The Montclair Girl Team 
It’s the last weekend before summer unofficially begins and we’re ready for it. Every week, we round up the top news stories of the week from both our site, The Montclair Girl, and aggregate across the web from various sources. Headlines get you up to speed this week include a new Greek restaurant in Montclair, more World Cup announcements, and Ras Baraka is elected to a fourth term as Newark’s mayor.
You can read more at the links below, and always feel free to submit any news tips to [email protected]. Our twice-weekly newsletter shares more as well, which you can sign up for here (it’s so great, promise)!
– A secondhand children’s clothing and consignment shop has opened in Montclair called Middle Child Kids (The Montclair Girl).
– Drip Fitness will open a new Montclair studio on May 26th, with strength training and high-intensity interval workout classes (The Montclair Girl).
– Harrison’s Sports Illustrated Stadium will host 16 days of Jersey Fan Hub programming during the FIFA World Cup (The Hoboken Girl).
– An LGBTQ+ advocacy group is criticizing West Orange Mayor Susan McCartney after rainbow-painted steps outside City Hall were removed ahead of Pride Month (NJ.com).
– A new Greek restaurant in Montclair called Sardela has opened, and our team got an early look (The Montclair Girl).
– Defying Gravitea debuted a totally gluten-free bunch menu (The Montclair Girl).
– Montclair families are participating in a community “bike bus” event encouraging children to bike to school together in groups (The Montclair Girl).
– Thousands of New Jersey residents could lose SNAP benefits under proposed new federal work requirements and eligibility rules (New Jersey Monitor).
– 24-year-old Frank Velez won his campaign for the role of Belleville’s mayor (Insider NJ).
– Montclair approved zoning changes in one neighborhood amid concerns about overdevelopment and gentrification(Montclair Local).
– A three-year pilot program for testing fully autonomous vehicles on roads across New Jersey was just approved by a state senate committee (New Jersey Globe).
– An Essex County woman has been charged with allegedly stealing a dog from a family’s front lawn in Clifton (NJ.com).
– Newark’s former Anheuser-Busch brewery is expected to become a manufacturing hub after sale to Goodman Group (NorthJersey.com).
– Montclair officials introduced a $106.8 million municipal budget that includes a tax increase largely driven by rising healthcare costs (Montclair Local).
– Bed Bath + Beyond is opening a new concept in five New Jersey Container Store locations, including Livingston and Paramus (News 12 New Jersey).
– A police chase on the Garden State Parkway ended in multiple crashes and the arrest of a suspect in Essex County (NJ.com).
– Plans for a proposed ICE detention center in Roxbury have been paused pending additional environmental review (NJ Spotlight News).
– New murals at Montclair’s Bellevue Theater pay tribute to notable local figures and community icons (Montclair Local).
– The Montclair Antique Center has closed after 25 years (Montclair Antique Center Instagram).
– A winning $5.9 million New Jersey Lottery ticket is set to expire this week if the winner does not come forward (NJ.com).
– Climate scientists are warning that extreme heat during the 2026 FIFA World Cup could pose health risks for both players and fans (Scientific American).
– Essex County’s only licensed cannabis cultivation facility is operating out of Montclair (Montclair Local).
– Bloomfield parents criticized officials over how schools handled disruptions caused by a massive warehouse fire (NJ.com).
– Livingston High School students will perform The Adventures of Little Billy…in Search of the Magic Tree, written by Livingston author Barry Farber (press release).
– Ras Baraka won a fourth term as mayor of Newark (NJ.com).
– New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said that the state would not suspend its gas tax, should there be a suspension on the federal gas tax (NJ.com).
– Round-trip bus prices between New York and New Jersey for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are expected to surge as demand for transportation spikes during the tournament (The Athletic).
– Smoke detectors alerted a Newark family to a house fire early enough for everyone inside to escape safely (NJ.com).
– FIFA is planning a Super Bowl-style halftime show for the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, though the performance may take place off the field to protect the pitch (The Athletic).
– Governor Sherrill released NJ TRANSIT’s Rapid Action Plan, which includes a redesigned mobile app, real-time GPS tracking, cleaner vehicles and stations, accessibility upgrades, and new public safety initiatives (State of New Jersey).
– South Orange officials are moving toward banning gas-powered leaf blowers by 2027 as part of the township’s environmental initiatives (NJ.com).
– Essex County officials approved a policy banning ICE agents from accessing most county property, resources, and data without a judicial warrant (Montclair Local).
– Nutley restaurant MEAL is permanently closing after 16 years in business (NorthJersey.com).
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