Essex County Daily Buzz: Mar. 3, 2026

LOCAL NEWS

Belleville residents can bring their cats and dogs to a free rabies clinic on Mar. 7. The clinic is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Belleville fire headquarters. Pet licenses will be available for purchase.
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Belleville Mayor Michael Melham

Belleville residents in middle school can attend a financial literacy session on Mar. 10. It begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Belleville Senior Recreation Center. It will discuss budgeting, saving, and building credit. Registration is required online. Free admission. Led by Belleville recreation department.
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Belleville Recreation Department

Registration is open for Belleville recreation’s spring 2026 programs. Offerings include baseball, softball, track, flag football, and more. Registration is required online.
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Belleville Recreation Department

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” screening by The Ordinary Kids planned with Montclair Film on Mar. 7. The show begins at 9:30 p.m. at The Clairidge, 486 Bloomfield Ave. Tickets available online for purchase.
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Montclair Film

Montclair board of education’s special school district election is scheduled for Mar. 10. Voters will answer two questions for a referendum to raise taxes. If voters elect to raise taxes, the funds will be used to address the school district’s $19.6 million budget gap. In-person voting is from 3-8 p.m. Polling locations available online.
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Montclair Township

Maplewood library seeks feedback on ways it can meet residents’ needs during a focus group session on Mar. 10. The library is developing a strategic plan to guide services, programs, and other initiatives for future years. Feedback will inform the development of the strategic plan. The focus group is from 7-8:30 p.m. at the library’s Main Branch. Registration is required.
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Maplewood Public Library

Hello Huckleberry, an art center, recently opened in Maplewood. It is located at 151 Maplewood Ave.
Maplewood Village Alliance

Family game night planned with Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ on Mar. 10 in Irvington. It is from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at 50 Union Ave. There will be board and card games. Registration is required. Free admission.
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Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ

Youth can participate in East Orange library’s daily Women’s History Month trivia through Mar. 31. People who answer questions correctly earn a prize.
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East Orange Public Library

East Orange seeks contractors for its Housing Rehabilitation Program. Contractors can attend a workshop on Mar. 10 at 6 p.m. at 44 City Hall Plaza to learn about program requirements and the application process. People can RSVP by calling Amber Montgomery at 973-266-5411, ext. 5314 or emailing amber.montgomery@eastorange-nj.gov.
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East Orange City

Cannabis dispensary HZY Goods recently opened at 19 Prospect St. in East Orange. It is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
East Orange City

Pokémon meet-up for youth in grades 7-12 planned at Bloomfield library on Mar. 10. Participants can bring trading cards or games between 4:30-6 p.m. Registration is not required.
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Bloomfield Public Library

Bloomfield seeks donations of menstrual hygiene products through Mar. 31. Items accepted at Bitecola Halperin Funeral Home, Love and Plates, Bloomfield library, and Iris Yoga. Items can also be purchased online through the township’s Amazon Wishlist.
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Bloomfield Township

West Orange Planning Board recently approved an application to open Trader Joe’s in the township. It will be located at 457 Mount Pleasant Ave. An opening date is not yet announced.
Montclair Local

Children can read to a therapy dog at South Orange library’s Baird Branch on Mar. 10. It is from 4-5 p.m. at the Baird Community Center. Registration is required. Library card not required.
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South Orange Public Library

People can dine at El Salvador Restaurant in Orange with University of Orange staff on Mar. 9. It is part of the organization’s “I 8 in Orange” initiative that encourages area residents to dine at local restaurants with University of Orange staff. It begins at 1 p.m. at 107 S. Day St. RSVP online. Attendees are responsible for paying for their meal.
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University of Orange

Nutley’s 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled for Mar. 7. The parade begins at 1 p.m. at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Evergreen Street.
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Nutley Township

Blood pressure screenings planned with Nutley health on Mar. 10. It is from 1:30-3 p.m. at 149 Chestnut St. Registration is not required.
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Nutley Township

Nutley Family Service Bureau seeks volunteers. People interested in volunteering must email rgreenhouse@nutleyfamily.org.
Nutley Family Service Bureau

Eligible residents earning $80,000 or less per year can sign up for free tax preparation services through the Newark Prosperity Hub. It is offered through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, sponsored by the IRS. Services are available at different locations in Newark, East Orange, and Bloomfield. A list of locations and hours is available online. The last day to file taxes is Apr. 15. Documents can be dropped off or uploaded online. A list of required documents is available online.
Newark Prosperity Hub

Newark approved to install two playgrounds and an event plaza at Harriet Tubman Square. The playgrounds will serve ages 2-7 and 5-12, and will include slides, climbing sets, springers, a see-saw, a play tunnel, and music-producing play equipment. The event space will include tables with seating, new landscaping, and benches. It is not yet clear when the projects will begin.
TAPinto Newark

REGIONAL NEWS

Families can attend a webinar discussing N.J.’s curriculum and standards for grades K-12 on Mar. 10 with SPAN Parent Advocacy Network. It is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will discuss academic instruction, ways to interpret progress report and test scores, and how to support children at home. Registration is required. Free admission.Add to 📅.
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network

Gateway Development Commission said construction has continued after it received $200 million in federal funding towards the Gateway Tunnel, a series of rail infrastructure projects to improve transit reliability along the Northeast Corridor. The funds were released after having been frozen by the Trump administration since October 2025. It released funding after N.J., N.Y., and the Gateway Development Commission sued the federal government in two separate lawsuits for freezing project funds. There is no final ruling on whether the federal government can withhold congressionally approved funding for the Gateway project.
New Jersey Monitor