Every week, we gather the highlights you missed in the news this week in Montclair, Bloomfield, + beyond. Among the local headlines: Two Verona children won awards at the Essex County Fishing Derby; Millburn’s Paper Mill Playhouse’s annual gala raised $1.2M; Montclair held its Annual LGBTQIA+ Pride Month flag-raising ceremony; and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Essex County + beyond.
Montclair Officials, Students, + Teachers Joined Gun Safety Rally in Hudson County
On Thursday, June 2nd, Montclair officials including Mayor Sean Spiller joined students and teachers at a gun safety rally in Hudson County, according to Patch. New Jersey Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker who also attended the event are slated to return to Washington D.C. this week. The rally was held in light of three recent mass shootings in Texas, New York, and Oklahoma.
APEM Creamery in Bloomfield to Celebrate Filipino Week with Special Flavors
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Local ice cream shop APEM Creamery is celebrating Filipino Week with special flavors to honor Filipino Independence Day. From Thursday, June 9th to Sunday, June 12th, limited-time flavors will include Ube, Polvoron, Mais Kon Karamelo, Mango Float, Mango Coconut, and Cousin Itsay’s Fruit Salad. APEM Creamery co-owner Alex Saneski is part Filipino and created the flavors drawing on Filipino staples and ingredients. The shop is located at 870 Broad Street in Bloomfield.
There Will Be Free Admission to New Jersey State Parks This Summer
As of Memorial Day weekend, entry to all New Jersey State Parks, forests, and recreation areas will be free of charge through the summer. Park entrance fees will be waived for all visitors, regardless of residency. Anyone who already purchased a 2022 Annual State Park Pass will automatically receive a full refund. Other individual park fees remain in place, such as camping, interpretive programs, and mobile sport fishing permits. Click here for what we know.
New Jersey Referee Joins NFL as 1 of 3 Women Referees
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Referee Robin DeLorenzo will officially be joining the NFL as one of three women referee professionals, according to NJ.com. The Instagram post reads, “Robin DeLorenzo! 👏 The Nutley native got her start reffing high school football games here in New Jersey in 2004. This fall, she’ll be one of 3 women referees on the field in the National Football League.”
Montclair July 4th Parade is Seeking Sponsors for the Event
The Montclair July 4th Parade Committee is seeking participants and sponsors for the event, per Tap Into. A fundraiser for the event has been scheduled for Thursday, June 9th and it will be held at Just Jakes on Park Street. This year’s Grand Marshals will also be formally introduced at the event.
Millburn’s Paper Mill Playhouse Raises $1.2M at Annual Gala
Millburn’s Paper Mill Playhouse’s annual gala sold out and raised almost $1.2 million, per Tap Into. This is the most successful Live Auction in Paper Mill’s 84-year history. The Paper Mill Playhouse opened Sister Act on Wednesday, June 1st following a successful run of The Wanderer. The theater is located at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn.
Human Needs Food Pantry Celebrates 40th Anniversary in Montclair
Human Needs Food Pantry is celebrating 40 years of supporting and being supported by the Essex County community, per Baristanet. HNFP will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary with a series of events that will take place in the fall. Click here for the full list of upcoming events.
Montclair Township Raises Pride Flag in New Annual Ceremony
The Montclair Township held its Annual LGBTQIA+ Pride Month flag-raising ceremony on Friday, June 3rd, per Baristanet. This is how Montclair recognizes the start of Pride Month as a symbol of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Speakers at the event included Mayor Sean M. Spiller.
Glenfield Middle School to Celebrate 125th Anniversary
Glenfield Middle School’s Student Action Team for Partnership has planned a 125th anniversary party to celebrate the school, per Montclair Local. This event will take place on June 12th and it will highlight the school’s focus on visual and performing arts. Glenfield was the first public school in the area and it plans to use this event to showcase the history of the school.
Demolition of Industrial Building Begins in Newark
An industrial building will be torn down to get replaced with a six-story development in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood, per Jersey Digs. Shorewood Real Estate Group, in partnership with Bridge Investment Group, has officially started the preliminary site work. This project is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2025.
Two Young Children Announced as Winners of Essex County Fishing Derby
Two children from Verona were among the winners of the Essex County Fishing Derby in Verona Park, per Tap Into. Aubrey Toader caught the most fish in the Girls 6-10 category and Jackson Scelfo caught the most fish in the Boys 6-10 age category. Both Aubrey and Jackson caught five fish.
Watchung Booksellers to Have New In-Store Signing
On Sunday, June 5th, Robert and Jeanne Johannsen is hosting a book signing at Watchung Booksellers, per Baristanet. Starting at 2PM, the pair will be available to sign copies of their keepsake book of stories + recipes. The event is free and open to the public but registration is required.
Rutgers University to Prohibit Tobacco Products in 2023
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Rutgers University campuses statewide will begin to prohibit the use of tobacco products, Tap Into. They will be prohibited both indoors and outdoors and this will start on January 1st, 2023. The university will be joining eight other Big Ten universities that do not allow any tobacco products on campus.
Election Districts Change in Montclair
Due to population changes and other concerns which were documented in the 2020 Census, new boundaries for wards and election districts in Montclair are required pursuant to New Jersey law, per Montclair Local. The new ward and election districts will be applied in the June 7th primary election and in the November 8th general election. Click here to locate the correct polling station.
Montclair Water May Smell, Water Bureau Reports It’s Still Safe
Montclair residents may notice an unusual smell in their water, but according to the Montclair Water Bureau, it is still safe, per Montclair Local. Gary Obszarny, the director of the Montclair Water Bureau and Sewer Utility, said this smell could be due to recent temperature swings and heavy downpours. Additional heavy rains could also potentially add to the situation.
Essex County Votes on Democratic Party Nomination
The race for the Democratic Party nomination in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District is almost at the end, per Patch. Voters on Tuesday, June 7th headed to the polls in parts of Essex, Hudson, and Union counties and were able to vote for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The winners of the primary will help secure their party’s nomination for the general election which will take place on Tuesday, November 8th.
West Orange Restaurant ‘The Boiling Place’ Closes
A West Orange restaurant has officially closed its doors due to “force majeure,” per Patch. The Boiling Place announced via social media that it would be closing. A “forced majeure” refers to a legal concept that has become freshly relevant because of the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on small businesses.
‘Java Love Coffee’ to be a Sponsor in Montclair Pride 2022
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Java Love Coffee Roasting Co., located at 244 Bellevue Avenue in Montclair, is officially celebrating Pride Month in a big way. According to a press release, the owners love to be active in their home community and are happy to embrace the town’s first Pride Festival. Java Love will be collaborating with Paper Plane Coffee Co. with a special ‘Love is in the Air’ blend.
Man Dies in Union County Following Train Accident
On Thursday, June 2nd, a man was killed after he was struck by an NJ Transit Train, per NJ.com. The train was running on the Gladstone line in Berkeley Heights around 1:40PM when the collision occurred. Service was suspended as of 3PM on the Gladstone Branch.
