Follow local news and events in Orange with The Jersey Bee. Here is The Daily Buzz for Mar. 6, 2025 from The Jersey Bee.
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
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
West Orange Arts Council seeks volunteers. Applications accepted online.
West Orange Arts Council
“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
“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
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
