MONTCLAIR, NJ - A new local community organization has been created to provide grant awards to black females and LGBTQ+ people in Essex County.

Organized by the students for Justice Coalition, a Montclair-based organization. the grant distribution project was designed to "support the dreams and lives of young black women and LGBTQ+ people in Essex County.

Bottom Up, What’s ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - The Montclair Property Owners Association is locked into a public battle with the Township of Montclair over the release of residents' contact information.

On Thursday, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Jeffrey B. Beacham has ruled in favor of the property owners obtaining phone numbers and email addresses of residents in order to circulate a petition to repeal the ...

TRENTON, NJ — Marking the milestone of six months since the confirmation of the first coronavirus case in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy kicked off the holiday weekend by signing an Executive Order to allow for the resumption of indoor dining, albeit at 25 percent capacity. The order also allows for movie theaters and other indoor entertainment businesses to open, limited to 25 percent ...

NEW JERSEY – Real estate website Niche.com has announced its 2021 list of Best Colleges in New Jersey.

Not surprisingly, Ivy League school Princeton University, which ranked No. 6 nationally, according to Niche.com, topped the New Jersey list, followed by Stevens Institute of Technology, Rutgers, and The College of New Jersey. (See the top ten list below.)

Princeton trailed only ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - Four Montclair High School students and 3 Montclair Kimberley Academy students have been named as semifinals of the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship, officials announced this week.

The following seven students will compete for 7,600 National Merit scholarships, worth more than $30 million:

MONTCLAIR HIGH SCHOOL

Blackburn, Madeleine N.
Blackburn, ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - During the regular meeting of the Montclair NAACP education committee on Thursday, committee chair James Harris seemed shocked to learn that the Montclair Public Schools' Equity Department was dismantled under the leadership of Interim Superintendent Nathan Parker. Consequently, Harris and committee members pressed to inquire further about why the department and positions were ...

NEW JERSEY — Less than two months from Election Day, Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday said a new website will allow New Jersey residents to register to vote and track their mail-in ballot all while on the go or from the comfort of their home.

“This online form is safe and secure, and can be accessed anywhere – whether from a library computer or your smartphone,” Gov. Phil ...

Postage, drop boxes and PPE will add to the tab for an election to be held nearly entirely through the mail.

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

November general election is going to cost millions more than usual, in large ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ – Montclair Councilor-at-Large Peter Yacobellis has a unique way of giving back. He has recently launched an online fundraiser, in which the proceeds will go to support the Human Needs Food Pantry located in Montclair.

According to a release, Yacobellis wants to enlist the support of the public to help ensure lthat ocal children and families have access to food and proper ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ – Montclair Councilor-at-Large Peter Yacobellis has a unique way of giving back. He has recently launched an online fundraiser, in which the proceeds will go to support the Human Needs Food Pantry located in Montclair.

According to a release, Yacobellis wants to enlist the support of the public to help ensure lthat ocal children and families have access to food and proper ...

Thursday, September 17 at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Greater Friendship Baptist Church in Newark and Zion Hill Baptist Church in Newark will host the next Essex County Emergency Food Distribution Event on Thursday, September 17 at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Newark to help families negatively impacted by coronavirus. The 1,000 boxes of food that ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - The 13th Annual Free School Supplies Event will take place on Sunday, September 13, officials announce. 

The event, which is open to Montclair residents only, will take place at the Wally Choice Community Center.

Details are as follows:

Wally Choice Community Center - 49 Maple Avenue
Sunday, September 13, 2020 12pm - 2pm

For Further information and to make ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - Technical difficulties permeated the virtual meeting of the Montclair Planning Board on September 14, with members of the board having trouble with connections.  The meeting itself started late as a result.  Once it got going, though, the board delved right into two continuing applications, one for the MC Residences apartment building and the other for a new duplex ...

TRENTON, NJ -- NJ Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli today, during the governor's COVID-19 press briefing, warned of a possible “twin-demic” this year during flu season and urged New Jerseyans to get their flu shots.  

“As we enter the fall season, we are also moving into the flu season. This year we are preparing for the possibility of a twin-demic,” ...

Gov. Phil Murphy wants to borrow $4 billion. Lawmakers point to revenue forecasts saying more money may be coming than he expects.

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

Just how much New Jersey will borrow to prop up the ...

TRENTON, NJ – As end-of-summer parties give way to welcome-back-to-college keggers, the cases of COVID-19 among New Jersey’s youngest populations are on the rise.

Residents in the 19-24 age range now represent the highest percent positivity rate in the state, according to State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli.

About 6% of those ages 19 to 24 are COVID-19-positive and those ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - As New Jersey drifts into flu season, many residents will once again decide whether to get their flu shots; where to get them; and if a flu shot has any preventative impact on COVID-19.  The differences between the two viruses affect not only the mortality rate and symptom development, but also prevention and cure.

According to the World Health Organization ...

HACKENSACK, N.J. — Hackensack Meridian Health investigators plan to enroll 300 volunteers  to participate in clinical trials for the Covid-19 vaccine at Hackensack University Medical Center, hospital officials announced in a press release Monday.

The volunteers are of various ethnic backgrounds, are older than 18, are not pregnant or breastfeeding, did not have Covid-19, and do not ...

TRENTON, NJ -- Gov. Phil Murphy this week signed legislation (A1906) that would amend current law to include false incrimination and filing a false police report as a form of bias intimidation. The bill also establishes crime of false 9-1-1 call with purpose to intimidate or harass based on race or other protected class. 

“Using the threat of a 9-1-1 call or police report as an ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - The Montclair Fire Department promoted three officers this week, including its first female officer, officials announced.

During a swearing-in ceremony held last week, Imelda Muench-Puryear was promoted to Lieutenant, becoming the Department’s first female officer. She is a graduate of Montclair State University (1983) and the Rome Free Academy in New York ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - Three Montclair leaders are set to speak during a community forum hosted by The Mark Montclair - St. Mark's UMC on September 13.

The 37th Annual Church and Community Forum (formerly the Church and Community Breakfast) will be held from 2:00 -3:30 p.m. This year's theme is "New Leaders for a New Time: Montclair's Road Forward."

Panelists will be the ...

BLOOMFIELD, NJ – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill was on hand this morning at Bloomfield Fire Station Number 3 on East Passaic Avenue to announce that fire departments in Bloomfield, Nutley, Belleville, Orange, East Orange and West Orange received FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants.

Sherrill, the Representative from New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, was instrumental in ...

NUTLEY, NJ - Within minutes of hearing of his passing, members of the community started sharing their memories, and condolences, of Nutley Chamber of Commerce President Dan Leon who suddenly passed away.

A figure in the township for several years, Leon stepped up to the challenges facing the local business community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Leon arranged for meetings with leaders on the ...

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Eagle Rock Reservation will be closed for five hours on the morning of Sept. 11, when Essex County will hold a 19th anniversary memorial for the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

This year’s ceremony will be held remotely and live-streamed on the Essex County website and social media channels. Eagle Rock Reservation will be closed to the public from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - Many are mourning the death of Msgr. William Harms, former pastor of the Parish Community of St. Helen in Westfield, from 2000-2011, died Aug. 27, 2020, at Our Lady of Peace Rectory in New Providence, at the age of 80.

Msgr. William Harms was remembered for bringing the Archdiocese of Newark together. Over 30 priests and bishops joined Cardinal Joseph ...

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ – NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association), the governing body for high school sports in New Jersey, has announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with the NFL. The organization will host a two-day, virtual diversity, bias, and cultural competence workshop for football game officials. The two-day session’s goal is to increase awareness ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ — More than 40 years after scoring a memorable hole -in- one, Agnes Olsson – one of the original charter members, and the lone surviving matriarch of the Rutgers Women’s Golf Association (RWGA) – returned to the Rutgers University Golf Course to celebrate another major milestone: her 100th birthday.

Olsson holds a ...

NEW VERNON, NJ - Aside from music concerts and your favorite restaurants, there are other reasons to escape the confines of your home during a pandemic, while still respecting social distancing standards. Community members are invited to attend the house tour of Tyvan Hill Mansion, located at 579 Ban Beuren Road. 

Splendor in September, which was renamed from Mansion in May due to ...

Long-term slowdown in land development could be derailed by exodus to suburbs

This story was written and produced by NJ Spotlight. It is being republished under a special NJ News Commons content-sharing agreement related to COVID-19 coverage. To read more, visit njspotlight.com.

New data confirms that New Jersey has recently been using a lot less land for new development than it did 20 ...

LONG BEACH ISLAND - A global pandemic couldn't stop people from enjoying the lovely beaches of Long Beach Island this summer.

Labor Day has passed but don't expect to summer to sizzle out too soon.  

There will be more people at LBI in September this year, primarily because there are many homeowners who will stay put on LBI and work remotely from home. 

Here is the ...

BELMAR, NJ — With coronavirus restrictions still in place along the Jersey Shore, Belmar officials are preparing for a different start to “local summer” than in past years.

After the Labor Day weekend, beach badges will not be required for access to the 1.3-mile oceanfront, but beach capacity and social distancing limits will be enforced for the following two weekends — ...

NEW JERSEY — Alaska and Montana were added to the Garden State's travel advisory list Tuesday.

Travelers from those states and 28 others are required to self-quarantine for a minimum of 14 days upon arrival.

Three territories (Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) are also on the list.

The travel advisory applies to anyone arriving from a state with a COVID-19 positive test ...