Follow local news and events in Montclair with The Jersey Bee. Here is The Daily Buzz for Apr. 8, 2026 from The Jersey Bee.
LOCAL NEWS
Montclair library seeks volunteers ages 12-18 to make greeting cards for seniors living at Horizon Manor. It is from 4-6 p.m. at the library’s Main Branch.
Montclair Public Library
Montclair students in grade 12 can apply for a scholarship from the Montclair African-American Heritage Foundation. Applicants must upload their most recent academic transcript, a brief essay, and must complete an interview. Deadline to apply is Apr. 30. Applications available online.
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Montclair African-American Heritage Foundation (MAAHF)
Community meeting with Montclair’s First Ward Councilor Erik D’Amato and Complete Streets Director Jacob Nieman planned on Apr. 15. It is from 6-8 p.m. at Montclair library’s Bellevue Branch. D’Amato will share discuss traffic safety and street improvements in the First Ward. Open to all Montclair residents.
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Montclair Township
Adults can attend introductory acting and improv classes at N.J. School of Dramatic Arts in Montclair, scheduled to start Apr. 22 and Apr. 23. Both courses run for six weeks and are held at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Registration is available online.
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New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts
Record club meeting planned with Glen Ridge recreation on Apr. 15. It begins at 7 p.m. at the Glen Ridge Train Station. Participants will discuss “The Blue Album” by Weezer. Free admission.
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Glen Ridge Borough
Stage production of “9 to 5 The Musical” planned with Interact Theater Productions starting Apr. 17 in Maplewood. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Burgdorff Center For The Performing Arts. Performances run through May 2. Tickets are available online for purchase.
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Maplewood Division of Arts and Culture
“Spring Wild Edible Walk” for families planned with Essex County Environmental Center on Apr. 16 in Roseland. Attendees will identify plants, discuss ethical harvesting, and ways to prepare gardens for spring from 5:30-7 p.m. Registration required. Tickets available online for purchase.
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Essex County Environmental Center
Paddle boats are open for the 2026 spring season at Turtle Back Zoo’s in West Orange. Tickets for a 30-minute session is available in-person and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. It is open from Apr. 10-12 from 12-6:30 p.m. on the waterfront.
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Turtle Back Zoo
REGIONAL NEWS
Advocacy groups are urging state lawmakers to further develop three immigrant protection laws recently signed by Gov. Mikie Sherrill. The laws increase protections for the state’s 2.25 million immigrant population. Then-Gov. Phil Murphy decided to not sign, or pocket-vetoed, the bills before leaving office on Jan. 20. The Privacy Protection Act protects personal data shared with schools, hospitals and libraries; and the Strengthening Trust Act codifies a 2018 directive that limits state law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Sherrill also signed a law requiring ICE agents to remove their face masks prior to arresting or detaining someone. American Civil Liberties Union of NJ, NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice, and Council on American-Islamic Relations-NJ are calling on lawmakers to expand protections amid due process violations, such as unlawful detention. ACLU-NJ released a statement demanding the state Legislature increases funding for access to counsel in immigration proceedings.
Advocates renewed their push for immigrant protections after President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Jan. 20, 2025 to ramp up deportations. The Jersey Bee has immigration resources at jerseybee.org/community/immigrants. Resources are available in English and Spanish.
ACLU of New Jersey.
