Newark Live

Community local news, nightlife, real estate & more from Newark, NJ

Robert Treat Academy chorus performs at holiday lighting

by Bruno Tedeschi/North Ward Center

Wednesday December 03, 2008, 3:01 PM

The Robert Treat Academy Chorus performed at the Essex County Holiday Lighting Ceremony Tuesday at the Hall of Records in Newark. The chorus, made up of 55 students in grades 6-8, performed "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bell Rock." The chorus practices two to three times a week and has a repertoire of 10 songs, said Veronica Heinlein, the music director and coordinator at the Robert Treat Academy. Lately, the chorus has been learning holiday music in preparation for a Dec. 18 concert at the school, Heinlein said.

Newark resident dubbed 'senior mayor'

by Chanta L. Jackson/The Star-Ledger

Wednesday December 03, 2008, 11:17 AM

Longtime resident Felicia Green was named Newark's "Senior Mayor for a Day" at a ceremony in the City Hall Rotunda on Tuesday. This annual event recognizes Newark's senior citizens for their achievements and continuing contributions to the city's transformation.

"It is one of our City's most profound traditions to honor our seniors," Mayor Cory A. Booker said. "You have brought us along a challenging road and gifted us, through your labors, a City of limitless hope and infinite possibility. And every day, you continue to work and volunteer for your families and communities, proudly declaring your love of and dedication to our great City. I thank you for your steadfast commitment to Newark and pledge my continued support."

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Newark offers ride and dine promotion

by Chanta L. Jackson/The Star-Ledger

Wednesday December 03, 2008, 7:50 AM

Beginning today, for the first three Wednesdays and Thursdays in December, visitors to the city can enjoy lunch specials and free horse and carriage rides.

The Newark Downtown District has partnered with local restaurants in an effort to provide the public with 2-for-1 lunch specials and the free rides. The program, dubbed "Wintertime Ride and Dine" will take place today Thursday, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 17 and Dec. 18. Horse and carriage rides will operate from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. beginning at East Park Street and Park Place and running through Center Street and down through Mulberry Street.

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Credit crisis or not, Newark plans for revival of Broad Street area

by Maura McDermott/The Star-Ledger

Wednesday December 03, 2008, 6:36 AM

The northern stretch of Newark's downtown is dotted with crumbling industrial buildings, auto shops, fenced-in parking lots and a soon-to-be-demolished public housing complex.
But that is not what the city's leaders see when they look at the streets around the Broad Street train station. They envision gleaming condominium towers and tidy townhouses rising above chic cafes and well-tended parks.

Newark officials know the transformation might not happen for years, given the crisis gripping the real estate and credit markets. Even so, they hope to change the rules governing construction on 50 football fields' worth of property at the downtown's northern edge.

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Newark group hosts tribute to '68 Olympians

by Chanta L. Jackson/The Star-Ledger

Wednesday December 03, 2008, 6:01 AM

The People's Organization For Progress will host a program in honor of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, 1968 Olympic gold medalists and their signature black power salute.

The program will take place on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Abyssinian Baptist Church, 224 West Kinney St. The keynote speaker will be Kimme Carlos, Carlos' daughter.

Admission is free. For more information, call (973) 801-0001.

Family seeks justice while planning 2 funerals

by Jeffery C. Mays/The Star-Ledger

Wednesday December 03, 2008, 5:22 AM

Candida Alvarado's Newark apartment is usually buzzing with activity after school. Grandson Anevdy Breton and his friends usually run in and out playing games, and daughter Joselin Breton, just home from her job as a home health aide, is bouncing around.

Tuesday, the Roseville Avenue apartment was largely quiet and Alvarado, 58, sat in the living room with her head in her hands, the sound of the television droning in the background. Last week, her 34-year-old daughter and 10-year-old grandson were killed in Newark when their car was struck by a stolen vehicle that had been chased by East Orange police minutes earlier.

The pair went out to get a gallon of milk and never returned.

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State proposes plan to speed up school building

by Dunstan McNichol/The Star-Ledger

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 1:03 PM

Officials of New Jersey's school construction program today announced plans to step up the pace of work on at least six new schools next year, including a long-delayed Phillipsburg High School project, through a streamlined building process.

"What we're trying to do is work essentially toward meeting the governor's mandate to accelerate these projects," said Kris Kolluri, the former Department of Transportation Commissioner who announced the streamlined building program during his first meeting as chief executive officer of the state Schools Development Authority.

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