Essex County Daily Buzz: Feb. 21, 2024

Local news

Essex County activated Code Blue procedures from Feb. 20 to Feb. 22, helping people find shelter as temperatures drop below 32 degrees. Participating shelters and warming stations include Catholic Charities in Newark, Joi’s Angels in East Orange, St. Mark’s Church in Montclair, among others throughout the county. Additional locations can be found on the NJ 211 website.
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

Several anonymous callers disrupted a recent West Orange Town Council virtual meeting with anti-Semitic and racist comments when members discussed a proposed resolution supporting a Gaza ceasefire. The resolution was tabled to be discussed at another meeting. West Orange police is investigating the incident with federal, state, and Essex County law enforcement. The regular recording will not be available on the township’s YouTube page
West Orange Patch

West Orange library plans a “Board Game Program” for grades K-5 on Feb. 23. There will be a variety of board games for participants from 4-5 p.m. in the youth services programming room. No registration required. Add to 📅.
West Orange Public Library

Bloomfield Little League is accepting spring 2024 enrollment through Feb 23. Children from Bloomfield and Glen Ridge who were born after September 2010 and before August 2019 are eligible. Registration closes at 6 p.m. on Feb. 23. Add to 📅.
Bloomfield Little League of New Jersey

Maplewood library to host a free “Black History Month Ancestry Collage for Adults” on Feb. 24 in the Hilton Branch. The event, scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., will feature creating ancestry collages with artist Beverly McCutcheon. Materials will be provided, and participants can bring their own family photos or lightweight memorabilia. No registration required. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Public Library

Montclair township is hiring a secretary for the department of community services. The position requires strong computer skills, and complex clerical work. Applications are accepted online.
Montclair Township

Newark public schools to host “Marching Band Showcase and Competition” on Feb. 24. The event starts at 1 p.m. at Weequahic High School, will feature performances by Barringer High School, East Side High School, Malcolm X Shabazz High School, Science Park High School, Weequahic High School, and Wilson Avenue Elementary School!. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. performances begin at 1 p.m. Add to 📅.
Newark Board of Education

1978 Maplewood Arts Center to host a free “Expressive Impressions in Linoleum” art exhibition on Feb. 24-25. The exhibit features artist Tenjin Ikeda, and is available for viewing from 2-4 p.m. Add to 📅.
Maplewood Division of Arts and Culture

Nutley library to host “Origami Friday” for ages 7+ on Feb. 23. Artist Nobuko Okabe will host the class at 3:30 p.m. in the Children’s Room. Adults must accompany children ages 9 and under. The group will meet again on March 22. Add to 📅.
Nutley Public Library

Camden Street School plans a meeting for parents and caregivers of children in grade 3 on Feb. 23 in Newark. Attendees will connect with other parents, learn ways to support their children’s growth, and discuss the NJSLA state exam from 9-10 a.m. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Camden Street School

Registration is open for Newark recreation’s “Biddy Ball” basketball fundamentals program for ages 5-8. There will be a “Player Draft Day” on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. at Newark’s Temple of Hip Hop. Register by phone. Add to 📅.
Newark Recreation, Cultural Affairs, and Senior Services

Montclair library plans “Montclair Reads: Family Storytelling Workshop” on Feb. 24 at the Montclair Art Museum. The event, scheduled from 12-2 p.m., will feature story sessions inspired by the graphic novel “The Best We Could Do” by Thi Bui with museum instructor Peg Kenselaar. There will be creative art activities inspired by the museum’s exhibition “Family, Community, Belonging: Works from the Collection.” Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Montclair Public Library

Nutley library plans “Video Game Free Play” drop-in session to play Switch games on Feb. 24. Sessions are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Open to all skill levels with no registration required. Add to 📅.
Nutley Public Library

Glen Ridge library to host “Ceramics Painting” for youth and adults on Feb. 24. The event begins at 10 a.m. and will include painting vases, ceramic birds, or flower trays. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Glen Ridge Public Library

Columbia High School to host “Lunar New Year Lantern Festival Celebration” on Feb. 23 in Maplewood. The event, scheduled from 6 p.m. in the cafeteria, will feature performances, food, and activities. Tickets can be purchased for $15 and proceeds will be used for the school’s Chinese American Garden. Add to 📅.
South Orange Middle School HSA

John H. Walker Middle School PTO to host “Parents Night Out, Featuring The Struggle!” on Feb. 24 in Nutley. Doors open at 8 p.m. at The Oakley, 789 Bloomfield Ave., and the band starts at 9 p.m. Ticket sales fund the school’s PTO. Discount tickets must be paid by Feb. 23. Add to 📅.
John H Walker Middle School

Rutgers-Newark seeks an artist in residence within a 10-mile radius of Newark for its Paul Robeson Galleries by Feb. 23. Eligible visual artists will participate in a six-month residency at Express Newark. Applications accepted by email. Artist selection will be made on Mar. 29. Add to 📅.
Rutgers University

Soccer Skills For All to host “Fall Soccer Classes” for ages 5-12 on Feb. 23 in South Orange. The event, scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Flood’s Hill, 100 N. Ridgewood Rd., will feature soccer classes for different age groups. Preregistration is required and can be completed online. Add to 📅.
Soccer Skills for All

Montclair Film to host “Montclair Improv Comedy” on Feb. 23 at Cinema505. The event begins at 8 p.m. and will feature a completely improvised comedy show. Doors open at 7:30 at 505 Bloomfield Ave. in Montclair Tickets are available for purchase online. Add to 📅.
Montclair Film

Fairview Elementary School’s Home and School Association plans a “Read-A-Thon” fundraiser for its students from Feb. 23 to Mar. 8. The fundraiser is designed to promote literacy for the school’s nearly 500 students while raising funds. Add to 📅.
Fairview Elementary Home and School Association

Nutley has revived “Seniors Helping Seniors” program for residents age 65+ needing help with light household tasks. The program will be facilitated by the department of public affairs and health, the initiative involves volunteers assisting their peers with minor jobs, excluding those needing licensed professionals. Residents can participate either as volunteers or recipients by contacting the department of public affairs by phone.
Nutley Township

East Orange YMCA plans a free “Black History Month Family Movie Night: Soul” on Feb. 23. The movie begins at 6:45 p.m. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
East Orange YMCA

South Orange Middle School to host “My Black is Beautiful!: Black History Celebration” on Feb. 24. The variety show begins at 4 p.m. and includes a guest performance by The Tia Holt Experience. Tickets are $15. Add to 📅.
South Orange Middle School

SOMA Chamber of Commerce to host “Member Meet-Up” on Feb. 23 in Maplewood. The event begins at 8 a.m. at Peet’s Cafe, 1585 Springfield Ave. in Maplewood. Add to 📅.
SOMA Chamber of Commerce

A new bilingual education program is set to launch in Newark’s South Ward this fall, aiming to support the city’s increasing population of English language learners. The program will be based at Malcolm X Shabazz High School and will enroll high school students, starting with grades 9 and 10, with plans to expand to additional grades each year. It will be the first program of its kind in the South Ward for the city’s 100,000 ELL students, and comes three years after the district agreed to overhaul ELL services following a federal investigation settlement.
Chalkbeat Newark

Bloomfield recreation plans “Friday Fun Night” for children in grades K-6 on Feb. 23. The event, scheduled from 6-9 p.m. at the Bloomfield Civic Center, will feature Valentine’s Day-themed games and crafts for participants. Registration is $20. Add to 📅.
Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department

Technology High School to host “Parents and Pancakes” on Feb. 23 in Newark. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will include ESL classes for parents and caregivers. Contact Parent Community Liaison Noemi Ballester to register. Add to 📅.
Technology High School

Bloomfield plans “Black History Month Community Social” on Feb. 24. The celebration is from 1-4 p.m. at the Oakeside Cultural Center. It will include the Bloomfield Jubilee Choir, local vendors, food, crafts, music and history. Preregister is required by phone. Add to 📅.
Bloomfield Township

Regional news

New Jersey lawmakers will receive a 67% salary increase, boosting their pay from $49,000 to $82,000, following legislation signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. The governor’s salary will also increase from $175,000 to $210,000, effective 2026, post Murphy’s final term. The raise, first in over two decades, was justified by some lawmakers as necessary to keep up with inflation and rising costs.
Patch Newark