Essex County Daily Buzz: Oct. 16, 2023

Local news

NJ Transit announces emergency bus plan for discontinued O.N.E. bus routes for Orange, East Orange, South Orange, and Newark. The new routes will be along the 24, 31, and 44 line starting Oct. 9.
NJ Transit

Newark library plans viewing of “Walking the Old Boonton Line,” a video walkthrough and presentation of the abandoned train line set to become the Essex-Hudson Greenway. The presentation will take place at the Main Library on Oct. 18 at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to public. Light refreshments will be served. Add to 📅.
Newark Public Library

Irvington library plans crochet club for children Mondays from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the children’s room. Participants must bring their own supplies. Add to 📅.
Irvington Public Library

Orange plans meeting for business and property owners on Oct. 19 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Inner City Cafe. The meeting will discuss new design concepts, sidewalk improvements, and pedestrian safety for Main St. Add to 📅.
City of Orange Township

Park Avenue Elementary School plans parent-teacher association meeting Oct. 18 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will discuss joining the PTO and Title 1 federal funding. Parents, grandparents, teachers, students, and community members are invited. Light refreshments will be served. Add to 📅.
Orange Public Schools

Park Avenue Elementary School to host Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on Oct. 19 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The event will include performances, art display, and a dance and literary showcase. Add to 📅.
Orange Public Schools

Newark schools and the central office are closed on Oct. 18 for a staff development day.
Newark Board of Education

Nutley Family Service Bureau plans volunteer open house on Oct. 17 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at 169 Chestnut Street. Potential volunteers will tour the food pantry and thrift shop and learn more about volunteer opportunities. Application will be available and light refreshments will be served. Add to 📅.
Nutley Family Service Bureau

Registration is open for Nutley recreation’s contemporary dance classes for children age 6-8. Classes are held on Wednesdays Nov. 1 through Dec. 13 at recreation department annex at 65 Bloomfield Ave. Registration is available online and in-person at the recreation department. Add to 📅.
Nutley Parks and Recreation Department

AAngles NJ, a Montclair-based nonprofit that supports underserved and uninsured individuals and families who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, plan “80’s Dance Party” fundraiser on Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at The Oakley in Nutley. Ticket purchase is required and proceeds from the event will go to AAngles NJ and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Research. Add to 📅.
The Nutley Pulse

Maplewood library housing event series continues with “AARP Homefit Guide” presentation on Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Branch. The presentation will focus on how to make a home comfortable and safe for who want to age in place. This presentation is sponsored by SOMA Two Towns for All Ages. Preregistration is required and the presentation will also be livestreamed on Facebook. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Public Library

West Orange plans “Super Hero Costume Party” for children with disabilities and their families on Oct. 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Toby Katz Center. Dinner will be served for all guests. This event is open to residents and non-residents. Preregistration is required in Community Pass. Add to 📅.
West Orange Recreation Department

Bloomfield public schools plans free English as a Second Language classes for the parents and guardians of bilingual and ESL students. Classes are held every Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Bloomfield High School beginning Oct. 17. Registration by email is required. Add to 📅.
Bloomfield Public Schools

South Orange library has updated their hours of operation as of Oct. 1. The children’s section of the library will open at 12 p.m. on Mondays. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday opening hours are now 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
South Orange Public Library

Maplewood Library plans virtual “Read Around the Word” book discussion group on Oct. 18 at 7:00 p.m. The group will discuss “Blood Red” by Gabriela Ponce. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Public Library

Registration is open for East Orange recreation’s fall 2023 tennis programs for children age 8+ and for adults. Clinics are held from Oct. 10 to Dec. 16 at Elmwood Park on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Online registration is available in Community Pass.
East Orange Recreation and Cultural Affairs

Newark’s Technology High School was awarded the National Blue Ribbon for 2023 from the U.S. Department of Education. It’s among nine schools receiving the award in N.J. this year. Factors include standardized testing results, graduation rates, and programs variety.
Patch-Newark

Nutley launches weekly “Fun for All” integrated recreation program offering seasonal sports and social activities for students with and without disabilities age 5-21. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Radcliffe Elementary School with sessions for different age groups. The program fee is $75 for the first family member and $25 for each additional. Add to 📅.
Nutley Township

Montclair Van Vleck Gardens’ “Scarecrows in the Garden” free community scarecrow exhibit is open from Oct. 16-31. Visitors can vote for their favorite scarecrow by Oct. 26. Winners will be able to direct a donation to a local nonprofit from The Montclair Foundation. Add to 📅.
The Montclair Foundation

Essex County officials marked the grand opening of the “Island Giants” habitat at Turtle Back Zoo on Sep. 20. The upgraded habitat will be home to alligators, crocodiles, tortoises and the zoo’s Komodo dragon.
West Orange Patch

Registration is open for Kickz Soccer 2023 indoor soccer program for children age 3-15 in West Orange with programs in technical skills, ball mastery, goal scoring, goal keeping, and soccer fundamentals.
What’s Happening in West Orange?

Registration is open for Outdoor Play Connection’s fall 2023 nature school programs for children age 5-12 at Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange including nature walks, survival skills, and monthly themes.
Outdoor Play Connection

Belleville School District to participate in 2023 national “Pink Out Day” breast cancer awareness fundraiser Oct. 20 with Pink Out apparel available for purchase online.
Belleville Public Schools

Branch Brook Park’s baseball and softball fields are getting an upgraded drainage system, synthetic playing surface, bleachers, and covered dugouts in response to rainouts. The project is funded by Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund and the federal American Rescue Fund.
Belleville-Nutley Patch

Newark Board of Education’s president, Asia Norton, resigned on Sep. 18. She served on the board since 2018. Board members will select her replacement from candidates that apply to the publicly posted position.
Patch-Newark

Essex County is installing a new synthetic grass surface in Irvington Park, one of several field resurfacing projects in Essex County parks in 2023.
Essex County Parks

Regional news

Registration for the Thomas Edison Pitch Contest, a national STEM competition for students in grades 4-12, will open Oct. 10.
Thomas Edison Pitch Contest