The holiday season is officially upon us, which means everyone is busy — so we’ve done the work of tracking down the latest news in the Montclair and the greater Essex County + North Jersey area, so you don’t have to. Among the headlines: Newark resident spearheads free laundry night; Bloomfield ShopRide debuts electric charging station; annual Turkey Ride to benefit Montclair Food Pantry; and so much more. Keep reading for all the North Jersey news you missed this week in Essex County and beyond.
Local Resident Goes Viral on TikTok Describing Break-In at His Montclair Home
This past weekend, a local resident named Troy went viral on TikTok in a video detailing a break-in at his Montclair home. In the video, user @hiscrookedhalo described a terrifying situation in which around 11:30PM, as he and his eldest daughter watched a movie in the living room, an intruder entered his sliding backdoor. The intruder walked away with $180 from the victim’s wallet. Click here for what we know.
Newark Resident Spearheads Free Laundry Night at Local Laundromat
Educator and non-profit leader Robert J. Austin II — along with friends and colleagues — coordinated an event to provide free laundry to the community for one night at Showcase Laundromat, per Patch. The laundromat, located at 377 Chancellor Avenue, was available to the community on Wednesday, November 16th from 4PM to 8PM, free of charge.
Montclair Starbucks Workers Join Nationwide Strike
Over 100 Starbucks locations across the country, including one located in Montclair, participated in a strike on Thursday, November 17th. According to Patch, the strike took place on Red Cup Day, when Starbucks customers get a branded red cup with select purchases. Instead, strikers demonstrated outside their store and handed out “Starbucks Workers United” branded cups.
New Jersey to Reinstate Bear Hunt in Light of Recent Sightings
In light of a recent uptick in bear sightings, the New Jersey Fish and Game Council voted to reinstate the black bear hunt, ABC 7 reported. In a meeting held on Tuesday, November 15th, the council heard community input from both sides of the issue. Governor Phil Murphy commented that while he previously opposed the hunt, current data would suggest the state’s bear population could grow to 4,000 in the next two years so to limit bear-human interactions, he now supports the hunt.
Montclair Board of Education Results Finally Called
Election Day has come and gone here in Montclair + the greater Essex County area. Residents all over the state of New Jersey visited the polls today to cast their votes — and we covered the results you need to know. After reporting the Montclair unofficial election results last week, the Montclair Board of Education vote remained uncalled. Now, over a week after Election Day, the Board of Education results are finally in. Click here for all the details.
Bloomfield ShopRite Debuts Electric Charging Spot
On Monday, November 14th, the newly-renovated ShopRite in Bloomfield debuted a new EVgo charging station for electric vehicles, Patch reported. The charging station can serve four vehicles at the same time and features charging from 100kW up to 350kW.
Essex County Teacher Publishes Book About Monsters
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Using his son’s fear of monsters as inspiration, Essex County teacher Corey Wolff has written and published a children’s book about monsters. According to Patch, the book entitled Mikey McMonsterson Goes to School helps children not be afraid of monsters in their room at night.
Annual Turkey Ride to Benefit Montclair Food Pantry
Montclair Bikery is hosting its 10th Annual Turkey Ride on Sunday, November 20th to collect donations for the Human Needs Food Pantry, Patch reported. Cyclists should arrive at 9AM for a “flat, 15-mile circuitous route” which will include buying + delivering turkeys to the food pantry in Montclair.
Newark Receives $750K in Federal Funding for Local Artists
Newark has received $750,000 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan which will go toward supporting the Creative Catalyst Fund, per Patch. Local artists and art organizations can apply for funding — which usually ranges from $3,800 for individual artists to $10,900 for organizations.
Montclair Town Council Proposes Fewer Meetings for 2023
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The Montclair Town Council recently proposed fewer council meetings and conferences for next year. Instead of the usual 22 meetings in total, the council is suggesting 17. According to Baristanet, the proposal also includes a new start time of 6PM.
New Jersey State Troopers Join Workshop with Young People of Color
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A group of New Jersey state troopers has joined a community workshop with the focus of building bridges with young people of color in Newark, per Patch. The workshop was organized by the NJ Reentry Corporation and took place earlier this month. At this point, more than six groups have participated in the workshop with the goal of replicating this teamwork-focused event in other areas.
NJ Jazz Society Concert to Feature Montclair State University Jazz Students
On Sunday, November 20th, two students from the John J. Cali School of Music Jazz Studies Program at Montclair State University will perform in the opening act of the NJ Jazz Society’s Jersey Jazz LIVE! Concert. According to Baristanet, the concert will take place at 3PM at the Madison Community Arts Center.
Canterbury Park Playground to Close for Improvement Work
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The Canterbury Park playground, located at 9 Planchet Drive in Montclair, has closed for improvement work. Patch reports the work will include replacing the current wood chip flooring with a poured-in-place safety surface.
Violet PR Named Boutique Agency of the Year
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Montclair-based public relations agency Violet PR has received recognition as the Boutique Agency of the Year at the national 2022 PR NEWS Platinum Awards event. According to Patch, Violet PR also received seven awards at the 2022 PRSSA New Jersey Pyramid Awards.
Montclair Synagogue to Host Red Cross Blood Drive 11/29
The Bnai Keshet synagogue in Montclair is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday, November 29th, per Baristanet. The event will take place from 12PM to 5PM at the synagogue, located at 99 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair.
Assisted Living Locators to Launch Service in Essex County
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On Monday, November 14th, Assisted Living Locators announced the launch of its franchise in Essex County + Northern New Jersey. Assisted Living Locators will provide the full spectrum of care including guidance in locating quality assisted living and in-home care options. According to the press release, the new franchise owner is Senior Care Advisor Rich Lanning, a Montclair resident.
The Mercy House to Give Away 200 Turkey Dinners
On Tuesday, November 22nd, The Mercy House will host a giveaway event at which visitors will get a turkey and a bag of side dishes like stuffing + cranberry sauce. According to Patch, families with young children will also get a gift bag of crayons and treats.
Bloomfield Park Earns ‘Smart Growth’ Award
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The Township of Bloomfield recently announced it has received the 2022 Smart Growth Award for the work to transform the current Lion Gate Park from a contaminated wetland area. According to Patch, New Jersey Future is a non-profit organization that awards honors to cities working on redevelopment projects that help make local communities more sustainable, equitable, and strong.
French Institute Alliance Française to Open New FIAF Preschool in Montclair
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The French Institute Alliance Française recently announced the opening of a branch of the FIAF Preschool in Montclair. According to Baristanet, the school will operate from September through June and will welcome children of all language proficiency levels and backgrounds. Enrollment begins Wednesday, December 7th and will include full-day and half-day options.
3 Montclair Actors to Star in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway During the Holidays
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Montclair actors Jennifer Dunne, Arian Keddell, and Michael Scirrotto will star on Broadway in the musical Chicago during the holiday season, per Montclair Local. On Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, the three performers will stand in for the regular cast.
Animal Rights Activists Hand Out Turkey-Free Roasts Ahead of Thanksgiving
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On Saturday, November 19th, advocates from the Newark Animal Save + PETA stood outside Whole Foods in Newark and handed out turkey-free roasts, per Patch. The team held this event in order to provide alternative options for Thanksgiving dinner + to advocate for animal rights.
Newark Airport Unveils New $2.7B Terminal
On Tuesday, November 15th, local officials + community members gathered at Newark International Airport for the unveiling of the brand-new Terminal A, per Patch. The ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated the completion of the terminal which includes a new building with 33 gates, redesigned roadways, 140 acres of airfield paving, and a public parking facility featuring 2,700 spaces.
