GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The Glen Ridge Education Association sent a letter to the Glen Ridge Board of Education on Aug. 16 asking that the district not reopen for in-person learning on Sept. 1, the union reasoning that the district is not adequately prepared to ensure that staff and students will be safe returning to […]
ORANGE, NJ — In an expansive virtual meeting via Zoom on Aug. 14, Orange Superintendent of Schools Gerald Fitzhugh II and Director Tina Powell spoke about the impending school openings set for this September, despite the coronavirus scare plaguing the nation. “School starts Sept. 8,” Fitzhugh said. “I am extremely excited about that start of […]
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 […]
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 […]
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — On Aug. 10, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson announced $472 million in CARES Act funding to help low income families during the coronavirus pandemic. This funding can be used by public housing authorities to help families assisted by Housing Choice Vouchers and Mainstream vouchers prevent, prepare […]
MONTCLAIR, NJ — Looking to improve voter turnout during a pandemic presidential election, social justice activists at Bnai Keshet in Montclair organized letter-writing parties via Zoom for the community this summer, stockpiling nearly 3,000 letters heading into fall. The effort’s organizers, Lisa Auslander and Jessica Brater, started a Civic Engagement Committee under the Social Justice/Tikkun […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — Following the presentation of the preliminary school reopening plan at a West Orange Board of Education meeting in July, Superintendent of Schools Scott Cascone and a panel of other school officials held a virtual town hall on Aug. 6, revisiting the plan and introducing changes. The plan that the BOE will […]
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Another one bites the dust, as the 150-year-old Montclair-based company DeCamp Bus Lines becomes another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout — at least for the time being. On Aug. 7, the company issued a statement that it was “suspending all service” due to the “sustained effects of the COVID-19 […]
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 […]
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Seton Hall board of regents has reaffirmed that the university will open its campuses, residence halls and instruction for the fall 2020 semester as permitted by Stage 2 of New Jersey’s reopening plan. Seton Hall has met or exceeded all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and guidance for […]