Karate instructor honored for contributions to community 

Karate instructor honored for contributions to community 

IRVINGTON, NJ — Council President Renee Burgess and Vice President October Hudley were among those in attendance to honor Sensei Robert J. Lewis, a local karate instructor, at the Irvington Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12. During the meeting, Burgess and Hudley presented Lewis, who teaches martial arts at Destined for Greatness Dojo at 2 […]

TC passes DPW, WOFD contracts

Police unions urge council not to approve contracts at Nov. 12 meeting

TC passes DPW, WOFD contracts

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Township Council approved two union contracts at its Nov. 12 meeting: an agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees New Jersey Council 63, Local 3476, the union representing members of the Department of Public Works, and an agreement with the West Orange Fire Department […]

Mental Health Association celebrates diamond anniversary

Mental Health Association celebrates diamond anniversary

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Seventy-five years ago, Clifford Beers was released from the hospital after suffering from a mental illness and founded the New Jersey Mental Hygiene Association, which aims to improve treatment for mental illnesses in hospitals. Beers’ organization still exists, but under a different name; the Mental Health Association in New Jersey is […]

President of Irvington’s NAN chapter attends conference in Washington, D.C.

President of Irvington’s NAN chapter attends conference in Washington, D.C.

IRVINGTON, NJ — Irvington Municipal Council First Vice President October Hudley attended the annual legislative conference of the National Action Network in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Nov. 14, to discuss civil rights strategies going into the next election year. Hudley serves as president of the Irvington chapter of NAN, a civil right’s organization founded by […]

‘Matilda’ comes to Glen Ridge

‘Matilda’ comes to Glen Ridge

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Co-directors Erin Dilly and Heather Ballantyne have had their work cut out for them since September, when rehearsals for the Gas Lamp Junior Players’ production of Roald Dahl’s “Matilda” began. The show represents the first time the child corps will stage a Broadway-length production, one in which nearly 100 children have […]

Gregory wins $2K grant from Badlani Foundation

Gregory wins $2K grant from Badlani Foundation

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange’s 12 schools competed in the Nikhil Badlani Foundation’s fundraising competition in the lead-up to the STOP for Nikhil 5K in September, and the winner was crowned at Gregory Elementary School’s PTA meeting on Nov. 13. With $3,680 raised for the NBF, Gregory families and staff won a $2,000 grant […]

District NJSLA results above state averages, but show persisting achievement gap

District NJSLA results above state averages, but show persisting achievement gap

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Superintendent of Schools Ronald Taylor reviewed the results of last school year’s standardized testing at the Oct. 28 Board of Education meeting, showing that South Orange-Maplewood School District students did better than state averages in nearly every category. Last year, students across the state took the New Jersey Student […]

Church reaches out to homeless in Orange and at Newark Penn Station

Church reaches out to homeless in Orange and at Newark Penn Station

ORANGE, NJ — The NAACP of Montclair State University came together with Ebenezer Baptist Church in Orange and the Brown Paper Bag Movement to host “Lending a Helping Hand” for the local homeless community on Saturday, Nov. 16. Clothes, toiletries, cooked food, canned goods and more were distributed at the event, which was originally planned […]