GaslightThe South Orange Four newcomers and one The Gaslight is published 10 incumbent elected by Village times a year for the residents A new Village president and Douglas Newman, the new Village and business four newly elected trustees were president. He succeeds 16-year community of sworn into office on May 21. President Bill Calabrese, who was a We need your South Orange With a 36% voter turn-out, the trustee for four years before his Village. May 8 municipal election resulted presidency. opinion on in a near-clean sweep by political Also elected from the Pure Smart Growth June 2007 newcomers. Progress Team were Trustees Candidates were divided into Deborah Davis Ford, Howard two teams. “A Village United” had Levison and Michael Goldberg. The Village will conduct a four incumbents and one newcom - Trustee Mark Rosner was re- public workshop to obtain com - er, while the “Pure Progress Team” elected, the only incumbent from ments on its Smart Growth had four newcomers and one the Pure Progress Team. Strategic Plan, a long-range vision incumbent. With one exception, all win - for South Orange’s future devel - All five Pure Progress candi - ning candidates were elected to opment. The workshop is sched - Inside dates were winners including four-year terms. Goldberg won the uled for Wednesday, June 20 at 7 two-year remaining term vacated ■ p.m. in Village Hall. Public com - Public meeting last year by former Trustee Eric on revaluations, ments are being sought prior to The New Board DeVaris. June 21 review by the Village Planning • Douglas Newman - Village President Trustees Stacey Jennings and (4 years) Board. ■ Terriann Moore-Abrams will contin - This summer’s • Deborah Davis Ford – Trustee (4 years) The growth plan builds on outdoor movie: ue on the board until 2009. They • Michael Goldberg – Trustee (2 years) the significant downtown redevel - “To Catch A Thief” were elected in 2005. • Stacey Jennings – Trustee † opment that has occurred since • Howard Levison – Trustee (4 years) Along with Calabrese, the ■ Celebrate South 1999, calling for bicycle and • Terriann Moore-Abrams - Trustee † Village United team included Orange! and dis - pedestrian paths, historic and • Mark Rosner – Trustee (4 years) incumbents Janine Bauer, Allan play your talents neighborhood preservation, a Rosen and Arthur Taylor, and new - ■ † Already seated Village-wide recreation and open World-class comer Frank Rodino. ▲ flutist & soprano space plan, and restoration of the to perform sym - east branch of the Rahway River. phony benefit CHS named to Newsweek’s top 5% list The draft plan consists of time ■ Special Inserts: Columbia High School has high schools that made the list. schedules, responsibilities and funding strategies while stressing 2007 outdoor con - been named by Newsweek maga - The tally was developed by cert series, Friends proactive cooperation among zine as one of America’s top 1,200 researchers who divided the num - of the Arts appeal, high schools, putting it in the ber of Advanced Placement and property owners, developers and summer at the highest 5%. International Baccalaureate tests the Village. library To view the draft, go to In the May 28 edition, News- taken at a school by the number of ■ http://southorange.org/develop - Villagers of the week writers Barbara Kantrowitz graduating seniors to measure how Month: Anna ment/SmartGrowthPlan.asp. ▲ and Jay Mathews declare, “Some committed the school is to helping Toledano & Alex postgraduate schooling has kids take college-level courses. Hirschberg, two become essential to earning a mid - “Just taking the course and the Doug Newman, our newly graduating CHS seniors dle-class income.” On that basis, test mattered more than the score elected Village President, Newsweek recognizes schools because even struggling AP that do the best job of preparing students learned a great deal,” said aims to leverage commu - average students for college. Mathews, who developed the nity talent. (Page 2) CHS was one of 43 New Jersey rating system. ▲ 1. Public meeting From the Desk of the Village President on revaluations set
As I start my term as South access to their expertise and for June 21 Orange Village President, I’d first passion; and the public has direct Now, pay A public meeting to discuss like to thank former Village influence on the work of Village tickets ongoing property revaluations in President Bill Calabrese and for - government. online South Orange will be held at 7:30 mer Trustees Allan Rosen, Art While community engage - p.m. on Thursday, June 21 at Village ment may have facilitated our Taylor, and Janine Bauer for their The state’s Hall. Representatives of Appraisal years of service and dedication to recent election, I appreciate that Administrative Systems, Inc. (the company con - our community. I look forward to the residents of South Orange Office of the ducting the field inspections) will their continued involvement in now expect us to fulfill our Courts has make a progress report and answer the Village. pledge to run an open, transpar - enhanced its Web any questions. On behalf of re-elected Trustee ent, inclusive, and respectful site for munici - Revaluations began in February pal court use. Mark Rosner and newly-elected government. Towards this end, and are expected to continue Trustees Deborah Davis Ford, I pledge that we will: NJMCdirect.com now offers con - through October, as mandated by Michael Goldberg, and Howard venient online the Essex County Board of Taxation • Maintain the highest ethical Levison, we’d like to thank voters payment and and the state of New Jersey. The for turning out in record numbers standards in all aspects of gov - search services, last Village revaluation was in 1991. for South Orange’s May 8th erning. including the So far, Appraisal Systems has election, demonstrating so clearly • Conduct all public meet - following: reported the following progress: how engaged a community we’ve ings in a respectful, orderly ■ Single payment • 1,500 residential properties, manner. become. for multiple tick - or 34%, have been inspected. To a large extent, community • Treat all residents, students, ets. • 195 commercial and industrial engagement defines the unique business and property owners, ■ Payment for a properties, or 95%, have been character of South Orange. and Village employees with suspended inspected. Volunteers, sharing their time, respect and dignity. license. • 100% of all property improve - expertise and enthusiasm, lever - • Solicit, encourage, and ■ A link to the ments have been photographed. age and multiply the efforts of accept public and Village Motor Vehicle • Income and expense forms Commission for our government, educational, employee feedback. have been sent to all commercial cultural, and recreational institu - • Provide timely, easy access license restora - tion. building owners. tions, non-profit and service orga - to accurate information about ■ Ticket payment The revaluation process the Village and its operations. nizations, and houses of worship. on a court- ensures that the local tax burden is The Board of Trustees • Be accountable to the ordered time fairly and equally distributed among absolutely is committed to further public. payment sched - all property owners. It also ensures leveraging our community’s extra - ule. that all properties are assessed at ordinary pool of talented volun - I take very seriously the ■ Ticket search 100% of their true market value. ▲ teers. To jump start this process, compact we’ve made with the (works only if we’ll examine the mission, role, public, and expect the public to you have an out - and activities of over 50 commit - hold us to it. standing ticket). Four More tees, boards, groups, task forces, In future issues of the Gas- Online payment councils, commissions, partner - light, I periodically will commu - avoids in-person Container Days ships, coalitions, and coordinators nicate with residents about the or mailed pay - Monthly DPW container days – including active, dormant, and work of our government and ments. It is avail - continue on these Saturdays: June forgotten initiatives. Our goal will volunteers, and about the state able seven days a 30, July 28, Aug. 25 and Sept. 29. be to align our community’s most of South Orange. Enjoy your week. Check the South Orange residents (only) may pressing needs with the work of summer. site for exact hours. ▲ discard unwanted household volunteers. And, we’ll recruit new items at the Department of Public volunteers to fill vacant positions, Douglas Newman Works Yard at 300 Walton Avenue. so the Board of Trustees has Village President Two forms of ID are required for proof of residency. No commercial Jitney schedule revised vehicles are permitted. For infor - mation call (973) 378-7741. Evening departure times have Route: A stop at the Newstead Branch Pickup : From now been adjusted on all South Orange Condos on South Orange Avenue through Sept. 21, pickup appoint - jitney routes. Riders are encour - has been added. ments are required. Branches must aged to check schedules for Irvington/Prospect/Academy be four inches or less in diameter. changes. Route: The Garfield/Summit stop For more information, call (973) Newstead/North Wyoming has been deleted. ▲ 378-7741. ▲ 2. The South Orange Gaslight, June 2007 • Ages 7 to 14: Full-day camp (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), In The Schools S.O. RECREATION multiple sports and daily challenges. Cycling World: (973) 378-7754 • www.thebaird.org Beginner Golf Clinics - Aug. 27 to 31. Ages 5 to 7, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Ages 8 to 11, 6 to 7:30 p.m. here comes Carter Jones! This Summer’s Outdoor Movie: Renew your ID badge now! CHS senior Carter Jones recent - ‘TO CATCH A THIE F’ Badges are issued at The Baird from 9 a.m. to 9 ly competed in three European The 1955 classic thriller will be shown under the p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., cycling races as a member of the stars at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, June 29 at Flood’s Hill. Friday to Sunday. Two proofs of residency are elite USA Cycling Junior National Enjoy the timeless elegance of Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, required. New or updated badges are $20 per year. Team. In May, he rode in the five- For details, check our Web site. and John Williams, and the seamless direction of Alfred day, six-stage Course de la Paix Hitchcock. (Rain site: Baird Center) (“Peace Race”) in the Czech Repub- PIERRO GALLERY lic, as well as races in Belgium and SUMMER SPORTS the Netherlands. Jones is captain OF SOUTH ORANGE of the Colavita Junior Racing Team, Summer tennis camps (973) 378-7754, x3 • www.pierrogallery.org the largest junior cycling program Weekly tennis camps for children ages 3 to 15 will on the East Coast. be offered all summer. The program includes instruction Singularity and competitive play. Sessions are held Monday through in the Communal Tide Kudos for A. Ogundipe Thursday, with Fridays reserved as make-up days. For (Culture + Identity in the Moment) CHS senior Akinyemi Ogundipe program details, visit http://southorange.recware.com. Through July 15 was selected by the Leadership Cougar Baseball Camps This blockbuster exhibition features an international Education and Development Pro- group of 31 contemporary artists whose work examines Columbia High School Varsity Baseball Coach Larry gram in Business for the Summer the individual in the ever-increasing world collective. Business Institute at Georgetown Busichio will direct this camp for children ages 8 to 13. Some artists embrace their background, ancestry, coun - University’s McDonough School of He’ll focus on fundamentals: proper throwing, fielding try and religion while others reflect popular culture or techniques, base running, hitting, catching, and pitching. historical context. Artists include Fred Wilson, the United Business. LEAD was created by top Two four-day camps are offered: July 9 to 12 and July 16 States’ representative in the Venice Biennale 2003; Victor American corporations and business to 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The fee is $210 Ampliev who represented Russia in the Berlin Biennale schools to encourage outstanding for one week, or $390 for both weeks. Details are 2006; and prominent South African artist Nicolos Hlobo. high school juniors from diverse online at http://southorange.recware.com. A four-color catalogue is available. backgrounds to pursue careers in A curator talk and artist panel discussion is set for business. U.S. Sports Institute Monday, June 25 at 3 p.m. Meet curator Rupert Ravens Ogundipe was also appointed to comes to South Orange and some of the artists. the eight-member inaugural student This summer, South Orange will host two USSI youth steering committee of Mercy programs at Meadowland Park. For program details, or Call for Entries Corps, a nonprofit organization that to register, call (908) 534-5305, or visit ESSEX EXPOSED 5 www.USSportsInstitute.com. works across the United States to A Juried Exhibition of County Artists empower young people to fight Multi-Sports Camp : Aug. 13 to 17. Camps in three The bi-annual exhibition will be open Sept. 9 global poverty. age groups will be offered. to Oct. 22. The artist entry fee is $15 for three • Ages 3 to 5: Sport Squirts slides and $5 for each additional slide up to six. Fencing teams excel Camp, soccer, t-ball, basketball, The submissions deadline will be Aug. 6. The exhi - lacrosse and hockey. Sessions from The CHS Boys Fencing Team bition juror will be curator, writer, artist and edu - 4 to 5:30 p.m. won the state championship for • Ages 5 to 7: Half-day camp cator Judith Page, who also directs Emerge, a pro - the third time in five years. The (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), more than 10 fessional development fellowship program for Girls Fencing Team placed second sports in a week. emerging artists. in the state championships.
Give the gift that supports our schools Why the all-night lights?
It’s time for the end-of-the-year gift for The tributes are a program of the South Question: Why is the NJ Transit your child’s teacher. How about something Orange-Maplewood Education Foundation. parking lot lit all night? Doesn’t it cost that gives back to all children in our school Simply send the completed form to SOMEF residents money? Most concert- and district? at P.O. Box 84, Maplewood, NJ 07070, with movie-goers are gone by 10 p.m. and “Honor Your Teacher and Staff” tribute a donation of $5 or more per card by June most transit riders are finished traveling. cards, personalized with your child’s 15. The cards will be delivered to recipients Answer: Lights around the train special message for the recipient may be this month. station are paid for by NJ Transit. On the ordered for any teacher or staff member in Order forms can be printed from the advice of the Parking Authority, they are the district at a minimum of $5 per card. All SOMEF Web site, www.somef.org, or call left on for safety reasons since people use proceeds support SOMEF Teacher Grants. (973) 378-2313 to request a mailed form. ▲ the underpass at all hours. 3. HAPPENINGS RENOWNED VILLAGERS
It’s Summer at the Adult School Flutist Gilmore & Soprano ■ Author Will Allison (973) 378-7620 • somadultschool.org Wefer to perform in symphony “What You Have Left,” the first benefit novel of Villager Will Allison has ■ Summer Fun for Adults - Why should been published by Free Press, an The South Orange Symphony will sponsor kids have all the fun this summer? Choose from imprint of Simon & Schuster. an array of summer classes for adults, including a benefit recital featuring two internationally acclaimed musicians: flutist Inna Gilmore and Allison is an acclaimed beaded jewelry, drawing and upholstery, photog - author whose work has been raphy, singing, golf, jazzercise, karate, aerobics, lyric soprano Victoria Wefer. The event takes shortlisted in “The Best American meditation, swimming, tennis, yoga, sailing, place Sunday, June 24 at 7 p.m. at Morrow language and computer courses. Special trips Memorial Methodist Church in Maplewood. All Short Stories” and “Pushcart Prize: proceeds will benefit the symphony. Flutist Inna Best of the Small Presses.” include a visit to the Brooklyn Museum and a Gilmore weekend in the Berkshires/Tanglewood. Call for Ms. Wefer has performed operatic roles He lives in South Orange and classical art songs at venues throughout a complete schedule. with his wife and daughter, is a the world. Ms. Gilmore has been a concert former executive editor of Story, soloist with Russian and U.S. symphonies and ■ Filmmaking and Clay Animation - Award- and a current staff member at the winning filmmaker and teacher Boris Gavrilovic has collaborated with renowned composers. Both women have won multiple international Squaw Valley Community of offers two special programs for students enter - Writers. His short stories have ing grades 9 to 12. Dates are June 25 to July 20, and domestic performance awards. appeared in major literary maga - 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Columbia High Tickets are $25 each, or $90 for a pack - School. age of six tickets. Call (973) 376-6349. zines. • Filmmaking - Write, direct and edit Catch Allison on his book three or more short films in documentary, nar - Main Street Events tour in two New York appear - rative or experimental form. Cost: $750 includ - Soprano ances: June 10 and July 12 at ing materials and film processing. (973) 763-6899 Victoria Wefer KGB Bar, 85 East 4th Street. Or • Clay Animation - Create characters, www.mainstreetsouthorange.org for more information, visit write stories, design sets and direct two animat - www.WillAllison.com. ▲ ed films on video cameras. Edit and add sound - • Lunchtime Concert Series - Every Wednesday in June, grab a bag lunch from your tracks on computers. Cost: $700 including ■ materials. favorite Village restaurant and dine outdoors Actress Elisabeth Shue with live music at Spiotta Park, 11 a.m. to 1 The movie “Gracie,” based on p.m. Coming up June 20: Richard Stillman. the life of former Villager On Stage at SOPAC June 27: Dave Rimelis and Ted Brancato. (June Elisabeth Shue, opened June 1 to (973) 275-1114 • www.sopacnow.org 13: to be announced.) critical acclaim. Shue, an Academy Scarab-Blues celebrates freedom through Award-nominated actress, is a heartfelt and soul-filled blues, June 30, 7 p.m., • Main Street Farmers’ Market – This graduate of Columbia High who Tickets are $35, $20 and $10 (kids under 12). year’s market will be located on the circle in front of the South Orange Performing Arts helped bring girls sports, particu - Cougars Golf Outing Center. Dates are every Wednesday, from June larly soccer, to the school. 27 to Oct. 31, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. “Gracie,” set in 1978, is based The Columbia High School Cougar Author Will Allison Boosters will hold their 9th annual Golf Classic on the real life of Shue and her • CELEBRATE SOUTH ORANGE! - on July 30 at Maplewood Country Club, to family. It is an inspirational film Sometimes we don't appreciate the great things support the school’s extracurricular activities. about a teenage girl who over - about our town. On Saturday, July 14, friends, (The prior date of April 30 was postponed due comes the loss of her brother family and neighbors will gather downtown to to bad weather.) Donations are $200 per do just that. From first responders to perform - and fights the odds to achieve person, including the day of golf, brunch and ing arts, from delicious restaurants to diverse her dream of playing competitive dinner. Nongolfers can sponsor tee signs or neighborhoods, learn about your home town soccer at a time when girls’ donate prizes. For details, visit while enjoying great activities and feasting on a soccer did not exist. www.CHSCougarBoosters.org, community supper prepared by local restau - The film co-stars Andrew or contact Al Farah at (973) rants. 763-6817 or Actress and CHS Shue, Elisabeth’s brother, and is [email protected]. graduate directed by Academy Award-win - Call for Entries! Elisabeth Shue ning director Davis Guggenheim, The Art of William Want to see your verse displayed in Poetry Alley during her husband. Coronado Celebrate South Orange? Send Main Street your short Elisabeth Shue, now 44, is the poem, haiku or limerick about why South Orange is special mother of three children. Among Seton Hall’s Walsh to you. Winning poems will be published in a future Library Gallery will highlight her movie roles are The Karate Gaslight and online. Or, be on stage during Celebrate South the unconventional vision of Kid, Adventures in Babysitting, Orange! Send an advance audio or video tape of your this young artist through Aug. Soapdish, The Marrying Man, vocal, instrumental or dance skills. To learn more, visit 16. Paintings are combined Leaving Las Vegas (best actress Main Street’s Web site and click on Celebrate South with installation and digital nomination, 1996), The Saint, Orange. formats. Call (973) 275-2033. Deconstructing Harry, Palmettto and Hollow Man. ▲
The South Orange Gaslight, June 2007 4. ! " #$
! " 15(6 7 . $ # 2 + 15%8 9 0. , : ; ; )5(% + 2 . )5%1 ' ' . , 3 0 4 # 2< 85/ $ 3 . 2 : , 9 $ 85%= $ 0 . , ; # $ % ! " ! 15%> # - ! )5(( ? - , " )5%& ; & ' ( ) 15%& ! # $ %& # 3 ' (( ) 85%) 2 2 0 , * + , - . ( * # , . /!/ /!/ 0 /!1 /!/ 2 /!1 , %!& 85& ; 3 4 , . /!/ /!1 0 /!1 /!/ 2 /!1 , %!& , 9 $ Villagers of the Month: Featuring 2007 Columbia High Graduates art history, Spanish and physics. days and helped raise funds for Anna Toledano Her career options are open, but Israelis affected by terrorism. she’s leaning in three directions: Last year when Through a school-based peer journalist, professor, and “person the local counseling program, he has men - not confined to a cubicle.” school board tored younger students with acad - Soon enough, the choices will considered emic and social problems. Using be refined as Anna proceeds with reducing the team-building and one-on-one con - her studies at Princeton University. In course load versation, he has helped elemen - As counselor Frick says, Anna from nine to tary students and middle schoolers Touch “might just teach the professors a eight periods, conquer issues of alcohol, drugs with thing or two.” ▲ Anna Toledano and school social dynamics. Village Outside the local community, Government took it as a personal affront. At a public meeting, she spoke eloquent - Alex Hirschberg Alex has taken his willingness to General Info. ly about the matter, using her own California where he worked in a Some students (973) 378-7715 research to back up her developed community garden for the home - do community Emergency, 911 opinion. less and at a food bank; to Alaska, Clerk’s Office, x1 service Anna was also part of a lobby where he helped build and repair Administrator, x2 “because their to help save the NJ Governor’s wilderness trails, gardened at a Construction, x3 parents tell School when budget constraints center for abused women, and Tax Collector, x4 them to, or cared for rescued birds at a raptor Assessor, x5 threatened its cancellation. Her they want to center; and to a Blackfeet reserva - Finance, x6 efforts paid off and she spent a better their Engineer, x7 month last summer in the pro - tion in Montana where he helped college resume.” Parking Auth., x8 gram’s sciences school. build a new playground and But neither Health Officer With an extradordinary grade restore a ranch. thought motivates Alex Hirschberg. x2012 point average and SAT score, Anna At Columbia High, Alex Animal Control “I doing community service,” is remarkable not because she’s enjoy excelled in soccer and lacrosse for 378-7711 or 7710 he says, “and being involved in my intellectual, but because she’s intel - three years. “I take pride in playing Fire Dept. community has broadened how I lectual AND well-rounded. as hard as I can and being a good 378-7751 view the world.” sportsman,” he said. He also served Library “The Yankees,” she says, “are my Alex’s extraordinary breadth of as sports director for the CHS tele - 762-0230 religion.” Watching them play “is service includes volun teerism with Police Dept. exhilarating and a stress reliever.” vision studio and was a youth soc - the South Orange Rescue Squad on 378-7775 She also captained the varsity ten - cer referee. Monday nights and part of his Public Works nis team in her senior year, played Quite simply, “there is no better weekends. He has assisted with 378-7708 piano for nine years and served as feeling than helping someone in Recreation & charitable food drives during holi - ▲ editor-in-chief of “Guildscript,” need,” says Alex. Cultural Affairs 378-7754 Columbia High School’s art and Recycling Info. & literary magazine. Street Dept. A dual citizen of the U.S. and 378-7741 Israel, Anna has a lifetime goal of Water Service visiting 100 countries. At age 18, 266-8869 she already has 50 countries stamped into her passport because Township of South Orange Village Bulk twice a year she and her family South Orange, NJ 07079 U.S. Postage make a point of traveling “to some - PAID where new in the world.” Permit No. 5 To submit CHS guidance counselor Dave South Orange, NJ information for Frick calls Anna “one of the most The South selfless individuals I have ever Orange Gaslight, send met.” He presented her with a to Editor Robin scholarship opportunity at a presti - Postal Customer Patric, rpatric@ gious university, but Anna declined Local 07079 patmedia.net, “since her parents have the means or call (908) to pay for her college and she 823-9001 would not want to take a scholar - ship away from someone who real - ly needs it.” In high school, Anna’s favorite subjects were an eclectic mix of Village Web Site: www.southorange.org E-mail for Village Administrator: [email protected] 6. The South Orange Gaslight, June 2007