24 Montclair Area News Stories This Week | March 9, 2025
It seems like longer and brighter days are underway as we turned the clock forward last night for daylight savings. 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: Prudential 'North to Shore' returns for year three; the team behind SLA Thai opens a new Japanese restaurant in Montclair this week; and the team behind Chip City is opening an artisanal bakery in Montclair. Read on for all the news in Essex County for the week ending March 9th, 2025.
Have a news story or press release? Email it to [email protected].
Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):
- Livingston’s ‘Intergenerational Prom’ Event to Return This Year
- Team Behind Chip City to Open Artisanal Bakery in Montclair
- Montclair Native Featured in Prodigy Racing League TV Series
- Keep Creating Art Presents Women’s History Month Exhibition
- Montclair Celebrates First Crescent Lighting Event at Wellmont Arts Plaza
- Montclair Board of Ed Holds Special Meetings for Superintendent Search
- Prudential 'North to Shore' Returns for Year Three
- Critics Oppose ‘Mega-Development’ Plans for West Essex Highlands Project
- Team Behind SLA Thai Opens New Japanese Restaurant in Montclair
- NJIT Plans Residence Hall Renovation to Meet Housing Demand
Livingston’s ‘Intergenerational Prom’ Event to Return This Year
Livingston’s 34th annual Intergenerational Prom — co-sponsored by the Board of Education, the Township of Livingston, and the Livingston High School (LHS) Key Club — will be held on Wednesday, April 9th in the LHS cafeteria. The Intergenerational Prom is a longstanding town tradition, per Patch Livingston, and provides an opportunity for high school students and the township's senior citizens to socialize and get to know one another. Senior citizens who are interested in attending this event must pre-register at the Livingston Recreation + Senior Services Department located at 204 Hillside Avenue so they can obtain a ticket for entry.
Team Behind Chip City to Open Artisanal Bakery in Montclair
Since the opening of its Montclair location in 2023, Chip City has become Montclairons’ go-to for all of their cookie cravings. After spotting signage on Bellevue Avenue, The Montclair Girl can confirm that the team behind Chip City is now bringing its newest concept, Somedays Bakery, a cafe specializing in artisanal croissants, to the Montclair community. Click here for more.
Montclair Planning Board Contemplates 6-Acre Residential Redevelopment in Estate Section
A rare gathering in Montclair’s historic Estate section is up for redevelopment, with plans to carve seven residential lots from a 5.63-acre parcel at the foot of the Eagle Rock Reservation now before the city’s planning board. The site — which spans from 14 Undercliff Road and 172 Lloyd Road — sits atop one of the region’s most coveted and tightly held pockets of real estate. According to Jersey Digs, the proposal for the land plot is a downsized version of a plan submitted to the board seven months ago, when the developer proposed nine subdivisions for eight new homes and a stormwater management basin. It is unknown when a full proposal will be submitted to the city planning board.
Montclair Native Featured in Prodigy Racing League TV Series
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Montclair auto racer David Dalton is now included in a television series on the Prodigy Racing League on MAVTV. This "first-of-its-kind" show provides detailed racing coverage and goes inside the action of the world’s first gaming-to-real racing league, where 30 global competitors battle across 10 intense rounds in the inaugural Prodigy Three (P3) Championship series. The series airs on Sundays at 9PM EST and is available through various local media providers including Verizon, DirectTV, and YouTube TV.
Montclair Board of Ed Holds Special Meetings for Superintendent Search
The Montclair Board of Education scheduled two special meetings this week to discuss the ongoing superintendent search. According to TAPinto Montclair, the meetings proved to be an opportunity for community engagement before moving into executive discussions. The meetings, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday (March 4th and 5th), provided updates on the superintendent search process, with the Board expected to review candidates and discuss the next steps.
Keep Creating Art Presents Women’s History Month Exhibition
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In celebration of Women’s History Month for March, Keep Creating Art is presenting the "Not Retired, Reinvented" exhibit showcasing the work of six women who have discovered new purpose and deep friendships through art. The exhibition's goal is to show how creativity transcends age, displaying opportunities for self-expression, connection, and transformation. The work of artists Sharron Allen, Marie Claire Hepp, Andrea Bruno, Elizabeth Pugh, Joanne Kornoelje, and Marilyn Kozak are showcased in this exhibit.
Montclair Celebrates First Crescent Lighting Event at Wellmont Arts Plaza
On Friday, February 28th, residents from Montclair and surrounding towns welcomed Ramadan at a first-ever crescent lighting event held at Wellmont Arts Plaza. Ramadan is a Muslim holiday that stands for reflection, charity, and coming together with loved ones to share meals and celebrate. This year’s Ramadan will end on Saturday, March 29th, with Eid al-Fitr, the “Festival of Breaking the Fast," per Montclair Local.
Prudential 'North to Shore' Festival Returns for 3rd Year
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Prudential North to Shore Festival will return for a third consecutive year in a row with an expanded lineup that runs from June 14th through June 29th. This year’s festival returns with a special focus on comedy and music — Laughs and Jams. Some headliners include Jon Stewart, Jon Mulaney, and Pete Davidson; Tina Fey and Amy Poehler; and LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells Festival.
Critics Oppose ‘Mega-Development’ Plans for West Essex
Highlands Project
On Wednesday, February 26th, the West Orange Planning Board held a special meeting about the West Essex Highlands project. According to Patch West Orange, Short Hills-based firm West Essex Highlands Inc. wants to build a 496-unit residential development at a 120-acre tract of land on the western front of the Watchung Mountains, which also borders Essex Fells, Verona, and Roseland. Critics argue that the current proposal has grown denser since its introduction in 2006 when the idea of developing in the area raised similar complaints: too many houses, construction on steep slopes, the potential endangering of wetlands, and more traffic on local roadways. The future of the plan is still undecided.
Montclair Chef’s 'Shakshuka Sauce' Hits Shelves
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Montclair Chef Meny Vaknin has been delighting Montclair with his bold Mediterranean flavors at MishMish for 10 years. Fans first fell for his shakshuka — a rich, spiced tomato and pepper sauce. Now, Shakshuka by Chef Meny is available in jars for $14 a bottle at Marcel and Grape Collective located at 620 Valley Road. Chef Meny is working on expanding to other local shops and online orders will be available in the coming months.
Junior Police Academy in Livingston Will Return for 2025
The Livingston Police Department (LPD) opened registration this week on Monday, March 3rd for its sixth annual Junior Police Academy to be held this summer from July 7th to July 11th. The week-long program provides a glimpse into the world of law enforcement and is open to students entering grades six, seven, or eight in fall 2025, per the Livingston Police Department. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited to 60 students with a $100 participation fee per attendee.
Barstool's Dave Portnoy Reviews Pizza in Montclair + Roseland
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Barstool Sports founder and "professional" pizza reviewer Dave Portnoy continued his recent tour of North Jersey with his latest reviews of two restaurants in Essex County. Dave visited La Pizza of Roseland and Belgiovine's Pizza in Montclair. The outcome of his famous scoring of the pizza led to a modest 6.7 out of 10 for La Pizza, while Belgiovine's scored higher at a 7.4.
Apartment Building in Montclair Cited 115 Times in 3 Years
Montclair Township recently cited the private owner of Union Gardens, an 87-unit low-income apartment building located at 50 Greenwood Avenue. According to Montclair Local, a clogged sewer line, broken stairway lighting, and bulk waste left curbside are among the 115 violations over the past three years for which the building's owner has been cited. All but two of the violations had been resolved as of this week, per the township records.
SASS + SHEWins! Awarding $2.5k to Aspiring Lawyer in Newark Area
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Sherman Atlas Sylvester + Stamelman LLP (SASS), in partnership with SHE Wins Inc. (SHEWins!) — a nonprofit organization committed to creating a pipeline of college and career and community-ready young women leaders from the City of Newark — has recently announced that they are accepting applications for its Aspiring Law Student Award. Any woman residing in the Greater Newark Area with a desire to attend law school and who meets the requirements above is eligible to apply. Interested candidates may request an application by emailing [email protected] by Friday, April 11th.
Team Behind SLA Thai Opens New Japanese Restaurant in Montclair
This Week
In February 2024, MG reported on a new venture from the chef behind SLA Thai moving into the former space of Daikichi at 608 Valley Road. Now, Minoru — a Japanese restaurant — has made its debut in MTC on Wednesday, March 5th on the second floor. Click here for more.
Kearny-Newark Portal Bridge on Track for Mid-2026 Opening
The three spans of the new Portal North Bridge in Kearny have been lifted in place and are expected to be ready for trains next year. The new bridge replaces a problematic 114-year-old bridge that has frequently been the cause of NJ Transit and Amtrak delays, per NJ.com. The bridge carries the Northeast Corridor line over the Hackensack River in Kearny. Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said the $2.3 billion project has completed 80% of the the major construction phases and is two-thirds through the entire project. The work is now installing tracks, overhead electric power, signals, and other systems on the 2.5 mile-approach causeways and three arch bridges.
NJIT Plans Residence Hall Renovation to Meet Housing Demand
The New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark is set to rebuild its second-oldest residence hall to meet a demand for housing at the growing public university. According to a news release from the college, the new Oak Hall on Summit Street will contain 453 beds in 154 units — more than double the current totals. The units will take the form of apartments for either two or four students with the addition of single units for resident assistants. The 15-story building will also feature several common areas and amenities, including a study lounge, a game room, conference rooms, and a laundry room.
East Orange Launches First Safe Place Program in Essex County
The City of East Orange has launched Essex County’s first Safe Place Program, a partnership between law enforcement and local businesses to provide a safe environment for victims of hate, bullying, or threats. Eleven participating businesses — including local eateries, gas stations, and barber shops — have voluntarily agreed to display an “East Orange Safe Place” window decal that can be seen by patrons or passers-by in need of assistance, per TAPinto East Orange/Orange. In the event that a victim enters a business and needs help, business owners or employees are asked to call 911 immediately and allow the victim to remain on the premises until police arrive.
ICE to Open First Detention Center Under Second Trump
Administration in Newark
The Trump administration is expanding its immigration detention capacity by reopening a 1,000-bed detention center in Newark and adding beds at other privately-owned facilities around the country. The detention center will take over Delaney Hall, a closed prison at 451 Doremus Avenue. According to NPR, the GEO Group — another private detention company that owns Delaney Hall — has signed a 15-year contract with ICE that could generate as much as a billion dollars in revenue over the life of the deal. Sources say the reopening is "imminent," but no exact date has been announced.
80+ People Displaced After Massive Fire Spreads in Newark
On Sunday, March 2nd, nearly 70 people – including 18 children – lost their homes after a massive fire spread through homes in Newark. A fire broke out just after 1AM in the back of a home on Woodside Avenue that ripped through three more buildings due to strong winds, going to three alarms and sending 13 families out of their homes, per ABC7NY. Two firefighters and two other adults were treated for injuries and are now out of the hospital as the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Port Authority Cops Reunite With Man They Saved At Newark Airport
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Herbert Villa recently got the chance to reunite with the Port Authority police officers who saved him during a seizure at a TSA checkpoint in Terminal A of Newark Airport about six months ago. According to Patch Newark, the officers – Bryan Cardona, Anas Swailmyeen, and Finn Ebersbach – performed CPR and deployed an AED on Herbert, ultimately saving his life. A fourth officer, Christopher Lopez, arrived on the scene shortly after Herbert fainted upon regaining consciousness and provided vital support by continuing CPR efforts before he was transported to a hospital for further treatment.
Grayscale Homes To Open in Montclair Next Month
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The grand opening of a new interior design studio, Grayscale Homes, at 51 C Fullerton Avenue in Montclair is tentatively scheduled for next month. According to a news release from the team, its goal is to foster meaningful connections within the Montclair community. Grayscale Homes offers interior design services as well as investment property consultations.
The Americana Diner in West Orange Closes
The Americana Diner, located at 270 Main Street in West Orange, has closed its doors as of Monday, March 3rd. It was reportedly one of the last 24-hour diners left in New Jersey before its closure, per Patch West Orange. The diner was opened by family members who “wanted to bring delicious affordable food to the people in and around the town of West Orange."
