There is never a dull moment in Essex County, which is why we cover the news in the Montclair and greater Essex County + North Jersey area so you don’t miss a beat. Among the headlines: the FDA approves COVID-19 Omicron boosters; a North Jersey earthquake rattled 3 counties; Montclair welcomes new mural by anonymous artist Jerkface; and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Essex County and beyond.
FDA Approves COVID-19 Omicron Boosters
As of Wednesday, August 31st, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the nation’s first variant-specific COVID-19 vaccine, per Patch. This new vaccine will specifically target Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. Updated boosters could be available in New Jersey as soon as the next few days.
Queen Latifah Hosted Anti-Violence Event This Weekend
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Queen Latifah — along with Mayor Ras Baraka — hosted a 24-hour anti-violence event in Newark this weekend called ’24 Hours of Peace.’ This event is a Newark tradition and aims to encourage and celebrate a violence-free community by taking a day-long ‘time out’ from violence. There was music, including headliner performances by Faith Evans, Fabolous, and CL Smooth; a poetry session; food + retail vendors; a midnight movie; and much more. This free, public event was held on Springfield Avenue between Bergen and Blum Streets from 6PM on September 2nd to 6PM on September 3rd. Click here to read about about the 24 Hours of Peace event.
A Small North Jersey Earthquake Rattled 3 Counties
(Photo credits: Earthquake Track)
A 2.3 magnitude earthquake rattled Morris County this week and could even be felt as far as Warren and Passaic Counties. The quake was located just under 3 miles away from Morris Plains and hit at 5:14PM on Tuesday, August 30th, per USGS. NBC New York reported that the quake lasted about 30 seconds and was located about 3 miles underground. This event was likely related to the Ramapo Fault Line, which is considered an active fault line and runs through Morristown. Just after the earthquake, a small aftershock (1.7 magnitude) was reported in nearby Lake Telemark, per Patch. Click here for everything we know.
Over 100 Dead Vultures Close Down North Jersey Trail
As fall inches closer in New Jersey, nothing sets an ominous tone quite like a recent North Jersey discovery. Eye-catching headlines flooded North Jersey news this week, detailing over 100 black vultures that turned up dead on a trail in Sussex County. The Sussex Branch Trail in Lafayette Township had to be officially closed off indefinitely starting on August 27th due to the large number of dead birds decaying in the area. The United States Department of Agriculture officially confirmed the cause of death to be Avian Influenza, otherwise known as bird flu. In order to prevent the spread of disease and partially due to an understaffing of certified individuals, the New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife has left the vultures on site to further decompose. Click here for what we know.
Montclair Author to Publish Book on Historic NJ Double Murder
On Tuesday, September 13th, Montclair resident Joe Pompeo will release his new book BLOOD & INK: The Scandalous Jazz Age Double Murder That Hooked America on True Crime. This book is being released on the 100th anniversary of the notorious New Jersey killings, which the book highlights. It combines investigative reporting with captivating storytelling.
4 Deaths Reported After Shuttle Van Overturns in Englewood Cliffs
Early in the morning of Friday, September 2nd, a shuttle van overturned on the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs. According to Patch, the Ford Econoline E350 van was transporting 12 passengers, four of whom died in the accident. The remaining eight individuals were hospitalized with serious injuries.
Bloomfield’s 11th Annual Movie + Overnight Campout is Happening 9/16
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On Friday, September 16th, the 11th Annual Movie in the Park + Overnight Family Campout will take place at Pulaski Park, per Bloomfield Pulse. There are 50 campsites available which need to be reserved ahead of time. However, anyone can attend the movie night starting at 7:45PM. To register for this free family friendly event, please visit www.bloomfieldrecreation.org. Pulaski Park is located at 24 Mt Vernon Avenue in Bloomfield.
Registration Open for Garden State Equality’s 13th Annual Walk
Garden State Equality‘s 13th Annual Equality Walk has been scheduled for Thursday, October 6th through Sunday, October 9th. The weekend-long festivities will be held in Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Trenton, and Montclair. Funds raised at the Equality Walk support the work Garden State Equality’s team does to advance legal and lived equality and ensure LGBTQ+ people in New Jersey can thrive.
Montclair State University Sees Largest Student Enrollment in History
Montclair State University is the second largest university in the state and this year is welcoming a record-breaking incoming class, per Patch. The Class of 2026 consists of 4,065 students who are attending classes on campus this fall. This is officially the largest incoming class in Montclair State University’s 114-year history.
Montclair Fitness Studio Closes Permanently
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Architect Studios, located at 537 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, recently announced its permanent closing as of August 26th. The Instagram post reads, “It is with very heavy hearts that as of August 26, 2022 architect studios will be closing our doors. Over the past 8 years, we have coached thousands of awesome people to be their strongest self, have fun and be a part of the very unique community that is and forever will be architect studios.”
Diaperkind Expands Service to Essex County
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Cloth diaper company Diaperkind is expanding its cloth diapering service to Montclair, West Orange, and other areas of Essex County, per Patch. Currently available in Hoboken + Jersey City, Diaperkind is partnering with a delivery service that uses electric vans, which will cut down even more on the environmental impact of the company.
3 NJ Train Lines Anticipate Weekend Delays this Month
Three NJ Transit train lines will see weekend delays in and out of Penn Station in New York this month. According to Patch, delays are due to track work near the Hudson River tunnels and will likely cause delays until November.
Bloomfield to Host Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
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On Friday, September 9th, Bloomfield is hosting a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Looking Glass Children’s Center, located at 16 Bellevue Avenue in Bloomfield. According to Bloomfield Pulse, the clinic will run from 10AM to 12:30PM and each child (ages 6 months to 5 years) will be given a voucher for an Applegate Farm ice cream. Follow-up clinics will be run on Friday, October 7th and Wednesday, December 21st.
Montclair Welcomes New Mural by Anonymous Artist
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New York-based street artist Jerkface has painted murals in cities all over the world and now, Montclair is on the list, Baristanet reported. The new mural features iconic cartoon characters and is located on the side of The Clubhouse at 131 Glenridge Avenue. The process took four days.
Essex County Police Sergeant Retires
Edward Negron, who has worked with the Essex County Police Department for 24 years, retired from duty on Monday, August 1st. He contracted COVID-19 while on duty during 2021 and eventually required a lung transplant from complications due to the virus. According to Patch, the transplant was successful, but given the severity of his condition, Negron decided to retire.
Bloomfield to Host March to Protect Trans Youth
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Happening next month, Bloomfield will host The March to Protect Trans Youth in memory of Damien Lopez, a 12-year-old transgender boy who died by suicide in 2021. The march will take place on Saturday, October 22nd. According to the Bloomfield Pulse Instagram post, “In the weeks leading up to Damien’s death he experienced serious and ongoing mistreatment from a peer via an online class platform. The day Damien died his family received a letter from his school indicating there was no evidence of harassment, intimidation, or bullying at school. Students at Damien’s school were told they could not have a memorial event to remember their friend.” Damien’s mom, along with Bloomfield residents and Bloomfield Pride, have organized this march to remember him.
Montclair Church Once Ordered to Close Announces Expansion
In 2016, the Archdiocese of Newark called for the permanent closure of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Montclair, but after merging with a nearby church, the church will soon be expanding services, according to Patch. In an announcement this week, the Archdiocese of Newark said the church has been established as an oratory and will continue to serve the community with a new rector and full schedule.
Montclair School District Aims to Upgrade Technology
In 2021, the Montclair School District launched a Chromebook initiative in which each student received one for in-class instruction, per Montclair Local. The school later announced it had received funds to provide each student with a device all year long plus Wifi connection for the summer months. Now, the school district is focused on the Wifi access points, switches, and other connectivity devices that should be replaced to keep everything running smoothly.
City of Newark to Distribute $2M to Combat Hunger
The City of Newark announced this week it will be distributing $2M to 14 local organizations to combat hunger and food insecurity, according to a press release. This funding comes from the Nourishing Newark Community Grants Program. The money will go toward advancing urban agriculture and will increase the community’s self-sufficiency.
Bloomfield Autumn 2022 Art Show is Happening 9/24
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Local artists will present a one night only pop-up art show on Saturday, September 24th in Bloomfield, per Bloomfield Pulse. The art show will begin at 7PM at Town pub, located at 378 Broad Street in Bloomfield.
Maplewood Charity Event to Raise Funds + Honor Memory of Dad of 4
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The annual Robert J. Miller Oysterfest in Maplewood is put on every year in memory of Bob Miller, a father of 4 who passed away from skin cancer in 2014. According to Patch, this year’s event will take place at The Woodlands on Saturday, September 17th from 5PM to 10PM. Oysterfest will feature drinks, games, live music, and of course — oysters.
Bloomfield Library to Host Free Concert
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On Saturday, September 10th, the Bloomfield Public Library will host a free concert at 2PM featuring vocalist Rick who will perform songs from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s, per Bloomfield Pulse. The Bloomfield Public Library is located at 90 Broad Street in Bloomfield.
First-Gen Newark College Students to Receive $1M Grants
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded over $1M to the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, reported Patch. The grants will bolster the TRIO Upward Bound Program at NJIT’s Center for Pre-College Programs and continue to fund intensive college prep training for nearly 250 additional students.
2022 MTV Video Music Awards Hosted in New Jersey
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The 2022 MTV Video Music Awards were hosted last weekend at the Prudential Center in Newark, per Patch. The star-studded lineup honored this year’s top videos, artists, and albums. Nicki Minaj received MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for her profound impact on pop culture.
Bloomfield Library to Host Fall Program Kickoff Event
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On Saturday, September 17th, the Bloomfield Public Library is hosting a Fall Program Kickoff Event to bring awareness to its children’s programs. According to Bloomfield Pulse, all children are welcome to attend the event which will be held at 11AM in the library courtyard. The event will feature stories, songs, snacks, and surprises.
We’re OOO Till 1/6
Dear The Local Girl readers and friends,
2024 has felt both like 10 years and at the same time, three months. No matter how we feel about it, though, the chapter is closing — and before it does, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to you. It’s because of you that we are still able to do what we love to do: write, inquire, create community, and occasionally, share memes.
While each year presents its challenges (for us and many others), we remain true to our purpose: to shine a light on the local small-owned businesses, happenings in the area, news, people, organizations, and missions of all industries and backgrounds. We aim to uplift, inform, and encourage our readers to join us in celebrating how special our communities are — all while creating community.
Most media outlets continue to publish over the holidays, but we have taken the decisive stance to pause on our platforms + social media over the last few years. That means you will see a few pre-scheduled fun things go out this next week on social and the site, but that’s it. Our team is getting a full week off, and that includes our social team! We’re all taking a much-needed rest.
Before our OOOs officially go up, a few highlights + core memories from 2024 we're reflecting on:
- Growing our sister site, The Jersey Shore Girl, and launching our newest venture, The Bergen County Girl.
- Covering all of the crazy and fun things that have happened in New Jersey: earthquakes, solar eclipses, sonic booms, celebrity spottings. The list, truly, goes on.
- Hosted a Happy Hour to kick off our 2024 Week of Wellness and collect period supplies for our annual drive with The Flow Initiative (for which we collected 30K+(!!) supplies.
- Raised thousands of dollars for local non-profits.
- Donated to local animal shelters with our annual Puppy Bowl.
- Published over 2,500 new articles, posted over 3,500 new social media posts, and so much more.
Our out-of-office messages are up, our DMs will have an auto-reply, and we’ll be a bit off the grid this next week. On Monday, January 6th we’ll be back with regular content. You’re welcome to send us tips at any time to [email protected] + @themontclairgirl on Instagram, but they’ll be read upon our return.
Hopefully, this is also the sign you need to know that it’s okay to take a break. It’s so important to recharge. We are all burnt out. Watch that reality show, read that book, clean that closet — whatever makes you feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to start 2025 on a positive note.
We want you to know how much we appreciate every DM, comment, share, like, read, and email. It’s what keeps us going. Have a wonderful, safe, and healthy holiday! We'll see you in 2025.
Happy holidays to you and yours, from ours <3
xo, Jen + The Local Girl Team
Our sites below for easy access while we're away:
