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 — local activist joins 141-mile walk for the environment, Caravan of Heroes to replace Montclair July 4th festivities, affordable housing building breaks ground in Irvington, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Montclair, Bloomfield, + beyond in Essex County.
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Harriet Tubman Design to Replace Statue of Columbus in Newark
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This week Newark Arts announced the statue of Christopher Columbus removed from Washington Park in Newark last year will be replaced by the design of artist Nina Cooke John.
The post reads, “Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced today that artist Nina Cooke John’s design for the Harriet Tubman monument has been chosen to replace a statue of Christopher Columbus, which was removed last summer in Washington Park. The park and the surrounding area that includes the Newark Museum of Art and Newark Public Library will be renamed Tubman Square in honor of the pioneering abolitionist, during the summer of 2022, when the new monument will be installed.”
Local Filmmaker Releases Documentary on Importance of Indie Bookstores
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Local author, Mason Engel, set out to promote his book on Amazon but ending up filming a documentary instead. The Bookstour documentary film is a 30-minute documentary born out of a realization of a priceless something the “everything store” couldn’t sell. To watch the film, visit TheBookstourFilm.com where you can purchase a digital rental for $10 or admission to the virtual premier for $25. 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. Tickets will be redeemable in mid-July when the documentary is released.
Fresh Air Opens at Lackawanna Plaza
Commissioner @BrendanWGill joined #Montclair Mayor @SeanMSpiller, members of the Town Council, new Lackawanna Plaza owner David Placek and others at the opening of Fresh Air Montclair – an initiative to bring art to public spaces throughout the town. @MontclairNJGov #EssexCounty pic.twitter.com/j3JjKjx5zQ
— Essex County Board of Commissioners (@ECCommissioners) June 23, 2021
Local residents can now enjoy art displays at Fresh Air Montclair following an official ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Wednesday, June 23rd, per Twitter. Featured art will be sourced from within the community, in a celebration of the beauty and talent found in Montclair.
Montclair Bread Co. Celebrates Pride with Rainbow Donuts
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In an Instagram post this week, Montclair Bread Co. announced that part of the proceeds from its rainbow donuts sales will go to Out Montclair in support of Pride Month. “Yay! It’s finally here!!!! You can taste the rainbow this week as we celebrate #pride at MBCo- with doughnuts of course!!! $1 for every Pride Doughnut sold will go to @outmontclair ”
Baseball Legend Yogi Berra Celebrated on Forever Stamp
So excited! 👏👏👏 #yogiberrastamp #grampstamp #baseballstamps #mlb #yankees pic.twitter.com/MEDXoYt2Sy
— Lindsay Berra (@lindsayberra) June 24, 2021
On Thursday, June 24th the USPS held a “First Day of Issue” ceremony at the Yogi Berra Museum in Little Falls to celebrate the new forever stamp featuring the all-star baseball player, according to Twitter. The event was streamed via Facebook Live.
Montclair Schools to Observe Eid Following Petition
After a local fifth-grade student wrote a petition, Montclair’s public schools will now observe Eid, reported Patch. The Montclair Board of Education added Eid to the district calendar as a holiday so students will not have school. Eid is a religious holiday marking the end of Ramadan observed by people of the Muslim faith.
The Urban Bears Art Exhibit Takes Newark
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A new, moving art installation has come to Newark: The Urban Bears. The collection of six red bears is the work of artists who utilized recycled plastics to create animal sculptures. The Instagram post says, “Each sculpture conveys a specific meaning for the urban environment. The bears are meant to send a message of spirit, strength, confidence, and victory, and, because they prefer peace and tranquility, bears symbolize harmony and balance.”
Juice Press Opens Location in Bloomfield
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Nationwide brand Juice Press has opened an Essex County location at 1409 Broad Street located within Shop Rite in Bloomfield. If you frequent Manhattan, you’re probably no stranger to Juice Press, as it has become a popular healthy food eatery since it opened its first location there in 2010. Click here to read on for a rundown on what to expect at the new Bloomfield location.
Harrison Police Department Celebrates Late Officer Delacruz
The Harison Police Department announced the passing of Officer Elizabeth Delacruz, RLS Media reported. She was a resident of Jersey City and worked with the Harrison Police Department since 2017.
Montclair Climate Activist Joins 141-Mile Walk
David Korfhage, a Montclair resident who is a teacher and environmental activist, is joining the 141-mile walk asking President Biden to do more to protect the environment, per Montclair Local. The walk travels from Scranton, Pennsylvania to Wilmington, Delaware. The walk previously took place in 2013, when walkers hoped to influence then-President Barack Obama’s policies.
Newark Downtown Market Returns
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The downtown market has returned to Newark, according to Instagram. Every Thursday through September 30th, the market will be open 11AM to 3PM at 80 Park Place.
Montclair Resident Reports ‘Suspicious’ Delivery Man
A Montclair resident reported to police that a “suspicious” person was on the street, via Patch. The reporting party stated the unknown man was wearing a UPS delivery uniform but carrying a FedEx package. Police suspect, he may be connected to recent package thefts on Dodd Street.
Paterson Showcases Emergency Communications Center
During the Frank X Graves Public Safety Complex on Wednesday, municipal officials showed off a $5.8 million emergency communication center, Paterson Times reported. This center is expected to speed up police and fire response time. Emergency calls will be received at the center, bringing dispatch for police, fire, ambulance, and public works under one roof. This center will eliminate the need to transfer calls.
Affordable Apartment Community Breaks Ground
A five-story, mid-rise affordable apartment community broke ground in Irvington, per NJbiz. The apartments, which offer a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residential units, will be reserved for residents earning 60% or less than the median area income. There will be five units set aside for residents with special needs.
Newark George Floyd Statue Vandalized
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The George Floyd statue unveiled last week was vandalized Wednesday night, according to NJ.com. The face of the statue was painted black, and there were words in white painted on the torso referring to the Patriot Front, known as a white supremacist group. The paint was removed and an investigation has been launched.
Krauszers Deli Under New Management
As of June 2nd, Krauszer’s deli on Church Street is under new management. Carla Cera and Saif Edilby acquired the shop last month and have been busy ever since making changes. In addition to deli meats, pizza, and empanadas, customers can also find quick snacks in the “snacks on the go” fridge including hummus, yogurts, cheese fruit, and nuts packs, naked juices, coconut water, natural juices, kombucha, and even organic immunity boosters.
New Montclair Law Requires Single Occupancy Bathrooms to be Gender Neutral
Montclair is now requiring single-occupancy bathrooms in businesses and municipal buildings to be labeled gender-neutral, NorthJersey.com reported. The new law passed with a 4-3 vote. Bathrooms with stalls (multiple-occupancy) can continue to be gender-specific. Houses of worship are exempt from this law.
Montclair Wally Choice Center Site of Coronavirus Vaccine Clinic
A free COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be held at the Wally Choice Center on June 30th, according to Patch. The clinic will run from 5PM to 7PM. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available, and citizens who receive the Moderna vaccine will be given a July 28th appointment for their second vaccination.
Caravan of Heroes Replaces Canceled Montclair Parade
The ‘Montclair Celebrates 4th of July’ committee organized a car caravan to honor frontline workers, community organizations, and businesses, per Baristanet. The caravan is taking the place of the canceled 4th of July parade. On Saturday, July 3rd the Caravan of Heroes will begin at 10AM. Last year’s Grand Marshal of the canceled 4th of July parade, Dan Gill, will be recognized for his service to Montclair students.
Montclair Real Estate in High Demand
Thanks to low inventory, price appreciation, and more large homes being sold, home-buyers are facing sky-high prices, Montclair Local reported. Some home buyers are facing wait times of up to a year and a half to find a house in Montclair, and houses are going for as much as 20% above listing prices. The New Jersey Realtors Association is reporting demand for homes exceeding the inventory on the market.
Montclair Council Passes Anti-Discrimination Ordinances
The Montclair Township Council met on June 22 to discuss and pass anti-discrimination ordinances and discuss state legislation, per Tap Into. The council passed a new ordinance that requires single-occupancy bathrooms to be labeled as “all-gender restroom,” “gender-neutral restroom,” or “unisex restroom.” Houses of worship are exempted from the ordinance, but it applies to the township as well as private businesses.
Montclair Student Releases Podcast ‘Second Semester Seniors’
Graduating high school seniors experienced an unusual end to their career in primary education. One such senior, Maggie Borgen, interviewed her fellow classmates in her podcast ‘Second Semester Seniors‘ to discuss what it was like. “All six episodes of the series are posted and the epilogue is coming out this week, the same week as my high school graduation,” Maggie told Hoboken Girl. “Some highlights include an episode featuring four NJ seniors reflecting on their second semester, an interview with my guidance counselor about advising seniors amidst the pandemic, and an episode about what it was like for my first in-person day of school since March 2020 to be on June 1st.”
Pandemic Rent Freeze Continues in Montclair
On Tuesday, June 22nd, the Montclair Town Council passed a resolution extending its moratorium on rent increases until September 30th, according to Patch. The ordinance, initially passed in May 2020, prevents an increase in the amount paid in rent in all residential units within Montclair. There are certain exemptions.
Montclair Passes Historic LGBTQ Protection Law
The Montclair Town Council passed a package of laws to protect the LGBTQ community on June 22nd, per Patch. The first requires all single-occupancy restrooms to be labeled as gender-neutral. The second requires the inclusion of protection on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all third-party bidding and contracts. The third prohibits discrimination in hiring, appointing, and assigning duties and positions on the basis of gender identity or expression.
American Sampler Closing After 40 Years
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A store in Montclair is closing its doors after more than 40 years but says it’s a happy occasion, reported Patch. According to a social media post on Tuesday, the owner Pam Lamoglia is happy about the success of the store and looking forward to retirement. The date for closing is open-ended at this time, and the store is having a storewide sale.
Montclair Film to Reopen Clairidge Cinemas
Montclair Film announced on June 21st that it has signed a multi-year lease to re-open and operate Clairidge Cinemas located at 486 Bloomfield Avenue as a six-screen art-house theater with renovations beginning immediately and scheduled to be completed by October 2021. “As our footprint expands, we will continue to showcase independent, non-fiction, and international films throughout the year,” the press release stated. Click here to read more about Montclair Film revitalizing Clairidge Cinemas.
Serket Pharmacy Now Open on Church Street
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A new pharmacy has opened at 8 Church Street in Montclair called Serket Pharmacy. It is family-owned and operated by a long-time Montclair family. Work on the storefront began in December of 2020.
Out Montclair + Montclair Film Announce Partnership
On June 23rd, Montclair Film and Out Montclair announced a year-long partnership to collaborate on special events during Montclair Film’s festivals and Montclair Pride 2022. The two organizations will focus on LGBTQ+ stories in film and programming for youth and adults, according to the press release. Click here to read what we know.
Video Footage Sparks Further Police Investigation
