Township Committee passes $41.88 million budget 5-0

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — At its April 19 meeting, the Maplewood Township Committee adopted a $41.88 million municipal budget for 2016. This budget includes $568,115 more than the 2015 budget, which has manifested in a 1.96-percent tax increase. The committee voted unanimously to pass the $41,881,775 budget, which will result in a tax increase of $81.98 […]

HIB investigation at CHS is delayed

With initial ‘two- to four-week’ inquiry time passed, Seitz has yet to speak to main players

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A parent of one of the former Columbia High School baseball players who was allegedly bullied by the coaching staff said he has not yet been interviewed by the independent investigator employed by the South Orange-Maplewood School District to look into the matter, although the investigator was hired Feb. […]

Orange mourns shooting death of teen

Orange mourns shooting death of teen

Photo by Chris Sykes Kamiah Caraway wears a memorial T-shirt of her cousin, 17-year-old Davon Jones, who was shot and killed on Taylor Street in Orange on Thursday, April 14, during his funeral on Saturday, April 23. ORANGE, NJ — Emotion flowed freely at the funeral for Davon Jones, 17, of Orange at St. Matthews AME […]

Guarino pushes anti-smoking legislation through council

Guarino pushes anti-smoking legislation through council

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Township Council approved two ordinances on second and final reading during its April 19 meeting: one increasing the legal age for purchasing tobacco products in town to 21, and one requiring vendors who sell e-cigarettes to be licensed by the township. Both ordinances were passed by 4-1 votes, […]

WOBOE raises taxes by 1.86 percent

Board of Ed passes $128.8 million budget, cuts only six positions despite original plans to cut 20

WOBOE raises taxes by 1.86 percent

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Board of Education unanimously approved the proposed final budget for the 2016-17 school year, which increases taxes by 1.86 percent to make up for an approximately $3 million deficit but reduces fewer positions and classes than the preliminary budget did. According to the budget presentation made by Superintendent […]

MONOC to be Maplewood’s first backup during weekdays

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Following a “glitch,” Maplewood Township has clarified with dispatch who should be contacted when during an emergency. Going forward, should the Maplewood ambulance service be unavailable, REMCS, the Regional Emergency Medical Communications System, will contact MONOC as the first backup during times when the South Orange Rescue Squad is not working. This […]

Eta Pi fraternity cleans up Ambrose-Ward Mansion

Eta Pi fraternity cleans up Ambrose-Ward Mansion

Photo by Chris Sykes Keith Pressey, the basileus of the Eta Pi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity that is also known as the ‘Community Q’s’ and a board member of the Greater Essex Community Uplift Foundation, right, stands with David Hamlin, left, the chairman of the Greater Essex Community Uplift Foundation, Orange Municipal […]

Much ado about nothing at NAACP Candidates Night Forum

Much ado about nothing at NAACP Candidates Night Forum

Photo by Chris Sykes Team Irvington Strong members, clockwise from front, West Ward Councilman Vern Cox, East Ward Councilman Paul Inman, at large Councilwoman and Municipal Council President Charnette Frederic and North Ward Councilman David Lyons, wait to address the audience who came for the Irvington NAACP unit’s Candidates Night Forum on Thursday, April 7. […]

‘Bubbles for Autism’ fill the sky at Redwood School

‘Bubbles for Autism’ fill the sky at Redwood School

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Redwood Elementary School recognized Autism Awareness Month on April 8 with its annual “Bubbles for Autism” event. Students, faculty, staff, parents and guests joined together to blow bubbles in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. Redwood has several special-needs students, some on the autism spectrum. Special-needs teacher Stacy Forte coordinated the event […]

Local doctor loses medical license for ‘gross malpractice’

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A North Jersey anesthesiologist, under criminal indictment for health care claims fraud, has been stripped of his medical license by the state Board of Medical Examiners for gross and repeated malpractice that includes giving unnecessary steroid injections to patients, creating fictitious patient records, and indiscriminately prescribing pain pills without medical justification, […]