Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a massive new JESPY Center will reshape Prospect Street living

Make time for Holiday Pet Costume Photo Contest on the South Orange Patch calendar

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Wednesday December 24th Patch AM
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Good morning to you South Orange! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a massive new JESPY Center will reshape Prospect Street living
  • How South Orange responders helped contain Maplewood’s Jacoby Street fire
  • How Seton Hall’s road upset sets up a big Walsh Gym return

Also on today's calendar: Xavier Musketeers at Seton Hall Pirates Women's Basketball and 6 more events.

Find out what's happening in South Orangefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in South Orangefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • 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; p.m. snow, up to 1", with a high of 29 and low of 24 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Construction Officially Begins on the 80,000-square-foot JESPY Center in South Orange (villagegreennj.com) — Construction is now officially underway on JESPY’s new 80,000-square-foot Center on Prospect Street in South Orange, bringing 26 one-bedroom apartments, 20 aging-in-place suites, and expanded accessible program space for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Local clients, staff, and supporters celebrated the Dec. 18 dig event, marking a major step toward more affordable, independent living options in the community.
   

• Eleven displaced after fire damages their Jacoby Street home (essexnewsdaily.com) — A serious Saturday night fire in nearby Maplewood heavily damaged a Jacoby Street multi-family home and displaced 11 residents, with South Orange Rescue Squad among those assisting on scene. Firefighters from several surrounding towns battled flames in freezing, windy conditions, preventing spread to neighboring buildings. No people were injured, though a cat died, and the cause remains under investigation.
   

• Ead's birthday performance lifts Pirates in road win at Creighton (thesetonian.com) — Seton Hall’s women’s team will be back in South Orange on Dec. 28, hosting Xavier at Walsh Gym after a big 88–79 road win over Creighton. Sophomore guard Jada Eads shined on her 20th birthday, while seniors Shailyn Pinkney and Mariana Valenzuela powered an explosive Pirate offense that finally snapped Creighton’s long winning streak in the series.
   

📸 Around South Orange

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🗓 Upcoming Events in South Orange

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

📣 South Orange Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Wednesday December 24
  • Christmas Eve (observed) 1/2 Day - Municipal Offices Closed
    Nutley Township Community Calendar 1 Kennedy Drive , Nutley , NJ 07110
    11:30 am
  • EARLY CLOSURE - Christmas Eve
    Glen Ridge Free Public Library
    12:30 pm
  • Parkinson’s Strength
    JCC MetroWest , 760 Northfield Ave , West Orange
    2:00 pm
  • Learn English
    West Orange Public Library West Orange - Literacy Room
    2:00 pm

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 South Orange PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • So many people are looking for kittens!
    I’m hoping they’re not just for Christmas to maybe be discarded later… But really neighbors, every shelter anywhere has lots of kittens! You can find… (Nextdoor Seton Village)
  • Seton Hall University posted a job opening for Tenure Track - Assistant Professor, Law and Politics in South Orange. Apply here.
  • Irvington Public Schools posted a job opening for ESL Teacher in Irvington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near South Orange here.

🗞 Nearby News

Maplewood

  • Maplewood Leaders Denounce Antisemitism, Gun Violence at Final Meeting of 2025 (villagegreennj.com)
  • Maplewood Police Holiday Toy Drive Sets New Record (tapinto.net)
  • Maplewood Families Seek Help After Loss of Home to Fire (villagegreennj.com)

Irvington

  • Communications Awards for Excellence winners (njea.org)

West Orange

Ok South Orange! 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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