Belleville man arrested for trying to rob MMS student

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Maplewood Police Department received a call at approximately 8:55 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, from Maplewood Middle School reporting a possible robbery involving a student, according to a Dec. 19 press release from the police department. The victim, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, reported that he was approached by a man in the […]

First Night is back!

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — South Orange and Maplewood residents looking for a good time on New Year’s Eve need go no further than the local high school, as First Night Maplewood South Orange hosts its annual New Year’s Eve celebration at Columbia High School on Parker Avenue in Maplewood on Thursday, Dec. 31, from 4 to […]

Post House construction to begin soon

Maplewood Planning Board approves site plans for former post office building on Maplewood Ave.

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Maplewood Planning Board unanimously granted final approval to the controversial Post House development during its Dec. 8 meeting, thus ending an extended process that saw numerous revisions to the site plan, shows of both objection and support from residents, and a lawsuit. With its 9-0 vote, the board officially gave its permission […]

Villager’s body found in brook behind Maplewood Library

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Police were out in force the morning of Friday, Dec. 11, in the area of Maplewood Memorial Library’s main building on Baker Street after a body was found in the brook in Memorial Park. The deceased was identified as Lawrence Mancuso, 61, of South Orange. With the area cordoned off since approximately 8:15 […]

Three SOMA schools to receive Sustainable Jersey grants

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Creating a positive and long-lasting impact in both their schools and their community is the goal of three schools in the South Orange-Maplewood School District that will receive funding from Sustainable Jersey for Schools to host sustainability projects. Eleven $10,000 grants and 35 $2,000 grants funded by the New Jersey Education Association […]

Montrose School officially opens its doors

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE — The Montrose Early Childhood Center officially opened its doors with a ribbon cutting Dec. 4, roughly two years after the building was approved as a joint general-education and special-education school for the South Orange-Maplewood School District’s preschoolers. District officials joined school staff, parents and students to commemorate the school’s ceremonial launch, though classes […]

Maplewood police collect toys to give to families in need

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In addition to their commitment to protect and serve, the Maplewood Police Department will also be spreading some holiday cheer this year as the PBA Local No. 44 and SOA No. 44 host a toy drive, which will run through Sunday, Dec. 20, to collect toys that will be distributed to families in […]

Lions provide for charities following successful 5K race

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — With the Maplewood in Motion 5K two months behind us, the proceeds from the the Maplewood Lions Club’s annual race were recently distributed to the food bank beneficiaries, St. Joseph’s Food Bank and Our Lady of Sorrows’ Food Bank, in time for Thanksgiving; additionally, for the first time this year, in memory of […]

Local Girl Scouts exemplify giving-back in service project

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Girl Scout Troop 20245 completed a monthlong service project, collecting more than 4,000 travel-size toiletries and assembling more than 230 kits for Bridges Outreach, a Summit-based nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing and basic necessities to thousands of homeless people in New York City, Newark and Irvington. The kits included items […]

‘Colorblindness’ is not the answer for adolescents

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Columbia High School graduate Joanna Lee Williams, a developmental psychologist and associate professor at the University of Virginia, returned to her alma mater Nov. 20 to discuss how ethnicity influences teenagers in forming friendships; Williams was the latest guest of the Hamingson Literary Showcase speaker series. In her speech “Finding a Place […]