Lucky March is fully underway as a taste of spring visited our area this week. 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 Pride Festival 2025 date announced; NJMVC announces ‘REAL ID Thursdays’ starting Thursday, March 20th; and Montclair Schools get a major state funding boost. Read on for all the news in Essex County for the week ending March 16th, 2025.

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

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Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):

• NJMVC Announces ‘REAL ID Thursdays’ Starting 3/20
• The Clairidge in Montclair Now Serves Beer, Wine, + Canned Cocktails
• First Newark EMS Corps Class Graduates
• Hairtology To Open Livingston Town Center
• Montclair Schools Get Major State Funding Boost
• North 2 Shore Festival 2025 Dates Announced
• Turtle Found In Traveler's Pants at Newark Airport
• Funeral Held + Flags Lowered for Newark Police Officer Killed
• Cornbread Soul Re-Launches Newark Location
• Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 Kicks Off on 4/5

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Montclair Pride Festival 2025 Date Announced, Fundraiser on 4/10

Out Montclair is also hosting an “All Out for Montclair” fundraiser on Thursday, April 10th from 6PM-9PM at Porta Montclair. Guest can enjoy an evening of music, dancing, delicious bites, and good company — all while raising funds for Montclair Pride 2025. Click here for more.

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NJMVC Announces ‘REAL ID Thursdays’ Starting 3/20

Starting May 7th, 2025, passengers must have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license/ID for domestic flights, unless using a U.S. passport or another federally approved form of identification. Until that date, a standard NJ driver’s license is still valid. Since appointments to obtain a REAL ID are sparse ahead of the deadline, the state recently launched REAL ID Thursdays that will provide additional appointments for residents starting on Thursday, March 20th. Click here for more.

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West Orange Town Council Votes Against Lafayette Playground Improvements

The West Orange town council members discussed the proposed improvements to Lafayette Park during a council meeting at the end of February. While the park is 20 years old, not ADA-compliant, and not safety-compliant, per TAPinto West Orange, the $275,000 project was not deemed worthy by the town council. Council Member Michelle Casalino reminded attendees that the debt is high due to the township’s purchase of Rock Spring Country Club with help from Green Acres funding. Ultimately, the motion failed with only Michelle voting in favor of the proposal.

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The Clairidge in Montclair Now Serves Beer, Wine, + Canned Cocktails

Movie lovers in Montclair can now enjoy drinks with their popcorn and candy, and we’re not talking soda. The Clairidge, located at 486 Bloomfield Avenue, has announced that it has added a few bar items, featuring drinks like beer, canned cocktails, and more, to its concession stand as of Friday, March 14th. Click here for more.

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Newark Students + NJ Devils Team Up for STEM Day

Earlier this month, Newark elementary school students spent the day at the Prudential Center to team up with the New Jersey Devils in celebration of STEM Day. In partnership with the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, students participated in hands-on activities that helped them learn how science, technology, engineering, and math work in hockey. According to News 12 New Jersey, this is the first time they have hosted the event since the pandemic in 2019.

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Newark Mayor Baraka Threatens to ‘Shut Down Work’ at ICE Detention Facility

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has publicly commented on the recent announcement that the largest immigrant detention center on the East Coast would be at a facility in the city. Mayor Baraka, who’s also running for the Democratic nomination for governor, said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News that the owner of Delaney Hall has not taken steps to lawfully open the facility, per NJ.com. The owner of Delaney Hall, GEO Group, accepted a 15-year contract with ICE worth nearly $1 billion over the contract’s duration. It’s set to be up and running by June.

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Newark Latina Leaders Honored at Luncheon

 

A Latina Empowerment Brunch was recently hosted by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at Newark’s Symphony Hall. With 18 schools and almost 300 young Latinas in attendance, women were honored for their “extraordinary accomplishments” for the Hispanic community in Newark per PIX 11. Among the honorees were police officers, firefighters, politicians, journalists, and bank executives.

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Montclair Conducts First + Second Rounds of Interviews for New Superintendent

The Montclair Board of Education recently conducted its first round of interviews in its search for a new superintendent. The search follows the death of Superintendent Jonathan Ponds in July 2024 and with the district under the leadership of interim Superintendent Damen Cooper. The deadline to apply for the job was February 10th, and the board plans to decide on a new chief executive by the end of this academic year. According to Montclair Local, the board has been working well together after its second round of interviews the first week of March and will hold a final round later this month.

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Montclair Schools Get Major State Funding Boost

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First Newark EMS Corps Class Graduates

 

 

 

 

 

 

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GreenLight Fund Greater Newark and Newark Opportunity Youth Network (NOYN) – with training partner RWJ Barnabas Health’s Mobile Health – have successfully helped 11 young adults, ages 18 to 26, graduate from the inaugural class of Newark EMS Corps. These students completed a five-month, paid emergency medical technician (EMT) job training program. Graduates receive job placement, mentoring, and wraparound support services as they prepare to enter the workforce. Applications for the second cohort, which starts in April, are now open.

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Hairtology To Open Livingston Town Center

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Essex County Announces Partnership With PA Health Care Firm

On Tuesday, March 4th, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced a partnership between the Essex County Office of Public Health Management and HAPevolve — a Pennsylvania-based health care consulting firm. The innovative program is aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness in long-term care facilities and is a direct response to the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, per a news release from the county office. Structured training sessions and access to expert guidance that are included in a nine-module learning program will be made available to all long-term care facilities within Essex County and will be free of charge for a limited time.

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Manhole Explosions Cause Concern in Montclair

 

A manhole explosion occurred on Tuesday, March 4th at 415 Claremont Avenue in Montclair. No injuries were reported following the incident, but a major power outage occurred in the nearby apartment building. The cause of the explosion is reportedly a burning underground cable. This has since raised public safety concerns about the condition of underground utilities in the township since this is not the first similar incident.

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Authorities In Search of Person Involved in Multiple Burglaries in Montclair

Police in Montclair are looking for the thief who got away with hundreds of dollars after four businesses in the area were targeted. According to ABC7NY, police released an image of a man on Wednesday, March 5th, and called him a "person of interest" in the "smash and grab" cases that happened over the weekend. All of the businesses – which include Marcel Bakery and Kitchen, Juniper Yoga and Fitness, Toro Sushi, and The Chicken and Shawarma – were able to have repairs made within hours of the break-ins. Anyone who has information is asked to contact Detective Joseph Juliano at 973-509-4724.

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South Orange-Maplewood Celebrate Women’s History Month With Annual Proclamation

During its Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 4th, a reading of a proclamation declaring March as Women’s History Month occurred. The proclamation was read by elected women officials wearing white to honor the women’s suffrage movement — current and former — from South Orange and Maplewood proclamation, per The Village Green of Maplewood + South Orange. The annual tradition was started by Mayor Nancy Adams after she was elected to the Committee in 2016.

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Orange Sky Coffee Roasters in West Orange Launches 'Sipping Chocolates'

Orange Sky Coffee Roasters, located at 6 Main Street, is one of the newest java spots to come to West Orange — and recently launched its new selection of “sipping chocolates” in various flavors including Dubai chocolate, cookie butter bliss, s’mores galore, and more. Click here for more.

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List of Towns With Highest Property Taxes in NJ Released

The majority of the highest property tax towns are in the northern two-thirds of New Jersey with an average property tax bill higher than $20,000 according to an NJ Advance Media analysis of 2024 data. In Essex County, Millburn ranked second with an average property value of about $1.2 million, and Glen Ridge was ranked eighth with an average property value of over $650,000. The town ranked with the highest property taxes was Tavistock in Camden County with an average property value of $2.6 million, per NJ.com.

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North 2 Shore Festival 2025 Dates Announced

The 2025 North 2 Shore Festival is set to bring an exciting mix of music, comedy, film, and technology to New Jersey this summer from June 14th to the 29th. Taking place across three cities — Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and Newark — the event will showcase a diverse lineup of performers, speakers, comedians, and artists. Everything from Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to the Hot 97 Summer Jam concert can be found on the lineup. Beyond headlining acts, the festival emphasizes community engagement by supporting local artists and organizations through grants, fostering a vibrant arts scene across the state. Click here for more.

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Turtle Found In Traveler's Pants at Newark Airport

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On Friday, March 7th, a Pennsylvania man was caught with a 5-inch turtle hidden in his pants at Newark Airport when the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) body scanner triggered an alarm in the area of the man’s groin. According to NBC New York, the man — a resident of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania — reached down the front of his pants and pulled out a live turtle wrapped in a small blue towel when asked if he had anything concealed. Although the turtle did not appear to be harmed, the Port Authority Police questioned the man, took possession of the turtle, and contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local animal control officials. The man was escorted out of the checkpoint by police and missed his flight.

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Funeral Held + Flags Lowered for Newark Police Officer Killed

On Friday, March 7th, a 14-year-old shot and killed Newark police Detective Joseph Azcona and wounded another. Twenty-six-year-old police officer Joseph Azcona was part of a team of Newark police detectives and federal agents that had gone to capture a suspect in an illegal weapons sting when the officer was fired on in his vehicle, per AP News. The other officer who was wounded was hospitalized with injuries that were not expected to be life-threatening. Police took five people into custody, including the teen who was charged with murder, attempted murder, and possession of illegal weapons, according to a statement made by Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stevens II. The funeral for the 26-year-old Detective took place this past Friday, March 14th, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark as Governor Phil Murphy ordered flags across the state to be lowered that day as well.

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Upgrade to Hundreds of Train Cars Is Costing NJ Transit $25 Million

New Jersey Transit is partnering with Alstom — a worldwide rail services solutions company — to replace or rebuild truck components on 209 Multilevel II (double-deck coach) train cars. According to Jersey Digs, Alstom was given a contract that exceeded $25 million for the project. All work will take place at Alstom’s Center of Expertise for Vehicle and Component Overhauls facility in Kanona, New York, and is also manufacturing the new Mulitlevel III cars for NJ Transit at the Plattsburgh, New York facility. These cars will reportedly begin to enter service in the middle of 2025.

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Cornbread Soul Re-Launching Newark Location

Cornbread Farm-To-Soul is set to re-launch its Newark location very soon. Located at 915 Broad Street, Cornbread Soul is a fast-casual, farm-to-table restaurant specializing in authentic soul food. Although an official grand opening date isn't set yet for the public, the re-launch is "highly anticipated," per a news release from the restaurant.

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Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 Kicks Off on 4/5

With the start of spring less than a week away now, the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 dates were recently announced, and locals can’t wait to browse the snowfall-like cascading of petals at Branch Brook Park come peak bloom. This year’s festival will take place from April 5th to 13th and include a variety of cherry blossom-themed events. Click here for more.

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Le Salbuen in Montclair Has Closed, Signage Up for ‘Chef Chen’s’

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Montclair Girl recently found out that Le Salbuen, located at 97 Walnut Street in Montclair, has officially closed after noticing signage for a new spot in the space. Not much is known at this time about the new place, but it looks to be called “Chef Chen’s.” Le Salbuen was a Montclair staple for over 10 years for European-inspired, farm-to-table eats. Click here for more.

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 Fourth Power Plant in Newark May Get Final Approval Despite Backlash

On Thursday, March 13th, several locals spoke out against the proposal of a fourth power plant in Newark after three-plus years of discussions. State regulators stated in February 2025 that they sent the power plant proposal — previously estimated to cost $180 million — to the Environmental Protection Agency for a 45-day federal review. While that review is set to conclude at the end of the month, Carlos Vega (a federal spokesman for EPA Region 2 which includes New Jersey) commented that the project clears federal hurdles, per NJ.com. Advocates urged this week that they will continue to fight against the project and hope to see the plans withdrawn, similar to a sludge treatment plant being called off a few years ago.

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West Orange Bans Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers For Second Time

The West Orange Town Council recently voted in favor of an ordinance regulating gas-powered leaf blowers on a second reading at their meeting this week. The ban regulates the use of gas-powered leaf blowers — with the exception of turbine blowers — on residential, commercial, and township-owned properties. According to Patch West Orange, the ban is “seasonal” for now, but will become permanent at the end of the year.

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Pride Center of Montclair To Host 'TRANScending Stories' Rally

Photo Credit: Pride Center of Montclair

The Pride Center of Montclair, in partnership with EDGE New Jersey, announced this week a celebration of trans literary voices during “TRANScending Stories — Celebrating the Works of Trans Authors,” on Friday, March 28th. This event brings together trans and nonbinary authors for a "first-of-its-kind" literary event, coinciding with International Transgender Day of Visibility, per a press release from the organization. The event will take place from 5PM-9PM at 35 Waterview Boulevard in Parsippany. Admission is free and registration can be found online. Interested trans authors can register here.

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Support Group Forms for Restoring Lost Public Transit Services in Montclair

A push to recoup lost bus service and improve train service in Montclair and surrounding towns has recently gained momentum with the help of a new advocacy group, a local government task force, and an online petition. According to Montclair Local, Montclair native Nick Giglia started the group, Restore Our Transit in Essex (ROUTE) to help regain the gap in service that was left when DeCamp cut service to Montclair in 2023. Nick said during a recent meeting of the advocacy group that they also want NJ Transit to increase the frequency of weekend train service beyond every two hours on the Montclair-Boonton line. The online petition by ROUTE asks NJ Transit to restore the weekend bus and train service.

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Montclair Receives 'Healthy Town' Designation from New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute

On Monday, March 10th, the Montclair Township announced that it was selected by the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI) as one of the Mayors' Wellness Campaign “Healthy Town” winners for 2024. “Healthy Town” designations are awarded to cities and towns that demonstrate excellence in providing health and wellness initiatives in their respective communities, per a press release from the township. This is demonstrated through maintaining programs that promote exercise, healthy eating, and mental health education and awareness throughout the community.

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Persian Heritage Society of New Jersey + AAPI New Jersey To Host Nowruz Event

 

The Persian Heritage Society of New Jersey and AAPI New Jersey are hosting an event in honor of
Nowruz, the ancient Persian New Year, on Saturday, March 22nd in Montclair. The festive afternoon will showcase Persian culture, music, and community starting at 2:30PM with live entertainment starting at 3PM, followed by a dinner buffet featuring a variety of traditional Persian dishes at 5PM. More information can be found online.

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