Essex County Daily Buzz: Feb. 20, 2024

Local news

Bloomfield Town Council recently voted for Monica Charris Tabares to fill the vacant at-large seat, making Tabares Bloomfield’s first Latina council member. She will officially be sworn in on Feb. 22 and serve until Nov. 2024, when an election for the remaining year of interim mayor Ted Gamble’s term will be held.
Patch Bloomfield

Belleville will be testing a new water main on Watsessing Ave. and surrounding streets starting on Feb. 16. This may cause a dip in water pressure or discolored water through Feb. 21.
Belleville-Nutley Patch

East Orange is accepting applications for its Mayor’s Summer Work Experience Program from East Orange high school students starting on Feb. 26. Eligible residents ages 14-19 participate in a six-week summer employment program within city departments and non-profit agencies. Online applications open at 9 a.m. and close on March 8 at 5 p.m. Add to 📅.
East Orange City

Montclair library plans “All Our Voices: International Mother Language Day Storytime” for ages 3+ on Feb. 21 in the Main Branch. The event is from 4-4:45 p.m. and will celebrate different world languages. Add to 📅.
Montclair Public Library

East Orange plans “Fifth Ward Community Meeting” on Feb. 22. Fifth Ward Councilwomen Alicia Holmanand Naiima H. Fauntleroy will discuss public safety at 6:30 p.m. at Norman Towers, 500 N. Walnut St. Advanced questions accepted online. Add to 📅.
East Orange City

Belmont Runyon Elementary School plans a free budgeting strategy workshop on Feb. 21 in Newark. The workshop will discuss strategies to reduce expenses from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Weequahic Family Success Center, 434 Chancellor Ave. Registration is required by phone or email. Add to 📅.
Belmont Runyon Elementary School

S.O.C.A. Tattoo Studio plans a ribbon cutting event in South Orange on Feb. 21. The event begins at 12 p.m. at 75 S Orange Ave., Suite 206-207 in South Orange. Add to 📅.
South Orange Downtown

Newark plans “EMS Corps Program” virtual information session on Feb. 21. Mayor Ras J. Baraka will discuss the city’s investment to increase career opportunities with representatives from Greenlight Fund Greater Newark and Public Works Alliance at 5 p.m. on Facebook Live. Add to 📅.
Newark City

East Orange SEPAC to host a virtual “Autism Awareness” meeting on Feb. 21 on Zoom. The meeting, scheduled from 6-7 p.m., will discuss available resources and allow parents and caregivers of children with autism to connect. Add to 📅.
East Orange Public Schools

Registration is open for Buzz Aldrin Middle School’s PTA “Afterschool Enrichment Programs.” Enrollment is accepted online. Program options include street art and graffiti, CPR class, and babysitting and child safety. Volunteers are needed for committee positions.
Buzz Aldrin Middle School – PTA

Bloomfield Middle School plans a dining fundraiser on Feb. 22. A 20% portion of proceeds at Angelo’s Pizza will go towards the 8th grade field trip. The fundraiser is eligible for pick-up, delivery, and dine-in. Add to 📅.
The Bloomfield Pulse

Maplewood library to host “Follow The Drinking Gourd” for ages 5-7 on Feb. 22 in the Hilton Branch. The event is from 4-4:30 p.m. and will include a Black History Month themed reading. Participants will have the opportunity to make their own drinking gourd or big dipper with marshmallows and learn how to find the North Star. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Public Library

Harambee Chamber Orchestra plans “Jubilee: A Celebration of Great Black Composers” free concert on Feb. 22 in Maplewood. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at The Woodland Great Hall, 60 Woodland Rd. in Maplewood, and includes Harambee Chamber Orchestra and Columbia High School Virtuosi. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Division of Arts and Culture

South Orange’s children’s Black History Month book lists are now available online. The most recently added theme, “Loving Our Families and Ourselves,” features books that promote self-love and family cultures.
South Orange Village Township

Rutgers-Newark’s Queer Newark Oral History Project to host a free “Queer Newark: Panel Discussion” on Feb. 22 in Maplewood. The event, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at Burgdorff Theater, will feature a panel discussion about the book and LGBTQ+ history in Newark. Add to 📅.
Queer Newark Oral History Project

Essex County Environmental Center plans “Valentine’s Family Walk and Campfire” on Feb. 22 in Roseland. The walk is from 6-7:30 p.m. and will feature a campfire, making birch bark hearts and necklaces, and fire-popped popcorn and mint tea. Preregistration is required. Tickets can be purchased online. Add to 📅.
Essex County Environmental Center

SOMA Two Towns for All Ages and South Orange recreation plan trip to see “After Midnight” at the Papermill Playhouse on Feb. 22 in Millburn. Transportation will be provided to and from the performance at the Baird Community Center. The bus leaves at 1 p.m. and the show is from 1:30-3 p.m. Ticket purchase required online. Add to 📅.
South Orange Recreation and Cultural Affairs

The Rock Community Center of Newark plans winter coat and items giveaway for adults. Registration is required and TRCCON will individually coordinate pick-up dates and times.
TRCCON

Montclair library and Out Montclair plan a free “Big Read Event” with author Julio Cesar Roman on Feb. 26. Roman will read from “Out of Space: Creating Safe Spaces in Unlikely Places” at 6:30 p.m. at Genevieve’s Exclusive Vintage Collection, 10 Lackawanna Plaza in Montclair. A book signing will follow the event. Tickets are available online. Add to 📅.
Out Montclair

Registration is open for Bloomfield Soccer Club’s Little Cleats program. The program is designed for children age 3-5 and will have three sessions from Mar. to May with clinics begin held on Saturdays starting at either 8:45, 9:45, or 10:45 a.m. All sessions will be held at Lion Gate Field in Bloomfield.
Bloomfield Soccer Club

New Jersey Historical Commission to host “Money, Power, Respect: Early Black Women Entrepreneurs and Community Leaders in N.J.” virtual panel on Feb. 22. The event, scheduled from 6:30-8 p.m., will discuss the lives of early Black women entrepreneurs and community leaders who established businesses, banks, and shelters for Black girls and women. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
New Jersey Historical Commission

Registration is open for Bloomfield-Montclair CSA’s 2024 season. Community Supported Agriculture allows residents to purchase shares at the start of the growing season in order to receive an assortment of produce during the harvest months. An early-bird discount is available for participants who sign up before Mar. 1. Add to 📅.
Bloomfield-Montclair CSA

Arc of Essex County plans free “Children’s Block Printing Class” for ages 6-12 on Feb. 22 in Fairfield. The class is from 4-5:30 p.m. at Studio Arc, 10 Kingsbridge Rd. Participants will experiment with different printing tools and techniques. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
The Arc of Essex County

Nutley resident Maria Hamlin, an Air Force Veteran and retired Nutley Police Detective, filed an official petition for candidacy for Nutley’s Board of Commissioners. Every four years all five seats on the Board of Commissioners come up for election. The election is scheduled for May 14, 2024, with mail-in ballots being sent out to residents on Mar. 30
TAPinto Nutley

Belleville Town Council recently voted down a proposed ordinance that would have guaranteed a $3.75 million bond for upgrades to the local public school district. The bond, which was voted down 4-3, would have set aside funds for projects including a turf sports field, furniture upgrades, maintenance vehicles, and an “E-Theatre” for e-sports. Mayor Michael Melham, who voted against the ordinance, said the bond is too premature to consider at this stage, and cited concerns about repayment projections.
Belleville-Nutley Patch

Montclair library to host “Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow” virtual presentation by the New York Historical Society on Feb. 22. The event is from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and will explore Black Americans’ struggle for equality under Jim Crow. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Montclair Public Library

Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, is suspending six of its 13 athletic programs indefinitely due to a review of services. This comes after decision affects 23 student-athletes, including 18 that receive partial scholarships. Administrators said they will review each student’s case for financial aid opportunities and all athletes have the opportunity to try out for Montclair State University’s Division III teams.
Montclair Patch

Montclair History Center plans a free screening of “Mann v. Ford” in-person and virtually on Feb. 22. The screening begins at 7 p.m. and a discussion with director Micah Fink will follow at Montclair Film Cinema 505, 505 Bloomfield Ave. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Montclair History Center

Newark 16- and 17-year-olds will not be able to vote in the coming April school board elections due to insufficient time to set up necessary voter registration systems. Last month, Newark city council members passed an ordinance lowering the voting age to 16 for school elections. Members were recently told that the Statewide Voter Registration System cannot hold partial voter registration.
New Jersey Globe

Dionne Warwick Institute plans “Black History Month Concert” on Feb. 22 in Newark. The concert will feature the Warwick Wailers and Theatre Ensemble at 9:30 a.m. An art gallery viewing will begin at 9 a.m. Add to 📅.
Dionne Warwick Institute

Belleville’s American Legion Auxiliary Unit 105 to host a fundraising dinner on Feb. 22 in Bloomfield. The event is from 5-9 p.m. at BGR: Burgers Grilled Right, 56 Broad St. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
The Nutley Pulse

Regional news

PSE&G has a proactive vegetation management program to keep trees and other plants away from power lines. The utility provider trims trees throughout the year. Residents can report trees interfering with utility poles or wires on the PSE&G website.
PSE&G