Friday, January 25, 2013
With the recent cold snap, the prospect of "Essex Ed" predicting six more weeks of winter on Feb. 2 is especially daunting.
Groundhog Day is on Saturday, Feb. 2, this year, and the recent Arctic temperatures are giving the day a bit more resonance than usual. Last year, groundhog Essex Ed predicted an early spring at the annual Groundhog Day ceremony at Turtle Back Zoo. (Ed was actually the tie-breaker vote between Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil who predicted six more weeks of winter and Staten Island's Chuck who called for an early spring.) Check out the video from last year's event, attached to this article. According to the myth, if a groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if he does not, spring is around the corner. Ed's track record is pretty solid: he's predicted correctly nine out of the past 10 years. Last year, Dr. …
New restaurant opens across from Essex Green.
If you don’t want to hang out with celebrities and world-famous DJs spinning the night away at hip West Orange nightclub 4Sixty6, there is now another reason to come: Sam Mickail’s Cut Steakhouse. Executive Chef Sam Mickail, formerly of The Terrace in NYC, Highlawn Pavilion, Rare The Steak House, Il Tulipano and Waterside, opened this contemporary American steak house with Mediterranean influences last fall. “I did my research and decided that West Orange was thirsty for a great steak and needed an upscale steak house,” says the 30-year veteran, who was born in Cairo, raised in France, trained in Switzerland and staged in the finest kitchens in Europe. “I want people to get hooked, and realize that there is no need to go to New York for a …
Saturday, October 27, 2012
West Orange facility open to residents, pets beginning Sunday 7 p.m.
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Saturday, October 27, 2012
Essex County Codey Arena in West Orange will open as a relief center beginning Sunday 7 p.m. for residents during Hurricane Sandy, county officials announced. Essex County and the American Red Cross will provide bedding and water those who lose power or need to reach a safe place during the storm, expected to make landfall in New Jersey late Monday. Accommodations for pets will be provided at Codey Arena. All activities at the arena have been canceled and Essex County Turtle Back Zoo will be closed on Monday and Tuesday of next week. The Essex County Parks System will close park roadways beginning Sunday at 7 p.m. as a precautionary measure to protect motorists and pedestrians from fallen trees. "Weather forecasters are predicting that New…
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
A new open-air pavilion, boathouse with paddle boats, and large parking lot expected to be constructed by Essex County at unused reservoir.
Visitors to the South Mountain Reservation will be able to rent paddle boats, bicycle on paths, go fishing and ice skating at the Orange Reservoir, based on plans released by Essex County officials. The county has leased the reservoir, adjacent to the complex and said plans for the new attractions will bring dollars to the county. The 115-acre reservoir will be redeveloped into recreational grounds where people can rent paddle boats, walk, bike, fish and ice skate, among other things. “For a number of years we have been talking about this area and hoping, really hoping that we would someday reach this conclusion,” said Essex County Freeholder Patricia Sebold. “Everyone benefits.” The county’s plan to redevelop the Orange Reservoir came …
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The seventh annual event in West Orange had all sorts of information, health screenings, vendors and music.
Seniors from every corner of Essex County had the Richard J. Codey Arena to themselves on Wednesday for the annual Senior Wellness Day. Countless buses brought more than 2,500 seniors to the arena in West Orange for the seventh year in a row. Both ice rinks were thawed and populated with information about county senior services, vendors, hospital services, health screenings and much more. “I was here last year, and I decided to come again this year because we have so much fun,” said Darrel Armstrong, who came to the arena with a contingent of seniors from the New Community senior living community in Newark. Armstrong said that he runs into many old friends at the event every year, and he never fails to get into the spirit of the day. “…
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The $2.2 million project to Rink 2 includes a new refrigeration system, boards and bleachers.
The first upgrades to the second ice rink at Essex County’s Richard Codey Arena since it opened in 1983 were unveiled yesterday. The ribbon cutting of the $2.2 million project drew county officials and elected representatives into the chilled air of Rink 2 on Monday. The work included modernizing the refrigeration system, repainting the rink, adding a new concrete floor under the ice surface and outside the rink, and replacing new boards and bleachers. The improvements, said Daniel Salvante, director of the Essex County Department of Parks, “have really put us into the 21st century as far as how we can maintain the ice.” Salvante added the upgrades, begun in April, could not have come to at a better time. The rink is constantly used by…
Friday, September 14, 2012
This annual fundraiser returns to help fund cures for childhood cancers.
The Shillelagh Club is going bald for St. Baldrick’s this weekend when it hosts its annual fundraiser to combat children’s cancer. People will line up on Saturday to get their hair buzzed to raise funds for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for childhood cancers. Kevin Kinney, of West Caldwell and who is organizing the event, said about 70 people have already signed up to get their heads shaved by volunteer barbers, such as those from JT’s Barbershop in Verona. The event continues to draw people year after year from not only West Orange, but the Caldwells, Verona, Montclair and various other communities. The fundraiser will also feature live bands, step dancers, food, and drinks. “Every year we try…
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Many gather at Eagle Rock Reservation Tuesday morning to recall the terror attacks that changed America forever.
One of the many who looked out from the September 11 Memorial at Eagle Rock Reservation early Tuesday morning was Richard Harris, a flight attendant for United Airlines. “I have never been to a memorial service,” said Harris. “It was emotional because I knew all the people on that flight, Flight 93." Harris was scheduled to work on Flight 93 that day eleven years ago, which crashed in Shanksville, Pa., but he changed his schedule to work on another plane. This year, however, he said he wanted to attend a ceremony. “I have to move forward,” he said. Eleven years ago, crowds watched from Eagle Rock Reservation as the New York City skyline was blackened by smoke after planes hit the World Trade Center buildings. On Tuesday, many returned…
Sunday, September 9, 2012
A ceremony will mark the 11th anniversary of the terror attacks at the September 11 Memorial in West Orange.
Essex County will hold a memorial service at Eagle Rock Reservation Tuesday morning in West Orange to remember those who died 11 years ago in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. Overlooking the New York City skyline, Essex County Remembers will mark the eleventh anniversary of the tragedies in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. The ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. The program will include family members who lost a loved one, elected officials, and clergy members from various faiths. The observance will be held at the reservation's September 11 Memorial, where there stands statues and the names of all 3,000 victims who died that day. In addition, the county unveiled at the memorial a 7,400-pound piece of steel from the …
Friday, August 17, 2012
Jasey, McKeon and Spencer join NJ Citizen Action to bring attention to a growing national trend.
A handful of Essex County legislators stood alongside the state’s largest watchdog coalition Thursday on the lawn of the John P. Renna Jr. House to protest against a proposed voter ID law that is said to disenfranchise elderly, minority, and poor voters. “What a giant step backwards,” said Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Essex) about voter ID laws which have been passed across the country. “It is a thinly veiled attempt to oppress votes, and particularly votes of those who might tend to vote Democratic.” Assemblywomen Mila Jasey (D-Essex) and Grace Spencer (D-Essex), and Congressional candidate John Arvanites joined McKeon along with New Jersey Citizen Action at the Renna House to speak against the laws. New Jersey currently does not have …
Ralph
2:28 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Adam- The entire complex is part of what the county built and I welcome the investment to make it an even nicer attraction. We certainly need to deal with the back taxes, but this is a win for WO. I have yet to take anyone their and not have them come away with a positive impression of our town. What the town should concentrate on doing is helping to attract new businesses along Northfield Ave by… more ›