It’s been another busy week in Essex County, with plenty of headlines to catch up on. Among the highlights: Newark schools leader estimates another $1.5 billion is needed to complete building repairs; Montclair is hit by a cyber attack; and Bloomfield Township partners with Bloomfield High School Environmental Club to increase recycling efforts. Read on for more headlines from Montclair, Newark, Bloomfield and beyond for the week ending June 11th, 2023.
Yogi Berra Museum Celebrates 25th Anniversary
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The Yogi Berra Museum in Montclair celebrated its 25th anniversary on June 6th at Yankees Stadium. Per BaristaNet, the celebration was meant to coincide with Yogi’s participation in the 1944 invasion of Normandy on D-Day. The celebration included special shirts for the grounds crew, limited reserved seating for military families, and a pre-game on-field presentation of this year’s Yogi Berra Museum Awards to individuals sustaining Yogi’s legacy today.
Forever Welded Jewelry Opens in Montclair
Forever Welded Jewelry, a luxury permanent jewelry studio has opened in Montclair according to a social media post from the company. The studio is located at 314 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. Forever Welded offers permanent jewelry in solid gold, gold-fill and sterling silver and can accommodate groups in-studio and on location for private events like birthday parties and bachelorettes.
MTV’s VMAs Are Returning to Newark This Year
Over the past few months, North Jersey has felt like something of an East Coast Hollywood, with countless movies + TV shows passing through the Garden State for different projects, and ample celebrity sightings to match. Now it’s time to roll out the red carpet because MTV’s highly-anticipated Video Music Awards (VMAs) are making their way back to Newark for a second consecutive year. The event will be held at Prudential Center on Tuesday, September 12th. Read on for what we know about the upcoming VMAs show in Newark, New Jersey, as well as how to attend.
New Jersey Air Quality Affected Due to Fire
If you’ve noticed a yellowish haze intensifying outside, thankfully dissipating by the weekend, there was quite literally something in the Montclair + North Jersey air: the rundown of smoke from the hundreds of wildfires currently burning in Canada. The carryover from the fires has reduced the air quality in North Jersey drastically, posing health threats to those in “sensitive groups.” The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued an Air Quality Alert for the North Jersey region, and the Montclair Department of Health urged locals to take precautions. Read on for what we know about the air quality conditions in New Jersey from the past week, as well as what precautions to take to stay safe.
Essex County Warrant Sweep Nets 40+ Arrests
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In a press release, the Essex County Prosecutor’s office announced 43 arrests resulting from a warrant sweep. The effort took place during the month of April and was a collaborative effort with other law enforcement agencies, including federal partners. Two of the arrestees were wanted for murder.
No Injuries in Glen Ridge House Fire
Per TapInto, no injuries were reported in a Glen Ridge house fire that took place on Sunday, June 4th. Fire was coming from underneath an enclosed porch when fire officials arrived. The fire was quickly extinguished, and an investigation into the cause is ongoing.
Longtime Portuguese Restaurant in Newark’s Ironbound Closing
After 49 years, the doors are closing at Iberia Tavern & Restaurant in Newark. According to NJ.com, the restaurant located at 80 Ferry Street served its last meal on Sunday June 4th as the building has been sold to new owners. Owners Ilda Loureiro and Jorge Fernandes are retiring.
Montclair Art Museum AACC Founders Fellowship Recipient Named
Portrait of Debra Cartwright in her studio by Elizabeth van Stubendorff (left) and her oil on canvas painting “Conspicuous Ensemble” (right)
In a press release, the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) and the African American Cultural Committee (AACC) announced Debra Cartwright as the recipient of the inaugural AACC Founders Fellowship. The fellowship will be in effect from September 2023 to June 2024, during which time Ms. Cartwright will actively engage with the Museum’s audience, staff, and artist community in collaboration with the AACC.
The AACC, established in the 1980s, aims to sustain and maintain the legacy of artists from the African diaspora. To honor the founding members of the AACC, the Founders Fellowship is bestowed upon a recent African American graduate of master’s or doctoral programs in the visual arts and/or art history. The fellowship provides the selected Fellow with a unique opportunity to expand their artistic practice, gain valuable experience working closely with a leading American art museum, engage with diverse audiences and the artist community, and support the AACC’s work as a bridge between the Museum and the African American community, as well as a promoter of emerging artists. Activities involved in the fellowship include attending AACC meetings, delivering a lecture on topics related to the Fellow’s art practice or research, teaching a workshop at the Museum’s Yard School of Art, meeting with the Museum’s Chief Curator, and participating in the Museum’s Art Committee meetings.
Ms. Cartwright, a 2020 graduate of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, holds an MFA degree. She also earned a BA in Art History from the University of Virginia and an AA in Communication Design from Parsons School of Design. Her artwork has been exhibited throughout the Northeast, as well as in Stockholm, London, and Berlin.
As primarily a painter, Debra Cartwright explores the historical connection between gynecology and its impact on Black women in America, shedding light on disparities in maternal mortality. She draws parallels between landscape painting and its representation of land use to highlight the exploitation of Black women’s bodies in medical experiments. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Debra is a dedicated educator, teaching painting at Mason Gross. Her work will be showcased at the Museum in 2024.
Bakery x Bar Concept Coming to Bloomfield — Along with a Sister Restaurant Called Fanny’s
Bloomfield is getting two new foodie spots this season. The team behind The Brookdale, a restaurant + bar, which opened at 1109 Broad Street in Bloomfield in 2020, just announced the opening of two new spots this month. The new sister concepts are launching right next door to the original location. Fanny’s Restaurant + Bar is a hybrid restaurant serving cocktails, and Ladyfingers Bakery + Bar is a twist on a modern bakery — and both are slated to open this summer. Read on to find out what we know about these new Bloomfield eateries.
More Money Needed for Newark School Repairs
Per TapInto, the estimated bill to repair Newark’s schools is much higher than originally anticipated. At a City Council Education Committee meeting, Superintendent Roger León said the estimated costs were now closer to $2.5 billion, more than double initial estimates. He blamed the increase on the amount of mediation work needed to get buildings up to basic health and safety codes based on the presence of lead and asbestos in many buildings.
It’s Montclair Pride Weekend
With its inaugural event last year, local non-profit Out Montclair is hosting its second annual Montclair Pride Festival + concert on Saturday, June 10th, 2023. But it’s not just a one-day event to celebrate our amazing LGBTQ+ community and its allies — it’s a full celebration for the next few weeks. The Montclair Girl is proud to be an Empower sponsor for this year’s festival. Keep reading for the full lineup of Pride events that lead up to the second annual Montclair Pride festival happening this June 2023 in Montclair.
Columbia High School Scholarship Award Recipients Honored
Per Village Green, an awards dinner held earlier this week in Maplewood celebrated the recipients of the Columbia High School Scholarship Fund. In 2023, approximately $250,000 was awarded to 115 students. The Columbia High School Scholarship Fund’s mission is to provide need-based scholarships to Columbia High School graduates to help them further their education after high school.
Introducing The Montclair Girl’s First-Ever
Summer Glow-Up Guide
With the warm weather officially here to stay, it’s time to reset + rejuvenate to achieve your summer glow-up with The Montclair Girl’s Summer Glow-Up Guide. To kick off the summer season, we’ve put together a guide to some local North Jersey businesses — from healthy food and drink to wellness, beauty, self-care, + more — all in one convenient list, with an added bonus of discount codes exclusive to The Montclair Girl available now through July 15th.
Bloomfield High School Environmental Club Partners with Township to Increase Recycling
The BHS Environmental Club receives new recycling cans courtesy of the Town Council. pic.twitter.com/Onodu1yHJp
— Bloomfield H.S. (@07003BHS) May 31, 2023
Bloomfield High School’s Environmental Club has announced a partnership with Bloomfield Township, according to TapInto. As a result of the partnership, sixteen new, separate recycling containers were placed in each classroom of the science tower of the high school to help keep the commingled, paper, and trash separate and easier to recycle. The containers were purchased with funds from the Township’s Municipal Tonnage Grant.
Montclair Confirms Cyber Attack
Cyber Incident Hits Township Computer Systems
Mayor Sean Spiller provides information on the cyber incident affecting township computer system.https://t.co/w0EJYW5fFZ— Montclair, NJ (@MontclairNJGov) June 6, 2023
Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller confirmed the town was hit by a cyber attack. In a video statement, Mayor Spiller said that the Township’s IT department was the target of a cyber attack and that the township was working with state and federal law enforcement to determine the extent of the damage. He also said that other municipalities were attacked in a similar way.
Newark Adopts Rent Control Ordinance for New Buildings
A new ordinance was adopted in Newark, creating rent controls on newly-built apartment buildings. Per NJ.com, several buildings that had previously been exempt from rent control will now be controlled. The new limits cap rent increases to 5% every two years.
Montclair Resident to be Inducted into NJ Hall of Fame
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Montclair resident Josh Weston will be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Per BaristaNet, Mr. Weston has lived in Montclair since the mid-1950s and raised his family in town while being an active member of the community. The induction ceremony will take place in October 2023.
Township of Montclair to Reexamine Master Plan
The Township of Montclair has embarked on a multi-year effort to reexamine its master plan, per BaristaNet. The Planning Board will submit its report in 2026. The Master Plan guides the town’s approach to its built environment, which includes zoning and other land use issues.
It’s BACK! Feature Your Resume for Gig Work on Our Candidates Page
We’re bringing back our Candidates Page on The Local Girl Jobs Platform — which is a section on the job board where you have a chance to feature yourself and your resume, whether looking for gig work, a temp position, a summer opportunity, or something else and just want to offer your services. Being seen by employers or potential clients on this page increases your odds of landing a new job opportunity or freelance gig.
While applying to any job on the site is always free, there is a small fee of $25 to house your resume on our site with a profile for 30 days at a time. This will live on the site and be perused by anyone that clicks the Candidates page and also shared in our weekly article on all The Local Girl sister sites.
If you decide after 30 days to let your profile expire, your data will be saved but no longer live on the site.
THIS WEEK ONLY — FREE CODE TO LIST YOUR RESUME:
The first 25 people to list their resumes on our site with the code HGRESUME get it listed for the first month free (no purchase necessary) — click feature your resume and use the code.
Montclair Bike Bus Gets National Attention
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The Montclair Bike Bus was mentioned in a New York Times piece about the growing popularity of this innovative way of getting kids to school. The bike bus is a community-led effort to help kids ride bikes safely to and from school with adult escorts along the way. The article touched on topics such as inclusion, bike safety, and safe streets.
