New superintendent lays out plans, hopes and goals

New superintendent lays out plans, hopes and goals

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — After almost two years with an interim superintendent, the South Orange-Maplewood School District is now being helmed by Ronald Taylor, who formerly served as the Willingboro superintendent for eight years. Taylor began his career as a kindergarten teacher before advancing through the administrative ranks to superintendent, and when the […]

All-access playground opens in Watsessing

All-access playground opens in Watsessing

BLOOMFIELD / EAST ORANGE, NJ — Essex County was highlighted at Watsessing Park in Bloomfield on Friday, July 26, as local, county and state officials commemorated the opening of the first all-access children’s playground in the Essex County Parks System, as well as the opening of a new township community center nearby; both facilities are […]

WOPL redevelopment plan OK’ed

Town Council votes 4-1 to approve plan, make Alpert the site’s redeveloper

WOPL redevelopment plan OK’ed

WEST ORANGE, NJ — At its July 16 meeting, the West Orange Township Council approved an ordinance on second reading that adopts a redevelopment plan for the West Orange Public Library, in addition to approving a resolution appointing Joe Alpert, of the Alpert Group, the redeveloper of the library site. Both the resolution and the […]

Fire dept. merger moves ahead

Two towns plan to have combined fire department ready to serve by Jan. 1

Fire dept. merger moves ahead

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange Village President Sheena Collum shared an update about the planned merger for the South Orange and Maplewood fire departments at the July 22 Board of Trustees meeting, saying she hopes to have the merger completed by Jan. 1, 2020. According to Collum, the Maplewood Township Committee has […]

Car shows held at two locations this summer

Car shows held at two locations this summer

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Classic Car Cruise Night, a Bloomfield summer staple on Wednesday evenings at Broad Street and Bloomfield Avenue, is moving uptown for the month of August. Still scheduled for Wednesday evenings, the new location is near the Clifton border at 1515 Broad St. in the parking lot of Universal Technical Institute. The car […]

SOPD works to map all security cameras in village

SOPD works to map all security cameras in village

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange Police Department is mapping security cameras, asking residents and business owners who have installed cameras to register them with the department in an effort to make criminal investigations faster and more efficient. Sgt. Adrian Acevedo is working with a geographical information system map that will allow officers to […]

Beating the heat with a good read

Beating the heat with a good read

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The Glen Ridge Community Pool was the place to be last Sunday, July 28. With the heat, it was crowded and half the bodies were in the pool. But some, like Drew Forgione, were on the sidelines reading books.  The sixth-grader at Ridgewood Avenue School, who had “Hoot” by Carl Hiaasen […]

Freeholders honor three county VoTech scholarship recipients

Freeholders honor three county VoTech scholarship recipients

NEWARK, NJ — On July 10, the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored three recent high school graduates from the Essex County Vocational Technical Schools who were awarded scholarships from the New Jersey Association of Counties Foundation, Investors Bank and PSEG. The scholarship awards recognize distinguished students from technical and vocational schools who plan […]