Home Essex County 23 Essex County Stories You Missed This Week

23 Essex County Stories You Missed This Week

by The Montclair Girl Team
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It’s been another busy week in Essex County and there are plenty of headlines to catch up on. Among the highlights: Bloomfield’s new turf fields are ready for baseball and softball season; baristas strike at a Montclair Starbucks, and Newark puts out a call for contractors to help build new housing.  Read on for more new stories you missed this week in Essex County. 


The Local Girl Real Estate Listings — Live Now!

real estate directory

Nobody loves living in New Jersey more than The Hoboken Girl + The Montclair Girl teams — but we also know that finding a home here is half the battle. To make home hunting that much simpler, our parent brand The Local Girl has launched a Real Estate Listings Directory. The directory is an ever-growing, curated list of real estate throughout New Jersey, from Hoboken and Jersey City all the way down to the Jersey Shore. Whether you’re looking for a new house, condo, rental, or you’re looking to list your property as a realtor or owner, we’re here to help you find your way home. Read on for more about our new Real Estate Directory + how to list your property.


Montclair Protest Targets Banks’ Funding of Fossil Fuels

A protest in Montclair on Tuesday, March 21st called on banks to stop funding fossil fuel companies. According to BaristaNet, the protest culminated in a letter being delivered to Chase Bank to deliver a letter. The protest was part of a daylong effort coordinated nationwide by the climate activism group Third Act.


Town of Bloomfield Partners with Temple Ner Tamid for Mental Health Workshops

The town of Bloomfield in partnership with Temple Ner Tamid will offer a series of workshops aimed at parents and caregivers of teens and young adults. According to BaristaNet, the topics will include signs/symptoms of mental illness, suicide, substance use disorders, overdose, underage substance abuse, and more.  The effort is funded by the Bloomfield Municipal Alliance Committee.


Strike at Montclair Starbucks

Baristas at the Montclair Starbucks, located at 40 S. Park Street, took part in a nationwide strike on Wednesday, March 22nd. According to Patch, the store is one of four unionized Starbucks locations in New Jersey. The protest was planned to be in advance of Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz’s planned testimony in front of Congress next week. The striking workers demand basic rights such as livable wages, consistent scheduling, safe and respectful workplaces, and the right to organize “free from fear and intimidation.”


Resource Fair Coming to Newark

The West Side Park Community Center, located at 600 S. 17th Street in Newark, will be the setting for a resource fair put on by the United Community Corporation on March 28th. According to Patch, the resource fair will highlight community programs from UCC. Representatives from other local organizations will also be on-site offering resources including health screenings. The event will run from 2PM to 6PM.


YWCA of Northern New Jersey Announces Women’s Leadership Conference

 

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The YWCA of Nothern New Jersey has announced its Women’s Leadership Conference – Power UP: A Day to Refuel, Reenergize & Refocus. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 29th at American Dream Mall. According to a social media post from the organization, the purpose of the conference is to bring together dynamic leaders to share key strategies on how to improve lives and create change. The Local Girl founder Jennifer Tripucka is a panelist.


Luna Stage Presents Series on the Underground Railroad in Essex County

Per BaristaNet, Luna Stage has commissioned ten playwrights to create original monologues inspired by the James Howe House in Montclair. The five-year-long series is called The Ground on Which We Stand, and will be site-specific performances. The series will explore the history and impact of The James Howe House from 1780 to the present day.


Nine Car Trains Debut on PATH

9 Car path trains

Nine-car trains have debuted on the Newark to World Trade Center PATH line. According to a press release from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the nine-car trains will be added gradually over the next 12 months. By the beginning of 2024, nearly all trains on the NWK-WTC line at peak times will be 9-car trains. The addition of a ninth rail car to trains during peak hours is to increase capacity and provide a safer, more convenient commuting experience for customers.


Bloomfield Adds Electric Vehicles to Municipal Fleet

Bloomfield town officials recently announced the addition of four electric vehicles to the town’s municipal fleet in an effort to reduce the town’s environmental impact. According to Patch, the town also received a grant to purchase two more EVs. The town will now have a total of ten EVs in its fleet.


Former Millburn Police Chief Dies at 93

W. Paul Tighe, the former Millburn Police Chief, has died at the age of 93, according to Patch. Chief Tighe was a veteran of the US Navy and was the chief for 24 years. A selection of his artwork is currently on display at the Millburn Library.


New Jersey Punk Legends to Return To Newark


The Misfits, legends of punk music with New Jersey roots, will return to the Garden State this summer. According to Patch, the band will play one of its three Summer 2023 shows at the Prudential Center in Newark. The band was founded in Lodi, New Jersey.


Montclair Public Library to Host Former US Poet Laureate

Three-time US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky will visit the Montclair Public Library as part of the library’s celebration of National Poetry Month. According to Patch, the visit will begin at 4PM on Saturday, April 1st with a discussion about Pinsky’s latest work, a memoir called Jersey Breaks. Then, a book signing will take place at Watchung Booksellers.


Winning Lottery Ticket Sold at Montclair Acme

A lottery ticket worth more than $160,000 was sold on March 18th at the Acme located at 510 Valley Road in Montclair. According to a press release from the NJ Lottery, the ticket matched all five numbers in the game Jersey Cash 5. The store will receive a bonus check of $2,000 for selling the winning ticket.


Commuter Bus Service from Montclair to NYC Cancelled

Many Essex County commuters will have to find a new way into Manhattan for their commutes. DeCamp Bus Lines has announced that its service between Montclair and Manhattan would end as of April 7th, 2023, according to BaristaNet. It will continue to operate daily charter, shuttle, and casino services.


Montclair Honors Ramadan

The Township of Montclair will recognize the Muslim holy month of Ramadan by projecting an image at Wellmont Town Square. Per BaristaNet, the image will be projected on the first night of Ramadan, as well as on show nights at the Wellmont Theatre. Montclair resident Nicole Farjani is credited with bringing the idea to the Township Council.


City of Newark Seeks Contractors for Housing Program

The City of Newark has announced Equitable Investments in Newark Communities, an initiative aimed at increasing housing affordability. According to Patch, the program will use properties acquired from the City, the Newark Landbank, or private owners to build or renovate affordable housing units and sell homes to residents at affordable prices with low-interest mortgages. More information for potential contractors is available here.


Bloomfield Planning Board Considers 13 Properties

The Bloomfield Planning Board considered 13 properties for redevelopment at its recent meeting, according to Patch.  At the special meeting, the board considered whether the properties would qualify as an “area in need of non-condemnation redevelopment”. The board agreed with the recommendation to qualify the buildings as such, sending the decision on what to do next with the properties back to the Town Council.


Montclair Early Music Announces Terpsichore Program Celebrating Women Composers

Montclair Early Music (MEM) is a group of musicians who play Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music announced a program that will feature the work of women composers. According to Patch, the program, named in honor of the Greek goddess of music, will take place on March 31st at 4PM at First Lutheran Church at 153 Park Street, Montclair. The concert is free to attend.


26 Montclair High School Seniors Honored


According to a press release, 26 Montclair High School Seniors were honored by the district with the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy is an official recognition from the New Jersey Department of Education. The Seal is a nationally recognized credential that attests to each recipient’s unwavering dedication to proficiency and global citizenship. Recipients will receive an official certificate from the NJDOE, as well as a medallion to wear at graduation. They will also be honored at the April 19 Board of Education meeting.


New Softball and Baseball Fields Open in Bloomfield

montclair baseball resume
New turf fields have been installed at Vassar Field, and the Carla D. Ward Softball Field at Clarks Pond South, according to Patch. The new surfaces are ready in time for this year’s baseball and softball seasons. Several local officials attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 10th, including Bloomfield’s Mayor Michael Venezia.


Montclair High School Juniors Selected for
Internship Program

A cohort of ten Montclair High School juniors has been selected to participate in the second year of the Weston Health Internship Program (WHIP). The students will spend two weeks this summer shadowing physicians across a range of specialties at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center in order to learn more about potential careers in medicine.


Montclair Resident Releases Urban Exploration Book

Montclair resident Wheeler Atabanez, the alter ego of journalist Matt Kent, is hosting a series of events in support of his latest book. According to Patch, the book is about his explorations on the Old Boonton Line, before it was ripped up in preparation for its rehabilitation as the Essex-Hudson Greenway. Several events will be held this weekend at Silver Stream Studio at 594 Valley Road featuring videos and pictures taken from his adventures.


Local Artist is Kean University’s Artist-in-Residence

 

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Ricardo Roig, a Hoboken-based artist, has been named as Kean University’s Artist in Residence, according to a press release from the school. Ricardo is a Kean alumnus, and his signature style of art uses stencil layers, each patiently hand-cut from paper with a razor blade, then attached to a screen, and pulled through with vivid paint colors, layer by layer. As Artist in Residence, Ricardo will create a mural on campus, conduct workshops with students, and have an exhibit at the on-campus gallery in Spring 2024.


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