MAPLEWOOD CELEBRATES HOMETOWN HERO IBTIHAJ MUHAMMAD

Maplewood turned out big on Saturday to honor Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad with a parade and celebration that stretched from the Hilton Library to the Burgdorff Center.

The day's events were in recognition of both her bronze medal in Rio and her historic participation as the first athlete to compete with a hijab. She is a 2003 graduate of Columbia High School and past coach of its fencing team.

Public officials met at the New Jersey Fencing Alliance on Boyden Avenue with Muhammad for a motorcade that stopped at the Hilton Library and then the Main Library, where a parade began with hundreds of fans and followers.

It ended at the Burgdorff, where Muhammad signed autographs and met with fans. We will post a video compilation of the day's events on Sunday.