Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: See how Columbia High School really stacks up in new rankings
Also check out Franciscan Charities 5K Run & Walk Fundraiser on the Maplewood Patch calendar
Good day Maplewood! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- See how Columbia High School really stacks up in new rankings
- How 54 free children's books quietly reshaped Maplewood's Little Free Libraries
- What Maplewood's librarian says you can do to defend your library
Also on today's calendar: Franciscan Charities 5K Run & Walk Fundraiser and 8 more events.
Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Thursday: Periods of rain and a t-storm, with a high of 80 and low of 63 degrees.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy and less humid, temps: high: 83, low: 65.
- Saturday: Showers around; not as warm, with a high of 77 and low of 66 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• U.S. News & World Report Announces its Annual Ranking of High Schools in the U.S. (tapinto.net) — Columbia High School, serving South Orange and Maplewood, has been ranked 72nd in New Jersey and 1,286th nationally by U.S. News & World Report, with a strong 71% AP participation rate. The report highlights CHS's graduation rate, test performance, and college readiness compared with 17,945 schools nationwide and 415 across New Jersey. 
• During Pride, Little Free Libraries Received 'Beautiful Bird' Book About an LGBTQ+ Family Created Via IVF (villagegreennj.com) — Maplewood resident and author Alison Prato teamed up with local Realtor Vanessa Pollock to place 54 free copies of Prato's LGBTQ+ family-themed children's book, Beautiful Bird, into Little Free Libraries across Maplewood and South Orange during Pride Month. Their goal is to help local kids see diverse family stories, spark conversations about IVF and donor conception, and promote a sense of belonging.
• 'The Right to Read' panel discussion is comprised of Union County librarians (unionnewsdaily.com) — A recent "Right to Read" panel in Union featured Maplewood Library assistant director Amanda Eigen alongside other Union County librarians, discussing book challenges and New Jersey's 2024 Freedom to Read law. For Maplewood residents, it offers insight into how local librarians select materials, handle book challenges, and how you can support your library's commitment to open access.
📸 Around Maplewood
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Maplewood
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Franciscan Charities 5K Run & Walk Fundraiser →
South Mountain Reservation, Cherry Ln, West Orange
9:00 am
Saturday September 12
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Explore Millburn Short Hills Board of Trustees →
Township of Millburn Millburn Library - 200 Glen Ave Millburn NJ 07041
6:30 pm - South Orange Environmental Commission Meeting
South Orange Village Calendar Virtual Zoom Meeting -
7:30 pm - Historic Preservation Commission- Regular Meeting
South Orange Village Calendar In-person/Hybrid Zoom Meeting - Baird Community Center 5 Me
7:30 pm - Finance & Capital Projects Committee Meeting →
South Orange Village Calendar -
10:30 am - Container Day
South Orange Recycling Public Works - 300 Walton Avenue South Orange NJ 07079
8:00 am - Board of Education Meeting
Millburn High School 462 Millburn Avenue, Millburn, NJ 07041
7:00 pm - Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee →
Township of Millburn
8:00 pm - Branch Pickup Date →
South Orange Recycling The DPW will pick up bundled branches from the curb once a mont - Demo Day's →
Kitchen A La Mode, 59 S Orange Ave, South Orange Village
10:00 am - Flawless →
Bauer Boucher Theatre Center, Vaugh-Eames Hall, 1000 Morris Ave, Union
7:30 pm
Thursday August 20
Friday August 21
Saturday August 22
Monday August 24
Tuesday August 25
Friday August 28
Thursday September 3
📣 Maplewood Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Household Bulk Pickup →
South Orange Recycling - South Orange NJ 07079
7:00 am - Bachathursdays (FREE SOCIAL) →
Newark Arts Lancers Restaurant & Bar, 459 Ferry St , Newark, NJ 07105, Newark, N, 07105, United States
8:00 am - Dementia Support Group →
Livingston Senior, Youth and Leisure Services (SYLS) Livingston Senior/Community Center (LSCC) - 204 Hillside Avenue L
10:30 am - Play Canasta →
Millburn Township, NJ Calendar, 200 Glen Ave, Millburn
11:00 am
Thursday August 20
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Maplewood PatchAM possible:
- Wedderburn Law — (201) 897-0287
- HZY Goods Dispensary — (973) 200-3030
- Fairways at Cranford — (908) 913-8138
- Right at Home of Essex County — (973) 669-1822
- West Orange Wellness Dispensary — (862) 420-0420
- Orange Mattress — (732) 428-4125
- The Pool Boss — (973) 823-7007
- PSE&G — (800) 436-7734
- Insurcomm Restoration — (866) 708-5357
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
🪧 Patch Classifieds
- Hiring Part-time Teacher for Preschool Aftercare Program
Hiring Part-time Teacher for Preschool Aftercare Program... (More info)
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Maplewood. Apply here.
- Target posted a job opening for Guest Advocate (Cashier or Front of Store Attendant/Cart Attendant) (T1084) in Union. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Maplewood here.
🗞 Nearby News
South Orange
- South Orange Marks Women's Equality Day with Voter Registration Outreach (tapinto.net)
- Does Sweating Mean You're Getting a Good Workout? (everydayhealth.com)
- The Dream State of Metafiction & Wild Freedom of Short Stories: An Interview with Jess Row (therumpus.net)
Irvington
- Armed Suspect Bursts Into Newark Home, Fatally Shoots 21-Year-Old Irvington Man Dead (rlsmedia.com)
- Unity Day celebrates the pride, progress and power of community (essexnewsdaily.com)
Millburn
- Wanted Man Arrested In Millburn After Cops Find Sword, Knives In Car (patch.com)
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: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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