Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Chief Alvarez’s retirement means for South Orange fire protection

Spotted on the South Orange calendar: Unity Rd. Maywood Grand Opening 🎉

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Saturday August 29th Patch AM
Saturday August 29th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Morning South Orange! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Chief Alvarez's retirement means for South Orange fire protection
  • How did Seton Hall sweep Illinois State in South Orange's opener?
  • See how South Orange's Seton Hall stacks up in Time's new rankings

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: Partly sunny and less humid, with a high of 79 and low of 63 degrees.
  • Sunday: A stray afternoon t-shower, temps: high: 84, low: 68.
  • Monday: Humid; a p.m. shower or two, with a high of 86 and low of 69 degrees. 🌶 Hot!

📰 News we're reading

1. South Essex Regional Fire Department Announces Retirement of Chief Joseph Alvarez After 40 Years of Service (tapinto.net) — South Orange's shared South Essex Regional Fire Department is preparing for a leadership change as Chief Joseph Alvarez retires on December 1 after 40 years in fire service. Local officials credit him with successfully merging the South Orange and Maplewood departments and strengthening staffing and response, while a search for the next chief begins immediately.
   

2. Redbirds Fall in Opener in New Jersey (goredbirds.com) — Illinois State's volleyball team opened its 2026 season with a straight-set loss to Seton Hall in South Orange, giving local fans a look at early tournament action on campus. Despite travel issues and a slow start, the Redbirds rallied late in each set before falling 25-18, 25-19, 25-23, and they'll stay in New Jersey to face NJIT next.
   

3. 17 New Jersey colleges make Time's first Best Colleges list (njbiz.com) — Seton Hall University in South Orange has been ranked No. 340 on Time's first-ever America's Best Colleges list, joining 16 other New Jersey schools recognized for value and outcomes. While Princeton leads the state at No. 4, the ranking underscores Seton Hall's national visibility and may interest local families weighing college options close to home.
   

4. 2026 Argyllshire Gathering Day 2 (pipesdrums.com) — A major Scottish piping competition in Oban quietly featured a local connection: piper Cameron MacDougall of South Orange was among the A-Grade competitors at the 2026 Argyllshire Gathering. The event crowned multiple champions across March, Strathspey & Reel, Jig, and intermediate categories, highlighting a deep international field that included several New Jersey and North American pipers.
   

5. Detainees in South Orange-Maplewood Turn to SOMA Community Cares for Immigrant Support (villagegreennj.com) — In response to stepped-up ICE activity affecting South Orange and Maplewood residents, local volunteers are using the DIRE hotline and SOMA Community Cares to support detained immigrants and their families. SOMA Community Cares is raising emergency funds this weekend for legal aid, bonds, travel, and basic needs, while South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum helps connect impacted families to services and information.
   

📸 Around South Orange

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 South Orange

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 South Orange 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 South Orange PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

🪧 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

  • Jazz Fans Echoes of Bird & Dinah: A Celebration of Charlie Parker & Dinah Washington —Gregory Burrus Read on Patch
  • ShopRite posted a job opening for ShopRite - Meat Cutter Clerk (Village NJ) Salary Range $26.94 - $31.34/hr in Millburn. Apply here.
  • Selective Insurance posted a job opening for Manufacturing & Wholesale Market Segment Leader in Short Hills. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near South Orange here.

Ok South Orange! 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!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from South Orange