County, town officials meet to improve Riker Hill in Livingston

County, town officials meet to improve Riker Hill in Livingston

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., third from left, met with Livingston Mayor Al Anthony, fourth from left, and members of the Livingston Township Council on Wednesday, Dec. 28, to discuss enhancing the aesthetics, public access and passive recreation opportunities at Riker Hill Art Park in Livingston. During the meeting, the DiVincenzo […]

Five CHS band students selected for North Jersey Area bands

Five CHS band students selected for North Jersey Area bands

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Five members of the Columbia High School band program were recently selected as members of the 2016-2017 North Jersey Area honor bands. Gillian Basedow, a senior French horn player; Louise Kern-Kensler, a sophomore trombone player; and Peter Henderson, a senior percussionist, were all selected as members of the Area […]

To protect and serve in WO

To protect and serve in WO

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Six new police officers were sworn in Dec. 20, 2016, in council chambers. Congratulations to officers Daniel Verduga, Michael Paglucci, Anthony Piserchio, Connor Smeraldo, Joseph Mauriello and Christopher Hernandez. Photos Courtesy of West Orange Township

Glen Ridge Schools plans kindergarten registration

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Registration for Glen Ridge children who will enter the 4-year-old pre-kindergarten or the 5-year-old kindergarten program in September 2017 will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from Jan. 9 through Jan. 13. Pupils residing on the north side of Bloomfield Avenue should register at Forest Avenue School, and pupils […]

Chalet must decide: Make a deal or go to trial

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — In a court hearing on Monday, Dec. 19, Newark Superior Court Judge Martin Cronin gave indicted 1st Ward Councilman Elias Chalet until Jan. 20 to make a choice: accept a trial date, or seek a plea bargain for allegedly accepting a bribe to use his political influence. Chalet is charged with official misconduct […]

Process of ASI’s two towns reassessment nearly complete

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The values of many properties in South Orange and Maplewood have increased following the recent reassessment, which was ordered by the Essex County Board of Taxation after it determined the communities’ assessed values fell below market values. Ernest Del Guercio and Jason Cohen of Appraisal Systems Inc., which handled […]

Country club: no plans to sell land for affordable housing

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — At a recent meeting of the Glen Ridge Borough Council, Special Master Elizabeth McKenzie addressed state-mandated, affordable housing requirements in the borough, saying that the only two places in Glen Ridge where space exists for development are the Glen Ridge Country Club and a tract of land along Baldwin Street. However, Glen […]

WO businesses come together after fire

Downtown community steps up to help fellow business owners after building is deemed uninhabitable

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A Thanksgiving boiler fire did not cause much damage to 98 Washington St., thanks to the quick response of the West Orange Fire Department. The WOFD was able to extinguish the flames while they were still confined to the basement, leaving the boiler itself and the nearby hot water heater as […]

Town considers becoming ‘sanctuary city’

Maplewood TC weighs merits of joining ranks with those protecting undocumented immigrants

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood has always prided itself on being forward-thinking and the Township Committee is looking to take yet another step by declaring the township a “sanctuary city.” The topic created much discussion at the committee’s Dec. 6 meeting, with the committee ultimately deciding to move ahead in crafting legislation to be considered in […]