June 2012 Highlights (16)

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Since the fall, Kohl Angelo, 12, has been battling a rare type of brain tumor, but the Maplewood boy has not had to do it alone.

The community has rallied to support Kohl and his family, the latest effort being a silent…

By Christina Hernandez, Managing Editor

Hundreds of beige pamphlets waved rapidly in front of perspiring necks and faces in the gymnasium at Essex County College on June 20.

The temperature reached the mid 90s throughout the day, and only simmered to the…

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Convenience store giant 7-Eleven plans to open a third location in Maplewood — at a gas station on Valley Street — a year after saying it was not interested in the site because it could not stay open 24 hours per…

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

With a recent uptick in local car burglaries, Maplewood police last week had a simple message for residents: lock your car doors.

In 14 out of 15 cases, the vehicles were unlocked, said Police Lt. Michael Marucci, head…

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Roger Salomon of Maplewood did not get the dog he wanted; he ended up getting chickens instead.

For that, he has his wife, Reesa, to thank. Last year she helped lead the fight to allow township residents to raise chickens…

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Not long ago, Jared Gilman needed a ticket to get into the Maplewood Theatres.

Last week, the red carpet was rolled out for him for a local screening of “Moonrise Kingdom,” the film in which the 13-year-old South Orange resident makes his professional debut.

He and some of the other young actors in the film, including 7-year-old Maplewood resident Wyatt Ralff, pulled up in a white…

The following information was released from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office on June 19. John Staten of Orange was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the murder of Arthur Downey of Maplewood. Here is what the release stated:

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced June 19 that Judge Peter J. Vazquez sentenced John Staten, 32, of Orange to 18 years in state prison for killing Maplewood resident Arthur Downey.

In March 2010…

The South Orange-Maplewood school district released a statement June 19 on the recent controversy over the Friday Night Live, a Columbia High School sketch comedy club, annual performance that the district considered offensive. The following statement was signed by Superintendent of Schools Brian Osborne and CHS Principal Lovie Lilly.

To the CHS Community:

As you may know, some public debate arose in response to the district’s decision to…

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Maplewood residents who think they are paying too much in property taxes are filing a high number of tax appeals. The numbers used to determine how much they pay must be revised to avoid the appeals.

The Township Committee voted last week to spend $60,000 to hire Appraisal Systems Inc., the same company that did the 2011 revaluation. Mayor Vic De Luca said June 5 that, starting this fall, the firm…

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

When the Maplewood Community Pool officially opens Saturday, it will be the first time the public gets a look at the improvements that were made in the off-season, paid for by a recent increase in membership fees.…

A 76-year-old male resident of Beach Street was found dead in his home June 7 at 9:30 p.m., according to a prepared statement from Maplewood Police Department sent via email.

Police received a phone call from the male's daughter, saying that her "father was in need of help," according to the statement.

When police arrived to the residence to check on the man's condition, they found him lying on a bedroom floor. In the statement, police said "preliminary…

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

The details of Jim and Diane Myracle’s garden, from the intricacies of the irrigation system to how the plants are meticulously identified, required visitors on June 2 to look closely.

“This is all just a giant…

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

Maplewood will turn over ownership of the former police headquarters on Dunnell Road to a real-estate developer by the end of this month, Mayor Vic De Luca said.

The township officials are selling the property with a park…

A $5,000 reward is being offered to individuals who provide authorities with information that leads to an arrest in the brutal attack on a female secretary in the St. Joseph Church rectory in Maplewood on March 14.

According to Maplewood police, a male suspect apparently entered the church's basement-level office looking for food.  A church secretary offered to help the suspect by leading him to the second floor to speak to a priest.

As the secretary…

    John Kyle, 56, of Maplewood and Cranford,  passed away on June 3, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was a long time resident of Maplewood and Cranford, NJ.

   John was the son of the late James G. and Barbara (nee Harris) Kyle and grew up in Maplewood NJ where he graduated from Columbia High School in 1974. He later attended Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh Pa.

   John cherished his time with and was most proud of his two children, Gordon and Dana. He was a…

Rick Parker to sign copies of his latest book June 1 at Words bookstore

By Chuck O’Donnell, Correspondent

Harry Potter uses a plunger to cast spells. Edward dresses in a Santa suit, wooing Bella. Percy Jackson fends off demonic chicken nuggets with a giant spoon.

Maplewood resident Rick Parker’s work in “Slices,” the graphic novel series that lampoons some of the most popular…