Gaslight - South Orange

Gaslight
The
South Orange
Get
Get Iced!
Iced!
Sometimes winter’s ice is good! Especially at the temporary ice skating rink at Meadowland Park. Located inside the tennis court area, adjacent to The Baird, the Village ice rink
is open at no cost to South Orange residents who hold a current Recreation Department
ID. Badge holders can bring guests for $5 per guest per day.
(Note: 2016 ID badges are now available for purchase at The Baird.)
The rink will be open throughout the winter season, weather and ice permitting. Hours
are Monday to Friday, 3:30 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, noon to 9 p.m.; and Sundays noon to 6
p.m. For details call (973) 378-7754, x1.
Apply now for a
Third & Valley
apartment
Preliminary applications are
now being accepted for apartments at the Third & Valley housing
development. The new complex is
designed to meet South Orange’s
fair share of affordable housing in
New Jersey and all applicants must
be income-qualified. The complex contains 21
apartments, including studios, onetwo- and three- bedroom options.
Two apartments may be set aside
for veterans.
Rental rates, unit descriptions,
floor plans and property amenities
are listed online. Go to the Village
website: www.southorange.org. On
the home page, look under “Latest
News.”
Village Hall
Final Deal Unfolds
For $1.2 million, Village Hall has
been sold to Landmark Hospitality
Group and will be revitalized as a
restaurant and event space. It’s historic appearance will be preserved
and the Village will gain an important new ratable.
The deal was outlined in a
“Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse
Presentation” at the Nov. 23 Board
of Trustees meeting. The 45-page
document is available on the Village
website under “Latest News.” Here
are some highlights:
Private Sale, Not Renovation.
After an extensive selection
process, the trustees chose Landmark Hospitality Group as the
re-developer. The decision ended
the Township’s nascent and costly
renovation of Village Hall.
Construction Time Frame.
With the sale finalized, Landmark
will manage exterior construction
in August and September. Interior
construction will start in October
and conclude in June 2017. Total
construction estimate: $3.7 million.
Jobs. The project will generate
20 construction jobs and 40 permanent positions.
Building Preservation. Since
Village Hall is listed on state and
national historic registries, Landmark will be required to protect its
historic features. They cannot erect
anything that obstructs visibility of
historic features from the ground
level. Historic colors and surfaces
must be maintained except with
approval of the NJ Historic Trust.
Parking. Parking concerns
will be resolved with a “perpetual
exclusive easement” for use of the
74-space Village Hall parking lot.
The restaurant will have round-theclock exclusive use of 37 parking
spaces during the day and all
spaces after 5 p.m.
Tax Exemption. The financial agreement includes a tax
exemption allowed under the state
redevelopment law. Landmark will
pay the Village a quarterly PILOT
(Payment In Lieu Of Taxes), which
does not tax land or improvements.
Should Landmark decide to sell the
business, the new owner will
assume all obligations of the
remaining agreement.
The Gaslight
is published six
times a year for
the residents and
businesses of South
Orange Village
January
February
2016
Inside
n Greenery
height minimum
established at
intersections
n Students
needed for
YouthNet Board
n Pierro mounts
world-class art
exhibit on Louis
Lozowick, longtime Villager
n Be inspired by
January Villager
of the Month
Dave Adox
1.
Greenery at
intersections
must be <2.5 ft
Plants that grow more than
2.5 feet near an intersection
may be a traffic hazard. To
avoid the problem, a new
ordinance was passed in
August allowing police, in consultation with the Village engineer, to declare a public safety
hazard when brush, hedges,
trees or other plants on private
property are deemed obstructions.
The ordinance establishes
specific dimensions in a triangular zone on all sides of an
intersection where maximum
plant height must be maintained.
Property owners who
receive notice to cut plants
must do so within 30 days of
written notice from the chief
of police. Otherwise, the Township will cut the plants and
assess the property owner.
Village Code, sections 1385 through 138-10, Streets and
Sidewalks.
Make it a
courteous snow
plowing season
For safety and neighborly
courtesy, please follow these
guidelines during snow plowing season:
• Avoid parking on the
street during snow storms so
that plows can clear curb-tocurb.
• If you park on the street
during a storm, know that you
are expected to thoroughly
clear the snow around your
vehicle, since the plows could
not.
• Municipal plows do not
clear resident driveways or
sidewalks.
• It is unlawful to shovel
snow from your property onto
the street. Doing so may result
in a fine. The South Orange Department of Public Works asks for
your patience and courtesy
toward crews working long
hours to benefit us all.
Prepare now
for medical
emergency
A medical emergency
can happen anytime, anywhere. If you’re alone, the
panic, fear and confusion
can be overwhelming.
That’s why the South Orange Health Department
urges seniors and anyone
with a critical medical
condition to participate
in the File of Life program.
File of Life is an information packet containing
your medical history,
current medications,
physician names and
emergency numbers.The
packet includes:
1. A medical information card, stored in
a clearly marked, magnetized, red vinyl case
placed on your refrigerator door.
2. An identical card
for your vehicle.
3. A visible sticker for
your front door that tells
emergency responders to
look for a complete File
of Life on the refrigerator
door.
To obtain the costfree File of Life packet,
call the South Orange
Department of Health at
(973) 378-7715, x7710,
or go to the office at 76
South Orange Avenue,
Suite 302.
ADULTS
TEENS
CHILDREN
2.
The South Orange Gaslight, January/February 2016
Students needed
on YouthNet
advisory board
High school students can
get CHS community service
credit and have fun serving as
members of the YouthNet Advisory Board. YAB leaders are
needed to speak out for peers
in South Orange and Maplewood regarding teen issues.
Help plan community events
and create recreational and
cultural activities. For 2016,
a series of coffeehouse chats
and a talent show are already
in the works.
The board meets the
second Wednesday of every
month at 5 p.m. at Maplewood
Pizzeria. CHS community service credit comes with board
membership. To learn more,
attend the YouthNet Advisory
Board coffeehouse on Jan. 29,
from 7 to 10 p.m. at The Baird.
For YouthNet information, visit
www.somayouthnet.org.
Senior walking
group formed
South Orange Seniors has
begun a walking group. Everyone is invited for exercise and
companionship on Mondays at
10:30 a.m. Walkers meet at
Grove Park, located at the corner of Grove Road and South
Orange Avenue. For details,
email southorangeseniors@
gmail.com.
A COMMUNITY • FAMILY SCHOOL
www.tkdnj.com
154 Valley St., South Orange, NJ
973-781-5888
Happenings
Community Coalition on Race
www.twotowns.org • (973) 761-6116
Enjoy pro hockey for less,
with the S.O. Rescue Squad
Cheer on the NJ Devils in their Feb. 6
match-up against the Washington Capitols
and support the South Orange Rescue Squad
at the same time.
The squad is selling discount tickets for “South Orange
Rescue Squad Day at The Prudential Center” on Saturday,
Feb. 6 at 1 p.m.
Tickets are $50.77 and include a post-game on-ice photo
standing on the Devils logo, a welcome message on the Jumbotron, and a NJ Devils baseball cap.
For online purchase, with no fee or surcharge, go to
www.newjerseydevils.com/southorangerescuesquad and
enter the promo code “SORS.” A portion of the proceeds will
be donated to the rescue squad. For more information, call
(973) 762-5647, or email [email protected].
n The South Orange Civic
Organization will present its 46th annual
Martin Luther King program at 3 p.m. on
Sunday, Jan. 10 at South Orange Middle
School (70 Ridgewood Road). The public is
invited and admission is free.
Dr. A. Zachary Yamba, president emeritus of Essex County
College, will present “Rising to Great Heights . . . The Power of
Opportunity and Education.”
Two local residents, Steve Latz and Dallas Jackson, are this
year’s Beloved Community Award recipients, each chosen for
their leadership and service in the local community and beyond.
n The South Orange/Maplewood Community
Coalition on Race will host the 15th annual Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Observance, an interfaith service, on Monday,
Jan. 18 at Congregation Beth El Synagogue, 222 Irvington Avenue in South Orange. CBS News reporter and South Orange
resident Michelle Miller will deliver the keynote address.
Music will be provided by the Greg Bufford School of Jazz
Faculty Band, Voices in Harmony and Columbia High School
Special Dance.
Details in the next Gaslight
• April 10. All Villagers
over age 65 are invited to the
second annual Seniors’ Prom
run by Seton Hall University’s
DOVE program and the South
Orange Seniors. • May 1. River Day 2016
will take place from 11 a.m. to
4 p.m.
n “Can You Haiku?” Explore a charming and sometimes
challenging literary form with award-winning artist and poet S.K.
Duff. It’s the first of three workshops in the Coalition’s Integration
Through the Arts project for 2016. Watch the Coalition website for
dates in February and March, ending with a final open mic session.
n SOMA Coffee House Discussions are coming in
February — a series of lively conversations. Find dates, topics and
locations at www.facebook.com/SOMAcoffeehousediscussions/.
On Stage at SOPAC
www.sopacnow.org • (973) 313-2787
Celebrate Martin Luther
King Day
Save the dates!
n Civic Engagement Institute workshops return on four
Saturdays (Feb. 20 and 27 and March 5 and 12) at the South Orange
Public Library. Each one runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn
about time management, organization, effective group interaction,
and personality profiling (including a free Meyers Briggs personal
survey). Also during the event, local organizations will tout their
volunteer opportunities.
• Jan. 3, 7 p.m. – Blues in
the Loft: Billy Hector, $15.
• Jan. 10, 2 p.m. – The
Berenstain Bears Live! in
Family Matters, the Musical,
$23-$28.
• Jan. 10, 7 p.m. – Theater
in the Loft: Evanston – A Rare
Comedy (Midtown Direct production), $15.
• Jan. 24, 7 p.m. – Jazz in
the Loft: Radam Schwartz (organ, piano), $15.
• Jan. 30, 8 p.m. – Robyn
Hitchcock (British singer/songwriter), $32-$38
• Feb. 5, 8 p.m. – An Evening with Fran Lebowitz, $45.
• Feb. 6, 2 p.m. – The Very
Hungry Caterpillar & Other
Eric Carle Favourites (puppet
theater), $20-$25.
• Feb. 7, 3 p.m. – Juilliard
at SOPAC: Matthew Lipman,
viola, $25.
• Feb. 7, 7 p.m. – Blues in
the Loft: Bill Sims, Jr., $15.
• Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m. – The
Orlando Consort in The Anonymous Monk (British a capella
ensemble with SHU Chamber
Choir), $25.
• Feb. 19, 8 p.m. – Triple
Threat Dance Showcase, $20.
• Feb. 20, 8 p.m. – An
Evening with Graham Nash,
$79-$99.
• Feb. 21, 7 p.m. – Jazz in
the Loft: Tommy Campbell’s
Vocal Eyes, $15.
• Feb. 26, 8 p.m. – Peter
Yarrow and John Gorka (60’s
folk), $35-$45.
• Feb. 27, 8 p.m. – An
Evening with Cowboy Junkies,
$38-$60.
• Feb. 28, 3 p.m. – Juilliard
at SOPAC: Verona Quartet, $25.
Michael
Auer
Your South Orange & Maplewood
Real Estate Specialist
NJAR Circle of Excellence Award, 2013-2014
Area Resident and Volunteer since 1987
Cell: (973) 220-5024 • Office: (973) 436-5148
[email protected] • http://MichaelAuer.net
2 East Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ 07039 • (973) 994-4323
The South Orange Gaslight, January/February 2016
3.
At The Baird
(973) 378-7754 • www.thebaird.org
Pierro Gallery
(973) 378-7754, x3 • www.pierrogallery.org
Gallery Hours: M-Th 11-4, Sat 1-4
Pierro mounts a primer on a
world-renowned artist from S.O.
From Ukraine to
New Jersey: Louis
Lozowick’s Prints
of American Life
On display Jan. 20 to
Feb. 25
More than 40 rare
prints by influential
printmaker Louis
Lozowick will be
shown at Pierro
Gallery with related
events at Seton Hall
and Zimmerly Museum
in New Brunswick. Lozowick, born in Russia
in 1892, lived much of
his adult life in South
Orange and died here
in 1973. The forthcoming exhibit features
Birth of a Skyscraper, 1930
prints not normally on
public display, since they’re largely from private collections. The
subjects include urbanism and industry, race and immigration,
work and unemployment as well as the artist’s global travels.
The show is curated by Taylor Curtis and Dr. Petra Chu. It is
presented connection with the Seton Hall Graduate Program in
Museum Professions.
Related Programs
• Opening reception, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m.
• Exhibition tour with curator Taylor Curtis, Feb. 11, 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m.
• Lecture by Helen Langa of American University,“From
Socialist Modernism to Social Viewpoint Art: Louis Lozowick’s
Aesthetic and Political Idealism,” Jan. 28, 7 p.m., Beck Room,
Seton Hall University.
• Zimmerli Museum will show its Lozowick collection at
the Morse Research Center for Graphic Arts. Reservations are
required. For information, call South Orange Cultural Arts Director Sandy Martiny, (973) 378-7754.
For details on all aspects of the exhibit and related events,
plus essays on Lozowick’s life and work, go to
www.fromukrainetonewjersey.weebly.com
4.
The South Orange Gaslight, January/February 2016
Winter Recreation
https://apm.activecommunities.com/southorange
Tae Kwon Do for Beginners (ages 5-12)
Tom Shaheen teaches practical self-defense for discipline, body conditioning, self-confidence and stress reduction. Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 6.
US Sports Institute at The Baird (indoors)
Classes begin in January. Register at www.USSportsInstitute.com.
• Tennis Squirts (ages 3-5) - Mondays at 3:30 beginning Jan. 25, or Thursdays at 3:30 beginning Jan. 21.
• First Play Tennis (ages 5-8) - Mondays at 4:30 or
5:30 beginning Jan. 25, or Thursdays at 4:30 or 5:30 beginning Jan. 21.
• Sports Squirts (ages 3-5) – Intro to a variety of
sports. Tuesdays at 3:30 or 4:30 beginning Jan. 19.
• Total Sports / Senior Squirts (ages 5-6) – Focus on
a different sport each week. Tuesdays at 5:30 beginning Jan.
19.
Spring Baseball and Softball
Registration for 2016 spring baseball and girls’ softball
will take place Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 23-24 and Feb.
6-7, from 1-4 p.m. at The Baird and Maplewood Town Hall.
South Orange Maplewood Baseball is affiliated with Cal
Ripken/Babe Ruth and is open to residents ages 5 to 15
(as of April 30, 2016). For details and registration, go to
www.sombaseball.org.
MSO Softball is open to girls in grades K through 8.
Details at www.eteamz.com/msosoftball.
Spring Soccer
Registration begins Feb. 1 for South Mountain Soccer’s
spring season. Children in grades 3 to 8 get professional
training and competitive games, from mid-March through
mid-June. Register online at www.thebaird.org or in person
at The Baird. Deadline Feb. 15 or when fully enrolled. Early
registration is encouraged.
Adult Fitness
Get fit with certified group fitness instructor
and personal trainer Robin Weber.
• Total Body Circuit - Separate exercise stations work all muscle groups. 10 weekly sessions,
Wednesdays and/or Fridays, beginning Jan. 6,
9:15-10 a.m. Fee: $110.
• Senior Fitness - Increase flexibility
and strength, improve balance and posture, reduce stress. 10 weekly sessions,
Wednesdays and/or Fridays, beginning
Jan. 6, 10:15-11 a.m. Fee: $60.
Winter Enrichment Classes
(973) 378-7754, x1 • www.thebaird.org
South Orange residents get a $10 discount on most classes with a current Recreation & Cultural Affairs ID badge.
Classes must meet minimum enrollment to run. Most classes begin the week of Jan. 4.
Art for Kids
The Good Times Math
Gang (grades 3-8) - This in-
quiry-oriented club will boost
your child’s math morale.
Instructors Steven Greenstein
and Michael Steiner. Mondays,
Jan. 4 to March 7, 4-5 p.m. Fee:
$10 plus $10 materials fee.
Clay Time (ages 3-7) - A
tactile exploration. Saturdays,
Jan. 9 to March 12, 9:30-10:15
a.m., with instructor Joan
Tamasco. Fee: $110 plus $50
for materials.
Comic Book Capers I
(grades 1-3) - Design and
write your own comic
book. Tuesdays, Jan. 5 to
March 8, from 4-5 p.m.,
with instructor Vicki Arlein.
Fee: $110 plus $20 for
materials.
Comic Book Capers
II (grades 4-6) - Plan, draft,
draw, and color your own
comic book and take home a
“published” color copy. Tuesdays, Jan. 5 to March 8, 5:15
to 6:15 p.m., with instructor
Vicki Arlein. Fee: $110 plus
$20 for materials.
Comic Book Capers
Studio (grades 6-9) - Students
draw their own characters,
create stories, and explore
comic book art. Tuesdays,
Jan. 5 to March 8, 6:30 to 7:45
p.m., with instructor Vicki
Arlein. Fee: $140 plus $20 for
materials.
Drawing (6th grade to
adult) - Draw what you see
and feel. Larry McKim teaches
representational and expressive drawing. Wednesdays, Jan.
6 to March 9, 5-6:30 p.m. Fee:
$165 plus $30 for materials.
Funky Fun Art - Five sessions per course with instructor Denise Hayden. Fee: $75
per class.
• Make Your Own Recycled T-Shirt Scarf (grades 4-8),
Mondays, Jan. 25 to Feb. 29,
5-6 p.m.
• Pop Art Paintings
(grades 1-3),Tuesdays, Jan. 19
to Feb. 16, 4-5 p.m.
• Design Your Own
Graffiti/Bling Sneakers
(grades 3-5),Thursdays, Jan. 21
to Feb. 18, 5-6 p.m.
Dance
for Kids
Dance, Move, Play:
Move with Me (infant to
age 4, with caregiver) Thursdays, Jan. 7 to March
10, with instructor
Michele Golden.Three
time options: 9:3010:15 a.m., 10:30-11:15
a.m. or 11:30 a.m. –
12:15 p.m. Fee: $110.
Ballet with Shona
Roebuck
All classes: $110
• Pre-Ballet, Creative
Movement (age 2 with caregiver) - Saturdays, Jan. 9 to
March 12. Two time options:
9:15-10 a.m. or 10-10:45 a.m.
• Pre-Ballet I (ages 3-4) Saturdays, Jan. 9 to March 12.
Two time options: 11-11:45
a.m., or 1-1:45 p.m.
• Pre-Ballet II (ages 3-4,
prerequisite, Pre-Ballet I) –
Saturdays, Jan. 9 to March 12,
noon to 12:45 p.m.
• Pre-Ballet III (ages 3-4,
prerequisite, Pre-Ballet II) –
Thursdays, Jan. 7 to March 10,
4:45-5:30 p.m.
• Ballet I (ages 5-6) -
Thursdays, Jan. 7 to March 10,
5:30-6:15 p.m.
Hip-Hop 101 (ages 5-7) Thursdays, Jan. 7 to March 10,
3:45-4:30 p.m., with instructor
Shona Roebuck. Fee: $110.
Teen/Adult Art
and Dance
p.m., with instructor Denise
Hayden. Fee: $16 / $12 for
those 62 or older.
Dancers’ Conditioning
(NEW). Enjoy a variety of
dance conditioning styles:
yoga, ballet, jazz, hip-hop and
modern. Thursdays, Jan. 7 to
March 10, 7-8 p.m. with Shona
Roebuck. Fee: $110.
Art With A Master
(adults) - Philip Sherrod teaches all levels in all mediums,
Tuesdays, Jan. 5 to March 8,
12:30-3 p.m. Fee: $275 plus
model fee.
Life Drawing (12th grade
to adult) - Draw from live models, with focus on gesture and
longer-term drawings. Instructor Larry McKim. Wednesdays,
Jan. 6 to March 9, 7-9 p.m.
Fee: $220, plus $80 model and
materials fee.
Drawing (6th grade to
adult) - See Art for Kids
Comic Book Capers
Studio (grades 6-9) - See Art
for Kids
Guided Painting (Adults.
Beginners welcome.) - Get
step-by-step guidance as you
replicate a featured painting.
All supplies provided. Three
Thursdays: Jan. 7, Feb. 4 and
March 3, 10:15 a.m. to 12:15
Two-Day Vacation
Program
Funky Fun Art: Clay
Creations (ages 6-11)
Monday, and Tuesday, Dec.
28 and 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Play with clay and create
anything you can imagine.
Also paint mini canvases.
Instructor Denise Hayden.
Fee: $150.
Preschool
at The Baird
Applications for the
2016-2017 school year will
be accepted beginning Jan.
4. South Orange and Maplewood residents ages 3-5 get
educational and recreational activities. The school is
located on the second floor
of The Baird. Details and
registration online or at The
Baird.
Individual and Business
Tax Preparation
Business Accounting
(Quickbooks Consulting)
Firm Parthers Nelson J. Couto, CPA, CFP ® &
Anthony DeFranco, CPA, CFP ®, MS (Taxation)
We handle IRS and state tax matters with success!
973.378.3300
coutodefranco.com
The South Orange Gaslight, January/February 2016
5.
Bring a smart teaching idea to life
Teachers in the South Orange Maplewood School District have
received just over $70,000 in grants from the Achieve Foundation
of South Orange and Maplewood.
Grants awarded in early December were given for innovative
teaching projects ranging from mentoring programs, to new technology, to a Future Leaders Club for middle school students. You
can increase Achieve’s support for innovation by contributing to
Direct Teacher Grant Funding through Jan. 31. Review a list of unfunded teacher proposals and choose a project to support. To learn
more, go to www.achievefoundation.org.
Looking for a few
good sponsors
Last year, 1,000 residents attended the summer festival SOxSO, a
creative collision of arts, music and
ideas. For 2016, the event will be
rebranded as “South Next,” with the
same creative drive and anticipated
growth in attendance and scope. Dates will be June 17 to 19.
Venues and partners include SOPAC, South Orange Village
Center Alliance and St. Barnabas Medical Center (all returning
sponsors), plus restaurants, bars, parks and public spaces.
A few additional key sponsors are needed to underwrite
discussion panels and musical performances organized under
the theme “Create and Collide.” Last year’s sessions included
“Historic Preservation vs. Growth,” “The Art of Story in the
Digital Universe,” “Active Drones” and musical performances by
Brother Valiant and Mike Griot’s Causing Collisions Concert.
For more information or to make a proposal, contact
Trustee Stephen Schnall at [email protected].
PIANO for YOU
Wendy Goldstein
Manhattan School of Music Alumna
973-762-6601
Classical & Popular Music
Ages 5 & Up
All Levels
First Lesson Free
Vanguard Theater
Company Presents
Library Events
Library Discussion Group
Thursdays, 1 p.m.
Wednesdays at the
Movies • Jan. 7 – “Cultural Differences,” with Annette van der
Feltz, international relocation
consultant.
• Jan. 14 – “Corporate
Social Responsibility,” with
Shawn Grain Carter, marketing
professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
• Jan. 21 - “Norway and
the Norwegians,” with Peggy
Cinberg.
• Jan. 28 - Reflections on
personal morality in Harper
Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman” —
with Jo Ann Middleton, author
and Drew University professor.
• Feb. 4 – “Michael Collins
and the Invention of Urban
Guerrilla Warfare,” with William Rogers, Drew University
history professor.
• Feb. 11 – “The Wit and
Rhetoric of Abraham Lincoln,”
with John Wargacki, Seton Hall
English professor.
• Feb. 18 – “World Political
Update,” with Douglas Simon,
political science professor
emeritus at Drew University.
• Feb. 25 – “The Importance of Community in Modern Times,” with former Village
President Alex Torpey.
All shows at 1 p.m.
• Jan. 6 - Danny Collins
• Jan. 20 - A Walk in the
Woods
• Feb. 3 - The Walk
• Feb. 17 - The Intern
Recurring Events
• Creative Writing Workshop, Jan. 13 and 27, Feb. 10
and 24, 1 p.m.
• Knitting Workshop, Jan.
18, 1 p.m.
A Portrait
of Ray
Broadway Star:
Purchase 3ckets at vanguardtheater.org or by calling 800-­‐838-­‐3006 and referencing “A Portrait of Ray” The South Orange Gaslight, January/February 2016
Special Events
• Martin Luther King, Jr.
Annual Celebration, Jan. 12,
7:30 p.m. • MLK, Jr. National Day
of Service. Volunteer at the
library, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. to 2
p.m.
• Talk Oscars – Discuss
nominees for the 86th Academy Awards, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m.
• Black History Month
discussion, Feb. 29, 7:30 p.m.
Guest speaker to be announced.
Children’s Room
• Legos and Minecraft, alternate Mondays at 3:30 p.m.,
beginning with Legos on Jan.
4. (Closed Jan. 18 and Feb. 22)
• Toddler Storytimes,Tuesdays 11 a.m.
• Baby Storytimes,
Wednesdays, 10 a.m.
• Good Tymes String Band,
Thursdays, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, at
11 a.m.
• Wilma and the Wingers,
Thursdays, Jan. 28, Feb. 25, at
11 a.m.
• Drop in Crafts, Fridays,
Jan. 15, Feb. 12, 3:30 p.m.
Starring South Orange’s very own
January 16th at 7pm and January 17th at 3pm
South Orange Middle School
70 Ridgewood Road, South Orange, NJ
6.
(973) 762-0230 • www.sopl.org
Dwayne Clark
“Dwayne Clark is quite the entertainer, compared to the likes of Cab Calloway or a Sammy Davis Jr.” -­‐The New York Times Sponsored by MLK Clubs of South Orange / Maplewood School District CHS students! Compete for $1,000 scholarship in SOHPS essay contest
Every other year, the South Orange Historical and
Preservation Society hosts an essay contest for Columbia
High School students who compete for a $1,000 scholarship prize. The theme, which changes with each contest, is
always an aspect of local history.
In 2014, Abigail Baker won the prize with her essay
“Connett Place” (excerpted version below). The theme that
year was Village streets named after past residents.
This spring, CHS juniors and seniors will be invited to
compete in the 2016 contest by submitting original essays
of approximately 1,200 words on a theme to be announced.
The winner will be selected in May and the award money
will go directly to the winner’s chosen college. Details will
be announced by the school this winter.
Connett Place
Mrs. F. LeBaron Mayhew, namesakes of Mayhew Court, donated $1,000 for the purchase of
children’s books . . .
Sophia Connett died in
1906, after which the library
building was named for the
family. . . [Today] Connett
Place is a quiet street of family
homes next to Village Hall,
where a plaque bears Eugene
Connett’s name. Connett Place
is directly across the street
from the building that bears
the family name.
. . .The South Orange Public Library arose as a result of
a communal effort by several
South Orange residents to
create a legacy of education
and literature for future generations, and the legacy of those
individuals is preserved in the
street names of South Orange.
(2014 winning essay)
By Abigail Baker
When the Connett family
donated land at the corner of
Scotland Road and Taylor Place
to the Village of South Orange
in 1895, their gift established
a permanent dwelling for the
South Orange Library. . . However, the building is not the
only reminder of the Connett
family. They are also remembered . . . by Connett Place,
which intersects with Scotland Road. Later generations
of the Connett family included
members of the Underhill and
Speir families, also remembered by local street names.
Founding and supporting the
library relied on the philanthropy of many memorable
citizens whose names appear
on Village maps.
Eugene V. (1836-1905) and
Sophia Rutan Connett (18381912) established their home
on Scotland Avenue, close
to the family business, a hat
factory in Orange . . .
The library began as a
membership library when it
was organized by William Beebe in 1864. It initially consisted of a single room . . . [but]
outgrew its space and moved
to a site on South Orange
Avenue. Before the late 1800s,
many libraries were open
only to dues-paying members.
However, the free public library
movement, which was spreading across the nation, soon arrived in South Orange. Wealthy
industrialist Andrew Carnegie
was compelled by his “Gospel
of Wealth” to use his riches for
philanthropic efforts.
Carnegie . . . paid for
community library buildings,
requesting that each town raise
its own funds for books and
budget for staff . . . His gift to
South Orange followed a similar
model.
. . . Connett offered the land
where the Connett building
now stands on condition that
other residents raise $7,500 for
the building . . . Henry A. Page,
namesake of Page Terrace, donated $1,000.
An article in The New York
Times reported that an 1888
benefit “fete champetre” held
at Orange Lawn Tennis Club
was “a brilliant success.” The
affair was staffed by Miss Page,
Miss Redmond, Mrs. Milligan,
and Mrs. Sanford, whose family
names are preserved in South
Orange street names. Mrs.
Thomas Conway, as in Conway
Court, hosted an 1894 production of “The Lifeless Man” to
benefit the library . . . Mr. and
From left: John Denvir, James Defino, and Keith Scheper. Not pictured,
Christopher Foye.
Heroic S.O. firefighters honored
Two Villagers and a dog were rescued from a fire in
December 2014 thanks to the selfless bravery of four South
Orange firefighters. Captains John Denvir and Keith Scheper, and Firefighters James Defino and Christopher Foye
received the Team Effort Fire Award from the Saint Barnabas Burn Foundation during the 28th Annual Valor Awards
dinner on Dec. 2 at Mayfair Farms in West Orange
The New Jersey Assembly issued a resolution lauding
their “exceptional bravery and uncommon courage when
they encountered a life-threatening situation.”
They entered the second-floor hallway of a wooden
structure where a fire was reported in a bedroom.They
successfully rescued two nonambulatory elderly individuals,
their teenage granddaughter and a pet dog.
The South Orange Gaslight, January/February 2016
7.
In
Touch
with Village
Government
General Info.
(973) 378-7715
Emergency, 911
Clerk’s Office, x1
Administrator, x2
Construction, x3
Tax Collector, x4
Assessor, x5
Finance, x6
Engineer, x7
Parking Authority,
x2037
Health Officer
x7710
Animal Control
x7711
Fire Dept.
762-3200
Library
762-0230
Police Dept.
763-3000
Public Works
378-7741
Recreation &
Cultural Affairs
378-7754
Rescue Squad
762-3410
Recycling Info. &
Street Dept.
378-7741
Water Service
266-8869
To submit
information for
The South
Orange
Gaslight,
send to Editor
Robin Patric,
rpatric@
comcast.net,
or call (908)
823-9001
8.
January Villager of the Month
Dave Adox
Volunteering is one thing,
inspiring, quite another.
Dave Adox inspires and has the
personality traits to prove it:
• Enthusiasm. √ Check
• Compassion. √ Check
• Ethics. √ Check
Oh, and one more thing — a
guiding principle that pulls it all
together: “Until Further Notice....
Celebrate Everything!”
Around South Orange and
Maplewood, and all over Facebook,
hundreds of people have been
prompted to do good because
Dave Adox stood behind those
words. They know through him
that when life is invaded by disease, there’s a choice: drop out or
face reality.
When Dave, 43, was stricken
by ALS, he did not drop out. Now,
15 months after diagnosis, he can’t
breath, eat or speak on his own.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou
Gehrig’s Disease), has degenerated
the nerve cells in Dave’s brain and
spinal cord. His eyes are all that
move. And yet, he goes on.
It was 2007 when Dave
and his husband and partner of 17
years, Danni Michaeli, first came to
South Orange. Dave was a TV/radio
guy turned ad man, and Danni, a
psychotherapist. They wanted children and believed fostering in New
Jersey was their best route.
They chose South Orange,
fostered one adolescent boy and
hosted four foreign exchange students. (Today, they have a one-yearold son, Orion.)
On arriving in the Village, Dave
The South Orange Gaslight, January/February 2016
Township of South Orange Village
South Orange, NJ 07079
*****************ECRWSS****
Local
Postal Customer 07079
PRST STD
U.S. Postage Paid
Newark, NJ
Permit No. 7081
ECRWSS
Village Web Site: www.southorange.org
instantly dove into
the community.
He organized
Neighborhood
Watch in his Seton
Village neighborhood and went
on to become a
regional coordinator.
Dave, Danni
and neighbor Olivia Lewis Chang
cooked up the
idea of holding
progressive
dinners on three
local streets, a
tradition that continues twice a year.
Olivia soon
discovered Dave’s
skill in mentoring
young people.
“When my son
was struggling
Villager of the Month Dave Adox with his partner, Danni Michaeli,
with whether to
and their one-year-old son Orion.
finish college, Dave
said he’d talk to him about career
in personal conversation or on
choices. My son ended up being a
Facebook. “Enormous community
marketing major. Dave just does that built up around him,” because of his
sort of stuff. He did the same with
candor, said Danni.“I’m flabbergastmy daughter.”
ed by it.”
There’s been more inspired
Dave’s community involvement
giving. Dave and Danni have opened and his calm in the face of personal
their home to neighbors and somedisaster have inspired hundreds.
times strangers in need
Last year, Team Dave raised over
of temporary housing
$15,000 for the mid-Hudson ALS
due to storm damage
walk. In the fall, Team Dave biked
or home transitions. For
275 miles and raised $35,000 for
months they hosted
HIV/AIDS and ALS — the highest
volunteers working in
per capita fundraising group in the
Trenton to pass marriage
2015 Cycle For The Cause.
equality in New Jersey.
Dave Adox lives, loves, and
When Dave got ALS,
inspires every day, and that’s why
he never shied from
all of us should live according to his
talking about the ravages
byword: “Until Further Notice....
of his disease, whether
Celebrate Everything!”