On January 19th 2012, the Governor of the State of New Jersey, Chris Christie, came to Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington for a Town Hall Meeting.

The purpose of Christie’s visit was to get feedback from people in the city. The church was standing room only, and the overflow room downstairs was packed. Hundreds came out to hear what the governor had to say about crime, taxes, politics, and the state of New Jersey. Several clergy, politicians, dignitaries, bossiness owners, community leaders, and NJ residents from all over the area were in attendance.

Pastor Reginald Jackson performed the opening prayer. Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith welcomed everyone, and Rev. Ron Christian asked the crowd to remember that they are in a church, saying “Let’s be civil here today, and remember we can all agree to disagree.”

At about 10:45 A.M., the governor came out and took the podium. The crowd applauded him, not because of his political stances, but because he showed up to speak to the people.

On Wednesday, October 26, the Roselle Board of Education voted 9-0 to approve the appointment of Dr. Kevin West as the new Superintendent of Schools.

He replaces outgoing interim Superintendent Joe Martino, who is retiring after decades of school administrative service. Dr. West had served as the district’s Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Development and Instruction for over a year prior to his new appointment.

“I’m looking forward to providing strong, bold leadership that will help transform the Roselle Borough Public Schools into a high performing school district,” said Dr. West. “Our schools have the capability to go from good to great and from ordinary to extraordinary.”

Dr. West is a product of the Newark Public Schools, graduating from Barringer High School in 1978. He then attended Seton Hall University, earning both his undergraduate and graduate degrees before completing his doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Dr. West has also completed Princeton University’s Principal Center program, The Harvard University Leadership Institute, and the Yale University Child Study Center. 

The T-Mobile store here at 992 Springfield Ave. - whose employees and customers were evacuated from a partial building collapse Sept. 30 - may be reopened for business by the time you read this.

New or regular cell phone customers cannot miss the building at the northwest corner of Springfield and Myrtle avenues even though the T-Mobile lettering has been removed from its facade.

A&S General Contractors, of North Plainfield, has erected scaffolding around the two-and-a-half story building's yellow brick face. What rubble that fell onto the Five Points street corner at about noon Sept. 30 was carted away later that Friday afternoon.

IRVINGTON, N.J. – September 9, 2011 – Employees of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey volunteered at a Habitat for Humanity Newark construction site in Irvington on Thursday to honor those lost on 9/11. 

The volunteer day is part of the Port Authority’s ‘Remembrance Through Renewal’ program, which encourages employees to participate in agency-sponsored volunteer service projects throughout the region. Fifteen Port Authority employees worked on a house in Irvington being built by Habitat Newark in partnership with a hard-working, low-income family that will put in 400 hours of ‘sweat equity’ to qualify for the affordable home. 

“This is an opportunity for employees to come together as an agency to honor the victims and survivors of September 11 by giving back to the region,” said Jessica W. Schellack, MCRP, who represents the Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Asset Management of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. “Participation in this program has grown each year.  This year, we are excited to show our continued commitment to the region by expanding the program and partnering with more volunteer organizations in different communities.”  

Schellack commented that the Habitat Newark build day was a popular choice for the Port Authority volunteers and that more employees would have participated if there had been more spaces. As it was, the house was full of activity as the volunteers worked on installing windows and performing work on the interior of the home.