| Author |
Message |
    
sullymw
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 791
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 4:54 pm: |     |
I received my first Maplewood Emergency Bulletin by phone today and it scared the pants off of me until I heard what the emergency is. Apparently a single mosquito has been found with West Nile Virus in the Essex county area and they are going to FOG tonight from 4am - 6am. Keep your windows closed and turn off any whole house fans and maybe a/c's. They also recommend wearing appropriate clothing while outside and eliminating any pooled water (shouldn't be a problem in this mini-drought) where mosquitos can breed. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 2194
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 9:03 pm: | |
Are you serious? What will this do to the other insects and bugs? Is South Orange included? How does one sign up for these alerts? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 5103
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 10:11 pm: | |
We received nothing of the sort. Who called and what did they say exactly? How are we supposed to sleep with no windows, air or fan? What about outdoor animals (cats)? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 5104
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 10:17 pm: | |
OK - I just checked the town website on this. On August 18, a WN mosquito was found in the town trap. Essex County already fogged, according to the announcement. |
Earlster
Supporter
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 1301
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 10:22 pm: | |
Link to the town announcement:
http://tinyurl.com/byhkp
So I wonder, are they done, or are they still fogging?
With central AC you can keep your windows closed, without you are toast. 
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sullymw
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 792
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 10:43 pm: | |
You can sign up for the red alerts on the Maplewood township official website. They specifically said they would be spraying over Maplewood between 4am and 6am on Aug 26 |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 2199
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:33 am: | |
It doesn't include South Orange. I called the police to ask. They must think I'm nuts! |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6148
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 5:54 am: | |
According to the red alert message we received when the first fogging was done, this action is being taken by the county not the municipality. Since the one infected mosquito found so far was near the greenhouse behind Maplewood Town Hall, fogging was done only in the immediate vacinity of that location and there was no reason to include the rest of Maplewood or any of South Orange. Should the infected mosquito have been found over by South Orange Avenue, the fogging area would have been different.
I'm glad the county acted so quickly on this and that they are taking the West Nile threat seriously. |
kathleen
Citizen
Username: Symbolic
Post Number: 338
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 5:48 pm: | |
I think a message distributed townwide would have been appropriate. People jog in that area in the early hours of the morning. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6161
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 8:11 pm: | |
Kathleen:
The message was distributed to those who subscribed to Maplewood's red alert. Just the Aunt is questioning why a similar action wasn't taken in/by the Village of South Orange. |
kathleen
Citizen
Username: Symbolic
Post Number: 339
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 9:30 pm: | |
I understand that, Joan, but I think notice of such a health threat should be made generally in Maplewood, not just to people who have computers and who know about the "red alert" e-mail service. (This is the first I ever heard about it.)
I don't know how much notification the town had of the county's intention to spray. I understand how difficult it is to broadly communicate important information in a small town like this.
But given the nastiness of the West Nile virus to some vulnerable people, especially the elderly, and the poisons used to kill it, it would be prudent to post public signs, some flyers at the train station, website notices, etc. about when areas are being sprayed and remind the public at large to please take the measures needed to dry up mosquito breeding grounds: empty your birdbaths and kiddie pools, keep water out of garbage cans, etc.
And I would urge officials in South Orange to issue the same reminders to residents now that West Nile has been found in the immediate vicinity.
Stumbling across such info on MOL isn't enough.
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kathleen
Citizen
Username: Symbolic
Post Number: 340
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 9:46 pm: | |
Late summer is prime West Nile season. I've cut and pasted this from another website in Connecticut:
Here are some things you can do to be safe during prime West Nile season, courtesy of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:
# Use a safe insect repellent when outside.
# Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Avoid being outside at those times, and wear long sleeves and pants if you do need to go out.
# Make sure your home's screens are free of holes.
You can also help to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes by getting rid of standing water. The state Mosquito Management Program reminds us to dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have accumulated on your property. Also, get water out of discarded tires (or tire swings), clean gutters so drains don't plug up, turn over wading pools and wheelbarrows, and change your birdbath water regularly |
ashear
Supporter
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 1932
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 10:40 pm: | |
Its not an email notification service, its a phone notification service. You can sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/aaq3p
I think there was info about it in the lasth Maplewood newsletter thing (the Leaflet?) |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3944
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 9:02 am: | |
hey kathleen- great info. Maybe you could up your volunteer hours and spearhead this public notice campaign. |
kathleen
Citizen
Username: Symbolic
Post Number: 341
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 10:18 am: | |
Ashear,
I just tried to sign up through that like and it doesn't work. Even if it did work, there ought to be some way to sign up without having a computer -- and some more public notice regarding West Nile updates. I'm wondering if during the last weeks of August, vacation absences are to blame for not even seeing a post on MOL, let alone a sign posted somewhere, etc. I don't think the Red ALert system is adequate alone.
Ffof,
If I thought being a suburban housewife volunteer was a satisfying life for me, I'd be like you and get the ffof's Small Town/Small Mind Seal of Approval. But I've seen no evidence I would be, so I never will. Even if I had the time, I wouldn't join volunteer groups that sue the town, keep bringing back the animal acts at the circus, nor would I spend my afternoons at a keyboard mendaciously trying to do character assasination about people who support equity in taxation and education. Just because some people's "contributions" are unpaid doesn't make them good.
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ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3946
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 12:35 pm: | |
putting down volunteerism? ooooh, so much venom, sssssssssss.
ps. I'm not on the circus committee. I'm on the eradicate the deer committee.
pps. You'll take mornings at the keyboard then?
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6166
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 1:13 pm: | |
Kathleen:
I think the best way to sign up for Red Alert is to phone or better yet visit town hall and ask for an application.
Sign-up information should also be available in a back issue of the Leaflet (don't remember which one).
You should be able to do a search of the town website and find the information you need. |
Jhcmom
Citizen
Username: Jhcmom
Post Number: 17
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 1:45 pm: | |
I just signed up for the emergercy alert...it worked. I did notice it said that you must have cookies enabled in order to submit your information to the Emergency Communications Network. Kathleen, I am no computer wiz, but perhaps you need to enable the cookies on your computer. |
ashear
Supporter
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 1933
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, August 28, 2005 - 8:06 pm: | |
If that link did not work there is a link from the townships home page. I assume you can register by calling the town too, though I don't know. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6182
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 8:04 am: | |
Having red alert e-mails as well as phone alert sounds like a good idea. This way, people could receive such alerts at work or at home, since they wouldn't be tied just to the home phone number. |
Scully
Citizen
Username: Scully
Post Number: 6
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 9:42 am: | |
Joan:
I agree with you about not wanting to be tied to the home phone so I signed up my cell as the alternative number to try and get around that. |
gemini
Citizen
Username: Gemini
Post Number: 418
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 8:14 pm: | |
my neighbor has a stagnant fish pond or something in his back yard. no fish. like the size of a kids pool but of cement, part of his landscaping. what should i do? |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6203
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 8:34 pm: | |
I gather from your post that you are cooncerned your neighbor's fish pond (sans fish) may become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The first thing you should do is speak with your neighbor about your concern, possibly suggesting that your neighbor cover or drain the pond. If this doesn't work, speak with Mr. Roe at Town Hall and ask if the pond presents a health threat. If he considers it to be a threat, he can issue a violation to your neighbor and force the issue.
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Reesa
Citizen
Username: Reesa
Post Number: 56
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, September 5, 2005 - 11:59 pm: | |
what in the world is "THE LEAFLET" and where do I get one??? |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 2591
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 - 6:52 am: | |
The Leaflet is the town newsletter (mailed every couple of months I think.) It goes, or should go, to every home in Maplewood. |
jem
Citizen
Username: Jem
Post Number: 1412
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 - 8:37 am: | |
The Leaflet is mailed quarterly. There may still be some copies of the summer Leaflet at Town Hall. The fall edition should appear in October.
You can see past editions on the town web site.
I see that the latest online edition is missing, but, as I said, you can probably still get your hands on one. |
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