Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Sherrill Names Seton Hall Law School Alum As Secretary of Higher Education

Also, don't miss Meadowbrook Day Camp to Host Open House on January 11, 2026 on the South Orange Patch calendar

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What's up South Orange! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Seton Hall Law alum tapped to lead New Jersey higher education
  • How a South Orange childhood shaped Kiki Smith’s haunting new exhibition
  • How a BMW stolen from South Orange ended up flipping on video

Also on today's calendar: Meadowbrook Day Camp to Host Open House on January 11, 2026 and 9 more events.

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

Today's riddle: What did one pirate say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Saturday: Rain, becoming heavy, with a high of 44 and low of 38 degrees.
  • Sunday: Breezy; cloudy, then some sun, temps: high: 42, low: 29.
  • Monday: Breezy in the morning, with a high of 41 and low of 30 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Sherrill Names Seton Hall Law School Alum As Secretary of Higher Education (patch.com) — South Orange readers will note that Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has chosen Seton Hall University School of Law alum Margo Chaly as New Jersey’s next Secretary of Higher Education. Chaly, a lifelong New Jerseyan who currently leads the state’s Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, plans to focus on affordability, resources for colleges, and expanding the state’s workforce despite federal funding cuts.
   

• Kiki Smith at 125 Newbury (whitehotmagazine.com) — Internationally known artist Kiki Smith traces some of her lifelong fascination with death and spirituality back to her childhood home in South Orange and talks she gave at Seton Hall University. A new exhibition at 125 Newbury in New York showcases works shaped by those early South Orange experiences, from AIDS-era installations to recent bird sculptures exploring grief, faith, and resilience.
   

• TikTok Shows Stolen BMW Flipping In NJ; Brothers Arrested: Police (VIDEO) (dailyvoice.com) — A BMW X3 reported stolen from South Orange was later spotted in Neptune Township, where it sped off and flipped into a Route 66 construction site before the two occupants were arrested, police said. Officers also reported finding multiple stolen license plates, and video of the crash and pursuit has drawn tens of thousands of views on TikTok.
   

📸 Around South Orange

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🗓 Upcoming Events in South Orange

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📣 South Orange Shout Outs!

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

  • HZY GOODS — (973) 200-3030
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  • Dogtopia of West Orange — (475) 338-3501
    Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness
  • Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
    Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
  • Avellino Custom Masonry — (908) 879-8699
    Family owned business in business for over 30 years.

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Melba Moore Returns to the Stage With a Legacy That Still Lifts Us —Gregory Burrus Read on Patch
  • World‑Class Musicians Cyrus Chestnut, John Lee, Winard Harper & Lynette Sheard Headline “Jesus and Jazz” 1/25 —Gregory Burrus Read on Patch
  • Bradley Beach Jazz Festival Returns February 3–7, 2026 — A Five‑Day Celebration of Jazz, Community, & Culture —Gregory Burrus Read on Patch
  • Columbia High School Student to Star in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” —Front and Center Read on Patch
  • Seton Hall University posted a job opening for Adjunct Professor of Economics in South Orange. Apply here.
  • East Orange School District posted a job opening for Music Teacher (Vocal/General) in East Orange. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near South Orange here.

🗞 Nearby News

Maplewood

  • Get Covered: NJ State Health Insurance Open Enrollment Runs Thru January 31 (villagegreennj.com)
  • Way picks up new support as part of ‘Women for Tahesha Way' coalition (newjerseyglobe.com)

Irvington

  • Cruz, Perrotta spark second-half surge, Bloomfield downs Irvington (nj.com)

East 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 sea you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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