Bloomfield’s town judge may face ethics hearing

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — An ethics complaint against Judge Wilfredo Benitez, the chief Bloomfield municipal judge, has been filed in the state Supreme Court. The complaint stems from his alleged conduct while being arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, a charge for which he was acquitted in Bergen County Superior Court. Benitez is also a Belleville […]

Prevent teen dating violence

LIVINGSTON, NJ — One in three teens in a dating relationship experiences abuse from their partner, according to a press release from the Linda & Rudy Slucker NCJW/Essex Center for Women. As one student described, “I never forgot my high school boyfriend after graduation. He haunted me in nightmares even after I moved away and […]

Essex Ed forecasts an early spring

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Essex County announced that Essex Ed, resident groundhog at the Turtle Back Zoo, did not see his shadow on Groundhog Day, Friday, Feb. 2. The Groundhog Day legend states that if the groundhog does not see his shadow, warmer spring weather will arrive earlier. In addition, Essex Ed predicted the New […]

Enjoy a musical evening at TBA

LIVINGSTON, NJ — On Sunday, Feb. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Temple B’nai Abraham, 300 E. Northfield Road in Livingston, the Prime Time Group of Temple B’nai Abraham will present a musical event featuring maestro Robert Butts, music director and conductor of the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey. Butts will discuss “The Music […]

Mayor appoints Bryant to Planning Board

IRVINGTON, NJ — Mayor Tony Vauss announced the appointment of former Irvington Public Library Board of Trustees President Alison Bryant to the township’s Planning Board on Saturday, Jan. 13. Bryant is the current Rotary Club president and also serves in the New Jersey Library Trustee Association and the running of the CWU food pantry. She […]

Groundbreaking play about African-American sisterhood

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Celebrate Black History Month with 4th Wall Theatre at the Burgdorff Performing Arts Center in Maplewood with a showing of Ntozake Shange’s groundbreaking play, “for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf.” The piece is billed as a “choreopoem” and weaves together 20 separate poems with music, movement […]

Regional stepping championship to be held at WOHS

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The award-winning West Orange High School girls’ and boys’ step teams will be competing at the 2018 Youth Step USA New Jersey Regional High School Stepping Championship on Feb. 10 at West Orange High School. Winners of the regional competition will move on to the state competition in Harrisburg, Pa., in […]

Burns Night honoring Scots poet returns to Maplewood

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Maplewood Club is being transported to Scotland for one night only on Saturday, Feb. 3, to celebrate Burns Night, an international event that honors Scottish poet Robert Burns. All the proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the Achieve Foundation of Maplewood and South Orange, a nonprofit organization that raises money for […]

Gas Lamp Players will present ‘Hairspray’ at Ridgewood

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — A Gas Lamp Players Mainstage production of the musical “Hairspray,” will be presented at Ridgewood Avenue School next Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Ridgewood Avenue Elementary School. For this show, Gas Lamp Players will be joined with the talent of Vanguard Theatre Company, of Maplewood. Gas Lamp Creative Director Kristy Graves spoke […]