The days are getting longer here in the Montclair area, and while New Jerseyans are beginning to settle into the rhythms of summer, local news hasn’t slowed down one bit. It’s been another busy week in Essex County, and we’ve got all the Montclair news to keep you up to date. Among the highlights: NJ Transit workers went on strike on May 16th, shutting all service lines down completely; Keep Creating Art Wellness Center will relocate to Montclair’s Lackawanna Plaza this summer; and Montclair African American Heritage Parade + Festival is set to take place on June 7th. Read on for all the news in Montclair and the surrounding Essex County towns for the week ending May 18th, 2025.

Have a news story or press release? Email it to [email protected] and we’ll consider it for coverage.

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Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):

• NJ Transit is On Strike: What to Know If You’re Commuting
• Common Lot in Millburn Announces Closure; Owners Returning to Australia
• Keep Creating Art Wellness Center Moving to New Space in Montclair’s Lackawanna Plaza This Summer
• Montclair African American Heritage Parade + Festival Returns on 6/7
• Deli Franchise, Tony Boys, Opens 4th Location in Montclair
• EWR Travelers May Have Been Exposed to the Measles
• Pilatte: A Women-Only Pilates + Coffee Spot Coming to Upper Montclair
• Bird Flu Detected at Live Market in Essex County
• Propagate Studio to Open Outpost in Montclair’s Acorn General Store
• New Fitness Studio, Pilates Please, to Host Grand Opening in Fairfield Today

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NJ Transit is On Strike: What to Know If You’re Commuting

For the first time in 40 years, NJ Transit locomotive engineers are on strike, and no rail services are running as of Friday, May 16th at 12:01AM. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), the labor union representing railroad workers, authorized the action after being unable to come to an agreement about wages with NJ Transit (NJT) in re-negotiating its contract. Leadership from NJT and the BLET met with mediators from the National Mediation Board in Washington, DC, this past week but were unable to reach a deal. For now, travelers are encouraged to stay home if possible, and alternative transportation services like PATH, buses, and ferries are being provided. Click here for more.

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Common Lot in Millburn Announces Closure; Owners Returning to Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Common Lot Restaurant (@common_lot)

 

The restaurant Common Lot, located at 27 Main Street, Millburn, announced its closure via social media on Friday, May 9th. “Nadine and I have made the difficult decision to relocate back to Australia,” Chef Ehren Ryan and his wife Nadine wrote on Instagram and Facebook. “We had always believed we would stay in the US indefinitely, given [that] we have built businesses, had a family, and rescued a dog here. But circumstances have changed, and we feel it is now the right decision for us to raise our children in Australia, especially our daughter.” This comes after the closure of Common Lot’s sister restaurant, Byrd, formerly located in Hoboken, back in March. Click here for more.

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Keep Creating Art Wellness Center Moving to New Space in Montclair’s Lackawanna Plaza This Summer

Photo Credit: Eric Ortiz

Keep Creating Art Wellness Center, a non-profit art studio aiming to provide inclusive art classes to people of all abilities and all levels of art and exposure, has been located at 408 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair since its conception. The Art Center will move to the ground floor of Lackawanna Plaza this summer, allowing for new programs and an opportunity to connect with the community at a bigger locale. On May 15th, the organization hosted a fundraiser at Fitzgerald’s 1928 in Glen Ridge to offset the cost of moving, renovating the ample space, and growing the program. Click here for more.

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Montclair African American Heritage Parade + Festival Returns on 6/7

The Montclair African American Heritage Parade + Festival, an annual event that honors the town’s African-American heritage and historical contributions, returns on Saturday, June 7th, 2025. The parade, boasting floats, marching bands, and dance troupes, will begin at 10:30AM on Maple Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue. The festival will continue in Nishuane Park, located at 48 High Street, at 1PM. Attendees can expect live performances, art exhibitions, food vendors, family-friendly activities, and a Battle of the Bands featuring high school marching bands from across New Jersey.

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Deli Franchise Tony Boys Opens 4th Location in Montclair

Photo Credit: Tony Boys

Tony Boys, a deli franchise known for its made-to-order sandwiches, opened another location in Montclair in December 2024. Located at 8 South Fullerton Avenue, the Montclair site marks Tony Boys’ fourth locale. Locals can find a menu featuring crispy chicken cutlets, tender eggplant, juicy ribeye cheesesteaks, fresh salads, classic high-quality cold cuts, milkshakes, housemade sodas, and catering services. Click here for more.

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EWR Travelers May Have Been Exposed to the Measles

Anyone who visited Newark Liberty International Airport, Terminal B on May 12th, 2025, between 12:30PM and 4PM may have been exposed to measles, the New Jersey Department of Health said in an alert on Thursday. This announcement came after a case of the disease was reported in a non-New Jersey resident who visited the state while infectious. “Potentially exposed individuals, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as June 2, 2025,” the department stated.

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Pilatte: A Women-Only Pilates + Coffee Spot Coming to Upper Montclair

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by PILATTE NJ ☕️ (@pilattestudio.nj)

 

A new women-centered reformer and mat pilates studio, Pilatte, has plans to open in Upper Montclair sometime in June. The fitness space will host women-only reformer and mat pilates classes, and provide the option to purchase coffee drinks before and after a workout. The location has yet to be revealed, but the Pilatte team shared with The Montclair Girl that construction should be done by the end of the week. Click here for more.

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Bird Flu Detected at Live Market in Essex County

A case of the bird flu was discovered at a live bird market in Essex County after samples collected from a routine inspection on May 6th were detected with the virus. “The risk of HPAI to the general public remains low, and no live poultry were sold to the public that may have been infected,” according to a statement shared by the New Jersey Department of Health. The market is now quarantined and temporarily closed, and all existing birds underwent depopulation.

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Propagate Studio to Open Outpost in Montclair’s Acorn General Store

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Art supply thrift, classes & parties NJ (@propagate.studio)

 

Propagate Studio, a Stewartsville-based thrifted art supply company, has announced that it will open a new outpost at the vintage clothing, accessory, and home decor spot, Acorn General Store, located at 41 Church Street, Montclair. Propagate Studio will operate in the shop’s downstairs space through a “pay what you can” system. As per an Instagram post, the business promises to announce a grand opening date soon.

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New Fairfield Fitness Studio, Pilates Please, to Host Grand Opening This Weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by @pilatespleasenj

 

A new fitness studio, Pilates Please, opened in Fairfield at 24 Little Falls Road, Unit D, on Saturday, May 18th. The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony featured giveaways, baked goods, freebies, and refreshments. The business now hosts various class types, including a beginner-friendly introduction course, a women-focused strengthening course, a total body-strengthening course, and more.

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Belleville High School Student Faces Criminal Charges After Participating in a Dangerous TikTok Trend

 A 15-year-old Belleville High School student is currently facing third-degree arson and criminal mischief charges after they allegedly manipulated a district-issued Chromebook battery that ultimately set the device on fire. This is part of a TikTok challenge that nearby school districts, including Millburn, have now scrutinized. As per Patch Belleville-Nutley, Millburn School Superintendent Kathryn Diskin wrote in a letter to parents and guardians, “This challenge encourages dangerous interactions with Chromebook batteries, causing short circuits that generate smoke and could potentially start a fire…Such actions not only damage the devices, but also put students and others at serious risk of harm.”

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Montclair Residents Invited to Apply for Seats on Township Boards + Commissions

Montclair residents are invited to get involved with local government and apply for vacant seats on various township boards and commissions. These include the Arts Advisory Committee, Board of Adjustment (Zoning), Civil Rights Commission, Environmental Commission, Housing Commission, Landlord Tenant Advisory Committee, Montclair Early Childhood Corporation Board of Trustees, Parks + Recreation Committee, People with Disabilities Committee, Planning Board, Rent Control Board, and Senior Citizens Advisory Committee. Those interested can review qualifications and apply using this link.

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Montclair + Essex County Summer Bucket List: 50 Must-Try Activities for 2025

With summer approaching, locals may be itching to get outside and enjoy the weather. The Montclair Girl has created a free and downloadable summer bucket list of activities featuring 50 local things to do, including outdoor adventures, foodie spots, must-attend festivals, and more. Readers can expect to find ideas like walking the South Mountain Reservation Fairy Trail, attending the Montclair Pride Festival, and paddle-boarding at Verona Park. Download our guide to a local Montclair and Essex County summer here.

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First-Ever Montclair Porchfest Took Place on 5/17

The first-ever Porchfest, a town-wide event where local bands take over residents’ porches for a community performance, officially took place in Montclair on May 17th. Over 150 musicians were in attendance, including Intage 135, Camino Sound, BREAKTIME, Jacqueline Ellis, 80 Proof, Adjustable Thrills, Alien, Dopamine Allstars, Druids, Ed Seifert + Friends, Elle Taranis, and Jason Didne. Click here for more.

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Montclair State University to Repurpose Classics Library; Students + Faculty Push Back

Montclair State University recently announced plans to repurpose the school’s Classics Library in Dickson Hall, room 155, to provide more space for the Student Success Center, with renovations set to begin next month. Humanities students and faculty have pushed back, creating an online petition with 1,223 signatures, as of this writing. “Removing such a vital space for academic success would mean depriving the entire university of the chance to engage in classical literature and traditions, thus losing a keystone aspect of the story of humanity,” the petition reads. “This room is an invaluable source of knowledge and a home for all humanities students; our university is one of the few remaining non-Ivy League schools in the area with such a diverse and bountiful classics and humanities program, including the vast resources found in Dickson 155…Please, do not let the university take away our home.”

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Stout NYC Hospitality Group Becomes the Exclusive Food + Beverage Operator at Montclair’s The MC Hotel

Stout NYC Hospitality Group, the owner and operator of 16 bars and restaurants throughout New York City, is now the sole food and beverage operator of The MC Hotel’s Alto Rooftop + Allegory Restaurant and Bar. Chef Dan Drohan will create a new vision for both restaurants’ menus. This will feature a cocktail program that includes a selection of craft beers and premium pours.”We’re eager to bring our refined take on sports bars and dining to New Jersey for the first time,” Percy Rodriguez, Chief Operations Officer at Stout NYC Hospitality Group, said in a statement shared with The Montclair Girl.

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Police Activity Prompted Lockdown at Montclair High School on 5/7

Police activity near Montclair High School prompted a lockdown on the morning of May 7th. Montclair Lieutenant Terence Turner told NorthJersey.com that Montclair Police were assisting the Essex County Sheriff’s Office with an attempted warrant arrest when the suspect ran from the scene on Central Avenue, just streets away from the school. The person was found in a yard on Midland Avenue, where he eventually turned himself in. The lockdown was lifted by 11:30AM that day.

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2025-2026 School Year to End Later in Montclair Due to New Calendar

A few weeks back, the Montclair Board of Education released a community survey asking residents their preferences on whether the school district should recognize only federal holidays or holidays like Diwali, the Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, Rosh Hashana, and Yom Kippur in the academic calendar for 2025-2026. School board member Holly Shaw told Montclair Local that 1,700 families had responded, and of that number, 76.9% said they wanted only federal holidays recognized, while the other 23.1% wanted all holidays recognized. On May 7th, the board cast a vote of 6-1, approving a calendar for the 2025-26 school year, recognizing most of the holidays the district has previously acknowledged, including Diwali, Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, Rosh Hashanah’s first day, and Yom Kippur. As a result, the school year will end on June 25th, which is later than in previous years.

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Bloomfield Begins Routine Hydrant Flushing, Warns of Possible Water Discoloration

The Bloomfield Fire Department began mandatory hydrant flushing, part of an annual maintenance program, on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 11PM. This will run until Thursday, September 19, 2025. 1,200 Bloomfield fire hydrants are planned to be flushed. See the list of locations and schedule here. “During flushing, residents may notice temporary discoloration in their water,” the township said in a statement. “Excess sediment can accumulate in household filters, which may reduce filter life. Filters may be reinstalled after flushing in your area is complete.”

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Applications Open for 2025 Newark Housing Authority Scholarships

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Applications are now open for the 2025 Newark Housing Authority Scholarships, which provide students residing in Newark Housing Authority residences with financial assistance for higher education. To apply, applicants should write a 300-word personal statement and submit a current lease, high school transcript, completed FAFSA application, college acceptance letter, and two recommendation letters. The application closes on May 25, 2025, at 11:59PM. See here for more.

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Jewish-Centered Council Launches in Montclair

The Montclair Jewish Community Relations Council (MJCRC) officially launched on May 6th, announcing its establishment at a scheduled Montclair Township Council meeting. With a current membership of around 40 Montclair residents, the MJCRC’s mission is to “[fight] anti-Jewish bias, [promote] Jewish social, cultural, and civic contributions to society, and [foster] relationships with the greater Montclair community,” according to its website.

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Montclair Sees Rise in Unhoused Population; Township Officials Explore Possible Solutions

A community meeting took place in Montclair on Tuesday, May 13th, after multiple businesses located along Bloomfield Avenue complained about the rising number of unhoused people, according to Montclair Local. The non-profit organization Montclair Emergency Services for Hope (MESH) currently provides overnight shelter at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church during the colder months and meal services six days a week at its home base at Watchung Plaza. Township officials discussed potential solutions to address the issue, including providing meals at various places of worship across town to help spread out the population. They also considered allowing these religious places to build affordable housing for the unhoused, as well as partnering with towns like Verona and Bloomfield to create a regional homeless coordinator.

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