CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Two Montclair residents, including Sharron Allen and Miriam Sampson, were recently named among the 33 Essex County artists who received awards in the 2020 Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show, which was held virtually this year due to the pandemic.

The Essex County Senior Art Show and Exhibit was open to all professional and non-professional artists ages 60 ...

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, School of Rock Montclair will donate $10 to Toni’s Kitchen for each student who signs up for its fall Performance Programs.

“Since we opened in 2010, hundreds of young musicians have benefited from our unique performance-driven approach to teaching music,” says School of Rock Montclair’s General Manager Kevin March.  ...

Task force considers benefit reforms, training and more to help workers

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.

State tax credits to encourage companies to offer worker training, 401(k)-style accounts to help people pay to ...

NEWARK, NJ — In the days before everyone’s established way of life came to a crashing halt, Newark resident Monifa Kincaid was just getting into her groove as a working artist, “pumping it up” to hit upcoming pop-up events and make more connections. 

But as the story goes, the dream-crusher COVID-19 came, and Kincaid, a former choreographer and dance teacher who ...

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Juggling diaper changes and Zoom meetings might be a good combination for some Americans.

A new survey by researchers at Rutgers University reveals that working parents are happier with their job, and they are getting more done, than people without children.

Researchers attribute the surprising results to a sharp increase in the number of men helping with childcare and ...

In place of a classroom, some families are forming small learning groups, providing the social support many kids are missing

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.

Like so many kids in New Jersey, Eliana Krieger is learning ...

Many teachers are retiring, asking for leave or not wanting to go to schools in person amid COVID-19 fears

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.

There’s been a shortage of substitute teachers for years, but the ...

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ – 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 ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - A group of Montclair residents will be hosting a march for unity on Saturday, September 26. 

Hosted by Suburban Moms Against Re-Electing Trump (SMART), the "peaceful march" is planned to "send a message to President Donald Trump that his practices and policies are out of touch with the needs of today's voters."

A rally will begin at ...

NEWARK, NJ — The Newark Museum of Art and local nonprofit Project Ready are kicking off National Voter Registration Day with a campaign to register, educate and engage Newarkers before the Nov. 3. election.

The organizations pledged to register at least 2,500 voters and commit 10,000 more to cast their votes, according to a press release. Volunteers will carry out the mission through ...

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy was in Union City Tuesday with Mayor Brian Stack to rally folks to fill out the 2020 Census. There are only eight days left to complete it — it's quick, easy and safe, and can be done online.

COVID-19

Gov. Murphy reported New Jersey has 457 new positive cases, for a cumulative total of 200,580. There are also seven new confirmed COVID-19 deaths, ...

Those that sold to supermarkets fared better than those that relied on restaurants and schools

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.

Third-generation farmer Eric Hensel says in March he took what he was growing in his ...

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 ...

NEWARK, NJ — When Maria Lopez-Nunez, director of environmental justice and community development for Ironbound Community Corporation, rattles off all the industrial entities impacting the quality of life for residents in her community, she needs both hands to count. 

Among the culprits: a garbage incinerator, the largest sewage waste treatment plant in New Jersey, two power ...

BLOOMFIELD, NJ--St. Thomas the Apostle School in Bloomfield accomplished an amazing feat—collecting more than 2,500 pairs of shoes for its first-ever shoe drive fundraiser.

St. Thomas’ Home and School Association worked with the organization Funds2Orgs to collect gently worn, new or used shoes that will be donated to people in developing countries. The school also receives a ...

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 ...

GOP lawmaker slams ‘shameful’ add-ons. Democrats brush off criticism

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.

A $32.7 billion budget sustained by increased taxes and new borrowing is headed to Gov. Phil ...

Spending for golf programs, shade trees, town hall renovations, mostly in Democratic districts

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.

Dozens of spending items were tucked into the state budget at the last minute by lawmakers ...

To howls from the GOP, Democratic majority rallies around plan that boosts taxes and spending, and adds to state debt load during pandemic-shortened fiscal year

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.

Lawmakers advanced a ...

NEW JERSEY -- Governor Phil Murphy was joined by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, Thursday morning for a live virtual conversation on COVID-19 (coronavirus) in New Jersey. The national expert in infectious disease said that he often points to New Jersey, which was among the first states to be “hit badly as cases ...

Some NJ legislators want a law requiring flu vaccines for students. Activists say COVID precautions are enough

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.

Concern about a potential autumn “twindemic” of COVID-19 and ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ – A skunk captured on September 20 on South Fullerton Avenue, has tested positive for the Rabies virus. Earlier this month the Health Department received another report that a skunk captured on Gates Avenue had also tested positive for the virus.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals usually transmitted to animals or people through bites and contact with the ...

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday said Republican lawmakers are displaying “rank hypocrisy” in looking to “ram a nominee” for the seat left vacant by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with less than seven weeks to go before Election Day 2020.

Three days after Ginsburg’s death, Murphy — a Democrat — called out U.S. Senate Republicans ...

NEWARK, NJ - Long before she became a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent nearly a decade in Newark as a professor at the School of Law–Newark, now Rutgers Law School.

Ginsburg, 87, who died Friday after a battle with pancreatic cancer, worked at the law school from 1963 to 1972, a period when it was at the forefront of the social justice ...

BLOOMFIELD, NJ - A military-stlye assault rifle, two semi-automatic handguns, a cache of narcotics and cash were seized during two related investigations into narcotics trafficking in Essex and Union counties by a law enforcement task force, comprised of detectives from the Essex County Sheriff's Office and the Bloomfield and Elizabeth police departments.

On Friday, law enforcement ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - A Montclair Police Officer was struck by a vehicle on Tuesday at the Crescent, officials confirm.

Following the strike, other officers responded quickly and pursued the vehicles. The suspects were apprehended and arrests were made.

According to Montclair Police officials, the officer "...is being treated at an area hospital."   

The Essex ...

BLOOMFIELD, NJ--St. Thomas the Apostle School in Bloomfield accomplished an amazing feat—collecting more than 2,500 pairs of shoes for its first-ever shoe drive fundraiser.

St. Thomas’ Home and School Association worked with the organization Funds2Orgs to collect gently worn, new or used shoes that will be donated to people in developing countries. The school also receives a ...

LONG BEACH ISLAND REGION — The New Jersey summer flounder season ended September 19, and with northeast winds gusting to 30-knots and seas of 5-6-feet, few, if any, boats fished on the final day.

Now that the fluke season is over, it is time to look to the fall and begin seeing what other fish are available. Many anglers are already getting their gear ready for the fall run.

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 ...

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - In the spirit of kicking off the fall season, Mayor Al Morgan approves the Pilley pumpkin as the community's BIGGEST pumpkin ever!

New Providence resident Doug Pilley, along with his brother John and son Knevin, grew a “giant pumpkin” in their backyard, estimated to be around 850 pounds, to enter into a multi-state annual weighted competition in Ridgefield, ...