It’s Memorial Day Weekend here in the Montclair area, and while sitting back and relaxing (hopefully by a pool), locals can catch up on all the missed headlines. 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: Montclair Film sets a kick-off date of June 21st for its annual summer movie nights under the stars; Paper Plane Coffee Company announces plans for a Maplewood location; and the long-awaited Montclair Jazz Festival is set to return on June 1st. Read on for all the news in Montclair and the surrounding Essex County towns for the week ending May 25th, 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):

• Rhone Opens at The Mall at Short Hills
• The Montclair Dance Festival Happening at MSU on 5/31
• Marcel Bakery + Kitchen in Montclair Under New Ownership
• After Almost a Year-Long Delayed Opening, New Montclair Restaurant Announces Summer Launch
• Veronica Beard Opens First NJ Standalone Store in The Mall at Short Hills
• Montclair Film’s Annual Summer Movie Nights Under the Stars Kicks Off on 6/21
• Paper Plane Coffee Company Announces Maplewood Location
• Propagate Studio to Open Outpost at Acorn General Store on 5/31
• The Annual Montclair Jazz Festival is Returning on 6/1
• Potential Record-Breaking Game of Catch to Take Place at Yogi Berra Museum on 9/21

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Rhone Opens at The Mall at Short Hills

Rhone, a men’s and women’s clothing brand, opened at The Mall at Short Hills, located at 1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills, on Friday, May 16th. The shop will host a grand opening event on Saturday, June 21st, and Rhone Co-Founders Nate and Ben Checketts will be in attendance. Locals can find Rhone in the lower level of the mall, near Eataly and Ralph Lauren, from Monday to Saturday between 10AM and 9PM and on Sunday between 11AM and 6PM.

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The Montclair Dance Festival Happening at MSU on 5/31

Freespace Dance, an NJ-based nonprofit professional dance company, is hosting the Montclair Dance Festival to highlight a variety of dance genres, performed by dance artists and ensembles throughout New Jersey. The day-long event will take place at Montclair State University on May 31st. The afternoon session will be from 2PM to 5:30PM in the MSU outdoor amphitheater, which is free for the public to enjoy. Then at 7:30PM, the event will move indoors to the MSU Kasser Theater, charging $25 to continue watching the performances. Click here for more.

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Marcel Bakery + Kitchen in Montclair Under New Ownership

Chef Meny Vaknin, the former owner of Marcel Bakery + Kitchen, located at 631 1/2 Valley Road, has sold the restaurant to Eric Maury, the founder of the Jersey City coffee staple DRIP. According to Montclair Local, Eric plans to keep everything the same, including the menu and team, whereas Chef Meny plans to establish a certified kosher food space somewhere in Bergen County.

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After Almost a Year-Long Delayed Opening, New Montclair Restaurant Announces Summer Launch

Photo credit: Jeffrey Elkashab, @nj_native_photo

Less than a year after its opening, Maddox and Musuko closed its doors at 193 Glenridge Avenue in Montclair. Coming to the 12,000+ square foot space is MM by Morimoto, a Japanese restaurant with internationally renowned Chef Masaharu Morimoto, also known as The Iron Chef, behind the concept. The restaurant was expected to open in summer 2024 and was then pushed to spring 2025. Now we know the team is aiming for a July 2025 opening. Click here for more.

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Veronica Beard Opens First NJ Standalone Store in The Mall at Short Hills

Veronica Beard’s first Garden State standalone boutique has opened at The Mall at Short Hills. Located at 1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills, the spot was designed in partnership with interior designer Carolina de Neufville. Shoppers can find items like the brand’s signature VB Classics, seasonal collections, denim pieces, shoes, bags, and more.

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Montclair Film’s Annual Summer Movie Nights Under the Stars Kicks Off on 6/21

Photo Credit: Kareem Wilder

Montclair Film’s Annual Movie Night Under the Stars, a summer-long community event featuring different films throughout the town, will kick off on June 21st. Attendees can expect to see Wicked: Sing-Along at Lackawanna Plaza. Following the first event, the organization will feature Dazed and Confused on July 20th at Anderson Park, The Sandlot on July 31st at Nishuane Park, and The Wild Robot on August 23rd at Brookdale Park. Click here for more.

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Paper Plane Coffee Company Announces Maplewood Location

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Paper Plane Coffee Co., located at 61 North Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, is opening another location at the historic Nelson’s building in downtown Maplewood. Located at 145 Dunnell Road, the space is 7,000 square feet and will come together in phases, the Paper Planes team shared on Instagram. As of the writing, the team is still in their designing phase, so an opening date is not yet in sight. Click here for more.

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Propagate Studio to Open Outpost at Acorn General Store on 5/31

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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. The team has set an opening date for May 31st. A ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration will start at 11AM.

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The Annual Montclair Jazz Festival is Returning on 6/1

Hosted by Jazz House kids, Montclair Jazz Festival returns for the 2025 season, with the kick-off date set for Sunday, June 1st. The festivities will continue through the summer and end with the festival’s most anticipated feature: the Downtown Jamboree on September 13th. Part of the Wellmont Arts Plaza Outdoor Concert Series, in collaboration with The Wellmont Theater and the New Jersey Hall of Fame, the event boasts a summer workshop showcase, a soundcheck series, a jam fest, and more. Click here for more.

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Potential Record-Breaking Game of Catch to Take Place at Yogi Berra Museum on 9/21

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Yogi Berra Museum + Learn Center has set out a goal to host the world’s largest game of catch on September 21st and capture the Guinness World Records title. The current world record was set in 2017, when 1,944 people played a game of catch in the suburbs of Chicago. The gates will open at 11:30AM, a warm-up will take place at 12:30PM, and the game starts at 1PM.

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Charges Dropped Against Newark Mayor; NJ Congresswoman Charged with Assault Instead

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on Friday, May 9th, for allegedly trespassing at Newark’s Delaney Hall. Mayor Baraka was with U.S. Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Rob Menendez that day. The state’s acting U.S. Attorney and counselor to President Trump, Alina Habba, later dismissed the charges against Mayor Baraka. But on May 19th, she filed charges against Congresswoman LaMonica McIver on two counts of assaulting, impeding, or interfering with a Homeland Security officer. Court documents claim that the Congresswoman allegedly “slammed her forearm” into one federal agent, “forcibly [grabbed]” them, and then pushed and “forcibly [struck]” another agent.

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NJ Department of Health Warns of Possible Measles Exposure at Recent Shakira Concert

Those who attended Shakira’s “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour” at MetLife Stadium on May 15th may have been exposed to the measles. On May 20th, the New Jersey Department of Health alerted state residents about a potential measles exposure after a non-NJ resident attended the concert while infectious. “Potentially exposed individuals, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as June 6, 2025,” the department stated.

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Bloomfield Increases Parking Options with New Municipal Garage

 

A new municipal parking garage has opened in Bloomfield Center. The Royal Municipal Garage, now providing short-term parking to town residents, is fully operational as of May 21st. “As our downtown continues to develop and attract more visitors, it is essential that we provide the infrastructure necessary to support local businesses and accommodate the needs of our residents and guests,” Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell said in a statement.

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Ridgewood Elementary School Administrators “Out Until Further Notice,” Following Allegations Involving Teacher + Student

Principal Michael Donovan and Assistant Principal Jon Heitman of Ridgewood Avenue Elementary School are out “until further notice,” according to a message sent from the district to families on May 19th. According to Montclair Local, this followed a notice filed by attorney Justin Drazin on behalf of a family who alleges that Gerald White, a teacher at the school, sexually harassed and groomed their 11-year-old girl for over three years. The teacher, after working at Ridgewood Avenue Elementary for 22 years, has since resigned from the school. The attorney told Montclair Local that, for at least two years, “…it appeared as though members of the school administration were aware that there was some ongoing relationship between the teacher and the student and had not informed the authorities or the student’s parents…” However, it is not known which administrators this involves at this time.

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Reconstructed Bridge Reopens in Orange

The redesigned Thomas Boulevard Bridge in Orange officially reopened to the public after reconstruction. The infrastructure, originally built in 1964, was deemed “functionally obsolete” and not up to current safety standards, according to a statement released by Essex County. The county celebrated the bridges’ reopening with a ribbon-cutting last week.

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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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Winning Lottery Ticket Worth $5.9 Million Sold at Roseland Gas Station

This past week, a winning $5.9 million Pick-6 lottery ticket was sold at a Roseland Exxon, located along Eagle Rock Avenue. The $2 ticket was worth $2,595,643 when it was bought. According to NJ.com, the ticket matched all six numbers — a 1 in 9,366,819 chance in a pool of 46 numbers.

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Montclair State University Student Wins 3rd Place in Nationwide Competition

Emmanuelle Phillip, a Montclair State University student majoring in Spanish and minoring in Chinese and Korean, won third place in the Eastern United States Region of the 2025 Chinese Bridge Competition, a renowned, nationwide speech contest for students studying Chinese. “This experience helped me reflect on my strengths and identify areas for growth. It also inspired me to continue deepening my study of the Chinese language and culture,” Emmanuelle said in a statement.

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Bill Nye Visits + Honors Award-Winning Newark Teacher at School Assembly

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jonathan Koch, a second-grade teacher at Newark’s Sussex Avenue School, was recently named America’s Favorite Teacher for 2025. This was a professional fundraiser spearheaded by the organization Colossal. At an assembly honoring Jonathan, Bill Nye, the Science Guy, paid a visit to the awardee and led, what America’s Favorite Teacher calls, “an unforgettable experience that celebrated curiosity, science, and the powerful impact of great educators.”

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Toni’s Kitchen Awarded $250,000 in State Grants

The food ministry of St. Luke’s Church, Toni’s Kitchen, was awarded $250,000 in grants from the State of New Jersey on May 18th. “We are facing challenging times. This grant is especially important in this moment where we see the gap between need and funding growing,” Anne Mernin, Executive Director of Toni’s Kitchen, told Montclair Local. The grants will support the organization’s food outreach programs, including the Neighborhood Mobile Markets, which serve those facing food insecurity in Montclair, West Orange, and Bloomfield.

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Montclair State University Appoints New Chief of Police

The Montclair State University Police Department has appointed a new Chief of Police after Chief Kieran Barrett announced his retirement, effective June 30th, according to Tapinto Bloomfield. Starting on July 1st, Deputy Chief Tim Fox, a Bloomfield native and MSU alumnus, will fill the role of Chief of Police, as well as the Associate Vice President of the University.

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School in Los Angeles Dedicates Library to West Orange Activist

 

 

 

 

 

 

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View Park Preparatory Elementary School in South Los Angeles dedicated its first-ever school library, which now holds the motto “Where Readers Become Leaders,” to Marley Dias, a West Orange native, literacy activist, and founder of the #1000BlackGirlBooks movement. According to Tapinto West Orange, Marley was the youngest person to be included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 List and receive the TIME 100 award. She is also a recipient of the NAACP Image Award, the Mountaineer Trailblazer Award, the Shorty Award, the Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award, and is the executive producer of the Netflix show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices.

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49 Montclair High School Students Awarded the New Jersey State Seal of Biliteracy

49 Montclair High School seniors received the New Jersey State Seal of Biliteracy, an award recognizing “students who have studied and attained proficiency in at least one language in addition to English by high school graduation,” as per its website. The students received this award for their French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish proficiency. “This was 23 more students and four more languages than the 2024 Seal of Biliteracy,” the Seal of Biliteracy shared on X.

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