Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Bloomfield Police Offer ‘Safe Zone’ To Make Purchases, Sales From E-Commerce Sites
Coming up on the Bloomfield Patch calendar: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Hey there, Bloomfield! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Use Bloomfield police HQ as your safer meetup spot
- Which Bloomfield stores were hit in this week’s police blotter?
- How solid are Bloomfield schools’ finances heading into 2026?
Also on today's calendar: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service and 8 more events.
Find out what's happening in Bloomfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Bloomfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny and windy, with a high of 45 and low of 29 degrees.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 44, low: 23.
- Friday: Colder; snow in the afternoon, with a high of 31 and low of 24 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Bloomfield Police Offer ‘Safe Zone’ To Make Purchases, Sales From E-Commerce Sites (patch.com) — Bloomfield residents making Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist deals can use a 24/7 monitored Safe Exchange Zone in the lobby of police headquarters at 1 Municipal Plaza. The Bloomfield Police Department reminds buyers and sellers that only legal, in-person transactions are allowed and that items cannot be left unattended, offering a safer option during the busy holiday shopping season. 
• Bloomfield Police Blotter: December 15, 2025 to December 21, 2025 (secaucusnj.net) — Bloomfield police are reporting a busy week of shoplifting, package theft, and a garage burglary between December 15 and 21, with several arrests made at local stores on Franklin Street and Bloomfield Avenue. Detectives are still investigating multiple incidents, including a stolen ATV from Brookdale Gardens, and note that the blotter reflects only part of overall police activity.
• 12/16 Bloomfield BOE Meeting Recap (tapinto.net) — Bloomfield’s school district just received a clean financial audit, with strong reserves earmarked for building projects, maintenance, and future budgets. At the Dec. 16 Board of Education meeting, officials highlighted $13 million in capital reserves and emphasized careful use of local tax dollars, contrasting Bloomfield’s stability with nearby districts facing tougher financial challenges.
📸 Around Bloomfield
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Bloomfield
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Brookdale Reformed Church, 16 Bellevue Ave, Bloomfield, NJ, 07003,
5:00 pm
Wednesday December 24
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Christmas Eve Family Mass
St. Francis of Assisi American National Catholic Church , 195 Ridgewood Ave , Glen Ridge
4:00 pm - Christmas Eve Mass
St. Francis of Assisi American National Catholic Church , 195 Ridgewood Ave , Glen Ridge
10:00 pm - LIBRARY CLOSED - Christmas Day
Glen Ridge Free Public Library - Play with Blocks
Glen Ridge Free Public Library Glen Ridge - Children's Area,
9:00 am - Outdoor Games - Inside!!
Glen Ridge Free Public Library Glen Ridge - Children's Area,
10:00 am - Phish Watch Party @ Hometown Arcade!
Hometown Arcade - New Jersey , 85 Washington St , Bloomfield
7:00 pm - Book Bingo - Grades 1-5
Glen Ridge Free Public Library Glen Ridge - Children's Area,
10:30 am - Table Ping Pong
Glen Ridge Free Public Library Glen Ridge - Children's Area,
1:00 pm - Play with Dinosaur Bones
Glen Ridge Free Public Library Glen Ridge - Children's Area,
1:00 pm - New Year's Eve 1/2 Day - Municipal Offices Closed
Nutley Township Community Calendar , 1 Kennedy Drive , Nutley
11:30 am
Wednesday December 24
Thursday December 25
Friday December 26
Saturday December 27
Sunday December 28
Monday December 29
Tuesday December 30
Wednesday December 31
📣 Bloomfield Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Christmas Eve (observed) 1/2 Day - Municipal Offices Closed
Nutley Township Community Calendar , 1 Kennedy Drive , Nutley
11:30 am - EARLY CLOSURE - Christmas Eve
Glen Ridge Free Public Library
12:30 pm - Parkinson’s Strength
JCC MetroWest , 760 Northfield Ave , West Orange
2:00 pm - Learn English
West Orange Public Library West Orange - Literacy Room
2:00 pm
Wednesday December 24
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Bloomfield PatchAM possible:
- Empowered Connections — (301) 200-1884
Group Counseling for Women & Teens - Dogtopia of West Orange — (475) 338-3501
Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness - The Well Read Travel Planner
Get free help planning your family vacations! - HZY GOODS — (973) 200-3030
HZY Goods Dispensary in East Orange Now Open!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- 12/22/25 -- CHRISTMAS -- For me Christmas is about FRIENDSHIP.
Friendship is a promise spoken only by the heart. It is a promise that is renewed every time friends/family gather and enjoy good times that come… (Nextdoor Bloomfield Proper) - Optimizing Your Inspiration
Date: Wed, Dec 31 • 10 pm Location: 212 Hunterdon St https://www.eventbrite.com/e/optimizing-your-inspiration-tickets-1978620854238?aff=ebdsshother… (Nextdoor Downtown)
- Pizza Hut posted a job opening for Team Member in Bloomfield. Apply here.
- Dunkin' posted a job opening for Assistant Manager in Bloomfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bloomfield here.
🗞 Nearby News
Glen Ridge
- North Jersey holiday tournament schedules for boys and girls basketball (northjersey.com)
- Essex County Daily Buzz: Dec. 23, 2025 (jerseybee.org)
- EXCLUSIVE: Santa Claus Releases 2025's Naughty List … You Won't Believe Who From Nutley Is on It (tapinto.net)
Montclair
- Plans Developing For Montclair's Aging Municipal, Police Facilities (patch.com)
- Towns of Essex County: Montclair (montclairlocal.news)
Belleville
Ok Bloomfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
