Mayor: Layoffs and furloughs needed to close budget gap

IRVINGTON, NJ — Mayor Tony Vauss has confirmed that his administration is asking township employees to accept furloughs and layoffs in order to close a $3.25 million gap in the 2017 municipal budget. According to a memo from Irvington Finance Director Faheem Ra’Oof, addressed to township business administrator Musa Malik and Wally Riglicki, who was […]

Local tween proves herself to be an adroit businesswoman

Talented young baker gets headstart in world of business

Local tween proves herself to be an adroit businesswoman

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — For most 12-year-olds, life’s biggest accomplishments may include getting homework done on time or passing a major test. But Maplewood’s Sadie Munoz is no ordinary 12-year-old. In the fifth grade last year Sadie launched what she now calls “Pinata Cupcakes,” a business selling filled cupcakes that she bakes herself. And on March […]

Brookdale students learn about autism in the world

Brookdale students learn about autism in the world

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Brookdale Elementary School recognized Autism Awareness Day by having an online, interactive classroom lesson Friday, April 7. Because it was an online presentation, all classes could participate as one. Sunday, April 2, was the actual date of World Autism Day this year. The lesson was created by resource teacher Jason Triano. Its subject […]

Gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy addresses ‘black agenda’

NEWARK, NJ — New Jersey Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy stopped by the People’s Organization for Progress weekly meeting at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Newark on Thursday, April 6, a month after P.O.P. members had met to start crafting a black agenda for New Jersey. P.O.P. Chairman Larry Hamm said the meeting on Saturday, […]

WO resident seeks volunteers for Habitat trip to India

WEST ORANGE, NJ — When most people think about international travel, they probably envision themselves sitting on a Caribbean beach with a mai tai in hand watching the sun set over the crashing waves of a sparkling blue ocean. But for West Orange’s Saumya Bhatnagar, a trip overseas usually means manual labor — for a […]

SOMSD recognized for music education

NAMM Foundation names South Orange-Maplewood schools as ‘Best Community’ in music options

SOMSD recognized for music education

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Last week, 527 school districts across the nation — including the South Orange-Maplewood School District — were recognized by The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for their outstanding music education programs. In cooperation with researchers at The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas, and based on […]

Winning class in charity drive gets pizza

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Watsessing Elementary School fourth-graders of Rachel Mazetta celebrated with a pizza party on Friday, April 7. The occasion was for being the class to raise the most money in school for the Valerie Fund. Mazetta’s students raised $142 by dropping coins into a piggy bank. The school, altogether, collected $549. The charity was […]