Follow local news and events in West Orange with The Jersey Bee. Here is The Daily Buzz for Feb. 12, 2026 from The Jersey Bee.
LOCAL NEWS
Children can read to a therapy dog at West Orange library on Feb. 20. It is from 4-5 p.m. in the program room. All ages are welcome, no registration is requred.
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West Orange Public Library
Lunar New Year celebration planned at West Orange library on Feb. 21. There will be stories and crafts from 2-4 p.m. with West Orange High School Asian Culture Club and United Asian Voices of West Orange. Free admission. Registration is not required.
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West Orange Public Library
“Paint Your Partner Party” planned with Craft Club Studio on Feb. 20 in South Orange. It is from 7-9 p.m. at 122 S. Orange Ave. Admission is $50 and includes wine, snacks, and materials.
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Craft Club Studio
Lecture and art viewing of the African Mask Collection planned at East Orange City Hall on Feb. 20. It begins at 6 p.m. The lecture will discuss Black history and the Reconstruction Era.
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East Orange City
People can attend a job-searching workshop with La Casa de Don Pedro on Feb. 19 in Newark. It is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 282 First Ave. There will be employment resources, job search assistance, and interview preparation. Free admission.
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La Casa De Don Pedro
“Black Wall Street” vendor market planned by Newark public library on Feb. 21. The market will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Main Branch. The market will feature Black-owned businesses, and will include food, fashion items, jewelry, and other vendors. Free admission.
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Newark Public Library
Black History Month-themed open mic night planned with Bloomfield Juneteenth Advisory Committee on Feb. 20 in Bloomfield. It begins at 7 p.m. at Van Fossan Theatre, 467 Franklin St. Free admission.
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Bloomfield Township
Black History Month community social planned with Bloomfield Juneteenth Advisory Committee on Feb. 21 in Bloomfield. It begins at 12 p.m. at Westminister Arts Center, 449 Franklin St. Free admission.
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Bloomfield Township
Salsa dance lessons planned with Jazz House Kids on Feb. 19 in Montclair. It begins at 7 p.m. at 347 Bloomfield Ave. Admission is $15 at the door. RSVP by emailing events@jazzhousekids.org or calling 973-744-2273.
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Jazz House Kids
Montclair-area residents can attend a talk on the history of Blaxploitation and Black cinema at Montclair library’s Bellevue Branch on Feb. 19. It is from 6:30-8 p.m. Registration is required. Library card not required. Free admission.
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Montclair Public Library
Irvington public schools is hiring for multiple positions. Applications are accepted online.
Irvington Public Schools
Essex County residents age 14+ can attend a volunteer information session for the Essex County Environmental Center on Feb. 21. The session will run from 3-4:30 p.m. and will include information on how to get involved with program support, gardening, and outdoor stewardship projects. Preregistration is required.
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Essex County Environmental Center
Essex County seniors ages 60+ can participate in the county’s 2026 Legacies Writing Contest. Entries must be an original story about a person or life-altering event. Submissions are accepted until Apr. 20. Guidelines are available online.
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Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
REGIONAL NEWS
New Jersey college students and faculty at Rowan, Rutgers, and Princeton recently protested against immigration detention with some student organizations creating petitions urging university officials to refuse cooperation with federal immigration officials. Rowan students and faculty protested on Feb. 5 demanding university officials to bar federal immigration authorities from entering campus. It comes after U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection officials participated in an on-campus recruitment event. Student groups Rowan Students for Justice in Palestine and Rowan Young Democratic Socialists of America published an online petition outlining their demands, which has received more than 3,000 signatures. On Jan. 30, students at Rutgers and Princeton also protested against immigration deportation and detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. In October, Rutgers Young Democratic Socialists of America published a petition urging university officials to refuse cooperation with ICE and to protect rights to protest among students and faculty, as well as other demands. Both petitions are available online for viewing.
NJ Spotlight News
