Community Corner
đą Patch AM: What powerful 9/11 poem did Maplewoodâs former mayor share this year?
And on the Maplewood Patch calendar - Newark PorchFest

Hey there, Maplewood! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- What powerful 9/11 poem did Maplewood's former mayor share this year?
- Maplewood DWI stop after near-collision with police car on Springfield Avenue
- How August crime in South Orange touched at least one Maplewood neighbor
Also on today's calendar: Newark PorchFest and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What is the difference between black eyed peas and chick peas? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny and comfortable, with a high of 79 and low of 66 degrees.
- Thursday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 83, low: 69.
- Friday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 81 and low of 58 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• The Lists We Carried (tapinto.net) — Maplewood and South Orange residents gathered at the Hilton Branch Library memorial to remember those lost on September 11, 2001. Maplewood Township Committee member and former mayor Dean Dafis read his original poem, "The Lists We Carried," reflecting on the day's chaos, shared grief, and how communities like Maplewood still carry one another decades later.
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• Driver Nearly Hit Maplewood Cop Car, Charged With DWI: Authorities (patch.com) — Maplewood police say a driver from Irvington was arrested for suspected DWI after nearly hitting a patrol car while drifting along Springfield Avenue on September 8. Officers stopped the vehicle on the 1600 block, reported signs of impairment, and say they found metal knuckles, leading to multiple motor vehicle and weapons-related charges.
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• South Orange Police Blotter for August: Two Assaults and Three Cases of Fraud Reported (villagegreennj.com) — South Orange police logged a busy August, with assaults, frauds, DWIs, and multiple thefts from homes, cars, and businesses in nearby streets and parks. One incident involved a 71-year-old Maplewood man cited for public alcohol consumption and taken to University Hospital, underscoring how crime and quality-of-life issues in South Orange can directly affect Maplewood residents.
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📸 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 ★
- Newark PorchFest →
- Baker Street Fall Flea →
Maplewood Village, Maplewood
11:00 am - Become a NJ Real Estate Agent * IN PERSON or ONLINE * NEW Classes →
Montclair School of Real Estate, 89 Walnut St, Montclair, NJ 07042,
9:00 am - Spencer Savings Bank Hosts Pet Adoption Day →
680 River Dr, Elmwood Park
11:00 am
Saturday September 19
Sunday September 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- "Unveiled 26" - Studio Tour SOMA's Preview Show Opening Reception →
1 SOPAC Way, South Orange Village
6:00 pm - Music and Conversation with Paquito D'Rivera →
Enlow Recital Hall, 215 North Ave, Hillside
7:30 pm - Maplewood Bible Chapel's Annual Septemberfest →
127 Burnet Ave, Maplewood
11:00 am - Stars, Stripes & Shells Oysterfest Celebrates America's 250 Years →
The Woodland, 60 Woodland Rd, Maplewood
6:00 pm - The Maplewood Theater: The Show Must Go On →
Maplewood Memorial Library, 51 Baker St, Maplewood
6:00 pm - Newstead 5K →
South Mountain Annex, 112 Glenview Rd, South Orange Village
9:00 am - Wellpoint New Jersey Sponsors "Latif Rivers Day" in Elizabeth →
Erxleben Recreation Center 513 Richmond Street Elizabeth, NJ 07202
10:00 am - Greater Union Township Mayor's Day 5K →
Union High School, 2350 N 3rd St, Union
9:00 am
Thursday September 17
Friday September 18
Saturday September 19
Wednesday September 23
Saturday September 26
Sunday September 27
📣 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!
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:
- Orange Mattress — (732) 428-4125
- Wedderburn Law — (201) 897-0287
- Absolute Home Mortgage Corporation — 2016796200
- HZY Goods Dispensary — (973) 200-3030
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) — (888) 696-5722
- Fairways at Cranford — (908) 913-8138
- PSE&G — (800) 436-7734
- Insurcomm Restoration — (866) 708-5357
- Aaron Zuckerman Private Math Tutor — 9084100442
- Right at Home of Essex County — (973) 669-1822
- West Orange Wellness Dispensary — (862) 420-0420
- The Pool Boss — (973) 823-7007
- Jersey Sports Finder
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Maplewood Student Attains Top Leadership Post at St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark —Angeline Boyer Read on Patch
- Family Dollar posted a job opening for Assistant Manager I in West Orange. Apply here.
- MLee Healthcare Staffing and Recruiting, Inc posted a job opening for Remote Account Executive Healthcare Talent Navigator in Newark. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Maplewood here.
🗞 Nearby News
South Orange
- South Orange Police Invite Public Comment About the Department's Policing to Accreditation Assessors (villagegreennj.com)
- The Pierro Gallery at The Baird Presents 'Judy Targan: A Life in Art' (villagegreennj.com)
Irvington
- Irvington Schools Strengthen Early Childhood Education for More Than 1,200 Preschoolers (rlsmedia.com)
- 7th out-of-state petition circulator arrested in ongoing Lancaster County fraud investigation (newsfromthestates.com)
- Sunshine, Great Temperatures Welcome Newark to the Work Week (rlsmedia.com)
Millburn
- Millburn Township Warns Of Fraudulent Emails Posing As Employees (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: Black eyed peas can sing us a song but chick peas can only hummus one. (Thank you Bev H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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