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 —Bloomfield policemen and firefighters welcome students back to school, a new scent shop opens in Montclair, the Newark community donated almost 600 book bags to local students in need, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Montclair, Bloomfield, + beyond in Essex County.
American Premiere League Announces Cricket Opening Ceremony
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The American Premiere League has announced plans to celebrate its newly-formed cricket league and tournament with an opening ceremony on Monday, September 13th, according to New Jersey Stage. The celebration will start at 7PM at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls. The fun will include a Junoon cover concert by Sherjan Ahmed, Bollywood and Samba dancers, belly dancers, a drone show, and fireworks.
Vegan Bakery Lexi’s Kitchen Opening in Montclair
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In a recent Instagram post, Lexi’s Kitchen shared news of its unexpected relocation to Montclair. The post reads, “In mid-August, we were told we would have to vacate our kitchen space by October 1st. This came as a huge surprise to us as we had no plans of leaving anytime soon. After a little over a year on the corner of West Broad and Rahway, our business was flourishing and we were having the time of our lives serving the Westfield community and beyond. But this abrupt news meant we had to find a new kitchen space as soon as possible in order to keep our business running. We looked at dozens of spaces over the past month, near and far, and ultimately fell in love with our new home in Montclair, New Jersey.” More details to come.
SOPAC to Host 13 Jazz Shows This Season
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The South Orange Performing Arts Center’s 2021-2022 season boasts thirteen Jazz and Rhythm & Blues shows, according to a recent press release. The lineup includes Grammy Award winners Lisa Fischer, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Bill Charlap. The event on December 11th will feature National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Terri Lyne Carrington and Eddie Palmieri. Audiences can purchase tickets now to enjoy world-famous music starting this month through May 2022.
Sustainable Delivery Subscription Service Opens First Montclair Location
Illuminate Food, a popular subscription food delivery service, is set to open its first brick-and-mortar shop in Montclair in December of 2021. The company’s goal is to educate and feed the community in a sustainable way by partnering with local farms and purveyors. Illuminate Food is revolutionizing grocery delivery, consumption trends, and boosting local businesses. Click here to read about Illuminate’s delicious mission and upcoming opening in Montclair.
New Scent Shop in Montclair, Alchemy, Hosts Grand Opening
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Scent enthusiasts will be happy to learn that a new shop specializing in candles, perfume, and other body products has opened in downtown Montclair on Church Street. The shop, Alchemy, offers more than off-the-shelf products – the team offers an interactive experience for customers that will set it apart from the average lifestyle boutique. September 9th is the store’s grand opening, and in honor, all customers will receive 10% off their purchases. Click here to find out what we know about the new shop, Alchemy, in Montclair.
Newark Book Bag Distribution Helps Hundreds of Families
City, county, and state officials organized a book bag distribution event, reaching hundreds of Newark families just before the start of the school year, per Tap Into. The distribution event included North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr., City Council President Lusi Quintana, Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), and Essex County Register Juan Rivera. The distributors had nearly 600 book bags for local students, as well as vaccination opportunities onsite.
Montclair Schools to Reopen Thursday After Hurricane Damage
Despite damage from Hurricane Ida, students are returning to school on September 9th for fully in-person classes, according to Montclair Local. This is the first time students are attending school full-time, in person, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Montclair High School, Bradford School, and Hillside School were all damaged due to severe flooding; a tree fell on the Edgemont Montessori School; and a leak caused a fire panel to be damaged at the district’s Developmental Learning Center.
Local Officials Work to Make Essex County Recognized by FEMA
Local officials have joined efforts to get funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide funds for Essex and Morris counties as major disaster areas, per Patch. FEMA recently approved a major disaster declaration for six New Jersey counties, but the plan didn’t include Essex county, which left many lawmakers and citizens confused.
Montclair Fund For Ida Relief Passes $30K
Montclair Councilman Peter Yacobellis announced that the Montclair Fund for Ida Relief has raised over $30,000, which exceeds the goal of $20,000, according to Tap Into. Yacobellis launched the fund the night of the storm. Yacobellis also shared that there is already a plan in place on how to divide the money in order to make the best possible use of it.
Free Dance on the Lawn Outdoor Festival Returned Following Pandemic Cancellation
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The free “Dance on the Lawn” outdoor festival returned this year on September 11th, featuring professional and student dancers, according to the Dance on the Lawn Instagram account. The performances were streamed on Vimeo, YouTube, and Facebook. Due to the pandemic, the festival took place virtually last year.
Newark Charges Less For Outdoor Events During Pandemic
Newark has dedicated part of its federal American Rescue Plan funds to make it cheaper to host outdoor events in the city, Patch reports. Newark plans to waive certain permitting fees for outdoor events and activities, reducing the barrier for entry and making participation easier for local businesses. The city’s goal is to make it easier to hold a market, street fair, or festival in the city.
Montclair Orchestra Postpones Opening Concert
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The Montclair Orchestra has postponed its season-opener concert, per the Montclair Orchestra Instagram account. The concert was originally scheduled for October 3rd but was postponed due to flooding and COVID-19 concerns. The goal is for the concert to take place in early November.
Montclair Schools Ask Families to Opt-in For Pooled COVID-19 Tests
The Montclair public school district is asking families and caretakers to opt-in for voluntary pooled coronavirus tests this fall, Montclair Local reports. The tests will be administered at the schools every other week. The tests aren’t individual diagnostics, but they’re meant to help spot the presence of COVID-19 in a group setting.
Montclair State and Partner PSEG Move Toward Sustainable Energy
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Montclair State University and its longstanding partnership with PSEG are helping move New Jersey toward its ambitious energy goals, according to Montclair State University. The partnership dates back to 2009, the most recent example being a $425,000 grant addressing 2050 climate and energy initiatives through the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies and the Clean Energy and Sustainability Analytics Center at Montclair State University.
Montclair Businesses Hit Hard by Hurricane Ida
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Some Montclair businesses that took heavy hits from the pandemic took even more damage from Hurricane Ida last week, like Samba in Montclair. Ilson Goncalves, the owner of Samba Montclair, sold his home to save his restaurant after the pandemic, and then the Hurricane destroyed $8,000 worth of food and damaged his new air conditioning system, according to the Samba Instagram account. Goncalves, alongside other Montclair small business owners, are bracing for the worst that may come from any further severe weather.
Police, Fire Unions Gather at Newark City Hall Protesting Vaccine Mandate
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New Jersey police and fire unions gathered in front of Newark City Hall, protesting Mayor Ras Baraka’s COVID vaccine mandate for city employees, NJ.com reports. Dozens of firefighters, police, and their supporters took issue with the mandate, chanting “No vaccinations without negotiations.” Barak issued the executive order last month requiring city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face discipline that could include termination.
Montclair Mayor Announces Mandatory Vaccines for Municipal Employees
Montclair Mayor Sean M. Spiller announced that municipal employees will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested regularly for the virus, per Baristanet. This is among other actions the city has taken in response to the pandemic, including Spiller’s COVID-19 Recovery Task Force. Spiller called it a “commonsense step” to “get us back on the path to recovery.”
“Fire Pit” Series Coming Live to Montclair Brewery
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The ‘leave no trace theatre’ company (lowercase intended) is bringing its “fire pit” series to the Montclair Brewery, per the leave no trace theatre Instagram. The readings and plays from the company are site-specific, meaning they are staged in nontraditional theater spaces. The first reading will take place on September 19th at 6PM in the beer garden at Montclair Brewery. Tickets are free, but registration is required.
Bloomfield Policemen and Firefighters Welcome Students Back to School
Bloomfield students returned to school after a year of virtual learning, Tap Into reports. Alongside the students were members of the Bloomfield Police Department and the Bloomfield Fire Department. These departments are reminding everyone to watch for pedestrians and drive slowly in school zones.
Bloomfield to Held 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
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Bloomfield hosted a remembrance ceremony for victims of the terrorist attack on 9/11 this Saturday, September 11th, according to Patch. To remember the 20th anniversary of the attacks, Bloomfield will light 2,977 luminary bags and place them around the Town Green. The event’s featured performances from 6PM to 7PM followed by a ceremony.
