to bring this town closer and on top of it he's crashing his car into the Mayor's property. Considering he hates Fred, this is obviously something we need to investigate. We are still awaiting an explanation which I believes he owes the town since afterall he's an elected official. No free passes here. Tell us what happened, especially after the news article was printed. | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 15002 Registered: 10-2001 |
I spoke to DTR this morning and his explanation is completely reasonable. | ||
| Hank Zona Supporter Username: Hankzona Post Number: 5564 Registered: 3-2002 |
interesting that Ridgewood Road now has a Revolutionary War era site (the Ball House) and a Maplewood Civil War site (the Hickory Gate)...some enterprising person can put together one of those historical walks maybe. Maybe even drape it in orange fabric and call it "The Gate". Anyone have an in with Christo? | ||
| Straw Kennedy Supporter Username: Strawberry Post Number: 7171 Registered: 10-2001 |
Sbenois, Well if that's the case I'd be curious as to what the explanation is. Assuming it was simply an accident I apologize to David for assuming anything else. Also, let's just be thankful no one was injured including David himself. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4922 Registered: 1-2004 |
You know what I find humorous, sad, ironic, pathetic, take your pick? Someone hitting a fence causes more outrage then a guy who not only burns his own business to the ground, he torches several other businesses endangering other people's lives and livelihoods! (bracing myself for the onset of nasty email again) You all know these two men despise each other. I'm doubtful either one is going to be 100 percent accurate in their description of the incident. |
