Newark man sentenced to 25 years for kidnapping and raping girl

NEWARK — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray has announced that Pedro R. Rios, 60, of Newark was sentenced to 25 years in New Jersey state prison by the Honorable Bahir Kamil, Judge of the Superior Court, for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl. On July 22, 2015 Rios pled guilty to two counts of […]

Town to purchase 33 Beverly Road for $1 as open space

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Township Council passed a resolution March 8 approving a deed transfer of a small, undeveloped tract of land from the estate of the property’s deceased owner to the township. Voting 4-1 in favor of the resolution at its March 8 meeting, the council allowed Tobie, Peter and David […]

Public, EO Council discuss water safety concerns

EAST ORANGE, NJ — The recent revelations from the Newark public schools regarding elevated lead levels in students’ drinking water was a hot topic at the East Orange City Council’s regular meeting Monday, March 14. “I heard you talking about water and it made me nervous, because I saw Steve Harvey’s show today on Flint, […]

WOSD cuts retiree health, dental plans to save money

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Ever since retiring from the West Orange School District in 2008 after 25 years of teaching, Margo Sokolow paid into the Horizon Dental Option Plan offered by the district to its retired employees in need of dental insurance. And for the past eight years, all was well. The program covered nearly […]

EO Council gets earful about taxes, water rate increases

EAST ORANGE, NJ — At the East Orange City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting Monday, March 14, several residents spoke up during the public comments portion of the meeting to express concern about property taxes and the recent water-rate increase. “I have some concerns,” said Brighton Avenue resident Marion Brantley on Monday, March 14. “First off, […]

NJ Civil Service now approves layoff of former police chief

IRVINGTON, NJ — According to Mayor Tony Vauss, the New Jersey Civil Service Commission has changed its opinion about Irvington Police Chief Michael Chase’s job title and status with the Irvington Police Department. “The layoff plan was approved,” said Vauss on Saturday, March 5, during a break in the action at East Orange Mayor Lester […]

Orange Council has public meeting about water company switch

ORANGE, NJ — With a hearing in Lincoln Avenue School on Monday, March 14, the Orange City Council kept its promise to host a public meeting before voting on whether to approve Mayor Dwayne Warren’s deal to switch the management of the city’s water utility from Suez, formerly known as United Water Company, to the […]

WOPL revives Friends group as it faces budget shortfall

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Public Library has revived its years-dormant Friends of the Library organization to raise funds as the library faces the real possibility that the township will not be able to provide the additional $200,000 it is requesting for its operating budget. Several residents and WOPL employees gathered March 9 […]

EO police union members are visible presence at council meeting

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Several members of the East Orange Police Department’s Fraternal Order of Police Local 188 and Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 16 were at the City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting Monday, March 14, to let the governing body know of their dissatisfaction regarding ongoing contract negotiations with Mayor Lester Taylor’s administration. This time, […]

Clerk has drawing for election ballot positions

IRVINGTON, NJ — Irvington Municipal Clerk Harold Wiener held a drawing to determine ballot positions for the seven candidates running for the four available ward seats in his office in the Municipal Building on Monday, March 14. “With the exception of Mr. Pinkney in the East Ward — he was short in the number of […]