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WKD RECAP
Kicking off our news a bit early this morning, we’ve got all the Montclair + Essex County news headlines for you. Lots of things are happening this week, including a new mental health center in Newark, a new fitness studio in Montclair, and a fugitive was arrested in Newark.
Every week, we round up the top news stories of the week from both our site, The Montclair Girl, and aggregate across the web from various sources. You can read more at the links below, and always feel free to submit any news tips to [email protected]. Our twice-weekly newsletter shares more as well, which you can sign up for here.
– School tax increases and staff cuts remain under discussion in South Orange–Maplewood (Patch).
– A new Target store has opened in West Orange (Patch).
– New Jersey lawmakers are advancing a 2026 bill addressing the energy demands and infrastructure impacts of expanding data centers (The Local Girl).
– Charlie Puth released a New Jersey-inspired song highlighting his connection to the Jersey Shore and local roots (The Jersey Shore Girl).
– Beach badge prices across the Jersey Shore for 2026 have been announced, with many towns seeing increases (The Local Girl).
– Longtime local makeup artist Dawn Maloney is opening a new studio called Dawn to Dusk in Montclair (The Montclair Girl).
– Drip Fitness is opening in Montclair, introducing a new workout studio centered on high-intensity and community-driven classes (The Montclair Girl).
– A new state-run mental health center has opened in Newark to expand access to critical behavioral health services (New Jersey Monitor).
– U.S. Marshals arrested a suspect in several NYC bank robberies in Newark (U.S. Marshals Service).
– Police reported another incident of used cooking oil theft at a Montclair restaurant, part of a growing local trend (Patch).
– Montclair residents are advocating for improved street safety measures as the township begins implementing traffic calming solutions (Montclair Local).
– Ward-by-ward results reveal how Montclair voters decided on a $17.6 million school referendum (Montclair Local).
– New Jersey officials announced increased enforcement efforts to combat distracted driving statewide (NJ Office of the Attorney General).
– A new Girl Scouts DreamLab in Paramus aims to provide innovative STEM learning opportunities for local youth (NorthJersey.com).
– Bloomfield will host a town-wide cleanup day in late April to encourage community participation and beautification efforts (TAPinto).
– Newark Public Schools introduced a $1.67 billion budget that includes increased spending and a modest property tax rise for residents (NJ.com).
– The Nutley Public Library is expected to reopen in May after being closed for months due to significant water damage (TAPinto).
– The Bloomfield Board of Education approved a 2026–27 budget while facing a roughly $1.5 million cut in state aid and potential tax impacts (TAPinto).
– Plans for new construction on Centre Street in Nutley follow the demolition of a long-abandoned property as redevelopment moves forward (TAPinto).
– A $50 million health hub is being built in Newark to provide fitness, pharmacy, and primary care services in one centralized facility (NJ.com).
Have a tip? Please email us at [email protected] to share
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