The Montclair Girl Team 
This week has been a little taste of summer, and we’ve got all the Montclair + Essex County news headlines for you. Lots of things are happening this week, including NJ Transit updates related to World Cup, New Jersey is represented at the 2026 Rock + Roll Hall of Fame, and punk rock legend Richie Ramone dined at Rutt’s Hut.
Every week, we round up the top news stories of the week from both our site, The Montclair Girl, and aggregate across the web from various sources. You can read more at the links below, and always feel free to submit any news tips to [email protected]. Our twice-weekly newsletter shares more as well, which you can sign up for here.
– New Jersey natives Celia Cruz and Queen Latifah will be inducted into the Rock + Roll Hall of Fame, while Lauryn Hill is a nominee (The Local Girl).
– NJ Transit is preparing infrastructure and service plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup to accommodate increased ridership (The Local Girl).
– Montclair officials are considering redevelopment options for a long-vacant restaurant building as part of broader efforts to revitalize underused properties (Montclair Local).
– Pura Vida Miami opens its first New Jersey location at Short Hills Mall (The Montclair Girl).
– The South Orange Food Stroll returned April 19 with 20 participating restaurants offering a wide range of global cuisine (Montclair Local).
– The former Izod Center site could be redeveloped into a convention center as state officials explore the future of the Meadowlands complex (NorthJersey.com).
– Bloomfield restaurant The Brookdale is closing after six years in town; its sister concepts, Fanny’s and Ladyfingers, will remain open (The Montclair Girl).
– A lawsuit challenging the congestion fee to enter lower Manhattan is moving closer to possible mediation (NJ.com).
– Punk rock legend Richie Ramone was spotted dining at Rutt’s Hut in Clifton (NJ.com).
-Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett will portray New Jersey native Martha Stewart in a new biopic (Variety).
– Montclair has banned hunting in a local preserve as environmental stewards warn that deer are causing significant forest damage (Montclair Local).
– The family of an East Orange municipal worker has filed a $40 million lawsuit alleging wrongful death at a Montclair hospital (Montclair Local).
–Dredging and coastal protection projects at Newark Bay and nearby shorelines are in the plans from the Army Corps of Engineers (NJ Spotlight News).
– New Jersey’s film industry is experiencing significant growth despite industry-wide slowdowns (The Local Girl).
– The West Orange school district is proposing to cut about 70 staff members, but still faces a budget shortfall (NJ.com).
– A Korean scalp and skincare spa is set to open in Livingston (NJ.com).
– Lauryn Hill returned to Columbia High School to support and sponsor a student fashion show fundraiser (Village Green NJ).
– Montclair schools are reducing funding for audits despite a recent report highlighting serious financial management issues (Montclair Local).
– NJ Transit is introducing new railcars as part of an effort to modernize its fleet and improve service reliability (New Jersey Monitor).
– Analilia Mejia won the special election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District (Montclair Local).
– Montclair school officials are intensifying efforts to investigate a major budget deficit and prevent potential state intervention as financial pressures mount (Montclair Local).
– American Dream mall plans to open a new performing arts center ahead of the 2026 World Cup to expand its entertainment offerings (NJ.com).
– Hackensack’s Coach House Diner closed after 40 years (Bergen County Girl).
– New Jersey commuters may receive discounts to offset disruptions expected from Penn Station closures during the 2026 World Cup (NorthJersey.com).
Have a tip? Please email us at [email protected] to share
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