Town unveils 6th jitney route

With expansion, jitney will now cover Pleasantdale, Redwood sections

Town unveils 6th jitney route

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The township of West Orange has finally unveiled its long-anticipated sixth jitney route, which covers the Pleasantdale and Redwood neighborhoods with four stops on the way to and from either the Orange station or the Brick Church station. The rout, which should be up and running sometime in August, will begin […]

TC approves budget, raises taxes by 2 percent

TC approves budget, raises taxes by 2 percent

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Township Council approved the $79,707,320.17 municipal budget for 2017 during its May 23 meeting with a vote of 4-1, with council President Joe Krakoviak being the sole vote against it. The budget — which is $1,312,293.82 more than last year’s — features a tax increase of 2 percent, […]

Expert sees classroom shortfall, lopsided racial makeup

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood School District and Board of Education is considering how it will address issues of increasing enrollment after a commissioned facilities-usage study found that rezoning alone will not prevent a shortfall of classrooms at the elementary school level. BOE President Elizabeth Baker told the News-Record that the […]

BOE, WOEA finally enter new contract

After 2 years without contract, WOEA and BOE make deal

WEST ORANGE, NJ — After nearly two years of working without a contract, the West Orange Education Association finally entered into a new agreement with the West Orange Board of Education on May 25. The contract features a faculty pay raise that WOEA President Mark Maniscalco described as being in line with state and county […]

Township comes together to fight cancer

Annual West Orange Relay for Life raises $36,000 in donations, hopes to hit $50K by end of August

Township comes together to fight cancer

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Approximately 450 people gathered at West Orange High School for the township’s annual Relay for Life event from May 19 to 20, where they intermittently walked around a track all night to gain insight into the physical discomfort cancer patients suffer, while also raising money for the American Cancer Society. Event […]

Ramos to leave SOMSD after just 2 years

Superintendent retires three years before contract expires to spend more time with his family

Ramos to leave SOMSD after just 2 years

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — After just two years, Superintendent of Schools John Ramos Sr. is retiring from the South Orange-Maplewood School District, effective Aug. 24. The retirement, which was announced in a May 22 letter to the SOMSD community, comes as a surprise since Ramos only joined the district about two years ago. […]

Chamber honors those who make West Orange great

Chamber honors those who make West Orange great

WEST ORANGE, NJ — JAG Physical Therapy was honored as the Business of the Year during the West Orange Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards dinner at The Manor on May 17. John Gallucci, JAG’s president and chief executive officer, accepted the distinction by acknowledging that his company’s success would not have been possible without the […]

Parents continue to protest honors admission process

District defends process, though always looks to improve

WEST ORANGE, NJ — For the third straight year, several parents are speaking out against the admissions process for the West Orange School District’s honors program — specifically criticizing the emphasis the criteria puts on the placement test and writing sample. Much like last year, the parents believe that more weight should be placed on […]

WOHS students to help seniors with tech

Mountaineer Mentors look forward to assisting seniors

WOHS students to help seniors with tech

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange High School Mountaineer Mentors will soon hold a free program in which senior citizens can learn how to use technology that is new to them. The initiative, which will be held at the high school on May 22 and June 12, will teach seniors everything from email to […]

Administration, SHARP debate timing

Township wants to wait until jitney route is planned before consulting with affected residents

Administration, SHARP debate timing

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The leader of a local advocacy group that pushed for a jitney line covering the Redwood and Pleasantdale neighborhoods last year is now urging the township to consult with residents before finalizing its route. Deena Rubin, founder of the Shuttle Advocates for Redwood and Pleasantdale group, told the West Orange Township […]