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23 News Stories You Missed This Week in Montclair + Beyond | February 2, 2025
The January slump has come to a close this week as the month of love arrives once again. 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 West Orange native is set to compete on a new season of Survivor: updates release about the 1/13 Montclair Public Schools closure due to a security concern; and a fire erupts at Faubourg Restaurant in Montclair. Read on for all the news in Essex County for the week ending February 2nd, 2025.
Have a news story or press release? Email it to [email protected].
Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):
- Updates on the Kush Connection, a New Cannabis Dispensary Coming to Montclair
- Newark Nonprofit’s ‘Creative Arts Initiative’ Grant Renewed
- Civil Air Patrols Awards Essex County Teens
- Innovation Lab Opens at Montclair Cooperative School
- Laptop Upcycle + Montclair Kiwanis Partner to Expand Student Access to Computers
- The Space in Montclair Hosts Celebration of Contemporary African Artists
- Carrello Di Cannoli Soft Opens ‘The Cannoli Shop’ in Fairfield
- Township Announces Plan for 'Critical Renovation' to Bloomfield Children’s Library
- West Orange Native to Compete on New Season of Survivor
- New Pizza Place, Corner Slice in Maplewood, Hosts Soft Opening
Updates on the Kush Connection, a New Cannabis Dispensary Coming to Montclair
^ Artwork by Julian Gelbard
A former car dealership on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair will begin a new chapter in 2025 when cannabis dispensary, The Kush Connection, moves in. The Kush Connection is a family-owned enterprise with roots right here in Montclair. The cannabis dispensary was originally planning to open in 2024 at 135 Valley Road, but has since delayed the opening date and changed locations. The Montclair Girl spoke to the team back in 2024 about the business and what neighbors can expect from this new spot. Click here for more.
Livingston Pond Permits Ice Skating for First Time in Years
Littell’s Pond, a beloved Livingston landmark located behind Littell People’s Park on Wahler Road, is now open for ice skating from 8AM-4PM daily. The Livingston DPW officially deemed it safe for skating after clearing the ice and measuring its thickness, and will continue to measure to ensure that conditions remain safe. Skating is only permitted at Littell Pond when the signs posted on site indicate it is open for skating as well as when announcements are posted through the township's website, social media, and other outlets, per TAPinto Livingston.
Essex County Launches Clothing Drive for Muslim Prisoners
A donation drive is currently underway for Muslim inmates at the Essex County Correctional Facility ahead of Ramadan and during Muslim Heritage Month. CAIR New Jersey is spearheading the drive, which aims to raise money to purchase religious garments for inmates at the Newark-based prison. All donations and proceeds will solely be going toward this project. Interested participants can contact Najdah Abdul-Haqq via email, or Zelle to 908-267-3119 with the memo, “ECCF.”
Essex School Bus Company Owner Gets Five Years in Prison
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced on Friday, January 24th, the sentencing of the owner of an Essex County-based school bus company that failed to perform drug tests and background checks on drivers — one of whom later crashed — and trying to cover up the misconduct. Sixty-six-year-old Ahmed Mahgoub of East Hanover was sentenced to five years in state prison, in accordance with the terms of a plea agreement the defendant had reached with the OPIA Corruption Bureau, per a statement from the general attorney's office. Essex County Criminal Division Presiding Judge Mark Ali also ordered Ahmed and his company, East Orange-based F&A Transportation, Inc., to pay a combined $500,000 in corruption profiteering penalties, while also banning them all from doing business with the State of New Jersey or its administrative or political subdivisions for the next ten years.
Civil Air Patrols Awards Essex County Teens
Several Civil Air Patrol cadets from North Jersey recently earned awards at a ceremony held to honor their achievements. The Amelia Earhart Award, where recipients display “significant dedication and accomplishment,” was awarded to 16-year-old Erin Feeney of West Orange High School, 18-year-old Elias R. Bikales of Millburn High School, and 16-year-old Michael E. Shayevich of Livingston High School. The General Billy Mitchell Award was given to 15-year-old Claire Gao of Livingston High School, 18-year-old Dhir Patel of Wayne Hills High School, and 16-year-old Shriaansh Sharma of PCTI Stem Academy (Wayne) for completing the first eight achievements of the cadet program, per Patch Livingston.
Innovation Lab Opens at Montclair Cooperative School
Montclair Cooperative School parents were recently invited to the opening reception of the school’s new Innovation Lab — a 1500-square-foot space that serves as a collaborative art and science classroom. Upper School art teacher Dawne Weaver and science teacher Heather McNallie prepared an exhibition of current student work, which demonstrated their studies of light refraction and nature observations. They shared their vision for future projects inspired by the collaborative Innovation Lab during the reception.
Laptop Upcycle + Montclair Kiwanis Partner to Expand Student Access to Computers
Two local nonprofits, Laptop Upcycle and Montclair Kiwanis, have partnered to expand access to technology for students in northern New Jersey. Laptop Upcycle is an all-volunteer organization that collects tax-deductible donations of used laptops, securely erases data, and refurbishes them for middle and high school students who qualify. Montclair Kiwanis, a nonprofit volunteer group rechartered in 2019, has supported Laptop Upcycle’s mission by helping distribute laptops during events like their August 2024 Back-to-School drive and a recent initiative at East Orange Campus High, per Montclair Local. More information on how to participate in the initiative can be found here.
The Space in Montclair Hosts Celebration of Contemporary African Artists
Photo Credit: Okereke via Zora Obi Studios
Montclair art gallery, The Space, kicked off Black History Month with an extra-special art exhibit showcasing emerging Nigerian artists in collaboration with Zora Obi Studios. The exhibit, titled Ethereal Shadows, introduced its display at 356 Bloomfield Avenue Loft #2 in Montclair yesterday, February 1st, and captures a unique immersion into the pulse of Nigeria’s art community. Click here for more.
Montclair Scholarship Fund Announces New Scholarships for Montclair High School Students
The Montclair Scholarship Fund (MSF) has created six new scholarships this year to provide critical financial support to Montclair High School students in need as they pursue attending college or trade school. According to a news release from MSF, the new scholarships include the Corrine Licostie Family Scholarship, the Montclair Pre-K to College Scholarship, the Whitehill Foundation Scholarship, the Jackson Lightfoot Whitsett Memorial Scholarship, the Frank I. Taylor Scholarship, and the Dreams Can Happen Scholarship. The application for the 2025 Montclair Scholarship Fund awards opens on Monday, February 3rd.
Carrello Di Cannoli Soft Opens ‘The Cannoli Shop’ in Fairfield
Carrello Di Cannoli, a mobile cannoli service, has officially launched a brick-and-mortar experience called The Cannoli Shop at 376 Hollywood Avenue in Fairfield — which according to the United States Census Bureau is the most Italian town in America (50.3% of residents in Fairfield are linked to Italian ancestry). This luxury dessert service specializes in customized hand-piped cannolis designed for weddings, holiday parties, corporate events, or just to enjoy around the dinner table. Click here for more.
Township Announces Plan for 'Critical Renovation' to Bloomfield Children’s Library
The Township of Bloomfield announced its plans to move forward with much-needed renovations to the historic Bloomfield Children’s Library, located at 90 Broad Street. The proposed restoration project by Netta Architects aims to preserve the building’s historical integrity, while addressing significant deterioration caused by water damage and wear over its 98-year-old history. A plan will be in place to ensure minimal disruption to the library’s services, and the library is set to remain open during the majority of the renovation, per a news release from the township.
Essex County to No Longer Pursue North Caldwell Mountain Avenue Park Fields Improvement Project
Improvements to the Mountain Avenue Field that were under consideration by the North Caldwell Borough Council have now officially been dismissed. Since the project would cost $8 million and was not supported by public opinion, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. decided to axe the project altogether. There are no current reports on alternative plans for the park fields.
Fire Erupts at Faubourg Restaurant in Montclair
On Wednesday, January 29th, a small fire erupted at Faubourg restaurant in Montclair leaving no one injured. According to NorthJersey.com, Montclair Fire Chief Robert Duncan said he believes the fire started in the ductwork, but an investigation needs to be underway to find the actual cause. The restaurant was closed on Thursday and Friday.
Updates on the 1/13 Montclair Public Schools Closure Due to Security Concern
The alert that schools were canceled on Monday, January 13th, 2025 came early that morning to the Montclair Schools alert system. Montclair Public Schools canceled school due to a security concern that arose late the night before, January 12th, 2025. The Montclair Public School District provided an update on the situation via several emails on Thursday, January 30th, stating that, "Amir Doctry turned himself in today to the Montclair Police Department and is currently in custody. There were no incidents. This update was provided by the Montclair Police Department. Please rest assured that any further updates will be shared as they become available.” More information can be found in our story here.
Two Newark Community Leaders Honored
Two community leaders based in Newark were recently honored for their work with a pair of local service organizations. Essex County Commissioner A’Dorian Murray Thomas presented commendations to Cesar Vizcaino, the executive director of Partnership West Inc. Business Improvement District in Newark’s West Ward, and Dominique Lee, the CEO and founder of BRICK Education Network in Newark’s South Ward. The presentation was held at the Essex County Hall of Records in Newark last month, per Patch Newark.
Two Essex County College Students Named to All-Academic Team
Two Essex County College students, Laela Lawal, and Towela Mwale, were recently named Essex County College’s 2025 representatives on the All USA-New Jersey Community College Academic Team. According to a news release from the college, they are also in the running for the All-USA National Academic Team. Laela and Towela are members of the College’s Alpha Theta Theta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), as the All USA honor is provided through PTK. Laela is a biology, and pre-medicine major from Newark who has a perfect 4.0 grade point average while Towela, who lives in Oranges, is in the same major and has earned a 3.70 average.
West Orange Native to Compete on New Season of Survivor
Thirty-three-year-old Bianca Roses has been announced as one of the 18 castaways on season 48 of Survivor set to premiere on Wednesday, February 26th, at 8PM. Bianca is a PR consultant from West Orange and views her new venture as a "dream come true." According to NJ.com, her hobbies include, “talking about how much I love the state of N.J., spending time with friends and family, going to the Jersey shore, Italian cards, and cooking delicious meals with my boyfriend.”
Embrace Relief Marks Milestone of Fresh Produce Distributed in NJ
Embrace Relief recently announced that its Mobile Farmers' Market (MFM) has distributed over 20,000 pounds of fresh produce to North Jersey families in need since its launch in 2021. This cumulative milestone was achieved during its distribution event on Saturday, January 18th, at School #12 in Clifton, per Patch Caldwells. The Mobile Farmers' Market is an innovative fresh produce distribution program designed to alleviate food and nutrition insecurity in New Jersey’s most under-deserved neighborhoods.
New Pizza Place, Corner Slice, Hosts Soft Opening in Maplewood
Corner Slice, a new pizza place located at 419 Boyden Avenue in Maplewood, is currently hosting its soft opening. It will be taking walk-in orders only for slices from 12PM-9PM or sellout today, February 2nd, and Monday, February 3rd. Corner Slice's New York Square Pie has been recognized as one of the best slices in New York.
Montclair Monitoring Ice at Edgemont Park for Skating
On Monday, January 27th, the Department of Community Services Director Austin Ashley said the ice at Montclair's Edgemont Park was not safe to skate on. According to Montclair Local, the town would usually hang a red sign indicating there was no skating and the community would wait until they gave the go-ahead. The sign remains at the time of this writing, and the opening of skating at Edgemont Park remains to be determined.
Founding Member of The Community Coalition on Race, Carol Barry-Austin, Passes Away
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The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race has recently lost Carol Barry-Austin, a founding trustee whose unwavering leadership, drive, and commitment over the past 28 years both shaped and built the organization to what it is today. Carol's commitment extended to other local organizations, including the Columbia High School Scholarship Fund, the South Orange Civic Organization, the Tuxedo Park Neighborhood Association, the South Orange Maplewood Awareness Committee, and the PTA. The Coalition pledges to continue embracing the values Carol taught them to honor her legacy, and to be unwavering as it strives toward the inclusive, equitable community she envisioned, per a statement from the organization.
Rep. McIver Appoints Montclair Native to Join Leadership Team
U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10th District) has named Imani Hamm, a Montclair native, the District Director in her senior staff as she begins her tenure in the 119th Congress. According to InsiderNJ, Imani is a seasoned political professional with over seven years of experience in government, political strategy, and public affairs including working for Governor Murphy's office. She earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice and a master's in Public Administration from Rutgers University.
Newark Nonprofit’s ‘Creative Arts Initiative’ Grant Renewed
Integrity House, one of New Jersey’s leading providers of substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health services, has announced that the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey (HFNJ) has renewed its $85,000 grant to support the organization’s Creative Arts Initiative (CAI) for a second consecutive year. According to Patch Newark, the funding will help Integrity House continue its mission of improving the holistic health of individuals in the Greater Newark area who are living with SUD by integrating creative arts into traditional clinical services. Integrity House has achieved significant positive outcomes tied to CAI participation as 65% of clients reported decreased feelings of depression while 56% noted an increase in mindfulness.
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