The Week Ahead: South Orange Schedules First Historic Meeting

It's Valentine's Day on Thursday, Feb. 14. Check out Patch's compilation of local things to do, places to eat and where to shop to prepare for the Big Day of Love.

Reminder: South Orange - Maplewood Schools are closed on Friday, Feb. 15 and Monday, Feb. 18. Schools are open on Feb. 14.

The South Orange Historic Preservation Commission will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in South Orange Village Hall, 101 S. Orange Ave.

This is the inaugural meeting of the commission, which was established in June, is comprised of village residents in the following three categories: Residents knowledgeable in building design and construction or architectural history, residents knowledgeable or have a demonstrated interest in South Orange history and residents holding no other municipal office, position or employment except for membership on the planning board or the zoning board of adjustment.

This will be an organizational meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission.

The South Orange Board of Trustees will also meet Monday night for a special meeting at 7:30 p.m., followed by a conference meeting at 8 p.m. Agendas for both meetings are attached.

At the special meeting:

◆ The board will announce a board of trustees budget work session will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in South Orange Village Hall.
◆ The board will also hear a presentation from South Orange-Maplewood School Board President Elizabeth Daugherty on the 2013-14 school district budget.

At the conference agenda meeting:

◆ The board will discuss a NJ Transit update what blogger Scott Greenstone called 'some minor changes' in his Jan. 25 blog, including changes to the evening train schedule.
◆ The board will discuss a post-Hurricane Sandy recap
◆ The board will also discuss South Orange Village Hall renovation updates.

Essex County officials will be discussing results of the recently completed Deer Management Program on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at a press conference in West Orange. Patch will be there.

The program, which recently completed its sixth year on Feb. 7, began Jan. 22 and was culled back by county officials when Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. announced the program on Jan. 15.

The program took place in the Essex County South Mountain Reservation, the Hilltop Reservation and the old Essex County Hospital Center complex. It did not include the Eagle Rock Reservation this year.

And it's not too soon to save the date for the Columbia High School musical. Legally Blonde March 8, 9, 10 and 15, 16, 17.   To reserve tickets ($10 in advance; $15 at the door), call 973 762 5600 x1018