Former Hillside Mayor Recognized During Essex County’s 2nd Annual Divine Nine Day

NEWARK, NJ - The County of Essex held its second annual Divine Nine Day on Wednesday, honoring the extraordinary legacy, service, and leadership of Black Greek‑letter organizations.Among the honorees was former Hillside Mayor Dahlia Vertreese. A Hillside resident, Vertreese was honored for her distinguished career as an educator in Essex County and for her unwavering advocacy in the union on behalf of working men and women across the state. Commissioner A’Dorian Murray‑Thomas selected her as an honorary awardee for her “distinguished and outstanding service to the Township of Hillside,” noting that Vertreese’s impact embodies the spirit of service that Divine Nine Day was created to celebrate.“Leadership is not a title—it’s a commitment,” Murray-Thomas said in a news release. “The Divine Nine has always modeled what it means to serve with purpose, uplift communities, and build pathways for those coming behind us.”