NJ in State of Emergency; Little Falls Braces for Flooding

The great Nor'easter over the weekend has caused some schools to delay openings on Monday, thanks to floods, the risk of floods or power outages. Details on Barista Kids.

A reader in Montclair has found a missing dog.

Continue reading "Anyone Missing a Black Male Dog?" »

Well, the rain had stopped for a while and is supposed to be over by noon, but the state is recovering from a rainfall that measured as much as 5 inches, according to the Star Ledger. Power is out in many neighborhoods, trees are down and the West Orange St. Patrick's Day parade has been postponed until next Sunday.

Meanwhile, the strange pulsing light in the sky that many people observed last night is explained in last night's storm thread by Pork Roll, who followed it to the source -- a downed power line on Ridge Road in Cedar Grove -- after a Dunkin' Donuts run.

Continue reading "Washout" »

A tipster sends in this photo of a tree that came down on Montclair Ave., near McDonough. Another writes of NJ Transit train suspensions, incl., entire NE Corridor line, train/bus tix being cross-honored, etc. Check the status before you travel, or stay in if you can.

We're also hearing of streets closed throughout the area, and power outages in the south end of Glen Ridge, Bloomfield and Montclair.

Continue reading "Wind, Rain, Tree and Transit Trouble" »

The Essex County Prosecutors Office has charged Nutley 24-year-old Preye Roberts with attempted murder and weapons charges in the Jan. 30 shooting of Fairfield policeman Gerald Veneziano in Fairfield.

Acting Prosecutor Robert Laurino said the break in the case came when the task force was notified by Union County law enforcement authorities that a weapon and ballistics were seized from Roberts during a February 13 incident in Union Township, and then investigators learned that Roberts had rented a black Dodge Caliber with a "W" in the license plate.

Continue reading "Arrest in Fairfield Cop Shooting Case" »

Maya Polton, 31, and Eric Handelsman, 30, both graduates of Montclair High, made news Thursday when Maya gave birth to their firstborn, Jacob Max, in the back of a livery cab while driving through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. Read the full story of Maya's exciting delivery here. Baby and parents are happy and healthy. Congrats to the new mom and dad!

In this Sunday's mix: a four bedroom colonial in Little Falls, a split level in Bloomfield, and a Ridgewood Avenue colonial in Glen Ridge. Your Sunday sampler, on Real Estate.

Last week, we wrote about how Fran Pelzman Liscio created a work of art to help raise money for an organization called Puppies Behind Bars that trains prison inmates how to raise service dogs for the disabled-mainly veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan-and as explosive detection canines for law enforcement.

It turns out that The Adult School of Montclair is offering a Puppies Behind Bars: Raising Working Dogs in Prison class later this month.

Continue reading "Puppies Behind Bars Comes to Adult School of Montclair" »

Essex County Prosecutor spokesperson Charlotte Smith announced Humberto Nieves, age 24, was arrested at his home in Bloomfield, New Jersey today. Nieves was charged with murder and weapon offenses for the alleged shooting death of Jean Sanchez, age 28, of Newark.

On December 25, 2009 at approximately 3:43 am in the area of Greenwood Lake Street and Agate Place in Newark, police responded to a call of gunshots fired. Upon arrival, Newark police officers found the unresponsive body of Jean Sanchez on the ground near a train track. Sanchez was later pronounced dead at University Hospital. Dr. Blumenfeld, at the Medical Examiner's Office, determined that Mr. Sanchez died from gun shot wounds of the head, torso and extremity.

Bail in the amount of $100,000.00 has been set by Superior Court Judge Michael A. Petrolle.

A tabby is missing in Montclair.

Continue reading "Have You Seen Dixie?" »

Hey Baristaville, don't let a little rain dampen your spirits - there's comfort in pancakes:

The 40th Annual Glen Ridge Pancake Breakfast - a time honored tradition and benefit for Glen Ridge High School music programs. Come out for fresh, hot pancakes, sausage, juice, and coffee served by members of the Glen Ridge Bands.

When: Saturday, March 13, 2010
Where: Lower hall of The G.R. Congregational Church
Time: 8:30 - 11:00 a.m.
How Much: $5.00 per peson, tickets at the door.

Tonight, Friday March 12
Kick-off your St. Patrick's Celebrations!
7pm Strayaway plays traditional Irish music - Free Concert tonight at Roseland Public Library, 261 Hollywood Avenue.

Also tonight, George Winston is playing at the Sanctuary in Chatham, 8pm - their version of Outpost in the Burbs.

And it's opening night for a weekend-long show by Montclair High Dance Company.

Continue reading "Weekend Round-Up: March 12, 13, 14, 2010" »

Two one-of-a-kind Montclair homes came on the market last week, both very distinct in style and ambiance, but comparable in elegance and size. 115 Llewellyn (above, left), a Victorian built in 1865, is one of the oldest homes in Montclair. The austere English Tudor at 310 Highland (above right), looking strong as a fortress, is perfect for the next Grey Poupon commercial, butler at the door. Read more on Real Estate.

Bloomfield voters crushed the $2.9 million Foley Field bond issue, which would have provided for the rehabilitation of the ailing field, during a special referendum held March 9. The final results, including provisional ballots were announced earlier this week; residents cast 1,205 votes against versus 1,085 in favor, according to a report on Northjersey.com.

Built in 1934, Foley field has been home to Bloomfield High Bengals, high school graduation ceremonies, and the town's Fourth of July fireworks. In 2006, the stadium's deteriorating bleachers were deemed unsafe and some sections were declared off-limits. That same year, the town overwhelmingly voted down a referendum that would have fixed the stadium for $4.9 million. Last summer, the whole stadium was shut down.

Bloomfield High Athletics Director, Steve Jenkins, says this week's disappointing vote means no home football games at all in the short term. "Who knows when we'll have a home game again."

Continue reading "Foley Field Reconstruction Referendum Defeated" »

Are you guilty of going out in your pj's? I know I'm guilty of driving my kids to school pajama-clad, cell phone in hand, terrified I'll be stopped and outed for faux fashion. And then there's the whole wear-your-pj's-to-school trend my daughter has adopted. What's next? Join the discussion on pajama politics, on Barista Kids.

Everyone's talking about the rain, bracing for a very wet weekend. This morning's sky is as dark and gloomy as the weekend forecast announcing three straight days of precipitation. In Baristaville, this morning's sprinkles could increase with 15-25 mph winds this afternoon. Tomorrow and Sunday the weather gets serious, with high winds and a flood watch in effect through Sunday morning. Monday, there's a 50% chance of rain.

Will you get out or be hanging at home? I'll be with Montclair Troop 239 selling Girl Scout Cookies, under cover at Lackawanna Plaza 10-2, on Saturday. Stop by if you're out and about. Talk about your favorite rainy-day weekend past-times, or tell us what else is on your mind. It's your Friday open thread.

A tipster writes of traffic trouble in Montclair...

South Mountain Avenue has had a portion of one lane closed south bound the last two mornings, necessitating a cumbersome & time consuming detour down to Valley Road and back up. It would be helpful if driving commuters could get info on upcoming street closings due to road or tree work. For a start, when will whatever the work is that's causing the detour be finished?

Tell us your traffic woes or talk about anything else (and if you see something that's needs fixing, report it here). It's your open thread.

A message to "Act Now!" was posted on Renaissance Middle School's PTA website earlier this week. The Montclair school's PTA says there is a threat to the magnet program due to budget cuts on education. Read about it on Barista Kids.

The contest is over: Thanks for playing!

We've got two pairs of tickets to give away to tomorrow night's (3/12) Levon Helm show at the Wellmont and another two pairs for Sunday's (3/14) Al Green show.

If you want them - send an email to tips with the name of the artist and one song by that artist. First two readers to pick the winning song, gets tickets for the show they are playing for (only play if you can use the tickets). Ready, set, go...

Update: One pair for Helm has already been won, one remains. No one has guessed Al Green song - yet.

Hint: Both songs are feel good, "happy" songs.

Update: Two winners for Helm.

UPDATE: We've got all our winners -- thanks for playing. Songs were "Feeling Good" (Helm) and Love and Happiness (Green).

The Montclair Township Animal Shelter is "going green" with a St. Patrick's Day "Erin-Go-Bark" Adoption Celebration on Saturday, March 13, from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the shelter, 77 North Willow Street, Montclair. There will be fun and refreshments as well as the opportunity to adopt one of the shelter's orphaned animals.

Continue reading ""Erin-Go-Bark" Adoption Celebration Set for March 13" »