Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Chief Alvarez’s retirement means for Maplewood’s fire protection next year.

Be sure to catch Unity Rd. Maywood Grand Opening 🎉 on the Maplewood Patch calendar

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Hi Maplewood! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Chief Alvarez's retirement means for Maplewood's fire protection next year.
  • How Columbia's home opener in Maplewood turned into a 41-0 rout
  • How Maplewood's art classes helped launch a Venice Biennale artist.

Also on today's calendar: Unity Rd. Maywood Grand Opening 🎉 and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Mostly sunny and not as warm, with a high of 79 and low of 62 degrees.
  • Sunday: A stray afternoon t-shower, temps: high: 84, low: 68.
  • Monday: An afternoon shower or two, with a high of 83 and low of 69 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. South Essex Regional Fire Department Announces Retirement of Chief Joseph Alvarez After 40 Years of Service (tapinto.net) — Maplewood residents will see a major leadership change as South Essex Regional Fire Chief Joseph Alvarez, former Maplewood fire chief, retires on December 1 after 40 years in service. Officials credit him with successfully merging the Maplewood and South Orange departments and strengthening staffing, training, and response. A search for the next chief begins immediately, shaping how fire protection will operate in both towns.
   

2. Hillside opens season with shutout win over Columbia (nj.com subscription) — A dominant Hillside defense shut out Columbia 41-0 in a season-opening football game played right here in Maplewood, with Travis Miles scoring three touchdowns. Columbia, now 0-1, will try to rebound at home against Bayonne next Friday, while Hillside hosts Roselle the following day.
   

3. Hush, While the Spirits Converse (flaunt.com) — Adebunmi Gbadebo, who grew up in Maplewood and South Orange, traces her international art career back to local museum classes, private lessons, and early gallery shows in the community. She now works with soil, Black hair, and other organic materials to honor her enslaved ancestors and challenge historical archives. Her journey shows how Maplewood's arts education helped launch a globally recognized practice.
   

4. Detainees in South Orange-Maplewood Turn to SOMA Community Cares for Immigrant Support (villagegreennj.com) — In response to stepped-up ICE activity in Maplewood and South Orange, local volunteers are mobilizing rapid support for undocumented neighbors through the DIRE hotline and SOMA Community Cares. These groups help detainees and families with legal aid, commissary funds, emergency travel, medical needs, and bond payments. Maplewood officials are also exploring a legal fund to bolster this grassroots safety net.
   

📸 Around Maplewood

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🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • Cedar Grove Home Inspector Builds Free Property-Records Lookup for Every NJ Town
    An Essex County home inspector has built a free website that lets anyone look up the public records behind a New Jersey property — building permits... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Seton Hall University posted a job opening for Student Worker - Stillman - 2026/27 in South Orange. Apply here.
  • Domino's Pizza, Inc. posted a job opening for Food Handler/Pizza Maker in South Orange. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Maplewood here.

Ok Maplewood! 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: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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