June is in full swing in the Montclair area, and the summer season begins.  It’s been another busy week in Essex County, and we’ve got all the Montclair news to keep you up to date. Among the highlights: $1,750 was stolen from a safe at Chip City in Montclair; a woman was robbed at gunpoint in Montclair while walking her dog; and Newark's Planning Board approves an application for two 51-story towers in the downtown area. Read on for all the news in Montclair and the surrounding Essex County towns for the week ending June 8th, 2025.

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Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):

• $1,750 Stolen from Safe at Chip City in Montclair
• Newark Airport Reopens Renovated Runway 13 Days Ahead of Schedule
• Woman Robbed at Gunpoint in Montclair While Walking Her Dog
• Construction at Watchung Plaza, Faulty Sidewalks, + Overnight Parking Expands in Montclair
• Two-Year-Old Found on Conveyor Belt Headed Toward X-Ray Machine at Newark Airport
• Construction Begins at a Luxury Rental Property in Short Hills
• NJ Early Primary Voting Ends Today; Who’s Running for New Jersey Governor 2025?
• Montclair School Board Now Requiring Students to Store Technology in Designated 'Off + Away' Locations During School Day
• Pay-What-You-Can Art Supply Shop Opens in Montclair’s Acorn General Store
• 17 Local High School Students Graduate From the Newark Museum of Art Explorers Program

$1,750 Stolen from Safe at Chip City in Montclair

$1,750 has been stolen from a safe at Chip City's Montclair location at 2 Church Street. On Monday, June 2nd, police responded to an activated alarm. When they arrived at the scene, they found the front door open and an open safe. According to police, the suspect appears to be a woman who, at the time, was wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt over a maroon t-shirt, a light blue face covering, black pants, and black sneakers with three white stripes. A Chip City representative told Patch that the company is providing a $10,000 reward for information.

Newark Airport Reopens Renovated Runway 13 Days Ahead of Schedule

A major runway at Newark International Airport, which has been closed for renovations since April 15th, reopened 13 days ahead of schedule on June 2nd, 2025. Runway 4L-22R was originally slated to be closed for 60 days, in alignment with a $121 million rehabilitation project to repair its infrastructure to meet current FAA standards. Now open, the runway includes a paved runway surface, updated lighting, improved airfield signs with LED lighting, new electrical infrastructure, and drainage improvements. Click here for more.

Woman Robbed at Gunpoint in Montclair While Walking Her Dog

A woman walking her dog along North Willow Street in Montclair was robbed at gunpoint on Sunday, June 1st. The victim said that while walking her dog, a dark-colored Acura pulled up beside her, and two men got out of the car. One of them pointed a handgun at her and demanded her belongings, specifically targeting her jewelry, while the other forcibly removed a necklace from her neck, before reentering the car and fleeing south towards Glenridge Avenue. The car was later recovered in Jersey City and has been linked to similar incidents in Union, Elizabeth, and Jersey City, according to Montclair Local.

Construction at Watchung Plaza, Faulty Sidewalks, + Overnight Parking Expands in Montclair

Montclair has undergone three recent changes. In hopes of making the space more accessible to people with disabilities, Watchung Plaza has closed its central park for renovations and will remain closed for the next six to eight weeks. An ordinance providing more overnight parking options was also passed recently, now allowing residents to park from 5PM to 8AM the following morning. In addition, as per an ordinance that went into effect on April 1st, homeowners in Montclair are now required to maintain their sidewalks structurally and pay for any costs this entails. 170 violation notices have been issued as of this writing. Click here for more.

Two-Year-Old Found on Conveyor Belt Headed Toward X-Ray Machine at Newark Airport

On Wednesday, May 28th, a two-year-old child was found on a conveyor belt headed toward an X-ray machine at Newark Airport. Port Authority Police Officers Angel Paulino and Joe DeSilvio quickly recovered the child from the Jet Blue counter at Terminal A, according to NJ.com. The toddler was uninjured.

Construction Begins at a Luxury Rental Property in Short Hills

Photo Credit: The Silverman Group

Construction has begun at The Estates at Short Hills, a boutique 62-unit luxury rental community located near the Short Hills train station at 85 Woodland Road. Slated for an early 2027 opening date, the property will feature 10 one-bedroom, 49 two-bedroom, and three three-bedroom residences, 10,000 square feet of street-level medical office space, a 192-space parking garage, amenities like a rooftop terrace, outdoor courtyard, fitness center, resident lounge + game room, and more.

NJ Early Primary Voting Ends Today; Who’s Running for New Jersey Governor 2025?

The 2025 primary election will be on June 10th, and early in-person voting for the primaries ends today, June 8th, 2025. In-person early voting locations in New Jersey are open from 10AM to 6PM. Those running for New Jersey Governor include Ras Baraka from Newark, Steven Fulop from Jersey City, Josh Gottheimer from Tenafly, and more. Click here for more.

Montclair School Board Now Requiring Students to Store Technology in Designated 'Off + Away' Locations During School Day

On Wednesday, June 4th, the Montclair Board of Education adopted a new policy requiring that students keep all privately-owned, non-district-issued technology “off and away" during the school day. Students can use their technology if allowed by educators for instructional purposes, authorized in their Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), or in case of an emergency, including weather-related emergencies, where they may need to contact parents about early dismissals.

Pay-What-You-Can Art Supply Shop Opens in Montclair’s Acorn General Store

Acorn General Store, located at 41 Church Street, Montclair, launched an art supply outpost from the Warren-based art studio + art supply thrift shop, Propagate Studio, on May 31st. The shop operates on a “take what you’ll use, pay-what-you-can” model. Visitors can browse a curated selection of gently used and new art supplies, from paints and sketchbooks to brushes and collage materials, all available with flexible pricing. Click here for more.

17 Local High School Students Graduate From the Newark Museum of Art Explorers Program

Photo Credit: Newark Museum of Art

The Newark Museum of Art (NMOA) has graduated its 30th class, which included 17 Newark students, from its Explorers Program — a college- and career-preparatory program that provides students with education, employment, and mentoring opportunities, and more. This program is a four-year paid internship available to high school students who are either from Newark or attend a Newark school (public, private, or homeschool). Click here for more.

Updates on the Clary Anderson Arena: New Management Takes Over + Montclair Township Sets Aside $1 Million for Repairs

Next skating season, the Clary Anderson Arena at 41 Chestnut Street in Montclair will have a new management operating the rink. On Tuesday, June 3rd, the Montclair Township Council granted Sports Facilities Management LLC a one-year contract. This news comes amid ongoing safety concerns that previously led the council to consider closing the area, which Town Manager Stephen Marks described at the April 22nd meeting as having “many code violations as well as life/health safety hazards.” According to Montclair Local, the council has set aside $1 million to fund immediate repairs and plans to create a new utility that will use rink-generated revenue to repay the township loan, pending a second council vote and approval from the state’s Local Finance Board.

The Federal Aviation Administration says that the technology issues at Newark Airport should be resolved by October 2025. This proposed date is attributed to the completion of one of the airport's biggest runways on June 2nd, which allows the FAA to focus on the airport’s infrastructure and staffing issues this summer. Infrastructure updates have already begun, as a new fiber optic cable meant to improve air traffic control communications is now in place between Philadelphia and New York. The Department of Transportation has also proposed a new air traffic control system, which would be built over the next three years. Click here for more.

Historic 19th Century Montclair Home Listed for Sale

A historic five-bedroom, five-bathroom residential property at 249 Valley Road in Montclair was listed in May for $1,939,000. The home was built around 1840 by Jared Erwin Harrison (of Erwin Park), credited with helping bring the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad to Montclair, according to NorthJersey.com. The house was once a part of Harrison Farm, known for its apple cider and vinegar, and whose land stretched from Park Street to First Mountain in the early days.

Newark’s Annual Portugal Day Festival Weekend Ends Today

Photo Credit: Newark Portugal Day Festival

Newark's annual Portugal Day Festival ends today, June 8th. It kicked off on June 6th at Peter Francisco Park in Newark’s Ironbound District, featuring authentic Portuguese food, music, and performances by groups like Rancho Camponeses do Minho, Bombocas, + Moda Nova. Each year, the event ends with a massive parade along Ferry Street. Today, the parade begins at 3PM. Click here for more.

CASA Essex County Swears in 11 New Advocates + Five Peer Coordinators

Essex County's CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a non-profit, volunteer-based organization dedicated to promoting the welfare of foster children in the county, swore in 11 new advocates and five new peer coordinators on Friday, June 6th. In their respective roles, these appointees will work one-on-one with children in foster care, "collaborating with others involved in the child’s life, [assessing] the child’s needs, [making recommendations] on the child’s behalf, and [providing] critical information to the court to assist judges in making timely and informed decisions," as per CASA's website.

Newark Woman Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank Robbery in Princeton

Newark resident Ciara Brascom pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery in Camden federal court this past week. The charge was connected to a bank robbery in Princeton on July 28th, 2024. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the individual entered the bank and demanded money from the teller while holding what looked like a black handgun. She threatened that she'd use the gun if the bank's alarm was triggered, then fled after taking around $60,500. Sentencing is scheduled for October 6th, 2025.

Montclair + Essex County Summer Bucket List: 50 Must-Try
Activities for 2025

The Montclair Girl has created a free and downloadable summer bucket list of activities featuring 50 local things to do, including outdoor adventures, foodie spots, must-attend festivals, and more. Readers can expect to find ideas like walking the South Mountain Reservation Fairy Trail, attending the Montclair Pride Festival, and paddle-boarding at Verona Park. Download our guide to a local Montclair and Essex County summer here.

Turtle Back Zoo Launches New Educational Early Childhood Programs

Turtle Back Zoo has launched a new early childhood program titled "Turtle Back Hatchlings" for children aged 12-24 months. Held at the Berson Learning Center, located at 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, the program will allow kids to "discover the natural world through gently structured play, art, stories, animal visits, and more," as per its website. Summer sessions will take place on June 15th, July 13th, and August 17th at 10AM.

116-Unit Residential Building Opens in East Orange

 

 

 

 

 

 

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East Orange has welcomed a new residential building at 431 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard. The property, which has been in the works since 2021, is called "Hue Soul" and was built by the development team TAY Investments. The building started leasing in late May, featuring 116 one-bedroom and two-bedroom rental units, according to Jersey Digs.

MSU Awarded $75,000 Grant to Enhance Educational Opportunities for Minority Men in STEM

Montclair State University, along with NJIT and Saint Peter's University, received a grant of $75,000 from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, an organization that funds STEM-related research and educational programs. This grant will be put towards a 12-month project called "Empowering Minority Men in STEM: A Tri-Campus Hispanic-Serving Initiative," and will be used to "better serve all students in their pursuit of graduate education" at all three colleges, as per the university's website.