Two towns approve automatic mutual-aid agreement for fire depts.

Two towns approve automatic mutual-aid agreement for fire depts.

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange Board of Trustees and the Maplewood Township Committee both approved moving forward with an automatic mutual-aid agreement, which will mean that the South Orange Fire Department and Maplewood Fire Department will begin training and responding to emergency calls together. Elected officials from both towns said the […]

McGehee signs brief in support of nondiscrimination protections

McGehee signs brief in support of nondiscrimination protections

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — On Sept. 3, Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee joined more than 160 other mayors, cities and local governments, as well as the U.S. Conference of Mayors, in asking the Supreme Court to rule in favor of upholding nondiscrimination requirements regulating government contractors and taxpayer-funded agencies. The friend-of-the-court brief supports the city of Philadelphia […]

Towns each receive $150K grant for park improvements

Towns each receive $150K grant for park improvements

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County has awarded $3.15 million in Local Aid grants to 21 municipalities in Essex County, with each town receiving $150,000. The funds came from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and will be used to improve municipal playgrounds, recreation and athletic facilities, community swimming pools and parks […]

Maplewood hosts ‘Awareness to Action’ discussion

Maplewood hosts ‘Awareness to Action’ discussion

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee and the Township Committee hosted an online forum with three sets of panelists on June 19, addressing law enforcement accountability, mass incarceration and the treatment of black people in the Maplewood community. The Zoom meeting, titled “Awareness to Action,” featured members of the Maplewood Community Board on Police, […]

Municipal officials in Essex urge everyone to be counted

Municipal officials in Essex urge everyone to be counted

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Oct. 31 is still months away, but it’s fast approaching for the Census Bureau, and it’s the last day for residents to be counted in the 2020 census. The once-a-decade system for measuring the population has been thrown off a little bit this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Essex […]

Maplewood mourns Jerry Ryan’s death

Maplewood mourns Jerry Ryan’s death

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood lost a longtime resident and civil servant on May 27. Former Mayor and Committeeman Gerard “Jerry” Ryan, 59, died in his Maplewood home after succumbing to a three-year battle with cancer.  Ryan was first elected to the Township Committee in 1992, ultimately serving 19 years as a committeeman; he was the […]

DiVincenzo, 17 mayors express support for Murphy budget plan

DiVincenzo, 17 mayors express support for Murphy budget plan

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. announced his support of Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposal to borrow $9 billion from the U.S. Federal Reserve to balance the state budget. On Friday, May 29, DiVincenzo sent a letter of support to the governor; the letter was also signed by 17 Essex County mayors. […]

Maplewood introduces $48.2M budget

Maplewood introduces $48.2M budget

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood taxpayers are looking at a 4-percent increase in property taxes this year, according to the budget introduced at the Maplewood Township Committee’s May 5 meeting. The committee unanimously approved the introduction of the budget, which comes in at $48,199,831.37. These numbers could change between now and the June 16 public hearing. […]

Maplewood’s neighborhood Wi-Fi installation is in progress

Maplewood’s neighborhood Wi-Fi installation is in progress

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Eager to bridge the digital divide in town, especially at a time when closed schools created digital classrooms at home, Maplewood Township officials report that the town’s highly anticipated Wi-Fi Pilot program is finally being rolled out. The Wi-Fi Pilot, a community driven initiative that came out on top in the town’s […]