EAST ORANGE, NJ — The Darren Clark Jr. Memorial foundation hosted a Back-to-School Mental Health Day at Watsessing Park in East Orange on Saturday, Aug. 27. The event served more than 100 underserved students from Essex County, providing backpacks or messenger bags filled with age-appropriate school supplies to students who participated in the four activities […]
BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The release of a butterfly, symbolizing the spiritual flight of a loved one’s soul, but also an escape from personal mourning, took place Saturday, Aug. 27, at Van Tassel Funeral Home in Bloomfield. Approximately 20 local people, including Bloomfield residents and children, attended the event, which, notwithstanding its novelty, was solemn and […]
BELLEVILLE, NJ — On Aug. 11, Belleville residents came out for a night of music, dancing and funk at the town’s dance party with the Alternate Groove Party band held outside Belleville High School. Attendees brought lawn chairs and blankets, settling in for an evening of good vibes and community. Photos by David VanDeventer
GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Alto saxophonist and composer Kenny Garrett, a Glen Ridge resident, has been named a 2023 Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts. The recognition comes with a $25,000 stipend for Garrett, 61, a Grammy Award winner and eight-time nominee. Two other musicians were also named 2023 Jazz Masters by […]
NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley poet Ariella C. is back at it, having recently published her second collection of poems, “Gwen Dust or Something Else.” Similar to her last collection of poetry — titled “It Whispers…” and released in 2020 — this new collection explores femininity within the landscape of our world, love and Sufism. This […]
MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — On Monday evening, Aug. 29, the South Orange–Maplewood School District held a virtual safety and security forum. Though there were some technical issues with the video, the event provided a lot of reassuring information regarding the safety of district students and staff. The event’s panelists were Superintendent of Schools […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — While parents and students are rushing around to get supplies together for the coming school year, so are teachers. In the West Orange School District, teachers from across the district have created Amazon wish lists containing various items expected to enhance the learning experience for students during the upcoming school year. […]
BELLEVILLE, NJ — Are New Jersey municipalities following state laws regarding sick and vacation leave? According to a recent report from the Office of the State Comptroller, the answer is an overwhelming no. In the report, “A Review of Sick and Vacation Leave Policies in New Jersey Municipalities,” which was released July 7, the OSC […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange Board of Education President Jennifer Tunnicliffe announced Aug. 22 that the board has “suspended” its superintendent search, as current interim Superintendent of Schools C. Lauren Schoen has agreed to remain through the 2022-23 school year, to be succeeded by longtime West Orange High School Principal Hayden Moore. “We are […]
GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Winners of a writing contest for Glen Ridge students, rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, were announced at Freeman Gardens on Sunday, Aug. 14. The competition, in its inaugural year, was sponsored by Folkwise PR, a public relations company located in the borough. According to its founder and president, Amanda Staab, the […]