DUI Lawyers in South Orange Village, NJ

After accepting Hilton’s resignation and waving goodbye, the Council brought on former Village trustee Steve Schnall, who has agreed to serve out Hilton’s term.

South Orange Council Member Karen Hilton attended her last Village Council meeting this week, wrapping up years of public service to the community.

In an emotional sendoff that included some tears, Hilton’s colleagues on the Council told her that her leadership, stewardship, mentorship and drive inspired them not only to run for office but helped them understand the best ways to serve the community.

While Hilton spent the last eight years on the Council, prior to that she served in volunteer roles in the schools and other organizations and trained people, particularly women, to run for office.

One of those women was Council Member Summer Jones, who heralded Hilton’s mentorship.

“From the time that I decided to run until now, Karen has been a really great support,” Jones said. “You’ve had a huge impact on everyone that you’ve come into contact with, whether on the Council or not. So you will definitely be missed.”

Among Hilton’s many roles over the last eight years on the Council, she led the effort for a new library, was the liaison for the senior citizens advisory committee and shepherded the financial committee through the budget season.

“You have been a tremendous mentor. It transcends just finance or talking about ordinances or the debt ceiling. You’re a good, good, good human being, and you care so deeply about people,” South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum told Hilton. “You gave the past eight years your all. And I don’t think residents will ever, ever fully see or appreciate the lasting impact you’ve made on South Orange. You govern with care, with compassion, with integrity, with professionalism, with ‘it’s okay to disagree without being disagreeable.’

“If we could replicate you thousands of times throughout the state of New Jersey, we would be better for it,” Collum said.

Council member Bill Haskins, who ran with Hilton along with Council member Bobby Brown, called Hilton “the template” for holding public office in South Orange.

“You have inspired me, but then you’ve also been an example of how to do this for me,” he said. “You’ve encouraged me all along …. And I feel that that is so much of who you are. You’ve been a great example to me and a great help through this, and I think, most importantly, for our council and for the wider community.”

Brown said that from they time they ran together until now, Hilton has helped him juggle his duties as a parent with his duties as a public official.

“The fact that you’ve always been ‘family first’ and you treated the Village like a family. You treated this Council like a family, and all of us as candidates when we were running together as family,” he said. “And so we’re all fortunate to be a part of the family that is Karen Hilton et al, along with your actual family members. You care deeply. You give deeply, you commit deeply.”

As the newest members on the Council, Jennifer Greenberg and Olivia Lewis-Change also thanked Hilton for her mentorship and leadership, as did staff.

Hilton said she originally ran for office because she felt the condition of the library was sad and she wanted better for South Orange residents. And on Monday night, Hilton’s last night as member, they voted to award the contract for library renovations and construction.

“I ran for office to try to make that happen,” she said. “And, and after tonight’s vote, we’re just about there.”

Hilton went on to compliment her colleagues on the Council for the individual strengths they bring to public service — and to describe how they have taught each other things along the way.

“It’s a constant discussion, learning from each other, trying to convince each other of things, educating, listening, and we all bring so many divergent and important priorities to this work,” she said.

Before leaving her “Hollywood Square” in the virtual meeting, Hilton said she will miss South Orange and her time on the Council but she is looking forward to a new chapter, returning to Massachusetts, where she and her husband met long before making South Orange their home 30 years ago.

“I am very sad that it’s ending,” she said. “I’m excited for our next chapter that Jim and I will have up in Massachusetts, in the town of Wareham. I don’t know it very well yet, but I will. I don’t think I’ll run for office there. I hope that I can stay as involved as I can with watching you all from afar. So thank you so much everybody.”

After accepting Hilton’s resignation and waving goodbye to her, the Council brought on former Village trustee Steve Schnall, who has agreed to serve out Hilton’s term.

“I can’t help but say how lucky we are as a community to have somebody like Steve Schnall,” Collum said. “This is now his second time willing to step into a vacant role. He brings passion, incredible passion, excitement, knowledge and a collaborative spirit for our staff and for every member on the Village council and the community. And when put in this type of situation, he is always the person to raise his hand and say, ‘I’m happy to help.’”

RELATED: Karen Hilton Announces Resignation Effective April 15, after 8 Years of Service on SO Council

Council Member Bill HaskinsCouncil Member Bobby BrownCouncil Member Jennifer GreenbergCouncil Member Karen HiltonCouncil Member Olivia Lewis-ChangCouncil Member Summer JonesKaren HiltonSouth Orange Mayor Sheena CollumSouth Orange Public LibrarySouth Orange Village CouncilSteve Schnall

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

South Orange|Local Event

Sun, Apr 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM

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More info here

Join us on Sunday, April 6th as we celebrate National Acaí Day at Playa Bowls South Orange!! Enjoy $5 off ANY ACAI BOWL all day long for all Playa Bowls Rewards members. Click the link to join our rewards program and join us in store (or order online) this Sunday!!

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The district will be holding a Residency Confirmation Town Hall on Wednesday, March 26 to provide more information and answer questions.

The South Orange-Maplewood School District has announced that all 8th grade students will be required to provide proof of residency to the district.

In a March 13 letter to community leaders that SOMSD administration shared with media, Supt. Jason Bing wrote, “Residency confirmation is necessary for maintaining class sizes, assessing transportation needs, and planning the allocation of resources throughout the school year.”

Bing wrote that more information would be forthcoming at a Residency Confirmation Town Hall on Wednesday, March 26.

“This process will begin with an electronic records review for all students to verify their domicile within the district,” wrote Bing. “If any questions arise during this review, we will reach out to families and request documentation to confirm residency.”

Bing also sought to reassure families that their information would remain confidential and would not be shared with outside agencies: “Please know that any information provided will remain strictly confidential and will be used solely to confirm residency within South Orange Village or Maplewood Township. Once confirmed, no further action will be taken, and information will not be shared with outside agencies.”

As far as Village Green can ascertain, the last time SOMSD preformed a Residency Confirmation process outside of initial registration was in 2011-12 when 10th graders were required to show proof of residency. Village Green has asked the district to verify if this was the last re-registration and will update this story when the district replies.

In 2021, the Board of Education updated its student residency policy, seeking to ensure that students are not targeted for residency checks based on neighborhood or other demographic information.

Dear Community Leaders,

We are reaching out to share information about our residency confirmation process. As community leaders, we understand that your constituents may come to you with questions. We wanted to provide you with these details at the outset to ensure you have the information you need. Please know that similar communication went out to our grade 8 students. Additionally, we will hold 2 community forums to share this process and answer any questions our families may have.

Our district is committed to ensuring that our resources continue to support students who reside within the boundaries of our community. As part of this commitment, we will be conducting a residency confirmation for our current 8th-grade students as they prepare for the next step in their educational journey.

Residency confirmation is necessary for maintaining class sizes, assessing transportation needs, and planning the allocation of resources throughout the school year. This process will begin with an electronic records review for all students to verify their domicile within the district. If any questions arise during this review, we will reach out to families and request documentation to confirm residency.

Please know that any information provided will remain strictly confidential and will be used solely to confirm residency within South Orange Village or Maplewood Township. Once confirmed, no further action will be taken, and information will not be shared with outside agencies. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and support in this process, and we look forward to working together to ensure a smooth transition for all our students.

Please join us for our upcoming Residency Confirmation Town Hall on Wednesday 3/26, for further information in an open forum where we will discuss questions.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

In partnership,

Jason Bing

Superintendent

FAQ

What is residency confirmation?

This is a process where the school district verifies that each child lives within the boundaries of South Orange Village and Maplewood Township. This process will begin with an electronic records review for all students to verify their domicile within the district.

Why does a district take part in this process?

Residency confirmation is necessary to maintain class sizes, assess transportation needs, and plan resource allocation throughout the school year.

What grade will this occur?

This verification process will take place for grade 8. Additional grades may be considered at a later date, before the end of the 2025-26 school year.

What if I have to hand in paperwork?

If the Registration Department needs additional information to complete their verification, they will email you a list of the documentation you need to provide.

What happens if I am unable to provide documentation?

All families must prove domicile to remain enrolled in the district.

What happens if my address doesn’t match?

You will be required to provide new proof of address or be referred to the registration office for follow-up review as per Policy 5111 and N.J.A.C 6A: 222-4.1.

What if I moved within the district and never updated my address?

Please contact the Office of Registration at registration@somsd.k12.nj.us, to provide updated proof of documents and confirm residency in the district. Please refer to THIS document.

What if two parents live separately?

As long as a custodial parent lives within the district’s boundaries, the student is eligible to attend the South Orange Maplewood School District. Please update all addresses so the district has the appropriate contact information for both parents.

What if my child will not be attending Columbia High School next year?

Please withdraw your child from the school by going to the main office and completing a withdrawal form. The form must be dated the last day of school after 8th-grade graduation. Once we have a signed withdrawal form with a release, we will send your child’s records to their new school.

What happens if I move out of the district?

Please withdraw your child from school by going to the main office and completing a withdrawal form. The form must be dated the last day of school after 8th-grade graduation. Once we have a signed withdrawal form with a release, we will provide your child’s records to their new school.

Will I be asked for any documentation to prove I am legally in the country?

No, legally we cannot ask for any documentation to prove a person’s status in the country. The district will not ask for this documentation.

Will the information gathered be given to other agencies?

The information provided will be used only to verify one’s domicile in the district. It will not be shared with outside agencies.

Jason BingRe-RegistrationResidency ConfirmationSOMSDStudent RegistrationStudent Residency

Four repair and renovation projects are underway at the Peter S. Connor Memorial Pool in South Orange and city officials say if all goes as planned, the work should be completed by early May, making it possible to open on Memorial Day as usual.

“As always, the construction being completed on time is dependent on all materials being delivered in a timely manner, weather allowing for the necessary installations and site work,” said Deputy Village Administrator Peter Travers. “…In the event there are any unforeseen setbacks that may delay the opening we will let the public know as soon as we become aware of any issues.”

The combined cost of the projects is nearly $1.7 million dollars and work includes replacing the pool gutters in both the main pool and the intermediate pool as well as the associated plumbing with both, he said.

“The old gutter system was over 50 years old and in need of replacement,” Travers said, noting that gutter replacement began after the end of the 2024 season and that alone costs nearly $1.3 million.

The 2024 project was part of a $1.9 million bond package for pool repairs.

The other projects are renovations to the bathhouse to make it ADA compliant with new flooring and wheelchair accessibility to stalls; repairs to the picnic area roof and structure and the addition of 10 shade structures, Travers said.

The $255,625 bathhouse project is partially funded by a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant, he said.

Travers said updates will be made to the Recreation, Arts and Cultural Affairs Committee, which meets on the first Thursday of each month.

Resident pool memberships for the 2025 season go on sale Tuesday, April 15 (note: the sale date has been pushed back from the original date of April 1) and cost $50 for individuals, $40 for seniors over 62, and $85 for caregivers employed by residents. Visit the website to purchase and for more information.

ADA compliant bathhouseCommunity Development Block GrantConstruction and repairsDeputy Village Administrator Peter TraversPeter S Connor Memorial PoolSouth Orange Pool