South Orange-Vailsburg UMC to celebrate BHM

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — On Sunday, Feb. 24, the community is invited to the 10 a.m. worship service at the South Orange-Vailsburg United Methodist Church, at the corner of South Orange Avenue and Prospect Street in South Orange. The service will be a celebration of Black History Month and one in which the words of […]

‘Exploring Golf Island: Exhibit and Talk’ at Durand-Hedden

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Attend “Exploring Golf Island: Exhibit and Talk” on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m. at Durand-House to learn how this area of Maplewood, bordered by the Maplewood Country Club golf course, the Morris and Essex rail line and Maplewood Middle School evolved from farmland in the 19th and early 20th centuries to […]

Township Committee introduces Toomey’s redevelopment plan

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — On Feb. 5, the Maplewood Township Committee unanimously voted to introduce an ordinance to adopt the redevelopment plan for 104 Baker St., the former site of Toomey’s Automotive. The redevelopment plan, created by planner Paul Grygiel of Phillips Preiss Grygiel Planning and Real Estate Consultants LLC, has gone through several revisions following […]

New theater company creates opportunities on and off stage

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A new theater company will make its debut in Maplewood when “The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin” premieres at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 16 and 17, produced by Progressive Theater. Founded by Gregory Osborne, the company aims to put on shows targeted at minorities while […]

WSOU show to air special episode with Forrest Pritchett

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — In honor of Black History Month, WSOU-FM’s “Thank God For Monday” program will air a special hour-long interview on Saturday, Feb. 16, with the Rev. Forrest Pritchett, an esteemed activist and mentor who currently serves as the director of Seton Hall University’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Program. Pritchett — […]

JESPY clients mark milestone birthdays at annual jubilee

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — JESPY clients, families and staff had a grand time recently at the annual jubilee. The theme of the celebration was “JESPY Dances Through the Decades” and the event also marked the milestone birthdays of several JESPY clients. Four such clients included 40-year-old Mike Posner dressed as the ultimate ’80s rock star, […]

Towns mourn loss of influential activist

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Maplewood and South Orange communities mourned the recent loss of Barbra “Babs” Casbar Siperstein, the Edison woman who crusaded for LGBT rights in New Jersey and nationally. Siperstein died of cancer at age 76 on Feb. 3, just two days after the “Babs Siperstein Law” went into effect; […]

County collects more than 13.5 tons of food to donate

WEST ORANGE, NJ — With 88,397 visitors, the 12th annual Essex County Holiday Lights Spectacular at Turtle Back Zoo collected more than 13.5 tons of non-perishable food, clothing and toys for those in need. “It is humbling to see the large number of items dropped off at the Holiday Lights Spectacular to assist the less […]