Welcome to the South Orange Weekly Digest!

The South Orange Weekly Digest gives you all the information you need to stay connected to your community, right here at your fingertips. Below you'll find updates about all the important and fun events happening this week in South Orange.

Who are you talking to? Finding your target audience with Sara Madera 

Feb 8th 10am
Get help from the local expert herself. Sarah will help you get on the right track to set up systems for the new year! Click the link for more information

Veggie Vebruary events throughout February

Celebrate simple, fun ways to fight climate change, improve health, and help animals during Veggie Vebruary! Details and RSVPs at https://mmitm.info/veggie-vebruary/

NJ TRANSIT's Language Survey

NJ TRANSIT is conducting a Language Survey to better understand the needs of our customers who may not speak and/or read English well. The survey will ask our customers what they think of NJ TRANSIT’s tools for providing language assistance and how those tools can be improved and refined.

For customers who speak a language not offered, please let them know they can call (973) 491-8031, leave a message and I will reach out to help them complete the survey using a live language interpreter in their preferred language. https://www.njtransit.com/language

We are excited to announce that the South Orange Maplewood School District is now officially accepting applications for our 2026-2027 Preschool Program lottery.

Because you are a trusted voice in our community, we are asking for your help in sharing this information widely with your stakeholders. A high-quality preschool program provides a vital foundation for our youngest learners, and we want to ensure every eligible family has the opportunity to participate in this selection process.

We have attached a digital flyer to this email; please feel free to post this on your social media, include it in your newsletters, or display it in your organization.

Key Information for Families

Families interested in the district’s preschool program must begin by completing a simple online lottery  entry form.

• Application Period: Friday, January 23, 2026 – Friday, March 13, 2026

• Link to Share: Preschool Lottery Now Open

Important Deadline: The form must be completed by March 13, 2026. .

Selection & Notification Process

Once the application period closes, the district will conduct the formal lottery. Families will be notified in the spring regarding their status:

• Selected Students: Families will receive a formal offer for a preschool placement.

• Waitlist: Families not selected during the initial lottery will be automatically placed on our district waitlist for future openings.

Registration for Selected Families

Families selected through the lottery will have approximately four weeks to submit required registration paperwork. Timely completion of this process is essential as it allows the district to properly prepare to welcome our new students this coming fall.

SNAP Crisis Resource Roundup

South Orange & Maplewood restaurants, businesses & organizations are stepping up to create food drives, offer restaurant discounts & raise money for gift cards during the SNAP crisis.

For a look at local restaurants offering discounts, head to: http://bit.ly/4qKs7E1 

Are you a local restaurant or business interested in offering a promotion to those in need? Fill out the Google Form here: https://forms.gle/BMzCjL2MJKJTZgx57

For a roundup of local groups gathering food & donations, scroll through the flyers we've posted into one place on our website.

There is a Community Fridge and Food Pantry where residents can take what they need or donate what they can. The fridge is located at 1926 Springfield Avenue, and is open 7 days a week from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and other perishables, as well as canned goods, can be donated. 

For a rolling update on SNAP resources including food pantries and more, head here: https://nj211.org/njsnap

For a quick resource roundup from SOMSD, see their flyer below. If viewing from your phone, you can screenshot this and the URLs should appear as a link when you view it in your photos. 

Anyone needing assistance or further information can reach out to our Health Officer at healthofficer@southorange.org.

ATTEND A VILLAGE MEETING

Want to get more involved in your community? Attend a meeting. You will get a first-hand look at all the ins and outs of our town, and it is a great way to participate and make a difference. Please note that meetings are subject to change with short notice. Refer to our events calendar (select ALL calendars) for up-to-date information.

• South Orange Village Council Meeting on Monday, February 9th at 7 PM
• Health & Public Safety Committee Meeting on Tuesday, February 10th at 6 PM
• Community Police Collaborative Committee Meeting on Tuesday, February 10th at 7:30 PM
• Planning & Economic Development Committee Meeting on Wednesday, February 11th at 8:30 AM
• Design Review Board Meeting on Wednesday, February 11th at 7:30 PM

Village Council Hot Topics

The ordinances below will be on for 2nd reading/adoption at the Village Council Meeting on February 23, 2026. 

• 2026-01 Ordinance authorizing Handicapped Parking for Gwendolyn Melvin-Foster at 119 Seton Place
• 2026-02 Ordinance Approving and Adopting an updated Municipal Code fully including all ordinances enacted through December 31, 2025
• 2026-03 Ordinance establishing Chapter 211 of Village Code to codify the Open Space Recreation Farmland

View South Orange Village Alerts & Notifications

Gaslight Newsletter

Give us a call! 973-378-7715