Suburban Essex Chamber of Commerce celebrates 100 years

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A proclamation commemorating the centennial of the Suburban Essex Chamber of Commerce was read at the Bloomfield Township council meeting on Monday, Feb. 27. The reading, by 2nd Ward Councilman Nicholas Joanow, noted that the organization was established as the Bloomfield Board of Trade in April 1898 and incorporated March 27, 1917. Six […]

Irvington DPW director running for re-election to Assembly

IRVINGTON, NJ — It’s that time of year again, when challengers throw their names into the mix while incumbents consider whether to run for re-election. For state Assemblyman Jamel Holley, there was never any doubt. “I can’t believe how time flies; today makes two years that I have been serving you in the state Assembly, […]

Judge denies petition to stop special election for Orange BOE

ORANGE, NJ — Administrative Law Judge Michael Antoniewicz has denied the petition filed by the Orange Board of Education’s special attorney, Stephen Edelstein, to file an injunction to prevent the Orange School District’s change from a Type 1 District with an appointed board to a Type 2 District with an elected board, according to Orange […]

HRC town hall attracts large crowd

Residents, township officials discuss ‘sanctuary,’ racial diversity, police statistics and more

HRC town hall attracts large crowd

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Mayor Robert Parisi told those gathered for the West Orange Human Relations Commission’s Feb. 22 “We All Belong” town hall meeting that it would be unnecessary to declare the township a sanctuary city because undocumented immigrants in the township currently do not risk being singled out by local law enforcement. Though […]

Debate over leaf blower bans rages at TC meeting

Residents support ban, landscapers point out problems

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — While Maplewood neighborhoods may be blissfully quiet this summer, landscapers claim the silence will cost homeowners increased lawn care fees. On Feb. 21, the Maplewood Township Committee continued the 14-year debate that has been raging around leaf blowers here, and dozens of landscapers came out to oppose further restrictions. In 2003, the […]

GRPD to present Jr. Police Academy

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The Glen Ridge Police Department will be starting a junior police academy this coming summer for seventh- through tenth-graders. Detective Sgt. Daniel Manley, who will be the lead instructor for the one-week academy, hopes to attract 25 Glen Ridge students. Applications will become available at the end of this month. An essay […]

Local filmmaker has a new short in a film festival

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A Bloomfield resident has had a short film of his accepted for admission to the 15th annual Garden State Film Festival, in Atlantic City. The film is by Brian Parks who wrote, directed and acts in “Narrow and Wide,” a 10-minute short. “I did it with a friend,” Parks said recently. “It is […]

SOMA Board of Ed affirms commitment to educating all children

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — At the Feb. 27 South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education meeting, board members voted to affirm the South Orange-Maplewood School District’s commitment to educating all children. The board passed Resolution No. 3536, which states the district’s goal to education all children, regardless of ethnicity or immigration status. “The School District […]