Annual Gregory School spelling bee crowns 2016 winner

Annual Gregory School spelling bee crowns 2016 winner

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The annual Gregory Elementary School spelling bee on June 8 had students in grades three, four and five on the edge of their seats cheering on their finalists. Fourteen finalists from the three grades nervously appeared before their fellow students, each representing their classes where competitions were previously held. “Thirty-eight rounds […]

Guidance counselor Diane Giachetti retired in January

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Watsessing Elementary School guidance counselor Diane Giachetti, one of four Bloomfield School District educators to retire this year, ended her teaching career in January. Giachetti’s decision not to wait until June was helped along by a long commute from Asbury Park, where she lives Giachetti received her BA in social work from St. […]

Maplewood Middle School principal resigns

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood Middle School Principal Jerrill Adams has resigned from his position, effective Aug. 31. The former principal’s name was included on the list of resignations within the personnel fiscal resolutions approved by the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education at its meeting Monday, June 20. His departure comes less than two years after […]

Council gives green light to Operation HOPE

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Township Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a new program at its June 14 meeting to allow heroin and opioid addicts to request help from the West Orange Police Department without fear of arrest. Operation HOPE — Heroin Opiate Prevention Effort — gives an addict who voluntarily asks […]

WO holds vigil for Orlando shooting victims

WO holds vigil for Orlando shooting victims

WEST ORANGE, NJ — One week ago on June 16, the West Orange community gathered at the South Mountain Recreation Complex to mourn the victims of the Orlando, Fla., massacre. Attendees at the event, which drew a crowd of more than 100, grieved for the lives lost, celebrated the township’s diversity and called for change […]

Results of harassment investigation demanded

Former CHS baseball player claims that he was bullied by his coaches

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The father of a former Columbia High School baseball player, who has long said his son was repeatedly bullied by his coaches, is now demanding to know why the results of the special Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying investigation into the coaching staff have still not been reported roughly four months after they […]

Christie unveils Fairness Formula website to help residents lower property taxes

TRENTON, NJ — On June 22 Gov. Chris Christie launched the Fairness Formula website, www.nj.gov/taxrelief, encouraging people to take simple online action to help lower their nation-high property taxes. The governor announced his proposal to ensure equal funding for all New Jersey students and to provide hundreds and thousands of dollars in annual property tax […]

Two suspects arraigned for weapons and drug charges

NEWARK, NJ — Two suspects arrested in separate incidents by Essex County sheriff’s detectives were arraigned on the morning of Monday, June 27, on multiple weapons and drug charges. Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics conducted plainclothes surveillance operations in Bloomfield on Saturday, June 25, and in Newark on […]