NAACP and ‘Essex 5’ members honored

    ESSEX, NJ — Members of the “Essex 5” local civil rights and social and economic justice advocacy groups were honored by Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. on Friday, Feb. 15, at the 16th annual Essex County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Awards ceremony in the Leroy F. Smith Public Safety Building. […]

Residents fondly recall Jones after her recent death

IRVINGTON, NJ — The funeral service for Essex County Freeholder and former at large Councilwoman Lebby Jones is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. at Franklin Saint John’s United Methodist Church, 142 Maple Ave., Newark. Jones, who had been battling cancer for the last year, died Wednesday, Jan. 9. A viewing prior to […]

Former mayor weighs in on marijuana legalization

IRVINGTON, NJ — FoFormer Mayor Wayne Smith weighed in on the debate about the Marijuana Legalization Act in the wake of state legislators’ admission that the bill is unlikely to pass this year, at the Irvington Joint Block Association Coalition’s annual Christmas and Kwanzaa Brunch at Mt. Herman Church on Saturday, Dec. 15. Dozens of […]

State Senate and Assembly committees approve Marijuana Legalization Act

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — On Monday, Nov. 26, the New Jersey Senate and Assembly majorities voted to move ahead with the Marijuana Legalization Act legislation, co-sponsored by Sen. Nicholas Scutari and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, that would make marijuana use legal for adults age 21 and older. Scutari represents the 22nd Legislative District, which […]

Resident agrees with senator’s opposition of marijuana legalization

IRVINGTON, NJ — State Sen. Ron Rice’s opposition to marijuana legalization in New Jersey found someone who shares his viewpoint in Kathleen Witcher. A longtime resident of Irvington who is a former Irvington NAACP president, former Irvington Board of Education member, former Irvington Housing Authority commissioner and a retired teacher, Witcher is vocal on many […]

Irvington NAACP to host branch officer elections on Nov. 1

IRVINGTON, NJ — The Irvington NAACP’s branch officer election is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. in Greater New Point Baptist Church on Paine Avenue. “It’s this Thursday,” confirmed outgoing Irvington NAACP President Merrick Harris on Tuesday, Oct. 30. “The meeting starts at 7 p.m.” Harris previously went on the record to describe […]

NAACP standing up for immigrant rights, U.S. immigration policy reform

ORANGE, NJ — Oranges-Maplewood NAACP President Tom Puryear and Irvington NAACP President Merrick Harris agree there is a direct correlation between the civil rights movement and U.S. immigration. They teamed up with Karol Ruiz and Cynthia Osorio of Wind of the Spirit, a faith-based nonprofit immigration advocacy and legal aid group, and Pastor E.T. Stoddard, […]

Irvington NAACP president chimes in about Burgess v. McDaniel case

IRVINGTON, NJ — The Irvington NAACP has chimed on the case of Municipal Council Vice President Renee Burgess’ formal complaint with the Irvington Police Division against Elouise McDaniel, president of both the Irvington Joint and Nesbit Terrace block associations. “I talked to Miss McDaniel and I was just surprised that Renee Burgess felt threatened,” said […]