Essex County Daily Buzz: Feb. 8, 2024

Local news

Essex County Environmental Center to host “Valentines Family Walk and Campfire” on Feb. 13 in Roseland. The event, scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m., will feature a short night walk, birch bark craft making, and a campfire with popcorn and tea. Preregistration is required and can be completed online. Fee ranges from $10 per child to $30 per family. Add to 📅.
Essex County Environmental Center

Newark Stories, a community media organization, is accepting applications for its 2024 Community Media Cohort until Feb. 8. Residents that live in the Clinton Hill and Fairmount Heights neighborhoods are particularly encouraged to apply. Newark residents can submit their applications online. Participants will work with Five Wards Media, The Newark News, and Story Collaborative. Each participant receives $2,000 for their contributions.
Newark Stories

CASA Essex County, a social service for local youth, to host virtual information sessions starting Feb. 13. There will be sessions on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m., Feb. 21 at 11 a.m., and Feb. 29 at 5 p.m. Sessions will discuss the work that CASA Essex County does. Registration by email required. Add to 📅.
CASA Essex County

Mountainside Medical Center to host “Prepared Childbirth” class for expectant parents on Feb. 10 in Montclair. The one-day accelerated class is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and covers topics such as stages of labor, coping strategies, and medication options. Online preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Mountainside Medical Center

Visions The Performing Arts Center to host “Portraits,” a play celebrating leaders and people of color on Feb. 10-11 in Maplewood. The performances start at 3 p.m. at The Burgdorff Theater, located at 10 Durand Rd. in Maplewood. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Division of Arts and Culture

Essex County Environmental Center to host Great Swamp Bonsai Society’s monthly meeting and display on Feb. 13 in Roseland. The event, is scheduled from 6-9:30 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to bring their trees, pots, and tools for display. Preregistration is required.
Essex County Environmental Center

Maplewood public library to host “Read Aloud to Therapy Dogs” on Feb. 12 at the Hilton Branch. The event, scheduled from 6:30-7:30 p.m., is for school-age children. Participants will have the opportunity to read aloud to a certified therapy dog in a relaxed and friendly group environment. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Public Library

Maplewood public library plans “Lunar New Year Scavenger Hunt” Feb. 12-17 at the Hilton Branch. Patrons can drop-in to the library during regular buisness hours to complete a scavenger hunt to find all 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac in order to win a prize. Preregistration is required and can be completed by Feb. 12. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Public Library

Maplewood library to host “Kids Speak Out for Black History: Reception and Art Display” on Feb. 10 at the Hilton Branch. The event, scheduled from 12:30-1:30 p.m., will feature a display of children’s artwork and poetry about Black history, identity, equality, and justice. Participating students from South Orange-Maplewood elementary schools will talk about and share their work. The display is viewable through the end of February. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Public Library

Maplewood community services to host “Meet and Greet with Chef Jesse” on Feb. 13 in Maplewood. The event, scheduled from 5-7 p.m., and will feature gumbo tasting and conversation about cooking in celebration of Black History Month. Preregistration is required and can be completed online. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Community Services

Dr. E. Alma Flagg Elementary School plans virtual “Parent University Workshop: Supporting your Child Academically as a Busy Parent” on Feb. 13. The workshop, scheduled from 6-7 p.m., will provide strategies for busy parents to support their child academically. Preregistration is required and can be completed online.
Dr. E. Alma Flagg Elementary School

Newark library’s “Philip Roth Book Club” to host a webinar about “The Prague Orgy” with the discussion led by Martyna Bryla on Feb. 10. The online discussion begins at 1 p.m. Preregistration is required by email. Add to 📅.
Newark Public Library

Montclair library to host “Valentine’s Day Card Making” for ages 3+ on Feb. 11 in the Main Branch. Cards will be available at the children’s department between 2-4 p.m. Registration is not required. Add to 📅.
Montclair Public Library

Montclair library plans “Valentine’s Day Tote Craft” for adults on Feb. 13 at the Bellevue Branch. Attendees will decorate fabric tote bags from 5-6 p.m. Registration is available online. Add to 📅.
Montclair Public Library

Montclair library to host “Dizzy Gillespie Concert Screening” on Feb. 12 at the Main Branch. The screening will include jazz performances from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration is recommended. Add to 📅.
Montclair Public Library

Orange recreation opens “Cleveland Avenue Elementary Basketball and Cheer” 2024 registration for residents in grades 4-7. Programming is every Saturday from Feb. 17 to May 11. Games and cheer are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participation is $35. Registration is required. Add to 📅.
City of Orange Township Parks and Recreation

Belleville plans a “Chinese New Year Celebration” livestream on Feb. 10. Mayor Michael Melham will share its history and Chinese history within Belleville. There will be fireworks. Add to 📅.
Belleville Mayor Michael Melham

West Orange recreation plans “Imagine That” craft programmings for residents in grades K-5 on Feb. 19. There will be “Building with Straws,” “Tissue Paper Art,” and “Slime Chemistry” available from 12:30-3 p.m. at the Katz Community Center. Registration is required. Admission is $35. Add to 📅.
West Orange Recreation Department

Montclair library to host “Swahili Story Time” with Sabina Wasonga-Gitau for ages 5-12 on Feb 10 at the Main Branch. Wasonga-Gitau will read bilingual Swahili tales at 2 p.m. Registration is recommended. Add to 📅.
Montclair Public Library

Nutley library to host “Great American Songbook” concert with Carol Erickson and Jim Ramundo on Feb. 10. They will perform influential songs from the early 20th century at 2 p.m. There will be music trivia for the audience. Add to 📅.
Nutley Public Library

Cicely L. Tyson Elementary School plans “Saturday Program” for grades 5-8 on Feb. 10 in East Orange. The program is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Tyson Middle/High School. There will be STEM activities and opportunities to explore architecture and design, video production, music production, and supply chain. Add to 📅.
Cicely L. Tyson Community Elementary School of the Performing and Fine Arts

Newark library to host a virtual book talk with William Peniston on Feb. 13. Peniston will discuss “Images of Newark: Newark Museum of Art” at 7 p.m. Registration is available online. Add to 📅.
Newark Public Library

Out Montclair is seeking singers to join its Pride Choir. Rehearsals are Sundays from 2-4 p.m. with performance at Montclair Pride on June 8 planned. Registration is available online.
Out Montclair

Montclair library plans “Illustrious Box” children’s craft event for ages 5+ with local artist Mansa Mussa on Feb. 10 at the Main Branch. The class begins at 11 a.m. and participants will learn how to color and collage their gift boxes. Registration is recommended. Add to 📅.
Montclair Public Library

South Orange library offers free “Take and Make” crafts for adults 18+ on Feb. 13. Participants will decorate a tea light snowman. Registration is required. Add to 📅.
South Orange Public Library

Montclair Early Music to host “Jubilee: Black History Month Musical Celebration” on Feb. 10. The event is from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation. It will feature selections by Black composers and performances from jazz pianist Michael David Cochrane, bass player Michael Logan, tenor soloist Jeremy Watson, and artistic director Louisa Valentin as soprano soloist. Tickets available online for purchase. Add to 📅.
Montclair Early Music

Regional news

Certification and credentialing fees processed by the N.J. Office of Recruitment, Preparation and Certification will be waived through June 30, in accordance with new state budget and legislation. Eligible users should fill their payment details as directed while still making sure to note that no charge will be incurred during this period. Fees for Praxis testing and transcript requests will not be covered under this waiver.
New Jersey Department of Education