Every week we bring you the highlights in the news, so you can stay up-to-date on what is happening in Montclair + surrounding areas. Among the local headlines — Laser Spectacular show is coming to the Wellmont Theater in December; Newark Charter offers tutoring to local children including public school students; Albert Pelham, the President of Montclair N.A.A.C.P. has passed away, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Montclair, Bloomfield, + beyond in Essex County.
New Montclair Restaurant ‘Good Chicken’ Now Open
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A new restaurant called Good Chicken has opened an outpost at 114 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair last week. The eatery’s mission is to provide delicious and healthy premium fried chicken. Click here to read more about Good Chicken in Montclair and what to expect on the menu.
World of 5D, A New Contemporary Art Gallery, Opens in Montclair
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Art lovers, rejoice! World of 5D, a new contemporary art gallery and shop located at 2 Church Street, has opened in Montclair. The locally-owned business curates art that depicts cultural icons, from actresses to athletes, that are created in a 5D approach. Click here to read more about the owners of the World of 5D gallery and what to expect when you visit this new Montclair gem.
Ruthie’s BBQ & Pizza Requiring Vaccines for Indoor Eating
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Ruthie’s Bar-B-Que & Pizza now requires guests who wish to eat indoors to be vaccinated, per NJ.com. The township’s three major business associations don’t know of any other restaurants requiring vaccination, but Ruthie’s isn’t a member of these groups. The goal is to protect customers, especially with the restaurant in such close proximity to the schools.
Laser Spectacular Coming to Wellmont Theater in December
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Looking ahead toward exciting events, the Wellmont Theater announced an upcoming show in December. The Instagram post reads, “Paramount’s Laser Spectacular Featuring The Music Of Pink Floyd – Thursday, December 2nd! Presale begins on Thursday at 10AM (code: DANCE), and tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10AM.”
President of Montclair N.A.A.C.P. Has Passed Away
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This week via Instagram, Montclair Local News shared the sad update regarding the passing of local leader, Albert Pelham. “We’re so sorry to learn about the passing of Albert Pelham, president of the Montclair N.A.A.C.P., executive director of the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corp., and a longtime volunteer and leader whose work touched so many lives in Montclair. We’re working now on a piece remembering Mr. Pelham.”
Kreme & Krumbs Closing Montclair Location + Reopen in Bloomfield
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Local ice cream shop Kreme & Krumbs announced this week it will be closing Saturday, August 21st. The good news is the shop will reopen again in September. The post reads, “All good things must come to an end, but not for long. We will reopen in Bloomfield mid-September.”
Tierney’s Tavern Co-Owner Dies at 52
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The co-owner of Tierney’s Tavern passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 52, according to Morris Essex Health and Life. The post reads, “We are saddened to learn of the passing of James “Jim” Patrick Tierney, the co-owner of the famous @tierneystavern in Montclair. The 1988 Montclair High School alum spent his days “cooking the best burger in Montclair” or serving up drinks at the bar, his obit reads. The 52-year-old was a father of three who loved New York sports teams, playing the guitar and listening to music. In lieu of flowers 💐, his family asks that donations be made in his name to @jazz_house_kids to help keep his love of music alive. RIP, Jim.”
New Jersey Expected to Require Vaccines for Teachers
Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to announce that New Jersey will require teachers to get the COVID vaccine, according to NJ.com. This announcement would make New Jersey the third state to require teachers to get vaccinated, following California and Washington. It’s yet unknown whether the government would allow teachers to opt-out of the vaccine in favor of regular testing. At this point, nothing has been decided.
Montclair Mixed-Use Office Space To Potentially Gain Mural
A Montclair mixed-use office space might get a new mural, according to Baristanet. The mural plans were discussed at the Montclair Planning Board’s August 9th meeting. The rendering showed a mural that could be seen from Bloomfield Avenue, with the idea of the artwork being as long as the building.
Free Outdoor Concert To be Held August 28th in Montclair
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A free outdoor concert will be held at Anderson Park in Montclair on Saturday, August 28th at 7PM, per Friends of Anderson Park. The program will feature Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Quintet in F Sharp Minor for Clarinet and Strings, and is sponsored by Friends of Anderson Park. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic and a blanket and enjoy the Chamber Music Society of North Jersey.
Newark Charter Offers Tutoring to Local Kids, Including Public School Attendees
Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark now offers tutoring to all kids, including those who attend public school, NJ.com reports. This comes after concerns were raised about learning loss due to the pandemic. Educators and religious leaders in Newark came together and created a Newark Unites Tutoring Center at Metropolitan Baptist Church, located on Springfield Avenue.
Montclair Schools Move Forward with $60 Million Facility Work
Montclair school officials are moving forward with nearly $60 million in major facilities work, reports Montclair Local. The update comes weeks after the officials said they couldn’t start the process for a much smaller capital improvement bond. The Board had said there wouldn’t be enough time to bond for $17 million worth of facilities updates.
Feds Approve Plans Replacing Newark Airport Monorail
Newark Liberty International Airport’s aging monorail is finally getting a replacement, according to NJ.com. The Federal Aviation Administration approved the plan to replace the monorail with a more reliable AirTrain, after determining that the potentially $2 billion project had no significant impact on the environment. The verdict also gives the Port Authority approval to apply for federal Airport Improvement Program funding, and allows for money gathered from the facilities’ charges to help fund the new AirTrain.
Montclair Community Hosts Blood Drive in Honor of Ayden
On Tuesday, August 31st, the Montclair Women’s Club is hosting a blood drive between 1PM and 7PM, reports Tap Into. The blood drive is in honor of Ayden, a 4-year-old recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). Appointments are encouraged, walk-ins are welcome if social distancing is still possible in the facility.
Watchung Park Garden to Honor Memory of Montclair’s Judy Weston
Judy Weston, who passed away in October 2020, will have a garden dedicated to her memory, according to Montclair Local. The Montclair Township Council voted on August 10th to unanimously approve the section of Watchung Park to be turned into Weston’s Garden. The garden is expected to open in the spring.
Registration Open for Girls in Gear
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Bike&Walk Montclair is starting a six-week program for any rider identifying as a girl ages 7-12 trying to build confidence on and off their bikes, Baristanet reports. Meetings will be held on Sundays from October 10th through November 14th from 9AM to 10:15AM. Participants are recommended to register for and participate in at least one Bike&Walk Montclair Skill Building Class before this program.
Essex Jail Stops Housing ICE Detainees, Advocates Ask Murphy to Stop Detention Contracts
The Essex County jail is no longer housing any ICE detainees, four months after officials said they were terminating a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, per NJ.com. ICE has used lockups in Essex, Bergen and Hudson Counties to house undocumented immigrants who haven’t been charged with a crime. The detention of the undocumented immigrants sparked demonstrations and prompted activists to call for the removal of such contracts.
Essex County Clerk Warns Passport Scammers Abound
Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin has warned residents to be wary of passport scams, per Baristanet. There are currently multiple online scams taking advantage of these unprecedented times by charging for passport consulting services and promising same-day passport services for additional fees. Durkin has said that neither the US State Department nor the Essex County Clerk’s Office charges for passport consulting.
Harlem Quartet Headlines Cali Residencies
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The John J. Cali School of Music is returning to live performance, headlined by the Harlem Quartet, Montclair State University reports. Cali is welcoming the Harlem Quartet, introducing composer-in-residence Jessie Montgomery and inaugurating a new weekly residency program including Wynton Marsalis and the Kronos Quartet. The new program is designed to tear down silos and provide innovative learning opportunities.
APEM Creamery Holds Contest for Flavor Playlists
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APEM Creamery in Bloomfield is holding a contest where customers can create their own APEM flavor playlist, according to a press release. The winner(s) of the contes will get their own day at APEM with all the playlist flavors in the case and up on the flavor board, as well as two free pints. The playlist should include 9-12 flavors, including vanilla, a chocolate-based flavor, and at least 1 nut flavor, 2-4 non-dairy sorbet flavors. Playlists can be submitted via email or in person at the store.
Essex County Middle Schoolers Produce 350 Candles for Montclair Film Festival
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Three middle schoolers from Essex County, Jada Bednar, Ellie Ghingo, and Ava Tsettos are making 350 candles for the Montclair Film Festival’s VIP bags, per Montclair Local. The students created JAÉ Candles and Co. last year, opened an Etsy shop in early October, and have been selling to local shops such as Pink Bungalow and JaiPure Yoga as well. The students will have only three days to complete the Montclair Film project.
Raccoon Found Dead, Tests Positive for Rabies
A raccoon was recently found dead in the Argyle Road area of Montclair and upon further investigation, tested positive for rabies. Montclair Local reported, “Montclair Health Department officials are advising residents to stay away from wild animals and animals that they do not know. Officials are also reminding residents to not feed stray animals. Family pets should be licensed, vaccinated, and up to date on rabies vaccination.”
