Dafis will continue as Maplewood mayor for another year

Engel to serve as deputy mayor; township committee has female majority for first time

Dafis will continue as Maplewood mayor for another year

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — At the Maplewood Township Committee’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 1, Mayor Dean Dafis was unanimously selected to chair the committee, aka continue as mayor, for 2023. “I’m deeply humbled and honored by your confidence and faith in me. I will continue leading us with the strength, conviction, commitment and collaboration that you’ve […]

Glen Ridge residents are ready to tackle 2023

Glen Ridge residents are ready to tackle 2023

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The start of a new year is naturally the time to make resolutions. Below are some made by individuals who appeared in stories in The Glen Ridge Paper in 2022.   Elizabeth Baker, Glen Ridge Shade Tree commissioner  “Maximize the town’s vital green infrastructure and strive to do even better to […]

Orange students to meet, learn from students in Ghana

Orange students to meet, learn from students in Ghana

ORANGE, NJ — Orange is preparing to roll out an outreach program with Amistad Global Village Program and Oiada International. In a joint project involving Orange Mayor Dwayne D. Warren; Superintendent of Schools Gerald Fitzhugh II; and Sancha K. Gray, Kean University’s senior vice president for entrepreneurial education initiatives, Orange High School will host virtual […]

Refol retires after decades of making a difference for special needs students in Bloomfield

Refol retires after decades of making a difference for special needs students in Bloomfield

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Aissa Refol, a special education teacher at Berkeley Elementary School, has retired. Her final day was Friday, Dec. 23. Born in the Philippines, Refol grew up in Jersey City and attended St. Michael’s Regional High School in Union City. She received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and […]

Biden signs legislation that makes Rahway River flood mitigation a priority

Biden signs legislation that makes Rahway River flood mitigation a priority

WASHINGTON, DC — President Joe Biden signed federal legislation on Dec. 28 that includes provisions to make the Rahway River flood mitigation study a national priority. Through the efforts of Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, and U.S. Reps. Donald M. Payne Jr. and Tom Malinowski — as well as through the consistent work of […]

Madison Ave. School educator in Irvington wins Teacher as Hero Award

Madison Ave. School educator in Irvington wins Teacher as Hero Award

IRVINGTON, NJ — Donna Beck, an English and language arts teacher at Madison Avenue Elementary School, has earned the distinction of being recognized by the National Liberty Museum as part of its 16th annual Teacher as Hero Awards, sponsored by State Farm. Beck was presented with this honor in the caring classroom category. “Irvington Public […]