BPD officers awarded $1M in suit against township

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — In a recently concluded jury trial in Newark Superior Court, two Bloomfield Police Department officers were awarded a combined $1 million from a lawsuit against the township and department. Michael McCracken was awarded $75,000 in compensation and $400,000 in punitive damages while Hector Cartagena was awarded $125,000 compensation and $400,000 in punitive […]

All-access playground opens in Watsessing

All-access playground opens in Watsessing

BLOOMFIELD / EAST ORANGE, NJ — Essex County was highlighted at Watsessing Park in Bloomfield on Friday, July 26, as local, county and state officials commemorated the opening of the first all-access children’s playground in the Essex County Parks System, as well as the opening of a new township community center nearby; both facilities are […]

Car shows held at two locations this summer

Car shows held at two locations this summer

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Classic Car Cruise Night, a Bloomfield summer staple on Wednesday evenings at Broad Street and Bloomfield Avenue, is moving uptown for the month of August. Still scheduled for Wednesday evenings, the new location is near the Clifton border at 1515 Broad St. in the parking lot of Universal Technical Institute. The car […]

Law enforcement shuts down ‘major drug manufacturing facility’ in WO

Law enforcement shuts down ‘major drug manufacturing facility’ in WO

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A major drug manufacturing facility was shut down July 29 and nearly $1 million in methamphetamine was seized by a law enforcement task force comprised of Essex County sheriff’s detectives and detectives from the Newark, Bloomfield, Irvington and West Orange police departments. Sheriff Armando Fontoura said in a July 30 press […]

Bloomfield Council to dissolve rec board

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Township Council will be dissolving its board of recreation commissioners and Cultural Commission in an effort to downsize its government. The organizations will be replaced by a single advisory committee.  First readings of ordinances eliminating the board and commission were passed unanimously Monday, July 22. The second readings are expected […]

Time-traveling twins from Newark get their start in WO

Time-traveling twins from Newark get their start in WO

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Alexa and Beni Ventura are time traveling through other dimensions to save the history and culture of Puerto Rico, and they’re only 12 years old. The twins from Newark are fictional characters created by Dania Ramos, a Bloomfield resident and writer, director and producer. She, along with producer, sound designer and […]

Essex County receives many grants for the arts

Essex County receives many grants for the arts

TRENTON, NJ — The New Jersey State Council on the Arts recently awarded more than $15.7 million in grant funding to support 700 arts organizations, projects and artists throughout the state. “It is an honor to lead a department that invests in the people of New Jersey in such diverse and meaningful ways,” Secretary of […]

Board may move vote back to April

Board may move vote back to April

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Board of Education held a special public meeting last Thursday, July 18, to discuss a possible rescheduling of the November board elections to April. The elections can be moved with a public referendum or a board resolution. A resolution was under consideration for the next regular meeting, this past Tuesday, […]