Gregory’s ‘Great Kindness Challenge’ warms hearts and spirits

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The annual Gregory Elementary School “Great Kindness Challenge” warmed hearts throughout West Orange, sharing smiles, hugs, and words of inspiration and support. Organized by guidance counselor Sarah McIntosh, this year’s challenge was held the week of Jan. 22. Members of three branches of the military, Mayor Robert Parisi, Superintendent Jeff Rutzky, […]

OPINION: A grave misinterpretation of redevelopment law

By Joe Krakoviak I was the sole vote against creating the Essex Green Executive Drive Redevelopment Area at the Jan. 9 Township Council meeting, primarily because I believe it does not even come close to meeting the law’s restrictive standards. The state Legislature limited usage because the law’s authority allowing incentives could be abused. This […]

WOHS theater students named finalists

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Awards continued for West Orange High School theater students at the 2018 New Jersey Thespian Festival, held Jan. 13 at Robbinsville High School in Trenton. West Orange High School’s Thespian Society Troupe 1530 and Theatre Advanced class members prepared monologues, scenes, films and musical pieces, and competed against other acting students […]

Tortillas de patatas at West Orange High School

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Spanish teacher Juan Roncero donned an apron on Jan. 18 to prepare tortillas de patatas, an authentic Spanish meal prepared with potatoes, eggs and onions, for Spanish Club students at West Orange High School. As part of the immersion experience, Roncero conducted the lesson entirely in Spanish, assisted by club adviser […]

Up, up and away with the EC Sheriff’s Office

WEST ORANGE, NJ — An Unmanned Aircraft Systems drone demonstration was recently conducted at the Essex County Emergency Management Headquarters in West Orange for the January meeting of the county Chiefs of Police Association. The exhibition was presented by officers from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, where the technology is used in search and rescue […]

Annual WOSD faculty concert to honor Joel Perry

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Public Schools music department will host the 17th annual Music Faculty Scholarship Concert in memory of beloved teacher Joel Perry on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School, 1 Kelly Drive. The snow date is Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Redwood third-grade students write and illustrate their own books

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Students in Paul Stefanelli’s third-grade class at Redwood Elementary School had an incredible opportunity to write and design their own books, presenting their work to family and friends at their Jan. 19 Writing Celebration. “After several weeks of reviewing fiction pieces and continuing to implement the writing process effectively, I challenged […]

Why is silence golden?

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Chabad of West Orange will present “The Art & Soul of Communication: What Makes Silence Golden?” on Monday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at 401 Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. This lesson considers how your words impact people’s impressions of you, as well as your emotions and reality, and how […]

WO resident pleads guilty to wire fraud scheme

NEWARK, NJ — A political consultant admitted her role in a fraud scheme related to contracts with the Newark Watershed Development Corp. and kickbacks to officials there, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on Jan. 29. Dianthe Martinez Brooks, 42, of West Orange pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark federal court […]