Essex County Daily Buzz: Mar. 9, 2026

LOCAL NEWS

College scholarship workshop planned at Belleville library on Mar. 16. It begins at 6 p.m. It will discuss ways to find and apply for scholarships. Registration is required. Library card not required. Free admission.
Add to 📅
Belleville Public Library

Belleville recreation’s spring apparel is on sale for purchase. It is available online.
Belleville Recreation Department

Essex County is receiving $41.9 million in grants to improve roads at 36 intersections, including in Belleville, East Orange, Irvington, and Newark. It will be segmented into two projects addressing intersections north of I-280 and south of I-280. It will include new traffic signals, upgrades to traffic signals, high-visibility crosswalks, and more. Project timelines are not yet announced.
TAPinto West Orange

Ramadan wellness sessions for women planned at Palestinian American Community Center on Mar. 11 in Clifton. It begins at 11 a.m. at 388 Lakeview Ave. and will include yoga and mobility sessions. Free admission. Registration is required.
Add to 📅
Palestinian American Community Center

Neighbor to Neighbor Network seeks monetary donations supporting families displaced by a recent roof collapse in Bloomfield. Donations accepted online.
Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell

Bloomfield seeks nominations for its 2026 “Women to Watch” awards by Mar. 13. Nominations accepted online.
Add to 📅
Bloomfield Township

Eligible Essex County residents with a household income of $80,000 or less can sign up for free tax preparation services at Bloomfield library. Appointments can be booked online. The last day to file taxes is Apr. 15.
Bloomfield Public Library

Bloomfield residents can report street light outages and damaged street lights to Bloomfield police. To file a report, people must share the pole number and address of the pole in an email to Lieutenant Joseph Corio, jcorio@bloomfieldnjpd.com.
Bloomfield Police Department

Nutley adults and residents in grade 12 can apply for summer employment at Nutley recreation by Apr. 1. Open positions include camp counselor, summer playground counselor, playground helper, and park maintenance workers. Applications accepted at Nutley’s recreation building.
Add to 📅
Nutley Township

Self-care session for women planned with Nutley health on Mar. 16. It is from 6-8 p.m. at Salon Pazzazz and Spa, 599 Franklin Ave. There will be snacks, prizes, and giveaways. Free admission. Registration is required.
Add to 📅
Nutley Township

Nutley Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 5K Run/Walk is scheduled for May 3. It begins at 8 a.m. at Nutley High School. Registration is required online.
Nutley Chamber of Commerce

Iftar planned with East Orange on Mar. 16. It begins at 6 p.m. at Bowser Family Senior Center. Attendees are encouraged to bring their prayer rugs.
Add to 📅
East Orange City

Glen Ridge residents and contractors can make permit payments online. The online portal accepts credit cards, debit cards, ACH, and e-checks.
Glen Ridge Borough

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka signed an executive order to publish an annual list of non-compliant landlords. The order follows a trend of tenants reporting code violations to the city. The order defines non-compliance as three violations within 12 months for a single address or five violations within 12 months for multiple addresses. Landlords who are non-compliant with city law may have incentives, such as tax abatements, revoked. A landlord placed on the list will be re-evaluated after one full year has passed. Tenants can report poor living conditions to Newark’s division of code enforcement by calling 973-733-3813.
Patch Newark

Seniors can attend an eight-week 3D art workshop at Newark library’s starting on Mar. 16 in the Main Branch. It meets Mondays from 1-3 p.m. through May 4. Participants will use air-dry clay and acrylics to paint their favorite foods. Registration is required. Free admission. Library card not required.
Add to 📅
Newark Public Library

Youth ages 12-18 can decorate cookies at Montclair library on Mar. 18 in the Main Branch. It is from 6-7:30 p.m. Registration is required. Free admission. Library card not required.
Add to 📅
Montclair Public Library

Author reading with former Olympian Hazel Clark planned on Mar. 12 at Maplewood library’s Main Branch. Clark will read her new children’s book, “Hazel Takes the First Step,” from 4-5 p.m. Registration is not required. Free admission.
Add to 📅
Maplewood Public Library

Film screening and discussion of “Thoughts and Prayers,” a documentary about school safety, planned with SOMA Justice on Mar. 12 in Maplewood. It is from 7:30-9 p.m. at Maplewood library’s Main Branch. Free admission. Registration is required.
Add to 📅
SOMA Justice

Staged reading of “Pride and Prejudice” planned with Maplewood arts and culture on Mar. 16. It begins at 7 p.m. at the Burgdorff Theater, 10 Durand Rd. Free admission.
Add to 📅
Maplewood Division of Arts and Culture

Educators can attend a webinar training discussing ICE response and safety with SOMA Justice on Mar. 11. It is from 4-5 p.m. Free admission. Registration is required.
Add to 📅
SOMA Justice

South Orange children ages 6-12 can register for the recreation department’s softball summer camp. It will meet from Aug. 10-14 and Aug. 17-21 at Meadowland Park. Registration is required and available online.
Add to 📅.
South Orange Recreation and Cultural Affairs

Concert with Ellie Lee Jazz Quartet planned at West Orange library on Mar. 15. It is from 2-4 p.m. Free admission.
Add to 📅
West Orange Public Library

Orange residents can share library needs in an online survey. Responses will inform Orange library’s priorities and improve resources.
Orange Public Library

REGIONAL NEWS

Newark Bay Bridge will be demolished and rebuilt with four lanes instead of eight after environmentalists and advocacy groups raised concerns to Gov. Mikie Sherrill. The bridge’s replacement comes after it was among the National Transportation Safety Board’s list of 68 spans nationwide with a potentially higher than acceptable collapse risk. A previous version of the replacement plan involved expanding the bridge by doubling its four lanes with an additional bridge. Advocacy groups and local government officials raised concerns about increased air pollution from additional traffic, and disproportionately harm neighborhoods in Newark, Bayonne, and Jersey City. Sherrill said the project will allow traffic to shift from the existing bridge by 2031, aligning with the safety board’s concerns.
NJ Spotlight News

New Jersey Department of Health is hiring program ambassadors. Responsibilities include assessing social determinants of health, identify barriers to healthcare access, and partnering with community organizations. Paid position. Work is hybrid in Trenton. Cover letter and resume must be sent to ommhspecificpops@doh.nj.gov by Mar. 13.
New Jersey Department of Health