Follow local news and events in West Orange with The Jersey Bee. Here is The Daily Buzz for Mar. 26, 2025 from The Jersey Bee.
LOCAL NEWS
West Orange passed a law to seasonally restrict the use of gas-powered leaf blowers during select hours. Gas-powered leaf blowers are now permitted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends from Mar. 1 to Apr. 15 and Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. West Orange plans to fully transition to battery-powered leaf blowers, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
TAPinto West Orange
Rally in support of transgender rights planned at Maplewood Town Hall on Mar. 31. It begins at 6 p.m. and will celebrate trans people and bring attention to examples of anti-trans discrimination. The event is held on the same day of International Transgender Day of Visibility.
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TAPinto SOMA
Essex County residents can meet representatives from different Support Coordination Agencies on Apr. 2 in Maplewood. Arc of Essex County is holding the event from 6-8 p.m. at 50-58 Burnett Ave. Support Coordination Agencies provide independent care management for people receiving services from the state’s Division of Developmental Disabilities. Registration is required.
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The Arc of Essex County
An online petition urging NJ Transit to restore lost bus and train services in Essex County launched less than one month after the DeCamp bus service came to a halt. Montclair-based public transit advocacy group Restore Our Transit in Essex (ROUTE) posted the petition with asks for a seven-day bus service to Port Authority Bus Terminal and hourly weekend train service on the Montclair-Boonton line. To get involved, people can sign the petition online or email ROUTE with questions.
Montclair Local
Cherry blossom talk planned at Essex County Branch Brook Park on Apr. 2 in Newark. The 30-minute talk begins at 11 a.m. and will discuss the history of cherry blossom trees, how they grow, and the history of Branch Brook Park. Talks are held inside the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center.
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Essex County Parks
NJPAC’s wellness fair is scheduled for Apr. 2 in Newark. It is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include free health resources. There will be yoga, movement sessions, mammogram screenings, and several local vendors. Registration is required.
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New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
Indie Arts Montclair’s 2025 Zine Fest is scheduled for Mar. 29. It is from 1-5 p.m. at Fletcher Hall, 67 Church St. There will be more than 30 artist vendors, live music, and refreshments for sale. Admission is free.
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Indie Arts Montclair
Essex County dedicated the walking track and outdoor fitness center in Newark’s Weequahic Park to the park’s association founder, Wilbur McNeil. McNeil spearheaded the installation of the track during the 1990s.
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
REGIONAL NEWS
More than 578,000 N.J. residents will receive paper copies of a combined application to three of the state’s property tax relief programs, known as PAS-1. The application has been available online since February. It includes Anchor, Senior Freeze, and Stay NJ programs with a filing deadline of Oct. 31. PAS-1 is available to eligible seniors ages 65+ and disabled homeowners. State officials will review PAS-1 forms and notify residents of program eligibility by mail. All benefits are subject to state budget appropriations for 2026, which will be finalized on Jul. 1.
New Jersey Patch
