MAPLEWOOD, NJ — After approximately an hour of public comment and discussion at its Sept. 4 meeting, the Maplewood Township Committee unanimously voted down an ordinance that would have imposed a fee for each disposable bag used at township retailers. Ordinance No. 2923-18 was voted down on second reading by all five members of the […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Just because they can’t vote, doesn’t mean they don’t have opinions and ideas worth hearing. That is one of the main ideas behind the creation of the Youth Advisory Committee in Maplewood. At its Sept. 4 meeting, Maplewood Township Committee unanimously appointed YAC’s six inaugural members. From different backgrounds, schools and ages, […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange Board of Education will have turnover after this election cycle, as three challengers are running for the two open seats and both incumbents have chosen not to run again. When BOE members Ron Charles and Irv Schwarzbaum vacate their seats at the end the year, they will be filled […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — As cases of Legionnaires’ disease continue to crop up in New York and New Jersey, many public entities have been testing their buildings for legionella bacteria, which can cause the disease. In August, West Orange School District had Redwood Elementary School, where it found very low levels of legionella bacteria in […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In the wake of South Orange-Maplewood School District suspending Columbia High School Athletic Director Larry Busichio, Newark Academy has fired its head baseball coach, Joe Fischetti, who was the CHS head baseball coach until 2017. Fischetti, among other CHS baseball coaching staff members, were not rehired as coaches for the spring 2017 […]
Busichio suspended for alleged ‘highly disturbing’ management of baseball team
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange-Maplewood School District confirmed Aug. 27 that Columbia High School’s athletic director has been suspended indefinitely with pay. At its Monday, Aug. 20, meeting, the Board of Education voted to suspend five staffers — none of whom were named in the meeting’s agenda. According to the district in its Aug. 27 […]
BOE election to see three challengers, no incumbents
WEST ORANGE, NJ — Election season in West Orange is going to be exciting. Not only will residents be voting for two open seats on the West Orange Township Council and for mayor, but residents will have three challengers to consider for two open seats on the Board of Education. On Election Day, Nov. 6, […]
County divests from Wells Fargo over foreclosure record
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. announced Aug. 8 that Essex County is withdrawing all its accounts from Wells Fargo because of “predatory lending schemes and aggressive foreclosure practices by the banking giant,” according to a release from the county. Under DiVincenzo’s directive, Essex County began removing its accounts from Wells Fargo […]
Only one incumbent files to run for re-elections; Pai and Sabin opt to leave Board of Education
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — This election season in the South Orange-Maplewood School District is looking to be exciting and heated, with 11 candidates — and only one incumbent — running for three open seats on the Board of Education. On Nov. 6, the two towns’ residents must select three of the following candidates […]
Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad drops by Words to discuss her path to winning bronze in 2016
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad returned to her hometown of Maplewood on just the second day of her book tour to rehash old times with the community and to discuss the trials she withstood to make Team USA in the 2016 Olympics. On July 25, Muhammad promoted her memoir “Proud” — which also has […]