Monday, July 31, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/31/17


This photo shows the Norfolk Street Station on the Newark Light Rail.

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Sunday, July 30, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/30/17


This photo shows the former St. Michael's Hospital building on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Newark, which will be converted into educational and non-profit space.

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Saturday, July 29, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/29/17


This photo shows the former Workingmen's Building and Loan Association on Springfield Avenue in Newark

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Friday, July 28, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/28/17


This photo shows Washington Avenue in Belleville.

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Thursday, July 27, 2017

PHOTOS: Phil Murphy Chooses Sheila Oliver for Running Mate in Downtown Newark

Above: Phil Murphy and Sheila Oliver

NEWARK, N.J.: Close to a hundred elected officials, campaign staffers, volunteers, and reporters packed the former Verizon Wireless store space within the National Newark Building in Downtown Newark, which now contains Democratic nominee for New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's Essex County campaign office, on Wednesday as Murphy officially announced that Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver would be his running mate. Oliver, a Newark native who lives in East Orange, is a former New Jersey Assembly Speaker.

Attendees included Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr., Newark Councilwoman Mildred Crump, New Jersey Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones, Jr., State Senator Richard Codey, and New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman John Currie.

The Republican nominee for Governor, current Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, will officially announce her nominee for Lieutenant Governor at an event today in West New York, Hudson County.

Above: Phil Murphy greets Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr.

Above: Oliver and DiVincenzo shake hands as she enters the event

Above: New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman John Currie speaks at the announcement

Above: Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman Leroy Jones, Jr. addresses attendees

Above: Currie, New Jersey Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, and Tammy Murphy watch the announcement

Above: Oliver's mother cheers during her daughter's acceptance speech

Above: Murphy, Oliver, and their families following the speeches

Above: Murphy and Oliver speak to reporters following the event

Above: Murphy's local headquarters is housed in the National Newark Building

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Photo of the Day 7/27/17


This photo shows the International Central Gospel Church Liberty Chapel in Orange's Valley Arts District.

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Wednesday, July 26, 2017

UPDATE: Planning Board to Hear Newark Wawa Proposal


NEWARK, N.J.: Earlier this week, it was revealed that Wawa is planning to open another Essex County location. Now, information released by the City of Newark confirms the news.

According to a legal notice, the location, which could open in the Central Ward's Newark Riverfront Redevelopment Area at 1300 McCarter Highway/Route 21, at the northeast corner of Clark Street, is slated to include a 5,051 square foot convenience store and a gas station. The developer, Tonymar, LLC, of Elizabeth, is seeking preliminary and final site plan approval for the project with variances "for not meeting the maximum building height requirement, exceeding the permitted front yard setback, exceeding the permitted monument sign area and exceeding the permitted maximum monument sign height."

The property has long been a vacant lot along this major corridor connecting Newark with Belleville, Nutley, and Passaic County. Previously, there were plans for a new shopping center called Riverview Square at the site, but the plaza was never constructed.

The Newark Central Planning Board will hear the proposal during its meeting on Monday, August 7th at 6:30pm at City Hall. Meanwhile, a community meeting with Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins and Wawa representatives regarding the proposed location will be held tonight at 6:00pm at the Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church, located at 151 Broadway.

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Photo of the Day 7/26/17


This photo shows a view of Newark's Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart with Jersey City and Manhattan in the distance.

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Tuesday, July 25, 2017

'Theater in the Park' Coming to South Orange


SOUTH ORANGE, N.J.: In South Orange, community performances and events such as the Summer Concert Series and National Night Out are usually held at Flood's Hill along North Ridgewood Road. However, some local residents are hoping to bring more cultural offerings to another park across the village.

Located at 265 Valley Street, Founders Park, which, until this spring, was known as Memorial Park, will host 'Theater in the Park' on Saturday, August 12th, from 1:00pm to 6:00pm. The event, which is being presented by the Academy Heights Neighborhood Association and interACT Theatre Productions, will feature a variety of plays and performances from interACT members, as well as activities for attendees, such as special effects face painting, a community sing-a-long, set design, and a costume photo booth.

"This event is to help bring more people to the park to encourage more people to use the space," said Catherine Fisher, who is one of the organizers.

Admission to Theater in the Park is free, and the event is open to all residents and visitors. Food and other items will be sold by local vendors.

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Photo of the Day 7/25/17


This photo shows the Edison water tower in West Orange.

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Monday, July 24, 2017

Wawa Seeks to Open in Newark


NEWARK, N.J.: It's true: Wawa is planning to come to New Jersey's largest city.

Over the past decade, the Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey convenience store institution has been expanding outside of its original territory into North Jersey, and has opened several locations, from Maplewood in Essex County to Kearny in Hudson County. Now, a Wawa store is proposed for 1300-1346 McCarter Highway/Route 21 at the edge of the Lower Broadway neighborhood in Newark’s Central Ward, which is currently a large vacant lot along a largely commercial and industrial corridor. Carmelo Garcia, the Executive Vice President and Chief Real Estate Officer of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, confirmed the news to Essex County Place.
Plans for the current project have not yet been approved, and it is not clear if this location will include a gas station. However, a community meeting regarding the plans is scheduled for this Wednesday, July 26th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church, located a few blocks away from the site at 151 Broadway. Wawa representatives and Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins are slated to be present, according to an event flyer.
Some residents are not in favor of having Wawa come to their part of the city.
“We do not want the Wawa,” said Lisa Gray of the Broad Street Neighborhood Association, telling Essex County Place that her neighborhood has seen “drug selling and prostitution for many years,” and that “we are afraid a 24-hour business of this nature would bring back this activity.”
In lieu of a Wawa, Gray stated that "residents of the neighborhood were hoping to get a family entertainment cebter there," such as a bowling alley, a Chuck E. Cheese's, a skating rink, or a cinema.
"We do not have a single park, playground, or recreation facility in the neighborhood," she explained.
Back in April, Essex County Place reached out to Wawa regarding whether the company would be opening a Newark location, but spokesperson Colleen Labik stated that “I don’t have any news to share…at this time.” We asked Wawa for comment regarding the latest development and will update this article should additional details be revealed.
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Photo of the Day 7/24/17


This former Public Service building in Montclair now contains offices and event space.

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Sunday, July 23, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/23/17


Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange attracts a variety of wildlife, from foxes to deer to birds.

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Saturday, July 22, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/22/17


This former firehouse in Orange's Valley Arts District now serves as an art gallery.

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Friday, July 21, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/21/17


These gates greet drivers entering Mountain Way in West Orange.

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Thursday, July 20, 2017

Belleville Building Could Become Manufacturing Facility


BELLEVILLE, N.J.: Although far fewer items are made today in Essex County than 100 years ago, several plants remain in municipalities across the county. Now, in one Essex County township, there are plans for a new manufacturing facility to open in an existing building.

According to legal notices from the Belleville Zoning Board of Adjustment, this new use is planned for the two-story structure near the Washington Avenue business district at 73-75 Rutgers Street, opposite the train tracks at the corner of Valley Street. The building, which has previously been used by companies like Penn Roofing General Contracting and Finish Line Vehicle Graphix, is now slated to be converted into a wholesale facility where roasted nuts, dried fruits, and candies will be manufactured, packaged, and re-packaged. 10 parking spaces would be provided on the premises. This operation is set to be run by the Cold Nut Corp., which applied for Site Plan approval with variances for this project.

The Belleville Zoning Board of Adjustment was slated to hear the proposal during its meeting on July 6th.

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Photo of the Day 7/20/17


This photo shows apartment buildings in East Orange with Hudson County, Downtown Newark, and New York City in the distance.

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Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/19/17


This photo shows the Essex County September 11th Memorial at Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange.

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Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/18/17


This photo shows the First Church of Christ Scientist in Montclair.

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Monday, July 17, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/17/17


This photo shows a view of the Lower Manhattan, Jersey City, and Downtown Newark skylines from South Orange.

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Sunday, July 16, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/16/17


The East Orange Water Commission operates an underground reservoir along the border of South Orange and Maplewood.

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Saturday, July 15, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/15/17


This photo shows Newark Penn Station at rush hour.

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Friday, July 14, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/14/17


The former Montclair Municipal Building currently contains the Montclair Police Department headquarters.

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Thursday, July 13, 2017

Photos of the Day 7/13/17: 50 Years Later

Above: A child places flowers alongside the memorial during the service remembering the Newarkers killed during the uprising in 1967

NEWARK, N.J.: 50 years after the uprising in Newark, which has been referred to as the Newark Rebellion and the Newark Riots, over a hundred people gathered at the monument at the corner of Springfield Avenue and Hayes Street for a commemorative event sponsored by the People's Organization for Progress (POP). The commemoration included a march to the former 4th Precinct of the Newark Police Department (NPD) on 17th Avenue, now known as the 1st Precinct, which was at the center of protests 50 years ago. Attendees who spoke included POP Chairman Lawrence Hamm, Ryan Haygood of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Junius Williams of Rutgers University-Newark, and Richard Cammarieri of the New Community Corporation. In addition, residents who lived through the events of July 1967, relatives of Newarkers like Eloise Spellman who lost their lives during that month, and James Smith, the brother of John Smith, whose arrest and treatment by the NPD at the 17th Avenue precinct was one of the causes of the protests, addressed attendees.

Hamm, who was growing up in a nearby Central Ward neighborhood in 1967, told attendees that he is pushing for the Newark Municipal Council to rename the area surrounding the monument as 'Rebellion Park'.

Above: Junius Williams speaks to attendees

Above: Lawrence Hamm leads attendees during the service

Above: Relatives of Eloise Spellman speak about her and the summer of 1967

Above: A photo of Eloise Spellman, who was one of over two dozen Newark residents killed during the events of July 1967

Above: Then and now: A participant in the march holds up a photo from the 1967 rebellion/riots along Springfield Avenue

Above: Participants in the march walk onto Springfield Avenue

Above: Attendees gather outside of the NPD precinct on 17th Avenue

Above: Television cameras along Springfield Avenue during the commemoration, with an abandoned building in the background

Above: Lawrence Hamm speaks outside of the precinct, as James Smith looks on

Above: The Newark Police Department closed streets for the march

Above: James Smith performs at the memorial at the conclusion of the commemoration

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Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/12/17


This photo shows the Lenape Trail at Eagle Rock Reservation in Montclair.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Mixed-Use Development Planned for Site of Newark Parking Lot


NEWARK, N.J.: After decades of buildings throughout Newark being demolished to make way for parking lots, it is clear that the trend is finally reversing.

Now, a new building has been proposed for the site of one of the largest private surface parking lots in Downtown Newark. According to a legal notice, a mixed-use development has been proposed for the property consisting of 296-304 and 308-320 Mulberry Street and 12, 14, and Rear 22 Cottage Street in the city's East Ward, just southeast of the federal government complex. The proposal calls for the structure to be six stories tall, and for it to contain 254,393 square feet of retail and commercial space.

Developer Steven Lenter, who appears to be affiliated with parking lot operator L.A. Parking Corporation, has applied for Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan approval with variances for setback and wall signage. The Newark Central Planning Board will conduct a public hearing before voting on the proposal during its meeting on Monday, July 24th at 6:30pm at City Hall.

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Photo of the Day 7/11/17


This photo shows a church in Montclair with the Watchung Mountains in the background.

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Monday, July 10, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/10/17


This photo shows a view of Main Street in Orange from the First Watchung Mountain.

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Sunday, July 9, 2017

Photo of the Day 7/9/17


One Theater Square, the tallest residential building to be constructed in Newark in decades, is rising on Park Place.

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Saturday, July 8, 2017

Photos of the Day 7/8/17


These photos show a groundhog in South Orange's Newstead neighborhood.



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