November-like temperatures and rain have finally graced the Garden State this week as the holiday season is about to commence. 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: 144 trees are planted throughout Belleville; Montclair’s Winter Wonderland at Wellmont Plaza returns next weekend; and MG’s 2024 Holiday Shopping Guide is now live. Read on for all the news in Essex County for the week ending November 24th, 2024.

Have a news story or press release? Email it to [email protected].

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Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):

• Popular Annual Holiday Lights Display Returns to Turtle Back Zoo
• South End Gardens Gifts $20k to Montclair Ambulance Unit
• 144 Trees Planted Throughout Belleville
• Jenny Mundell Sworn Becomes Mayor of Bloomfield
• Montclair’s Winter Wonderland at Wellmont Plaza Returning on 11/30
• Essex County Names Its New Sheriff
• 92NY’s Extraordinary Women Awards Honors Jazz House Kids Founder
• Robert Randolph Opens New Community Center in Newark
• Newark Museum of Art CEO to Step Down
• Montclair Sets Date for Christmas Tree Lighting

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The Montclair Girl’s Holiday Shopping Deals Guide 2024 is Now Live

If you’re like us over here at The Montclair Girl, it’s never too early to get into the festive spirit. To help you cross some names off of your gift-giving list and get into the groove of the holiday season, we’ve put together a holiday shopping guide so readers can get acquainted with local businesses in the Northern New Jersey area — ranging from food + drink to wellness, beauty, health, fitness, and so much more. Plus, most of the businesses included in our downloadable guide have an exclusive code, just for MG readers. Click here to find out more about where to shop for local gifts, support small businesses, eat, drink, be merry, and ring in the 2024 holiday season in Northern New Jersey.

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Popular Annual Holiday Lights Display Returns to Turtle Back Zoo

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Turtle Back Zoo (@officialturtlebackzoo)

 

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South End Gardens Gifts $20k to Montclair Ambulance Unit

The board of South End Gardens made a $20,000 donation to the Montclair Ambulance Unit in appreciation of the Unit’s service to its residents and the citizens of Montclair. Retired Montclair fire chief, Kevin Allen, presented the check on Tuesday, October 29th, at the Montclair Ambulance Unit headquarters on Walnut Street, per Montclair Local. Montclair Ambulance Unit (MAU) has been an independent, nonprofit agency since 1953 and has been raising funds for another ambulance to better serve the community.

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144 Trees Planted Throughout Belleville

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Belleville Bps (@bellevilleps)

 

A $249,639 grant through the state’s Trees For Schools program made the recent planting of 144 trees throughout Belleville possible, courtesy of the public schools. According to Patch Belleville-Nutley, the school district and its dedicated team of groundskeepers worked with the township manager and the Department of Public Works in planning for the planting and caring of shade trees, ornamental trees, and shrubbery located on or near township rights of way. The municipal and school Green Teams plan to organize community outreach efforts to promote the importance of the newly planted trees, and encourage planting even more. The groups also plan to host demonstrations at each school, showing how to properly plant and care for a tree as future events will be linked to Arbor Day, community clean-up day, Community Bike Day, a healthy lifestyle day, celebratory days, and the township’s annual Green Fair.

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Essex County Names New Sheriff Election

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Nostrana, Sister Restaurant of Sorellina, To Open This Week in Boonton

Photo Credit: Nostrana Ristorante + Bar

Nostrana Ristorante + Bar, located at 91 Elcock Avenue in Boonton, will open its doors tomorrow, November 25th. Nostrana, the sister restaurant of Hoboken’s Sorellina, will serve a seasonally inspired menu featuring local ingredients, homemade pasta, and a curated selection of fine Italian wines + cocktails. Reservations are now live and can be made here.

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New Workout Spot, HotWorx, Holds Grand Opening At Livingston Town Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rutgers University Launches Free Dental Program for Essex County Veterans

 

Rutgers University’s School of Dental Medicine (RSDM) is launching the Vet Smiles Program, which will provide free dental treatment to Essex County veterans (excluding implants) and free dentures for all New Jersey veterans. Its compassionate team of dental professionals delivers exceptional oral healthcare tailored to the unique needs of each veteran, “with a deep appreciation for their service,” per Rutgers University. Vet Smiles at RSDM is committed to restoring smiles, enhancing overall well-being, and expressing profound gratitude to those who have selflessly served our nation.

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 Restoration On Paterson’s Hinchliffe Stadium Earns 2024 National Preservation Award

Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson has been awarded a 2024 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award, presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The stadium is one of five remaining Negro League ballparks and was rehabilitated and modernized and celebrated its grand reopening in 2023. Trenton-based architecture and planning firm Clark Caton Hintz handled the design for the remarkable restoration. The completely revamped 7,800-seat stadium features a new playing surface, an upgraded running track, with new locker rooms and team facilities. Modern touches also include a digital scoreboard, stadium sound system, and state-of-the-art lighting. Architects kept in mind to keep to the original stadium as possible, per JerseyDigs.

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Essex-Hudson Greenway Aiming for 2025 Groundbreaking, Design Plans Revealed

Governor Phil Murphy and the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project announced on September 15th, 2022 that they had achieved a major milestone: the purchase of a northern New Jersey inactive railway. Per NJDEP’s website, groundbreaking for the Newark section of the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project is expected to take place in 2025. NJDEP and NJ Transit hosted an open-house-style event on Wednesday, November 13th from 6PM-8PM at Park Elementary School — located at 120 Manchester Place in Newark — to inform locals about project updates, see artistic images of the Greenway, and share thoughts. The design plans revealed at the open house include a map of the initial greenway development + construction that includes three community areas in the Newark section — which will span 0.8 miles from Branch Brook Park to Broadway. Click here for what to know about the plans for the Essex-Hudson Greenway.

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5th Annual Scarecrow + Pumpkin ‘Friends in the Gardens’ Announced Winners

Van Vleck House + Gardens was the backdrop for an exhibit of handcrafted scarecrows and pumpkins created by scout troops, nonprofits, local businesses,  families, classes, and schools for a fifth year in a row. According to Montclair Local, more than 900 visitors voted in real-time online for the best submission in each category. Winners received $500 each from the Montclair Foundation to donate to the nonprofit of their choice while Montclair BID also donated five $100 gift cards to local businesses for each of the winners. A check presentation ceremony also took place earlier this month.

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Montclair’s Winter Wonderland at Wellmont Plaza Returning on 11/30

Photo Credit: Montclair Center

Add the Winter Wonderland at Wellmont Plaza, an annual festival in Montclair, to this season’s list of things to do. This event, featuring shopping, live music, and more, returns on Saturday, November 30th from 12PM to 4PM at 5 Seymour Street. Click here for more details about the 2024 Winter Wonderland at Montclair’s Wellmont Plaza.

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Robert Randolph Opens New Community Center in Newark

The Robert Randolph Foundation (RRF) — the organization that was founded by Grammy-nominated musician Robert Randolph — opened its new community innovation center in Newark on Saturday, November 23rd. The Foundation will host its signature CRE8 Your Future Academy at the new center. Cre8 Your Future is a youth-in-STEM accelerator, a blended hands-on learning experience that builds pathways for youth into STEM careers. According to a press release from The Press House, RRF will also utilize the new space as a catalyst for collaboration with other community leaders who are also working to improve the lives of residents and close the equity gap in Newark.

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Rep. Mikie Sherrill Enters Race for NJ Governor

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat representing New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, is now officially aiming for the state’s top office. The former Navy helicopter commander and Montclair mom of four announced on Monday, November 18th, that she is running for governor in 2025. According to Montclair Local, Rep. Sherrill is the second Democratic candidate from Montclair to enter the race and the third from Essex County after former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller announced in June, and Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced in February. Her announcement follows Democrat Rep. Josh Gottheimer announcing his governor run last week.

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Lidl Supermarket Coming To Livingston

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92NY’s Extraordinary Women Awards Honors Jazz House Kids Founder

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On Monday, November 8th, Montclair resident and Jazz House Kids founder Melissa Walker was honored with the Inspiration through the Arts Award at 92NY’s Extraordinary Women Awards which took place at 92NY’s David Geffen Stage in the Kaufmann Concert Hall. In addition to Walker’s Inspiration of the Arts Award, the other 2024 92NY Extraordinary Women Award honorees were Zibby Owens for the Champions Award; Erin Pond Friedman for the Community Award; Marcella Hymowitz for the Next Generation Leadership Award; and Sally Tannen for the Impact Award in Memoriam. The Extraordinary Women Awards has been celebrating trailblazing women “leading the way and making a profound impact on the community and are changing the world for good,” per Montclair Local. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS is the only community arts organization in New Jersey and New York City that has exclusively dedicated to using the power and legacy of jazz through world-class education, resources, and performances for over 30 years.

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Montclair Officials Seeking Ways To Get Public Feedback On Initiatives

The Montclair Township Council is expected to consider a contract with Zencity after it tabled approval on Tuesday, November 12th, of $17,500 annually for three years for the technology it needs to solicit public feedback on township initiatives such as streetscape projects and other infrastructure improvements. According to Montclair Local, the company’s chief strategy officer, Michael Simon, has commented that the Essex County Health Department, Princeton, Edison, Howell, and Middletown use Zencity in New Jersey. Mayor Renee Baskerville has stated that she would like to have a one-year trial run before committing to the three-year contract on the agenda.

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Montclair Native Earns NJ Hall of Fame Honor

 

Former NBC Entertainment president Warren Littlefield was among 21 famous Garden State residents recently inducted into the 16th annual New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) ceremony. In his role, he once oversaw the groundbreaking “Must See TV” lineup, including Seinfeld. This year’s ceremony was filmed at the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream in East Rutherford and hosted by actor Danny DeVito, per Patch Montclair.

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Montclair Earns Maximum Possible Score On Human Rights Campaign’s Municipality Equality Index

On Thursday, November 21st, the Human Rights Campaign released its annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), which measures over 500 municipalities nationwide on how inclusive their laws, policies, and services are for the LGBTQ+ community. Montclair has achieved the maximum possible score of 100 for the fourth year in a row. The index looks at five criteria: non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and a city’s leadership on LGBT+ equality. The MEI produces a public snapshot of how committed a given municipality is towards equality for its LGBTQ+ residents, and provides a framework for local leaders with tangible steps they can take to protect LGBTQ+ residents and employees, per a press release.

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Newark Museum of Art CEO Set To Step Down

It was announced on Thursday, November 21st, that the Newark Museum of Art Director and CEO Linda Harrison is stepping down after a six-year tenure. According to NJ.com, Linda is leaving after accomplishing several goals with plans to move back to the West Coast for “family reasons.” She will officially step down on May 31st, 2025, and then serve as a consultant for three months to ease the transition to a new leader. A board committee is now starting the search for a new director. The Newark Museum is New Jersey’s largest museum of fine arts with 300,000-plus works focused on African, Asian, and American paintings and sculpture, including an extensive collection of Tibetan art.

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Essex County Families Celebrate 11 Adoptions At Special Event

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