Author: Jessica Murphy

A group of adults standing in a festival crowd, with tents visible behind them.

Favorite Summer Destinations for Recreation Group

The month of July took The Arc of Essex County’s recreation participants to a variety of fun summertime locations, including Maplewoodstock, Point Pleasant, and Camp Hope. On July 9, the Community Inclusion group made their way to Maplewoodstock, a fun local music festival at Memorial Park in Maplewood. There, they danced along to the live music, visited the vendor booths, and enjoyed their time together. The following weekend featured a Group Respite barbecue at Camp Hope on July 19. Partygoers enjoyed the splash pad, games, music, and summer fun together. To close out the month, Community Inclusion participants went to Point Pleasant on [...]

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Two men and one woman standing on either side of a box of a Cricut machine.

SYA Receives Cricut Donation

The Arc of Essex County thanks Arc parents Karen Marshall and Joan Romaniello, along with Karen’s brother Stephen Marshall, who donated a Cricut machine to the SYA day program. The Cricut is a crafting tool that will enhance arts and crafts projects for the SYA day program participants. Consumers and staff are so grateful for this gift, which is sure to get plenty of use in the days to come. Do you have a loved one interested in attending The Arc of Essex County’s Adult Day Services?  Click here to learn more about our programs, and reach out to The Arc of Essex [...]

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Four people standing in a bowling alley with medals hanging from their necks.

Bowling Season Celebrated at Annual Banquet

The Arc of Essex County’s bowling participants celebrated the end of another fantastic bowling season with their annual banquet at Bowlero in Belleville. During their Saturday bowling sessions, the group enjoyed physical activity while learning how to take turns, keep score, and demonstrate good sportsmanship. The annual end-of-year banquet honored each bowler, and all participants received a medal and a trophy. The group also enjoyed a meal together. The recurring bowling activity is part of The Arc of Essex County’s Community Inclusion program. If your loved one with intellectual or developmental disabilities is interested in joining, you can learn more about bowling [...]

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A candle with The Arc of Essex County logo. Text in the middle says" "The Arc of Essex County Remembers Jamal Price." To the right, a photo of a man wearing glasses.

The Arc of Essex County Remembers Jamal Price

It is with deepest sympathies that The Arc of Essex County shares the passing of Jamal Price. Jamal has been an endearing member of The Arc family since he moved into our services in 2009. Jamal was a kind soul who would do anything to make everyone smile. He was loved deeply by his mother, Angela Price, and by his Orange group home housemates and staff. Jamal loved to play basketball, go to the park for walks, and socialize with his peers. When he wasn’t enjoying being social and active, you could find him relaxing or catching a quick nap in his favorite recliner chair.  To [...]

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A candle with The Arc of Essex County logo. Text in the middle says" "The Arc of Essex County Remembers Miles Terrell." To the right, a photo of a man in a button-down shirt.

The Arc of Essex County Remembers Miles Terrell

The Arc of Essex County is deeply saddened to share news of the passing of longtime Arc family member  Miles Terrell. Miles attended our children services, as well as Camp Hope, before joining The Arc’s Bridges day program upon his graduation. Miles enjoyed visiting local libraries, volunteering at food pantries, and other activities with his Bridges friends, and a highlight was going to a local restaurant for lunch on Fridays. Miles had a great sense of humor and fully enjoyed life, taking in a variety of hobbies and pursuits. All of his peers and staff at Bridges will remember him fondly [...]

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The words "RESIDENTIAL CORNER" across images of four different homes and apartments. The Arc of Essex County logo in the bottom left corner.

August 2023 Residential Corner

For individuals seeking a community living placement, The Arc of Essex County has the following August 2023 openings: Belmont Group Home (1 Male vacancy) Single-family style home Located in a great Livingston neighborhood. 24/7 supervision Can accommodate residents with additional medical supports and aging needs Meadowbrook Condo (1 Male or Female Vacancy) Unlicensed two-bedroom condo in Maplewood Candidates would be on the Supports Program Close to public transportation Care based on individual needs Orange Community Residence (1 Male or Female Vacancy) 24/7 supervision Single-family style group home located in a turn-of-the-century mansion with spacious living areas Co-ed living arrangement with active group of residents Near shopping, dining, and activities Care based on individual needs Maplewood [...]

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Strawberries in cardboard containers

Rec Programs Celebrate Spring… and Strawberries!

The tastes of the season loomed large for The Arc of Essex County Community Inclusion and Recreation participants, who held a “Last Days of Spring” Garden Party and visited a strawberry festival in June. On June 18, the group gathered for a garden party at the Opportunity Zone in Maplewood, where they made their own garden terrariums and enjoyed a selection of fresh salads and other spring-forward seasonal ingredients. On June 25, it was a celebration of the delightful taste of fresh strawberries at the Strawberry Harvest Festival at Alstede Farms in Chester. The group enjoyed strawberry-flavored foods, such as ice cream [...]

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A collage of four photos from The Arc of Essex County's gala event. To the right, a man doing a performance with flames. Above center: a group of people gathered for a photo. Below center: A man and woman dancing on a dance floor. Right: Two women hugging.

The Arc of Essex County Marks 75 Years at “A Million Dreams” Anniversary Gala

It was a night to remember at “A Million Dreams,” The Arc of Essex County’s 75th Anniversary Gala, with cirque performances, special honorees, fine dining, dancing, and a celebration of 75 years of service to the intellectual and developmental disability community. Held at The Grove in Cedar Grove on June 15, the gala was a special milestone celebration. “Seventy-five years is a long time, and in the decades that The Arc of Essex County has existed, it has made great strides and changed the landscape for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in our community,” said [...]

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Six Stepping Stones Students on the stage at Stepping Stones School, holding diplomas and roses and wearing graduation caps.

Stepping Stones Celebrates Class of 2023

In June, Stepping Stones School celebrated the completion of a fantastic school year, the moving up of several children from one classroom to the next, and the graduation of six students from the school. The ceremony featured a processional, a student-led Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem, a photo slideshow, the remembrance of beloved staff members Nicole Fiorella and James Paden, and the acknowledgement of each child in the preschool, transitional kindergarten, and primary classrooms. Every student received a certificate and a flower to present to their parents or caregivers. Six students were celebrated in a special graduation ceremony as they have [...]

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A montage of images of day program participants performing at Studio Arc -- singing, dancing, and DJing.

Day Programs Showcase Talent

Day Program participants from the Opportunity Zone, SYA, and West Caldwell Hub participated in a talent show at Studio Arc on June 28 that featured a variety of performances. Talents included singing, dancing, disc jockeying, painting, and poetry reading. Although most performed on their own, a few duos took to the microphone for this showcase of skills and gifts. Bravo to all participants for shining bright! Do you have a loved one interested in attending The Arc of Essex County’s Adult Day Services?  Click here to learn more about our programs, and reach out to The Arc of Essex County’s Director [...]

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