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Back to Skills Shed hunting tips and regulations 2020

The winter lull is upon us as hunting seasons and the holidays wrap up across America. The days are shorter, the weather is colder, andunless you are waterfowl huntingyoure likely waiting on the lull on the couch watching football or YouTube hunting videos, awaiting the 2020 big game seasons.

However, while elk and mule deer season seems to be months away, you can still get into the woods during shed season. Planning a proper shed hunt for your family or friends requires time and specific planning to increase your chances of success. Shed hunting is a great opportunity to get outdoors, work your legs, test your new gear and spend time with family and friends of any hunting skill level.

With shed hunting is growing in popularity throughout the U.S., many states have rolled out regulations and laws specific to when, where and how you can shed hunt. Ultimately, these regulations are in place to protect animals from harassment during one of the hardest seasons of their year. Be sure to check out another article on this subject, "Ethics of shed hunting" here.

This article will summarize state by state the new regulations and seasons many western states have in place for shed hunting in 2020. Hopefully, understanding these rules and seasons willhelp you plan your shed hunting trip for you and your friends or family this year.

When deciding where to shed hunt, the best place to start is in any state with a healthy elk population. There are many popular trophy spots and states that draw the attention of a lot of shed hunters, which means there will be a high probability of competition for sheds in these areas. This can cause pressure on the elk that will relocate to avoid human encroachment andalso increases the possibility of someone walking the same trails before you and potentially finding a shed that you could have found if you were first. Based upon my experience, I opt to stay away from shed hunting hot spots and, instead, decide where to shed hunt based upon two criteria.

First, I love to shed hunt in an area where I am trying to draw a tag or am planning to hunt within the next few years. This is a great way to learn the lay of the land of some new potential hunting grounds. If I do not have a place that I am trying to intentionally scout for an upcoming hunt, then I tend to select a spot based upon its geographical location compared to where I live. It doesnt make sense to drive through states with good elk numbers to get to another state.Boots-on-the-ground is the most important key to finding elk sheds so I dont want to spend my time driving. I want to spend my time shed hunting.

Every state that has elk consequently has elk sheds. Do some research, call people in the area you are interested in, including the local fish and wildlife department or game wardens. When you call, make sure to ask them where to find elk for viewing in the winter and not where to shed hunt. In my experience, if you ask for elk viewing information, game wardens or fish and wildlife personnel are more likely to tell you and provide you with quality information on where the animals winter or how low they had to come down this year. Then, use goHUNT INSIDER and Google Earth. These resources plus the local tips will give you a great start on figuring out where to go. Once youve done that, pick a time that meets the state regulations and start searching as soon as possible. Once you locate good animal sign, pay attention to the elevation and search this elevation on different south-facing slopes. If possible, use your glass to find sheds from a distance and save your legs.

Below is a summary of each states shed hunting seasons to save you some leg work when trying to pick where to go this year.

Typically, elk and mule drop their antlers between February and April of each year when the animals testosterone is at its lowest level.Pay attention to each states regulations to see when you are legally allowed to gather sheds. Remember: these regulations are in place in order to protect wildlife from harassment.

Below is a quick look at some of the more popular shed hunting states.

Colorado prohibits shed hunting from Jan. 1 to April 30 west of I-25.There are additional restrictions on the Gunnison Basin. This was enacted in 2018 to protect wildlife from additional stress.

Wyoming prohibits shed hunting from Jan. 1 to April 30 on public lands west of the continental divide.This has been in place since 2009.

Shed hunting and recreation on Montana Wilderness Management Areas are closed until May 15 in most areas; however, some areas are closed until June 1. Please double-check before planning to visit. In 2019, Montana passed a bill that makes it legal to collect bighorn sheep skulls and horns. Read more here.

In 2018, Nevada passed shed hunting regulations. "A person shall not take or gather shed antlers from or on any public land located in Elko, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Nye or White Pine counties at any time fromJanuary 1 to April 30, inclusive." Shed hunting is still open year-round in the other 11 counties in Nevada. Shed antlers means any antlers which have been naturally shed by any big game mammal in this State. Learn more here.

In Utah, you can gather sheds statewide with no permit any time of the year except from Feb. 1 to April 15.During this time of the year, you must have an antler-gathering certificate on your person while collecting shed antlers or horns. You can obtain this free certificate by completing the online Antler Gathering Ethics Course, but you must complete the course every year. Take the course here.

Currently, there are no seasons or permits required to shed hunt in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico or Arizona. Please stick to public land or private land with permission and respect wildlifes space. Do not harass them. Keep in mind that most states do havewildlife areas that are closed to protect big game winter range and shed hunting is can be prohibited until certain dates.

When searching for specific spots to walk or glass, concentrate on south-facing open slopes for higher success. If possible, go to your shed hunting spots earlier in the year before the animals drop their antlers to glass from afar for bull elk.It is way easier to find 500 lb elk than it is to find an antler, so defining their home range or winter sanctuaries is half the battle when shed hunting. Use this information to get where elk were wintering during the first week in April, if possible. I always say a day walking around the woods with or without finding sheds feels better than a day on the couch.This winter, plan on beating that winter lull and plan an elk shed hunt with your family. Get out and enjoy the great outdoors and, if you find a shed, you will be truly happy with your decision. Even if you don't find anything, you can enjoy the sunrises and sunsets that go along with being in the woods. Good luck with the 2020 shed hunting season!

View original post here:
Shed hunting tips and regulations 2020 - goHUNT.com

TUCSON, AZ The Tucson Fire Department was called to the 1600 block of W. Ajo Way at 2:38 Friday morning in response to several 911 calls reporting that a burning shed's flames and smoke were impinging on a nearby mobile home.

Tucson Fire Department crew arrived at 2:44 a.m. and pulled a hose to extinguish the shed fire. Crew members entered the home and saw that the mobile home's attic was on fire, so they pulled the ceiling down in the area where the fire was and started putting out the flames from below. The fire was under control by 2:52 a.m., TFD reported.

The Red Cross helped two children and two adults displaced by the fire. One man received minor burn treatment at the fire scene, but no firefighters were injured.

Fire investigators continue working to figure out the fire's cause, and TFD officials warn about the dangers specific to mobile homes. One inherent danger is their construction, which lends to a faster fire spread rate. Additionally, mobile homes are often located close together, which increases fire spread risk. Officials say residents should make sure smoke alarms are working and practice an escape plan beforehand to ensure the best odds of fire survival.

Read more:
An Ajo Way Shed Fire Ignites A Mobile Home Nearby In Tucson - Patch.com

Mariners utility player Shed Long Jr. is preparing for his second MLB season. (AP)

Mariners utility player Shed Long is preparing for his second season in the big leagues, and hes making a few big changes.

Drayer: Astros punishment is huge moment in baseball history

First off, Shed Long isnt his name anymore. Like former Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. and Jose Cruz Jr. before him, hes tacking Jr. onto the end of his name both when it comes to how hes listed on the Mariners roster as well as what it will say on the nameplate of his jersey.

Shed Long Jr. explained why he decided to make the change Tuesday night in an interview with the Mariners Hot Stove Show on 710 ESPN Seattle, noting that he had a realization while playing alongside another Jr. last season.

So last year when I was in Tacoma, E.Y. Eric Young Jr. he was there with me as well and I saw it says Young Jr. (on his jersey), Long said. I was just looking at his jersey one day and I said, You know what, E.Y. this is while we was sitting in the dugout in the middle of an inning and Im like, You know what, E.Y., Im putting Jr. on my jersey. I got to put the Jr. on there. You know, thats my name so thats what Im gonna put on there.'

Long said Young, a veteran utility player and the son of former MLB speedster Eric Young Sr., agreed it was a good idea, so Long made it a priority to get the change made.

He encouraged it and so after that moment my mind was made up, Long said. As soon as the season ends Im telling them We gotta change it to Jr., you gotta put Jr. on there.'

Thats not the only nod to Shed Long Sr. that Jr. has in store for 2020. Hes also switching numbers, and his dad had a hand in the hes switching too.

Im going to my old faithful No. 4, said Long, who was No. 39 during his rookie campaign with the Mariners. I wore that as a kid growing up, that was my dads favorite number so that became my favorite number.

You can hear the full interview with Long from the Hot Stove Show in this podcast starting around the 10:40 mark.

Follow 710Sports.coms Brent Stecker on Twitter.

Mariners Hot Stove Show: 4 interviews, details on Seattles deals

See more here:
Mariners Shed Long Jr. yes, Jr. explains why hes added to his name - MyNorthwest.com

A shed fire in northeast Las Vegas early Friday killed one person, fire officials said.

Just after 3:30 a.m., firefighters from the Clark County, North Las Vegas and Las Vegas fire departments kept a shed fire from extending to a single-story home at 2350 Lincoln Road, near East Carey Avenue and North Lamb Boulevard.

The flames were threatening to involve the house, Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Buchanan said in a news release. Firefighters made an offensive attack and were able to knock the fire down at 3:59 a.m. Crews were able to prevent the fire from extending to the home. Firefighters located one person deceased inside of the shed.

No damage estimate has been made and the cause is under investigation.

The victim will be identified by the Clark County coroners office after relatives have been notified.

Contact Marvin Clemons at mclemons@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0217. Follow @Marv_in_Vegas on Twitter.

Read more from the original source:
1 person dies in shed fire in northeast Las Vegas - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Painful facts, once known, cannot be unknown.

Lynn Kennedy could not bear to turn away when she first began to fully understand what sex trafficking is and how this billion-dollar industry reaches every corner of the world including Glynn County.

And shes hoping other community members will feel the same call to action when they learn about the realities of human trafficking in this area.

Kennedy is the co-founder of the Georgia Human Trafficking Initiative, a nonprofit formed in 2019 that aims to support local nonprofits working toward the fight against sex trafficking.

As part of Sex Trafficking Awareness Month in January, the nonprofit will host an event titled Prisoners of Darkness, which will be a panel discussion meant to educate the public about human trafficking.

The free event is planned for 5:30-7 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the St. Simons Community Church.

The panel discussion will feature representatives from the federal, state and local levels.

Kai Munshi, co-founder of the Georgia Human Trafficking Initiative, will be the commentator for the event.

Our main goal is to really bring awareness to the general public that human sex trafficking is a problem in Glynn County, Kennedy said. It is not just in large metropolitan areas. It trickles down all over the state of Georgia, and the reason that were kind of in the middle of it is because of our proximity to I-95.

Pimps frequently trade trafficking victims on I-95, Kennedy said. Local nonprofits are fighting against this industry, but these nonprofits need the communitys support to do so, she said.

We want people here to know that we need people to join this fight, she said. We need an army, if you will, of people. The more eyes looking, the better.

Local nonprofits, including Faithful Love, House of Hope and Grace House, will have information tables set up at the event. Susan Norris, the founder of Rescuing Hope in Atlanta, will be on hand at the event to provide information and will take part in the panel discussion as well.

There will be also be representatives from the local district attorneys office and the new trafficking task force formed recently in Glynn County.

Sex trafficking is a $32 billion industry every year. Georgia is ranked No. 7 among states in the U.S. with the highest amounts of trafficking, according to the Polaris Project.

Georgia had 1,124 cases of sex trafficking between 2015 and 2018, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Around 859 of those cases involved female victims, and 277 involved minors. Around 265 cases involved male victims.

The panel discussion will provide facts from professionals, and the information will hopefully offset any mistruths or exaggerations people may have seen on social media or heard through word of mouth, Kennedy said.

Its going to be like trying to sip water from a firehose youre going to get a lot of information coming at you in an hour and a half, she said.

The Georgia Human Trafficking Initiative supported training last year before the RSM golf tournament on St. Simons to local hotels and local airport staff. The training focused on how to recognize and report potential trafficking.

We brought a team down from Rescuing Hope in Atlanta to conduct training with local hotels, the airports both on St. Simons and in Brunswick, to train staff on what to look for, how to recognize it and how to respond, Kennedy said.

The nonprofit plans to sponsor fundraising efforts in the future that will support local nonprofits. But first, Kennedy said, they wanted to educate the community on the realities of sex trafficking.

And so far, theyve had a large response. More than 200 people had registered for the event earlier this week.

It just shows, I think, that the community wants more information, Kennedy said.

Kennedy hopes the panel discussion will motivate community members to join the fight against human trafficking.

Once you know something, you cant un-know it, she said. So once someone brings it to your attention and says, Now we told you what trafficking is, we told you that its here, are you going to keep ignoring it? Because you cant say that you didnt know.

See more here:
Panel to shed light on sex trafficking in the Golden Isles - Brunswick News

Its the middle of January. That probably means you are still trying to stick to your New Years resolutions. And if youre like many people, losing weight, eating healthier and getting to the gym more often are probably some of your top 2020 goals.

That appears to be one reason why WW, the company formerly known as Weight Watchers, is off to a hot start this year. Shares of WW are up nearly 10% in the first few weeks of 2020, adding to impressive gains for the stock over the past few months.

WW shares are up nearly 75% in the past six months alone and are not far from their 52-week high.

The company has enjoyed an impressive run under the leadership of CEO Mindy Grossman, who left shopping network HSN in 2017 to take over as WW CEO.

Grossman has worked closely with Oprah Winfrey, who is a WW customer, spokesperson, board member and investor. Winfrey bought $43.5 millions worth of WW shares in October 2015. Winfreys 8% stake in WW is now valued at more than $225 million.

WW unveiled a new wellness program dubbed myWW in November. The program has three different weight loss plans but also emphasizes fitness and other healthy living choices as opposed to just dieting and counting calories and points.

The WW rally is impressive. But its left many on Wall Street wondering if the stock needs to take a breather.

According to data from Refinitiv, the consensus price target for WW from analysts is just under $38 a share. Thats nearly 10% below the stocks current price of around $42.

It may simply be too soon to tell if dieters are really planning to stick to their weight loss plans. Thats the main reason why Linda Bolton Weiser, an analyst with D.A. Davidson, downgraded WW stock in November. Her new price target is $33.

Weiser wrote in a report at the time that there was uncertainty over diet season marketing, She said in another report later in November that the new myWW program, is good but it is certainly not unique, as other weight loss programs (including Nutrisystem) are also focusing on greater personalization.

Concerns about increased competition from keto and paleo diets have also been a problem for WW. But the company is fighting back against these trends.

Everybody on the diet side looks for the quick fix. Weve been through this before and we know that we are the program that works, Grossman said in a conference call with analysts last February.

And Grossman told CNNs Poppy Harlow in April about how WW was adding more zero point foods that were low in carbs to help fight the keto craze, which also focuses on foods that are low in carbohydrates. Grossman also stressed that WW is about eating what you want in moderation as opposed to outright limiting entire categories of food.

That has helped push WW towards the top of Google search rankings for weight loss plans.

WW shares have come in from their December highs, which we believe is in part related to trepidation surrounding competitor weight loss programs and the persistence of keto and paleo, said BofA Global Research analyst Olivia Tong in a report.

But we are encouraged by WWs resilience in searches vs these alternatives. Keto remains king, but its search volume has declined significantly since last year, Tong added. She has a buy rating on WW and price target of $45.

The uncertainty about WW is likely to linger for the next few weeks though. The company should report fourth quarter and full-year earnings (as well as give a first glimpse at 2020 guidance) sometime during the end of February.

More here:
WW gets a New Year's bump, but should investors shed the stock? - KTVZ

Members of the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals, complaining that Andrew Goldstein was needlessly argumentative in representing his client, voted to adjourn the hearing on Friday.

An acrimonious exchange on Friday between the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals and an attorney ended in the boards abruptly adjourning a hearing. Members complained to the lawyer, Andrew Goldstein, that his remarks sounded more like an inquisition than a presentation of his clients application.

The contentious back-and-forth came shortly after the board found itself forced to defend a decision to reject one application while minutes later signaling approval of another. Each one, members emphasized, involves unique circumstances that had to be considered in the context of multiple criteria.

The applicant, James Danella of 49 La Forest Lane, was seeking a 654-square-foot variance in order to enlarge a closet in the master bedroom and add a bay window, a stair landing, a home office, a laundry room, and a shower. His house, built before the zoning code took effect, is 6,417 square feet, where the maximum now permitted is 5,679 square feet. Approval of the application would result in a 7,071-square-foot house.

Mr. Danella also needs variances to make alterations that would not comply with required front and side-yard setbacks.

From the street, the house is visible only from the driveway, Mr. Goldstein said; a thick hedge obscures it otherwise. All the requested floor area additions are to the rear of the house, he said, so the additional mass would not be visible from the street. The board has on many occasions said that under those conditions the variance for the gross floor area will not cause undesirable change in the character of the neighborhood or detriment to any nearby property, said Mr. Goldstein, who is a former chairman of the Z.B.A. He displayed a stack of papers that he said was a partial list of prior determinations demonstrating this.

The property is well under its allowable coverage, Mr. Goldstein noted, and has no accessory structures. The house itself has long existed at its excessive size without adverse comment, he said, and the additions, being invisible to neighbors, would not affect them.

I dont agree with that logic, that if you cant see it, its okay, said Lys Marigold, the boards chairwoman. Our code doesnt follow that, either. The difference between the allowable and proposed floor area is 24.5 percent, she said. Under our criteria, thats called substantial.

I would ask you, Mr. Goldstein answered, to tell me how this application is different from the many other applications in which you have said if you cant see it, it doesnt affect neighborhood character. . . . You voted on these applications yourself.

But, said Larry Hillel, a board member, whether or not alterations are visible is only one factor in the boards deliberations. Ms. Marigold repeated the 24.5-percent increase in floor area, suggesting that the additions sought could be made within the houses existing space. Mr. Goldstein countered that part of the 24.5 percent is legally pre-existing and not subject to code, citing another prior determination.

Voices grew louder, and Mr. Goldstein and board members began talking over one another. The attorney was about to cite more prior determinations when the chairwoman cut him off. I dont want to hear it! Ms. Marigold said. Each one . . . has its own set of circumstances. . . . So it doesnt help to quote these things.

Mr. Goldstein referred to one anyway.

Theres also a shift in the feeling of the village, Ms. Marigold said. The feeling in the village is that houses are getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger.

Youre deciding this application based on a feeling in the village? Mr. Goldstein, sounding incredulous, asked. No, was the answer, but you can quote determinations from five years ago,10 years ago. Things have definitely changed.

The applicant is a taxpaying resident, Mr. Goldstein protested. The code provides for variances. So Im asking you, in order to depart from these precedents, what fact is different in this case?

Board members reiterated the houses already substantial floor area, reminding Mr. Goldstein that among the criteria by which they judge applications is whether the relief sought can be achieved without a variance.

Youre saying that where theres no effect on the neighborhood, and he has the ability somehow to turn a bedroom into a closet, thats grounds to deny the variance? Mr. Goldstein asked.

This shouldnt be so argumentative, Ms. Marigold finally said, John McGuirk voicing agreement.

Im flabbergasted that youre so willing to depart from your precedents without giving us a fact as to why, Mr. Goldstein objected. I want to understand, how does this affect the character of the neighborhood or any neighbor?

Beth Baldwin, the villages attorney, spoke up. I think the point of this right now is a public hearing, not an inquisition of the zoning board.

And its horrible, Mr. McGuirk said. It really is horrible. . . . Were not on trial. Ms. Marigold suggested adjourning the hearing, and Mr. McGuirk agreed, but Mr. Goldstein continued to press for an explanation.

Youre doing yourself a disservice right now, Ms. Marigold said.

No, Mr. Goldstein answered. I think, frankly, that you have done the village a disservice.

The hearing was adjourned and is to resume at the boards next meeting, on Feb. 14.

Earlier in the meeting, the board looked unfavorably on Robert and Rosalind Woolcotts application to build a detached garage in the front yard at 55 Toilsome Lane. In the continuation of their hearing, the applicants stressed that the parcel they are redeveloping is just 80 feet wide, rendering an attached garage, which is permitted, or a garage in the rear of the property, impractical.

Based on the boards feedback at a prior meeting, the applicants had reduced the proposed garage from 704 to 598 square feet. The plan mirrors every immediate neighbors garage on Toilsome Lane and in no way harms the look and feel of the village, Mr. Woolcott said.

But Ms. Marigold, referring to a memo from Billy Hajek, the village planner, said the garages on neighboring properties either comply with code or are legally pre-existing. Every time we grant one of these garages in the front of the house we regret it, Mr. McGuirk said. A garage belongs in the back or attached. The hearing was closed.

The circumstances are different at 43 Terbell Lane, the board concluded, where Joseph and Amy Perella want to construct a detached garage in the front yard of their 4.4-acre property. Their house is 152 feet from the street and the proposed garage 97.7 feet away, said Mary Jane Asato, an attorney representing the applicants.

The proposed garage is not in front of the house per se, Ms. Asato said. Its in the definitional front, in the sense that the distance between the house and the street, it is within that area. Frankly, its really a side-yard situation, for visual impact.

A tennis court sits across the street from the Perellas driveway, and the rear of the property, which abuts Hook Pond, is affected by wetlands setbacks.

I believe it is substantially different from the case you had previously, Ms. Asato said, and the board agreed.

See more here:
It's a Zoning Board Hearing, 'Not an Inquisition' - East Hampton Star

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) -

Save Century II volunteers are still working on their petition to save the building after plans for the new Riverfront showed that it would be demolished.

The petition Facebook pagehas been up for months and the petition itself followed behind. Now that the plans have been revealed, and don't include the five decade old building, supporters of the petition said they are trying to achieve their goal of giving Wichitans a say in if it stays or goes.

"The Kansas constitution guarantees all citizens that all political power is inherent in the people," said Karl Peterjohn, a Save Century II volunteer."And this petition is a way for them to fully express that power. We're askingin the petition that we have a vote."

Under the proposed plan, Century II would be demolished along with the old Hyatt garage and old library. In it's place would be a new performing arts center, Hyatt garage, convention center, public plaza and five mixed-use additions. You can find more details in the plan in the press release here.

Now, after the plan has been revealed, Save Century II supporters like Peterjohn said it could change the Wichita skyline forever.

"This is a representation of Wichita, of what we are as a community and people want to save those symbols," he said. "This building is a symbol of what is valuable and what is cherished in Wichita."

Something else to be aware of are scammers. People said they have received calls about online petitions and sites asking for money to fund the movement for Save Century II. Remember, the only petition that can be presented to the city is the one that organizers are collecting signatures on, at locations in person. Also, any money donated to the historic preservation alliance, is not done online. Only in-person or by mail.

To be put on the November ballot and go to a public vote, the petition needs about 12,500 votes. Right now, Save Century II advocate John Todd said they have around 800 notarized signatures. You can sign the petition at 435 N. Broadway.

See the article here:
Century II supporters still working on petition to save building - KAKE

This post was updated Jan. 13 at 1:57 a.m.

A new Northern Cafe restaurant will open in Westwood Village this year, making it the third within walking distance of UCLA in the Village.

The Northern Cafe franchise includes a dumpling house on Gayley Avenue, a noodle station on Weyburn Avenue and soon a new hot pot joint opening on Broxton Avenue. At a time when the Village is experiencing a high vacancy rate, the success of Northern Cafe stands out.

Lifelong Westwood resident Sam Powell had difficulty tracking down authentic Chinese food locally before the first Northern Cafe opened in 2016. His search included trips all the way to San Gabriel Valley.

The stuff you would see in Westwood Village the past decade (was always) the kind of build-your-own, fast-casual-type restaurants, Powell said.

The restaurants capitalize on foot traffic from UCLA students. Tony Wong, the manager of Northern Cafe on Weyburn Avenue, runs a tight ship from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Normally, it will be very busy, Wong said. All of the meals are very popular.

Just 30 minutes before it closed on Thursday night, Northern Cafe served seven customers. One of them was Peng Teng, a postdoctoral student at UCLA who visits the restaurant twice a week.

Around campus and on campus, (Northern Cafe) is the best Chinese restaurant, Teng said. There are not many choices here.

The third installment of the Northern Cafe franchise seeks to provide a new variety of Chinese delicacies in the area, Teng said.

Andrew Thomas, executive director of the Westwood Village Improvement Association, said he is excited to see the new location open.

I can add that Im always pleased when I see what I would personally call an upgrade in tenanting that fills a vacancy, Thomas said. Considering the success and quality that Northern Cafe brings, I would call their addition to our district an upgrade.

Westwoods vacancy rate is a persistent issue that has seen restaurants such as Ikes Love & Sandwiches, SpireWorks and Nushii close in 2019. Although Westwood has a vacancy rate of over 20%, Thomas said he hopes new additions will enhance local businesses and promote future ventures.

Businesses want to know they have an opportunity to be successful in communities where they open, Thomas said.

In its November meeting, the WVIA addressed the vacancy issue and proposed solutions such as sustaining business traffic, remodeling the Broxton parking garage and updating zoning codes to better allocate properties in the Village to businesses and affordable housing units.

Despite Westwood soon having three Northern Cafes within walking distance of each other, Thomas said that as long as the businesses enhance one another, all tenants are welcome.

Occupancy means activity, energy, pedestrians on our sidewalks, Thomas said. I dont believe microregulating businesses has helped our district. I know its contributed to our vacancy (rate).

Regulars at Northern Cafe are also excited to dine at the new location.

We grew up in Westwood and (have) seen a lot of places come and go, Powell said. Mostly, its just because the rent versus the foot traffic is always skewed toward the expensive side. Its kind of a weird thing to see (Northern Cafes success).

The hot pot restaurant will open sometime in 2020, Wong said. Betty Ren, the owner of Northern Cafe, declined to comment.

Continued here:
While other restaurants close, Northern Cafe to open 3rd Westwood location - Daily Bruin

NUTLEY, NJ - Nutley Commissioner Mauro Tucci presented his White Paper on "The Effect of Multi-Family Housing on Nutley NJ" at the Jan. 15 2019 Board of Commissioners Meeting. As "the apartments" remains one of the major topics of discussion locally, TAPinto Nutley is once again sharing the document.

The paper was the result of collaborative research from Nutley's five municipal departments and the Board of Education.

The paper is available on the Township of Nutley website. TAPinto Nutley was the first news organization to publish a copy of the report:

The Effect of Multi-Family Housing on Nutley NJ.

A White Paper

Mauro G. Tucci

Commissioner Department of Parks and Public Property

January 2019

DEFINITION OF A WHITE PAPER

A WHITE PAPER IS AN AUTHORITATIVE REPORT OR GUIDE THAT INFORMS READERS CONCISELY ABOUT A COMPLEX ISSUE AND PRESENTS THE ISSUING BODY'S PHILOSOPHY ON THE MATTER. IT IS MEANT TO HELP READERS UNDERSTANDAN ISSUE, SOLVE A PROBLEM OR MAKE A DECISION

ADDITIONALLY, THIS WHITE PAPER IS INTENDED TO INITIATE THOUGHT, DISCUSSION AND SOLICIT PUBLIC INPUTRELATIVE TO MEASURING THE IMPACT MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING HAS HAD ON THE TOWNSHIP AND WHAT, IF ANY, ADDITIONAL UNITS CAN BE SUPPORTED FROM A SERVICE,PHYSICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE.

WATER UTILITY

The most obvious services that could be impacted in this departmenthave to begin with water capacity and sewage capacity.I have been informed by the licensed water and sewer operator that water consumption in 2018 was less than the previous year due to theextraordinary wet weather we experienced.

Moving forward our current water allotment could prove to be problematic should additional units be constructed. Our current water allotment is 3 million gallons per day. Any substantial new construction project will have an impact on the townships water distribution duringpeak demand times and in emergency situations.

Maintenance of our existing distribution system will in fact require cleaning and relining of water mains along with replacement and/orrefurbishment of existing valves, hydrants and appurtenances.

The cost of water in 2017 as demonstrated on the attached graph, from all of our suppliers, was $1,937,731.30, approximately 1% less than the2018 expenditure of $1,927252.50, which is not typical.

SEWER DIVISION

Sanitary sewer capacity could also be impacted with additional building. I'm told that our present capacity is sufficient at 9.02 million gallons per day. However, there may be a capacity constraint on the conveyance system which could require expansion of existing utilities i.e. Sewerconveyance piping, pumping apparatus etc.

In 2017 the township paid $3,207,649.76 to process waste generated from the sanitary sewer system as opposed to the $3,379,743.86 we paid in 2018, an increase of 5%, 2.02% which is directly attributable toPassaic Valley Sewage Commission processing. Obviously costs will increase commensurate with additional volumeshould we exceed our contracted allotment.

ROAD DIVISION

The impact in this area correlates to a numbers situation; the more people you have, potentially the more cars traversing our roads calling for increased maintenance and reconstruction translating into addedexpense.

NJ COMMUNITY SERVICES ACT

Reimbursement of services required under the State of NJ CommunityServices Act potentially could increase with the additional plowing, lighting, recycling, leaf collection and other services negotiated with anynew complexes.

The culmination of all the aforementioned services and increased costs, which are not offset, could very likely result in higher taxes and usercharges that would be passed on to our citizens.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

The information provided by this department included a comparison of calls for service or services rendered in the police, fire, court, and rescue squad divisions. Some had information that allowed comparisons to be made on a year to year basis and others had information that spannedseveral years.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Police Department compiled information on multi-unit complexesconsisting of eight units or more from 2010 thru 2017. In 2010 there were 417 calls for service as opposed to 2017 where there were 741 calls for service, or 324 more, representing an increase of 44% over the tenyear period.

Overall calls for service which include medical response, alarms, crime,domestics etc. totaled 61,353 for 2017 and 68,948 for 2018.

This comparison represents an increase of 7,595 calls or an 11% totalincrease.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Likewise, the Fire Department compiled records comparing overall calls for service both year to year and over a nine-year period from 2010 to 2018. The ten-year increase starting with 2010 incidents totaling 1589 and ending in 2018 with 2208 accounted for an increase of 619 incidentsor 28.1%.

The annual increase from 2017 to 2018 was 409 incidents going from 1799 calls in 2017 to 2208 in 2018 representing a 19.6% increase.

MUNICIPAL COURT

In 2018 the municipal court handled 17,950 calls for service for a variety of issues. Information readily available for 2017 included the last quarterof the year and totaled 3290 contacts. Comparing the last three months of 2017 to the last three months of 2018 we experienced a 29% increase.A more detailed analysis would be necessary to ascertain trendinginformation that could be further validated.

RESCUE SQUAD

Our rescue squad responded to 5398 calls in 2017 and 5675 calls in 2018. The absolute increase was 277 additional calls representing a 5%increase.Increased service calls eventually translate into increased costs.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

This department believes that additional multi-family housing in conjunction with the normal turnover of existing housing stock coulddefinitely overwhelm their entire operation. The figures submitted reflect only the first six months of 2018 and have been projected for the entire year. Their belief is, with an ever increasing senior population andthe addition of younger families moving into town with school age children the demand for their services will greatly increase. The generalconsensus is they are reaching an unsustainable breaking point.

The projected amount of services provided for 2018 resulted in 4470contacts with Nutley residents in the following areas:

Veterans Affairs Bureau Health Screenings

Clinics

Transportation General Service calls/referrals Community Gardens

Marriages School Immunization Audits Immunizations Administered

Office Based Clinics Home Based Nursing Visits

Communicable Diseases Childhood Lead Poisoning Cases

Family Nursing Program Health Education & Promotion

Additional resources would be required to sustain this level of service ora reduction in what is offered.

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE FINANCE ANDCODE ENFORCEMENT

Impact on this department should be minimal with the exception of the code enforcement and building divisions which will be reviewing plans, issuing permits, inspecting construction, issuing certificates ofoccupancy and ultimately collecting taxes.

In 2018 this department facilitated 1917 zoning permits including fees,issued 2790 permits and inspected 7169 properties. Should the proliferation of multi-family construction continue, in addition to the normal work flow of granting permits for fences, additions alterations etc. and all the follow up work that is required, additional resourcesand/or personnel may be required.

The potential for additional multi-family units On 3 is great and depending on the number of units approved will surely impact theamount and flow of work in this department.Again, barring any financial arrangements surrounding large construction complexes, such as this, additional resources and staffingmay be necessary, either part time, full time or temporary.

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND PUBLICPROPERTY

Like the Department of Revenue, Finance and Code Enforcement the Parks Department should realize minimal impact on the approximately 125 programs offered, which for the most part are self-sustaining andpoised for expansion.

Our 110 acres of parkland can easily accommodate additional usage, however, our playgrounds, fields and recreational facilities potentiallywill experience some stresses.Additional maintenance could necessitate the need for additionalresources.

NUTLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

The township presently has 33 multi-family housing complexes which has remained constant for the years of 2016 and 2017. The total number of students generated from all developments in 2016 was 360 out of a total 4104 total district students or 8.8%. The 2017 number of students

generated from the same 33 complexes actually decreased by ten students yielding 350 students out of a total district student population of 4128 or 8.5%. The total amount of district students actually increased bytwenty-four but were not generated from multi-family units.

Apparently the notion that additional multi-family units will produce more students, thus putting an additional strain on the district, is falseaccording to the demographer's data.

The current space situation is directly related to all day kindergarten, our highly successful special needs program and the ever evolvingDepartment of Education regulations.

The district has retained a demographer to compile the 2018 data to beutilized in future planning.

ON3 DEVELOPMENT

The departure of Hoffman LA Roche and the advent of the On 3

development has been a very exciting time here in Nutley. The establishment of the first private medical school in decades, the Seton Hall-Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine along with Seton Hall's College of Nursing and School of Health and Medical Sciences has produced the excitement and activity that we originally anticipated.

Modern Meadow has relocated to the On 3 location in Nutley and utilizes design, biology and engineering for sustainable manufacturing. Bio fabrication enables the company to grow nature's materials using

living cells instead of animals.

Ralph Lauren, the international fashion giant has signed a long term lease that will retain 500 jobs in the State of New Jersey and potentially create 200 additional positions that could be available to Nutley

residents.

Quest Diagnostics will be building a combination lab and office building along with a 1,000 space parking garage, retaining 754 jobs in the State and will provide an additional 384 jobs which Nutley residents can availthemselves to.

The potential development of multi-family units on his site is stillundecided and will most definitely include affordable units.

The build out of this development will hopefully generate sorely needed tax dollars to the township that someday may equal the amount HoffmanLa Roche paid.

This redevelopment breeds different uses that require special attention, and potentially increased services from all township departments, someof which we are already experiencing.

SYNOPSIS

At the beginning of this paper I provided a definition of what a White Paper is and what it provides. I have presented information as providedby the various Township Departments including the School District, along with my observations of the impact that multi-family housing ishaving on our Township.

The effect that multi-family housing is having on our township is complex. It is multi-faceted and it impacts our physical appearance, our infrastructure, township services and expenses, taxes and an intangible psychological effect on our perception of what our township is and what it is becoming. One of my greatest concerns is the erosion of what I refer to as our deep root commitment to our hometown. We have been as stable and attractive to both our existing residents and those who would be residents because of our enviable rich sense of community which keeps generation after generation of Nutleyites returning to live and raise their families. Our property values are the envy of many of our surrounding communities because of who and what we are. The addition of over 2200 multi-family units concerns me not because of who our new neighbors are but rather because they are renters and as such may not ever establish the Deep Roots that many of us have.

The nature and character of our township, in my opinion, should never substantially change. Change is not necessarily a bad thing or something I'm opposed to but it needs to be managed and planned properly.

Our recipe for success has been one of our many constants due to the commitment and foresight of our town leaders and professionals.

We agree and disagree on many issues, which I'm sure will include some of the findings and opinions noted in this paper, but at the end of the day the future of our township must always come first.

Additional study is required and should be done immediately. The additional units that have been built, and those in the pipeline, are already having effects, some obvious and others not so obvious, that need to be measured and managed.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS, BOE REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR PROFESSIONALS.

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#ThrowbackThursday: Commissioner Tucci presents White Paper on Multi-Family Housing on Nutley at BOC Meeting - TAPinto.net