Follow local news and events in South Orange with The Jersey Bee. Here is the The Daily Buzz for Feb. 21, 2024 from The Jersey Bee.
Local news
SOMA Justice to host “Trayvon Martin’s Birthday Party” on Feb. 24 in Maplewood. This is a children’s focused event to honor the life of Trayvon Martin. The event begins at 11 a.m. at the Maplewood Senior Center. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
SOMA Justice
South Orange Middle School to host “My Black is Beautiful!: Black History Celebration” on Feb. 24. The variety show begins at 4 p.m. and includes a guest performance by The Tia Holt Experience. Tickets are $15. Add to 📅.
South Orange Middle School
SOMA Chamber of Commerce to host “Member Meet-Up” on Feb. 23 in Maplewood. The event begins at 8 a.m. at Peet’s Cafe, 1585 Springfield Ave. in Maplewood. Add to 📅.
SOMA Chamber of Commerce
Soccer Skills For All to host “Fall Soccer Classes” for ages 5-12 on Feb. 23 in South Orange. The event, scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Flood’s Hill, 100 N. Ridgewood Rd., will feature soccer classes for different age groups. Preregistration is required and can be completed online. Add to 📅.
Soccer Skills for All
Columbia High School to host “Lunar New Year Lantern Festival Celebration” on Feb. 23 in Maplewood. The event, scheduled from 6 p.m. in the cafeteria, will feature performances, food, and activities. Tickets can be purchased for $15 and proceeds will be used for the school’s Chinese American Garden. Add to 📅.
South Orange Middle School HSA
Maplewood library to host a free “Black History Month Ancestry Collage for Adults” on Feb. 24 in the Hilton Branch. The event, scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., will feature creating ancestry collages with artist Beverly McCutcheon. Materials will be provided, and participants can bring their own family photos or lightweight memorabilia. No registration required. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Public Library
1978 Maplewood Arts Center to host a free “Expressive Impressions in Linoleum” art exhibition on Feb. 24-25. The exhibit features artist Tenjin Ikeda, and is available for viewing from 2-4 p.m. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Division of Arts and Culture
Essex County activated Code Blue procedures from Feb. 20 to Feb. 22, helping people find shelter as temperatures drop below 32 degrees. Participating shelters and warming stations include Catholic Charities in Newark, Joi’s Angels in East Orange, St. Mark’s Church in Montclair, among others throughout the county. Additional locations can be found on the NJ 211 website.
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
Regional news
New Jersey lawmakers will receive a 67% salary increase, boosting their pay from $49,000 to $82,000, following legislation signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. The governor’s salary will also increase from $175,000 to $210,000, effective 2026, post Murphy’s final term. The raise, first in over two decades, was justified by some lawmakers as necessary to keep up with inflation and rising costs.
Patch Newark
