High school senior earns award for volunteering By Ellen Donker Gardiner's service trip to Los Angeles propelled him to volunteer even more. Findley Gardiner has volunteered at food pantries and soup kitchens since he was 11. So when he went on a service trip to Los Angeles in June 2024 with other boys at his high school, St. Peter’s Prep, he thought he knew the drill. He didn’t expect the experience to change how he viewed his ability to help others. “I was just excited that

Found: family recordings on antique discs By Ellen Donker A few weeks ago, my mother got an unexpected package in the mail. My cousin Lorraine was cleaning out her mother’s apartment and thought my mother might want some photos and homemade record discs from her youth. The photos were mostly duplicates of ones my mother already had, but the records were another story. They are home recordings that her Uncle Herb had made in the 1940s. She had mentioned the recordings to me ov

Discussing his latest book, Unabridged: The Thrill of and Threat to the Modern Dictionary , Stefan Fatsis notes, “I still have the Webster’s New World dictionary my mom gifted me on my 11th birthday.” As the holiday season approaches and we shop for gifts, I wonder when and why we started “gifting” and stopped merely “giving” presents to others. I first noticed people regularly using “to gift” as a verb 15 or so years ago. It’s a good example of what linguists call “conversio

How the star of "Jaws" cut his teeth on acting in Maplewood By Donny Levit Scheider as Chief Brody when he first sees the shark in "Jaws" and ad-libs the memorable film quote, "You're gonna need a bigger boat." With the colder months in full effect, your 2025 memories of swimming down the shore may be fading. Most likely, you took a dip, walked the boardwalk and maybe even indulged in a little salt water taffy. The Jersey beachgoers in 1916 weren’t so lucky. That summer, at l

J UMP TO: [words] Bookstore | Beacon Jewelers | Clay by Indigo Road Studio Kitchen a la Mode | Semifinalist | Hello Huckleberry General Gift Guide Maplewood Village South Orange Downtown Springfield Avenue Maplewood Gift Card Guide [words] Bookstore | Beacon Jewelers | Clay by Indigo Road Studio Andrew Ross Sorkin’s 1929 delivers a riveting narrative of the most infamous stock market crash in history – one with ripple effects that still shape our society today, $35, [ words

Electrify SOMA harnesses community knowledge to help residents make sustainable choices By Amy Lynn-Cramer The Electrify SOMA team. Bottom row, L-R: Cindy Thompson, Rob Orgera, Julianna Garreffa, Joe Gonzalez. Top row, L-R: Kathleen Grant, Bob McCoy, Owen Tyrrell. Maplewood and South Orange are known as places where residents value community. Connections begin in everyday moments: a quick exchange at school drop-off, a chat at the playground, or an introduction at a block par

By Ilysse Rimalovski Meeting Alizeta Diallo is a heartfelt welcome into the culture of her homeland, Burkina Faso. Riz Gras, or “fat rice,” is the national dish central to her family gatherings and holidays. The aromatic onepot feast represents hospitality and celebration, sharing what one has, no matter how simple. At Christmastime and New Year’s, Riz Gras simmers with rich meats or fish typically reserved for special occasions. These elevated ingredients come together in ab

Charell Star turns pain into purpose By Ellen Donker Charell Star recently wrote a book titled “Trash Bag Tales & Other Stories from an...

Women learn to be calm and confident through Brazilian jiu-jitsu By Adrianna Donat These women call themselves the Queens of Sheridan...

I'm doing what I love By Omosede Aynde Volunteering to braid children’s hair helped fill a void and provided some of the fulfilment that...

South Orange’s 30-something turtle has a story to tell By Donny Levit Devon Zahn's son, Henry Crothers, is growing up with Mort, the same turtle Zahn had as a child. On a typical day in her South Orange abode, Mort is feeling snacky. She ambles up to her mom, Devon Zahn, who’s working in her home office, and has already cut up some squishy strawberries that keep Mort’s appetite in check. Mort spends the next few hours napping, enjoying time in the water and participating in o

Transforming ordinary recipes into memorable dishes By Ilysse Rimalovski Can you recall the moment when you ate a new ingredient that...

My Bad, I Am By Kristen Di Gennaro A slang-savvy reader inquired about the old-school term “my bad,” which, the reader writes, “has crept...

Volunteering at the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges By Harriet Sigerman Volunteers are the backbone of the IFPO, They register...

Local business owner opens yarn shop, offers classes and community in Maplewood Village By Maribeth Theroux Kari Capone welcomes visitors...

Little Apple Arts Brings the Big Apple to Maplewood By Amy Lynn-Cramer The Little Apple Arts team. When Broadway went dark during the...

By Ellen Donker Our families have gone formal B y the time you are read­ing this, my husband Rob and I will have at­tended the wedding of...

SOPAC’s art, dance and music education programs help kids believe in themselves South Orange Middle School students rehearse with Ailey...

Mangala’s Chicken Curry Tastes of Home is a Food Matters series celebrating the rich culinary traditions of our local residents. The aromas flowing from Mangala Rajan’s kitchen stir hunger, memory and tradition all at once. Coriander and cumin are blooming in hot oil, signaling the rich, layered experience of the meal to come. Rajan readies her spices and chopped vegetables for making chicken curry. “With chicken curry, you can be as simple or as sophisticated as you want,” s

It feels good to be behind the wheel image by pngtree.com When I was growing up, getting a driver’s license was a big deal. It was a...