SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Join Seton Hall University’s celebration during the week of April 18 through 22, as the university brings the campus community together to inspire change and action, to address local and global environmental issues. There will be educational programs, contests, games and outdoor fun for everyone. Participants are invited to plant seeds in the campus garden, play games on the green, take a yoga class outside, eat healthy food and indulge in some free ice cream.

“This Earth Week celebration is in deep harmony with the Catholic mission of Seton Hall and it follows the call of Pope Francis for Catholic universities to promote environmental education,” Judith Stark, professor of philosophy and director of the Environmental Studies Program, said in a press release. “Seton Hall is in the perfect position to infuse vibrant spirituality and ethical principles into environmental awareness and action. We have the science and understand public policy. The challenge is to bring our ethical principles to bear on the tremendous environmental challenges we all face. Seton Hall is poised to play a vital role in this effort with initiatives like Earth Week 2016.”

Events will include the second Eco-Fest on the Green on Monday, April 18. Featured activities include outdoor yoga, gratitude circle, food trucks, student club tables with contests and prizes sponsored by Coca-Cola. On Wednesday, April 20, the Ecology Club will host a Rainforest Alliance coffee and chocolate tasting in the evening. On Earth Day, Friday, April 22, everyone is invited into the campus garden next to Xavier Hall to plant seeds and grapevines and learn about growing organic food. All events are open to the community and will take place on Seton Hall’s South Orange campus, located at 400 South Orange Ave.

“We know climate change is real. We are bringing together the campus community to highlight global and local environmental issues as well as solutions which we can all take part in. This is about students and the Seton Hall community taking action in whatever way they choose, to respect the earth and to say thank you for the beauty and abundance it provides,” Wanda Knapik, environmental studies professor and director of the campus garden, said in the release.

Ecology Club leader Andriana Fragola is one of the many students helping to grow a greener campus. “I joined the Ecology Club because I have always been an avid environmentalist. I have a deep passion for nature and being outside,” she said. “I hope to raise awareness for the environmental issues that exist today and help students realize that they can make a difference. I hope to turn students into stewards for the Earth.”

A complete list of events and activities done in collaboration with the Petersheim Academic Symposium can be found at https://www.shu.edu/news/celebrate-earth-week-with-the-ecology-club.cfm. For more information about Earth Week, contact Wanda Knapik at wanda.knapik@shu.edu or 973-761-9022.

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The NAACP of the Oranges and Maplewood will host its Freedom Fund Brunch on Sunday, April 24, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston. The theme of this year’s brunch is “Connecting Our Past to a Brighter Future through Equality, Opportunity and Community.”

Paulette Brown will serve as keynote speaker and the Rev. Dana P. Owens, Deborah Davis Ford, Paul L. Tractenberg, Michellene Davis and Robert Balozi Harvey will be honored.

To purchase tickets, contact 973-675-5325 or OMFreedomfund@gmail.com.

Keynote speaker Paulette Brown, partner and co-chairwoman of the firm-wide Diversity & Inclusion Committee at Locke Lord LLP, is president of the American Bar Association. She has held a variety of leadership positions within the ABA, having been a member of the ABA House of Delegates since 1997, a former member of the ABA board of governors and its executive committee, as well as the governance commission. While serving on the board of governors, Brown chaired the Program, Planning and Evaluation Committee.

Brown has served on the Commission on Women in the Profession and was a co-author of “Visible Invisibility: Women of Color in Law Firms.” She has chaired the ABA Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice — now called the Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice — and is a past co-chairwoman of the Commission on Civic Education in our Nation’s Schools. She has served on the Section of Legal Education’s Council on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar and its executive committee. She joined the ABA Young Lawyers Division in 1976 and became active in the section of litigation in 1995, which has continued to be her section “home” ever since. She is a former member of The Fund for Justice and Education, its President’s Club and a life fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Brown has held many positions throughout her career, including as in-house counsel to a number of Fortune 500 companies and as a municipal court judge. In private practice, she has focused on all facets of labor and employment and commercial litigation.

She has been recognized by the National Law Journal as one of “The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America” and by the New Jersey Law Journal as one of the “prominent women and minority attorneys in the State of New Jersey.” She has received the New Jersey Medal from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and currently serves on its board of trustees.

Brown has repeatedly been named as a New Jersey super lawyer and by U.S. News as one of the best lawyers in America in the area of commercial litigation. In 2009, Brown was a recipient of the Spirit of Excellence Award from the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession. In 2011, she was honored with the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession. Brown, who served president of the National Bar Association from 1993 to 1994, received the NBA’s highest honor, the C. Francis Stradford Award, in 2015.

Brown had earned her J.D. at Seton Hall University School of Law and her B.A. at Howard University.

The Rev. Dana P. Owens, pastor at Messiah Baptist Church, will receive the Spiritual Award. Owens has served as the 12th pastor of Messiah Baptist Church in East Orange since May 2004. Under his pastorate, the congregation is demonstrating the importance of having a personal and committed relationship with Jesus Christ.

Messiah’s spiritual re-commitment has touched the hearts and minds of many as evidenced by its significant growth in membership, Bible Study attendance and the formation of eight new ministries, according to the release.

Owens’ contributions at Messiah are recognized far and wide and his ministry’s impact extends beyond the church. He has served on various clergy associations as well as civic boards in Essex County and New Jersey. Owens has facilitated numerous workshops for churches in New Jersey and Ohio and has preached in pulpits across the United States.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Owens is a 1992 graduate of Wright State University. There he received his bachelor of arts degree in mass communications with a concentrated minor in African-American studies. He is currently enrolled at New York Theological Seminary where he is completing his master of divinity degree.

Owens is married to the former Shalonda Michelle Bayless.

Deborah Davis Ford, clerk of the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders and member of the South Orange Village Board of Trustees, will receive the Community Award. Davis Ford is a professional woman, wife, mother and fully engaged public servant. A resident of South Orange since 1994, she was elected to the South Orange Board of Trustees in May 2007. She went on to be appointed clerk of the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders on May 6, 2009, and took her aath of office the following June.

Davis Ford brings an impressive record of more than 20 years of corporate experience and success to her role as clerk, according to the release. She is a respected professional in the field of personnel training and development, as well as client management, holding leadership positions including vice president and partner of a start-up staffing company, Superior Staffing Services — a woman-owned firm — and regional vice president of Transworld Services Group. Additional past positions include corporate client manager for a large pharmaceutical company and director of a professional services firm providing IT staffing, project management and managed services solutions.

Davis Ford is also recognized as an effective and motivational team player. Her combination of interpersonal skills and professional talents have resulted in a consistent track record of delivering bottom-line results, improving customer satisfaction and developing strong community relationships.

Davis Ford has a rich history in civic service, having been a member of the Newark Rotary Club — where she served as the first African-American and female president from 1993 to 1994, serving on the executive board of North Jersey Jack & Jill, and being a member of the Regional Business Partnership, the NJ Transit advisory board and the Cancer Care advisory board. She also served as president of the Greater Newark Chamber Small Business Council and was chairwoman of Partners in Education and Quality.

Outside of being a good and caring mother, wife and family caregiver, Davis Ford believes one of her greatest accomplishments is her dedication to community service. She hails from the city of East Orange and is the oldest of four siblings. She is the mother of Rachel and is married to Rocky Ford, her high school sweetheart.

Paul L. Tractenberg, professor emeritus at Rutgers Law School-Newark, will receive the Education Award. After an acclaimed career of more than 45 years that has included serving as the Rutgers University Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor and the Alfred C. Clapp Jr. Distinguished Public Service Professor of Law, Tractenberg now serves as a professor emeritus at Rutgers Law School in Newark.

Throughout his tenure at Rutgers and now as a retiree, Tractenberg has studied major legal and policy issues involving public education, and has used the law to improve it, especially in N.J. cities. Tractenberg also has been heavily involved in efforts to achieve racial balance in New Jersey’s public schools.

Through a Ford Foundation grant, he founded the Education Law Center in 1973. The ELC serves as the leading voice for New Jersey’s public school children and has become one of the most effective advocates for equal educational opportunity and education justice in the United States. As director, Tractenberg provided the vision and leadership for landmark school funding equalization litigation, such as Robinson v. Cahill and Abbott v. Burke. The Abbott decision’s importance and impact on school funding policy has been recognized both nationally and internationally, including in a 2002 New York Times editorial describing it as “the most significant education case since the Supreme Court’s desegregation ruling (in Brown v. Board of Education) nearly 50 years ago.”

The importance and value of racial balance in public schools is also a passion for Tractenberg, according to the release. He represented the Englewood School District in a case that reached New Jersey’s Supreme Court and sought to have the state regionalize Englewood with two adjacent districts to create a racially balanced high school. He has also collaborated with UCLA’s Civil Rights Project on two reports dealing with New Jersey’s extreme segregation. He is currently directing a major project studying the Morris School District, the only district in New Jersey and probably the nation that was regionalized for racial balance reasons by order of the state.

Tractenberg’s involvement in education law and policy has extended beyond his advocacy efforts. In 2000, he established the Rutgers-Newark Institute on Education Law & Policy, which is the state’s premier center for interdisciplinary research and innovative thinking on education policy. IELP has undertaken major research and policy subjects that impact funding for public education such as property tax reform, school choice including inter-district and charter schools, identification and replication of excellent urban schools, developing an effective state education accountability system, reestablishing local control, data management, early childhood education, school governance innovations, and the impact of extended learning time programs. IELP was also instrumental in establishing the state’s most prominent professional development program for school administrators and teachers.

Throughout his career, Tractenberg has been widely sought out by state and other education organizations for guidance and counsel on a wide range of issues. He has spoken at national and international conferences and has been a visiting professor and scholar at schools of law and of education in the United States and abroad. He is the author of numerous articles and books published for scholarly audiences, legal and educational professionals, policy makers and the general public. His most recent works include “A Centennial History of Rutgers Law School in Newark: Opening a Thousand Doors” in 2010 and “Courting Justice: 10 New Jersey Cases that Shook the Nation” in 2013. He  remains a thought leader in law and education. In his spare time, he is a devoted and doting grandfather and cycling enthusiast.

Michellene Davis, executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer at RWJBarnabas Health, will receive the Corporate Award. Having joined Barnabas Health in 2009 and named executive vice president of corporate affairs, Davis now serves as executive vice president and corporate affairs officer for RWJBarnabas Health. Davis helps to direct the strategic policy decisions of the system and strengthens the system’s position with state and federal elected officials and agencies. She oversees the areas of strategic messaging and corporate communications, community partnerships, external affairs, governmental affairs, healthy living, community and employee wellness, public relations, and marketing and branding. Davis is the first woman and first person of color to serve as an executive vice president in the system’s history.

Frequently appearing in publications, she has graced the cover of Positive Community and most recently been featured in Montclair Magazine. She has been named to NJBIZ Magazine’s Health Care Power 50 list in 2015, and ranked by NJBIZ as New Jersey’s top lobbyist in the health care industry and by PolitickerNJ as one of the most politically powerful people in New Jersey. Prior to her current position, Davis served in several high-ranking statewide political appointment positions.

Prior to joining Barnabas Health, she served as chief policy counsel to former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine; she was the first black person to serve in this role. Before that, Davis served as acting state treasurer for New Jersey — again being the first black person and one of only a few women to hold this position. Prior to Treasury, Davis led the $2.4 billion New Jersey Lottery as executive director and CEO and served as a senior policy adviser in the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

She has a proven record of supporting women throughout her career and, while acting state treasurer of New Jersey, founded the New Jersey Department of the Treasury’s Office of Supplier Diversity and Division of Minority and Women Owned Businesses in order to ensure that women and minorities were included the state’s contracting opportunities.

At Barnabas Health, Davis led the effort to create the Barnabas Health Women’s Leadership Forum. The forum was created to advance access to leadership development for dynamic leaders from diverse backgrounds and to encourage collaboration among the exceptional women of Barnabas Health in order to advance their positions within the organization and to enhance their personal contribution to the world.

Davis is also active in her civic community. She serves as a member of the board of governors of Rowan University – Rutgers Camden; trustee of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association; secretary to the board of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Foundation; and president-elect of the Executive Women of New Jersey. She also serves on the board of directors of the Caucus Educational Trust, and is a member of the Seton Hall Law School Diversity Council, the Association of Black Women Lawyers, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Garden State Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey. Formerly, she served on the corporate advisory board of the Boys and Girls Club of New Jersey, the board of trustees of Essex County College and Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.

Davis has received national and statewide recognition for her dedication and career accomplishments. Most recently, she received the 2016 Evangelica Trailblazer Award from U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and was also the recipient of the 2016 Corporate Sector Award from the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. Previously, she was named the 2015 LUPE Amiga of the Year, 2014 Business Advocate of the Year by the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and selected as one of The Network Journal’s 2014 Top 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business in the United States. She has been honored by numerous civic organizations, including the New Jersey Primary Care Association, the State NAACP, the Coalition of 100 Black Women of Bergen/Passaic County, the YWMCA, the Newark Community Health Centers, Babyland Family Services and others.

She began her legal career as a trial litigator, is an honors graduate of Seton Hall University and holds a J.D. from Seton Hall School of Law.

Robert Balozi Harvey, an educator and activist, will receive the President’s Award. Harvey was born in East Orange to parents Clifton Harvey and Willie Bell Harvey. A graduate of the East Orange public schools system, he went on to study political science at Seton Hall University. Harvey later attended the United Nations Language School where he learned to speak Swahili, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic and Zulu. From 1957 to 1961, Harvey served in the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force.

Early in his childhood, Harvey was mentored by his father, an activist in the Marcus Garvey movement, on the African legacy and pan-Africanism ideology. Reflecting this, he has dedicated his life to building cultural and economic bridges between and among Africans and peoples of African descent.

Harvey is a visionary leader, according to the release. His accomplishments include founding and leading the Black Community Development Corporation in Essex County, functioning as a non-governmental organization representative to the United Nations for the Congress of African People, serving as executive director of the Harlem Third World Trade Institute, and serving in liaison positions for governing bodies in Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire. He has traveled extensively in service to his passion to nearly 100 countries around the world, including at least 200 trips to Africa.

Locally, Harvey has been the director of Drug and Alcohol Control for East Orange and special aide to former Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson, in which position he was responsible for protocol and international relations. He was assigned as mayoral liaison to the United Nations to help expand trading links between Newark companies and developing nations. More recently, he served as executive director of the Essex County Economic Development Corporation, and director of the Essex County Office of Cultural Diversity and Affirmative Action. He is also a dedicated civic contributor, serving on many civic organizations, including the Essex County Pan-African Cultural Society, which he co-founded, and the New York City Partnership, Essex County Workforce Investment Board and the NAACP.

Harvey’s many contributions have been widely covered in media outlets at home and abroad, including newspapers such as the New York Times, Star-Ledger, New York Daily News and the Amsterdam News. Magazine coverage includes Ebony, Jet and Black Enterprise. Television Appearances have included “Like It Is,” “Black Journal,” BBC and Senegalese National Television. He has appeared on radio talk shows at WLIB, WBGO, WBAI, 1010 WINS and BBC Radio.

Harvey is a Muslim by faith, and he serves as president of the Murid Islamic Community in America. He is married to Judge Karimu F. Hill-Harvey, and is the proud father of six children and five grandchildren.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Awareness and understanding were the focal points of the day as the StandWithUs Israeli Soldiers’ Stories tour, which highlights the challenges faced by and misconceptions about the Israeli Defense Force, was brought to the South Orange community in a program hosted April 10 by Oheb Shalom Congregation.

The Israeli Soldiers’ Stories tour is one of the initiatives of StandWithUs, an international pro-Israel nonprofit advocacy group that works to educate the public on inaccuracies about Israel and to combat terrorism and anti-Semitism.

The Israeli Soldiers’ Stories tour is a program featuring reserve-duty Israeli college students who talk about the Israeli-Arab conflict, giving a human face to the IDF uniform. In addition to IDF service, they are graduates of the StandWithUs Israel Fellowship, a public diplomacy program that each year selects and trains 150 student leaders from six Israeli universities. The soldiers speak in a number of cities across North America, in venues such as university campuses, schools, synagogues and churches.

The tour came to South Orange due to the efforts of Kim Robins, a local high school student who is passionate about spreading the message that knowledge is powerful, not only the Jewish community, but for everyone.

Robins, a junior at Golda Och Academy in West Orange, is a high school intern with the organization, and as such has been tasked with the responsibility of bringing meaningful programming to her community that promotes awareness and education about Israel.

“I organized this Israeli Soldiers Stories tour because I wanted to bring a more personalized face to the Israeli army. It’s hard to know what’s going on in the mind of a soldier and this program gives civilians a glimpse into the things that they face on a daily basis,” she said in a recent phone interview with the News-Record. “I know that Oheb Shalom is very pro-Israel, but I also know that a lot of people aren’t always aware of what the soldiers face and how they overcome those challenges. I hope that people will learn in a very meaningful way and have an opportunity to get some answers and take what they learn and share it with others.”

The event featured a husband and wife, Itai and Ilana, who both served in the Israeli Defense Force and spoke candidly about their time in the military. Their last names are being withheld for security reasons.

“I entered when I was drafted at 18, and I came from a tough neighborhood in Jerusalem that faced many challenges,” Itai told the audience. “It made me want to train harder, because I saw it as more than community service. I saw it as an opportunity to protect and serve my country.

“Warfare in Israel is different than a country like the United States, where the conflict sometimes can take place thousands of miles from home,” he continued. “In Israel, the front line can be close to home, and there were times during my service that I would be near the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, only two hours from where I grew up.”

Itai spoke not only of the realities of warfare in Israel, but also of the high standards that the Israeli military sets for its soldiers, which is not always highlighted in news coverage about Middle Eastern conflict.

“The spirit of Israeli Defense Force is the moral code guideline used by the army, and in following that, we are supposed to use the minimum force possible to achieve our goals,” he said. “Terrorism will always exist unless there is cooperation and dialog.”

Echoing her husband’s sentiments about the more holistic aspects of the Israeli Defense Force, Ilana educated the audience about other facets of the IDF.

“Three-fourths of the Israeli army is not combat; there’s education, logistics, communications, medical, culinary, everything that you can think of,” she said to the audience. “The Israeli army is like a mirror into Israeli society. There are Jewish people, Bedouins, Jewish Ethiopians, Christians. When I was in the military, I realized just how significant 15 seconds is when there is a bomb threat. Young, old, it doesn’t matter who you are, every second counts when retreating to safety.”

The program also allowed an opportunity for attendees to ask some questions. The soldiers were asked what thoughtful but accurate ways could describe what the IDF is and why it exists.

“Explain the context of Middle Eastern conflict and the fact that this military is necessary,” Ilana said. “We’re more than just a compulsory military; we provide education and community service. The IDF is not perfect, but we are working to be perfect.”

Rabbi Mark Cooper of Oheb Shalom Congregation was also hopeful that those in attendance walked away with a better understanding of the IDF.

“I think that it’s always good to learn about the people who comprise the IDF and I think it’s good for us to meet the people who fight for the state of Israel, to put a personal human face on the army that defends the state of Israel,” he said in a recent phone interview with the News-Record. “I think, to meet a soldier is to learn about IDF and understand that Israel’s fighting force is defensive in nature and its job is to protect its residents and, frankly, Jews around the world.

“I’m glad that Kim organized it and gave our congregants the opportunity to learn more about the IDF,” Cooper continued. “Being a Zionist and caring about the state of Israel is not a guarantee that someone will understand what the IDF is all about. Just belonging to a synagogue or caring about Israel is not always enough, and being able to hear their stories firsthand is a worthwhile experience.”

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The community is invited to bring SOMA’s diversity to the big screen through “My Story,” a video competition hosted by the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race. Residents of all ages are invited to produce two-minute video vignettes with their smartphone or tablet that feature the vibrant life and distinct experiences in the diverse South Orange-Maplewood community. Videos will be screened at the South Orange Performing Arts Center during the 2016 SouthNext Festival. Filmmakers will have the chance to win a Curators’ Award from a panel of judges, which will include Emmy Award-winning producer Ken Mandel. Attendees at the screening can vote for their favorites through the Viewers’ Choice Awards based on specific categories. Winning videos will be posted on the coalition’s website, YouTube channel and Facebook page.

“My Story is tied to the overall objective of our ‘Integration through the Arts’ program: removing the racial barriers that separate us by bringing the community together through a common interest,” CCR Program Director Audrey Rowe said in a release. “We are thrilled to bring this video project to life through a partnership with the highly anticipated SouthNext Festival.”

For aspiring videographers who want to hone their filmmaking skills, professional artist and photographer Mansa Mussa will conduct free one-hour workshops — you must be 18 or older to attend — that teach the fundamentals of conceiving, shooting, editing and adding audio to video. Mussa has used his camera to document human-interest events in the United States, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe for the past 39 years. He currently teaches visual arts courses for the Newark Museum, Arts Horizons, and the Visual Art Center of New Jersey, among other institutions.

“The cellphone and tablet have changed our lives immeasurably. People use them as the ubiquitous history documenter,” Mussa said in the release. “I want people to share what is happening in their everyday lives because their story is part of our community’s story.”

Registered participants may attend as many of Mussa’s workshops as they would like. They will be held as follows: Sunday, April 17, from 10 to 10:50 a.m. and another from 11 to 11:50 a.m. at the 1978 Maplewood Arts Center, 1978 Springfield Ave. in Maplewood; Monday, April 18, from 7 to 7:50 p.m. and another from 8 to 8:50 p.m. at the South Orange Public Library, 65 Scotland Road in South Orange; Thursday, April 21, from 7 to 7:50 p.m. and another from 8 to 8:50 p.m. at the Baird Center’s Pierro Gallery, 5 Meade St. in South Orange; and Wednesday, May 4, from 7 to 7:50 p.m. and another from 8 to 8:50 p.m. at Maplewood Memorial Library, 51 Baker St. in Maplewood.

Register to participate in My Story at www.twotowns.org/contact and complete the Contact Form by typing “SmartPhone Video” in the Comments section or register by calling 973-761-6116. Participants must provide their own smartphone or tablet to produce the vignettes. Further instructions and details are as follows:

• Videos are for general public viewing — no profanity or nudity.
• Completed videos of two minutes or shorter must be submitted via flash drive and dropped off at the coalition’s office at 516 Prospect St. in Maplewood by June 1 to qualify for inclusion in the Viewers’ Choice Awards and Curators’ Awards.
• Submitted videos will be grouped and processed for public viewing by Mansa Mussa.
• A free pre-screening reception and viewing will be held for registered participants and limited guests, with location and date to be announced.
• The SOMA community and general public will be invited to a viewing of My Story videos at SOPAC during one of the 2016 SouthNext Festival days from June 17 through June 19.
• Video submitters receive free admission to the My Story SouthNext viewing session only.
• Winning videos will be posted on the Community Coalition on Race’s website, YouTube channel and Facebook page, along with credits for the winning videographers.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — More than 125 South Orange senior citizens gathered for the Division of Volunteer Efforts and South Orange Seniors’ second senior gala on April 10. The Cotton Ball Gala, named for the traditional second anniversary gift of cotton, featured dancing, musical entertainment, refreshments and a food drive benefiting Our Lady of Sorrows Food Pantry in South Orange.

“Our students have a big presence in the South Orange community,” DOVE Director Michelle Peterson said in a release. “It is their home while they are students at Seton Hall, so it is important that we show South Orange that we care about it and its people.”

The partnership between DOVE and the South Orange Seniors formed last year. “The founders of the South Orange Seniors came to meet with me about how DOVE might be able to support their initiatives,” Peterson said. “We have been able to organize the annual dances with them and have coordinated snow shoveling for two senior apartment buildings in South Orange.”

The South Orange Seniors were founded in 2014 by local senior residents Tonia Moore, Nan Samons and Peggy Cinberg. They noticed an opportunity to better engage senior citizens in the community. Today, they are an official nonprofit and conduct regular focus groups in order to understand the needs of local senior citizens.

“From the onset, we were very interested in having intergenerational projects, as age needs to be exhilarated by youth and youth needs to be inspired by age,” Moore said in the release. “Working with Seton Hall gives us the opportunity to get to know and enjoy the students and to have them brighten our whole environment. Their energy and humor are a delight to be around and they make possible exciting events that we very much enjoy.”

Samons added that having Seton Hall and DOVE’s support is a blessing. “It makes the day. Everyone reacted so well to the DOVE students this year and last year. There was such a wonderful intergenerational feeling among all of the attendees.”

“The senior gala is an opportunity for seniors and students to meet each other,” Cinberg said in the release. “It is important for both generations to see that they have a lot in common and appreciate the differences between them.”

The South Orange Seniors hope the event inspires senior citizens and students to form friendships and do more together. They look forward to next year’s senior gala and to partnering with Seton Hall for other events.

“I hope the seniors made wonderful memories at the Cotton Ball Gala and enjoyed forming friendships with our students,” Peterson said.

Next, the South Orange Seniors and the College of Communication and the Arts will premiere a documentary that professor William Pace’s students’ created called “Six.” The film tells the story of six individual life journeys of senior citizens living in South Orange. It will premiere Sunday, May 1, at 1 p.m. at the South Orange Performing Arts Center. A panel discussion with Pace, student filmmakers and documentary stars will immediately follow. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information about DOVE, contact Michelle Peterson at 973-761-9702 or divisionofvolunteerefforts@shu.edu or visit the website here.

SOUTH ORANGE / WEST ORANGE / ORANGE, NJ — Inclusion is part of the communal DNA at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange, from the Reform synagogue’s fully accessible physical plant to its commitment to welcoming all students to its religious school. TSTI’s efforts have led it to be recognized as an Exemplar Congregation — one of 27 in North America — by the Union for Reform Judaism for its great strides in inclusion of people with disabilities in all facets of congregational life. TSTI now serves as a mentor and resource to other Jewish communities seeking to expand their inclusion work.

This year, the WAE Center, based in West Orange, received a $12,000 grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ, and worked in partnership with TSTI’s Linda and Rudy Slucker Religious School and the Religious School at Adath Shalom in Morris Plains. Together, the organizations are piloting an innovative curriculum that will be used to guide educational institutions in understanding inclusion through a Jewish lens. The curriculum was co-developed by Religious School Director Mindy Schreff of TSTI and Charlotte Frank, the education director from Adath Shalom, for students in second and seventh grades.

The program was conceived by the WAE (Wellness, Arts, Enrichment) Center, whose mission is to help developmentally disabled adults “find the creative spark within” and share their talents with others. The expressive arts learning center is part of the Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled of MetroWest, a partner agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.

At TSTI, students participated in hands-on learning experiences that combined age-appropriate study, discussion and expression through art to convey the concept of inclusion as a Jewish value; the lessons were conducted in February — Jewish Disabilities Month — and early March.

• The second-graders learned about how each of them has special qualities and challenges, and that Judaism provides the space to accept and celebrate all. Their program also included a community outreach project for residents of JESPY House, a residential program for adults with learning and developmental disabilities in South Orange. The second-grade modules were conducted as family workshops with parents.

• The seventh-graders examined Jewish texts about inclusion,welcomed artists from the WAE Center who use visual arts to express themselves, and learned firsthand what true inclusion feels like to the disabled community. They then created original artwork that depicted their thoughts on inclusion and welcoming, under the guidance of two artists from Arts Unbound, an organization in Orange that supports artists with special needs.

Schreff explained that through the new curriculum, TSTI’s students came to understand what it means to accept themselves first, and then extend that feeling of acceptance to others who are different — thereby creating a more tolerant and understanding community within the school and beyond.

“We feel confident that we have given them a valuable life skill that will enable them to share their talents for the greater good,” Schreff said in a press release. “Their work is thoughtful and shows deep insights into what it means to be inclusive.”

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — A likely carcinogen was detected a few months ago in 12 New Jersey water systems at rates above the state’s guidance level, according to a list compiled by the Department of Environmental Protection, and South Orange’s Well No. 17 is among those which — at one point or another, since testing started in 2007 — have carried an oversupply of perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA. Since then, however, the village has been busy learning what they can about PFOA and identifying possible solutions.

Not much is known about PFOA, or what causes it to seep into water supplies at a higher rate than usual. State officials have said it’s virtually impossible to know why the water in South Orange’s Meadowbrook Well was found to have 58 parts per billion of PFOA in 2015, above the state’s guidance level of 40 ppb.

South Orange’s water is currently provided by the East Orange Water Commission, though that relationship will come to a close at the end of the year, when the contract expires and the village switches to New Jersey American Water. The decision to go with NJAW came long before the recent discovery of PFOA in South Orange’s water; not only has tetrachloroethylene been found in Well No. 17, but the EOWC has also been mired in corruption scandals.

As a first step in resolving this issue, South Orange arranged for additional sampling and laboratory testing of water from Well No. 17 and from other areas in the village. According to a release from the village, the points chosen were the closest points above and below the point at which the Well No. 17 water is introduced into the system; two additional points further downstream from the first two chosen points; and the last sample came from the Seton Hall University campus.

According to village Administrator Barry Lewis Jr., the village contracted Eurofins to conduct the tests. Eurofins is the laboratory approved by the NJDEP and which was used by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2014 and 2015 to conduct nationwide testing of water systems as part of EPA protocol.

While all six tests came in under the federal EPA guidance level of 400 ppb — 100 times the NJDEP guidance level — the Well No. 17 water test remains at a higher level than is desirable. Although the Well No. 17 water tested at 75 ppb, which is nearly double the NJDEP guidance level, all the other tests were well below the NJDEP’s 40 ppb guidance level. The Farrell Field hydrant tested at 10 ppb, the South Mountain School at 10 ppb, 324 Valley St. at 26 ppb, 454 Valley St. at 29 ppb and the SHU campus at 32 ppb.

Some factories and industrial plants release PFOA into the environment, but it can also be found in carpets, clothing and cookware; research on PFOA is relatively new. PFOA is part of a family of perfluorinated chemicals, or PFCs, which have been linked to cancer and developmental problems in humans. Despite this, the NJDEP has stated that at the state’s guidance level it would take a very long time — and some bad luck — to contract cancer from drinking the local water supply.

Using NJDEP’s guideline, residents in a town like South Orange aren’t likely to see any health hazards resulting from PFOA. In a municipality of 30,000 people, that means someone might contract cancer from the local water supply, on average, once every several thousand years, if the water they are drinking is well above the state’s standard rate of 40 ppb.

But while Well No. 17’s water is above 40 ppb, South Orange’s drinking water supply is not composed solely of water from the Meadowbrook well. Well No. 17’s water only accounts for approximately 10 percent of the village’s water and is mixed in the system with the other 90 percent, which is below the state guidance level. Due to this dilution, the actual amount of PFOA in a resident’s drinking water is much lower than the state guidance level.

According to the village, additional testing has been arranged and the village will continue to monitor the PFOA levels pending a permanent solution. According to the release, the village has commissioned its water engineer to complete a hydraulic system analysis to confirm the directional flow, concentration and exact blending into the water system of Well No. 17’s water. The village is also looking into the option of reducing the amount of water coming from Well No. 17, as well as instituting interim and permanent granular activated charcoal filtration systems.

“Assuming a permanent solution to the PFOA issue can be achieved, the plan would be to continue to use Well No. 17 water to partially supplement the majority supply, which will be coming from NJAW instead of EOWC as of Jan. 1, 2017,” Lewis told the News-Record.

While residents may remember that Well No. 17 was in the news a few years ago as having a volatile organic compound level above state standards, it is important to remember that Well No. 17 did not originate the VOC problem. According to Lewis, the well has not had any VOC problems since a stripper was installed approximately 20 years ago; the VOCs flowing out of the well originated from the EOWC, not the South Orange system.

“Both the village and EOWC continue to test for VOCs,” Lewis said. “There have been no exceedances.”

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Vanguard Theater Company recently announced the first phase of a new theater mentorship program. The “Broadway Buddy” program is a mentorship outreach program designed to offer emerging musical theater artists, ages 12 to 22, a unique opportunity to be mentored by a theater professional. The program is open to all, but specifically young emerging artists who identify as underserved or students of color, and will give them the opportunity to develop relationships with Broadway alumni and other theater professionals who can serve as resources and/or advocates through establishing an ongoing mentoring relationship.

“In the field of musical theater, arts training and mentorship opportunities for young people of color are few. This isn’t because training programs don’t exist — programs are everywhere. However, these programs due to cost and location are not always accessible to everyone. Diversity in theater and in theater training is a huge issue. That’s why we founded Vanguard Theater Company,” co-founder Janeece Freeman-Clark said in a release. “We want to provide real access and sustainable resources to everyone who’s interested in theater regardless of color or socio-economic status.”

The Broadway Buddy program will begin in April and continue into May culminating in a final performance at South Orange Middle School. Mentees will be required to apply via online application and submission. If selected, mentees will meet, rehearse and communicate with Broadway mentors. Mentors, who will represent the Broadway company of shows like “Hamilton,” “The Color Purple” and “Aladdin,” will meet with mentees offering show-business advice, personal stories and one-on-one performance coaching during cabaret rehearsals. The mentees and mentors will share their experiences and perform together in a culminating performance at South Orange Middle School on Sunday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit vanguardtheater.org.

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Oheb Shalom Congregation in South Orange will host the 39th annual South Orange/Maplewood Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 1.

On the 71st anniversary of liberation from the concentration camps, the service will turn its focus to understanding the postwar lives of the more than 250,000 Jewish displaced persons, who lived in camps and urban centers in Germany, Austria and Italy. The mother of South Orange resident Sheryl Hoffman, Ilona Medwied, a hidden child survivor and one of those displaced persons, will share her remarkable story of survival and adjustment.

Medwied was born in Czestochowa, Poland, in 1936 and was 3-years-old when the Germans invaded her hometown. Shortly thereafter all of the town’s Jews were moved into the city’s ghetto. In 1942, most of the Jewish population of Czestochowa, including Medwied’s father and extended family, were deported to the Treblinka extermination camp. Shortly after the deportation order, Medwied’s mother heard of a gentile woman who was willing to sneak a child out of the ghetto to safety — Medwied became that lucky child and her mother was then sent to Hasag, a local labor camp. Four years later, in 1945 when the war ended, mother and daughter were finally reunited. After the war ended, both Medwied and her mother went back to their hometown to search for relatives or friends who might have survived the war. As soon as they were strong enough to travel, they began their journey to America. After an arduous journey through Poland and Czechoslovakia, they wound up in the Stuttgart displaced persons camp in Germany, waiting for three years to be called for passage to America.

Prior to the service, the community is invited to assemble at 3 p.m. for a March of Remembrance. Local government officials, members of the clergy and a local scout troop will be joining the march. At 2 p.m., in preparation for the march, teens and adults are invited to meet at Kol Rina, rear entrance of 60 Valley St. in South Orange, in the back of the 7-Eleven, to design placards to carry during the march. The placards can be in memory of a particular person, a community or a cause for which you wish to march. Marchers will walk as a group from Spiotta Park to Oheb Shalom Congregation, 170 Scotland Road in South Orange.

Every year the remembrance committee honors an individual with the Sister Rose Thering Award to recognize commitment to the educational ideals of Sister Rose. This year, Barbara Wind, director of the Holocaust Council at The Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest New Jersey, is the selected recipient for her years of contributing to creating tolerance through education.

The service will feature candle lighting by local survivors, liberators and rescuers to honor the memory of the 11 million Jews and non-Jews killed during World War II, and readings by local clergy reflecting this historical event and the theme of personal accountability. Voices in Harmony, an interfaith choral ensemble in Essex County, directed by cantors Erica Lippitz of Oheb Shalom and Perry Fine of Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston, will perform.

The annual Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service is dedicated to the memories of Sister Rose Thering of Seton Hall University who spent her later years as an activist against anti-Semitism and a professor of Catholic-Jewish dialog at Seton Hall; Rabbi Jehiel Orenstein of Congregation Beth El; and Max Randall, a member of South Mountain B’nai Brith. These three were the founders of this service, the first interfaith Holocaust memorial in the state of New Jersey. Each year the service falls near the holiday of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

A reception will follow the ceremony. This event is free and open to the public. Teens and their families are encouraged to attend.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Recipients of South Orange Rotary’s Service Above Self awards also recently received legislative resolutions recognizing their impact on the community. From left are Melissa Kopecky, South Orange Public Library director; Carol Barry Austin and Phylis Peterman of the South Orange Civic Organization; Assemblywoman Mila Jasey; former village President Alex Torpey, and Susie Adamson, a Realtor.

Photo Courtesy of Melissa Kopecky

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Seton Hall University Choral Program, under the direction of Jason C. Tramm, will perform works of Handel, Randall Thompson, Stephen Paulus, Ernani AguiAr, Moses Hogan and a complete performance of Ola Gjeilo’s “Sunrise Mass” with a string ensemble on Wednesday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. at SOPAC in South Orange. The Seton Hall University spring choral celebration is free to the public, but seating is limited and reservations are encouraged. Tickets are available through SOPAC at www.sopacnow.org.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange Performing Arts Center presents the best and brightest in its rotating series of visual art exhibitions in the Herb & Milly Iris Gallery at SOPAC. On view from May 9 through Aug. 15 is “Inspired Minds: Young Artist Exhibition,” which features drawings, paintings and photography by gifted young artists from Essex County. Selected works were juried by a panel of distinguished artists, photographers and curators. The exhibition sale proceeds support the Herb & Milly Iris Gallery and SOPAC.

“Inspired Minds” is a celebration of young artists. Every high school in Essex County was invited to participate with the intention of fostering young artists and encouraging their creative work. The program provides an opportunity for the students to enjoy a comprehensive professional artist exhibition experience, from submission and selection through presenting in a professional gallery with the prospect of selling their art to the public. Framing is donated by Chris Bobbins, owner of the South Orange Frame Shop, and installation is coordinated by SOPAC curator Micha Hamilton.

An opening reception with light fare and beverages will be Wednesday, May 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. where family, friends and teachers can enjoy the exhibition and celebrate these talented students. The reception is open to the public.

“Providing opportunities for emerging artists was the passion of the Gallery’s namesake, Milly Iris. Coupling those opportunities with education is at the core of SOPAC’s mission,” Linda Beard, director of community engagement at SOPAC, said in a press release. “It is vitally important that we recognize arts education as valuable and that we nourish young artists and their achievements. We are delighted to offer our participating artists the chance to present their work in a professional exhibition.”

Participating in the show are:

• Columbia High School’s Alexis Caruso, Ella Thibodeau, Emily Katherine Glynn, Grace Hut, Juliana Branda, Keza Rurange, Maddye Belov-Boxer, Maya Ferrandiz and Nico Achee;
• Livingston High School’s Sorasicha “Sora” Nithikasem;
• Millburn High School’s Abby Ow, Anne Kramer, Caroline Shim, Catherine O’Neill, Daniel Sullivan, Darice Lee, Deanne Ferro, Erica Einhorn, Hannah Boland, Jennifer Guo, Jiaqi Wu, Kathleen Gao, Noyonika Nath, Qizhang Wu, Sindu Shanmugadas, Victoria Appel and Wendy Li;
• Nutley High School’s Abby Gonzalez, Amy Rivera, Anthony Alonso, Anthony DeBlasio, Blair Watson, Breanna McGeown, Cassidy Reidy, Chad Morrison, Christine Kelly, John “Jack” Van Schoick, Jordan Maldonado, Kaitlyn Hugo and Max Tucholski;
• Seton Hall Preparatory School’s Yuheng Chen; and
• University High School’s Awatif Hisseine.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The United Nations is getting help achieving its Sustainable Development Goals from the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University and high school students around the world. As part of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations’ U.N. Sustainable Development Challenge, 10 finalists have been selected from a pool of more than 300 high school students who submitted proposals to help achieve the U.N.’s 17 goals. On Friday, April 22, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m, the finalists, representing five states nationally and three countries internationally, will present their proposals for judging in the Beck Rooms of the Walsh Library on Seton Hall’s South Orange campus.

“The purpose of this competition is to crowdsource ideas about how each of us can support the U.N.’s new sustainable development goals,” said Martin Edwards, director of the Center for United Nations and Governance Studies at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations.

In addition to nearly 200 domestic applications, the competition drew 132 international entries. Each student submitted a proposal aimed at helping to achieve one or more of the U.N.’s 17 sustainable development goals, which set out to reduce global poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030. Their applications were reviewed by a panel of nine individuals, including eight faculty members affiliated with the Center for United Nations and Governance Studies and the executive director of the United Nations Association for the United States. Five young men and five young women were selected as finalists, including two from New Jersey, one from California, one from Florida, one from Illinois, one from Washington, two from the Philippines, one from Kazakhstan and one from Singapore.

Michael Kohler, a sophomore from Orland Park, Ill., focuses on Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, proposing the creation of a Center for International Scientific Cooperation, which would tackle everything from creating vaccines to sourcing renewable energy sources.

Isaac Perrin, a sophomore from Redmond, Wash., focuses on Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, proposing Project Ethanol to implement biofuel production sites in developing countries and depressurized distillation system. This has the potential to reduce energy expenditure in biofuel production by 18 percent.

Joseph Montesano, a senior from Succasunna, N.J., focuses on Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, proposing expansion of existing solar roadways technology to spread access to electricity in underdeveloped countries.

Ryan Morales, a senior from Baguio City, Philippines, focuses on Goal 4: Quality Education, proposing the distribution of Learning Portal Kits, which would provide an Internet-receiving satellite dish and 10 to 15 solar-powered laptops with age-specific curricula.

Adel Bayeshova, a junior from Almaty, Kazakhstan, focuses on Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, proposing the utilization of laser light to power fuel cells to transmit energy wirelessly and affordably, an invention of his own design which has already been patented in Kazakhstan.

Crystal Coriano, a junior from San Diego, Calif., focuses on Goal 4: Quality Education, proposing the creation of a nonprofit organization called Action Changes Things. The organization would focus on opportunities to expand educational opportunities to women around the world.

Adriana Mancini, a junior from Palm City, Fla., focuses on Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, proposing her own student-run campaign to raise awareness of the global water crisis. Mancini has already participated in events and fundraising for this issue, and hopes the better access to water will allow girls to spend less time searching for it and more time in school.

John Matthew Marquez, a sophomore from Batangas City, Philippines, focuses on Goal 13: Climate Action, proposing a required school curriculum, which would educate students on the threat of climate change and prepare students to engage on climate at the policy level.

Diya Mehta, a junior from Singapore, focuses on Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, proposing the replacement of heavily polluting boilers and air conditioners in hotels with more efficient heat pumps. Hotels are heavier polluters than households, so changes to hotels have the potential for a greater impact.

Megan Ung, a junior from Kendall Park, N.J., focuses on Goal 3: Health and Wellbeing, proposing virtual training for medical professionals to help train doctors in underdeveloped countries or conflict zones to perform life-saving procedures, ranging from CPR to complex surgeries.

The winner of the U.N. Sustainable Development Challenge will receive $2,500 to help jumpstart their idea or raise awareness of the issue on which they are focusing, as well as a $10,000 scholarship to Seton Hall University. Second place will earn one of the finalists $1,000 cash, as well as a $6,000 scholarship to the university. All other finalists will receive a $4,000 scholarship to attend Seton Hall. To read the proposals and choose your favorite, visit http://bit.ly/SHUunSDGchallengeFinalists.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Center for Advancement in Cancer Education is holding a spring soiree featuring certified holistic cancer educator Susan L. Miller; breast cancer survivor and blogger Chiara D’Agostino; and breast reconstruction surgeon Dr. Ross Cooperman. The event will be Thursday, May 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 19 Prospect St. in South Orange.

Delicious, healthy appetizers will be served; there will be massages and education opportunities to strategize for vibrant health and well-being.

Tickets are available at www.beatcancernow.eventbrite.com. Questions? Call Susan at 973-671-8974. All proceeds go to www.beatcancer.org, the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education, a nonprofit organization.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Writer activist Devorah Halberstam will share her poignant story of the terrorist attack that took her 16-year-old son, Ari, at the 23rd annual Evening of Roses fundraiser at Seton Hall University on Sunday, May 1. Her life’s transformation, motivated by the memory of her son, led her to support victims the world over and co-found the Jewish Children’s Museum.

“This year’s Evening of Roses pays tribute to very special women who have made stellar contributions to education in Jewish-Christian Studies, the mission of the Sister Rose Thering Fund to rid the world of religious prejudice and build a more just and inclusive society,” professor David Bossman, SRTF executive director, said in a release.

The event honors the memory of Women of Valor Sister Rose Thering, and beloved trustees Ellin Cohen of Maplewood and Mary Vazquez of West Caldwell, who both died in 2015. There will be a special recognition of retiring SRTF administrator Marilyn L. Zirl, a West Orange native and current resident of Livingston, who worked closely with Sister Rose since her arrival at the university in 2000. A musical performance of Psalm 133 by Israeli composer Moshe Knoll, will feature soprano Allison Charney, violinist Ani Bukujian, pianist Craig Ketter and narrator Jordan Charney.

“We honor the memory of Sister Rose on the 10th anniversary of her passing and these special women as we continue to fulfill the legacy of her valor. We are proud of how the community comes together to provide complete tuition support for our teacher and scholars and are gratified that each year hundreds of public, private and religious school students learn how to approach interreligious understanding because of these devoted women and men,” board Chairwoman Deborah Lerner Duane said in the release.

Duane explained that the event will also celebrate the generosity of Luna Kaufman, founding trustee and chairperson emerita, announcing the inauguration of the Luna Kaufman Endowed Scholarship.

The program begins at 1:30 p.m. in Jubilee Hall Auditorium on the Seton Hall University South Orange campus, 400 South Orange Ave. For tickets and information, contact the Sister Rose Thering Fund office at 973-761-9006 or marilyn.zirl@shu.edu. Tickets can be purchased at the event.

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Time is elusive. We have more time than anything else in our lives, and yet we never truly have enough. We lack the time to do the things we want to do, the things we plan to do and the things we ought to do. The difficulty of time is a unifying factor in South Orange resident Melanie Conklin’s first novel, “Counting Thyme.”

Released by Penguin Young Readers last week, “Counting Thyme” focuses on middle-schooler Thyme Owens, whose whole life is uprooted as her family tries to cope with her younger brother’s recent cancer diagnosis, moving from California to New York City to participate in a drug trial. Thyme is forced to leave behind her home and her best friend to begin anew in a strange city.

The family and family friends deal with the thought of having too little time with people they love, not having the time to be the people they hope to be and, most importantly, realizing that time is segmented into past, present and future, with the present being the only thing that can be controlled.

“I was drawn to writing about that phase of life in middle school when the world is opening up to you,” Conklin told the News-Record in an April 15 phone interview.

Conklin, a mother of two children herself, wanted to focus on family dynamics following a personal disaster in a book accessible to young readers. But, rather than focus Val, Thyme’s sick little brother, Conklin wanted to bring the reader adjacent to the illness, showing its effects on the whole family, especially siblings who may feel overshadowed and ignored in the face of great catastrophe.

“What if you were not that child (with cancer), but the sibling of a child facing that difficult situation?” Conklin asked. “It’s a really different position.”

For Conklin, writing about the struggles of a family dealing with a child with neuroblastoma was a no-brainer.

According to Conklin, she first learned about neuroblastoma approximately eight years ago when she was living in Park Slope in New York and the son of a neighborhood family was diagnosed with the cancer. She followed their trials and learned more about this insidious pediatric cancer.

Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the nervous system, the most common cancer to afflict children under age 2; the illness has a five-year survival rate of just 30 percent.

Conklin knew she needed to do something, so she became involved with Cookies for Kids Cancer, a nonprofit that uses bake sales to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

Conklin, who had worked at bakery in Chicago, began to participate in and host bake sales. In fact, at each stop of her book tour, there will be a bake sale benefiting Cookies for Kids Cancer. At Conklin’s stop at Words Bookstore tonight, April 21, at 6 p.m., Jefferson Elementary School fifth-graders will be hosting a bake sale. Be sure to come to Words at 179 Maplewood Ave. to support Conklin and hear her speak, as well as buy some tasty treats.

Gretchen Witt, trustee and vice president of Cookies for Kids Cancer, stressed to the News-Record how vital it is to support childhood cancer research financially.

“Pediatric cancer is the No. 1 disease killer of kids in the United States,” Witt told the News-Record in an April 18 phone interview. “That is unacceptable.”

According to Witt, all 12 major groups of pediatric cancers combined recently received less than 4 percent of the National Cancer Institutes $4.2 billion donation budget.

“Kids are our future; kids are the future leaders of our world,” Witt said. “Why wouldn’t we invest in the future?”

This is why Witt is excited to partner with Conklin, in whom she has found a kindred spirit, simply describing herself and Conklin as “two moms who care.”

This is Cookies for Kids Cancer’s first time partnering with an author, but Witt is excited about what this could mean for the future.

“What Melanie has does is come up with new ways to get people involved,” Witt said, branding Conklin as a “good cookie.”

As for “Counting Thyme,” Witt finds the book insightful, beautiful and, most importantly, accessible.

“She finds a way to connect with people and bridge the gap in a way that wouldn’t frighten people,” Witt said, explaining that often just saying the word “cancer” can cause people to close themselves off.

Part of that accessibility is due to Conklin’s writing style, which is rich yet approachable. And, for South Orange and Maplewood readers, her writing style will likely feel like home. Although the novel is set in New York City, Conklin, a six-year resident of South Orange, admitted that the village has certainly affected her writing style.

“The school and the way kids interact and their diversity reflects the community I’m in now,” Conklin said.

She added that a lot of her “research” for the novel came from listening to children play on local playgrounds. “Kids are interested in big issues of the world,” she said. “They know what is going on and they talk about it.”

Many other elements of Conklin’s novel, which is marketed for audiences ages 10 and older — though adults will certainly be captivated by Thyme’s journey as well, came to the author piecemeal.

For instance, the characters’ names were decided after Conklin had already written the first few chapters. Thyme’s older sister is named Coriander and her younger brother Valerian, while their mother is Rosemary. Once Conklin decided to name her protagonist Thyme, the title came easily.

“The title is a play on words and helped me structure the book,” she said. “Often the title changes a lot during the writing process, but ‘Counting Thyme’ was something that never changed. The title was set early.”

Aside from the obvious connotations of the title, there is another level. Rather than do chores for a cash allowance or for praise, Thyme is a busy bee throughout the book doing laundry and washing dishes to acquire time slips; to reward Thyme for helping out and being a good sport, her parents give her “time.” She will receive, say, a half hour of time for helping with dinner, which she can later redeem as a free half hour to herself for either “me time” or to go out with friends.

Throughout much of the novel, Thyme is obsessively collecting time slips, hoping that if she is able to collect enough time, her parents will allow her to return home to California to see her best friend.

Although Conklin never used time slips with her own children, the idea was extrapolated from her own life.

“During summer vacation my kids would want to use electronic devices when they were not at the Baird camp, so I made them earn it,” Conklin said. “We used fake $1 from some game.

“My older son wanted an old phone and had to save $70 of pretend money,” Conklin added, saying that after two and a half months, her son did indeed collect enough chits to get that phone.

Although the main focus of the book is on the Owens children, elderly neighbor Mr. Lipinsky is one of the most compelling — and Conklin’s favorite.

“For me, while of course I love every character, I laugh every time I read Mr. Lipinsky’s parts,” she said.

Mr. Lipinsky, the codger living downstairs, is rude and aggravating, yet can also be kind and helpful. As the Owens face their own familial struggles, Mr. Lipinsky is facing his own trials — the trials of growing older and feeling lonely.

“Mr. Lipinsky reminds me of my grandfather,” Conklin said. “He could be gruff, but he was also very kind.

“Mr. Lipinsky is a side character that gives you a lot in the end.”

While the book is intended to help pre-teens and teenagers navigating a difficult time in their lives, its message certainly applies to everyone, including the Mr. Lipinskys of the world.

“Thyme is struggling to find her place and how she counts in the greater picture and in her family,” Conklin said. “But everyone counts and everyone brings something unique to the world. Everyone contributes something.”

When not promoting her first novel or spending time with her family, Conklin is working on her second novel, which also stars middle-schoolers dealing with issues of friends and families. She will be at Words Bookstore tonight — along with a bake sale — so be sure to stop by.

“It’s going to be a fun event at Words,” Conklin said. “I’m really happy to support my local bookstore.”

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — When it came time to choose the next play for Seton Hall Theatre to perform, producer Peter Reader and musical director Jason Tramm knew they wanted a challenge for their students. Specifically, they hoped to push their young actors to the limits of both their dramatic and musical talents. So they turned to one of the most famous productions from one of the most iconic composers in the annals of theater history — Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music” — and never looked back.

Now, the students are ready to perform the musical about the entangled love lives of a group who meet one summer night, from April 21 through April 24, at the South Orange Performing Arts Center. The journey to the stage was far from easy. As Tramm explained, Sondheim songs are always taxing on the performer, and many opera companies take on the show, an indication of just how strong a singer has to be to master the material. But fortunately for the theater group, the musical director said the actors have enough talent to meet the demands.

“We’ve got some wonderful vocal students,” Tramm told the News-Record prior to a rehearsal for the show. “The kids have really performed well, and we have a strong pool of talent this year. I feel that they’re all ready to jump in on this one. It’s going to be a beautiful production.”

Reader agreed that he could see the students grow more confident in their performances through the weeks of preparation, but acknowledged that it was a challenging production for all. Aside from the vocal demands, he said the actors had to get used to Sondheim’s rhythmic phrasing, a signature of the composer that he said is often difficult for singers.

“It’s not an easy kind of rhythm to follow,” Reader told the News-Record prior to the rehearsal. “They’re sometimes even singing against the music, which is what Sondheim likes in terms of that competition between the voice and the instruments and how they play off of each other.

“The instrumentation isn’t underscoring the singers, it’s complementing the singers,” he said, adding that this can really be seen in the quintet chorus’ songs. “So the singers really have to be on top of it to sing and play off the music.”

Additionally, Reader said it was a challenge for the college-aged actors to get into the minds of their characters of people significantly older than themselves. The cast of characters from “A Little Night Music” runs the gamut from the elderly Madame Armfeldt looking wistfully back on her life to the middle-aged Frederik Egerman, who is torn between his 18-year-old wife and his lover from years before. Clearly, the Seton Hall students playing the roles lack similar life experiences on which to base their performances.

Devin McGuire is entirely different from his part — the arrogant and obnoxious Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm — which he said made it a fun role to play. It was also tough, McGuire said, because it was hard to relate to such a man. But in analyzing the part, he came to an understanding of how to portray the character.

“He’s so much older but he’s so immature he’s almost like a child, and that’s where the paradox lies,” McGuire told the News-Record before taking the stage. “It’s not easy (to play him), but it’s definitely not impossible. If I can get a laugh out of the audience, then I’m doing something right.”

“A Little Night Music” is actually McGuire’s first and last musical for Seton Hall Theatre, as he will graduate in a few weeks. Though he has performed in cabarets as well as the university’s choir and orchestra, he said he was glad to have the opportunity to participate in a show like this with his friends and learn from stage director Regan McKenzie.

Plus, McGuire pointed out that the experience has helped prepare him for his goal of becoming a music educator after graduation.

“In order to be a good music teacher, you first need to be a good musician and you need to be able to perform under high-pressure circumstances and you need to be able to entertain audiences,” McGuire said. “So it’s really just practicing what I preach.”

McGuire’s castmate and fellow senior Gabriella Markey, on the other hand, intends to continue performing professionally after she graduates. And she has received quite the education for doing so by playing the role of Desiree Armfeldt, the world-weary fallen actress who has been portrayed in the past by stage legends such as Bernadette Peters and Judi Dench. Markey said it has been a “wonderful challenge” to figure out how to play someone who, as an actress, pretends to be someone she is not around others to hide her true self. Even more creatively stimulating is getting the chance to show the character development as Desiree slowly removes that mask to own who she really is, she said.

Markey said that especially on display when Desiree reflects on her regrets in the musical’s most famous number “Send in the Clowns,” which she described as one of her favorite parts of the play.

“During the whole show you see the character Desiree Armfeldt as a character,” Markey said before starting to rehearse. “But ‘Send in the Clowns’ is when you see her become very raw and very real. It’s difficult because by the end of the song you almost are in tears because of how much sympathy and empathy you have for her. But it’s so beautiful to be able to share that with the audience. It’s something that so many people can feel and connect to.”

Connecting with the rest of the cast is another reason working on “A Little Night Music” has been so special for Markey. She lauded the other actors as simply “incredible,” adding that their dedication to their roles shows in their performances. Yet it is everyone’s relationship offstage that will really make a difference, she said.

“The chemistry between all of us is just like literally working with a team of really good friends,” Markey said, pointing out that such a bond helps when it is time to perform. “There are some scenes that can get a little bit uncomfortable, and having a friend next to you makes it fun and easy rather than intimidating.”

From a director’s perspective, Tramm also said working with the cast has been a very enjoyable experience. Coming from a professional stage music background — he currently serves as artistic director of the MidAtlantic Opera in addition to his job as Seton Hall’s director of choral activities — he said working with students instead of professionals is very exciting because he can make an impact on their development and see their growth as performers. To witness that “lightbulb moment” when the students connect with the material and make it their own makes the whole process worthwhile, he said.

And Tramm thinks audiences will delight in watching Seton Hall Theatre’s production of “A Little Night Music” as much as he did in being part of it.

“These are wonderful young artists who are really some fantastic people,” Tramm said. “It’s an enduringly popular play for a reason, and I think anyone who comes will really enjoy the production.”

Admission to “A Little Night Music” is free, though reservations are recommended. For information, call 973-313-2787 or visit http://www.sopacnow.org/a-little-night-music/.

Photos by Sean Quinn

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange author Melanie Conklin addressed an audience of more than 30 individuals at Words Bookstore in Maplewood on April 21. She discussed her debut novel, “Counting Thyme,” and signed copies of the books for her new fans. Approximately half the audience was composed of children, who asked illuminating questions about Conklin’s inspiration for her novel and her writing process.

Words owner Jonah Zimiles was enthused to have Conklin at his store, saying it was a pleasure to be able to feature both a local author and a worthwhile author.

To read a full interview with Conklin and a review of “Counting Thyme,” visit here.

Photos by Yael Katzwer

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and East Orange Public Safety Director Sheilah Coley announced April 22 that the East Orange police and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating the fatal shooting of Isaiah T. Peterson, 27, of South Orange.

Peterson was shot at approximately 7:19 p.m. on April 21 in the vicinity of  McKay Avenue and Ayr Street in East Orange. He was pronounced dead at University Hospital at 9:59 p.m.

As of 1:20 p.m. on April 22, no arrest has been made. The investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The 200 Club of Essex County, founded to assist the families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty and the oldest such organization of its kind, will hold its 50th anniversary Valor Awards luncheon on Thursday, May 5, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Nanina’s In The Park, 540 Mill St. in Belleville.

Established in 1966, The 200 Club of Essex County has raised nearly $2 million to support the spouses of fallen officers and to fund scholarships for their children through membership dues and the annual luncheon.

The 200 Club of Essex County, comprised of regional business and civic leaders, has spawned 18 similar organizations throughout New Jersey. Lori Hennon-Bell, vice president and chief security officer for Prudential Financial and The 200 Club president said in a release, “This special organization is dedicated to the principle of caring for those who care for us. Each year, our support from business and community leaders has dramatically increased.”

“The job of a police officer or firefighter is tougher today than ever before,” Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, a member of The 200 Club’s board of trustees, said in the release. “Law enforcement and firefighting are extremely hazardous professions, which are performed at tremendous personal risk. The work of The 200 Club of Essex County is greatly appreciated by the entire public safety community and their families.”

According to Hennon-Bell, 17 law enforcement officers and 12 local firefighters will be recognized for bravery, dedication to duty, courageous vigilance and selflessness with individual Valor Awards during the luncheon.

John Miller, deputy commissioner for the NYPD’s Division of Intelligence and counterterrorism, will serve as the event’s featured speaker. Miller, a former national spokesman for the FBI, is also the winner of 11 Emmy Awards, two Peabody Awards and two DuPont Awards during his distinguished career in television journalism. Miller began that career as a student attending Montclair High School.

Additionally, The 200 Club will present its John P. McLaughlin Award to Arthur S. Guida, former 200 Club president and former vice president for external affairs for PSE&G, for his outstanding service to the organization.

Nominations for The 200 Club’s Valor Award are made by chiefs of Essex County’s municipal fire and police departments and the commanding officers of federal, state and regional public safety agencies. Valor Award recipients are selected by The 200 Club’s Executive Committee.

This year’s individual Valor Award recipients are:

• Newark Police Sgt. Matthew Ruane, Newark Police detectives Ana Colon and Tyrell Wheeler, Essex County Sheriff’s Det. Abdullah Holmes and NJIT Police Sgt. Antoine Hughes for the capture of two armed suspects who opened fire on them on a city street;
• Newark Police detectives Juan Ramos and Wyhidi Wilson for the capture of an armed suspect;
• Newark Police Det. Glen Calderon for single-handedly capturing two armed suspects during a robbery in progress;
• Irvington Police Patrolman Edward Pearce for single-handedly capturing a gun-wielding suspect;
• New Jersey State Police Det. II Anthony Giunta, Det. II Edward Schmalz and Trooper Blazej Oczkos for the capture of a kidnapping and attempted murder suspect and the rescue of the 3-year-old victim;
• Essex County Prosecutor’s Office detectives Eric Manns, Carlos Olmo and Kenneth Poggi for the capture of two homicide suspects;
• South Orange Police Chief Kyle Kroll and Det. Steven Davenport for the capture of an armed robbery suspect;
• North Caldwell Fire Lt. Lee Sutherlin and Firefighter David Hicock for successfully evacuating a large residential complex and the rescue of an unconscious 88-year-old female victim during a natural gas leakage event;
• Newark Fire captains Delfin Ortiz and Mark Furka and Firefighter Derek Hunter for the rescue of three adults and four children from a residential fire;
• Newark Fire Capt. Frank Fonseca and firefighters Michael Bellina, Tony DeFeo, Carlo Dello Russo and Carlos Henriques for the rescue of an unconscious pregnant female and her two unconscious children from a residential fire; and
• Newark Fire Capt. Carl Wendt and Firefighter Raymond Hatton for the rescue of three children from a residential fire.

For more information and to purchase tickets, contact 973-694-4982.