Essex County Daily Buzz: Dec. 19, 2023

Local news

Zufall Health, a New Jersey nonprofit health care provider, opened a new facility in West Orange. The three-story center located at 49 Mount Pleasant Ave. will double the organization’s local medical capacity and triple its dental capacity, services it provides to patients on an income-based, sliding fee scale.
West Orange Patch

South Orange Downtown to host “Holiday Market” on Dec. 21. The event, scheduled from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., will feature food and gift vendors and a live performance from Band of Strays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Add to 📅.
South Orange Downtown

Newark Water Coalition to host 2023 toy distribution on Dec. 22-23 in Newark. The Dec. 22 giveaway will be held at 373 South Orange Ave. in Newark at 2 p.m. and the Dec. 23 event at 11 a.m. at 7 Wilson Ave.
Newark Water Coalition

Montclair library to host “December 2023 Interactive Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Dec. 21. The movie screening will be held in the auditorium of the Main Branch from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The interactive screening of the film is for children age 8+ and their families. Shouting out lines and silliness is welcome, and a script and supplies will be provided. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Montclair Public Library

Newark City Parks Foundation to host “Pride Night at the Newark Winter Village” on Dec. 21. The event is scheduled from 5-8 p.m., at Mulberry Commons featuring ice skating, go-karting, and igloo rentals. Add to 📅.
Newark City Parks Foundation

Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Center in Newark to host “Winter Break Grinch Roller Skating” on Dec. 22. The event, scheduled from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., will feature roller skating sessions for participants. Preregistration is available online. Add to 📅.
Branch Brook Roller Skating

West Orange planning board approved the allocation of retail space for Dogtopia as part of updates to West Orange Plaza at 235 Prospect Ave. Dogtopia will offer animal spa treatments, self-bathing facilities, holiday and overnight boarding, and doggy daycare. The facility plans to accommodate up to 100 dogs in open and secure environments.
TAPinto West Orange

Orange police department plans 2024 “Toys for Tots Giveaway” on Dec. 21. The giveaway will be held at the Orange township police department building and run from 4-7 p.m. No registration is required, but attendees’ proof of residency is required. Add to 📅.
Orange Police Department

Bloomfield recreation to host “Open Mic Jam Session” on Dec. 22. The event will be held at the Oakside Cultural Center from 7-9 p.m., and will feature an opportunity for attendees to perform on stage or listen to live music. Add to 📅.
Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department

East Orange Mayor Ted Green held the first meeting of the mayor’s student ambassador program on Dec. 14. Student representatives from each of the city’s public high schools met with members of the administration to discuss youth needs in the city, including transportation, school building infrastructure, safety, and employment and apprenticeship opportunities. The student ambassadors will continue to meet with the administration once a month for the remainder of the 2023-2204 school year.
TAPinto East Orange

Newark’s zoning board approved a five-story, 63-unit affordable apartment building proposal for the South Ward Dec. 15. Board Chairman Charles Auffant requested that the developer work with the city to incorporate more trees on the site, rejecting the project engineer’s alternative monetary contribution to the city’s shade tree fund.
TAPinto Newark

La Casa de Don Pedro to host a free “Strengthening Families Workshop” on Dec. 21 in Newark. The workshop is from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Family Success Center I, 23 Broadway. Conversations include parenting tips, positive reinforcement, coping skills, and cyber bullying resources. Gift cards are available for attendees. Add to 📅.
La Casa De Don Pedro

Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts students in grades 3-12 can use a free, online tutoring program, “Tutor Me,” for one-on-one support. A tutor assists students with homework, spiral review, or writing and editing essays. Tutor Me is available on ClassLink.
Cicely L. Tyson Community Elementary School of the Performing and Fine Arts

The federal department of transportation awarded $800K grant to Newark to pilot pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures. The city plans to install temporary bike lanes, medians, pedestrian crossing beacons and consolidate multiple safety plans into one. Newark is one of 22 N.J. municipalities to receive funding.
NJ Advance Media

Nutley library to host “Holiday Break Drop-in Craft” on Dec. 26-30. Crafts are available on a supply basis and designed for all ages each day at 11 a.m. Registration is not required. Add to 📅.
Nutley Public Library

Nutley recreation plans a tumbling program for Nutley residents in grades K-4 beginning Jan. 5. The program introduces students to gymnastics through basic tumbling and acrobatics skills. Classes are Fridays at the recreation Annex Building, 65 Bloomfield Ave., for six weeks. The program is $50 per child. Register online.
Nutley Parks and Recreation Department

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to host monthly “Men’s Meeting” Dec. 22. Newark men will discuss civic engagement, small business and government, and property development at 6 p.m. at Central High School. Add to 📅.
Newark City

Montclair’s Renaissance Middle School installed a free little food pantry outside the school’s entrance. Donors can supply the pantry with non-perishable food for others to take when needed. It is the 11th pantry sponsored by Northeast Earth Coalition installed in Montclair.
Montclair Local

West Orange recreation opens registration for its spring 2024 junior girls lacrosse team. The season is from March to June with practices and games held on weeknights and weekends. All players must show a valid U.S. Lacrosse membership and pay $125 fee. Interested participants can sign up for the West Orange-Livingston team online.
West Orange Recreation Department

Bloomfield Soccer Club plans six-week co-ed winter programs for children ages 3-5 and in grades K-6. Games are held Jan. 7-Feb. 18. Preregistration required.
Bloomfield Soccer Club

Regional news

Striking nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick secure increased wages, capped insurance costs, and safer staffing standards after four-month strike. Union members voted to ratify a new, three-year contract that will see 70 additional nurses hired in 2024.
NJ BIZ