Essex County Daily Buzz: Aug. 12, 2026

LOCAL NEWS

Seniors ages 60+ and people with disabilities can learn about available county services on Aug. 19 in Bloomfield. It is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Watsessing Park. There will be information about food access, healthcare, and transportation. Free admission
Essex County Division of Senior Services.

Mobile mammogram and cervical cancer screenings planned with Montclair and Rutgers on Aug. 19. Free and low-cost screenings are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Edgemont Park House, 290 Valley Rd. Appointments can be scheduled online.
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Montclair Township

“Community Day” planned at St. Thomas AME Church on Aug. 15 in Newark. It is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be free food, activities, and vendors.
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St. Thomas AME Church

Free screening of “Encanto” planned at NJPAC on Aug. 20 in Newark. It is part of NJPAC’s “Music, Movement and Movies” series. There will be poetry and movement before the movie showing. Registration is required.
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New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

Intergenerational Open Mic planned with South Ward Environmental Alliance on Aug. 22. The theme is “Black August: Advocacy Through Poetry.” It is from 4-7 p.m. at SWEA Office, 1067 1/2 Bergen St. Free to attend or perform.
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South Ward Environmental Alliance

Newark students in grades K-4 can attend free tutoring with Reading Partners. Participants will receive at least one tutoring session per week. Registration is available online.
Reading Partners

NAACP-N.J. seeks vendors for its state conference. The conference is from Oct. 2-4 in Princeton. Vendor applications are due Sep. 25.
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NAACP New Jersey State Conference

Free movie screening of “The Goonies” planned with South Orange on Aug. 19. It begins at 8 p.m. at Flood’s Hill. There will also be a dance party for families at 7 p.m.
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South Orange Village

Concert with West Orange Community Band planned on Aug. 19. It begins at 7 p.m. at the South Mountain Reservation.
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Friends of the West Orange Community Band

Business networking event planned with West Orange Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 19 in West Orange. It is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at McCloone’s Boathouse, 9 Cherry Ln. Free for members and $20 for non-members. Tickets available online.
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West Orange Chamber of Commerce

Art exhibit of “Listen With Your Eyes” available for viewing through Sep. 8 at Montclair Film. It shows artwork by Andres Chaparro. Gallery visits are by appointment only at 505 Bloomfield Ave. in Montclair.
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Montclair Film

Mobile mammogram and cervical cancer screenings planned with Montclair and Rutgers on Aug. 19. Free and low-cost screenings are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Edgemont Park House, 290 Valley Rd. Appointments can be scheduled online.
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Montclair Township

Film screening of “Lady Sings the Blues” planned at Montclair library on Aug. 19. It begins at 4 p.m. and is the first of a two-part series on Billie Holiday. Registration is required. Library card not required.
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Montclair Public Library

Movie screening of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” planned with Montclair Film on Aug. 19 and Aug. 22. This screening is part of Montclair Film’s Bellevue Summer Blockbusters series. It begins at 11 a.m. at The Bellevue Theater, 260 Bellevue Ave. Tickets are $11 and available online for purchase.
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Montclair Film

East Orange Chamber of Commerce meeting planned on Aug. 19 at East Orange library. It is from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
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East Orange Chamber of Commerce

“Cleaning Fruit and Fruit Kebobs” cooking class for youth planned virtually with Glen Ridge library on Aug. 19. It begins at 6 p.m. Registration is required.
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Glen Ridge Public Library

Free screenings for blood pressure and glucose planned with Mountainside Medical Center on Aug. 19 in Belleville. It is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Belleville ShopRite, 726 Washington Ave. No fasting necessary. Registration not required.
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Mountainside Medical Center

REGIONAL NEWS

Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act into law, which enacts statewide voting rights protections. The law is meant to ban voter suppression and intimidation, improve language access materials, and ensure all ballots are cast and counted equitably. It also requires state approval for election changes, public involvement for redistricting, and allows people to report violations before suing. New Jersey is the first state to pass its own voting rights law since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais weakened minority voting protections.
Governor Mikie Sherrill

Statewide career resource fair planned with the N.J. Civil Service Commission on Aug. 19 in West Windsor. It is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor campus. There will be live candidate screenings, typing certification assessments, recruitment tables, and information sessions with hiring professionals. Registration is required. Add to 📅.
New Jersey Civil Service Commission