Halloween is getting closer and it’s all we can do to hope the actual day isn’t a rainout. It’s been another busy week in Essex County and we’ve got all the headlines to get you caught up. Among the highlights: the Montclair Township Council selects a councilor-at-large; a Livingston teen gets a perfect score; and an East Orange artist has a warm welcome during a visit home. Read on for more news from Montclair, Bloomfield, and beyond for the week ending October 22nd, 2023.
There’s a New Bookstore on Bloomfield Avenue in Verona
Any “booktok” lover is known for being just as obsessed with their cozy local bookstore as they are with their favorite series and now, Verona residents have their own storybook escape at The Collective Bookstore. Located at 460 Bloomfield Avenue, this small shop is the newest addition to the small businesses on the iconic main street that spans from Newark to West Caldwell. Keep reading to find out what The Collective Bookstore has to offer for readers of all ages and what’s to come in the new year.
TV Chef Gordon Ramsay Visits North Jersey Restaurant
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TV Chef and personality Gordon Ramsay recently visited Bergen County restaurant Da Mimmo, located in Dumont, according to NJ.com. The visit was for Chef Ramsay’s show Kitchen Nightmares, in which he visits struggling restaurants with the intention of helping them improve. Da Mimmo is a family-run Italian restaurant specializing in wood-fired pizza. Read more about Da Mimmo in MG’s article here.
Brazen Cabaret Event to Raise Money for Montclair Nonprofit
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A special concert will be both a fundraiser for victims of domestic violence and a chance to celebrate community. According to Montclair Local, the Brazen Cabaret will take place on October 28th at 2PM at Unitarian Universalist Church in Montclair at 67 Church Street, and it will be both a community singing workshop and a performance. Funds from the event will be donated to Montclair-based nonprofit organization Start Out Fresh Intervention Advocates (S.O.F.I.A), which supports victims of domestic violence. More information is available here.
Hispanic Newark Community Leaders Honored at Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Eleven Newark Hispanic community leaders were honored at a ceremony as part of the city’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, according to Patch. The celebration took place on Wednesday, October 11th at The Newark Museum of Art. Students from each of the city’s wards received scholarships.
Montclair Board of Education Begins Public Forums
According to Montclair Local, the Montclair Board of Education will host three forums for the public as part of the district’s strategic planning effort. The forums will be held on November 13th, November 29th, and December 11th at the George Inness Annex Atrium, 141 Park Street, at 6:30PM. The forums will be facilitated by the New Jersey School Boards Association and the goal is to discuss the school district’s current state while planning for the future.
New Juice Bar Approved in Montclair
Plans for a new juice bar have been approved by the Montclair Planning Board. According to TapInto, the building located at 131 Pine Street will be home to a juice bar. The building is a small house that was probably once a rail depot, as it is located very close to the train tracks. The juice bar will be on the first floor of the building.
Essex County Man Sentenced to 19 Years
Essex County Felon Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking, Firearm Possession, and Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking https://t.co/Qe5dzNRb1w
— NJ US Attorney (@USAO_NJ) October 12, 2023
An Essex County man was sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges related to gun possession and drug trafficking. According to a press release from the US Attorney’s office, Ricky Hubbard, 46, of Newark, was convicted in March 2023 and sentenced in October 2023 for charges related to a November 2019 traffic stop. During the traffic stop, officers searched Mr. Hubbard’s car and found “over 369 doses of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl packaged for distribution; drug-packaging materials; and a 9mm Taurus handgun loaded with seven rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber.”
Newark Launches Co-Ed Youth Basketball Clinic
Newark students in grades 3 through 8 will have the opportunity to participate in a Saturdays-only basketball clinic this fall. According to Patch, the co-ed Newark Youth Basketball + Development Academy began on October 21st and runs through December 16th on Saturdays at the JFK Recreation Center, located at 211 West Kinney Street. Registration is required, and walk-up registrations will also be welcome.
Puebla de Noche in Montclair Has Closed
Montclair has a crowded food scene, and it can be difficult to pick through the various cuisine options for a dinner out on the town, or even for a delivery night. Those craving authentic Mexican eats and a rotating cast of seasonal menu items would frequent Puebla de Noche, located at 6 Park Street in Montclair. This establishment opened in May 2020 after overcoming setbacks due to COVID-19, but now we got word that this MTC staple has now closed its doors. Read on for more about Puebla de Noche and what we will miss about this Mexican food spot in Montclair.
The Newark Museum of Art Acquires New Works
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The Newark Museum of Art (NMOA) announced via a press release the acquisition of Apollo (Diptych), 2023 by celebrated contemporary artist Sanford Biggers. Apollo (Diptych) is Biggers’ latest outdoor installation, featuring two 3-foot black and white marble sculptures mounted on bronze plinths that will greet visitors at the Museum’s main entrance at 49 Washington Street. Flanking the historic 1926 entrance, Apollo (Diptych) will be a long-term installation activating Washington Street and Harriet Tubman Square.
Montclair Filmmaker Honored
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A Montclair-based filmmaker has been invited to screen his film this week as part of the New York Shorts International Film Festival, according to Montclair Local. The film was written and directed by Brandon T. Bailey and was produced with several other Montclair residents and businesses. The film, Cici’s Sonata, is a psychological thriller about a concert pianist who experiences reverse psychosis.
Kanibal + Co. Opens Summit Location
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Kanibal + Co., a gift and lifestyle store, will open its second location at 27 Maple Street in Summit, New Jersey on October 21st, 2023, according to a press release. The shop will continue to operate its flagship location in Jersey City, where it has resided for more than 14 years, selling a rotating collection of goods that are both forward-thinking and rooted in tradition. This new Summit location will carry the shop’s bestselling brands as well as an entirely new collection of apparel, gifts, and home goods.
Stuffed Grassfed Burgers Rebranding to ‘Dan and Day’s’ in Upper Montclair
A new addition to Montclair’s food scene is on the way from a familiar face. Dan and Dayanna Campeas are the husband and wife team behind Stuffed Grassfed Burgers and are now pivoting their energies into a new venture called Dan + Day’s Burgers and Shakes. The new spot will be located at 598 Valley Road in Upper Montclair and feature some of the highlights from Stuffed Grassfed Burgers. Locals won’t have to be without their stuffed burgers, however: Stuffed GB is staying open until the move. Read on for more about this new spot serving burgers and more in Upper Montclair.
Manufacturers Village Open House in East Orange
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The 18th annual Manufacturers Village Artists Open Studios will take place on October 21st and 22nd, according to Montclair Local. The open-house-style event will be at 356 Glenwood Avenue in East Orange, and will feature local artisans sharing their work in a variety of media. Visitors will also be able to tour the historic building, which is the original Johnson + Johnson factory.
Archdiocese of Newark Expands Outreach with New Mercy House in Elizabeth
The Archdiocese of Newark announced via a press release the grand opening of its third Mercy House, a vital resource and referral center dedicated to providing comprehensive assistance to individuals and families in need. The new facility will be inaugurated at 249 Court Street in Elizabeth on Wednesday, October 25th, at 11AM. It will provide nonperishable food, clothing, baby essentials, furniture, and aid in job and housing searches. Additionally, it will offer support with securing government identification, enrolling children in schools, and offering rental assistance of up to $1,000.
New Montclair Councilor-at-Large Approved
Following the resignation of Councilman Peter Yacobellis, the Montclair Township Council has approved Roger Terry as the town’s new at-large councilor. According to Montclair Local, Roger was an at-large councilor from 2008-2012 and is also the current president of the Montclair NAACP. The final vote was 4-2.
East Orange Native + 5-Time Grammy Winner Lauryn Hill Visits Hometown
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Several Essex County students were invited on stage to perform with another Essex County local: performing artist Lauryn Hill. According to Patch, the musician was in town to perform at the Prudential Center in Newark and invited several Essex County performers, such as the Columbia High School marching band and choral students from Maplewood and South Orange. Students from a summer entrepreneurship program in East Orange, Lauryn’s hometown, were given the opportunity to spend time with her in addition to selling their products at a special setup in the venue.
Montclair Kiwanis Hosts Shoe Drive
The Montclair Kiwanis are hosting the organization’s annual shoe drive from now until October 31st. According to Montclair Local, gently worn sneakers, soccer cleats, tennis shoes, and hard-soled work boots for men, women, and children can be dropped off at participating locations in town. The shoes will then be sold to raise money for the Kiwanis scholarship programs.
Livingston High School Senior Gets Perfect Score on AP Exam
A Livingston student is only one of 357 people in the world to receive a perfect score on the Advanced Placement (AP) Research Exam, according to Patch. Chloe Marrache is a senior at Livingston High School and her research paper is titled, Examining Shared Characteristics of Noncompliant Companies in a Cap-and-Trade System. The AP exams are given for college-level courses taken by high school students.
Montclair Business Wins Award
A Montclair-based business has won an industry-wide recognition from the New Jersey Business and Industry Association. C3 Workspace was given an Award of Excellence for its support of early-stage businesses, according to Patch. C3 Workspace offers both virtual office spaces and business coaching.
Bloomfield IHOP to Host Breast Cancer Awareness Event
The Bloomfield IHOP, located at 1129 Broad Street, will host a breast cancer awareness event on Sunday, October 29th from 9AM to 1PM. Per Patch, the event will feature games, giveaways, and food. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and events are taking place throughout North Jersey. Read more in MG’s roundup here.
Centennial Celebration for United Way of Greater Newark
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The United Way of Greater Newark will celebrate its 100th Anniversary at a gala on Wednesday, October 25th. Per Patch, the event will take place at The Newark Museum of Art from 6PM to 10PM. The United Way is a service-based community organization.
New Dispensary, Noire, Opens in Maplewood
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Noire Dispensary has opened at 171 Maplewood Avenue in Maplewood. According to an Instagram post from the business, the grand opening will be held on October 28th. Noire Dispensary is a black-owned, family-run dispensary.
Zombies to Take Over Montclair
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Montclair-based comic book and hobby shop East Side Mags will host a Zombie Walk on Saturday, October 28th. According to Patch, the event begins at 2PM at 491 Bloomfield Avenue and complementary zombie makeup will be available. The all-ages event officially kicks off with the walk through town at 4PM.
Belleville Students Ace State Test
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According to Patch, nine Belleville students have received perfect scores on state assessment exams. The tests, the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) or the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA), are standardized, statewide assessments in math, English, and other core subjects. The students were honored during a ceremony earlier this week.
Nutley Neighbors Honored
Several Nutley residents were honored for their contributions to the community’s Italian Heritage celebrations, according to Patch. Volunteers for the Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade and Italian Heritage Committee were recognized by the Essex County Board of County Commissioners. The parade is a community-run event that just celebrated its 36th year.
Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair Appreciates its Supporters
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Human Needs Food Pantry, located at 9 Label Street in Montclair, is celebrating the continued support of the community and highlighting some unusual but incredibly appreciated donations. Per Patch, the creative donations have included Halloween costumes, air mattresses, socks, and baked goods. These donations allow the Pantry to continue serving the other needs of its clients, which extend to health services and a clothing closet in addition to food distribution.
