🌱 Patch AM: What Dean Dafis’s congressional bid could mean for Maplewood’s voice

Hello Maplewood! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What Dean Dafis’s congressional bid could mean for Maplewood’s voice

Also on today's calendar: Elie Wiesel: Soul On Fire (documentary) and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Variable cloudiness, with a high of 40 and low of 27 degrees.
• Sunday: Snow early in the morning, temps: high: 29, low: 18. ⛄️ Brr!
• Monday: Cold; breezy in the morning, with a high of 30 and low of 24 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Dafis makes top-tier of Democratic candidates for endorsement voting in Morris County (tapinto.net) — Maplewood Township Committee member and former mayor Dean Dafis has landed in the top tier of Democratic hopefuls seeking party endorsement for Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s soon-to-be-vacant congressional seat. With a February primary and April special election ahead, Dafis is pitching himself as a progressive, grassroots candidate while continuing to represent Maplewood and advise statewide on housing.
   

📸 Around Maplewood

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Maplewood

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

Friday December 12

• Elie Wiesel: Soul On Fire (documentary)
  Madison Community Arts Center , 10 Kings Rd , Madison
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 13

• Livingston Symphony Orchestra Concert
  Heritage Middle School, 20 Foxcroft Dr, Livingston, NJ, 07039
  7:30 pm

Sunday December 14

• Durand-Hedden Holiday Open House & Gingerbread House Contest
  Durand Hedden House & Garden Association , 523 Ridgewood Rd , Maplewood
  1:00 pm
• Disney's Frozen - The Musical - Millburn
  Paper Mill Playhouse , 22 Brookside Dr , Millburn
  1:30 pm
• From Pink Houses to Shooting Stars
  The Concert Hall at Drew University , 36 Madison Ave , Madison
  6:00 pm

Monday December 15

• Board of Education Meeting
  Millburn Township Public Schools , 434 Millburn Avenue , Millburn
  7:00 pm

Tuesday December 16

• South Orange Senior Advisory Committee Meeting
  The Village Apartments , 110 Vose Avenue , South Orange
  5:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• SOMS Winter Chorus Concert
  Seth Boyden Elementary School , 274 Boyden Avenue , Maplewood
  6:55 pm
• Planning Board Meeting
  Millburn Education Center , 434 Millburn Avenue , Millburn
  7:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• SOMSD Board of Education Meeting
  Seth Boyden Elementary School , 274 Boyden Avenue , Maplewood
  6:30 pm
• Explore Millburn Short Hills Board of Trustees
  Millburn Education Center , 434 Millburn Avenue , Millburn
  6:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Grateful for the Holidays with Deadful Greats (LIVE MUSIC @ PALLET BREWING)
  Pallet Brewing Company , 30 Newark Way , Maplewood
  6:30 pm

📣 Maplewood Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Maplewood PatchAM possible:

• HZY GOODS — (973) 200-3030
  HZY Goods Dispensary in East Orange Now Open!
• Dogtopia of West Orange — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness
• Avellino Custom Masonry — (908) 879-8699
  Family owned business in business for over 30 years.
• Orange Mattress — (732) 428-4125
  Call or Stop by for Daily Deals

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Seton Hall University posted a job opening for Adjunct Instructor, Animation & Game Design in South Orange. Apply here.
• ServiceMaster posted a job opening for House Cleaner in Newark. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Maplewood here.

🗞 Nearby News

South Orange

• 6th Triumphant Stepping Residency at Seth Boyden Prompts ‘Tears of Pure Joy & Hope' (villagegreennj.com)
• South Orange Village Township Committee Meeting December 8, 2025 (tapinto.net)
• Resch Named First Team All-American After Historic Season - Seton Hall University Athletics (shupirates.com)

Irvington

• U.S. Government Websites Are Hosting PDFs Promoting Porn and Scams (gizmodo.com)
• 2 killed after shooting erupts at Newark recording studio (nj1015.com)

Millburn

Ok Maplewood! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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