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 […]
Columbia HS confers diplomas on 508 graduating seniors at June 21 commencement ceremony
NEWARK, NJ — The gymnasium at Essex County College in Newark was filled with anticipatory energy and bursting pride on Thursday, June 21, as the 508 members of the Columbia High School Class of 2018 were conferred their diplomas. The graduating seniors were joined by family and friends, who watched as they walked across the […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A Jefferson Elementary School paraprofessional, who worked at the school from February to September 2017, is currently facing criminal charges in Essex and Morris counties for alleged lewd acts. Kenneth Palmer, 21, of Randolph, is accused of masturbating in front of children and videotaping it, as well as taking inappropriate photos of […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — For author Alicia Mountain, reading excerpts from her first collection of poetry, “High Ground Coward,” which won the prestigious Iowa Poetry Prize, in the basement of Words Bookstore in Maplewood on June 15 was not just another stop on her book tour — it was a homecoming. Like at […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — At a June 13 town hall meeting to discuss the long-range facilities and integration plan, Acting Superintendent of Schools Thomas Ficarra confirmed that his administration is currently looking into the credit-recovery program at Columbia High School. According to a May 23 letter sent by the CHS administration to the school community, credit […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The second Maplewood South Orange Book Festival was a huge success, drawing hundreds of residents for a variety of events on June 8 and 9. The festival began Friday, June 8, with a benefit evening with best-selling author David Baldacci, an event that raised funds for the South Orange and Maplewood public […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education unanimously agreed at a May 29 special meeting to begin anew the process to select a search firm for a new superintendent of schools. South Orange-Maplewood School District Business Administrator and BOE Secretary Paul Roth has thus issued a revised Request For Proposals for a superintendent […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race presented the fifth annual XRootsFest in Maplewood Memorial Park on June 2. The event featured musicians, dancers, food vendors, merchants and more. An area for children was set up with a bounce house and other activities; alongside it was an “Edu-tainment” tent, where various cultural […]