The leaves are changing and You’ve Got Mail is streaming in our comfy living rooms as autumn has officially arrived in New Jersey. 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: a new bill to change hemp sales is put in place to be regulated like cannabis in New Jersey; a collective of new businesses open in Montclair; and Newark City Council President McIver steps down amid her congress bid. Read on for all the news in Essex County for the week ending September 22nd, 2024.
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Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):
- Rutgers Game Honors Bloomfield Boy with Leukemia
- Montclair BOE Votes to Name Baseball Field After Dr. Jonathan Ponds
- New French Preschool Opens in Montclair
- Insomnia Coffee Shop Launches in Montclair
- Newark City Council President McIver Wins Special Election to Replace Late N.J. Congressman
- Japanese Restaurant, Kinjo, Closes in Newark
- NJPAC Begins $336M Newark Project With Housing + Shops
- Montclair Police Warns Community About Ongoing Email Scam
- Chow Town Food Tours Launches Walnut Street Food Tour This Week
- Montclair Promotes New Fire Chief
Montclair Veterinary Associates Opens on Park Street
Photo Credit: Montclair Veterinary Associates
A new veterinary clinic, Montclair Veterinary Associates, opened its doors on Monday, September 16th, at 63 Park Street after two years in the works. The brand new state-of-the-art veterinary office includes five exam rooms, in-house lab work, an x-ray machine, full surgery and dental capabilities, and a large dedicated parking lot to Dr. Waxman’s new clinic. Its hours are 9AM-6PM on Monday through Tuesday and Thursday through Friday, 9AM-7PM on Wednesday, and 9AM-1PM on Saturday. Appointments are available to be made online.
Essex County Senior Citizens Art Show Gives Awards to 31 Artists
The annual Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show recently gave awards to a group of 31 artists in North Jersey. The artists were recognized during an awards ceremony on Thursday, September 12th, in the Robert O’Toole Community Center in Cedar Grove. According to Patch Montclair, the artists hailed from Belleville, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Livingston, Maplewood, Montclair, Roseland, the Oranges, West Caldwell, and Verona in different categories, respectively.
Mountainside Medical Center Chosen for New Clinical Trial
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Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair has recently been selected as one of six global sites for a cutting-edge clinical trial. The hospital will now serve as a hub for the Genetesis MICRO 2.0 Clinical Trial, a study focused on advancing non-invasive cardiac diagnostics in the evaluation of coronary microvascular dysfunction, per Patch Montclair. The trial will explore the potential of cutting-edge magnetocardiography technology to revolutionize the way cardiac conditions are diagnosed and managed. It’s being discussed in the industry that the technology has the potential to provide more accurate and rapid diagnoses, therefore reducing the need for invasive procedures and improving patient results.
New French Preschool Opens in Montclair
Cédrik Fouriscot, the new Consul General of France in New York, visited Montclair on Friday, September 13th, to celebrate the opening of The Montclair Preschool of L’Alliance New York. The school, located at 17-19 Munn Street, will offer a French immersion program for toddlers ages two-and-a-half to five. The ceremony included tours of the preschool’s newly renovated facilities on the second floor of a historic three-story red brick school building, which features large and bright classrooms with high ceilings, per Montclair Local. The preschool provides half-day and full-day options: Monday through Friday from 8:30AM-12:30PM for the half-day program or Monday through Friday from 8:30AM-2:30PM for the full-day program.
New Bill to Change Hemp Sales to Be Regulated Like Cannabis in NJ
A bill recently signed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will now see intoxicating hemp-based products placed under the same regulatory controls as cannabis or alcohol products. The sale of intoxicating hemp-based products is now prohibited to customers under the age of 21. Even as Governor Murphy conceded some of the bill’s flaws, the danger of underage consumers accessing these products outweighed any concerns. The new law means that ‘intoxicating hemp’ products can only be sold by licensed dispensaries or at liquor stores. Click here for more about the latest in New Jersey’s cannabis culture wars.
Montclair BOE Votes to Name Baseball Field After Dr. Jonathan Ponds
The Montclair Board of Education voted unanimously on Monday, September 16th, to rename the renovated baseball field at Woodman Field for the late Montclair Schools Superintendent, Dr. Jonathan Ponds. According to Montclair Local, the resolution states that the field, located at Essex and Champlain Terrace, will be named the Dr. Jonathan C. Ponds Memorial Field. Signage will be approved by the Board of Education and installed at the field.
Insomnia Coffee Shop Launches in Montclair
Insomnia Coffee Shop, a mobile coffee shop located at Lackawanna Plaza near the train station, has recently launched in Montclair. The new coffee cart brews all types of affordable fresh coffee and serves delicious pastries (including fresh empanadas). Patrons can walk right up to the truck or place their order ahead of time by calling its business number 973-680-6302.
Montclair Road Closures Start This Week
Road closures in Montclair started this week on Club Road, Roosevelt Place, and Seymour Street (in that order). According to a transit advisory from the township, the road milling and paving improvement project will be conducted by contracted vendor Riverview Paving Inc. The work will take place between 7AM-6PM from Tuesday, September 17th to Wednesday, September 25th (weather permitting and excluding weekends). Roads will close daily until the project is completed, per Patch Montclair. Drivers should expect delays in the area and plan alternate routes.
Tastee Platters Opens Location in Montclair
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Tastee Platters, located at 446 Bloomfield Avenue, serves up a new variety of Middle Eastern and American fusion dishes on Montclair’s main strip. Its menu has platters, sandwiches, burgers, salads, sides, and drinks — including halal and vegetarian options. The small New Jersey chain is open from 11AM-10PM Tuesday through Saturday and 12PM-8PM on Sunday and Monday.
Rutgers Game Honors Bloomfield Boy With Leukemia
Four-year-old Justin Corino was recently honored as the “Shining Knight of The Game” at the September 7th Rutgers football game. Justin is in treatment for leukemia as he was diagnosed in the spring of 2023. According to Patch Bloomfield, the Bloomfield boy has spent 16 months as a patient at the Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute — New Jersey’s only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. After arriving on the Rutgers University campus, he was busy with a full lineup of Rutgers Football Game Day activities; and apparently, his presence was inspirational since the Knights won the game 49-17 over Akron University.
Montclair Welcomes Smoothie King to Bloomfield Avenue
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A Smoothie King location has opened in Montclair at 310 Bloomfield Avenue. Its unique menu options are purposefully crafted to meet patrons’ specific needs, goals, and ambitions. Smoothie King is committed to blending a more nutritious smoothie with whole fruits and organic veggies and removing artificial ingredients and added sugars in many blends while also providing vegan and gluten-free options.
New Holistic Treatment Business Opens in Montclair
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Dear Body Montclair has officially opened its doors at 7 Park Street. Dear Body’s goal is to assist clients with elevating their natural beauty by providing them with exceptional skincare experiences in a “peaceful, comfortable space.” Its services and how the business takes the word “elevate” seriously can be found on its website.
N.J. State Revokes Medical License from Doctor Accused of Unlawful Practices
The state of New Jersey has permanently suspended the license of a doctor who was accused of improperly performing invasive cosmetic surgeries, including non-surgical penile and breast enhancement procedures at dozens of offices in the tri-state area. Dr. Muhammad A. Mirza, a board-certified internist from Cedar Grove, has not practiced medicine in the state since his license was temporarily suspended in 2021 amid these allegations, per a statement from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. According to NJ.com, Dr. Mirza allegedly saw up to 30 patients daily in makeshift spaces where he failed to observe proper protocols for medical record-keeping, patient follow-ups, and storage of medical supplies — including products that required refrigeration and strict temperature control. Dr. Mirza also submitted fraudulent claims to health benefit plans for services not rendered or not medically necessary; as a result, he pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. As part of his guilty plea, Dr. Mirza was sentenced to two years and two months in prison and owes $1,371,544 in restitution. Now that his license has been permanently suspended, the former doctor is prohibited from seeking a medical license in New Jersey at any time in the future, barred from all patient contact and from rendering medical care in the state, and is not allowed to enter the premises of his medical practice during business hours when patients may be present.
Newark City Council President McIver Wins Special Election to Replace Late N.J. Congressman
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Former Newark city council president LaMonica McIver secured a landslide victory in New Jersey’s 10th congressional district — a Democratic stronghold — in a special election to replace the late Rep. Donald Payne Jr. in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, September 18th. LaMonica got more than 80% of the vote after defeating ten other candidates in the special Democratic primary in July for the party’s nomination., per NJ.com. It’s currently unclear when she will be sworn in. The same two candidates will reportedly face off again in November to see who will hold the seat for the full two-year term that begins in January.
Election Notice from Montclair NAACP
In accordance with the NAACP guidelines governing branch elections, proper notice of the Montclair NAACP September, October, and November meetings must now be disseminated to the general public as of a recent announcement. During the general membership meeting on Thursday, September 26th, at 7PM, at least five members in good standing will reportedly volunteer to serve on the NAACP nominating committee in preparation for the November election, per Montclair Local. All members in good standing interested in serving on the Nominating Committee must be present via Zoom during the meeting. Similarly, the NAACP October meeting will take place on Thursday, October 24th, at 7PM over Zoom; and during the month of November, on a date determined by the NAACP National Office, all members of the Montclair NAACP in good standing will receive a ballot to participate in the election. Participants interested in additional information may contact Branch President Diane Anglin by emailing [email protected].
Newark City Council President McIver Steps Down Amid Congressional Bid
City Council President LaMonica McIver recently stepped down as Newark council president during the council meeting on Tuesday, September 17th. LaMonica, who is running for the District 10 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, remains the Central Ward councilperson. As a result, the City Council appointed At-Large Councilman C. Lawrence Crump as council president to replace her. The announcement and 5-0 vote for the change in leadership followed a brief closed session of the council. According to TAPinto Newark, she did not discuss a reason for her resignation but thanked her fellow council members for the opportunity to serve as the council president. LaMonica’s resignation from the council’s top spot happened one day before the special election to fill the remainder of the term for the late U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., who died in April 2024.
Japanese Restaurant, Kinjo, Closes in Newark
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A Japanese-inspired restaurant that debuted in Newark in November 2023 has closed its doors less than a year after opening. Kinjo, located at 155 Washington Avenue inside the Newark Urby residential building, served up Japanese items loved by many — including dumplings, sushi rolls, and more. The restaurant cited ongoing power outages as the reason for the permanent closure, which was announced last week. Click here for more about Kinjo’s closure and what this restaurant brought to Newark residents.
Montclair Police Warns Community About Ongoing Email Scam
The Montclair Police Department (MPD) is warning local residents to be vigilant about an email scam that has been making the rounds in the township. On Tuesday, September 17th, the MPD released a message explaining how several residents have reported receiving email correspondence from “an individual who purports that they have installed malware on their devices and have taken control of their computer or phone,” per Patch Montclair. The email also lists the victim’s phone number, home address, or a photo of their home. It is to be known that all of this information can be obtained with via a Google search. The scammer will then threaten to release damaging videos and photos that they claim to have of the victim unless they pay them in bitcoin. The MPD warns citizens to not answer the email or give out any personal information or forms of payment. If a civilian feels that they’ve been the victim of a scam, or have concerns about being inappropriately contacted, they may call the Montclair Police Department at 973-744-1234.
NJPAC Begins $336M Newark Project With Housing + Shops
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A $336 million redevelopment of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s 12-acre campus formally broke ground on Wednesday, September 18th. The project will reportedly bring 350 new apartments with shops and restaurants to Chambers Plaza, which also meets certain criteria for state funding and tax credits under the Aspire program. According to TAPinto Newark, leaders said the project will include a pedestrian-friendly extension of Mulberry Street through the campus and is expected to be completed in 2027.
Newark Nonprofit Holds Grand Opening For Community Engagement Center
Project Ready, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to “empowerment through civic engagement,” had its grand opening for its Community Engagement Center in Newark last weekend. Located at 10 Hill Street, the community engagement center is Project Ready’s way to give residents and businesses a space “to learn, share ideas, and seize the opportunity to connect and communicate with the City of Newark,” per Patch Newark. Last weekend’s event included family-friendly activities, workshops, and local vendors which included free backpacks that included books and school supplies. It is open Monday through Friday from 10AM-4PM.
Chow Town Food Tours Launches Walnut Street Food Tour This Week
Photo Credit: Brick + Dough
Montclair Promotes New Fire Chief
$1M Powerball Lottery Ticket Sold in Newark
