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I am writing to you today in regards to the editorial that appeared in the last edition of the News Record. I do not offer the following criticism lightly, as I understand and value the necessary role for the press to hold public officials accountable. However, in order to promote rational public discourse, editorial opinion must be based upon sound facts. Now, nobody is perfect, but it’s distressing to see the extent to which the News-Record’s recent editorial deviated from the facts - facts that were actually presented fairly accurately in a front page article by Phillip Curran in the very same edition. Below are the most critical of concerns that I have: · The editorial begins with a statement that “an administrator is needed” and that "a new administrator will be required in the Village..." The assumed fact in that statement is that an administrator has not been chosen. Nowhere in the editorial is it mentioned that Reagan Burkholder, former administrator to Summit, was appointed in the last Board meeting and has already begun the transition. You left your readers with the erroneous impression that the Village has been left adrift, which is by no means accurate. · The...

Hey all - Check out the summary of the September 12th Special and Conference Meetings below:

To find a list of all of the events remembering September 11th 2001 in South Orange please download the schedule here.“Yeah they closed all the airports or something, no planes are even allowed to fly.”Those would be the first words I would hear about the terrorist attacks of September 11th, though I didn’t know it at the time. I wasn’t even aware of what happened, but was standing in the hallways of Columbia High School in Maplewood, waiting for 4th period study hall to begin. After a few more minutes of chatter it became clear that something major had happened in New York City, and as the teacher arrived we rushed in to turn on the TV. Instantly a live picture of smoke billowing out of the World Trade Center filled the classroom, and like a vacuum had been created all other details in that classroom vanished except for that image, which is burned into my, and probably everyone’s, memory of that day.For a few deafeningly silent minutes everyone in the classroom watched in awe of what was happening. Still trying to make sense of what they saw... could this really be happening? In New York City, not much more...

Below please find the statement from the Village about the storm this weekend. Continue on to southorange.org/ready for more information, shelter locations, and more resources.

It's by no means been a quiet summer here in Village Hall, and before folks head out at the end of the summer and then we get into the fall rush, I wanted to let you know a little bit about some of the things we have been working on. I've had some great meetings and discussions with some of our neighbors, especially Seton Hall University President Gabriel Esteban, and I'll fully address all of the SHU initiatives we are working on in a separate update soon. Anyway, check out the short video below, and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions! You can download an .mp3 of the video here.

There is something about summertime that encourages us to sit back, take stock of things and reflect on the year so far and where we plan on going, once it cools down a little bit at least.It is, for some people, a vacation, for others an early morning jog down Wyoming watching the sun rise, or sitting on a beach down the shore watching the sun set, or maybe just enjoying a cold drink or a book on a patio in the warm evening air. But whatever it is, however each of us, no matter how briefly, takes stock of things, it is a crucial phase of our yearly routine and evolution. And it’s no different at Village Hall.

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Below, you can find my summary of the July 25th Regular Meeting of the South Orange Board of Trustees. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or feedback!