As the end of classes neared at St. Patrick School, Rosalie Iadanza wore a special T-shirt and necklace into her first-grade classroom. "They were given to me by parents," Iadanza, a Berkeley Heights resident, said. The T-shirt reads, "40 Years of A Million Hugs. Thank You Mrs. I!" The necklace, a silver chain with a matching medallion, is also inscribed with the words "A Million Hugs." "I always write 'A million hugs' on their homework passes," Iadanza said. "This is my life here. These are my babies." When they come into her classroom from kindergarten, not all of her "babies" can correctly…

When Chatham Patch asked residents to tell us about your favorite Chatham teachers, we were overwhelmed with the responses. Those who wrote in used glowing terms to describe how teachers in your childrens' schools changed their lives and earned your trust and a special place in your hearts. One teacher who got an especially noticeable recommendation was Victoria Cadavid, a Spanish teacher at St. Patrick School. Antoinette Walsh wrote of Signora Cadavid, "she truly imparts on each child a love of the language, fun learning activities and great Spanish art projects." Cadavid, a New Providence …

Eight days a week is what Chatham resident Ethan Gritz, a freshman at Delbarton School in Morris Township, probably needs to get everything done in his typical work week. Gritz, 14, walks around town with his squared off, swoosh-less tennis racquet bag slung on his back. What he actually carries in that anonymous black case is a violin, one he plays so well that recently he was accepted into the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra. Gritz has been playing violin since he was 5 years old, when he played a violin one-16th the size of a full violin. Now, he is tall enough for a full-size instrument…

From her perch as the new acting Essex County prosecutor, Carolyn A. Murray can pinpoint what gave her the spark to embark on a career which ultimately paved the way to her leading the busiest and largest prosecutor’s office in the state. As a child, she was encouraged by her mother to be anything she wanted to be, Murray said.But when her mother would leave the room, Murray’s grandmother, with a twinkle in her eye, would say wouldn’t it be nice if she became a lawyer like her father, Buddy Murray, who died of cancer in his last year of law school. That gave Carolyn A. Murray an entry way …

Keeping healthy plays a big role in Vicki Fife’s daily routine. That's good news, considering the newly elected Chatham Borough councilwoman has a lot on her plate right now. She and her husband, Peter, are realtors with an office in Summit. She has council meetings and subsequent meetings for committees of which she is now a member, including the Communications Committee, the Operating Committee of the Madison/Chatham Joint Meeting and liaison to the Board of Education. And, of course, there’s also a dog that needs walking. However, with all of those responsibilities circling around her, she…