Labor Day weekend has crept up on the Garden State once again as one more magical summer comes to a close. 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: the Montclair Jazz Festival announces its headliner and lineup for the 15th annual celebration; H Mart’s largest Northeast food hall opens at American Dream; and lightning strikes the sea turtle rescue exhibit at Turtle Back Zoo. Read on for all the news in Essex County for the week ending September 1st, 2024.
Have a news story or press release? Email it to [email protected].
Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):
- Proposed Two-Tower Development to be Tallest in Newark
- Glen Ridge Police Department Launches Its Annual Trading Card Program
- Montclair Jazz Festival Announces Its Headliner + Lineup
- Montclair Firefighters Rescue Civilian at Mills Reservation
- H Mart’s Largest Northeast Food Hall Opens at American Dream
- Newark Businesses + Restaurants Receive $3.5M as Part of Retail Reactivation Initiative
- Lightning Strikes Sea Turtle Rescue Exhibit at Turtle Back Zoo
- CVS on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair to Close Later This Month
- Montclair Mourns the Anderson Park Olmsted Oak
- Dog Missing in Montclair Found Safe
Newark Restaurant Pays $125k in Penalties for Stiffing Workers
Swahili Village Bar and Grill in Newark has paid nearly $125,000 in fines for allegedly failing to pay overtime to dozens of servers, cooks, and bussers. According to NJ.com, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the restaurant paid back $62,335 in overtime and $62,335 in damages for shortchanging 84 workers. In addition, the restaurant was assessed $44,100 in civil penalties for, “willful violations.” The violations reportedly took place between May 2022 and June 2023. The restaurant has not yet made a public statement.
Glen Ridge Police Department Launches Its Annual Trading Card Program
The third edition of the Glen Ridge Police Department Cop Trading Card Program, which includes 30 trading cards, is now officially live. The Program aims to build community trust and engagement by allowing residents to learn about local officers while promoting a sense of connection between the police and the community, per Montclair Local. As part of the program, community members — especially Glen Ridge’s youth — are encouraged to collect all 30 cards, which will allow them to meet each Glen Ridge officer. To collect a trading card, residents can ask officers for their cards when seeing them out in the field or can stop by headquarters to request them. The first 10 residents, 17 years old or younger, who collect all 30 cards will receive prizes that include a Ticketmaster gift certificate, Club seats to a 2024-2025 New Jersey Devils game, Stanley cups, and more.
Historic Preservation Threatens to Derail $50M Bloomfield Train Station Upgrade
A New Jersey Historic Sites Council resolution was unanimously passed to prohibit NJ Transit’s proposed changes to the Bloomfield downtown historic train station following a meeting with NJ Transit on Thursday, August 15th. The main reason for the council’s decision is NJ Transit’s preferred plan to increase the height of the boarding platforms to over four feet to make trains accessible to individuals with mobility needs. A higher platform would allow wheelchairs to use the double doors located at mid-car. Since raising the platform would require the destruction and replacement of the canopies, the Council deemed it was “asking for too much,” per Essex News Daily. The station is currently owned by the township which is in negotiations with NJ Transit to take ownership of the property. The rehabilitation is being funded by the state Debt and Defeasance Fund.
Montclair Jazz Festival Announces Its Headliner + Lineup
Credit: Montclair Jazz Festival / JAZZ HOUSE KiDS
JAZZ HOUSE KiDS recently announced that Kenny Garrett will be the headliner for the Montclair Jazz Festival Downtown Jamboree. The lineup also includes Lisa Fischer + Grand Baton, Christian McBride + Inside Straight, Steve Turre Sextet, and Jerome Jennings + ill Philosophy. According to a press release from the festival, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS is also introducing a membership program with year-round benefits and festival perks. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS along with the County of Essex, Montclair Township, Montclair Center BID, and a host of corporate, local, and individual sponsors, welcomes all who want to celebrate America’s rich history of jazz, youth development, and community-building. The event will be taking place on Saturday, September 14th on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair.
Montclair Firefighters Rescue Civilian at Mills Reservation
The Montclair Fire Department rescued a person who fell from a cliff in the Mills Reservation to the rear of 36 Warfield Street on the evening of Saturday, August 24th. The individual had been walking in Mills Reservation when they fell 20 feet from the cliff and landed on a rocky ledge, per Montclair Local. The Fire Department, along with Montclair and Cedar Grove Police, found the injured person wedged between a tree and the cliff face on a narrow ledge that was approximately 75 feet from the ground around 8:30PM. While working in complete darkness, the firefighters were able to rescue the victim using advanced rope rescue techniques and equipment. The individual had lost consciousness and sustained several injuries that required medical attention. No one else was injured during the incident.
Proposed Two-Tower Development to Be Tallest in Newark
Plans for a 51-story project in Newark were recently submitted to the Central Planning Board, with 1,008 residential units in two towers. According to TAPinto Newark, 427 units will be in one tower and 581 units will be in a second tower as it would meet the city’s required set-aside for 20% affordable housing (which in this case amounts to approximately 202 units). Newark-based developer KS Group is partnering with the Jersey City-based developer Giga Holdings for this project. Daniel Spiegel, co-owner KS Group, said the Planning Board hasn’t set a hearing date yet but if approved, Newark-based YNH Construction is lined up for the work.
H Mart’s Largest Northeast Food Hall Opens at American Dream
View this post on Instagram
H Mart, the nation’s leading Asian supermarket, opened its highly anticipated food hall yesterday, August 30th, inside the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford. According to a press release from American Dream, it is set to be its largest food hall in the northeast at 16,860 square feet and will showcase H Mart’s “commitment to innovation, offering customers an unparalleled dining experience within a vibrant and dynamic setting.” H Mart’s signature food hall has 11 different dining options including The Bao (specializing in Dim Sum, noodles, and soup dumplings), Wok Bar, and Don Don Curry (specializing in Japanese Curry, Takoyaki, Tempura, and Karaag). Click here for more about what to expect from the H Mart Food Hall at American Dream Mall.
Essex County Educator Honored with ‘Superintendent Of The Year’ Award
James Pedersen, Ed.D., the superintendent of Essex County Schools of Technology (ECST) for the past nine years, recently received the title of 2024 Essex County Superintendent of the Year. James is also the current president of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools (NJCCVTS), which unites all 21 New Jersey county vocational-technical schools and acts as the leading voice for CTE (Career and Technical Education) in New Jersey before state and federal policymakers, per Patch Caldwells. His impactful work also includes collaborating with Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. on the construction of Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology as well as the renovations of both Newark Tech and West Caldwell School of Technology. Additionally, ECST’s graduation rate has been consistently high at over 96 percent, which surpasses the state average by five percent; over the past four years, more than 25% of graduating students have indicated that they will be the first in their families to attend college.
Knife Attack at Newark Airport Leaves Woman Hospitalized
A 54-year-old man faces assault charges after he attacked a woman with a knife at Newark Airport on Sunday evening, August 25th. According to Patch Newark, officers with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey witnessed the assault, which allegedly took place around 5PM at the Terminal A departures level of the airport. The victim was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries to the right side of her face. The suspect was later identified as Jin Xiong and was in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark as of Monday, August 26th. He has been charged with aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Jersey Shore ‘Wave Women’s Football Team’ Unveils Name + Logo
View this post on Instagram
The Jersey Shore Wave, the newest team to join the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC), recently unveiled its official team name and logo. This announcement sets the stage for the team’s debut in 2025 by “capturing the spirit and identity of a team ready to make a powerful impact on women’s football,” per a press release from WNFC. The name, “Jersey Shore Wave,” reflects the team’s deep connection to the coastal region of New Jersey, embodying both, “the strength of the ocean and the resilience of the community.” The Wave in the woman’s hair represents the unstoppable force of the team as it prepares to enter the WNFC, bringing with it a tide of new opportunities for female athletes and its commitment to excellence.
Newark Schools Gain More Staff Due to Higher Starting Teacher Salaries
Despite a national teaching shortage, a higher salary for teachers in Newark is helping to retain staff members. In 2022, the district began providing new teachers with a starting salary of $62,000 per year, which was a move that aimed to expand the number of educators in Newark’s classrooms. New hires in areas such as math, science, special education, bilingual education, and English as a second language became eligible for a $4,000 signing bonus. Earlier this year, the starting salary for Newark teachers was bumped up to $65,000 under a new contract with the Newark Teachers Union; it will rise to $74,000 by the end of the five-year deal. The district has created 338 new positions for the 2024-2025 school year, 181 of which are classroom positions, per the Newark Board of Education. According to Patch Newark, 122 of the 181 classroom positions have been filled as of late August.
Newark Businesses + Restaurants Receive $3.5M as Part of Retail Reactivation Initiative
A plan to “revitalize downtown Newark” has awarded nearly $3.5 million to local businesses since launching last year. The funding is being released under the Newark Retail Reactivation Initiative, which provides financial support for fit-out and furniture, fixtures, and equipment to Newark-based businesses. The program aims to “support businesses that are looking to bring more retail, cultural and food experiences to downtown, improve aesthetics, safety, and quality of life in the heart of the city, and turn long-vacant storefronts into amenities for Newark residents, workers, and students,” per Patch Newark.
3 Burglars Try to Enter 2 Homes in Montclair
A group of burglars attempted to access two homes in Montclair on the evening of Friday, August 23rd. A Wayside Place resident woke up to an alert from his cell phone indicating movement in his backyard. The resident observed three individuals — wearing all black clothing with gloves and ski masks and carrying burglary tools — in the rear of his property near his back door upon viewing his security cameras. The resident engaged an audible alarm that scared off the perpetrators who immediately fled the property. The suspects did not make entry into the home and fled in a white SUV believed to be a BMW. Almost simultaneously, the owners of a Hilltop Place residence reported being woken up by a “large crash.” The resident observed his front glass door had been shattered and a male was attempting to enter the home before they yelled to the suspects who fled in an awaiting white SUV. The stone used to shatter the door was allegedly taken from the residence on Wayside Place, per Montclair Local.
Longer School Days in Newark Lead to AC Units for Some
It was announced at Newark’s business meeting on Tuesday, August 20th, that its schools are installing 1,300 new air conditioning units as the board approved an up to $4.73-million purchase earlier this year. This comes after longer school days will take place across the district this September (as featured above). According to TAPinto Newark, School Business Administrator Valerie Wilson said the district has installed 895 air conditioners and replaced about 700 water fountains with contactless fountains. A timeline was not provided for installing the remaining air conditioning units.
Lightning Strikes Sea Turtle Rescue Exhibit at Turtle Back Zoo
A lightning strike ignited a fire at Turtle Back Zoo in Essex County during the thunderstorm on the evening of Wednesday, August 28th. According to the Sea Turtle Recovery (STR) organization, the lightning damaged the Sea Turtle Recovery hospital which threatened the lives of several endangered sea turtles housed there. The West Orange Fire Department responded as they battled flames that engulfed the building, per NorthJersey.com. Alerted by zoo staff, STR staff, and volunteers rushed to the facility to rescue the turtles exposed to heavy smoke. There was one critically endangered sea turtle that was already fighting a respiratory infection and four other turtles were all stabilized after STR and zoo staff conducted thorough exams on all of them. The turtles were then taken to New York, where the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society prepared tanks for their arrival as the entire rescue operation extended into the early hours of the morning of Thursday, August 29th. The organization is now seeking donations to help with the recovery process where funds will help set up temporary tanks and purchase supplies.
CVS on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair to Close Later This Month
The CVS Pharmacy located at 514 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair recently announced it is closing its doors on Tuesday, September 24th. According to Montclair Local, Amy Thibault, CVS senior corporate communications manager, said all prescriptions from the location will be transferred to the CVS at 49 Claremont Avenue; customers are also able to switch prescriptions to other pharmacies for the sake of convenience. Serket Pharmacy, located at 8 Church Street, has been gaining traction since the announcement as up to 25 customers have switched carriers. CVS did not announce specific reasons for the closure, but this comes after the chain announced plans to close 900 stores across the country over the next few years in 2021.
Essex County Provides Vaccines for Disadvantaged Children
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and the Essex County Health Department are highlighting Essex County’s Vaccine for Children program. It is a targeted initiative designed to ensure that every child in the county is vaccinated as the new school year approaches. This program highlights Essex County’s commitment to health equity and inclusion, aiming to protect all students, especially those from underserved communities, against preventable diseases, per Patch Newark. Residents who want to schedule an appointment or learn more about the program can visit its website.
Newark Extends School Day to Include Unified Schedules + Instruction Time
The school day in Newark will be longer and have the same start and end times for all students starting in September. The announcement follows a promise made by Board of Education President Hasani Council last spring to make improvements in student performance a top priority for the coming school year after students scored below proficient in math, English, and science on average in all grades given the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment standardized test. The school day will now run from 8:15AM to 3:05PM for all students which is 20 minutes longer than the previous school day for K-8 students, and 25 minutes longer than the old high school hours. According to NJ.com, the district says these changes will provide more instruction time and streamline operations in an effort to improve overall performance.
Dog Missing in Montclair Found Safe
A white dog that’s been missing since Sunday, August 25th, has been found safe in Montclair. Dozens of people were looking for him over the course of five days, including across the Eagle Rock Reservation. No other details have been disclosed at this time.
Vote from United Flight Attendants Advances Potential Nationwide Strike
On Wednesday, August 28th, unionized flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike if they can’t reach a deal with United Airlines management. According to Patch Newark, about 99.99% out of the 90 percent of union members who took part in the strike authorization vote voted yes. The results of the vote were announced simultaneously on nearly 20 picket lines at airports across the country, including Newark Liberty International Airport (see above). According to a statement from their union, the flight attendants are demanding a “significant double-digit base pay increase,” pay for time at work on the ground, retroactive pay to the amendable date, schedule flexibility and work rule improvements, and overall better job security and retirement benefits. The flight attendants filed for federal mediation over eight months ago, and have been working under an amendable contract for nearly three years but patience is waning as they push to take action. United Airlines has a corporate headquarters in Chicago and keeps a hub at Newark Airport.
Overdose Awareness Day Brings Drop Boxes to Livingston
In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day yesterday, August 31st, Livingston town officials are reminding residents that there are local “drop boxes” where people can safely dispose of unwanted prescription medications and ways to take action if a loved one suffers a drug overdose. According to Patch Livingston, the Livingston Police Department has two permanent drug drop boxes where residents can drop expired or unused prescriptions or over-the-counter medications, including pet medications. The drug drop boxes are available 24/7 in the lobby of Livingston Police Headquarters at 333 South Livingston Avenue. More information can be found online.
Newark Elementary School Raising Money to Restock Popular Student Lounge
The vice principal at Speedway Avenue Elementary School in Newark recently launched a GoFundMe campaign to help replenish items at the school’s popular student lounge. In the past few years, New Jersey residents have been turning to online fundraising to raise money for a variety of crucial needs, per Patch Newark. A growing wave of Garden State teachers and administrators have been turning to platforms like GoFundMe to raise money for the back-to-school season.
$7K in Power Tools from Home Depot Gets Stolen in Bloomfield
The Bloomfield Police Department announced on Thursday, August 29th, that two men recently stole thousands of dollars worth of power tools from the Bloomfield Home Depot located at 60 Orange Street. According to the police department, the Home Depot regional loss prevention investigator responded to Bloomfield Police Headquarters on Thursday, August 22nd, to report multiple shoplifting incidents. The loss prevention officer reported that two males entered the store on several occasions, took various power tools, and left the store without paying, per Patch Bloomfield. The tools were valued at approximately $7,000. A police investigation continues.
‘Reading Under The Stars’ Promotes Joy for Books in Newark
Newark’s sixth annual “Reading Under The Stars” celebration returned earlier this month on Thursday, August 15th, at Ivy Hill Park with several children’s book authors pitching in for the effort. The evening featured Gary Campbell reading I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James, Tulani Thomas reading TuTu Goes Green, Ismée Williams reading Abuelo the Sea and Me, Denise Rosario Adusei reading Cesaria Feels the Beat, and Hilda Eunice Burgos reading an excerpt from Bodega Cats. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a former educator in the city, read In Your Hands by Carole Boston Weatherford. Theatrical group Aurway Repertory Theater also brought the book to life on stage as Mayor Baraka turned the pages. According to Patch Newark, this year’s gathering is the latest effort in an ongoing mission to instill a love for reading in the city’s youth.
Montclair Mourns the Anderson Park Olmsted Oak
Montclair has lost Anderson Park’s historic Olmsted Oak after falling down following the storm that took place on Monday, August 26th. The beloved tree, estimated to be about 250 years old, was a landmark in the park, a place to meet up for picnics, and the backdrop for magical evenings where chamber musicians performed under the June moon, per Montclair Local. Individuals wanting to support Friends of Anderson Park can help by planting a legacy tree.
