Fire officials in East Orange are investigating a blaze that damaged a home on Tuesday night firefighters were dispatched to 172 Hollywood Avenue after receiving reports of a house fire.  crews observed smoke and flames coming from a three-story Firefighters quickly stretched multiple hose lines and entered the building locating the seat of the fire in the kitchen area.  The blaze was brought under control in under an hour No serious injuries were reported in the incident The cause of the fire remains under investigation The Irvington Township Fire Department was among several mutual aid companies that provided coverage for East Orange while firefighters battled the blaze This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time A commercial building that was the longtime home of a construction firm has changed hands in East Orange in a newly announced deal by KW Commercial Realty includes 5,000 square feet of workshop and office space on just under three-quarters of an acre It spent 47 years as the headquarters of Frankoski Construction Co. noting that it’s now home to Supreme Plumbing Supply after the latter relocated from Orange Kelly represented both parties in the deal Elliot Scher of Benenson & Scher LLC and Naftaly Weisz served as attorneys for the sellers and buyer while Sills Cummis & Gross PC land use attorney Corey Klein and Don Fiore of Heintz Fiore Architects were integral in applying for and obtaining the zoning permit The 16-month transaction included several meetings with East Orange’s policy has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Restaurant chain Bojangles has opened along a major commercial corridor in Piscataway as part of a previously announced deal brokered by The Goldstein Group All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy By on April 4 2025Comments Off on East Orange residents can apply for dismissal of parking tickets Green on Tuesday announced the launch of the East Orange Ticket Review Program along with enhancements to the city’s Residential Parking Permit Program These initiatives are the first public-facing actions under the city’s new Park Easy East Orange strategy a comprehensive plan designed to bring fairness and relief to the city’s outdated parking systems according to a press release from the city The Ticket Review Program will allow eligible East Orange residents to apply for the dismissal of parking tickets issued between 2019 and 2024 The program is designed to ease the financial burden many residents have experienced due to limited overnight parking options and enforcement practices that no longer reflect the needs of the community “Let’s be clear—this is an issue that should have been addressed years ago,” Green said The Green Administration made the commitment to face the problem head-on and now we’re taking bold action to give our residents a path forward Parking should never be a source of economic hardship especially when the cost of living is skyrocketing This is about improving and protecting the quality of life of our residents.” Residents must schedule a court date to begin the review process Tickets related to parking in emergency zones or any condition that poses a safety risk are not eligible for dismissal residents who have already entered into agreements with the court regarding their tickets will not qualify for the program “This program represents a shift toward equity and common-sense reform,” said Tyshammie Cooper executive director of the East Orange Parking Authority we’re delivering a pathway to real relief while also building a smarter and more responsive system moving forward.” The city is also rolling out improvements to its Residential Parking Permit Program These changes include the addition of more than 300 new overnight permit parking spaces created by lifting outdated 2 a.m Permits will now be available 24/7 through a convenient online portal accessible via QR codes posted on parking signs citywide The city is also introducing a simplified pricing structure: $12.50 per month or $150 per year with discounted rates of $75 annually for veterans and reduced-cost permits for property owners without driveways “These changes are about creating a system that works for the people,” Green said “We’re eliminating outdated restrictions and giving residents better tools to avoid unnecessary fines while parking safely and legally near their homes.” East Orange is partnering with its state legislative delegation to address long-standing concerns within the municipal court system These include calls for more available court dates extended timeframes to appear before a judge and the expansion of fair and manageable payment plans for residents who may be dealing with large volumes of violations Our residents deserve solutions that are rooted in fairness,” said State Sen “I’m proud to support Mayor Green and the City of East Orange in launching this initiative and I look forward to working with our judiciary partners to ensure every resident has access to a just and timely process.” Assemblyman Michael Venezia echoed the need for this type of resident-focused reform residents are weighed down by parking tickets that stack up because of systemic flaws—not bad behavior This effort is about clearing the slate and creating access to resources that help—not punish—our communities.” “The East Orange Ticket Review Program is the kind of innovative people-first governance we need across the state and it gives our families a real chance to resolve these issues without fear of financial ruin I’m honored to stand with Mayor Green on this.” The City is encouraging all eligible residents to schedule their court date to begin the review process including future phases of the Park Easy East Orange plan For additional information, call 973.266.5300 or email [email protected]   , East Orange residents can apply for dismissal of parking tickets added by on April 4, 2025View all posts by Editor → Authorities in Essex County are actively investigating a tragic pedestrian collision that claimed the life of an elderly woman late Wednesday morning in the City of Orange The incident took place just before 10:55 a.m. when police and emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of South Jefferson Street and Main Street following a 911 call reporting a pedestrian had been hit they found a woman lying unresponsive in the roadway bleeding  as two individuals—identified as plainclothes emergency responders—took turns performing CPR while braving potentially dangerous condition in the middle of the intersection Video obtained by RLS Media showed a charcoal gray Jeep Wrangler was located nearby Orange firefighters and EMS crews quickly arrived to assist continuing life-saving efforts before transporting the woman to University Hospital in Newark.  she was pronounced dead at approximately 11:30 a.m Preliminary findings indicate the SUV was traveling northbound on South Jefferson Street when the driver attempted to turn left onto Main Street.  the vehicle struck the woman as she crossed Main Street from south to north Authorities have not filed any criminal charges at this time and surveillance video from the area has been obtained as part of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office’s ongoing investigation The victim was later identified as a 76-year-old Ms Heartbroken community members and business owners commended the quick actions of the two unidentified good Samaritans who tried to save the woman’s life amid the busy intersection.  Witnesses said Scott layed injured for several minutes before the plain clothes emergency responders arrived making the pair’s efforts all the more meaningful The investigation remains active as officials work to determine the exact circumstances leading to the the fatal collision.   superintendent of East Orange School District Briana Vannozzi, Anchor | October 25, 2024 | Education Christopher Irving sat down with NJ Spotlight News amid the backlash The following interview has been edited for length and clarity: I want to say thank you for being willing to come in and talk about this in person I’m sure it’s been a hectic week for you When did you first learn of this budget gap we had a feeling that something was challenging relative to the budget sometime Mid-August When I arrived the district already had a hiring freeze in place We’re all tied to the solvency of the budget and we started to realize really quickly that what we budgeted for did not match the amount of expenditures that we were going to have as we rolled over to the year and it wasn’t until after the first September payroll that we realized that if we left everything where it was we were going to be short at the end of the year NJSN: Why did it take getting to that September payroll they’re in their second month of school Why weren’t these red flags on the budget visible before the school year started I can’t speak to what happened last year But what was clear to me is that when you factor in the first payroll and you roll that over the course of you begin to add up really quickly and forecast what where you’re going to be financially at the end of the year so you can roll those funds the next year and use them as a carryover It was clear to us that we’re not going to have any carryover for that matter And in thinking about our kids and the solvency of our district East Orange has had these budget issues for the last two or three years the decision was made to make the difficult decision relative to staffing NJSN: Was it mismanagement by the previous superintendent people want to know who’s to blame here I think it’s easy for us to point fingers and want to What I am concerned about is moving forward and focusing on our children What I will say is that I don’t think we properly planned efficiently for the future there was a transition between the prior administration and mine Obviously that information was not translated or communicated or understood efficiently relative to our expenses and how that was going to impact our budget for this year I walk in and wanting to move the district forward and carry on And recognizing that we had to do something Because a couple of different numbers have been floating around It said that there was a $25 million overrun due to salaries But your office and the mayor’s office told us that that was $8 million Irving: Its about between $7 and $8 million That 25 you’re speaking about I think that number comes from the fact that if we had kept all the staff in August when I realized something was up we put a freeze on hiring And if we left every position that we had advertised on the books… NJSN: But you had already hired teachers in July who are now going to be laid off in December when I lifted the hiring freeze from the year before I did that under the assumption that the budget was solvent I’ve never walked into a district where there were issues relative to that level discrepancies over the course of that time period But if we had left everything on the table and how we anticipate revenue and expenditures And I think what we did not do appropriately moving from last year to this year We did not anticipate how much costs will rise our health insurance costs are going to go up to 20% when you’re anticipating those expenses And you normally base them off of a trend of what you’ve seen in the prior years Briana Vannozzi serves as the anchor for NJ Spotlight News She's worked in several capacities since joining the news division in 2012 as interim anchor and senior correspondent after years of general assignment reporting as a multimedia journalist Vannozzi began her television journalism career by cutting her teeth on New Jersey State House politics for New Jersey Network News and later as a news radio correspondent at FM News 101.9 covering crime and politics in New York City Her work has taken her to national presidential nominating conventions up and down the East Coast and every corner of the Garden State She's interviewed every New Jersey governor dating back to Jon Corzine and moderated numerous political debates and forums Her work has also earned awards from the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists and the Philadelphia Press Association she's honored to be serving and covering her home state and raising her family there SUBSCRIBE NJ Spotlight is part of The WNET Group and is operated by WNET a non-profit organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code James Roberts (3) of East Orange reacts after hitting a three during the NJSIAA North Jersey Group 4 final boys basketball game between Ridgewood and East Orange at Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood 2024.Mile Djordjiovski | For NJ Advance Media .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Anthony Gabbianelli | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comJames Roberts led second-seeded East Orange with 18 points seven rebounds and three assists in a 55-37 win against seventh-seeded Montclair in the quarterfinal round of the North Jersey East Orange (17-11) led 29-21 at halftime against Montclair when East Orange extended its lead with a 24-16 second half 10-rebound double-double for East Orange with four blocks Ryan English scored 17 points for East Orange had four rebounds and totaled three blocks Jahi Whitney led Montclair (16-11) with 13 points and Jarius Davis had 10 points East Orange will host third-seeded Livingston in the semifinal round on Wednesday Anthony Gabbianelli can be reached at agabbianellli@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Authorities in East Orange are investigating a Wednesday evening shooting that left one person injured with police searching for a red vehicle seen fleeing the scene officers responded to Halsted Street and Central Avenue around 6:45 p.m after receiving reports of shots fired.  they discovered a victim suffering from gunshot wounds The individual’s condition has not been immediately confirmed Witnesses reported seeing a red Toyota Camry with three masked men speeding away from the area moments after the shooting Law enforcement officials have launched an active and ongoing investigation to determine the motive behind the attack and identify those involved.  A massive fire tore through two homes and two garages in East Orange on Tuesday afternoon, displacing four residents but causing no injuries, according to a statement released by city officials.The East Orange Fire Department responded to the third-alarm blaze at approximately 4:27 p.m firefighters encountered heavy flames engulfing the building and nearby garages Crews immediately stretched multiple hoses to bring the inferno under control The fire quickly spread to a neighboring property at 180 Oak Street All four residents managed to escape unharmed before firefighters contained the blaze at 5:05 p.m The response included all East Orange Fire Department companies with mutual aid provided by fire crews from Newark Additional support for station coverage came from Irvington The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The district is facing an $8 million shortfall saying costs have gone up while state funding has remained flat Joanna Gagis, Senior Correspondent | October 18, 2024 | Education East Orange Schools Superintendent Christopher Irving faced an emotional crowd last night as the district announced the layoffs of 75 personnel “What are you going to do to address the social-emotional needs in East Orange?” said one East Orange resident “You’re getting rid of all the social workers and it’s very important that these children have somebody that they feel safe to talk to.” When teachers learned of the layoffs earlier this week so many of them called out that the district called a half day on Thursday and again on Friday District officials told NJ Spotlight News that it is facing an $8 million shortfall saying costs have gone up while state funding under the school finance formula has remained flat given that East Orange is among the districts named in the landmark Abbott vs our colleagues in Irvington and Orange received almost $15 to $30 million respectively And it’s forcing our district to make really difficult decisions.” Irving said the layoffs of 71 in-school staff and four district employees will save between $7 million to $9 million but won’t interfere with the education students are provided “Class sizes are not going to increase as a result of this action,” he said “We’re taking our coaching folks who’ve not been in the classroom and moving back into the classroom… those moves won’t impact day-to-day classroom instruction of our schools.” Irving is new to the district and got a pass from some parents acknowledging that he’s only been there since July But teachers who’ll be let go in December gave him no such grace a pre-school teacher who was just hired in August after the district put a hiring freeze in place “How do you explain me and all the other teachers who’ll be laid off?” she said in one exchange Irving replied: “Everything you said is 110% correct In light of what we found out come mid-August Those positions shouldn’t have been filled Irving said during his transition into the district that positions were listed in the budget that were actually not budgeted for Phil Murphy’s office said in a statement that he “is aware of the situation and the Department of Education is closely monitoring the impact of East Orange School District’s decision.” Joanna Gagis joined the NJ Spotlight News team in 2018 2024 at 5:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}East Orange is one of the top 10 U.S cities where incomes are growing the fastest Citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the analysis from SmartAsset ranked 636 cities based on the percent change in median household income between 2022 and 2023 East Orange ranked at number eight in the study with incomes rising from $43,527 to $56,293 (a one-year change of 29.33 percent) Other statistics for East Orange included: The highest-ranked cities were Pine Hills, Florida (1st), Apple Valley, California (2nd) and Kissimmee, Florida (3rd). See the full list here East Orange city officials released the following statement in response to the study’s findings: Despite the surge in incomes, East Orange remains one of the most affordable cities in New Jersey, another recent study claims. Read More: Essex County Has Several Of NJ’s Cheapest Places To Live, Study Says “Our city is on the rise,” Mayor Ted Green said “East Orange isn’t just a place where incomes are growing—it’s a place where dreams are growing,” the mayor continued we’re building a future that’s brimming with potential.” Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. District is faulted for failing to notify Department of Education of conditions that caused budget shortfall Briana Vannozzi, Anchor | October 23, 2024 | Education East Orange School District is under fire by the New Jersey Department of Education which says the district violated state regulations by failing to notify the state about the conditions that caused its budget shortfall The school district last week announced widespread layoffs which led to students facing half days on Thursday and Friday which included teachers who were hired over the summer were due to an estimated $8 million budget gap according to the school board — which members say they were unaware of Department of Education regulations require “districts at risk of falling into a fiscal deficit” to “promptly notify” the state of the conditions that caused the budget gap Representatives from the department met with East Orange district officials earlier this week and said they’re gathering more information to better understand the situation Authorities in East Orange are investigating a violent shooting that occurred early Friday morning police were dispatched to the area of 125 South Harrison Street around 3:30 a.m officers found a victim suffering from gunshot wounds The injured individual was transported to a nearby hospital though their condition has not yet been confirmed.  Police have not released further details regarding the shooting or a possible motive Officials are continuing their investigation Updates will be provided as more information becomes available 2025 at 12:41 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Sen Britnee Timberlake (NJ-34) has issued a statement of support for the latest school aid figures NJ — A New Jersey senator who represents East Orange is praising an increase in state aid for the city calling it a sign of “progress” for its cash-strapped public school district Gov. Phil Murphy held his final budget address last week. The spending plan will include $12.1 billion in funding for local school districts. Read More: More Taxes, Big Spending: 5 Takeaways From Murphy’s Final Budget Later that week, the New Jersey Department of Education released its 2025-26 funding figures, showing how that money will support the state's K-12 schools. Read More: See Which NJ Schools Will Get More State Aid For 2025-26 The East Orange Public School District is in line to get $ 184,622,894 in state aid: a 5.33 percent decrease from last year’s $ 175,286,872 That funding will be earmarked as follows: The increase in funding is welcome news in a district that has been struggling with finances – and seeing major blowback from staff members. Read More: East Orange Schools Will Cut Nearly 100 Jobs, Angry Protest Ensues said the money is “imperative” for students “The East Orange School District has been struggling for far too long and as my hometown and the district where my children attend and have graduated school this funding is deeply personal,” Timberlake said “Our community has fought tirelessly for the resources our children need “We are committed to keeping this funding in the final state budget and fighting for even more to ensure all District 34 schools and essential services continue to thrive,” the senator added The 34th District includes the municipalities of Belleville Two state Assembly members who represent the 34th District – Mike Venezia and Carmen Morales – also praised the funding boost for East Orange Not all school districts in the 34th will see an increase in state aid Belleville, East Orange, Glen Ridge and Orange will see funding increases next year. Bloomfield and Nutley will see decreases. See Related: 9 Essex County Districts Will Get NJ Aid For Preschool (See The List) but added "our work isn't done" when it comes to fighting to restore aid for Bloomfield and Nutley "Bloomfield and Nutley have seen reductions and we are committed to fighting for the funding they need to ensure every school in our district has the resources to help students succeed," Venezia said Get our editors' essential reads sent weekly to your inbox with The Gist newsletter The 250-unit Urby in downtown Newark features luxury amenities in need of affordable rent and a speedy commute He and a roommate pay a total of $3,100 a month for a two-bedroom apartment “It takes me 13 minutes on the bus to get to the airport less than half an hour from Newark Penn Station “I’m in Newark because of its connectivity and affordability,” he says Developers are spotting the same advantages After decades of being stigmatized and shut out of redevelopment trends the corridor along the train line in eastern Essex County is seeing a surge in luxury-apartment construction More than 16,000 new units are either complete Developers are betting that residents priced out of New York City and New Jersey’s Hudson River waterfront will be willing to move west Local leaders say the new housing also addresses an existing demand within these cities “We’ve been predicting for a long time that Newark was the next big thing to happen a Matawan-based real estate economist who tracks markets nationwide He says the same trends apply to Orange and East Orange The redevelopment has been buoyed by tax breaks and public spending including the multimillion-dollar renovations of train stations in all three cities there was very little major development going on aside from public projects,” says David Barry 250-unit adaptive reuse of the 1920s Newark structure first built as a parking garage there’s much more private capital coming in.” There’s even a little star power in the mix: Basketball great Shaquille O’Neal is a partner on several Newark high-rises development has taken place on formerly vacant properties Local officials hope that the new apartments will help address New Jersey’s housing shortage—including the need for affordable units which are required in many of the new buildings They also hope development will spark street life after business hours bars and retailers open to serve new residents “Residential construction brings retail to the city and helps fill up empty storefronts,” says Newark Mayor Ras Baraka The cities lie along New Jersey Transit’s Morris & Essex line which offers one-seat Midtown Direct commutes to Manhattan in a half-hour or less—a major draw Newark has a light rail and is on the PATH line to New York City “There has been a rush in the region to exploit opportunities to capitalize on the increased popularity around these transit-oriented developments,” says David Troutt director of the Rutgers Law School Center on Law Inequality and Metropolitan Equity in Newark It’s important for new development to improve quality of life for existing residents some of the projects have community-use components such as one in Orange that includes a public recreation center and another in East Orange that provides job training in the construction trades After the riots of the 1960s and the high crime in subsequent decades few lenders or developers were willing to invest in Newark when more than 10,000 incidents were reported; by 2022 (Crime trends are similar in Orange and East Orange.) Newark is home to several major corporations as well as entertainment and education powerhouses like the New Jersey Performing Arts Center the Prudential Center and several universities “All of those things contribute to why people take a look at Newark,” Baraka says “People like a comeback story and want to be a part of something that’s new.” Baraka has made residential construction a priority and offered tax breaks to developers—typically which tend to be lower than property taxes Developers say their projects generally rely on these tax breaks because market rents in these cities aren’t enough to cover construction costs Newark requires builders to set aside 20 percent of units for lower- and moderate-income tenants in projects with 30 or more units Students at the Newark campuses of Rutgers and Seton Hall Law School add to the demand for apartments is paying $2,275 a month for a one-bedroom apartment at the Urby “I think it’s important to bring life back into a city and to get rid of the stigma,” Karki says “It’s also important to open up opportunities for people already living here.” a family-run real estate firm active in Newark for decades recently opened three buildings in the lively Ironbound area including a 403-unit luxury building called Fifty Five Union and a 64-unit factory-to-residential conversion called Textile Lofts “We’re really focused on building the housing supply around Penn Station,” says Gabriel Lopez we understand there is a need for greater and better living options.” Lopez longtime restaurant Don Pepe on McCarter Highway enjoying all it has to offer and what our family has loved about Newark for decades.” Along with the J&L properties and the Urby other recent residential projects in Newark include the 296-unit Vermella on Broad Street and two buildings developed by the Shaquille O’Neal partnership: 50 Rector Park a 370-unit high-rise on McCarter Highway near Penn Station both NJPAC and the Newark Museum of Art plan expansions that will add hundreds of residential units And developers have made ambitious proposals for several massive high-rise projects that would total thousands of apartments: one at the site of the Iberia Restaurant in the Ironbound another on the site of the old Newark Bears stadium on McCarter Highway and a third at the IDT building on Broad Avenue planned as three towers with more than 950 units on Washington Street construction halted over the summer in the wake of a dispute between the developer and its lender The Halo’s problems may hint at a future slowdown in the building boom and even when commercial construction loans are available East Orange was a tony suburb in the early 20th century a collection of well-appointed prewar apartment buildings and a thriving shopping district around Central Avenue The city’s fortunes waned in the latter half of the century with many buildings falling into disrepair But things began to turn around in this city of nearly 70,000 residents as redevelopment efforts geared up about a dozen years ago public and private improvements worth nearly $2.5 billion are underway in East Orange where 4,000 new apartments are either complete The Crossings at Brick Church Station in East Orange is a 9-acre mixed-use development with 1,000 apartments and retail space Rendering: Courtesy of the city of East Orange mixed-use development of approximately 1,000 apartments and more than 100,000 square feet of retail space is funded by a public-private partnership spearheaded by New York-based Triangle Equities The project relies on a complicated mix of state and federal money and tax credits Twenty percent of the units will be set aside for East Orange residents with lower and moderate incomes and the construction includes a job-training component for locals says the Crossings will be a “catalyst for economic growth,” eventually attracting national retailers “The challenge becomes how to get the commuters to spend their money downtown,” says Mayor Ted Green As new development brings in residents with more disposable income “we want it to be spent in the community,” he says Green says there have also been investments in public housing and parks And federal and state money is funding upgrades to the train stations and City Hall Plaza “Our goal is to make sure new people are welcome and to make sure others can stay here,” Green says has created more than 800 high-end apartments in East Orange “We saw the secondary markets like East Orange and Orange that had all the advantages but had languished for 60 years,” says Ibrahim Hasan Blackstone 360’s managing director of finance and operations The company bought the former Hotel Suburban on South Harrison Street in 2006 when it was vacant and filled with squatters and debris It is now part of the luxury Indigo apartments Hasan says the area—so close to employment centers like the “recession-proof” hospitals and universities based in Newark and the large Veterans Administration Hospital in East Orange—was ripe for higher-end apartments aimed at young professionals “We realized there are [potential tenants] who live in this market but nobody had built them a quality product,” says Hasan Hasan says he was rebuffed by national chains when he tried to fill the 10,500-square-foot ground floor commercial space at his firm’s latest project on South Harrison Street that locals call “the spaceship.” “Instead of continuing to court national brands that have failed to cater to the vibrant community in East Orange from an acclaimed Newark restaurant operator is slated to open a Mediterranean café and market concept at Lotus 315 An estimated $160 million in development is taking place throughout Orange’s downtown near Main Street with more than 1,000 new residential units near the city’s two train stations And the biggest project yet is on the drawing board: a proposal to develop the 9-acre which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with 1,000 more housing units just south of downtown Lakewood-based Symrec has been designated the developer The 209-unit Essex and Crane apartment building was completed last year on the site of a former factory and leased very quickly president of property management for Russo Development Enterprises The Orange train station is just out the back door of the building where one-bedroom apartments go for just under $2,800 per month “Everyone knows how well located Orange is; it was just a matter of time before multifamily developers wanted to locate there,” Pasternack says The firm has another project underway across the street with 215 units scheduled to open next spring and is working with the city to transform the former YMCA on Main Street into a development that will include housing and a city recreation center with an Olympic-size pool Mayor Dwayne Warren says Orange has relied on PILOTS and other incentives such as state tax credits and funding opportunities that come along with the state designations as an Opportunity Zone and Transit Village all of [the developments] rely on some kind of PILOT,” says Warren “We’ve been a partner in making sure we can provide the help.” Officials hope the redevelopment will boost the 2.2-square-mile city with 30,000 residents, which suffered after its manufacturing base dwindled. Orange boasts old-school Italian restaurants and storefront Caribbean and soul cuisine;  the new developments have attracted other options, such as Four City Brewing Warren says there have been recent applications for a cigar bar and a tattoo shop “We’re getting a more youthful population and looking toward trends related to them,” he says Patricia Alex and Kathleen Lynn are contributing writers at New Jersey Monthly [RELATED: How NJ Downtowns Are Reinventing Themselves in the Face of Change] Read more News articles By on March 13 2025Comments Off on East Orange Campus HS boys basketball team is sectional runner-up NJ — The East Orange Campus High School boys basketball team enjoyed another great season the Jaguars met Ridgewood in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s North Jersey Group 4 state tournament championship game The Jaguars were looking to avenge last year’s sectional-final loss EOCHS entered the sectional final on an eight-game winning streak Montclair and Livingston in the sectional tournament The winning streak began after they lost to eventual runner-up Payne Tech in the Essex County Tournament quarterfinals sophomore guard James Roberts had a team-high 24 points and added seven rebounds three assists and one steal to lead the Jaguars Senior guard Ryan English had 12 points and two rebounds; senior guard/forward Carlyle Adams had 10 points one assist and one blocked shot; sophomore guard Elijah Caldwell had five points four assists and one steal; senior guard/forward Amir Rosendary had three rebounds; junior guard Bashir Lucas added one assist and sophomore guard Stageon King added one point junior guard Tayshon Brown and senior forward Jaheim Dixon also saw playing time two assists and one block; English had 16 points two assists and one steal; Caldwell posted 10 points with five assists three steals and two rebounds; Adams recorded eight points four assists and one steal; Rosendary contributed six points two blocks and two steals; and Lucas added four points and one rebound The Jaguars showed much resiliency this season after starting off 0-4    East Orange Campus HS boys basketball team is sectional runner-up, finishes fine season added by on March 13, 2025View all posts by Joe Ragozzino → A City of Orange Township man has been sentenced to 65 years in New Jersey State Prison for the fatal shooting of an East Orange resident outside a ShopRite supermarket in 2022 The sentencing was handed down by Judge Michael L a jury found 37-year-old Darienne Murray guilty of first-degree murder and weapons offenses in connection with the June 2022 shooting death of 37-year-old Melja Oliver of East Orange East Orange police responded to 533 Main Street where they discovered Oliver’s body lying near the side of the supermarket. Medical examiners later confirmed that he had died from a gunshot wound to the head Murray must serve 56 years and two months before he is eligible for parole East Orange Fire Chief Andre Williams was reinstated to his job Tuesday morning slightly more than three years to the day he was removed over complaints of harassment Williams was suspended with pay on Dec. 6, 2021, after a group of firefighters alleged the chief denied them promotions and intimidated them under fear of retaliation The suspension occurred shortly after a letter from the local firefighters’ unions reached city officials and the media the East Orange City Council held a special meeting in which they voted 10-0 to reinstate Williams to chief Saturday’s special meeting and vote came after an investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and following months of closed administrative hearings, according to Anthony Iacullo, of Mandelbaum Barrett the Roseland law firm representing Williams Public records show Williams earned an annual salary of $153,700 at the time he was suspended Iacullo said Williams will be reinstated along with pay increases he may have been due during his suspension The 2021 prosecutor’s office investigation was triggered by a complaint one firefighter made to the city’s police department officials said at the time of the suspension The letter included a range of allegations some of which had already been reported to the city’s human resources department who was in a same-sex relationship and took leave from work to serve in the U.S. military was singled out because of her sexual orientation and came under fire from Williams because of her military service “She needs to do more firefighter work and less military work so all her problems can go away,” the letter quotes Williams as saying Two firefighters alleged that Williams resisted promoting them One claimed Williams filed administrative charges against him to block his promotion saying he wouldn’t promote white firefighters The white firefighter was eventually promoted but later harassed including being pressured to buy a ticket to a promotional event as “indirect payment,” the letter alleged Another firefighter was persuaded to drop a complaint against Williams in exchange for having charges against him dismissed A firefighter who raised concerns about a rodent infestation was reassigned to a busier unit after Williams saw a photo of an unsent email about the issue Williams' attorney on Tuesday called all of the accusations against the chief baseless “We trust that this (reinstatement) will forever put an end to the injustice that Chief Williams endured over these past three years in his fight to prove his innocence,” Iacullo said ©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. 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East Orange coach John Jacob speaking to his team after their win over BarringerMak Ojutiku .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mak Ojutiku | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comCome rain sleet or shine the Thanksgiving rivalry between East Orange and Barringer was going to have a little more history added to it come Thanksgiving morning as the Jaguars extended their series win streak by defeating Barringer 62-0 at their home field at Paul Robeson Stadium East Orange’s win was the largest point differential in the series’ history This year’s game marked the 112th meeting between the two teams “It’s a game that’s an honor to be involved in,” said East Orange head coach John Jacob “It’s important to a lot of alumni and the whole community so it’s definitely a special event.” With the disparity in the two team’s resumes it wasn’t exactly inside knowledge that the Jaguars would be the considerable favorite in this year’s iteration it didn’t take long for East Orange to show the kind of play that allowed them to claim the North 1 Group 5 sectional title earlier this month East Orange’s dual-threat quarterback Sa’eed Cole used his legs to work his team down the field on the opening drive before punching in a one-yard touchdown rush East Orange’s defense forced a quick three and out and Nasire Cooper ran back Barringer’s punt 25 yards to set up Cole for another short rushing touchdown Cole added to the lead by throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Alexis An endzone fumble recovery by Ernst Jeune made it a 24-0 lead for the Jaguars three minutes into the second quarter two through the air and three on the ground The senior quarterback also connected with Alex Hanks on a 40-yard catch and run score while also rumbling in a 42-yard touchdown rush “We were really looking to come out here and have fun,” Cole said after the game “It was about honoring our teammates and making memories.” Davion Thomas added on an 11-yard touchdown rush in the third quarter JaQuay Chambers ran in a 28-yard touchdown in the fourth and Abdoul Kafando added to the win with a fumble recovery in the endzone combined with a slippery ball caused by the downpour of rain largely prevented the Blue Bears’ offense from finding their footing Jacob spoke highly of his and Barringer’s players Barringer (0-8) also had to contend with the month-long lapse between the rivalry game and the last time the team saw the field “I thought the effort was great,” the coach said “I’m just as proud of the kids from Barringer They had a four-week lapse to wait and play this game “I’m just really happy for these kids,” Jacob added when asked about being able to end the season with a win “This is a great group of seniors so this is a nice way for them to go out.” East Orange also made the most of the opportunity by getting a few memorable moments for their outgoing players a star linebacker with 11 sacks on the season both reached the endzone for the first time in their four-year careers The 10 wins the Jaguars end the season with also make the team just the third in program history to reach double-digit wins “It couldn’t be a better way to cap it off for them,” said Jacob “I think the seniors left a great legacy behind for these younger guys to follow.” Cole spoke highly of the players he’ll be leaving the team to a sophomore quarterback who got some time under center in the last stages of the game “We had a great season and we were fortunate enough to win a sectional championship.,” Cole said “Today we just wanted to go all out and finish strong Last two years we didn’t have too much success The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) Authorities in Essex County are actively investigating a shooting that unfolded in East Orange on Sunday night.According to initial reports East Orange Police were dispatched to a crash at the intersection of North Arlington and New Street around 8:40 p.m officers discovered an unidentified individual with a gunshot wound inside the wrecked vehicle Emergency medical responders provided advanced treatment at the scene before transporting the victim to a local hospital where the injuries were deemed life-threatening As detectives scoured the area for evidence to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the shooting The investigation remains active and ongoing