Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Which South Orange streets saw the most crime this November?

Make time for Art of Living Part 1 Program in the presence of Gurudev on the South Orange Patch calendar

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Friday December 19th Patch AM
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Good morning South Orange! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Which South Orange streets saw the most crime this November?
  • What will change when South Orange’s downtown movie theater finally reopens?
  • Is your young sharpshooter ready for this free South Orange contest?

Also on today's calendar: Art of Living Part 1 Program in the presence of Gurudev and 8 more events.

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

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Friday: Windy; heavy morning rain, with a high of 57 and low of 28 degrees.
  • Saturday: Some sun, then clouds; colder, temps: high: 38, low: 32.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny and windy, with a high of 46 and low of 26 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. South Orange Police Blotter for November: Auto Thefts, Burglaries, Thefts, DWIs, Shoplifting (villagegreennj.com) — South Orange residents can see a detailed rundown of November 2025 police activity, including multiple shoplifting cases at local stores, several DWIs, and a string of auto burglaries and thefts on neighborhood streets. The blotter highlights where incidents occurred, what was taken, and which cases remain under investigation.
   

2. South Orange Performing Arts Center Announces Box Office Cinemas South Orange (villagegreennj.com) — A long-awaited change is coming to downtown South Orange as Box Office Cinemas takes over and reopens the SOPAC movie theater by mid-January 2026, with further upgrades planned. Local leaders say the return of the cinema will boost nearby restaurants and shops, restore a key family-friendly amenity, and fully reactivate SOPAC’s role as the community’s cultural hub.
   

3. Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is set for Jan. 9 (essexnewsdaily.com) — Families in South Orange can sign up boys and girls ages 9–14 for the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship on Friday, Jan. 9 at Our Lady of Sorrows School gym on Academy Street. Registration runs from 6:30 to 7 p.m., it’s free to enter, and winners can advance through district, state, and international levels.
   

4. South Orange-Maplewood Girl Scouts Design A Very Beary Holiday Season (villagegreennj.com) — Girl Scouts from 31 troops across South Orange and Maplewood have turned creativity into kindness by decorating a record 432 teddy bears and 179 stuffed dogs for children served by regional nonprofits. The long-running SOMa holiday tradition engages girls from Daisies to Ambassadors, building empathy while spreading cheer from Morristown to Newark and West Orange.
   

5. N.J. is paying schools to ban cellphones in classrooms. See if your district is on the list. (nj.com subscription) — South Orange–Maplewood schools are getting about $28,000 from New Jersey’s new Phone-Free Schools Grant Program to tighten bell-to-bell cellphone bans for grades 6–12. The funding can support secure storage systems and staff training as part of a nearly $1 million statewide push to reduce classroom distractions.
   

📸 Around South Orange

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🗓 Upcoming Events in South Orange

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📣 South Orange Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Friday December 19
  • Play with Blocks
    Glen Ridge Free Public Library Glen Ridge - Children's Area,
    9:00 am
  • Chess Meetup for Grades 1-5
    Glen Ridge Free Public Library Glen Ridge - Children's Area,
    3:15 pm
  • Basketball: Boys Freshman vs. Hudson Catholic (Away)
    Hudson Catholic Regional High School , 790 Bergen Ave , Jersey City
    4:00 pm
  • Ice Hockey: Boys Varsity vs. Fair Lawn (Home)
    Montclair High School Sports Clary Anderson Arena
    4:00 pm

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

 

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🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • Available Caregiver (Private Only)
    License HHA Caregiver  for Weekends .Are you looking for a dedicated, compassionate,joyful Caregiver for your  loved ones. I  am responsible, clean... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Reports of suspicious package at Newark Penn Station, New Jersey.
    9:24AM on Dec 18: PATH Train reports NWK-WTC delay due to crew finding an unattended package at NWK. (Nextdoor )
  • Seton Hall University posted a job opening for Adjunct Faculty in South Orange. Apply here.
  • Valley National Bancorp posted a job opening for Personal Banker - Regional in Maplewood. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near South Orange here.

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 don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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