Essex County Daily Buzz: Oct. 26, 2023

Local news

Varitage Brew Works brewery in Bloomfield plans grand opening weekend Oct. 28-29 beginning at noon. Add to 📅.
Varitage Brew Works

Bloomfield police and fire departments plans free “Trunk-or Treat” and open house on Oct. 29 from 12-2 p.m. Event includes tours of police and fire headquarters, fire safety demonstrations, food, games, and bounce house. Add to 📅.
Bloomfield Police Department

Bloomfield recreation plans performance from tenor vocalist Gabriel Anthony-Muhammad on Oct. 30 at Oakside Cultural Center as part of their Monday Night Music Series. The performance starts at 7 p.m. with a “meet the artist” reception at 8 p.m. Admission is free, but preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department

Bloomfield recreation plans performance of “A Nightmare on Broadway,” a musical revue for all ages, on Oct. 29. The event will be from 4-5:30 p.m. at Oakside Cultural Center. Advanced ticket purchase is required. Add to 📅.
Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department

Newark’s Academy St. to be renamed “Sakia Gunn Way” to commemorate Gunn, a LGBTQ+ Newark resident who was killed there in a 2003 hate crime. The public ceremony is planned Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. Add to 📅.
NorthJersey.com

Irvington Rite Aid among 154 locations closing as pharmacy chain goes through bankruptcy process.
NBC News

East Orange library will host Joi’s Angels for a Halloween costume give away on Oct. 30 from 3-5 p.m. The event is open to East Orange residents and free costumes for children age 2-12 will be distributed on a first come first served basis. Preregistration is required and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Add to 📅.
East Orange Public Library

Boogie Woogie Babies, a Montclair-based baby movement class, plans “BOO-gie Woogie Bash” Halloween party for ages 6 months to 2 and half years. The event is on Oct. 29 at 604 Valley Rd. Preregistration is required. Add to 📅.
Boogie Woogie Babies

Montclair-based photographer Michael Stahl plans Oct. 31 food drive for Human Needs Food Pantry of Montclair and Toni’s Kitchen. Stahl will take Halloween portraits of costumed children in exchange for a full bag of nonperishable grocery items Oct. 31 from 2-5 p.m. at The Commonwealth Club in Montclair. Portraits will be taken on a first come first served basis and can be accessed through the photographer’s Facebook page. Add to 📅.
Human Needs Food Pantry

Park Avenue Elementary School plans 2023 storybook character dress up day on Oct. 31 for staff and students. Add to 📅.
Orange Public Schools

Mesob restaurant in Montclair is celebrating 20 years of being in business with an anniversary party on Oct. 28. The party will include food, giveaways, and traditional Ethiopian dancers. Add to 📅.
Montclair Center Business Improvement District

Glen Ridge library plans free screening of “Hocus Pocus” on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at in the municipal building’s town council chambers. Add to 📅.
Glen Ridge Public Library

SOMA Chamber of Commerce plans Halloween Parade on Oct. 31 in Maplewood Village from 3-5 p.m. Businesses will be handing out candy and the event will feature a DJ and costume contests. Add to 📅.
SOMA Chamber of Commerce

South Orange Downtown plans “Spooky Spiotta,” a Halloween event, on Oct. 29. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Spiotta Park. It will include costume contest with prizes, interactive games, entertainment by Wanda the Witch, and trick or treating. Add to 📅.
South Orange Downtown

SOMA-Cross Cultural Works and Maplewood are hosting their 2023 Diwali Fest at the Maplewood Memorial Park amphitheater Oct. 28 from 3:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will have food vendors, dance and music performances, and children’s activities.
Diwali Fest NJ

West Orange recreation to host “Halloween Gala” with a “haunted maze” on Oct. 31 at the Ginny Duenkel Pool Area. The event will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and include crafts for children and costume contests. Admission is $3 per person. Add to 📅.
West Orange Recreation Department

United Asian Voice of West Orange plans 2023 “Diwali Festival” on Oct. 29 from 2-5 p.m. at West Orange High School. The event will include music, performances, food vendors, and children’s activities. Add to 📅.
United Asian Voices of West Orange

Nutley police department plan National Prescription Drug Take Back Day collection event on Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Police Department. Unused or expired tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of medication will be accepted. No syringes, sharps, or liquids be allowed. Add to 📅.
Nutley Township

Nutley township plans 2023 “Trunk or Treat” on Oct. 31 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the public safety building on Chestnut St. The event includes candy, treats, and games. Add to 📅.
Nutley Township

Realty Executives in Nutley plans “Spooktacular Trunk or Treat” on Oct. 28. The event will be from 1-4 p.m. at 653 Franklin Ave. in Nutley with candy, food, and other activities. Add to 📅.
The Nutley Pulse

RWJ Barnabas Health and the New Jersey Devils hockey team plans “Running with the Devils 5K and Walk” on Oct. 29 at Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange. Preregistration is required. Children up to age 11 can register for free. Add to 📅.
RWJ Barnabas Health

Regional news

N.J. joins more than 40 states suing Meta for “deceptive, manipulative practices” on Instagram and Facebook that harmed children. The lawsuit points to the addictive nature of company’s product design and impact on user well-being. It also alleges the company violated federal and state privacy and consumer protections.
NorthJersey.com