GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Meeting twice a month with adviser Smita Ganatra, the Glen Ridge High School Writing Club is a student-directed activity with club members determining how to facilitate the process of writing. Ganatra, who teaches eighth- and ninth-grade English, and is also the middle school yearbook adviser, acknowledged in a recent telephone interview […]
MONTCLAIR, NJ — The cast of Vanguard Theater Co.’s production of “A Chorus Line” certainly scored well, with dance: 10; looks: 10; and vocals: 11. The production is part of Vanguard’s Dream VTC initiative, a rigorous, by audition, preprofessional performance program for high school and college students. Though the performers were young, they amazed, eliciting […]
Engel to serve as deputy mayor; township committee has female majority for first time
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — At the Maplewood Township Committee’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 1, Mayor Dean Dafis was unanimously selected to chair the committee, aka continue as mayor, for 2023. “I’m deeply humbled and honored by your confidence and faith in me. I will continue leading us with the strength, conviction, commitment and collaboration that you’ve […]
GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The start of a new year is naturally the time to make resolutions. Below are some made by individuals who appeared in stories in The Glen Ridge Paper in 2022. Elizabeth Baker, Glen Ridge Shade Tree commissioner “Maximize the town’s vital green infrastructure and strive to do even better to […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — Mayor Susan McCartney was sworn in as West Orange’s first female mayor in the town’s 160-year history at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in West Orange on Jan. 2. The oath of office was administered by former West Orange Mayor and current state Assemblyman John McKeon. The Bible was held for the […]
ORANGE, NJ — Orange is preparing to roll out an outreach program with Amistad Global Village Program and Oiada International. In a joint project involving Orange Mayor Dwayne D. Warren; Superintendent of Schools Gerald Fitzhugh II; and Sancha K. Gray, Kean University’s senior vice president for entrepreneurial education initiatives, Orange High School will host virtual […]
BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Aissa Refol, a special education teacher at Berkeley Elementary School, has retired. Her final day was Friday, Dec. 23. Born in the Philippines, Refol grew up in Jersey City and attended St. Michael’s Regional High School in Union City. She received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange African Heritage Organization held its annual Kwanzaa event on Friday, Dec. 30. Filled with great music, food, vendors and a candle-lighting ceremony, the event was a welcoming introduction for residents to what Kwanzaa means and how it serves a purpose in society today for those who participate in […]
WASHINGTON, DC — President Joe Biden signed federal legislation on Dec. 28 that includes provisions to make the Rahway River flood mitigation study a national priority. Through the efforts of Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, and U.S. Reps. Donald M. Payne Jr. and Tom Malinowski — as well as through the consistent work of […]
IRVINGTON, NJ — Donna Beck, an English and language arts teacher at Madison Avenue Elementary School, has earned the distinction of being recognized by the National Liberty Museum as part of its 16th annual Teacher as Hero Awards, sponsored by State Farm. Beck was presented with this honor in the caring classroom category. “Irvington Public […]