Essex County unveils $762 million budget for 2016

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — On Monday, Jan. 11, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. presented a 2016 budget of $762 million with the hope of stabilizing the county’s financial plan and addressing challenges likely to be presented by national economic conditions. According to a release, layoffs have been avoided since 2004 and budgets have been […]

RAKES program a success: 75 properties are cleared

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — More than 150 volunteers participated in this year’s eighth annual RAKES program — Random Acts of Kindness Extended to Seniors. The volunteers cleaned away and bagged the leaves on the properties of over 75 senior citizens. “I would like to thank the many volunteers that donated their time and efforts,” said […]

Health class gets lesson in ‘safe dating’

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Does your teenager know the warning signs of an abusive relationship? One in three teens experience verbal or physical abuse from a dating partner. This statistic is the reason that “safe dating” education is now required by law in New Jersey. One such program took place November 16 and 17 at […]

JCC MetroWest hopes to take bite out of food insecurity

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — With a photo exhibit on display at the JCC MetroWest through Dec. 21, the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition, in conjunction with several other agencies working to end food insecurity, is putting a face to the state’s elderly and disabled population without the means to afford food this holiday season. “NJ Soul of […]

St. Rose welcomes new principal

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — St. Rose of Lima Academy in Short Hills got to know a new principal, Tina Underwood, in the first half of the school year. Many students from around Essex County attend St. Rose. Below is an interview conducted with Underwood by sixth-grader Mia Henrich, a member of the editorial staff for […]

Yogi Berra’s Presidential Medal of Freedom

Perseverance from local family and friends leads to deserved recognition

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — It was a closer call for Yogi Berra than people might think. But as to whether the Hall of Fame baseball player, humanitarian and phraseologist was to be considered for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, time nearly ran out. According to his granddaughter, Lindsay Berra, 100,000 signatures had to be collected on […]

Bronze statue dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr.

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A bronze statue honoring civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was dedicated on Wednesday, Oct. 14. The 8-foot tall statue standing on a granite pedestal was unveiled on the 50th anniversary of King receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. “It has been almost a half century since Dr. King’s death, […]

New plaque tells history of the park’s cherry trees

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A new plaque has been added to Essex County Branch Brook Park, located in Newark and Belleville. The plaque speaks of the history of the cherry blossom trees in the park. Located in front of the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, the plaque shares the story of cherry blossoms in Essex County, […]

South Orange Avenue eastbound lanes to be closed Dec. 9 through 11

Essex County, NJ — The eastbound lanes of South Orange Avenue between Cherry Lane/Brookside Drive and Wyoming Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic from Wednesday, Dec. 9, through Friday, Dec. 11, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily so the roadway can be milled and paved. The westbound lanes will remain open. This is […]