Two of our most talked-about stories this week had to do with resolve: the resolve of Elizabeth Aaron, principal of CHS, as she addressed parents with a strong, honest speech at the first back to school night since the arrest of teacher Nicole Dufault; and the resolve of Zach Doubek, a local middle schooler who has returned to school after beating a life-threatening MRSA infection this summer.
The Dufault story continues to draw media attention, with The New York Times weighing in in a piece that looks at how social media came into play in that case as well as one in which a male teacher at Brooklyn Tech High School is accused of similar crimes of sexually abusing students.
We kicked off sports coverage with stories on CHS Cougar football games here, here and here, as well as an interview with the new coach, John Power.
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A mystery prankster sparked a rumor in South Orange by printing up flyers proclaiming that Chipotle was opening at The Gateway in South Orange. We confirmed the rumor was, indeed, false. We also reported that The Gateway’s developer purchased a long-derelict parcel of buildings and land on the corner of South Orange Avenue and Church Street.
Writer Lisa Sessa Ebert told us about “her” Springfield Avenue, looking at her favorite restaurants and health and wellness spots.
In community news, we produced a video documenting the story and work of a group at the First Maplewood Baptist Church that organized an Ebola Supply Drive.
We told you about upcoming Board of Education forums in SOMA and Millburn. One of the four candidates for South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education, Dr. Godwin Molokwu, offered his campaign statement.
The public also has a couple of chances left to attend forums for the Superintendent search on Oct. 6 and 9, before the BOE finalizes their search criteria at the October 13 meeting.
There will also be two opportunities to hear the four candidate for Maplewood Township Committee answer questions: on October 16 and 23.
In business news, the owner of Words Bookstore showed his support for the group Authors United — battling Amazon’s efforts to procure better deals from publishers — with a new window display.
In crime news, South Orange Police arrested two teens, one a Columbia High School student, in the robbery of a Seton Hall student. Also, an employee at a gas station on Irvington Avenue was the victim of an armed robbery.
In Maplewood, a man was the victim of an armed robbery in Memorial Park, and a resident reported a flasher in a backyard on Yale Street.
Meanwhile, Maplewood PD upped their traffic enforcement on Valley Street.
