West Orange premiere of ‘Diwal’Oween’ draws large crowd

West Orange premiere of ‘Diwal’Oween’ draws large crowd

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The independently produced “Diwal’Oween” family comedy celebrated its West Orange premiere on Sunday, Oct. 20, in the standing-room-only West Orange Arts Center at 551 Valley Road.  Pre-film activities included pumpkin painting and Rangoli, an Indian artform traditionally done during Diwali, the five-day Hindu festival of lights. A film discussion and question-and-answer […]

West Orange couple heads ‘to the bus!’ for costume contest

West Orange couple heads ‘to the bus!’ for costume contest

MAPLEWOOD / MILLBURN, NJ — West Orange’s Grant and Katie Johnson, center, and their dog, Olive, won first place in the Group Costume category at the Essex County Strut Your Mutt Canine Halloween Costume Contest in the South Mountain Dog Park on Oct. 26. The couple were dressed as Ralphie and Ms. Frizzle from “The […]

Tunnicliffe and Rothstein win BOE seats

Tunnicliffe and Rothstein win BOE seats

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Choosing between three challengers for just two open seats on the West Orange Board of Education, voters decided Nov. 5 to elect Jennifer Tunnicliffe and Gary Rothstein to the board. As of press time on election night, with every West Orange district reporting in, Tunnicliffe took a decided lead, with Rothstein […]

Essex County Freeholders celebrate Italian Heritage Month

Essex County Freeholders celebrate Italian Heritage Month

NEWARK, NJ — The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders held its 2019 Italian Heritage Month celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Hall of Records. The ceremony commemorated the heritage and culture of the Italian-American community. Freeholder President Brendan Gill began the program with welcoming remarks, recognizing the vast diversity that exists in Essex […]

County honors Italian Americans at heritage celebration

County honors Italian Americans at heritage celebration

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County celebrated Italian-American Heritage Month on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Essex County Hall of Records. Decorated in the festive Italian colors of red, white and green, the lobby was a standing-room only backdrop for the cultural festivities. During the event, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. recognized Essex County […]

Mother Nature brings unicorns to county costume contest

Mother Nature brings unicorns to county costume contest

MAPLEWOOD / MILLBURN, NJ — West Orange resident Leslie Fleisher, center, and her dogs, Jamie, Lexi and Zelda, who were dressed as Mother Nature and three unicorns, won Best in Show at the Essex County Strut Your Mutt Canine Halloween Costume Contest in the South Mountain Dog Park on Oct. 26. Paying their respects to […]

West Orange brothers fight for their lives following car accident

West Orange brothers fight for their lives following car accident

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange community is currently working to support the local Verducci family, whose two sons, Michael and Lawrence, both students at West Orange High School, were in a serious car accident on Oct. 27 in Franklin Borough. On Oct. 31, the Verducci brothers’ cousin, Sherrie Stulec, started a GoFundMe page […]

Marching Mountaineers capture NJSMA Northern NJ Regional Championship

Marching Mountaineers capture NJSMA Northern NJ Regional Championship

VERONA, NJ — The Marching Mountaineers capped off another stellar season by capturing the North Jersey School Music Association Northern NJ Regional Championship at Verona High School on Oct. 26. The band’s performance of “Which Witch” garnered a score of 95.00, one of the highest end-of-season scores in West Orange High School history. In addition […]

19 alleged child predators arrested in ‘Operation Open Door’

19 alleged child predators arrested in ‘Operation Open Door’

SOMERVILLE, NJ — A West Orange man was among 19 alleged child predators arrested in “Operation Open Door,” according to an Oct. 31 press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.  Julio Cubia-Aviles, 27, of West Orange, who is a carpenter by trade, is charged with second-degree luring, second-degree attempted sexual assault and third-degree attempted […]

Chabad course to help people cope with life challenges

Chabad course to help people cope with life challenges

WEST ORANGE, NJ — This fall, Chabad of West Orange will offer “Worrier to Warrior,” a new six-session course by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, to help people deal with life challenges by accepting themselves and finding meaning in adversity. Beginning Monday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m., participants in the course will take on life’s […]