This week brought an overcast (and dare we say, much-needed) couple of days. It’s been another busy week in Essex County and we’ve got all the news to keep you up to date. Among the highlights: a massive fire occurs on Route 3 near Clifton and Montclair; Montclair and Newark natives will be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame; and over 20 New Jersey natives are competing in the Paris Summer 2024 Olympics that began this weekend. Read on for all the news in Essex County for the week ending July 28th, 2024.
Have a news story or press release? Email it to [email protected].
Among the Headlines:
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- Massive Fire Occurs on Route 3 Near Clifton + Montclair
- Paris-Based Pastry + Candy Shop Ladurée Coming to The Mall at Short Hills
- Montclair Board of Education Selects Interim Superintendent
- Montclair Art Museum Honored for Supporting Disability Inclusion
- Montclair Native Earns Spot In N.J. Hall Of Fame
- Acorn General Store Opens in Montclair
- Block Party + Race to Take Place in Montclair
- Montclair History Center’s YWCA Named a New Jersey Black Heritage Site
- 20+ New Jersey Natives Competing in Paris Summer 2024 Olympics
- The Albion Summit to Host Grand Opening
Newark High School Football Player Awarded $5k Scholarship
Kaemir Carter, a graduating senior from West Side High School in Newark, recently scored himself a $5,000 scholarship from the nonprofit The Other Side of the End Zone. According to Patch Newark, the outstanding offensive and defensive lineman will put the funds to use at Kean University where he will be attending this fall and continue playing football. The nonprofit provides financial aid to high school students who “demonstrate strong academic performance and character traits in addition to excellence on the football field”.
Massive Fire Occurs on Route 3 Near Clifton + Montclair
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Route 3 closed in both directions this past Monday, July 22nd, due to a large tractor-trailer fire that broke out near Montclair and Clifton near Valley Road. It happened near the Route 3 to Route 46 changeover. A 55-year-old truck driver tragically lost his life in the fire. Per ABC7NY, the crash happened when the box truck and a New Jersey Transit bus collided. The truck then exploded when it crashed through the sound barrier into the back yard of several houses. There were 29 customers on the bus, but as of this reporting, everyone on board is okay — but nearby homes did evacuate as a precaution. The latest updates can be found here.
Controversial Power Plant in Newark Gets Green Light
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette called a news conference on Thursday, July 18th, to announce the issuing of a controversial Newark power plant with the necessary permits. The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) wants to build a natural gas power plant at its existing wastewater treatment facility at 600 Wilson Avenue as the proposal is part of a resiliency blueprint that came about in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, per Patch Newark. Since then, the PVSC has rolled out a sweeping series of renovations to avoid future calamities, which includes building a plant that would provide backup power to their wastewater treatment plant if the grid goes down. Critics are skeptical about the plant’s impact on the current climate crisis; Commissioner LaTourette has commented that the facility will be taking measures to reduce its environmental footprint, including better pollution controls on boilers that treat sewage sludge, replacing older equipment, and installing more solar panels and batteries.
Newark Introduces Free Mattress Disposal Service
The Newark Department of Public Works is now providing local residents with two ways to throw away unwanted mattresses for free. The city is providing drop-off and pick-up services for Newark residents with a limit of two per household, per Patch Newark. Mattresses must be wrapped in plastic upon being turned in. Residents can call 973-733-3644 to schedule a pickup or can choose to drop off mattresses at either 99 Earl Street, 21 Verona Avenue, or 244 South 12 Street in Newark Monday through Saturday from 7AM-3:30PM. Its pickup schedule is during the same time frames and each day of the week is designated to a different ward of the city: Central Ward on Monday, East Ward on Tuesday, North Ward on Wednesday, South Ward on Thursday, and West Ward on Friday.
Montclair Native Earns Spot In N.J. Hall Of Fame
Warren Littlefield, who hails from Montclair, received recognition from the New Jersey Hall of Fame for his achievements as a high-level executive and president of NBC Entertainment. Warren is best known for being an entertainment industry mogul who oversaw NBC’s “Must See TV” lineup, having developed and helped create shows like Seinfeld, Cheers, The Cosby Show, The Golden Girls, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Frasier, and The West Wing, per Patch Montclair. Warren is also a producer for The Handmaid’s Tale, Fargo, and Dopesick. The 2024 honorees will be inducted at the 16th annual New Jersey Hall of Fame ceremony, which will air beginning on Wednesday, November 13th.
Paris-Based Pastry + Candy Shop Ladurée Coming to The Mall at Short Hills
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A Paris-based brand is opening up its first New Jersey outpost. Ladurée, a French pastry and candy shop known for its macarons, chocolates, and other sweet treats, will debut at The Mall at Short Hills soon. The store will be situated on the lower level near Neiman Marcus. While we do not know the official opening date of Ladurée’s newest location — located at 1200 Morris Turnpike — the mall’s directory states it as “coming soon”. Click here for more of what we know about Ladurée’s arrival in the Garden State.
Montclair Board of Education Selects Interim Superintendent
The Montclair Board of Education voted to appoint Damen Cooper, the district’s director of secondary education, as the new interim superintendent of Montclair Public Schools at a special virtual Board of Education meeting this past Monday, July 22nd. Damen’s contract is subject to approval by Joseph Zarra, the Interim Executive County Superintendent, per Montclair Local. The resolution to appoint Damen came after a moment of silence for Dr. Jonathan Ponds, the most recent Montclair Schools superintendent, who died on Friday, July 12th, 2024. Damen was originally hired as the district’s director of personnel in June 2020 and was previously a middle school principal in Hackensack and Summit, respectively. He also served as an assistant principal at Montclair High School from 2011–2015 and is a former board member for Teaneck Public Schools as well.
Montclair Art Museum Honored for Supporting Disability Inclusion
Montclair Art Museum was recently recognized for helping foster community inclusion at “Raise the Roof,” which took place at The MC Hotel in Montclair this past Thursday, July 25th. Hosted by Cohome, the event celebrated the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and supports disability inclusion. According to Montclair Local, proceeds from the event will go toward both the creation of new disability-inclusive programming in Montclair and a building campaign for critical renovations to Cohome’s flagship co-living home in Morristown.
Newark Fire Leaves Dozens Without A Home + Injures Firemen
A two-alarm fire took place on Monday, July 22nd, in Newark on 76 Barbara Street inside the basement of a three-story residential building at 8:10PM. Firefighters encountered several hazards while battling the blaze, including a collapsed staircase and heat exhaustion, which led to two of them being treated by EMS on the scene and another two being transported to University Hospital; both are now reported to be in stable condition. Safety officials allegedly called a second alarm to stop the spread of the flames to a nearby building at 74 Barbara Street, per Patch Newark. The fire was placed under control at 8:55PM. A total of 24 residents, including 19 adults and five children, were relocated due to the damage.
Acorn General Store Opens in Montclair
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Acorn General Store has recently opened at 41 Church Street in Montclair. The store is aimed to serve busy, sustainably-minded people so they can shop and live better. According to its website, it also hosts The Acorn Club, which welcomes members who are, “busy, sustainably minded people who understand that quality products and thoughtful shopping can make a world of difference”. The Acorn General Store is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11AM-7PM. It is closed on Monday.
Block Party + Race to Take Place in Montclair
The Montclair Mile is a lively event for runners of all skill levels taking place on Wednesday, August 7th, starting and ending at Montclair Brewery. Hosted by Trails of Miles, this event unites people to participate in a fun activity and rewards participants afterward with delicious food + drinks. This dog-friendly event ensures that furry friends can join in the fun, too. MG can confirm this race is an approved part of the USATF Grand Prix Points Series for those who are competing in the 2024 Masters Grand Prix. Click here to learn more about The Montclair Mile and how you can dash into it.
Another Bear Spotting in Essex County: This Time Near South Mountain Reservation
The Maplewood Police Department reported a black bear sighting in the township on Sunday, July 21st, when it was seen walking around Wyoming Avenue and Lewis Drive — a few blocks away from South Mountain Reservation and a short walk from a dog park. According to Patch Maplewood, advice from Maplewood police warned civilians to leave the bears alone and to not feed them. This is the latest report of several bear sightings and encounters that have occurred across Essex County this year.
Montclair History Center’s YWCA Named a New Jersey Black Heritage Site
Montclair History Center’s (MHC) Crane House and Historic YWCA museum is now one of 32 sites to be named a New Jersey Black Heritage Site by the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) in its inaugural round of honorees. The historic Montclair YWCA was selected for its important role in the history of Montclair’s African American community and its larger historical significance, per a press release from MHC. The Montclair YWCA for African American women and girls was founded in 1912 by Alice Hooe Foster — the first African American woman to graduate from Montclair High School. The Crane House housed the YWCA from the 1920s through the ’60s, which was a haven for the young women who lived there. With locations across the state, the Black Heritage Trail was signed into law by Governor Murphy in 2022, “to highlight Black heritage sites throughout the state with historical markers and a trail-like path that connects the stories of Black life and resiliency”, according to Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way.
Montclair History Museum Starting Summer Farm Camp
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The Montclair History Center, Montclair Community Farms, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H are partnering again to host its annual Farm Camp which supports youth development by promoting a positive interest in nature, historical living, and agriculture. Campers aged 6-11 (or have completed one year of kindergarten by June 1st, 2024) will be in the garden each day and participate in age-related activities. The camp is hosted throughout the first three full weeks of August, respectively. Counselor positions for students 16 years old and older and Counselor-in-Training positions for students ages 12–15 (by June 1st, 2024) are available for all weeks of camp. More information can be found on its website.
Two Newark Natives Getting Inducted Into N.J. Hall Of Fame
Donald Katz and Edwin Leahy each earned a spot in the 2024 class of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Donald, the founder of Newark-based company Audible, is also an award-winning journalist and author. Edwin is the headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark. According to Patch Newark, the 2024 honorees will be inducted at the 16th annual New Jersey Hall of Fame ceremony, which will air beginning on Wednesday, November 13th.
Newark Building Taking Applications for Affordable Housing
Applications are now being taken for affordable housing at a building located at 65 McWhorter Street in Newark, with a September 22nd, 2024 deadline for prospective renters. Priority will be given to local residents, per Patch Newark. Interested applicants can apply online, email [email protected], or call 551-296-7770 for more information.
Montclair High School Hosts “All Classes” Reunion
A reunion for all classes that graduated from Montclair High School took place on Saturday, July 20th, at Nishuane Park. The annual event provided Mounties with an opportunity to reconnect and relive high school memories. According to Montclair Local, the event also raised funds to award a scholarship to a recent MHS graduate.
20+ New Jersey Natives Competing in Paris Summer 2024 Olympics
Hundreds of American athletes are in Paris right now, waiting for their moment to compete on the world stage. There are 22 of those athletes representing New Jersey on Team USA across different sports. Click here for a list of these athletes are, where they’re from, and where you can watch them compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
Montclair Robbery Leads to Fatal Car Crash
A suspect involved in a strong-arm robbery on Tuesday, July 23rd, in Montclair later died in a fatal car crash in East Orange. Montclair Police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery at the Acme on Valley Road. The victim, a 69-year-old female from Montclair, had just finished food shopping with her daughter and told police they were walking through the parking lot when they were allegedly approached by the suspect who grabbed her purse, per Montclair Local. After putting up a fight, the suspect took the purse and fled in a Nissan Sentra, leaving the victim with an injured forearm. Following a police pursuit by Bloomfield Police that ended in East Orange, a multi-vehicle crash occurred. The driver of the pursued vehicle sustained fatal injuries and two drivers from other civilian vehicles sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The multi-vehicle crash is now under investigation by New Jersey’s Attorney General.
Catering Drivers for Newark Airport Protest for Workplace Changes
One @unitehere100 member fainted due to the #ExtremeHeat while she was on the tarmac at EWR.
She was out for 4 minutes.
Instead of giving her water or a break, her employer told her to get a drug test.
Workers’ lives are on the line. We need a heat standard now! #HeatKills pic.twitter.com/h5z86OCoS3
— Make the Road New Jersey (@MaketheRoadNJ) July 18, 2024
Members of Unite Here Local 100 recently participated in a protest advocating for safer working conditions in the heat. According to Patch Newark, workers say that the air conditioners in some of the trucks they drive to deliver catering carts for airlines operating out of Newark Airport are “on the fritz” every day, therefore exposing them to hazardous temperatures. A proposed state law could help resolve the issue; if it crosses the finish line, S-2422/A-3521 would force employers to obey a state-mandated “heat stress standard” for their workers who are at risk of extreme heat or otherwise face a potential stop-work order.
Landmark Hospitality Opening The Albion Summit
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Landmark Hospitality is opening its newest venture, The Albion Summit, at 570 Springfield Avenue in Summit, NJ soon. The Albion Summit is a relaunch and renovation of The Grand Summit Hotel. This vibrant destination just outside of NYC provides community-focused amenities including the renowned Felina Restaurant, an events space, a movie theater, and a co-working space called The Living Room, among other things. Open houses for hiring are being held on Monday, July 29th, and Thursday, August 1st from 11AM-3PM for those looking for restaurant + hotel positions.