Essex County receives many grants for the arts

Essex County receives many grants for the arts

TRENTON, NJ — The New Jersey State Council on the Arts recently awarded more than $15.7 million in grant funding to support 700 arts organizations, projects and artists throughout the state. “It is an honor to lead a department that invests in the people of New Jersey in such diverse and meaningful ways,” Secretary of […]

TBZ, other local projects to see state spending freeze

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — On June 30, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations Act into law. The budget lacked the governor’s long-supported millionaire’s tax, which had been vehemently opposed by N.J. Senate President Stephen Sweeney. While Murphy seemingly lost the fight for a millionaire’s tax, he hit back with Executive Order No. […]

West Orange High drama students receive awards

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Several West Orange High School students came home with top awards at the 2019 Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey competition, held Jan. 12 at Montclair State University. Sophomore Olivia Ridley won the first place Governor’s Award for Dramatic Monologue and, along with freshman Maria Nalieth, won the first place […]

Multiple Essex County venues nominated for JerseyArts awards

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Discover Jersey Arts — a project dedicated to increasing the awareness of and participation in the arts in New Jersey, and co-sponsored by the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts — recently announced that voting in the 2019 JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards is under way. […]

CHS student to star in ‘Nutcracker’ with NJ Dance Theatre Ensemble

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Anna Pettigrew, 15, of South Orange, will join renowned professional guest artists when she performs “Toy Soldier” and “Archangel” in this year’s full-length production of New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble’s holiday classic “The Nutcracker.” Pettigrew is currently a sophomore at Columbia High School. NJDTE returns to the Memorial Auditorium at Montclair State […]

Cali School gets grant to continue partnering with SOMSD

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The Montclair State University John J. Cali School of Music’s Arts Institute Partnership Grant was renewed for a second year. The grant is designed to provide music lesson services to South Orange-Maplewood School District music students. Last year, South Orange-Maplewood School District’s fine arts department and Montclair State University embarked on one […]

Cooperman honored with prestigious Max Sobel Award

MILLBURN, NJ — The Association of Mathematics Teachers of New Jersey has chosen Neil D. Cooperman as the 2018 recipient of the prestigious Max Sobel Award for Outstanding Service and Leadership in mathematics education. Cooperman is currently a mathematics teacher and department chair at Millburn High School; formerly, Cooperman, a graduate of Columbia High School, […]

South Mountain YMCA welcomes new youth sports dynamic duo

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Jason Kelly, aka Coach Kelly, has been named the new director of youth sports and wellness at South Mountain YMCA in Maplewood. After playing football in college, Kelly pursued his passion for sports and wellness through a career coaching college football, while simultaneously earning his master’s degree in athletic administration from Springfield […]

Interns keep Memorial Park neat, healthy, sustainable

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In the center of Maplewood are 25 acres of recreation space; playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, softball fields, and a duck pond can all be found in Maplewood Memorial Park. The town’s Department of Public Works is normally tasked with maintaining the park, but this summer the Maplewood Memorial Park Conservancy’s internship […]

Estupiñan named new principal of Gregory Elementary School

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Makeida Estupiñan has been named the new principal of Gregory Elementary School following Board of Education approval on July 16. Estupiñan, the former assistant principal at Gregory, will replace retiring Principal Michele Thompson beginning Sept. 1. Estupiñan was selected from a broad field of candidates during multiple levels of interviews with […]