Essex County Daily Buzz: Feb. 12, 2026

LOCAL NEWS

Essex County residents age 14+ can attend a volunteer information session for the Essex County Environmental Center on Feb. 21. The session will run from 3-4:30 p.m. and will include information on how to get involved with program support, gardening, and outdoor stewardship projects. Preregistration is required.
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Essex County Environmental Center

Essex County seniors ages 60+ can participate in the county’s 2026 Legacies Writing Contest. Entries must be an original story about a person or life-altering event. Submissions are accepted until Apr. 20. Guidelines are available online.
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Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

Children can read to a therapy dog at West Orange library on Feb. 20. It is from 4-5 p.m. in the program room. All ages are welcome, no registration is requred.
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West Orange Public Library

Lunar New Year celebration planned at West Orange library on Feb. 21. There will be stories and crafts from 2-4 p.m. with West Orange High School Asian Culture Club and United Asian Voices of West Orange. Free admission. Registration is not required.
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West Orange Public Library

“Paint Your Partner Party” planned with Craft Club Studio on Feb. 20 in South Orange. It is from 7-9 p.m. at 122 S. Orange Ave. Admission is $50 and includes wine, snacks, and materials.
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Craft Club Studio

“My Black Is Beautiful!” student art showcase planned with South Orange Middle School on Feb. 21 at SOPAC. It begins at 4 p.m. and will include music, dance, visual arts, literature, and more. Tickets are available online for purchase.
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South Orange Middle School

Parents and caregivers can attend a wellness session with the Greater Essex Counseling Services on Feb. 19 in Orange. It is from 6-7 p.m. at the Orange City Council Chambers. It will be led in Spanish.
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City of Orange Township

Nutley Chamber of Commerce to host “Networking Breakfast” on Feb. 19. The event is from 8-9:30 a.m. at Blue Foundry Bank in Clifton. Members and prospective members are invited to network with each other and learn about the business community. Preregistration is required and admission rates range from $20-30.
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Nutley Chamber of Commerce

Concert with City Winds Trio planned at Nutley library on Feb. 21. It begins at 2 p.m. Free admission. Registration is not required.
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Nutley Public Library

Free grocery distribution planned with Newark Emergency Services for Families on Feb. 19. It is from 9-11 a.m. at 982 Broad St. in Newark. Photo ID and proof of address required. First-come, first-served basis.
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Newark Emergency Services for Families

People can attend a job-searching workshop with La Casa de Don Pedro on Feb. 19 in Newark. It is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 282 First Ave. There will be employment resources, job search assistance, and interview preparation. Free admission.
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La Casa De Don Pedro

“Black Wall Street” vendor market planned by Newark public library on Feb. 21. The market will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Main Branch. The market will feature Black-owned businesses, and will include food, fashion items, jewelry, and other vendors. Free admission.
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Newark Public Library

Newark-area families can attend a workshop discussing college and trade school financial aid planned with Ironbound Community Corporation on Feb. 21. The free workshop is presented by Newark City of Learning Collaborative and begins at 11 a.m. at Santander Bank, 133 Jackson Street, in Newark. It will discuss guidance on completing the FAFSA, the different kind of financial aid options, and how to find and apply for grants and scholarships. Preregistration is required.
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Ironbound Community Corporation

Newark residents ages 18-24 who are enrolled in college can apply to United Airline’s 2026 summer associate program. Applications are available online until Feb. 20.
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Newark City

Montclair residents can attend a township meeting about the redevelopment of Lackawanna Plaza on Feb. 17. It is from 5-7 p.m. at Montclair Fire Department HQ, 1 Pine St. It will discuss the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), or financial agreement between the developer and the municipality, for continuing redevelopment at Lackawanna Plaza.
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Montclair Township

Montclair-area residents can attend a talk on the history of Blaxploitation and Black cinema at Montclair library’s Bellevue Branch on Feb. 19. It is from 6:30-8 p.m. Registration is required. Library card not required. Free admission.
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Montclair Public Library

Salsa dance lessons planned with Jazz House Kids on Feb. 19 in Montclair. It begins at 7 p.m. at 347 Bloomfield Ave. Admission is $15 at the door. RSVP by emailing events@jazzhousekids.org or calling 973-744-2273.
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Jazz House Kids

“Unsucky Networking” game night planned with RecRoom at Lackawana Plaza on Feb. 20 in Montclair. It is from 6-7 p.m. People will play a career themed game of Telestrations while networking.
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Lackawanna Station

Free author talk with A’Lelia Bundles will discuss her biography “Joy Goddess: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance” at Montclair library Main Branch on Feb. 21. The conversation will be facilitated by Khalil Gibran Muhammad from 4-6 p.m. Preregistration is required.
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Montclair Public Library

Maplewood library’s book sale is scheduled for Feb. 21 in the Main Branch. It is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees fill a bag with books for $10. Must bring your own bag.
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Maplewood Public Library

Irvington public schools is hiring for multiple positions. Applications are accepted online.
Irvington Public Schools

Lecture and art viewing of the African Mask Collection planned at East Orange City Hall on Feb. 20. It begins at 6 p.m. The lecture will discuss Black history and the Reconstruction Era.
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East Orange City

Oakeside book club meeting planned with Bloomfield recreation on Feb. 19. Attendees will discuss “The Stationery Shop of Tehran” by Marjan Kamali at the Oakeside Cultural Center at 7 p.m. Registration available online.
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Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department

Black History Month-themed open mic night planned with Bloomfield Juneteenth Advisory Committee on Feb. 20 in Bloomfield. It begins at 7 p.m. at Van Fossan Theatre, 467 Franklin St. Free admission.
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Bloomfield Township

Black History Month community social planned with Bloomfield Juneteenth Advisory Committee on Feb. 21 in Bloomfield. It begins at 12 p.m. at Westminister Arts Center, 449 Franklin St. Free admission.
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Bloomfield Township

Dominican Republic flag raising planned on Feb. 20 in Belleville. It begins at 12 p.m. at town hall.
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Belleville Township

REGIONAL NEWS

New Jersey college students and faculty at Rowan, Rutgers, and Princeton recently protested against immigration detention with some student organizations creating petitions urging university officials to refuse cooperation with federal immigration officials. Rowan students and faculty protested on Feb. 5 demanding university officials to bar federal immigration authorities from entering campus. It comes after U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection officials participated in an on-campus recruitment event. Student groups Rowan Students for Justice in Palestine and Rowan Young Democratic Socialists of America published an online petition outlining their demands, which has received more than 3,000 signatures. On Jan. 30, students at Rutgers and Princeton also protested against immigration deportation and detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. In October, Rutgers Young Democratic Socialists of America published a petition urging university officials to refuse cooperation with ICE and to protect rights to protest among students and faculty, as well as other demands. Both petitions are available online for viewing.
NJ Spotlight News