Follow local news and events in West Orange with The Jersey Bee. Here is The Daily Buzz for Jan. 15, 2026 from The Jersey Bee.
LOCAL NEWS
Teen book club meeting for students in grades 7-10 planned with South Orange library on Jan. 22. Attendees will discuss “Skyhunter” by Marie Lu from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Baird Branch. Registration is required. Library card not required.
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South Orange Public Library
People can book notary appointments at South Orange library. There is a $2 fee for non-residents.
South Orange Public Library
Women’s Club of Glen Ridge’s “Casino Royale” fundraiser is scheduled for Jan. 24. It begins at 7 p.m. at 219 Ridgewood Ave. in Glen Ridge. Tickets are available online.
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Women’s Club of Glen Ridge
Improv comedy show with Nutty by Nature planned on Jan. 22 in Butler. It begins at 8 p.m. at The Sanctuary, 1 Boonton Rd. Tickets are available online for purchase.
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New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts
New Jersey Citizen Action is hiring people to pose as renters or buyers as part of an investigation into housing discrimination across the state. Information will be used to document real housing experiences. People can register for a virtual training scheduled for Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m. It is a paid position.
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New Jersey Citizen Action
Verona’s Hilltop Reservation will be closed on Jan. 22 for the Essex County Deer Management Program. It will be closed again on Jan. 29, Feb. 5, Feb. 12, and Feb. 19.
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Essex County Parks
Sensory hike for ages 1-5 and caregivers planned with Essex County Environmental Center on Jan. 24 in Roseland. It is from 10-11 a.m. Registration is required. Tickets are available online for purchase.
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Essex County Environmental Center
REGIONAL NEWS
New Jersey public schools must implement cellphone bans beginning in the 2026-27 school year under a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. The bill is meant to improve student mental health and academic success, according to the state Department of Education. The law orders the state’s education commission to develop guidelines restricting phone use and other smart devices during regular school hours, on a bus, and during school events. School boards will be required to adopt policies that are consistent with the state’s guidelines. Students will be permitted to use phones in emergencies, translation services, and when a healthcare professional provides documentation indicating phone access is necessary. Principals and administrators can make accommodations for students to use their phones for educational purposes. Guidelines must be written by Apr. 8, or 90 days after the law was signed.
New Jersey Monitor
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is hiring for seasonal positions at state parks, forests, and historic sites. Jobs include lifeguards, general maintenance personnel, visitor service assistants, office assistants, and history educators. Applications available online.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
