Highlights - Orange Navigator

Director commends Public Works action during heavy snow

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer
Last week, the city was hit by the third big snowstorm of the 2010 winter season, and once again the Department of Public Works was called on to clear the streets.
According to Arlene Kemp, the department’s director, her employees did their best to keep up with the Feb. 25-26 storm. Luckily, she said, they were up to the task considering the limited equipment at their disposal.
“The Public Works Department has performed wonderfully, especially gi… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on March 3, 2010 at 5:57pm — No Comments

Potential school aid cuts worry officials

By John Zucal, Managing Editor
The looming reduction of school aid in the governor’s 2011 budget is sending shock waves through districts statewide. This is especially so for urban areas which rely on Trenton for the majority of funds needed to support their educational programs.
The worries come after reports that Gov. Chris Christie has discussed with school administrators a reduction of education aid by 5 to 15 percent in the 2011 fiscal year budget he is scheduled to present… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on March 3, 2010 at 5:56pm — No Comments

Stress relief

Attendees of a recent Early Childhood Education Committee meeting ended the session with an exercise designed to re… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on March 3, 2010 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Blaze burns along Oakwood Avenue

By John Zucal, Managing Editor
The scene along a stretch of Oakwood Avenue was one of devastation… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 25, 2010 at 12:25am — No Comments

Tax collecting error could give owners relief on future bills

By John Zucal, Managing Editor
Property owners often face “sticker shock” when a municipal budget is finally approved late into the budget year. It means a large increase in the remaining tax bills in order to collect all of what is needed to satisfy expenses for the year.
For owners in Orange, however, the 2010 budget year will be a surprise, but for the oddest of reasons.
A statement Tuesday night from the Hawkins Administration stated that an error made on a form to the s… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 25, 2010 at 12:23am — No Comments

OHS boys' hoop team wins in season finale

Khalid Muhammad and Ryan Lingham each had 11 points to lead the Orange High School boys’ varsity basketball team to a 46-43 overtime win over Caldwell on Feb. 16 at OHS in the season finale.
Ruben Narcisse had 10 points, Kassan Messiah had eight points and Lance Rhoden had four points for the Tornadoes, who outscored Caldwell, 5-2, in overtime. Caldwell forced overtime on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Rob Petoia.
OHS finished the season with a reportedly 5-17 record. Continue

Added by High School Sports on February 23, 2010 at 4:17pm — No Comments

ENTERTAINING THROUGH READING

New Jersey Devils radio announcer Sherry Ross read Friday to first-grade students at Forest Street School as pa… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 17, 2010 at 4:16pm — No Comments

Council members concerned about seat changes

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer
Two members of the City Council said they did not expect to see a grown-up version of “musical chairs” when members met for their Feb. 2 meeting.
Two weeks ago, Council President Edward Marable moved his seat from its position in the middle of the dais next to the City Clerk Dwight Mitchell to a spot at one edge of the dais, next to the city Business Administrator John Mason. Mason was sitting where Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr. sat, and Hawkins sat in… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 17, 2010 at 4:15pm — No Comments

Water project experiences some alterations

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer
The administration of Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr. has asked the City Council to consider a change order for the city’s Valley pump-station project.
Business Administrator John Mason and Valerie Jackson, who heads the Department of Planning and Economic Development, said $408,000 of the $500,000 needed would be used for sludge removal. The $92,000 balance would be used for flammable chemical storage.
Change orders are literally what the name impli… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 17, 2010 at 4:14pm — No Comments

Harris keys comeback win

Orange resident Isaiah Harris had a game-high 20 points to help the Montclair Immaculate Conception boys’ varsity basketball team rally for a 61-56 home win over Glen Ridge on Feb. 12.
The Lions scored the final six points of the game to win it. Harris hit two free throws to make it 59-56.
Immaculate Conception improved to 13-5.
Harris scored his 1,000th career point in the 67-39 win over McNair of Jersey City on Feb. 1. Continue

Added by High School Sports on February 16, 2010 at 3:21pm — No Comments

Word power

Cathy Carter, language arts supervisor for the Orange public schools, reads last week to a second-grade class a… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 10, 2010 at 2:49pm — No Comments

‘Saggin’ measure stays on council agenda

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer
The Orange City Council has voted to retain for discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting the proposed ordinance that bans the wearing of pants that expose underwear.
The council had previously tabled the legislation pending further review by legal authorities to make sure it conformed with the specific intent of deterring city youth and others from wearing pants and jeans below their waists, often revealing their underwear or buttocks.
City Attorney… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 10, 2010 at 2:38pm — No Comments

Hawkins explains his recent no-contact memo

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer
Last week, the City Council decided to take Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr. to task about his recent memorandum directing all of them to refrain from contact with city employees without administrative approval.
Council members’ persistent questioning resulted in Hawkins listing the reasons for issuing the edict to restrict communications.
Hawkins said it had come to his attention that some council members were making requests for city employees to tak… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 10, 2010 at 2:37pm — No Comments

New deputy joins the schools’ staff

Officials with the Orange School District have announced the addition of a new member to the administrative sta… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 10, 2010 at 2:30pm — No Comments

OHS football standout signs with Temple

Orange High School senior safety Marquise Goods signed a full football scholarship with Temple University of Philadelphia, Pa. The 5-11, 190-pound Goods made 95 tackles to earn first-team All-Essex County honors by The Star-Ledger, helping the Tornadoes reach the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 playoff championship where they fell to Summit, 28-19, at Giants Stadium. OHS ended with a 7-4 mark. Goods was named the Worrall Community Newspapers All-Area co-Defensive Player of th

… Continue

Added by High School Sports on February 9, 2010 at 4:38pm — No Comments

Jazz aids effort to help the Haitians

By John Zucal, Managing Editor The shattering event may have become mo… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 3, 2010 at 3:20pm — No Comments

Mayor, council in battle

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr. last week fired the latest shot in his ongoing struggle for power with the City Council by writing a memorandum directing city employees to refrain from speaking with council members. The Jan. 20 memo was directed to all department directors. It cites state law, which says members of a governing body are supposed to deal with municipal employees only through the mayor’s office or the business administrator. According to the mayor’s o… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 3, 2010 at 3:18pm — No Comments

Budget adviser to officials: quit stonewalling

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer After months of attempting to gain access to the financial records he says he needs to do his job as chairman of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, Bruce Meyer said he has had enough. In a letter dated Monday to Business Administrator John Mason, Meyer requested that something be done about what he considers to be the a lack of cooperation he said he has experienced since the council appointed him to again lead the committee this year. “Does the City Coun… Continue

Added by Orange Transcript on February 3, 2010 at 3:17pm — No Comments