The big news story of last week continued into this past week as Acting Superintendent Jim Memoli and Columbia High School Principal Elizabeth Aaron worked to assure the CHS community that the district was cooperating with authorities and providing counseling in the wake of the arrest of Nicole Dufault, a 10th grade language arts teacher accused of sexually assaulting five male students.
The Dufault arrest again made news on Friday when an assistant prosecutor revealed that video existed showing Dufault performing oral sex on one student while another was present.
In South Orange, the town and the Police Benevolent Association continue to be at odds over conditions at the police building. While both agree that the building is sorely in need of substantive repairs, PBA leadership contends that the town is acting too slowly as police deal daily with oozing sewage pipes, seeping water and mold. Township Administrator Barry Lewis counters that $1.5 million has been set aside for major repairs in 2015 and an architect will soon be selected to perform a comprehensive review of the building.
In further police news, South Orange police report that a South Orange man was robbed in an apparent Craigslist scam.
The Board of Education meeting on Monday night yielded two stories: an update on the search for a new superintendent of schools, and the appointment of Jerrill Adams as new principal of Maplewood Middle School.
Also in school news, the CHS Scholarship Fund held a fundraiser at which two recipients movingly thanked the fund and told their stories. Coincidentally, the South Orange Board of Trustees honored CHSSF President Joan Lee as Villager of the Month.
Brianna Rampersad, CHSSF scholarship recipient, and CHSSF President Joan Lee
David Chmiel began work as Village Green sports reporter, writing two terrific stories on the Cougars football team, covering games and explaining the team’s promise despite its 0-3 start.
In business news, Liz Alterman profiled Align Wellness Studio in Millburn — the former Core Mind & Body of Maplewood.
In community news, First Maplewood Baptist Church announced a drive for supplies to send to Liberia to fight the spread of the Ebola virus, Ellen and Jonah Zimiles of Words Bookstore were honored by the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce, and St. Joseph Church announced “Performances on Prospect” which are opening the church to musicians on Friday nights.
September has been chock full of events. We covered PlayDay South Orange, posting terrific photos from 18-year-old photographer Monta Harris and video of a closely contested Sloppy Joe eating contest. We also visited the Maplewood Wellness Fair and reported on the winners of the Health Cooking Contest.
For this weekend, we previewed the Maplewood Art Walk (zombies included) and The Scientists theater work at 1978 Arts Center.
Watch this website for Art Walk photos later today!
