Essex County Daily Buzz: Jan. 28, 2026

LOCAL NEWS

ShopRite is hosting a job fair on Jan. 31 at multiple Essex County locations, including Belleville, Nutley, Newark, and Orange. The job fair is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for positions such as general clerks, front-end associates, stocking staff and grocery department team members. Advance registration is not required. The job fair will be active at participating stores.
ShopRite

Bloomfield seniors can attend “Mahjong Open Play” on Feb. 3. It meets Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oakeside Cultural Center. Registration not required.
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Bloomfield Township

Youth can participate in East Orange library’s Black History Month trivia from Feb. 2-28. There will be a new question each day. Prizes available.
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East Orange Public Library

Glen Ridge seeks feedback on ways to improve transit service to New York City in an online survey. Feedback will inform the township’s discussions with NJ Transit and opportunities to improve weekend and off-peak service.
Glen Ridge Borough

Glen Ridge’s “Freecycle Day” is scheduled for Feb. 4. Residents will leave unwanted items on the curb for others to take instead of disposing them. Bulk pick-up is scheduled for Feb. 5.
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Glen Ridge Borough

High school students can attend a free, virtual SAT preparation class through Glen Ridge library on Feb. 4. It will discuss writing from 6-7 p.m. A new topic is discussed each week through Mar. 11. Registration is required.
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Glen Ridge Public Library

Youth and adults can attend a knitting and crotchet workshop on Feb. 4 at South Orange library’s Baird Branch. It is from 4-5:30 p.m. Registration is required.
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South Orange Public Library

Eligible Essex County residents can apply for scholarships provided by NAACP-Oranges and Maplewood. Scholarship applications are available online until May 1. Applicants must be a resident of Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Maplewood, Nutley, Orange, South Orange, or West Orange.
Oranges & Maplewood: NAACP

Weekend hotline for heating malfunctions is available to Orange residents through May 1. The hotline is available from Friday at 5 p.m. through Monday at 8 a.m. Inspectors will be on call upon text or voicemail.
City of Orange Township

Nutley Mayor John V. Kelly returned from his deployment to Iraq with the N.J. Army National Guard. Kelly was deployed in August and Revenue and Finance Commissioner Thomas Evans served as deputy mayor, or acting mayor, in Kelly’s absence.
Belleville-Nutley Patch

Nutley seniors can register for the recreation department’s winter and spring 2026 programs. Offerings include chair yoga, Zumba, and art club. Registration is required.
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Nutley Township

Danielle Scott, Arts High School alum, completed a mural located at Catholic Charities, 321 Central Ave., in Newark. It celebrates the legacy and resilience of Black men in Newark’s history.
Newark City

Newark’s sustainability office recently received the N.J. Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award. Newark was recognized for its climate resilience projects, including community-centered urban cooling strategies, equitable sustainability planning, and the expansion of its “Beat the Heat” initiative.
Newark City

Essex and Hudson county youth in grades 8-12 can attend a Essex County 4-H field trip to the Paul Robeson Gallery on Feb. 16 in Newark. It is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free admission. Lunch provided. Registration is open until Jan. 31.
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Essex County 4-H

Newark residents can sign up to receive a weekly free box of food by contacting their ward aide. Newark partnered with Hello Fresh to provide weekly food distributions to residents in each ward. Deliveries are on Wednesdays.
Newark City

La Casa de Don Pedro offers a lead remediation and abatement service for qualifying Essex County residents who suspect they may be exposed to lead. Applications accepted online.
La Casa De Don Pedro

Maplewood residents can attend a community meeting discussing the DeHart Park rehabilitation project on Feb. 4. It begins at 7:30 p.m. at Maplewood Community Center. Residents can share feedback on proposed surrounding amenities at DeHart, such as landscaping, playgrounds, and monuments.
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Maplewood Township

Maplewood youth can register for 2026 summer camps offered through the township’s community service department. Registration is available online.
Maplewood Township

Free tax preparation assistance with AARP representatives planned at Irvington library from Feb. 2 to Apr. 13. Appointments required by phone. Time slots available Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Irvington Public Library

Youth and adults can attend a knitting and crotchet workshop on Feb. 4 at South Orange library’s Baird Branch. It is from 4-5:30 p.m. Registration is required.
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South Orange Public Library

Adults can attend a knife skills class at Kitchen a la Mode on Feb. 4 in South Orange. It begins at 6:30 p.m. at 59 South Orange Ave. Enrollment is $60. Registration is required online.
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South Orange Downtown

Valentine’s Day-themed music and movement session for babies and caregivers planned at West Orange library on Feb. 4. It is from 11-11:40 a.m. Registration is required. Library card not required.
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West Orange Public Library

Stage production of “Hamlet” planned at Luna Stage from Feb. 12 to Mar. 8 in West Orange. Showtimes are Thursdays, Fridays, and weekends. Tickets are available online for purchase.
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Luna Stage

REGIONAL NEWS

Workers at companies with 15 employees will receive family leave benefits under a state law signed earlier this month by then-Gov. Phil Murphy. The law previously applied to companies with at least 30 employees. It allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid family leave and earn up to 85% of their weekly pay, with a limit of $1,119 in 2026. Eligible employees must have worked with their employer for at least three months and worked at least 250 hours within that period. The law also entitles workers to their previous position or one with equivalent pay, benefits, and seniority upon returning from family leave.
New Jersey Monitor