Essex County Daily Buzz: Jan. 16, 2025

LOCAL NEWS

“Driving Change through Climate Communication” webinar planned by Climate Central, a nonprofit of scientists and communicators who research facts about climate change, on Jan. 24. Climate Central’s Bernadette Woods Placky will discuss how tailored communication shapes public understanding of climate change with a focus on N.J.’s population and geography. Registration is required.
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Impact 100 Garden State

Virtual information session discussing ways to designate North Jersey as a National Heritage Area, a federally-designated program that could bring up to $1 million in federal funds to the region if approved, on Jan. 23. Northern N.J. Community Foundation’s executive director Leo Vazquez will lead the webinar from 7-7:30 p.m. Attendees are welcome to ask questions. Registration is required.
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Northern New Jersey Community Foundation

Free workshop for adults, teachers, and caregivers discussing ways to address stress and disconnection when working with children planned by Essex County Environmental Center on Jan. 25 in Roseland. Daniel Atkins will lead the workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration is required.
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Essex County Environmental Center

Free agriculture career night for students in grades 8-12 in Essex County 4-H on Jan. 29 in Bridgewater and online. N.J. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn, farrier Jeff Mangone, and veterinarian Christina Wilson will speak about careers from 6-8 p.m. at 310 Milltown Rd. Registration is required by Jan. 24.
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Essex County 4-H

Bloomfield appointed three people to its township government, public safety, and legal team on Jan. 6. Anthony DeZenzo is the township administrator, Thomas Icolari is the Office of Emergency Management coordinator, and Michael Parlavecchio is the township attorney.
TAPinto Bloomfield

Berkeley Elementary School’s Green Team is collecting sneakers for recycling until Jan. 24. Sneakers can be dropped off in a bin by the main office.
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Bloomfield Public Schools

“Tinkergarten,” problem-solving through play, program for children age 2-8 planned by Bloomfield recreation starting Jan. 25. The outdoor educational program runs Saturdays through Mar. 1 from 11-11:45 a.m. at Oakeside Cultural Center. Registration is $75 and is available online. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
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Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department

NJ 11th for Change, a grassroots coalition for N.J.’s 11th congressional district, seeks donations supporting Human Needs Food Pantry and Toni’s Kitchen in Montclair on Jan. 20. Donations are collected from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Accepted items are boxes of cereal, pasta, winter gloves, men’s socks, men’s and children’s underwear, diaper wipes, and large sizes of diapers. Location for drop-off available upon request.
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NJ 11th for Change

Belleville residents do not need to move their cars for street cleaning, Alternate side of the street parking is suspended until spring 2025.
Belleville Mayor Michael Melham

Mutual Aid 101 meeting planned by Mutual Morris on Jan. 25 in East Orange. The meeting is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at East Orange library. Attendees will learn about ways to build networks of care in their communities. Registration is required. Attendees must wear a face mask.
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Mutual Morris

East Orange’s John Duncan planned, supervised, and built a forest symphony sound wall at the Essex County Environmental Center. Duncan is an Eagle Scout from Troop 8.
Essex County Environmental Center

Six-week art therapy program for ages 7-17 planned by East Orange YMCA starting Feb. 1. Sessions will focus on drawing, painting, and crafts. Registration closes Jan. 24. RSVP by email. A $20 non-refundable registration fee is required.
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East Orange YMCA

Traditional lion dance performance for the Lunar New Year planned at Maplewood library’s Hilton Branch on Jan. 25. The free event begins at 11:30 a.m. There will be Lunar New Year crafts and a scavenger hunt for children. Registration is not required.
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Maplewood Public Library

Maplewood-area adults can attend the Maplewood Manifestation Meditation Series starting Jan. 25. There will be guided mediations through sound baths each week until Feb. 22. Admission is $103. Open to non-residents.
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Maplewood Recreation Division

Maplewood residents in grades K-5 can attend the recreation department’s 2025 summer camp program, scheduled to start in June. Attendees create crafts, play on sports teams, and develop social skills together. Admission is $260 for four days. Limited to Maplewood residents.
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Maplewood Township

Traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony planned by Walia Ethiopian Restaurant on Jan. 20 in South Orange. It is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 11 Village Plaza. Admission is $20. RSVP by phone.
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South Orange Downtown

Science fiction book group meeting for adults planned by South Orange library on Jan. 25. It is from 1-2 p.m. at 298 Walton Ave. Members will discuss “I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov. Registration is required.
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South Orange Public Library

Lunar New Year celebration planned by AAPI-Montclair on Jan. 25 in Montclair. It is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Montclair Art Museum. There will be a dragon parade, lion dancers, food trucks, and arts and crafts. Admission prices vary. Children younger than 5 enter for free. Tickets available online.
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AAPI Montclair

Improv Comedy show for children ages 3-10 planned by Montclair Film on Jan. 25. The show begins at 4 p.m. and will include family-friendly performances from professional actors at 505 Bloomfield Ave. in Montclair. Admission is $15. Tickets available online for purchase.
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Montclair Film

Montclair Mutual Aid seeks winter apparel and canned soup donations for its Jan. 26 distribution. Accepted items include coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and hand warmers. Contact Montclair Mutual Aid online to schedule a drop-off.
Montclair Mutual Aid

Montclair library has microscopes available for cardholders to borrow from its Library of Things. Reservations can be made online.
Montclair Public Library

Montclair library is open for extended hours on Mondays. The Main Branch will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., an additional two hours from its regular schedule, and the Bellevue Branch will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., an additional four hours.
Montclair Public Library

Newark high school students can apply to join N.J. Institute for Social Justice’s Youth Vote Ambassador Program, designed to train students to register and mobilize 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in the Newark school board election. Ambassador will attend three online workshops scheduled on Jan. 22-24 scheduled for 6 p.m. Attendees will learn the history of the Vote16 law that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections, what the school board does and the history of Newark schools, and how to lead voter registration drives and engagement events. Applications available online.
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New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

Resource fair planned by Unified Vailsburg Services Organization on Jan. 25 in Newark. It is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 475 Irvington Ave. Local organizations will table at the event with resources, including RWJBarnabas Health, North Star Academy, Newark health and community wellness, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan NJ, New Community Corporation, Bricks 4 Kidz, Inspired by U, and the Newark fire department.
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Unified Vailsburg Services Organization

Free children’s toothpaste, toothbrush, and dental health information sheet for ages 1-12 planned at Hawkins Street Elementary School on Jan. 25 in Newark. Items will be distributed from Colgate’s van through its Children’s Oral Health Improvement Program. Distribution is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Hawkins Street Elementary School

Newark Water Coalition seeks volunteers to distribute snack bags, produce, and other resources to communities in Newark on Jan. 25. Volunteers will meet at St. Stevens Church from 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is required.
Newark Water Coalition

South Ward’s Gabrielle M. Thomas was named Newark’s senior policy advisor and communications strategist. Thomas was previously working as policy advisor to Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. In her new role, Thomas will work with municipal agencies to complete city goals.
Newark City

Nutley Family Service Bureau updated its pantry distribution schedule for 2025. The pantry, located at 169 Chestnut St., is open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled by phone.
Nutley Family Service Bureau

Nutley’s Dave Popkin was recently named N.J. Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Popkin is the sportscaster for Seton Hall men’s basketball radio network with Gary Cohen.
TAPinto Nutley

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event planned by Orange on Jan. 20. Attendees will pack bags with hygiene products, food, toiletries, and other necessities for people experiencing homelessness from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in City Hall.
 City of Orange Township

Orange residents can bring their cats and dogs to a free rabies clinic on Jan. 25. The clinic is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Orange City Hall. Pet licenses will not be issued.
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City of Orange Township

Macy’s Backstage in West Orange’s Essex Green is on track to permanently close, Macy’s chairman and CEO Tony Spring said. The West Orange store is part of a first round of 150 total Macy’s stores that will close because of underperforming sales. A closing date has not yet been announced.
TAPinto West Orange

REGIONAL NEWS

More than 100 immigrants’ rights organizations sent a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy calling for the immediate passage of the Immigrant Trust Act, a bill that would allow N.J.’s 2.25 million immigrant population to seek public services without fear of deportation, regardless of immigration status. The letter came one day before Murphy’s penultimate state address on Jan. 14, where he outlined goals for N.J. in his upcoming, final year in office. Priorities include expanded abortion access, a proposed cell phone ban in classrooms, and changes to zoning laws. N.J. Alliance for Immigrant Justice, a coalition of advocacy groups, raised concerns about a lack of immigrant focus in Murphy’s speech as Congress is set to pass a federal detention and deportation bill, the Laken Riley Act, just days before the new administration takes office on Jan. 20.
New Jersey Patch

Free webinar discussing public health careers in the state health department planned by the N.J. Public Health Association on Jan. 23. Attendees will learn how to find a career in N.J.’s Department of Health, starting a career with a trainee title, provisional and permanent positions, and civil service exams. It begins at 10 a.m. Reigstration is required. Add to 📅.
New Jersey Department of Health