Redwood third-grade students write and illustrate their own books

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Students in Paul Stefanelli’s third-grade class at Redwood Elementary School had an incredible opportunity to write and design their own books, presenting their work to family and friends at their Jan. 19 Writing Celebration. “After several weeks of reviewing fiction pieces and continuing to implement the writing process effectively, I challenged […]

S. Mtn. YMCA launches 2018 annual campaign

EAST HANOVER, NJ — The South Mountain YMCA launched its 2018 superhero-themed annual campaign Monday, Jan. 22, and the $175,000 goal is already a third of the way to being met. The South Mountain YMCA kicked off the campaign at the whimsical “Calling All Superheroes” event, which brought together all seven branches of the Metropolitan […]

Crazed comedian Vic DiBitetto’s rants draw rave reviews at NJPAC

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Comedian Vic DiBitetto is onstage and he is clearly upset about something. And fans who have packed the house at the first of his two recent New Jersey Performing Arts Center shows wouldn’t have it any other way. The Brooklyn-born former garbageman-turned Staten Island bus driver-turned-YouTube comedy sensation entered the cozy, nearly sold […]

Register now for spring classes at SOMAS

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood Adult School’s spring catalogs are out and registration is open. Highlights this semester include Star-Ledger film critic Stephen Whitty on April 2, who will use stories and film clips to examine the rain-swept streets and femme fatales of film noir; author Lori L. Tharps will explore […]

Lin-Manuel Miranda co. sponsors 2018 season at Vanguard

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Creating opportunities for diverse actors and audiences has been rewarded in a significant way as Vanguard Theater Company announced Jan. 18 that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s TeeRico clothing line has become the main sponsor of Vanguard’s 2018 season. TeeRico is Miranda’s officially-licensed merchandise site, where every design benefits a cause and/or artist. Miranda […]

Italian Club students learn how to dance the pizzica

WEST ORANGE, NJ — To reinforce curriculum studies on culture, students in the West Orange High School Italian Club learned the popular pizzica dance on Jan. 17. Italian teachers Vincenza Amabile and Rosanna Zamloot, WOHS dance teacher Melissa Sande, and guest instructor Lisa Grimes of Montclair State University led the students in the step progressions […]

Former Nick Jr. star releases motivational music

LOS ANGELES — “You Can Do It” is the title of a new tune written and produced by Hillary Hawkins, the former host of Nick Jr. and a West Orange native. The video launched January on YouTube and Vimeo for the song that was released on her children’s music album “Let’s Imagine A World of […]

Local artist shows her work in international locales

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Ellen Hanauer, a West Orange native and resident of Livingston for more than 30 years, has an upcoming solo exhibition at the historic artist colony Montsalvat in Melbourne, Australia. This edition of laser-printed anatomical mandalas on paper is part of the SciArt work she has been creating for more than 25 years. […]