Want to know what is happening in your community? Check out some of our top stories this week in Maplewood and Essex County. Parents rally for return to in-person learning as group sues N.J Outraged protestors to march after reported plea deal in Julie Fry, parent and co-leader of the group, said remote learning is hurting the community. SOMA Action said face masks and 6-foot social distancing requirements will be "strictly complied with" at the event. 1:04. Published: Feb. 22, 2021, 11:50 p.m. Parents and students of the Maplewood School district hold a rally outside of Maplewood Town Hall on Monday to Around Maplewood: COVID Updates|School Protests|Queen * More New Jersey news * Send us a news tip They need to be the focus, and the priority. People have reported mailboxes being removed from the street and getting their mail weeks late. Yohan Hernandez, 20, of Newark was arrested and charged with the murder of Moussa Fofana in August 2021. A Community Volunteer Fair has been scheduled so people can match their skills and interests with programs in Maplewood and South Orange. The group has more than 2,000 members in South Orange and Maplewood, and was formed after the 2016 election. sign up for Patch breaking news alerts and daily newsletters. Take A Coronavirus Test, Mayor Says. Moussas mother, Hawa Fofana, shared her feeling about the plea deal on Instagram, after the hearing was carried from September 1: A post shared by Bebe H Fofana (@hawabraiding). We need a new system.. Its working exactly as it supposed to. For more information, contact info@somaaction.org. He's a resident assistant at Rutgers Newark and has been nominated for 4 different honor societies. Kenneth of Maplewood is a star! Supporters and family members of Moussa Fofana, a Maplewood teenager shot and killed last year, are scheduled to hold a march Thursday to protest a reported Around Maplewood: Wildfires + Election + Guns + Protests + Taxes Her last Parents to hold protest Monday, urge immediate return to school for children South Orange-Maplewood Education Association, Murphy says N.J. holds no grudge, will do whatever it can to help Texas, Tributes pour in following death of state Sen. Cardinale, For NJCUs Acebo, success story born of opportunity, affirmative action college ruling hits home, From hiring to DEI initiatives, affirmative action ruling could impact more than just colleges, Bergen CC, Party City collaborate to provide learning opportunities, NJCU to partner with Latino Action Network and LAN Foundation, Future vision: Seton Hall feels state-of-art practice facility will help another Final Four come into focus. NJ Transit gets $47M federal grant to help electric buses roll in On Tuesday, a resident of Westfield posted in a community Facebook group, "Does anyone know if there are local rallies planned at any post offices? Start your $1 trial today and get access to all our exclusive content for a month, plus breaking news alerts and more. UPDATED: South Orange-Maplewood Schools Undergoing Federal Program Audit. From there, its on to DeHart Park on Burnett Avenue for a protest against the local National Night Out event, followed by an appearance at the Maplewood Township WebMaplewood Township, NJ Health & Activities Weather Forecasts | AccuWeather Allergies How high are allergens today? A weekend of planned, peaceful protests against systemic racism and police brutality, spurred by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, began in South Orange and Maplewood, NJ today, with a march from the South Orange Performing Arts Center to Maplewood Town Hall, where a rally was staged. Nor was her attorney. After Incident With 4-Year-Old Boy, Demonstration NJ Advance Media staff writer Chris Sheldon contributed to this article. MAPLEWOOD, NJ Maplewood and South Orange residents will come together starting this weekend for a slew of Pride Month activities celebrating "all The location, at 1101 Morris Ave. in Union, marks Marie Mascherin, a longtime employee at New Jersey Community Capital who most recently served as chief operating officer, is leaving the organization. Maplewood, NJ | Home Maplewood and South Orange will have an event. Our journalism needs your support. Need something done in Maplewood? July 4th Traffic: When Is The Best Time To Get Out Of NJ Metros? Independence Day Celebrations. But the union declared it was pulling its teachers out of classrooms as of Feb. 16, charging the administration with failing to honor the agreement. Will skies be yellow? 'An Insult': Advocates for Family of Slain Maplewood Teen Blast The group said it will stage a protest at 5 p.m. outside Maplewood Town Hall at 574 Valley St. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2023). The grant will allow NJ Transit to install bus charging equipment in the Hilton Bus Garage in Maplewood, which serves routes in Newark. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Newark on Jan. 29, states that the parents children and others in the district have experienced, ineffective and substandard learning through remote means, all the while forcing children into isolation and causing academic stagnation and regression.. CeFaan Kim has the latest details. WebLocal Resources Change City Independence Day Celebrations Tuesday, Jul 4, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Following an all-remote fall semester, the district did switch to a hybrid approach for the first two weeks of February under an agreement struck by the teachers union and the administration calling for classrooms to be kept both well ventilated and adequately heated, among other provisions. The lack of opportunity to participate in in-person schooling is showing profound negative effects on our children impacting not only their education, but their social and emotional well-being, she said. Professional photos will be available after the event. Two honorees will receive the Carol Buchanan Award for Outstanding Contribution to Civic and Intellectual Life. You can find a pro who excels in services like hardscaping, irrigation or sprinkler system installation and landscape design. A meeting with key stakeholders in the School District Administration/Board of Ed as well as with our colleagues in South Orange occurred and we have a follow-up meeting scheduled for this week, McGehee wrote. Profeta says that the protest will gather at the entrance to Columbia High School at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, and then proceed with Maplewood Police escort along Kensington Terrace to Oakland Road to Valley Street and Maplewood Town Hall, where Profeta, Maplewood Mayor Dean Dafis and South Orange Village President Sheena Collum will speak, among others. Maplewood/South Orange Group To Hold Rally At Post Office Hours before a planned rally and march to protest the reported 15-year plea deal in the murder of Maplewood teenager Moussa Fofana, advocates and friends of the family are criticizing the Essex County Prosecutors Office for its handling of the case. The app also allows you to read reviews from previous consumers, giving you insights into the quality of service provided by each service professional. An event will also be held. Friends and family of Moussa Fofana, who was shot and killed at Underhill Sports Complex in June 2021, are planning a protest march from Columbia High School to Maplewood Town Hall on September 15 in response to a reported plea deal in the case of Fofanas alleged murderer. Here's The Plan, NJ Inmate Couldn't Get A Doctor Visit, So He Cleaned Wound With Bleach, Irvington Native May Become 1st Black Woman On NJ Supreme Court, Send feedback and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. How Bad Will Canadian Wildfire Smoke Be In Maplewood This They characterized the protest as "a community protest to support the USPS in the face of Donald Trumps attacks and defunding efforts which threaten our right to vote and the integrity of the 2020 presidential election.". And continued closure will only continue to lower our kids attainment of key academic milestones.. 2) The recommended sentence does not comport with the facts and the law. In a release, they said, "We must act now to stop these attacks and protect our election process. Around Maplewood: Pride + Juneteenth + Tax Cuts + Dead Fish Mystery, Maplewood Homeowner Catches 2 Intruders In Afternoon: Police, Wisdom Talk & Meditation with Sri Sri Ravishankar, Summer Workshops for High School Students, Coyote Attack Reported At South Mountain Reservation In Essex County, Experience NJs History At These July 4 Events, Student Loan Forgiveness Struck Down For NJ Borrowers. All rights reserved (About Us). If you have any questions about your subscription, visit this page. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. How Bad Will Canadian Wildfire Smoke Be In Maplewood Friday? At Mondays rally, parent Jeff Wolfe, who was not a plaintiff in the suit, said his 10-year-old son, Rohan, was losing motivation and interest not only in school with each day of virtual isolation, but in his family life as well. Additionally, the South Mountain YMCA has been operating safely with students in South Orange-Maplewood school buildings since September. Protesters will gather at the entrance to Columbia High School (470-482 Valley St., Maplewood). UPDATED: South Orange-Maplewood Schools Undergoing Federal Program Audit. This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner. CBS New York's Christine Sloan reports. Email caren.lissner@patch.com. They Helped Lead Newark's George Floyd Protest; What's Next? Village Green will continue to follow this story and update. Weve got to keep on going, because if we dont now were going to lose, said Peter, a 5th grader at Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood, addressing the crowd from the steps of the towns municipal building at dinnertime on Monday. Several hundred protesters sat in family and friend groups, wearing masks and working to observe social distancing outside Maplewood Town Hall. Find out. But the prosecutor has agreed to ask for a ridiculously low prison term of 15 years. Around Maplewood: Wildfires + Election + Guns + Protests + Taxes - Maplewood, NJ - Check out some of our top stories this week in Maplewood and Essex The Township is taking a collaborative role with the intent to be advocates for our children, our residents and our greater community. 2:05. Moussas mother Hawa Fofana said was called into the prosecutors office on August 23 (without her attorney) and told that a plea deal has been struck with Yohan Hernandez, the Newark man arrested and charged in the murder her son. How Bad Will Canadian Wildfire Smoke Be In Maplewood Friday? Around Maplewood: George Floyd Protests|COVID|Supreme Court Code Red, Orange Air Quality Alerts Issued For Parts Of NJ Friday, Business That Hires Staff With Autism Holds Grand Opening In Maplewood. I mostly miss my friends, and reading real books, said Rohan, meaning the kind that are printed with ink on paper and bound between front and back covers. Village Green will provide more information on the hearing as it becomes available from the Essex County Prosecutors Office. Groups in Maplewood and South Orange will protest "Florida's attack on the African American Studies AP curriculum" and other issues. Fiona Sala Parents third grade student in the Maplewood School district at a rally outside of Maplewood Town Hall on Monday to press local officials to put kids back in the classroom.George McNish | For NJ Advance Media. July 4th Traffic: When Is The Best Time To Get Out Of NJ Metros? The second phase of NJ Transits electric bus test program got a boost Monday from the Federal Transit Administration, which awarded $1.7 billion in grants to Rich Pompelio, the familys attorney, called parts of the statement self-serving and said the prosecutors contention that his office had provided the family with information and the opportunity for input was not a true statement.. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Code Red, Orange Air Quality Alerts Issued For Parts Of NJ Friday, Business That Hires Staff With Autism Holds Grand Opening In Maplewood. Watch Cops From Across Essex County Take A Knee For George Floyd, George Floyd Protest In Bloomfield Is Peaceful, Powerful, Peaceful Rally Planned For West Orange: George Floyd Protests, Here's How West Orange Police Handle 'Use Of Force': Chief, George Floyd Protest: Video Shows Peaceful March In The Caldwells, Peaceful George Floyd Protest In Livingston: No Justice, No Peace, Peaceful Rallies Planned For Nutley, Belleville: Floyd Protests, Peaceful George Floyd Protests In Montclair; More Planned, Congress Candidate In NJ-8: Floyd Protest Was 'Cry For Justice', Maplewood Chief Gives Statement On Floyd, And 'Excessive Force', Maplewood's 25th Coronavirus Death Is Doctor Molokwu, 59, Coronavirus Antibody Test Site At Livingston Mall Parking Lot, Free COVID Tests, 'Contact Tracing' Start In Bloomfield: UPDATED, Free Mobile Coronavirus Testing Comes To Maplewood, 'Guaranteed Income' For Every Newark Resident? The rally had been called by SOMA for Safe Return to School, a group formed in December by South Orange and Maplewood parents who say their children have become disinterested, distracted and depressed after a year of nearly all remote learning. 13-year-old girl attacked by coyote in Maplewood, New Jersey Using Estate Planning to Prepare for Medicaid, Wisdom Talk & Meditation with Sri Sri Ravishankar, Summer Workshops for High School Students, Coyote Attack Reported At South Mountain Reservation In Essex County, Experience NJs History At These July 4 Events, Student Loan Forgiveness Struck Down For NJ Borrowers. Maplewood Man Protests Ukraine Invasion at Lukoil in Vauxhall Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Maplewood and South Orange residents can get luminary kits to light the night for Martin Luther King Day. Consistent with that approach, we have been mindful of the importance of keeping the family, through their counsel, informed of all important aspects of this case and have afforded them their right to offer meaningful input that we have considered in formulating the proposed plea. MAPLEWOOD, NJ SOMA Action, a South Orange/Maplewood-based grassroots organization, will hold a rally at the Maplewood Post Office this Friday at NJ VIDEO, PHOTOS: We Need a New System - The Village Green Fofana said she was disappointed, sad, and taken by surprise.. It is safe for schools to reopen, and our leaders need to make this happen immediately.. Based on the experience and expertise this office possesses, it is our considered opinion that all efforts to resolve this matter have been undertaken keeping all the above in mind. Each landscaping pro on Thumbtack has their own profile that includes pricing information, allowing you to compare prices and choose the professional that best fits your budget. Eric Kiefer , Patch Staff Posted Sat, Mar 13, 2021 at 9:00 am ET | Updated Sat, Community Hernandez has confessed to intentional murder. These figures are provided for educational purposes only and are subject to change at any time due to various factors. A 13-year-old girl was attacked by a coyote in Maplewood, New Jersey, on Friday. Even if that were true, answering a fist with a lethal bullet is totally disproportionate and the defense is flawed, as a matter of law. Your go-to place for everything about Maplewood's July 4th - a day of family fun organized by DeJoy said the measures were an effort to make the money-losing agency more efficient, but seemed to come suddenly and at an odd time, considering the presidential election in 11 weeks and the reliance on mail-in ballots. death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25. a charge of second-degree murder among other charges, and three other former Minneapolis police officers have also been charged with aiding and abetting murder.