Essex County Daily Buzz: Jun. 17, 2025

LOCAL NEWS

Belleville residents can attend the recreation department’s creative arts program, scheduled to start Jul. 14. Classes include dance, modeling, photography, acting, and screenwriting. The full six-week program is $100. Registration required online or by phone.
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Belleville Recreation Department

Free outdoor concert with 1 Wild Night Bon Jovi Tribute Band planned with Essex County parks on Jun. 24 in Belleville. The performance begins at 7 p.m. at Belleville Park.
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Essex County Parks

Oakeside book club meeting planned with Bloomfield recreation on Jun. 26. Members will discuss “Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell at the Oakeside Cultural Center at 7 p.m. Registration available online or by phone.
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Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department

Toni’s Kitchen, a food ministry of St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, seeks donations of diapers in sizes 4, 5, and 6. Items can be dropped off in-person or purchased through the organization’s Amazon Wishlist.
Toni’s Kitchen

“Rainbow Mode,” an all ages gaming event planned with Bloomfield Pride on Jun. 27 in Bloomfield. There will be games from 7-10 p.m. at Hometown Arcade, 85 Washington St. Registration not required. Open to all ages.
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Bloomfield Pride

East Orange recreation is hiring lifeguards, pool attendants, and water safety instructors for the 2025 summer season. Qualifications available online. Resumes accepted by email.
East Orange City

Pride celebration planned on Jun. 27 in East Orange. It is from 4-7 p.m. at City Hall Plaza. There will be a flag presentation, music, food, and fashion show curated by designer Tyrone Chablis. Free admission.
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East Orange City

“Field Station Dinosaur” for Glen Ridge children planned on Jun. 26 at Glen Ridge library. The hands-on workshop begins at 3 p.m. It will explore the intersection of art and science. Registration is required. Free admission.
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Glen Ridge Public Library

Planting session for families planned with Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ on Jun. 24 in Irvington. It is from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at 50 Union Ave. Attendees will plant seeds for flowers and herbs. Registration is required. Free admission.
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Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ

Basic life support certification course for healthcare professionals planned with Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ on Jun. 26 in Irvington. It is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 50 Union Ave. Training will include ways to recognize life-threatening emergencies, give CPR, deliver ventilations, and provide early use of an automated external defibrillator. Registration available online.
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Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ

Virtual community meeting with Maplewood planned on Jun. 24. It begins at 7:30 p.m. and will discuss a proposal to install bicycle lanes along Parker Avenue from Maplewood Avenue to Boyden Avenue. Zoom log-in information available online.
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Maplewood Township

Maplewood youth ages 14+ can visit the Maplewood Community Pool without an accompanying adult. Registration for pool membership is available online.
Maplewood Township

“Twenty Portraits of Trans Joy” photography exhibit will open on Jun. 18 in Montclair. Opening reception is from 6-9 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Assembly Hall. It showcases photographs taken by Montclair-based photographer Veronica L. Yankowski.
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Montclair Local

Conversation with playwright Josefina López planned with Latinos of Montclair on Jun. 26 in New York City. The free event is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at NBCUniversal, 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Register by email. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Latinos of Montclair

Montclair Film’s summer showcase for 2025 runs from Jun. 26-29 in Montclair. It will show 22 independent films and documentaries ahead of theater release. A list of films and tickets are available online.
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Montclair Film

Montclair library is hiring a part-time library assistant and part-time custodian. Resume, cover letter, and three professional references required by email for both positions.
Montclair Public Library

Toni’s Kitchen, a food ministry of St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, seeks donations of diapers in sizes 4, 5, and 6. Items can be dropped off in-person or purchased through the organization’s Amazon Wishlist.
Toni’s Kitchen

Farmer’s market voucher distribution for eligible seniors planned with Essex County senior services on Jun. 24 in Newark. The distribution is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Essex County West Side Park. Attendees must bring proof of income and photo ID.
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Essex County Division of Senior Services

Free community health clinic planned with La Casa de Don Pedro on Jun. 27 in Newark. It is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 23 Broadway. Services include physicals, blood work, vaccinations, and more. Registration is required.
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La Casa De Don Pedro

Free outdoor concert with New Jersey Symphony planned with Essex County parks on Jun. 27 in Newark. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at Branch Brook Park. Fireworks will follow.
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Essex County Parks

Children can receive immunizations and physicals with Newark Community Health Center through September. Appointments are held in Irvington, Orange, Newark, and East Orange. Book appointments by phone.
Newark Community Health Center, Inc. (NCHC)

Pickleball lessons for Nutley residents ages 16+ planned by Nutley recreation, scheduled to start Jul. 8. The program introduces participants to pickleball basics and meets for five weeks. Enrollment is $150. Registration available online.
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Nutley Township

Youth in grades 7-12 can submit a piece of art to Nutley library’s Tiny Art Challenge. Submissions accepted through Jul. 18. There will be tiny art workshops on Jul. 10 and Jul. 17.
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Nutley Public Library

South Orange library patrons can log their summer reading online. There are reading challenges for children up to age 12, youth ages 13-18, and adults ages 19+.
South Orange Public Library

West Orange children in grades 4-8 can attend the recreation department’s summer volleyball camp, scheduled to start Jul. 14. Attendees meet Mondays through Jul. 25 at West Orange High School’s Tarnoff Gymnasium. Daily sessions are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration available online.
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West Orange Recreation Department

Night tour of Turtle Back Zoo for families planned on Jun. 26 in West Orange. The tour is from 8-9 p.m. and will feature nocturnal animals. Registration is $10. Children younger than 2 enter for free.
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Turtle Back Zoo

REGIONAL NEWS

A federal grand jury indicted, or formally accused, Rep. LaMonica McIver on Jun. 10 for assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with federal officers, according to court documents. The three charges carry a maximum penalty of 17 years in prison. McIver’s indictment stems from the day she visited Newark’s immigration detention center, Delaney Hall, on May 9 to conduct an oversight inspection. Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba initially announced the charges against McIver on May 19, the same day she dropped charges of trespassing against Baraka. A court hearing is scheduled for Jun. 25. McIver released a statement explaining she plans to enter a plea of not guilty.
New Jersey Monitor

People detained inside Delaney Hall in Newark protested over insufficient lunch on Jun. 12 after a 20-hour period of no food, according to N.J. Alliance for Immigrant Justice. The protest inside the jail came before an exterior wall of the jail, made of drywall, crumbled under pressure from people inside and led to the escape of four people, NJAIJ said. Immigration rights groups and community members protested outside the jail that same day. People inside the jail also reported undrinkable tap water, denied visitation, and insufficient foods, according to NJAIJ, Detention Watch Network, and Movimiento Cosecha. A lawsuit has been filed by Newark officials against the private company that runs the jail, claiming it is operating without proper permits or inspections.
NorthJersey.com