Celebrate MLK’s legacy in South Orange

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange Civic Organization presents its 49th Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 6, at 3 p.m. at South Orange Middle School, 70 N. Ridgewood Road. Rabbi Jesse M. Olitzky of Congregation Beth El will serve as keynote speaker. The Beloved Community Award recipients are community leaders Stacey […]

‘I Shall Not Be Silent’

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — South Orange-Maplewood Adult School will present “I Shall Not Be Silent: A Lesson For Today” on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at South Orange Middle School’s Little Theater, 70 N. Ridgewood Road in South Orange. Speaking before Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech at […]

Towns’ health depts. take close look at school bathrooms

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Maplewood Health Department recently completed an inspection of the Columbia High School bathrooms after Deputy Mayor Frank McGehee, who is chairman of the Board of Health, requested at a Nov. 7 Township Committee meeting that an inspection be conducted. In addition, the South Orange Health Department inspected the […]

District offers alternate redistricting plan for consideration

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Acting Superintendent Thomas Ficarra updated the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education on the long-range facilities and integration plan at its Oct. 15 meeting, presenting the plan for facilities renovations, additions and redistricting after talking to parents and community members during the summer months. The $93.1 million plan for capital […]

SOMSD holds ‘Code Red’ drills at SOMS, Clinton

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The school district sent out the following message at 12:30 p.m. today, Nov. 2: “As you know, we conduct state-mandated emergency drills — both a fire drill and a security drill — every month, so that students and staff know what to do to protect themselves in various situations. […]

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 […]

Global current events with SOMAS

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — In today’s fast-paced news cycle — much of it spun to appeal to a specific audience — it can be mind-numbing to keep up with the latest global news. As part of the South Orange-Maplewood Adult School fall lecture series, Pierre Fabian will examine critical issues in international politics, discuss the […]

#MeToo, a year later

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — More than just a hashtag, the #MeToo Movement has become a global phenomenon. What has happened in the months since this powerful movement took the world by storm? As part of the South Orange-Maplewood Adult School fall lecture series, Joanne Lipman, author of “That’s What She Said: What Men Need to […]

BOE candidates debate issues in district

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Six of the nine remaining candidates running for the three open seats on the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education squared off in a debate at Maplewood Memorial Library in an event hosted by South Orange-Maplewood Cares About Schools on Oct. 3. Running are: incumbent Annemarie Maini, and challengers Narda Chisholm-Greene, Michael Laskowski, […]

SO sixth-grader becomes newest Scholastic reporter

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — When the next issue of “Scholastic News” hits classrooms, there’s a good chance that South Orange resident Liset Zacker will have a byline in it. A new Kid Reporter for the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps, the 11-year-old will be covering current events, breaking news and entertainment for the publisher’s educational […]