Summer is in full swing now with both high temperatures and rain showers dotting the Garden State. 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 plan to implement congestion pricing for drivers entering NYC has been shelved; the Montclair High School Ultimate Frisbee team wins the state championship; and a new dessert shop opens in Fairfield. Read on for all the news in Essex County for the week ending June 9th, 2024.
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Among the Headlines:
- New Police Precinct Opens in Downtown Newark
- Metro Vein Centers Opening New Clinic in Bloomfield
- A New Dessert Shop, Waffles + Dreams, Opens in Fairfield
- The Juice House is Opening in Montclair Next Week
- Montclair Film Announces Emerging Filmmaker Competition Winners
- Montclair Housing Choice Voucher Program Opens Enrollment on June 20th
- Plaque Commemorating Livingston Girl Scouts Unveiled at Town Hall
- Montclair High School Ultimate Frisbee Nabs 2nd State Title
- Winning NJ Lottery Ticket Sold by Newark Cafe
- Another Bear Spotted in Montclair at Nature Preserve
New York’s Congestion Plan Halted Indefinitely
A long-anticipated and much-criticized plan to implement congestion pricing for drivers entering Manhattan has been delayed indefinitely. The plan was supposed to go into effect on July 1st, but New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday, June 5th that the plans would be shelved. Click here for more.
Bloomfield Branch of Provident Bank to Close
The Bloomfield branch of Provident Bank, located at 1260 Broad Street, will close on August 30th. Per Patch Bloomfield, the closure is part of the bank’s merger with Lakeland Bank. Customer accounts will be transferred to a nearby Provident location, at 11 Broad Street in Bloomfield.
New Police Precinct Opens in Downtown Newark
Newark public safety officials announced the grand opening of the Metro/9th Precinct at 22 Franklin Street on May 30th. According to Patch Newark, Police Chief Emanuel Miranda said the new precinct will extend from Bridge Street to the Routes 1+9 ramp, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to McCarter Highway. The precinct has roughly 70 police officers on staff, which includes two community service officers and a school resource officer. The new precinct is also staffed by members of the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery, who can offer social and referral services to the public.
Metro Vein Centers Opening New Clinic in Bloomfield
Metro Vein Centers has opened a new clinic location in Bloomfield at 400 Broadacres Drive in Suite #140. According to a press release from the company, its medical experts specialize in addressing vein diseases like spider and varicose veins and more severe cases. Metro Vein Centers’s mission is to “ensure more patients benefit from [its] personalized expertise and specialized care in combating this condition effectively.”
A New Dessert Shop, Waffles + Dreams, Opens in Fairfield
The dessert-as-a-meal concept is catching on — just look at all of the options in Montclair alone. New to the scene is Waffles + Dreams, a dessert shop where sweet and savory waffle combinations take center stage. Waffles + Dreams started as a mobile dessert and breakfast bar + trailer and opened its first permanent location this week at 653 Route 46 West in Fairfield. Click here for more.
Nutley + Bloomfield Emergency Crews Respond to Creek Pollution Incident
First responders from Bloomfield and Nutley worked together to respond to a pollution incident in a local creek on Sunday, June 2nd at Essex County’s Watsessing Park in Bloomfield. The pollutant material has not been identified, but the Nutley HazMat team deployed an absorbent material into the creek to remove it, according to TapInto Nutley. The New Jersey Department of the Environment was also called to the site for a more thorough cleanup.
The Juice House is Opening in Montclair Next Week
The Juice House — a juice, smoothie, and bowl eatery — will open its fifth New Jersey storefront in Montclair at 10 North Willow Street. We first reported about the new location in June 2023, the store put up signage in January 2024, and now we know that the new spot will host its grand opening on Sunday, June 16th. Click here for more.
Plaque Commemorating Livingston Girl Scouts Unveiled at Town Hall
A gold award plaque with 270 names on it has been unveiled at Livingston Town Hall, in honor of the Livingston Girl Scouts. Per TapInto Livingston, the names, awards, and other honors applicable to past and present Scouts encompass community history dating back to 1935. The plaque comes after community members realized that while Boy Scouts who had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout had a plaque in Town Hall, there was nothing similar for the Girl Scouts.
Montclair Film Announces Emerging Filmmaker Competition Winners
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Montclair Film has recently announced the 2024 Emerging Filmmaker Competition (EFC) winners. According to Montclair Local, the competition celebrates the work of filmmakers in grades 6 through 12 in a wide range of styles and voices that highlight the “diverse talents of young people using cinema to tell their stories.” Gabriella Keil from Montclair High School won the Shine Global Resilience Award to Young Filmmakers and the Grand Prize in Animation along with a $500 prize for her film 3am Thoughts. The Shine Global Award recognizes and celebrates the films and filmmakers that showcase “the resilience and strength of children in the face of adversity.”
Montclair Housing Choice Voucher Program Opens Enrollment on June 20th
Starting June 20th, applicants can fill out Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) pre-enrollment application materials online. Per Montclair Local, the program is federally funded and designed to help participants obtain safe, affordable, and stable housing. The Montclair Housing Authority (MHA) can accept up to 225 pre-applications.
Montclair Fund for Education Excellence Judy Weston Awardees Named
The recipients of the Judy Weston Awards have been named. The annual awards are given to Montclair educators in honor of the late Judy Weston, a Montclair teacher. The awards are organized by the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE), which will recognize the 16 honorees at a celebration on June 10th, according to a press release from the organization.
Updates on May 29th Car Crash in Livingston
Livingston Police have released new information regarding a May 29th car crash at 585 West Mt. Pleasant Avenue. The 83-year-old driver of an Acura RDX drove the vehicle into the front of the Crunch Fitness, causing the facility to be closed for two days. Per Patch Livingston, authorities have determined that the driver mistakenly hit the gas instead of the brake. No serious injuries were reported.
Nishuane School in Montclair Receives $10K Grant for Social Justice + Equity Education
The Nishuane School in Montclair has been awarded a $10,000 grant by the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellent (MFEE) to support the school’s goals in social justice and equity education. A team of teachers from the school will attend professional development sessions on the topic in order to develop lesson plans. According to Montclair Local, the teachers will be guided by Dr. Bree Picower, a professor at Montclair State University, and a leader in social justice education.
Adaptive Reuse in Newark Yields Additional Housing Units
Adaptive reuse projects, which see vacant commercial spaces such as offices and hotels converted into apartments, are on the rise in Newark. This trend has been increasing in popularity nationwide, but until recently, Newark has lagged behind similarly-sized cities, per Patch Newark. Nearly 1000 housing units can be expected to come from adaptive reuse projects in Newark over the next few years.
Vital IV Infusions Opens in Montclair
Vital IV Infusions, an IV wellness center, has opened in Montclair at 49 Claremont Avenue. The team at Vital IV supports patients’ overall wellness through a series of therapies including ketamine, NAD+, and vitamins. Click here for more.
Brookdale ShopRite Supports Bloomfield HS Grad Party with $10K Check
The Brookdale ShopRite has contributed $10,000 to the upcoming all-night grad party at Bloomfield High School. Per Patch Bloomfield, this year’s celebration will be a boat cruise around Manhattan. The contribution will support the program and defray costs for students.
The 2024 Montclair Pride Festival Was This Weekend
The Montclair Pride Festival took place on June 8th, kicking off a month-long celebration of Pride. The Festival, organized by OutMontclair, featured live music, local vendors, community organizations, and more. Montclair’s celebration has been ranked by Visit NJ as one of the top pride celebrations in the state. Click here for more.
Longtime Local Retailer, Montclair Stationery, To Close Its Doors
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June 30th will be the last day for beloved local retailer Montclair Stationery, located at 612 Valley Road. Owner Sharai Mutasah said that COVID closures and changing shopping patterns have made the business more challenging, according to Montclair Local. The owner of the building said he wanted to renovate the space, which caused Sharai to think about her own future, and moving on from the store.
Primary Elections Held in Montclair
Incumbent Representative Mikie Sherrill retained the nomination for the Democrats, while Joseph Belnome secured the Republican nomination for the NJ-11 seat. The two candidates will vie for the seat in the November 2024 general election, per Patch Montclair.
Montclair High School Girls’ Track Wins First State Title in 22 Years
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It’s been a long time coming for the Montclair High School Girls’ track team to win another state title. Per Montclair Local, the team’s victory at the June 1st race was the school’s first in 22 years.
Winning NJ Lottery Ticket Sold by Newark Cafe
On June 4th, the Ironbound Restaurant + Café on Fleming Avenue in Newark sold a Quick Draw Progressive ticket worth $13,414. Per Patch Newark, this ticket joins two other recently sold winning tickets in Essex County, one each in Belleville and Nutley.
Newark Non-Profit Receives $100,000 Grant
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Newark Emergency Services for Families (NESF) is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Essex, an Essex County-based giving circle. Impact100 Essex is a group of Essex County women who support philanthropic and community-focused efforts per Patch Newark. The money will go toward expanding NESF’s services including moving to a larger soup kitchen.
Controversial Changes to New Jersey OPRA Bill Approved by Governor Murphy
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a law changing the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), the way the state’s public access to government documents is handled. Per Patch Montclair, many observers say that the changes will reduce public access to information. Others say that the changes are long overdue.
Montclair High School Ultimate Frisbee Nabs 2nd State Title
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The Montclair High School Ultimate Frisbee Team, the Geese, has won a second consecutive state championship. According to Montclair Local, the team is student-coached. In the title game, the Geese defeated the Westfield Blue Devils 13-10. Congratulations to the team and its supporters!
Another Bear Spotted in Montclair at Nature Preserve
A black bear was spotted roaming around the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve in Montclair located at Riverview Drive on the morning of Monday, June 3rd. This is one of several bear sightings that have recently taken place all around Essex County, per Patch Montclair. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, mating season for black bears in New Jersey runs between late May and August and peaks in June and July. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife has stated that black bears are the largest land mammal in the Garden State; they are an integral part of its natural heritage and an important component of healthy ecosystems.