Essex County Daily Buzz: Mar. 6, 2025

LOCAL NEWS

“Kids Unite and Resist in the Oranges” planned by Mutual Oranges on Mar. 9 in West Orange. The event will be led by young people and is designed for children of all ages and genders. There will be storytelling, art-making, and postcard writing from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Face masks are required and will be available at the event. Attendees will receive the event location after registering.
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Mutual Oranges

“Casino Night” fundraiser supporting Nutley Family Service Bureau planned on Mar. 14 in Nutley. It is from 6-10 p.m at the Nutley recreation building. There will be casino games, wine and beer, dinner, and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets can be purchased online. Proceeds support NFSB. Last day to purchase tickets is Mar. 12.
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Nutley Family Service Bureau

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo job fair planned on Mar. 15 in West Orange. Interested applicants must attend one of three job fairs at the Berson Learning Center, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A list of seasonal job openings is available online. Applicants must be 18+.
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Turtle Back Zoo

“Inclusive Camp and Resource Fair” for families planned by West Orange SEPAC on Mar. 15. The fair is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West Orange High School. It will include information about local summer camps and programs for disabled young adults and students.
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West Orange Special Education Parents Advisory Council

Hybrid “Grow Your Own Veggie Garden” series planned by Montclair Community Farms starting Mar. 15. The class meets Saturdays from 10-11 a.m. through Apr. 26. It includes 10 seedlings grown in the Van Vleck House and Gardens greenhouse. Admission is $200. Registration available online.
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Montclair Community Farms

Girls and non-binary students in grades 6-12 interested in jazz can sign up for Jazz House Kids’ spring residency, a five-session program scheduled for Mar. 15 to Apr. 6, based in Montclair. Participants receive a free jazz education weekly, including trip to Dizzy’s Club in New York City, a leadership summit, and a final concert. Registration is required.
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Jazz House Kids

Bloomfield seeks menstrual product donations through Mar. 31. Donations will support local schools, food pantries, and local organizations. Drop-off location is Bloomfield library. Items can also be purchased through a provided Amazon Wishlist link.
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Bloomfield Township

“St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and Flag Raising” planned by Mayor Michael Melham and the Town Council on Mar. 17 in Town Hall, beginning at 12 p.m.
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Belleville Township

East Orange families can learn about available resources through Family Connections, an East-Orange based social services organization, on Mar. 12. The event is from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at East Orange High School. Students who attend will receive 10 hours of community service. Resources and giveaways will be available on site.
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East Orange Public Schools

Theresa Maughan, a teacher at East Orange public schools, received the Mildred Barry Garvin Award for excellence in teaching African American history. Maughan has previously been named State Teacher of the Year in 2022 and Teacher of the Year at East Orange High School, East Orange Campus High School, and East Orange STEM Academy.
East Orange Public Schools

Maplewood residents will be charged a stormwater utility fee on their sewer bill starting this spring. In December, Maplewood passed a law to establish a stormwater utility to better manage stormwater runoff on roads, parking lots, and rooftops through infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Most homeowners will see an average utility fee of $70 per year that will go towards funding stormwater management.
Maplewood Township

“Books Now and Then” reading group meeting planned by Maplewood library on Mar. 13 in the Hilton Branch and virtually. Members will discuss “Summer at Tiffany” by Marjorie Hart at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required.
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Maplewood Public Library

Relief carving session for youth and adults planned by Glen Ridge library on Mar. 15. It begins at 11 a.m. Attendees will carve designs on a wood panel. Registration is required. Open to non-library cardholders.
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Glen Ridge Public Library

Book club meeting for ages 12-18 planned by Montclair library on Mar. 13 in the Main Branch. Attendees will discuss stories to honor Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It is from 4-5 p.m. Registration required.
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Montclair Public Library

DIY zine session for youth ages 12-18 planned at Montclair library on Mar. 14 in the Main Branch. It is from 4-5:30 p.m. Attendees will also learn about Indie Arts Montclair’s Zine Fest, scheduled for Mar. 29. Registration for the zine-making session is recommended. Open to non-library cardholders.
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Montclair Public Library

Landlord and tenant seminar planned at La Casa de Don Pedro on Mar. 13 in Newark. Essex-Newark Legal Services will lead the event from 5-7 p.m. at 30 Broadway. Information will focus on tenant rights, fair housing, eviction prevention, landlord responsibilities, and housing discrimination laws. Registration is required.
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La Casa De Don Pedro

St. Patrick’s Day Parade planned by Newark on Mar. 14. It begins at 1 p.m. at Mulberry and Market Streets and will feature the annual high school marching band competition. Bands will be awarded at Central Avenue and Halsey Street.
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Newark Happening

Women’s health screening fair planned by La Casa de Don Pedro on Mar. 14 in Newark. It is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 23 Broadway. There will be screenings for blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol, information on personal hygiene and stress management among resources, and giveaways. Registration is required.
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La Casa De Don Pedro

Graduating West Orange High School students can pick up a free formal dress during West Orange SEPAC’s resource fair on Mar. 15. Dresses are for graduation, prom, or other events with a formal dress code. The resource fair is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West Orange High School. Registration is required.
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West Orange Special Education Parents Advisory Council

West Orange Arts Council seeks volunteers. Applications accepted online.
West Orange Arts Council

Americana Diner in West Orange closed its business on Mar. 3. It was a 24-hour diner located at 270 Main St.
West Orange Downtown Alliance

REGIONAL NEWS

Immigrant rights groups in N.J. are calling on state officials to increase legal protections for immigrants and funding for free legal representation as federal immigration agents announced plans to reopen a detention center in Newark by June. Delaney Hall closed in 2017, but the facility’s owner, a private prison contractor called Geo Group, signed a 15-year contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Feb. 26. The contract is worth $60 million annually. More than 100 immigrants rights organizations in N.J. are urging lawmakers to pass the Immigrant Trust Act, which would allow immigrants to seek and use public services — like libraries, health care facilities, schools, and shelters — without fear of deportation, regardless of immigration status. It would also prohibit local law enforcement from working with federal immigration agents. ACLU-NJ is also urging lawmakers to increase funds for the state-provided deportation defense program, available through the state Office of New Americans, and funds to further support language access implementation, which would provide interpretation and translation services across government entities.
New Jersey Monitor

Private prison contractor Geo Group did not yet obtain the necessary permits or meet city property-use requirements to lawfully open an immigration detention center in Newark despite its announcement to open by June, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said. Geo Group did not obtain change-of-use permits to reopen Delaney Hall, city permits to start and finish work on the facility, or pass an inspection, according to Baraka. He said that the contractor also did not obtain fire permits, elevator permits, or a certificate of occupancy that allows people inside buildings. The plans for the site must be presented to the Newark planning board, a group of people appointed by the Newark mayor and council members to review development plans. There must be two community meetings before decisions approving or disapproving change-of-use permits are made by the planning board, Baraka said. No meeting dates have been announced yet, but interested attendees can check Newark planning board’s calendar and agenda for meeting schedules and discussions.
NJ Spotlight News