Celebrating Dr. King’s legacy in SOMA

Celebrating Dr. King’s legacy in SOMA

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race will hold its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. observance, volunteer fair and luminary lighting on Monday, Jan. 20, beginning at 2 p.m. at Columbia High School, 17 Parker Ave. in Maplewood. The observance is free and open to all. This year’s theme is “The […]

Freeholders approve contract to replace voting machines

Freeholders approve contract to replace voting machines

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — In order to ensure the integrity of future Essex County elections, the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders passed a resolution Jan. 7 approving the purchase of new voting machines that will provide optical scanners and paper ballots guaranteeing a secure and safe process.  In the wake of allegations of voter […]

TSTI preschool to hold open house for prospective families

TSTI preschool to hold open house for prospective families

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education — the community preschool at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange — will hold an open house on Sunday, Jan. 26, from 2 to 3 p.m. Families interested in learning about the preschool’s play-based programming are welcome to attend, tour the spaces, and […]

WO students to perform in Vanguard’s ‘Spring Awakening’

WO students to perform in Vanguard’s ‘Spring Awakening’

NEW YORK CITY — Vanguard Theater Company will present “Spring Awakening” for four performances only from Jan. 17 through 19 at the American Theater for Actors, 314 W 54th St. in New York City. The show includes many local young actors, including Joe and Maria Nalieth, two West Orange High School students. “Spring Awakening” is […]

Preliminary 2019 opioid stats show NJ is holding the line on overdose deaths

Preliminary 2019 opioid stats show NJ is holding the line on overdose deaths

TRENTON, NJ — Attorney General Gurbir Grewal joined Gov. Phil Murphy and other state officials on Jan. 8 for a round table community meeting to discuss strategies for fighting the opioid addiction epidemic and to announce preliminary year-end opioid statistics for 2019, which indicate that, for the first time since 2012, New Jersey held the […]

13th annual deer management program begins in Essex County

13th annual deer management program begins in Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. outlined plans for the 2020 Essex County Deer Management Program in South Mountain and Hilltop reservations. This is the 13th year of the program, which is geared toward revitalizing the forest ecology by reducing the number of deer. “Controlling the population by removing deer from […]

Two corrections officers charged with tampering with records

NEWARK, NJ — Two corrections officers have been charged with falsifying records while on the job at the Essex County Correctional Facility, located on Doremus Avenue in Newark, according to a Jan. 6 press release from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Raymond Distasi, 52, of Roxbury, has been charged with one count of tampering with […]

SOPAC brings in new executive director Craig Sumberg

SOPAC brings in new executive director Craig Sumberg

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange Performing Arts Center has appointed Craig Sumberg as its new executive director. An extensive national search targeted the former executive director of the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation as a highly qualified candidate, and Sumberg quickly stood out while going through the interview process. His record of achievement is […]