Gregory School traffic upgrades appear to be working

Gregory accident doesn’t appear to be related to bus loop

Gregory School traffic upgrades appear to be working

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The controversial bus driveway and kiss-and-go lane that were constructed at Gregory Elementary School during the summer are operating as efficiently as hoped for, according to school officials. Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Rutzky told the West Orange Chronicle that the school’s four large buses have been able to move into and […]

Board of Ed candidates debate the issues

At SOMA Cares About Schools debate, 5 running for BOE discuss budget, communication, more

Board of Ed candidates debate the issues

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The perennial issue of creating better communication between the South Orange-Maplewood School District and the community was again a major talking point during the Board of Education candidates debate hosted by South Orange Maplewood Cares About Schools at the Baird in South Orange on Sept. 13. Though they were atypically not […]

Teachers’ union protests lack of contract

Tenured teachers boycott Back to School Nights, demand new contract with pay raises, respect

Teachers’ union protests lack of contract

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The tenured teachers of the West Orange Education Association are not attending their Back to School Nights in order to raise awareness about the negotiations dispute that has left them working without a contract for more than a year as well as what they feel has been disrespectful treatment on behalf […]

South Orange Library celebrates 150 years of service

Villagers party with the library at sesquicentennial bash

South Orange Library celebrates 150 years of service

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — While “sesquicentennial” may be difficult to say, “Happy birthday, SOPL” was something even the youngest villagers were able to say Sept. 17, at the South Orange Public Library’s 150th Birthday Bash. Villagers of all ages joined library staff, village officials and other local government members to celebrate the library’s past 150 […]

Former Bloomfield teacher sentenced for pornography

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Former Bloomfield School District teacher Nicholas Schumacher, 30, was sentenced in Morris County Superior Court on Friday, Sept. 16, to three years in prison for distribution of child pornography. Schumacher taught music at Berkeley and Franklin elementary schools and lived in Randolph. His sentence was part of a plea agreement. Although the distribution […]

Murray runs for seat on school board

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Independent Press is continuing its profiling of Bloomfield Board of Education candidates in the November elections. Profiled already were incumbents Shane Berger and Jill Fischman, and challengers Djanna Hill-Tall, Laura Izurieta, Lillian Mancheno and Ben Morse. All are running for three open three-year seats. Not yet profiled are challengers Catherine Bumpus and […]

Seniors cut off from shopping, but town promises help

Seniors cut off from shopping, but town promises help

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A stalled Essex County road project in Bloomfield was making life more difficult for senior citizens living in Kinder Towers, but that problem might be lessened due to the intercession of 1st Ward Councilman Elias Chalet. The road project is the replacement of the Hoover Avenue bridge which crosses over the Third River, […]

Sixth annual STOP for Nikhil 5K fundraiser raises $52,000

Community pledges to end distracted driving for Nikhil

Sixth annual STOP for Nikhil 5K fundraiser raises $52,000

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The STOP for Nikhil 5K Run/Walk raised more than $52,000 and attracted more than 800 people for its sixth year at West Orange High School on Sept. 18. That money will go toward funding the programs of the Nikhil Badlani Foundation, a West Orange nonprofit organization that has promoted safe driving […]