Nutley declares Black Balloon Day, holds remembrance with resources and ceremony

The Township of Nutley Board of Commissioners on March 3 proclaimed March 6 Black Balloon Day and held a remembrance ceremony to honor people who have died of drug overdoses.

Sharon Baza led the presentation and asked attendees to "honor our loved ones, to start conversation about addiction, and to support recovery," noting local harm‑reduction literature and the township’s resource and recovery center are available to residents. The proclamation read on behalf of the board cited national data from the National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the scope of substance use disorders and urged residents to "open conversations about drug abuse." Mayor Kelly and several commissioners emphasized the event’s goal of reducing stigma and connecting residents with help.

The ceremony included a brief musical tribute, the distribution of white balloons representing hope, and an invitation for attendees to silently release balloons in memory of those they have lost. Commissioners discussed environmental and safety considerations around balloon releases and agreed some elements may be held indoors to reduce environmental impact.

The proclamation also noted that Nutley Department of Public Affairs and Health maintains literature and harm‑reduction tools and invited residents to the township’s resource recovery center. The board framed the observance as both a memorial and a public‑health outreach effort; no formal policy action was taken during the meeting. The township’s Department of Public Affairs and Health is the contact listed by presenters for information and support.