🌱 Patch AM: What new programs and plans are coming to South Orange–Maplewood schools?

Greetings Maplewood! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What new programs and plans are coming to South Orange–Maplewood schools?
• How a late-night Jacoby Street fire uprooted 11 Maplewood neighbors
• Why a simple Maplewood garlic bread nearly topped this critic’s 2025 list

Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and windy, with a high of 43 and low of 28 degrees.
• Thursday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 44, low: 23.
• Friday: Colder; afternoon snow, with a high of 29 and low of 24 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Superintendent of Schools Updates Community (tapinto.net) — South Orange–Maplewood school families get a look at recent district achievements and what’s ahead, from award-winning staff to nationally recognized language programs. Superintendent Jason Bing also outlined new food pantries, safety partnerships, career-path initiatives, and early work on a strong budget to avoid financial troubles seen in nearby districts.
   

2. Eleven displaced after fire damages their Jacoby Street home (essexnewsdaily.com) — A serious Saturday night fire on Jacoby Street in Maplewood heavily damaged a multi-family home and displaced 11 residents, though no people were injured. Firefighters from Maplewood and neighboring towns battled flames on the upper floors in freezing, windy conditions for nearly two hours, while the Red Cross stepped in to help the affected adults and children.
   

3. The 10 best things we ate in North Jersey in 2025, ranked (dailyrecord.com) — One of North Jersey’s most-praised bites of 2025 comes from CornerSlice on Boyden Avenue in Maplewood, where a garlic-butter-and-pecorino bread nearly became the writer’s “death row” meal. The list also spotlights standout dishes from Montclair, Rutherford, Northvale, Newark, Sparta, Westwood, Ridgefield and more, offering Maplewood food lovers a road map for memorable eats across the region.
   

4. Towns of Essex County: Montclair (montclairlocal.news) — Maplewood is one of eight Essex County towns featured in a new Montclair State University photojournalism project capturing everyday life across the county. While this installment focuses on Montclair’s shops, protests, and residents, the wider series promises future visual stories from Maplewood and neighboring South Orange that highlight what locals love most about their communities.
   

5. Maplewood Leaders Denounce Antisemitism, Gun Violence at Final Meeting of 2025 (villagegreennj.com) — Maplewood’s Township Committee used its final 2025 meeting to denounce recent antisemitic shootings abroad and at Brown University while reaffirming support for local Jewish residents. Officials highlighted a community menorah lighting in Ricalton Square and reminded residents about Maplewood’s stricter gun storage ordinance, vowing to keep pushing for broader gun safety and a safe, inclusive town in 2026.
   

📸 Around Maplewood

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Maplewood

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday December 28

• Holiday Pet Costume Photo Contest
  Online,
  10:00 am
• Disney's Frozen - The Musical - Millburn
  Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Dr, Millburn
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 25

• Christmas Day- Town Hall Closed
  Township of Millburn - Millburn NJ 07041
• Public Works Closed: Holiday
  South Orange Recycling Public Works, Office and Garage, are closed for the holiday: Christmas Day. - South Orange NJ 07079
  8:00 am

Friday December 26

• Day After Christmas- Town Hall Closed
  Township of Millburn - Millburn NJ 07041

📣 Maplewood Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 24

• Parkinson’s Strength
  JCC MetroWest , 760 Northfield Ave , West Orange
  2:00 pm
• CAMP KLUTZ & INDIGO
  Indigo - Short Hills , 1200 Morris Tpke , Short Hills
  2:00 pm
• Learn English
  West Orange Public Library West Orange - Literacy Room
  2:00 pm
• Camuso Holiday Display
  Memorial Oval & Park , Robert H. Harp Drive , Livingston
  5:00 pm
• J-Films: Kazablan
  JCC MetroWest | Maurice Levin Theater , 760 Northfield Ave , West Orange
  7:00 pm
• Megan Knight
  Capital Craft · East Hanover , NJ , Roselle Park
  7:00 pm
• Bachata Meets Salsa (FREE ENTRANCE AND CLASS)
  Lancers Restaurant & Bar , 459 Ferry St , Newark
  8:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• Municipal Offices Closed - Christmas Day
  West Orange, NJ Calendar , 66 Main Street , West Orange

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:

• 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.
• HZY GOODS — (973) 200-3030
  HZY Goods Dispensary in East Orange Now Open!
• Orange Mattress — (732) 428-4125
  Call or Stop by for Daily Deals

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• The Maplewood Foundation Announces Jan. 10 ‘Celebrate Our Community’ Event With Tickets Now On Sale —Rosemary Ostmann Read on Patch

• Is there someone that can install my nest thermostat.
  Also please share how much to do so. Thank you. (Nextdoor Hilton)

• Tribeca Pediatrics posted a job opening for Full Time Medical Assistant/Receptionist (NJ) in Union. Apply here.
• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Union. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Maplewood here.

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 got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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