Annual coat drive returns; donate to those in need

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The GenWealth Group of Maplewood is once again encouraging residents to drop off clean and gently used coats for men, women and children for donation to the 20th annual Jersey Cares Coat Drive, a program that will eventually distribute all donated coats to approximately 200 New Jersey-based nonprofits. Anyone interested in contributing coats […]

Award-winning musician to explore all the possibilities

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — If there has been one thing consistent about Rickie Lee Jones throughout her nearly 40 years in the music business, it is that she is constantly changing. Ever since her 1979 breakthrough hit “Chuck E.’s in Love,” Jones has made a career out of seamlessly transitioning between musical genres, from pop to […]

Enough is enough!

Maplewoodians demand township solve traffic issues around Prospect after recent incidents

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood residents have hit their breaking point with the township’s unsafe roadways. Residents addressed their concerns to the Maplewood Township Committee for more than an hour at the Nov. 4 meeting, asking for speed humps, increased police presence and stricter enforcement of road rules. Though most comments were directed at Prospect Street and […]

‘Best Downtown’ celebration

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Maplewood Village Alliance has announced a special customer appreciation day on Saturday, Nov. 14, in celebration of being voted New Jersey’s favorite downtown. Maplewood was voted the No. 1 downtown in New Jersey in a bracket-style competition run by New Jersey Monthly and sponsored by Kings Supermarket. Up against some big […]

WOHS, vet recognize each other for devotion to nation

WEST ORANGE, NJ — When the West Orange High School Jr. Air Force ROTC held its Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 4 at Conforti Circle to recognize members of the military for their service, the students were presented with a special recognition, as well. Capt. Robert Murphy of the 1-150th Aviator Helicopter Battalion, who recently […]

Tweens, keep yourselves fit this year in the JCC’s gym

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Creating opportunities for younger community members to become and stay active is the main goal of the new Kids Fitness Program being offered by JCC MetroWest that specifically focuses on the needs of children ages 10 through 13. This new health and wellness initiative targeting “tweens” includes a new fitness center with […]

The mustaches are back!

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The most wonderful time of the year may be just around the corner, but West Orange is currently in the middle of the hairiest. That is because the township is once again participating in Movember, an international charity movement held each November during which men are encouraged to grow mustaches in order […]

West Orange’s energy aggregation program suspended

WEST ORANGE, NJ — In 2013, the township of West Orange adopted an ordinance to create the West Orange Community Energy Aggregation program, which is designed to save residents money on their electricity bills. Shortly thereafter, the WOCEA program conducted its first competitive bid and successfully awarded a power supply contract to ConEdison Solutions for […]

Residents complain of stench from recycling center

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A resident living across the street from the West Orange Recycling Center said she is fed up with what she described as a horrible odor emanating from the site in recent weeks, and she has taken action in an attempt to stop it. Leigh-Ann Zaolino filed two complaints with the Essex Regional […]

Ethiopian church finds permanent home

Church opens its doors on Dean Street in West Orange to much fanfare from community

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The Amanuel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church welcomed the West Orange community to its new building at 15 Dean St. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 9. Mayor Robert Parisi, County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., much of the West Orange Township Council, and numerous township officials and members of the West Orange Chamber of […]