SOMSD to begin school year virtually

SOMSD to begin school year virtually

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Four days after the South Orange–Maplewood School District presented its fall reopening plan, with three options to choose from as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to prevent the normal back-to-school fanfare September would usually bring, Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order allowing New Jersey school districts to begin the […]

Towns each receive $150K grant for park improvements

Towns each receive $150K grant for park improvements

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County has awarded $3.15 million in Local Aid grants to 21 municipalities in Essex County, with each town receiving $150,000. The funds came from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and will be used to improve municipal playgrounds, recreation and athletic facilities, community swimming pools and parks […]

PSE&G to reimburse customers for food and medicines spoiled during Isaias

PSE&G to reimburse customers for food and medicines spoiled during Isaias

NEWARK, NJ — PSE&G is expanding its claims policy due to the COVID-19 pandemic so that customers whose electrical service was interrupted by Tropical Storm Isaias for at least 72 hours can be reimbursed for spoiled food and medication. The tropical storm knocked out power for more than 575,000 customers in New Jersey, making it […]

Moody’s reaffirms Essex County’s Aaa rating

Moody’s reaffirms Essex County’s Aaa rating

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. announced that Moody’s Investors Service has reaffirmed Essex County’s Aaa rating with a stable outlook in a review released on Thursday, Aug. 13. “When it became apparent back in January that the coronavirus would be a reality in our lives, we began planning not only […]

MEND launches Fresh Food Hub using grant from Impact100 Essex

MEND launches Fresh Food Hub using grant from Impact100 Essex

ORANGE, NJ — Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity recently launched its Fresh Food Hub with the funds from a transformative $120,000 grant from Impact100 Essex. MEND is using the 4,000-square-foot facility in Orange as a centralized location from which it will source, transport, refrigerate, pack and distribute more fresh and healthy food to food insecure […]

Maplewood police investigate trespass incident

Vandals place anti-police signs on lawns of two Maplewood Township Committee members

Maplewood police investigate trespass incident

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Maplewood Police Department is investigating signs expressing anti-police sentiments that were placed by trespassers on the front lawns of Maplewood Committeemen Greg Lembrich and Vic DeLuca on Aug. 5. The signs, which were painted over existing lawn signs, said “Abolish the auxiliary,” referencing the Maplewood Police Department Police Auxiliary; “Kroll has […]

Maplewood woman becomes supercentenarian

Maplewood woman becomes supercentenarian

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110. This age is achieved by approximately only one in 1,000 centenarians. It is estimated that there are about 300 living people in the world who have reached the remarkable age of 110. The true number is uncertain as not all supercentenarians […]

Firefighters unions agree to pay freeze, village to hire and promote within department

Firefighters unions agree to pay freeze, village to hire and promote within department

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange Board of Trustees passed two resolutions at a special meeting on Aug. 3, both memorandums of agreement with the local firefighters unions to enact a salary freeze through 2021 as a result of budget shortfalls caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both FMBA Local 40 and FMBA Local […]

Seniors invited to submit art to county show

Seniors invited to submit art to county show

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — All non-professional and professional senior citizen artists residing in Essex County are invited to participate in the 2020 Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show and Exhibition. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s competition will be held virtually. The deadline to submit artwork is Monday, Aug. 24. “Essex County has […]