Essex County Daily Buzz: Dec. 12, 2024

LOCAL NEWS

Free financial aid clinic for the 2025-26 school year planned by Make The Road NJ on Dec. 18 in Elizabeth. FAFSA application assistance is from 3-5:30 p.m. at Elizabeth Community Center, 42 Broad St.
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Make The Road NJ

Holiday food distribution planned by Essex County on Dec. 19 in Newark. There will be 1,000 food boxes available at Essex County Branch Brook Park starting at 9 a.m. Limited to a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-ups welcome.
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Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

Montclair Make Music Day planned on Dec. 21. The winter-themed event begins at 12:30 p.m. and will include live community performances at Montclair library, Houss Freya, Nuts and Delights, and The Space. Attendees are welcome to paricipate in Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night at 6:30 p.m. at Crane Park. Complete schedule is available online.
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Montclair Make Music Day

Coloring session planned by West Orange library on Dec. 19. It is from 4-5 p.m. The event is open to all ages, and registration not required. Supplies provided.
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West Orange Public Library

Holiday networking mixer planned by West Orange Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 19. It is from 5:30-7 p.m. at Cambria Hotel West Orange, 12 Rooney Cir. There will be a giveaway of a full-year of membership to the chamber for one attendee. Admission is free for members and $20 for non-members.
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West Orange Chamber of Commerce

Game session for youth in grades 6-12 planned at West Orange library on Dec. 19. Board games, LEGOs, and video games are available from 7-8 p.m. Registration is required.
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West Orange Public Library

“Wilma and the Wingers” musical story time for children planned by South Orange library on Dec. 19. The story time is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at the Baird Center. Registration is required.
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South Orange Public Library

Science fiction book group meeting for adults planned by South Orange library on Dec. 21. It is from 1-2 p.m. at the Baird Center. Members will discuss “Legends and Lattes” by Travis Baldree. Registration is required.
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South Orange Public Library

NAACP-Oranges and Maplewood meeting and swearing-in ceremony planned on Dec. 18 in West Orange. The event is 6-9 p.m. at West Orange library. Sock donations are required for entry. Items will be delivered to First Baptist Church of South Orange for distribution.
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Oranges & Maplewood: NAACP

Free one-on-one electronic device support for adults planned by Maplewood library on Dec. 19 in the Main Branch. The digital device clinic is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Maplewood Public Library

“Boogie Woogie Babies” movement class for ages 1-5 planned by Maplewood library on Dec. 19 at the Hilton Branch. The movement class begins at 10:30 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
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Maplewood Public Library

LEGO club meeting for ages 5+ planned by Maplewood library on Dec. 20 in the Hilton Branch. LEGO building begins at 3:30 p.m. and adults must be present. LEGO creations will be displayed in the library.
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Maplewood Public Library

Drop-in craft session for children planned at Nutley library on Dec. 21. Attendees make crafts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to take home. Registration is not required. Supplies are limited.
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Nutley Public Library

“STEAM Story Time” for ages 2-6 planned by Nutley library on Dec. 21. The group meets monthly at 10:30 a.m. to hear stories on science, technology, art, and math. There will be STEAM-related group activities. No registration required.
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Nutley Public Library

Graphic novel book club meting for ages 18+ planned by Montclair library on Dec. 19 in the Bellevue Branch. Members will discuss “Blankets” by Craig Thompson at 6 p.m. Registration is required.
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Montclair Public Library

“Chess and Coffee” for adults planned by Montclair library on Dec. 19 in the Main Branch. The event is from 2-4 p.m. and game boards are available. No guided instruction provided. Registration is recommended.
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Montclair Public Library

Social event for babies planned by Montclair library on Dec. 20 in the Main Branch. The event is from 10:30-11:30 a.m. There will be books and toys. Registration is not required.
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Montclair Public Library

DIY ornament session for adults planned by Montclair library on Dec. 21 in the Bellevue Branch. It is from 2:30-3:25 p.m. Registration is recommended.
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Montclair Public Library

Story time for ages 0-2 and families planned by Montclair library on Dec. 19 in the Bellevue Branch. There will be nursery rhymes and board book readings from 10:15-10:45 a.m. Registration required.
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Montclair Public Library

Free walk-in health screenings planned at Newark library on Dec. 19 in the North End Branch. Clara Maass Medical Center’s community health department will offer free blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol screenings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
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Newark Public Library

Community meeting planned by Newark Fifth Precinct police officers on Dec. 17. The meeting will discuss trends, safety tips, and upcoming events at 7 p.m. at 695 Bergen St.
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Newark Public Safety

Holiday celebration planned by Greater Newark LISC on Dec. 18. It is from 6-9 p.m. at Newark Museum of Art. Register by email by Dec. 13.
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Greater Newark LISC

LGBTQ+ book club meeting for adults planned by Newark library on Dec. 19 in the Main Branch. Members will discuss “Communion: The Female Search for Love” by bell hooks at 6 p.m. Registration is required.
Newark Public Library

Brick City Showdown Basketball Tournament planned by Newark public schools on Dec. 19-22. Games are held at Weequahic High School. More than 450 players are participating. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are sold at the door.
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Newark Public Schools

Free, interactive concert with The Patrick Kerssen Trio planned by Newark library on Dec. 21 in the Main Branch. Music is from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The concert is from 2-3:30 p.m. Registration is required.
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Newark Public Library

Irvington is hiring an information technology assistant. Applications accepted online.
Irvington Township

National Action Network-Irvington seeks donations for a women and children’s shelter through Dec. 20. Accepted items include new bedsheets, pillow cases, blankets, socks, gloves, hats, and shelf-stable snacks. Request drop-off location by phone.
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National Action Network (NAN) – Irvington Chapter

Winter coat giveaway for children planned by East Orange on Dec. 18. It is from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Third Ward Community Center. Children must be accompanied by an adult and show proof of residency.
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East Orange City

Free skin cancer screenings and at-home colorectal screening kits for East Orange residents planned on Dec. 19. Services are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bowser Family Senior Center. Registration not required.
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East Orange City

“In Stitches” knitting and crocheting club meeting for adults planned by East Orange library on Dec. 19. Members knit and crochet together from 2-4 p.m. Attendees must bring their own supplies.
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East Orange Public Library

East Orange YMCA summer camp early-bird registration is open for returning campers until Dec. 17. Summer camp is designed for ages 3-15 and includes day trips and activities. Registration available online.
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East Orange YMCA

East Orange children ages 5-15 can attend the library’s “Read Up Book Club” literacy tutoring program on Dec. 21. The program is $10 for monthly sessions through June. It meets from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. Attendees participate in organized reading, learning, and social activities through the book club.
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East Orange Public Library

Free play with blocks for children planned by Glen Ridge library on Dec. 20. The event is from 9-11 a.m. Registration is not required.
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Glen Ridge Public Library

Tickets are on sale for Women’s Club of Glen Ridge’s 2024 Mayor’s Gala planned on Jan. 25. Early bird pricing is available through Dec. 21. Tickets include drinks, food, and entry to a live auction. Proceeds benefit the organization’s Centennial Capital Campaign.
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Women’s Club of Glen Ridge

“Baby Bookworms” story time for ages 0-3 and their caregivers hosted by Belleville library on Dec. 19. The event, scheduled from 10:30-11 a.m., will feature a story time session with music and movement.
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Belleville Public Library

Anime and manga club meeting for youth hosted by Belleville library on Dec. 19. The meeting is from 3-5 p.m. Participants will watch anime, discuss manga, take quizzes, and play games together.
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Belleville Public Library

Bloomfield seeks residents to serve on township boards and committees. There are open positions for the animal shelter advisory committee, civil and human rights commission, and zoning board, among others. Letter of interest and resumes accepted until Dec. 20.
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Bloomfield Township

Bloomfield library patrons can book one-on-one appointments with librarians on Dec. 20. In-person 30-minute appointments are Fridays between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Bloomfield residents can schedule an appointment for basic technology assistance, finding library resources, and research. Appointments are available in-person or on Zoom.
Bloomfield Public Library

REGIONAL NEWS

New Jersey State Police is under investigation after a New York Times report found that traffic violation enforcement dropped 61% while motor vehicle crashes increased 16% between July 2023 and March 2024. Traffic enforcement slowdown began one week after a July 2023 analysis found evidence that N.J. police were more likely to stop Black and Latino motorists, search their vehicles, and ask them to leave their vehicles between 2009 and 2021. After the report was released, union president Wayne D. Blanchard warned troopers that every stop would be scrutinized, according to The New York Times.
The New York Times