Orange School District’s concrete plan for September openings

Orange School District’s concrete plan for September openings

ORANGE, NJ — In an expansive virtual meeting via Zoom on Aug. 14, Orange Superintendent of Schools Gerald Fitzhugh II and Director Tina Powell spoke about the impending school openings set for this September, despite the coronavirus scare plaguing the nation. “School starts Sept. 8,” Fitzhugh said. “I am extremely excited about that start of […]

WO taxes to increase by 1.76 percent

WO taxes to increase by 1.76 percent

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Township Council introduced and held a public hearing on the 2020 municipal budget at its Aug. 11 meeting, with plans to vote on the document at its next meeting, on Sept. 8. The total budget, which was presented by Chief Financial Officer John Gross, is $90,676,490. This year’s […]

SOMSD to begin school year virtually

SOMSD to begin school year virtually

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Four days after the South Orange–Maplewood School District presented its fall reopening plan, with three options to choose from as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to prevent the normal back-to-school fanfare September would usually bring, Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order allowing New Jersey school districts to begin the […]

Towns each receive $150K grant for park improvements

Towns each receive $150K grant for park improvements

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County has awarded $3.15 million in Local Aid grants to 21 municipalities in Essex County, with each town receiving $150,000. The funds came from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and will be used to improve municipal playgrounds, recreation and athletic facilities, community swimming pools and parks […]

Orange unveils Black Lives Matter mural

Orange unveils Black Lives Matter mural

ORANGE, NJ — Shifting the landscape of what it means to reach higher within many communities across the nation, Black Lives Matter murals are popping up everywhere. Joining communities that have painted the mural on streets to symbolize that black lives do indeed matter, Orange has unveiled its Black Lives Matter mural to the public. […]

West Orange students to begin school year virtually

West Orange students to begin school year virtually

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Following the presentation of the preliminary school reopening plan at a West Orange Board of Education meeting in July, Superintendent of Schools Scott Cascone and a panel of other school officials held a virtual town hall on Aug. 6, revisiting the plan and introducing changes. The plan that the BOE will […]

Maplewood police investigate trespass incident

Vandals place anti-police signs on lawns of two Maplewood Township Committee members

Maplewood police investigate trespass incident

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Maplewood Police Department is investigating signs expressing anti-police sentiments that were placed by trespassers on the front lawns of Maplewood Committeemen Greg Lembrich and Vic DeLuca on Aug. 5. The signs, which were painted over existing lawn signs, said “Abolish the auxiliary,” referencing the Maplewood Police Department Police Auxiliary; “Kroll has […]

DeCamp Bus Lines suspends service due to low ridership

DeCamp Bus Lines suspends service due to low ridership

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Another one bites the dust, as the 150-year-old Montclair-based company DeCamp Bus Lines becomes another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout — at least for the time being. On Aug. 7, the company issued a statement that it was “suspending all service” due to the “sustained effects of the COVID-19 […]

Storm causes damage within Irvington Township

Storm causes damage within Irvington Township

IRVINGTON, NJ — The state of New Jersey was one of multiple states that had lain in the path of Tropical Storm Isaias, which first made landfall as a hurricane. Irvington saw the brute force the storm displayed as trees and power lines came down, causing blackouts within the town. Coming down on houses and […]