Oliver to Hear Public Suggestions Trenton on Feb. 2
Oliver (D-East Orange) is holding ahearing for the public in the State House Annex Committee Room No. 11 3-7 p.m. Registered members of the public will be facing a bi-partisan panel that includes Oliver, Assembly Republican Leader Alex De Croce (Parsippany), Democratic Assembly Leader Joe Cryan (Union) and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick(R-Westfield).
"We're willing to as late as we can past 7 p.m. to hear people's ideas," said Oliver to WXRK NJ101.5 FM Jan. 26. "We want to hear what they've in mind when it comes to tackling the problems facing New Jersey. We know the problems - but we know we also work for the public - so we want to hear their ideas first-hand."
State House colleagues named Oliver and Sen. Steve Sweeney (D-W. Deptford) as respective Assembly and Senate speakers Jan. 12. Gov. Chris Christie (R-Mendham) asked Oliver and Sweeney to join him in shaking hands during the former's inaugural address Jan. 19.
Prospective public speakers are tor eserve time by calling the Legislative Budget and Finance Office at (609)292-8030 or e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please include speaker name and phone number.
Soup Kitchen Back, Mentoring Stays in Orange Church
ORANGE - The Community Soup Kitchen and the First in Orange mentoring program are staying at The First Presbyterian Church in Orange for the time being.
The kitchen, which resumed serving up to 120 of the local hungry after a week's absence since Jan. 10, is scheduled to be in the church's gymnasium Noon Jan. 31. A handbill affixed to a utility pole at the church's corner of Main Street and Scotland Road announced that "The Community Soup Kitchen is Back Jan. 10."
First in Orange, Inc.'s organizers meanwhile held its 14th annual Pot Luck Dinner in the same church gym Jan. 26. Group Executive Director Elizabeth Jackson said that its board of trustees wanted to continue holding the annual fundraiser as it always had.
Both the kitchen and the mentoring program are using the church's facilities so long as the church's congregation exists. It is anticipated that the Presbytery of Newark will allow the dwindling members to worship until its endowment runs out before this year ends - and then disbands after 291 years' service in Orange.
Pia Aire, as First Presbyterian's Clerk of the Session Jan. 28, said that miscommunication between the kitchen and the presbytery's Bloomfield headquarters led to no lunches served Jan. 3. Aire, as Executive Director of Interfaith Hospitality Network of Essex County-Montclair, said that a 2010 contract allowing her clients to be temporarily housed at the church has not been signed.
The community soup kitchen has used First Presbyterian's gym for at least the last four years. The kitchen is operated by a rotating band of volunteers from six Essex County houses of worship and community groups.
First in Orange has always held its mentoring and performing arts programs in the church. It hosted Orange's Rosa Parks Ensemble elementary school dance group at its Jan. 26 dinner and is perhaps best known for holding its annual Orange Saluting Community And Residents (O.S.C.A.R.) awards the last four Mays. First in Orange serves youth from in and around Orange with graphic arts instruction, conflict resolution, volunteering, drug awareness and gang prevention.
Speedway School Meetings Set
NEWARK - Parents and other concerned members of the Speedway Avenue Elementary School community will have three opportunities to have their new Speedway School questions answered Jan. 28-Feb. 4.
The Newark Public Schools is to give parents a walking tour of the almost finished building at 701 South Orange Ave. 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 28. There will also be a question-answer session in the new school's auditorium afterwards.
The Speedway Avenue PTO, One Newark Education Coalition's Safety Committee and the New Jersey School Development Authority are to discuss the new building's status and related matters at the current elementary school, 26 Speedway Ave., 6-8 p.m. Feb. 3.
Concerned residents may also address the need for a pedestrian overpass over South Orange Avenue, among other related issues, before the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders conference at the Hall of Records Feb. 4. The freeholders are to convene at 465 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Rm. 506.
Settlement Permits Douglas-Harrison Demolition
NEWARK - A confidential settlement among the city and two rival demolition contractors last week will allow the demolition of the Douglas-Harrison Apartments to start Feb. 1 - but don't expect wrecking balls to start taking down of the 1930s-era Central Ward complex until later this year.
Central Ward Councilman Charles Bell, according to a published report, announced at a Jan. 25 community meeting that the 12 five-story buildings ringing Douglas and Harrison parks need to have asbestos and any other hazardous materials removed first. Bell projects that preliminary work to be finished in June.
Bell said that an out-of-court agreement was reached between Mazzocchi, of East Hanover, and Nacirema, of Bayonne and Newark. Nacirema sued Newark and Mazzocchi July 31, claiming that it took the city 14 months to award the latter demolisher instead of a state-required 60 days. The city, which received the apartments from New Community Corporation in 2004, put out bids in 2007 and 2008.
Prudential Insurance built Douglas Harrison, along with a similar complex in the East Ward, for low and affordable - but segregated - housing. The courtyard-turned-parks are named after abolitionist Frederick Douglas and 1930s actor Richard Harrison.
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