WOHS students and teacher become ‘Soldiers’ Angels’

By Rebekah Pedo, Correspondent WEST ORANGE, NJ — What is life like in the combat boots of a United States soldier in Afghanistan? Any student at West Orange High School knows it is different from life here in West Orange. It is hard to understand if we cannot put names to the faces of those who […]

Join the WOAHO to celebrate Kwanzaa and our community

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Millions of people across the United States and abroad have celebrated Kwanzaa since it was created in 1966 by activist and Africana studies professor Maulana Karenga. But for all the people who choose to participate in the annual tradition honoring African heritage held the week after Christmas, there are many more who […]

Cirilo to head Township Council as president in 2016

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Councilman Victor Cirilo is poised to begin his second nonconsecutive term as the West Orange Township Council president after being elected Dec. 15 at the final council meeting of 2015. Cirilo, who previously served in the position from 2012 into 2013, was granted another yearlong term by a 4-1 vote after being […]

Council passes Downtown Alliance budget for $207K

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Township Council approved the proposed 2016 Downtown West Orange Alliance budget, which totaled $207,000, at its Dec. 15 meeting. Councilman Joe Krakoviak cast the sole vote against passing the budget, which is approximately $15,000 more than last year’s net operating budget of $192,000 despite the fact that the alliance […]

Ho-ho-holiday cheer takes over West Orange community

Photo Courtesy of Roz Moskovitz Bielski WEST ORANGE, NJ  — Cesar the Magician entertains the youngest members of the Pleasant Valley Civic Association at the group’s Dec. 20 holiday party in West Orange.   Washington Elementary School held its 13th annual Operation Santa Holiday Drive for some forgotten members of the community last week.   Fifth-grade […]

Man shot to death on Joyce Street

WEST ORANGE, NJ — An Orange resident was shot to death in West Orange, just over the Orange-West Orange border, in the early morning hours of Thursday, Dec. 17. West Orange police responded to a call of an unresponsive man outside 1 Joyce St. Naji Everett, 26, of Orange was pronounced dead at the scene at […]

Questions abound about Laurel Avenue buildings

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A township resident is coming out against the West Orange Zoning Board’s Oct. 15 decision to approve an application to convert the single-family home at 23 Laurel Ave. into a Hindu house of worship and the house at 27 Laurel Ave. into a caretaker’s residence, citing ambiguities about the project and the […]

Leaving a legacy for young WO Filipinos

Through original operetta Velezes educate show’s audience and WO’s future college students

WEST ORANGE, NJ — If you attend a West Orange Township Council meeting, you are pretty much guaranteed never to see Council President Jerry Guarino swinging a sword around to drive home support for a resolution. And while Rodolfo Rodriguez may be one of the township’s deputy mayors, he certainly does not spend his days sitting […]

Charles to head Union County Jail, lead ongoing reforms

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange’s Ron Charles, who serves as president of the West Orange Board of Education, has been hired as the new director of the Union County Department of Corrections, Union County officials announced recently. Charles is a former associate director of the Essex County Department of Corrections, the state’s largest county […]