The Montclair Girl Team 
Over the past two weeks, the holiday season has come and gone, marking the close of a busy time of year. We’ve got all the Montclair and Essex County news you may have missed over the break. Among the highlights: the Montclair Public Library will host its inaugural Preschool Fair; a new hot chicken spot opens in Nutley; and 10 new police officers are welcomed to Belleville’s force. Read on for all the news in Montclair and the surrounding Essex County towns for the week ending January 5, 2025.
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Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):
- Roof Collapse at Newark Animal Shelter Displaces Animals, Fosters Step Up
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3 in Custody and No Casualties After Willowbrook Mall Shooting in Wayne
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Belleville Welcomes 10 New Police Officers
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Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo Jr. to Run for 7th Term
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Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken and Wings Coming to Nutley
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Measles Outbreak at Newark Liberty International Airport
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Montclair Public Library Hosting Inaugural Preschool Fair
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Nearly $200k Awarded to Summit’s Reeves-Reed Arboretum
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New Coffee Shop, 787 Coffee Co. Opens in Montclair
- West Orange High School Senior Awarded $35k Scholarship to Attend Maryland Art School
Roof Collapse at Newark Animal Shelter Displaces Animals, Fosters Step Up
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According to the Associated Humane Societies of Newark, accumulated snow on a neighboring building caused a roof collapse at the Newark shelter on December 27th. The shelter put out a call for emergency fosters to house the displaced dogs, and according to Montclair Local, more than 100 Essex County neighbors stepped in. Nearly 40 dogs have been taken into local foster homes. Neighbors can still support the shelter through donations or its Amazon wish list.
3 in Custody and No Casualties After Willowbrook Mall Shooting in Wayne
On December 31st, 2025, a shooting occurred at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne following a physical fight in the food court. Two adults and a juvenile were taken into custody. No injuries were reported, but visitors were forced to evacuate from the site. The mall reopened the following day at 11AM per ABC7NY.
Belleville Welcomes 10 New Police Officers
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Per the Belleville Police Department, the force has welcomed 10 new members to the force. The group is recent graduates from the Essex County Police Academy.
Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo Jr. to Run for 7th Term
Photo Credit: Essex County
Joseph “Joe D” DiVincenzo Jr. will be seeking re-election for a seventh term as Executive of Essex County. He will be running as a Democrat in the June 2nd primary election per Patch Montclair. Joe first took office in 2002 and his current term ends on January 1st, 2027.
Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken and Wings Coming to Nutley
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Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken and Wings will open a Nutley location in 2026 on Franklin Avenue per TapintoNutley. The menu features Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches, wings, and tenders. Other New Jersey locations include Florham Park and Northvale.
Measles Outbreak at Newark Liberty International Airport
Per the NJ Health Department, there was a potential measles exposure at Newark Liberty International Airport on December 12th, 2025, at Terminals B and C. Travellers were advised to monitor for symptoms until January 2nd.
Montclair BOE to Vote on Tax Levy Language on 1/5
Per Montclair Local News, on January 5th, the Montclair Board of Education will vote to approve tax levy increase questions that will appear on the ballot for a special election on March 10th. Montclair previously planned for a December 9th, 2025 referendum to seek funds to deal with a $19.6M deficit, however, the election was called off by the Essex County Board of Elections. At the January meeting, the board will also elect a new board president and vice president and administer the oath of office to newly elected members.
Montclair Earns Perfect Score of 100 on Human Rights Campaign’s 2025 Municipal Equality Index
Montclair Township has earned the maximum score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2025 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), reaffirming the Township’s strong and ongoing commitment to advancing equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ residents, workers, and visitors. The MEI evaluates more than 500 municipalities nationwide on how inclusive their laws, policies, and services are for the LGBTQ+ community. Click here to see Montclair’s MEI Scorecard.
Montclair Public Library Hosting Inaugural Preschool Fair
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Per the Montclair Public Library, it will host the first Preschool Fair for families to learn about preschools across Montclair. The event will take place Saturday, January 31st at 230PM at 50 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair.
Nearly $200k Awarded to Summit’s Reeves-Reed Arboretum
Per Patch Summit, the Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit has been awarded $175k by the The Mary Reinhart Stackhouse Foundation, $14k by the E.J. Grassman Trust, and $10.5k by the Union Foundation. The funds will replace air conditioning, order new computers, and upgrade enhanced educational, directional, and interpretive language. Reeves-Reed Arboretum welcomes visits for free to enjoy its historic gardens, buildings, and educational programs.
New Coffee Shop, 787 Coffee Co., Opens in Montclair
787 Coffee is a Puerto Rican coffee brand that has been opening shops on the East Coast and in Texas in recent years. Its most recent addition opened in Montclair at 706 Bloomfield Avenue. The space was previously occupied by a hamburger restaurant Hamburguesa. Click here to read more.
West Orange High School Senior Awarded $35k Scholarship to Attend Maryland Art School
West Orange High School senior Chloe Chrobocinski has been awarded a $35k scholarship to Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a four-year scholarship per TapintoWest Orange.
