Essex County Daily Buzz: Sep. 21, 2026

LOCAL NEWS

Essex County Environmental Center’s 2026 “Fall Family Festival” is rescheduled for Sep. 27 in Roseland. It is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be activities, nature games, guided walks, a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, food, and more. Free admission.
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Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

Native shrub sale and nature walk planned with Essex County Environmental Center on Sep. 26 in Roseland. It is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guided nature walks available at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. Registration not required. Free admission.
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Essex County Environmental Center

Rhythm and Roots children’s Hispanic heritage month story time program planned by Belleville library on Sept. 26. The event, scheduled to start at 11 a.m., will feature bilingual storytime with author Daniela Palacios. Entry is first come, first served.
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Belleville Public Library

“Fiesta Latina” with Bloomfield planned on Sep. 26. It is from 12-4 p.m. at the Historic Town Green, 84 Broad St. There will be food, music, and activities celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.
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Bloomfield Township

Chinese tea and traditional music event planned at Bloomfield library on Sep. 26. It begins at 2 p.m. Registration is required. Library card not required.
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Bloomfield Public Library

Drop-in art studio session for ages 16+ planned with Bloomfield recreation on Sep. 26. It is from 1:30-4 p.m. at the Bloomfield Civic Center. Admission is $15. Register online.
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Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department

Bloomfield-area residents can attend the recreation department’s dog training group classes, scheduled to start Sep. 27. It meets Sundays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. through Nov. 1. Registration is available online.
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Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department

People can learn to interpret tarot on Sep. 28 at Glen Ridge library. It begins at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required. Library card not required.
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Glen Ridge Public Library

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission mobile unit to be stationed in Glen Ridge on Sep. 28. Services are available from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at Glen Ridge Train Station. Appointments for registration renewal and replacement title accepted online. Disability placards and license plate returns do not require appointment.
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Glen Ridge Borough

High school students can attend a virtual interest meeting on Sep. 27 to learn about Oranges and Maplewood-NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics program. It begins at 7 p.m. Registration is required.
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Oranges & Maplewood: NAACP

“Green Bean Gala” fundraiser benefitting MEND is scheduled for Oct. 16 in Maplewood. It begins at 6:30 p.m. at Maplewood Country Club, 28 Baker St. Funds will support programs to increase food access, collaborate with food pantries, and serve the community’s health needs. Tickets are available online for purchase.
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MEND

Free Homecoming outfit pop-up shop planned by Columbia HSA on Sep. 23. The shop will offer free dresses and suits for the homecoming dance from 3-4:30 p.m. outside the counseling office.
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Columbia High School

Maplewood Village Alliance seeks community feedback on parking access improvement on Sep. 27. It is from 12:30-2:30 p.m. outside of Wells Fargo at the corner of Maplewood Avenue and Baker Street. People can also share feedback in an online survey.
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Maplewood Village Alliance

“Seeds of Revolution: The Transatlantic Exchange of Plants and Herbs in 18th-Century America” planned with Durand-Hedden House and Garden on Sep. 27 in Maplewood. It is from 1-4 p.m. and includes a guided tour of the herb garden. Free admission. Tickets are required.
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Durand-Hedden House and Garden

People can attend Maplewood library’s financial Q&A drop-in session at the Hilton Branch on Sep. 29. It is from 5:30-7 p.m. It is free and led by a local financial advisor.
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Maplewood Public Library

Maplewood Rotary Club seeks donations of used bikes and sewing machines on Sep. 27. Items are accepted from 12-3 p.m. at 200 Valley St. in South Orange.
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South Orange Downtown

Vanguard Theater Company’s 2026 gala is scheduled for Sep. 26 in Montclair. It is from 6-10:30 p.m. at Women’s Club of Upper Montclair. There will be a silent auction, dinner, and more. Tickets are available online for purchase.
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Vanguard Theater Company

Youth can attend acting classes planned at NJSDA starting Sep. 26 in Montclair. Classes include acting 101, musical theater, and acting for television and film, and improv. All classes are held at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Registration is available online.
New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts

Meditation session planned with Out Montclair on Sep. 28 in Montclair. It is from 7-8:30 p.m. at Union Congregational Church. Tickets are available online for purchase.
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Out Montclair

Public meeting planned with Newark Seventh Precinct police officers on Sep. 22. The meeting will discuss trends, safety tips, and upcoming events at 6 p.m. at Urban League of Essex County, 513 Central Ave.
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Newark Public Safety

Free sneakers and clothing distribution event planned with Walk A Mile In Our Shoes on Sep. 26 in Newark. It is from 1-4 p.m. at Lincoln Park.
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Walk A Mile In Our Shoes

“Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice And Resistance” planned with People’s Organization for Progress on Sep. 26 in Newark. It is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Essex County College. There will be guest speakers, community-building activities, and more. Free admission.
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People’s Organization for Progress

Newark residents can pick up free fruit trees from NJ Tree Foundation on Sep. 26. It is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Newark Green Fest. Request a fruit tree online.
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NJ Tree Foundation

Nutley Rotary Club’s classic car show is postponed to Sep. 27. It is from 1-6 p.m. along Franklin Avenue between Chestnut Street and Centre Street. There will also be food trucks and music. Free admission.
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Nutley Rotary Club

“Hooked on Books” reading club meeting for children in grades 4-6 planned by Nutley library on Sep. 28. Members will discuss “Monster Locker” by Jorge Augusto Aguirre from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Registration is required. Library card not required.
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Nutley Public Library

LEGO robotics and coding course for youth planned with West Orange recreation starting Sep. 28. It is from 6:45-7:45 p.m. on Mondays through Nov. 2. Registration is available online. Fee is $165.
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West Orange Recreation Department

REGIONAL NEWS

New Jersey teachers and parents can apply to JerseyCAN’s education policy fellowships, scheduled to start Oct. 22. Fellows will develop advocacy skills and meet an advocacy goal by the end of the program. A $3,000 stipend is awarded to participants. Applications are available online.
JerseyCAN