🌱 Patch AM: Where Bloomfield boys basketball lands in this season’s state playoff picture

Good day Bloomfield! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Where Bloomfield boys basketball lands in this season’s state playoff picture
• How a Bloomfield homicide suspect stayed free until a highway shootout
• How one Bloomfield jazz educator is reshaping arts education nationwide

Also on today's calendar: Art of Living Part 1 Program in the presence of Gurudev and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Windy with rain tapering off, with a high of 60 and low of 30 degrees.
• Saturday: Much colder, temps: high: 39, low: 34.
• Sunday: Partly sunny and windy, with a high of 48 and low of 27 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Key dates to remember & group classifications for the boys basketball 2025-26 season (nj.com subscription) — Bloomfield High boys basketball will compete in North 1, Group 4 this winter, with state tournament play running from late February through mid-March. NJ Advance Media lays out the full statewide schedule, cutoff dates, and how every public and non-public school is grouped for the 2025-26 season.
   

2. N.J. man was wanted for killing ex-girlfriend, other crimes before shootout with troopers (nj.com subscription) — Bloomfield residents are learning more about a 2023 local homicide after officials detailed charges against a man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend in town and remaining at large until he was wounded in a November shootout with state troopers. The report outlines earlier Bloomfield assault allegations, the discovery of the victim in her Franklin Street apartment, and ongoing warrants tied to multiple felony cases.
   

3. Bloomfield Based Musician Aims To Educate Youth (tapinto.net) — A longtime Bloomfield resident is using jazz to inspire and educate students across the country about history, democracy, and the arts. Through his nonprofit JazzReach, Hans Schuman brings live jazz performances and context-rich programs to school-aged children, aiming to spark curiosity, highlight cultural diversity, and show how music can model civic cooperation and shared responsibility.
   

4. Morris, Monmouth County players win $200K Powerball prizes as jackpot hits $1.5B (wrnjradio.com) — A Bloomfield resident might want to check their Powerball ticket: a $50,000 winner was sold at Krauser's Food Store on Broad Street in town. The article also details two $200,000 winners in Morris and Monmouth counties and notes the jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1.5 billion for Saturday’s drawing.
   

📸 Around Bloomfield

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Bloomfield

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★ Featured events ★

Friday December 19

• Art of Living Part 1 Program in the presence of Gurudev
  Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson, 2 Exchange Pl, Jersey City
  6:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Holiday Crafts and Market
  114 Broughton Ave, Bloomfield
  10:00 am
• Army Roofing Announces Launch of New Website
  165 Valley Rd, Montclair
  11:59 pm

Sunday December 21

• The World Turned Upside Down on Montclair Make Music Winter
  The Space, 356 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 19

• Wrestling: Boys Varsity vs. East Side (Home)
  Nutley High School Main Gym Nutley High School Main Gym
  6:30 pm

Sunday December 21

• Holiday Sing Along
  Women's Club of Glen Ridge , 219 Ridgewood Avenue , Glen Ridge

Monday December 22

• Basketball: Boys Varsity vs. Malcolm X Shabazz (Home)
  Nutley High School Main Gym Nutley High School Main Gym
  4:00 pm
• Basketball: Girls JV vs. Millburn (Home)
  Montclair High School Gym Montclair High School Gym
  5:30 pm
• Basketball: Girls Varsity vs. Millburn (Home)
  Montclair High School Gym Montclair High School Gym
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Christmas Eve Family Mass
  St. Francis of Assisi American National Catholic Church , 195 Ridgewood Ave , Glen Ridge
  4:00 pm
• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
  Brookdale Reformed Church, 16 Bellevue Ave, Bloomfield, NJ, 07003
  5:00 pm
• Christmas Eve Mass
  St. Francis of Assisi American National Catholic Church , 195 Ridgewood Ave , Glen Ridge
  10:00 pm

📣 Bloomfield Shout Outs!

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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
• HZY GOODS — (973) 200-3030
  HZY Goods Dispensary in East Orange Now Open!
• 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!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Reports of suspicious package at Newark Penn Station, New Jersey.
  9:24AM on Dec 18: PATH Train reports NWK-WTC delay due to crew finding an unattended package at NWK. (Nextdoor )

• CHIPOTLE posted a job opening for Kitchen Leader in Bloomfield. Apply here.
• Partnership for Children posted a job opening for Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility Specialist in Bloomfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bloomfield here.

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 don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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