South Orange and Maplewood reignite conversation about merging fire departments

South Orange and Maplewood reignite conversation about merging fire departments

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Talk of a merged fire department that serves both Maplewood and South Orange resurfaced at the South Orange Board of Trustees’ first in-person meeting since the beginning of the pandemic. At the July 26 meeting, the trustees were joined by the members of the Maplewood Township Committee, and, while […]

S&P Global issues ‘positive’ outlook on South Orange Village

S&P Global issues ‘positive’ outlook on South Orange Village

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Village Trustee Karen Hartshorn Hilton, who is also chairperson of the South Orange Village Finance Committee, announced July 2 that Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings has revised its outlook for South Orange from stable to positive.  “This is great news for our taxpayers, as this improved credit rating puts us in […]

Flying the Pride flag in South Orange

Flying the Pride flag in South Orange

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — To celebrate June at Pride Month, South Orange and Maplewood residents gathered on South Orange Avenue in the village to raise the Pride flag. Attendees included residents and officials from both towns. Among the speakers were SOMA Board of Education 1st Vice President Shannon Cuttle, the first non-binary/transgender Board of Education […]

SOMA PRIDE is back with a month full of events

SOMA PRIDE is back with a month full of events

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — SOMA PRIDE 2021 is a time for South Orange and Maplewood residents to come together as one in celebration of all LGBTQ-plus identities and allies collectively united. The monthlong schedule of events will shine a light on LGBTQ-plus issues with books, films, discussions, performances, picnics and parties, and recognize […]

Columbia High School to hold Lavender Graduation this June

Columbia High School to hold Lavender Graduation this June

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — As part of annual June Pride Month celebrations across SOMA and Essex County, Maplewood and South Orange are again partnering with the South Orange–Maplewood School District and others in the community to present SOMA Lavender Graduation 2021, to be held in person and virtually on Thursday, June 3, at […]

Civil rights icon to speak at Seton Hall

Civil rights icon to speak at Seton Hall

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Bernard LaFayette Jr. will speak at Seton Hall University as part of the South Orange Community Care & Justice initiative’s Peace and Community Justice speaker series.  The event — in which LaFayette will engage in conversation with Seton Hall’s the Rev. Forrest Pritchett as well as students and youth activists from […]