The Bloomfield Council will meet twice this month:
March 11
, Conference LEB Bldg. 7:00pm.
March 25
, Regular Chambers 7:00pm.
The Township has rolled out a brand
new website layout
,
which is cleaner and more user friendly, based on feedback gathered from residents via public forums and a survey.
The Township of Bloomfield was ordered to do a revaluation for the 2020 tax year by the Essex County Board of Taxation. Please come to any of these three upcoming community meetings to learn about the process:
Wednesday, March 13 at 10:00am at Bloomfield Recreation Building, 84 Broad Street
Wednesday, March 13 at 7:00pm at Watsessing School, 71 Prospect Street
Saturday, March 23 at 10:00am at Bloomfield Middle School, 60 Huck Road
Petitions for Mayor and Council at-large can be picked up in the Municipal Clerk’s Office, 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
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Bloomfield Library Has Fun and Academic Resources for All Ages
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The Library has dozens of programs in March, including:
- March 4, 6:45pm: Monday Book Club
- March 6, 1:00pm (up to age 5): Storytime Boogie at Shooting Star Dance Center
- March 9, 11:00am (grades k-6): Read to Brady the Therapy Dog
- March 19, 1:30pm (up to age 5): Community Storytime at Lovlee Art Studio
- March 19, 6:30pm: Non-Fiction book Club
- March 23 Ian Gallagher - Irish singer & musician, history & songs of Ireland
- March 23, 11:00am: Short Story Book Club
- March 23, 3:00pm (grades 4-6): Book Club for Judy Blume's Iggie's House
- March 23 & 30, 10:00am Special Olympics/Young Athletes Program (ages 2-7; online registration required)
- March 27, 12:00pm: Social Security Seminar - benefits & info
- Cook Book Club - Registration required, more info online
- No Storytimes for the week of March 11 as we prepare for our spring session
- Tax Assistance - by appt only, call 732-246-4772
- Tutoring: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4:00-7:00pm. Please call after 3:00pm to confirm the tutors are available
- Artwork on Display: Berkeley and Franklin Schools
View our
Adult Programs
including Monday & Thursday Movies. Join a club to practice: Genealogy, Knitting, Bridge, Financial Education. Read with one of our book clubs, adult or children, call or check our website for topics.
Children’s programs
include: Storytimes & Crafts at 11:00am on Tuesdays & Fridays (Toddler Time), Wednesdays (Preschool) and Thursdays (Baby & Me – no craft). Additional storytimes held on site at Lovlee Art Studios & Shooting Star Dance Center. Click through to our website for more information on these programs and more!
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Bloomfield Fire Chief Louis Venezia advises residents to test their smoke alarms every month. If they’re not working, residents should change the batteries immediately. The BFD is happy to help residents mitigate the risk of fires in their homes, free of charge. Chief Venezia also advises family members to plan a fire escape route and practice the plan twice a year. If a fire occurs in your home, get outside and call 911 immediately.
Chief Venezia encourages residents to call the Bloomfield Fire Department with questions any time, at 973-680-4153
, and
follow these fire safety tips
.
Bloomfield Community Police Officers want to host a private pizza party for you and your child.
Apply online
.
A report last month shows violent crimes decreased each of the past four years in Bloomfield, and are
down 50% since 2014
.
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Join Bloomfield Pride!
Bloomfield Pride, regular monthly meetings - a Happy Hour social gathering on the first Monday of each month from 6:00-8:00pm and a Business Committee meeting on the second Monday of every month from 7:00-8:30pm at the Bloomfield Civic Center, 84 Broad Street - join our
Facebook group
or e-mail us or subscribe to receive information about meetings and other events.
Saturday, March 2 from 8:00-10:30pm
at Garden State Kitchen, 406 Tompkins St, Orange NJ, Bloomfield Pride will host a
1920s-themed fundraiser
at Garden State Kitchen, benefitting the RAIN Foundation for LGBT homeless youth in East Orange and sponsored by Clara Maass Medical Center.
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Youth Recreation
Parents
, are you looking for an evening to yourself? Want a night out on the town with friends or your spouse? If your answer is YES then let the Bloomfield Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department handle the childcare portion of the evening. Your 1st – 6th grader can interact with other children and staff while participating in a fun activity. In addition, we provide several food options with your $20 registration fee.
March's activity will be a Clover Cookie Design, followed by an Egg Hunt in April
. Special awards will be given to the winners along with a fun goodie bag to all participants!
- Equipment Exchange Program
Have some lightly used sports equipment that you or your children have grown out of? Do you have children interested in a sport for the first time but want to see if they like that sport before you buy equipment? Then the Bloomfield Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department’s Equipment Exchange Program is for you! Donate during regular business hours.
To acquire this free equipment, you must be a Bloomfield resident and visit the Civic Center during regular business hours Monday – Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm and Wednesday nights 6:00 to 8:30pm.
- Consider this Business Sponsorship Opportunity
If you own a business and need a visible sponsorship opportunity, consider being a sponsor of Bloomfield Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department’s many public programs. For example, “Summer of Fun” is a collection of popular events including nine musical concerts in the parks, holidays celebrations including the Memorial Day Parade & Independence Day Celebration, the Hank Barlow Golf Outing, Family Campout and Family Drive-in. Other special events are scheduled in spring and fall. Multiple sponsorship levels are available. For details,
email the Director at
msceurman@bloomfieldtwpnj.com.
- Art League and Art Classes
- Middle School Open Court Volley Ball and Tennis!
- Girls Softball Registration
Peppermint and Suburban Softball registration
for girls in Grades 3-8 is now taking place. There is a $55 registration fee on or before March 8. After then, the registration fee is $60. Registrations will only be accepted up until Wednesday, March 13. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED to participate in evaluations/tryouts. Player evaluations will take place in a Bloomfield High School Upper Gyms on the following dates and times. Please wear athletic clothing, sneakers and bring your glove. All perspective players are urged to attend both evaluations.
Tuesday, March 12--Grades 5 & 6 – 6:00 – 7:30pm; Grades 7 & 8 – 7:30 – 9:00pm
Wednesday, March 13--Grades 3 & 4 – 6:00 – 7:00pm; Grades 5 & 6 – 7:00 – 8:00pm; Grades 7 & 8 – 8:00 – 9:00pm
- Spring Program Registration
Adult Programs – Yoga Wednesdays and Saturdays, Pilates, Zumba Tuesdays, Sunset
Classic Training, and Qigong.
Children’s Programs – Art, Tumble Tots, Gymble Tots, Pee-Wee Baseball, Rookie League Softball, Kids Safe Martial Arts, US Sports Tennis, Baton, Hip Hop Dance, Tap and Ballet, Chef It Up, Minds in Motion, TEGU Challenge and more!
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Join the Bloomfield Senior Club!
The Bloomfield Senior Club is a non-profit 55+ group that meets on the
third Friday of each month at 12:00pm in the Civic Center, Senior Lunch Room, 84 Broad Street
. Gatherings sometimes include music, guest speakers, discussions, lunches, refreshments, and more. There is a yearly fee of $20 to join. Please check back soon for the full schedule. If you have questions or would like to join, contact Dana Morton at
973-743-3332
or
dmorton@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
There are also a wide variety of Senior Fitness programs throughout the year, four days a week including: Tai Chi on Mondays, Senior Exercise on Tuesdays, Qigong on Thursdays and Zumba Gold on Fridays. Classes are $20 each and your membership makes you eligible for a $2 discount on each fitness program. See the
attached flyer
for more details.
Seniorcize – Channel 35, for Verizon Fios tune into
Channel 30 - Monday – Friday 10:30am and 4:30pm. A new class each day.
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Recycling Guidelines, Tree Pickup
Paper Shredding Day, April 27, 9:00am-12:00pm. Available to Bloomfield Residents at the Board of Education parking lot, 155 Broad Street.
Big Truck Day is May 18 from 9:00am-12:00pm, in Shoprite Parking Lot, 1409 Broad Street
Many residents aren't sure what they can or cannot recycle, so read below, or
print this attachment.
RECYCLABLE:
Bottles coded with #1, #2 or #5 on the bottom; Mixed Paper (Newspapers, Magazines, Junk Mail, Catalogs and Phone Books); Cans (Aluminum, and Steel, Tins Cans and Lids); Glass Bottles and Jars; Cardboard (Corrugated, Cereal Boxes, Clean Pizza Boxes, etc.); Clean Juice and Food Cartons.
NOT
RECYCLABLE
: Plastic Bags, Dirty/Greasy Pizza Boxes or Containers; Styrofoam; Shredded Paper; Pots, Pans and Small Appliances; and Plastic Contains and Plastic Ware (Bottles coded with
anything other than #1, #2 or #5 on the bottom.)
For more information, visit the
DPW Facebook Page or call
973-680-4127
. Their hardworking staff tries to respond to messages 7 days/week.
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Health and Human Services is Here for all Residents
The Nursing Unit works extremely hard to provide excellent services to residents of all ages. Specifically, the Department is proud to hold Blood Pressure, TB Screenings, and programs for Women and Children. View the entire
March calendar here.
T
here will be a
free memory assessment screening
Tuesday, March 5 from 10:00am-12:00pm at Town Hall.
See all Health and Human Services events and public information
online.
Social Workers will screen residents for eligibility in dozens of programs. Resources available in Spanish and English. Call
973-680-4017
to make an appointment.
The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT) of Essex County is
hosting free Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM) trainings
for alcohol vendors from
11:00am to 3:00pm on Wednesday, March 6,
at the Bloomfield Civic Center. TAM is an educational program developed by the licensed beverage industry in conjunction with liquor control, law enforcement, highway safety and substance abuse organizations. TAM participants learn how to prevent accidental over serving, the sale of alcohol to minors, violating liquor laws and more. For more information, contact Maya Lordo at
973-680-4022
or email
bmac@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
.
Health Beat, the Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services’ radio show, recently began its 3rd season. The show airs on the last Monday of every month at 3:00pm on Bloomfield College’s internet-based station, WBCR Radio. It is hosted by assistant health officer Maya Lordo and health educator Lindsay DeStefano. The next episode, on March 25, will focus on nutrition. Listen live or access the archive episodes online at
http://www.wbmatv.com/media-center.
Lead Testing at Home
The Bloomfield Engineering Department recently sent approximately 120 residents
requests to sample for lead and copper.
Participation is voluntary. To participate, please contact the Bloomfield Engineering Department at
973-680-4009
.
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Culture, Arts and History in Town
The Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center has been providing community-based programs in the areas of historical interpretation, arts programs and education, horticulture and gardening, and recreation and cultural events for over 30 years.
Oakeside will host big events this month:
March 16
– “Murder at Mulligan’s Wake” murder mystery dinner at 7:00pm, admission $64.95, BYOB
at 2:00pm, admission $10, seniors/students $5. Please call the Oakeside office for reservations:
973-429-0960
.
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The Historical Society of Bloomfield, NJ (HSOB)
is seeking active
On Tuesday, March 26 the HSOB will present “Iron Coffin Mummies of New Jersey and New York” at 7:30pm at the Bloomfield Civic Center. This FREE event will offer a holistic glimpse into the investigation surrounding the identity of a woman found inside a Fisk iron coffin that was disturbed by construction crews in New York City. Through forensic investigation with archaeology, biology and history, Archaeologist/ Anthropologist and Bloomfield resident Scott Warnasch identified the woman as an African American domestic servant who had died of smallpox in the early 1850s.
The Bloomfield Historical Society leads nature walks, museum trips, ice cream socials and more throughout the year. Local historical presentations/ meetings are held three times a year, on the fourth Tuesday of March, May and October at the Bloomfield Civic Center, 84 Broad Street.
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Founded in 1943,
the Bloomfield Federation of Music is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
, a collective of five musical ensembles — the Civic Band, Chorale, Mandolin Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Youth Band — that serves musicians of all ages and experience levels, presenting up to 20 concerts each year.
The Bloomfield Youth Band, Patrick Burns, Founding Director, continues its
3
3rd Season on Saturday, March 16 at 8:00pm
. Featured soloist will be Dylan Silverstein, tuba, and The Harrison High School Band, Danny Conde, Director, will be special guests. The program includes English Folk Song Suite (Ralph Vaughan Williams), They Hung Their Harps in the Willows (Francis Mc Beth),Choreography (Robert Sheldon), The Girl I Left Behind Me (Leroy Anderson), Trombone Rag (John Higgins), and The Old Grumbly Bear (Julius Fucik). For more information, visit
www.bloomfieldyouthband.org. ***In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be presented on Friday, March 22 at 8:00pm in Bloomfield Middle School.
The Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra, led by 19 year BSO veteran conductor Israel Herman, continues its
86th Season on Sunday, March 17, at 3:00pm
in the auditorium of Bloomfield Middle School. The Winter Concert will feature the special guest appearance of internationally renown viola virtuoso
Brett Deubner (bio here).
The orchestra will perform the Somerset Rhapsody by Gustav Holst, the Viola Concerto in G minor by Cecil Forsyth, (Brett Deubner, viola soloist), and the Symphony No. 1 in D minor by Charles Gounod. For more information, visit
www.bloomfieldsymphony.org
.
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Reduce, Reuse, and Garden!
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Greener Bloomfield is proud to present a
Composting Workshop
at Bloomfield College Library on
Saturday, March 30th from 10:30am - 12:00pm.
Hosted by award-winning environmental educator Virginia Lamb, you’ll learn how you can compost and reduce food waste at home. Snacks, beverages and giveaways included!
Also, mark your calendars for the Earth Day Festival at Brookside Park on Sunday, April 28.
Information, activities, and giveaways including:
● River Clean-up
● Young Tree Giveaways
● Recycling Information
● Learn about Gardening, Butterflies, and Composting
Greener Bloomfield wants to remind you that the easiest way to start any vegetable garden is direct seeding -- plant the seeds directly in the garden, during good weather,
and follow these guidelines.
Greener Bloomfield’s goal is to become a more sustainable town by working with the township to implement Sustainable Jersey projects while also encouraging residents to adopt sustainable habits. Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at the Civic Center. Find out more at
www.facebook.com/GreenerBloomfield
or
Greenerbloomfield.org.
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Plant Your Own Garden in Pulaski Park Community Garden!
The Bloomfield Pulaski Park Community Garden
, located at 24 Mount Vernon Avenue, (corner of Mount Vernon and Howard Street) is home to 27 - 4’ x 8’ organic raised bed garden plots available to Bloomfield residents only. The cost to rent a garden plot is $50 per growing season (fee waived for veterans, one plot per family.) All plots are currently filled for the 2019 season. If interested in joining the wait list, please email the Community Garden Committee at
BloomfieldNJGardens@gmail.com
with your full name, number and mailing address to receive an email notification once a plot becomes available for rent.
The official opening garden day and mandatory orientation for all new and returning members will be held on Saturday, April 6 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.
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