High winds ahead. The National Weather Service is predicting gusts up to 55 mph tomorrow afternoon. Plus rain. With warnings that "poor drainage street flooding" is possible. Look out, Godfrey Road. And send pictures.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 6:43 PM | Permalink | Comments

Swashbuckling schoolbus drivers, slowpokes on the Garden State Parkway and piles of leaves in the middle of the road are the complaints that Bloomfield blogger Tom Biro has, now that the weekend is over and he's been released from obligatory thankfulness.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 6:03 PM | Permalink | Comments

Spotted outside the Glen Ridge High School cafeteria today, according to a source inside the school: recruiters from the U.S. Army. They were giving away pamphlets and pencils. Hey, dude, a free pencil. Sign us up.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 5:19 PM | Permalink | Comments

Nineteen members of Montclair State's Delta Chi fraternity have been charged with hazing by the Rockaway Township police.

Making the pledges run and roll in the mud in the dark is funny, maybe. Having them do it near a 100-foot drop, not so much. The incident took place last week near the Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management area.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 4:35 PM | Permalink | Comments

Word from the real estate community leaked out yesterday that Jay Schweppe, who sold his business last October to NRT, Inc., the parent company of Burgdorff, is stepping down from day-to-day operations of the merged Valley Road real estate firm.

Schweppe was named NRT's vice president of strategic initiatives for the northeast region last year when the acquisition was announced. He was also going to continue to manage the newly created Schweppe-Burgdorff ERA -- a role that has now ended.

Continue reading "End of an Era" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Big Apple Circus will be the main attraction at this year's Montclair First Night -- the New Year's Eve celebration for families that features alcohol-free entertainment in venues spread across the downtown.

Clowns, stilt-walkers and other buskers wil bring the circus theme to Montclair's streets. Other acts will include Montclair pianist Robin Spielberg, blues and rock by Sweet Georgia Brown, a NYC subway violinist and a skateboard demo.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children -- with an additional $5 charge for those who want to see the circus. For more info, call 973.509.4958. A www.firstnightmontclair.com website, still under construction, provides a digital countdown to the new year.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments

Sometimes the news, Barista-style, just writes itself. If we hadn't been grabbed by the opening of this Boston Globe column,

I don't like to reveal that I live in Newton because it is so terminally unhip. It could be worse; I might live in some white-bread hell like Wayland, or Glen Ridge, N.J.

we surely would have perked up at the reference to suburban coyotes.

There is a small section of Newton called Waban. If Newton is like the Cote d'Azur, Waban resembles the Principality of Monaco: a tiny enclave of unimaginable wealth. Waban borders on precious "open space" -- you know, the kind of land rich people are always anxious to preserve, especially when it abuts their own homes. And guess who's moved in? Coyotes!

And they're desperate to get rid of them.

Wait! Coyotes? This is ringing a bell. It wasn't so long ago that Pat Kenschaft was telling us that coyotes would be good for Montclair because they'd bring the deer population down. Or maybe not.

And Glen Ridge terminally unhip? We beg your pardon. Do they serve sushi in the high school cafeteria in Newton?

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments

Q: Who is Ken Jennings?

Rumors of Jennings' impending loss have circulated for weeks. Kotke.org has audiotape of the Final Jeopardy question he missed.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 6:43 PM | Permalink | Comments

Baristanet correspondent Suzanne O'Connor, of Douglas Road in Glen Ridge, sends this picture of the giant, 100-year red oak that toppled in her yard around 4 am Sunday. "The tree was said to be 'old but in good health' in March when it was trimmed," she writes. "Upon post mortem exam it was noted that the tree was rotted inside." The fallen timber took out power to much of Douglas Road yesterday. No one was hurt.

&ETC. According to this story, Douglas Road in Glen Ridge wasn't the only street to lose power locally. PSE&G reported outtages across Montclair yesterday.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments

Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that we reported that someone had started a Yahoo message board for Glen Ridge? Actually, it turns out that the Yahoo Glen Ridge Forum was the second such forum in town. It was preceded by the little-known Glen Ridge Tax Discussions.

Sound arcane? Don't forget, tax discussions can lead to big things.

Speaking of big things, and taxes, look for a forum next Thursday night, when the Glen Ridge Board of Ed and the Garden State Coalition invites taxpayers, parents and school board reps from across the county to discuss the implications of S1701 -- a bill passed by the McGreevey administration last summer to limit school spending. At the heart of the issue are questions about why schools are funded through property taxes in New Jersey, and the long-range implications of the Abbott school funding case.

The forum is called "Schools are Not the Culprit" and will be held in the Ridgewood Ave. auditorium, 235 Ridgewood Ave., Glen Ridge, Thurs. Dec. 9 at 7:30 pm.

&ETC: Lex points out that the New York Times covered the Essex County secession story in the Jersey section on Sunday. The article is not online, so you have to dig it out of your recycling or go to the library. Section 14, page 6.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments

Straight from the Township of Montclair's website:

Santa's Mailbox

Kids can mail a letter to Santa and will receive a personalized letter in return.

Letters can be mailed to:

SANTA CLAUS
205 Claremont Ave.
Montclair, NJ 07042

Letters may also be dropped off at the PRCA office. Please remember to include a return address.

NO LETTERS AFTER DECEMBER 17

Presented by the Montclair Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs In conjucntion with the Montclair Fire and Police Departments, & B.I.D.

OK, kids, here's your chance. Let's see your Letter to Remsen Santa. What do you want in your Montclair stocking? Historic designation for the Marlboro Inn? Valet parking at the high school? Having your leaves picked up by Christmas? All you have to do is ask.

Best letter to Santa wins a Barista mug or t-shirt!

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments

After the deluge, a glorious sunset.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:20 PM | Permalink | Comments

Baristanet reader Sharon Gill sent us this photo of flooding this morning on Godfrey Road in Montclair.  Gutter and street work in the area (which went on for months) was no match for the torrents.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Debbie Galant at 7:58 AM | Permalink | Comments

Yes, you could go to a big box store this weekend, get trampled by the crowds and wait for hours in the checkout line. But that was, like, so 24 hours ago.

You could, on the other hand, consult Baristanet's Thrills page for something else to do this weekend.

Here's a novel idea. Get out and enjoy the sunshine.

Continue reading "Shop Til You Drop Have Fun in Baristaville" »

Posted by at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Montclair Times has a story about the $35 million school planned for Washington Street in Montclair. The school is expected to open in 2008, and will likely be an elementary school.

According to the story, an architectural firm has been hired to figure out the transportation and parking issues problems posed by the location.

Good luck. We remember parking at the old Washington St. "Y" as its own special circle of hell. Or maybe, to be fair, we're just remembering that special hellish combo of finding a parking space on the narrow one-block street, taking an infant seat out of the car, setting infant down in chaotic locker room and trying to dry off and dress a squirming wet four-year-old after swim lessons.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments

There's a blood shortage in New Jersey, particularly of the universal donor O variety. At some centers, the state health chief says, there's less than a one-day supply.

Here's how to give locally:

Continue reading "Give Blood" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments

Yesterday, food. Today, food for thought. Click here for EPIC: 2014, a dystopian view of what things like Baristanet can lead to.  (Via Deanland.)

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

And they're off! The weather cooperated for Glen Ridge's big Thanksgiving Day race, the A8K.

Below: Horace Ashenfelter, who won a gold medal 3,000-meter steeple-chase in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics; the crowd; winner Stephen Ondieki, 30, of Hackensack, who ran the 8K in a record time of 25:10. Heather Gardiner, 26, of Morristown was the winner among women, with a time of 30:07. More results here. (Photos by Warren Levinson and Carl Bergmanson.)

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments

It looks like chunky Pepto-Bismol, but the Barista swears: left-leaning, blue-state, NPR-listening, Baristanet-reading cooks will love this famous recipe, offered up every year by Susan Stamberg of "All Things Considered."

Really, who wouldn't like cranberries, onions, horseradish and sour cream mixed together?

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments

About 700 runners are already registered, and 300 more are expected, for the A8K Classic -- the traditional Thanksgiving Day race in Glen Ridge. The race, formerly called "The Turkey Trot," will go on no matter the weather. "You just can't turn off something like this," said Dan Murphy, the organizer, who says that registrants can still come pick up their t-shirts, even if they feel it's too wet to run.

The A8K starts at 9 am. A 1-mile "Ridger Romp" takes place at 8:30 am. Registration is tonight from 6-9 pm and tomorrow starting at 7:30 am. in the Glen Ridge High School cafeteria.

Proceeds benefit Glen Ridge High School athletics. More information on the race, including a map of the course, here.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:24 AM | Permalink | Comments

Best to lay off the holiday schnapps the next few days -- at least if you plan to get behind a wheel. A small battalion of unmarked state police cars (used Crown Victorias, to be exact) will be out patrolling New Jersey highways throughout the Thanksgiving holidays, starting tonight. And they're specifically looking for drunk and aggressive drivers.

According to a story by the "Road Warrior" in today's Record, there were 10 Thanksgiving road fatalities in New Jersey last year.

In addition to the unmarked cars, the state has contributed $150,000 to local police departments to crack down on drunk drivers over the holidays. Bloomfield and Montclair are both included in the program.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments

Could free taxpayer-subsidized pre-K become a thing of the past in Glen Ridge? The school district dropped a hint of the possibility in the Fall 2004 GRPS Report Card.

Pre-K is not state-mandated, except in Abbott districts, but we have always believed that it is an important part of our educational program. As with other non-mandated programs, we have maintained Pre-K even in the face of greatly reduced state aid. Now, however, our legislators have imposed severe caps on our budget, fund balance (rainy day money) and administrative expenditures. We are also faced with an impending state budget crisis that may cause our state aid to be further reduced.

In our experience, nothing gets uglier than a fight over pre-K. We know a book group that broke up years ago over whether the question of whether working mothers should get priority in getting their kids in the highly coveted a.m. pre-K slots. And rumors, over the years, of the district dropping pre-K seem to divide quite neatly over demographic lines -- the demographics being who still has kids in diapers, and who doesn't.

Our prediction: tantrums are coming. And not just from the 4-year-olds. Please weigh in.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 6:28 PM | Permalink | Comments

Alliance Repertory Theater, locked out of its old space in Bloomfield and waiting for its new theater in Montclair to be renovated, has scrapped its entire fall schedule. But the theater company has found a home for its upcoming production of "The Country Club," opening Jan. 21, at Playhouse 22 in East Brunswick.

Alliance hopes to be treading the boards in Baristaville again with its February production of "Flyin West."

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments

And speaking of shopping (see below), apparently those who ventured to the Short Hills Mall yesterday got swept up in a "24"-like anti-terrorism training simulation.

While shoppers bustled in and out of Macy's and Bloomingdale's, about two dozen squad leaders from the county's Rapid Deployment Team practiced techniques ranging from searching a tractor-trailer for contraband to sweeping a large public building for a bomb.

Searching a tractor-trailer for contraband? The writers for "24" did much better than that last season, when Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), chasing a virus-infected teenager in an LA mall, got shot at the top of the escalator.

Heck, try waiting in the checkout line during a Macy's one-day sale. Now that can be scary.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments

Even as preservationists gear up for a Dec. 3 court date on the fate of the Marlboro Inn, furniture, fixtures and bedding are being removed from the structure piece by piece by piece.

Today's Star-Ledger reports that owner Steven Plofker, who wants to tear down the inn and build 10 houses, has been opening the property for a kind of private estate sale for select shoppers -- who must pay for the booty by writing checks to charity.

Without electricity or heat, the Marlboro Inn Bazaar is not exactly a shopper's paradise. "It was," said one shopper quoted in the article, "a little like being in a Stephen King novel."

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:35 AM | Permalink | Comments

A reader reminds us that we almost closed out the day without mentioning the 41st anniversary of the JFK assassination. Indeed -- but only because we lost track of the calendar, not because we don't feel the date is important.

Nov. 22, 1963 was -- like the Challenger explosion and now Sept. 11, 2001 -- one of those definitive how-old-were-you and how-did-you-find-out events. For the Barista, it was during third-grade, in an elementary school in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. Our memories of the day itself are a little vague. That day blends into all the black-and-white hued days that followed and somehow seem linked: the non-stop TV coverage, the grave mood of all the grown-ups, the procession of mourners just a few miles away, John-John's brave salute, the deaths of Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland, the RFK assassination, the shooting of Martin Luther King ...

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments

For all the indignation, in certain quarters, that Paris Hilton chose Glen Ridge as a place for slumming earlier this month, Barista respectfully submits this picture of some stained and duct-taped seats in the Ridgewood Avenue School auditorium. The 600+ seat venue is home to all the theater projects in town, including this weekend's "Oliver!"

In an announcement before each of showing of the Gas Lamp Players musical this weekend, theaterista Jessica Sporn told the audience that the Glen Ridge Education Foundation is finally taking an auditorium reno on this year -- and the audience could honor any member of the cast by sending in a contribution.

This is, by the way, the same auditorium where Tom Cruise was discovered during a performance of "Guys and Dolls."

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:07 AM | Permalink | Comments

Thom Kennon is a better man than we are. He's made good on his election bet with Montclair's token Republican, Jerry Mosier, and coughed up the $100 he vowed to contribute to two of Mosier's political causes after Kerry lost the presidential election. (Kennon will now get mail from the NRA and the Republican National Committee for life eternity.) Shown here, in an exclusive photo captured by Raymmmondo this past weekend in a secret undisclosed location, is Kennon barely touching "1st Freedom," the magazine of the National Rifle Association

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Montclair Art Museum has launched a new advertising campaing under the theme "Face to Face with the American Spirit." Left, a portion of the "Face to Face" poster, now featured at area train stations, which bears portraits from the museum's permanent collections. As part of the campaign, MAM has purchased radio spots on WNYC and WBGO; on-screen advertising at the Clairidge Theater starts next month.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments

This is no news to readers of the Montclair Watercooler, but late last week environmentalist Pat Kenschaft admitted to the general membership that her idea of importing coyotes to keep the local deer population down was... well... not such a good idea.

Kenschaft's coyote proposal inspired many comments when we first ran it last month.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 5:47 PM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:17 AM | Permalink | Comments

A warning to the 50 percent of Baristanet's readers who come to us via Comcast high-speed internet. Beware phishers who try to get credit card or password information from you by e-mail. More information here.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments

Chess makes the Barista's head hurt, but this Saturday morning open chess playdate strikes us as a cool thing anyway.

The Montclair Learning Center is pleased to offer a FREE Open Chess "Playdate" for student players and their families and friends as part of its scholastic chess program. Saturdays, 9am-12pm, 24 N. Fullerton Avenue (rear of First United Methodist Church), Montclair.

Children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent. For more info, call 201.306.5868 or write to contactus@mlcplus.com.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments

Our coverage of the Short Stop Diner's conversion into a Dunkin' Donuts reminded our friend and reader Brooke Allen of a radio piece he heard about the diner several years ago. He looked it up and it turned out to be a Jane and Michael Stern segment on "The Splendid Table" from 2000. Here's a link that will take you to the show. (RealPlayer required.)

Fast forward about 8 minutes in, and hear all about the little diner famous for "eggs in the skillet."

Posted by Debbie Galant at 7:45 AM | Permalink | Comments

Gregory Mitchell, a dancer who played the angel in "Forbidden Christmas or the Doctor and the Patient" in the debut performance at the Alexander Kasser Theater at Montclair State University, died yesterday after collapsing onstage during a Kennedy Center performance last week. The featured performer in the show, now cancelled, was Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments

Proof that the Barista's attention span is (sometimes) longer than the life of a fruit fly. From PublishersMarketplace.com (subscription required), news that the Barista's novel has been sold to St. Martin's:

FICTION: GENERAL/OTHER

Former NYT New Jersey columnist Debra Galant's RATTLED: A Comedy of Bad Manners, pitched as "in the spirit of Carl Hiaasen meets Susan Isaacs," soccer moms, farmers and other endangered species vie for dominance in the rapidly developing NJ countryside, to Dori Weintraub at St. Martin's, by Lisa Bankoff at ICM (NA).

Posted by Debbie Galant at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments

The demolition of the Hahne's building in downtown Montclair began at noon today after an hour of speeches. With about 100 people watching, including children from Montclair's community pre-K, Mayor Ed Remsen gave the signal to start the wrecking, and within minutes he was holding a piece of the crumbling building and smiling for pictures.

"To quote the late great Jerry Garcia," Remsen said before the demolition began. "What a long, strange trip it's been." He called the Hahne's building a "monstrosity" whose demolition "allows us to generate new tax revenues" for Montclair.

Continue reading "Hard Hats and Ceremony" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments

At the 11th hour and 59th minute, architect prof Petia Morozov sends her own rendering of the Siena, the planned replacement for the Hahne's building... which will enter into history today. (The demolition ceremonies get underway at 11 am.) This image is actually part of a larger document that she sent to the Montclair Times this morning. Morozov charges that the developer's rendering of the 7-story mixed use tower to replace the Hahne's building is misleading. The actual tower, she says, will eclipse the church tower and cast a long shadow over downtown Montclair.

The full text of her letter to the Times (and us) follows:

Continue reading "Casting a Shadow" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Gas Lamp Players present "Oliver!" at Ridgewood Ave. School in Glen Ridge this weekend. Shows Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2 pm. Tickets $8 and $10.

Continue reading "Oliver!" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:38 AM | Permalink | Comments

When Glen Ridge High School report cards came in the mail yesterday, some eagle-eyed students thought their cumulative grade point averages looked a little off. Confirmation came from the guidance department came today: the students were right, and the cumulative GPA's are wrong. The averages will be corrected on the permanent record, but new report cards will not be issued, we hear. 

Posted by Debbie Galant at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments

Hahne's may be going down tomorrow, but downtown Montclair's Christmas tree went up today. Secured in its place of honor at Church Street and North Fullerton, the hulking blue spruce debuts more than a week ahead of Thanksgiving. The rest of Church Street as well as Bloomfield Ave have been wreathed, with most local store windows reflecting visions of sugarplums. If strolling downtown isn't enough to get you singing deck the halls, the folks at Van Vleck House are doing just that, today through Saturday, with their annual fundraising festival of trees, weaths and topiaries decorated by talented volunteers and local celebrities. Planned contributions include a tree adorned with cosmetics by makeup mogul Bobbi Brown and a tree decorated with miniature bulldozers by Steven Plofker. OK, maybe we're making that last part up, but it would be cute, wouldn't it?

Posted by at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments

It's outer Baristaville, but we still thought you might be interested to know that the Maplewood-South Orange Schools have banned all musical references to Christmas this winter -- even in instrumentals. The story appeared in yesterday's Star-Ledger and the school system was flooded with calls.

Continue reading "Santa Ban" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

Big yellow machines and guys in hard hats are busy converting Bloomfield's Short Stop Diner into a Dunkin' Donuts. The sign and the color scheme are going to change, but the chrome will stay.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

According to this story, actor Ben Gazzara is planning to revive his one-man show, "Nobody Don't Like Yogi."

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments

A story in today's Montclair Times explains how the Hahne's department store will come down tomorrow, and those of us looking for a big Hollywood-style building collapse will be disappointed.

Imagine several praying mantises nibbling away at a giant leaf. Now, for the leaf, substitute the 54-year-old Hahne’s building. For the insects, substitute two or three excavating machines — big tractors with long booms ending in hydraulic jaws capable of severing steel and concrete as if it were plant material.

The big issue is protecting Christ Church, whose tall stain-glass window stands only 10-feet away from Hahne's. But come to think of it, post 9/11, who wants to see a building suddenly pancake into dust anyway?

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:29 AM | Permalink | Comments

But it could have. Just your average, ordinary, late fall, suburban case of Leaf Rage.

Thanks to A Socialite's Life, via Tom.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 7:42 PM | Permalink | Comments

No more flirting across the aisle on long bus rides to Pennsylvania to register voters. Guess if you're still looking for that special someone, you've got to be more inventive. Co-ed touch football anyone?

Posted by Debbie Galant at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments

Our pal Soprano Sue, who never travels anywhere without her Barista mug, went on another trip last week. First person to correctly identify the backdrop wins a Barista mug. Otherwise, you'll have to buy one online.

UPDATE: Lex wins, correctly guessing Yosemite as the place that Soprano Sue visited last week, Barista mug in tow. But since he's using a fake e-mail address, he'll have to write back with real contact information in order to claim his prize.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments

If you've got any goodbyes to say, any pictures to take, any lawsuits to file, you better do it quickly. The wrecking ball is scheduled to knock down the Hahne's Building this Friday.

The Hahne's building was designed by Roland Wank of the architectural firm Fellheimer & Wagner. Wank also had a hand in designing Cincinnati's Union Terminal, which bears an uncanny resemblance to Hahne's. That building eventually became a museum.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:12 AM | Permalink | Comments

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. But he comes down your chimney, not through your e-mail box. If you've gotten an e-mail promising free $35 GAP gift certificates for every seven people you forward the e-mail to, hit delete instead. It's a scam.

UPDATE: The Save NPR e-mail, also making the rounds again, another hoax.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 7:11 AM | Permalink | Comments

So much for gay Americans. Now it's time for depressed Americans.

New Jersey's new acting governor, Richard Codey of West Orange, started his first day as gov at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital. Codey is a longtime advocate of mental health and his wife has gone public about having depressive episodes.

The governor also set up a mental health task force. Yippie! Let's start by putting Prozac in the drinking water. Then, let's cut property taxes in half. That'll help our mood.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments

Bloomfield vet Amy Miller, about to be kicked out of her Washington St. office because of the redevelopment of Bloomfield Center, is joining with the gris eminence of Baristaville veterinarians, Montclair's Dr. George Cameron. Dr. Miller plans to make the transition in Janaury.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments

The Star-Ledger reports today that a priest at St. Valentine's Roman Catholic Church in Bloomfield has stepped down from his duties, due to charges of sexual abuse that go back about 30 years.

According to the article, Monsignor Robert Chabak, 58, is accused of molesting a teenage boy over a period of three years, while assigned to St. Mary of the Assumption in Elizabeth.

Because the alleged crime took place in Elizabeth, the case has been handed over to the prosecutor's office in Union County.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:46 AM | Permalink | Comments

New on the menu at the Glen Ridge High School cafeteria: sushi.

According to our sources, it was just introduced about a week ago. No raw fish; just California rolls. And expensive, by school lunch standards, about $4 for 6 pieces.

Still, we think we just heard a collective groan from all the red states.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

What do you call someone who steals your rake ... but replaces it with an inferior model? 

Exhibit 1: Red plastic rake, left on the lawn Saturday.

Exhibit 2: Bamboo rake, found on lawn Sunday.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Montclair's official website offers a page of "Holiday Safety Tips." And we thought the scary holiday was over.

Included:

And a few of our own:

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments

Some academics study the work of Willa Cather. Others crack complex molecular structures. Julian Keenan, at Montclair State, wants to know why we lie -- and how we can lie better. "It's one of the most amazing, sophisticated, advanced cognitive abilities we have," Keenan said in a story in yesterday's Bergen Record. "All evidence indicates that we are genetically programmed to lie. The liar has such an advantage over you. So the gene is passed on."

Proof?

Keenan points to the recent presidential election. "The party that lied better had an advantage and won," he said.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:53 AM | Permalink | Comments

The drawing to see who gets flu shots in Glen Ridge will take place this morning at 10 in the community center at the Glen Rige train station.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

Into Mission? Liz George has a feature on a Montclair store that specializes in Mission-style furniture, accessories and decorating advice. Check out At Home.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:52 PM | Permalink | Comments

True, they've already started those goofy Old Navy Christmas ads on TV, and we might be soliciting holiday advertising ourselves, but we're still of the old-fashioned belief that the Christmas season really begins the day after Thanksgiving.

That goes for you too, West Orange.

If people aren't going to obey this rule, then we'll just have to remind everybody right now: the Barista's birthday is Dec. 25. That's right, only 40 days left to shop for the Barista's birthday.

We will cut a little slack, however, for Chanukah decorations, because that holiday starts the night of Dec. 7. And if there's any actual snow, besides the 1/100th of an inch scrim that landed Friday night, we'll allow snowflake decorations before Nov. 26. Until then, everybody, back to your raking.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Debbie Galant at 7:21 AM | Permalink | Comments

The newest message board in Baristaville is the Glen Ridge Forum, a yahoo group with 25 members. The forum comes with its own mission statement, and says that it got its start because of censorship over at NJ.com's Glen Ridge forum.

WELCOME TO THE GLEN RIDGE FORUM THAT SUPPORTS TRUE FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

This is a general discussion forum about the daily news, activities and gossips surrounding Glen Ridge, NJ. Since the www.NJ.com forum has been censored beyond reason this board will be an alternative for residents to find out about town related issues, to express their opinions, or to ask residents/members questions about just about anything...

We'll see. Already there's been a suggestion that the group be moderated -- like Montclair's. A word to the wise, in Barista's most popular poll ever, 51 percent of the respondents ranked the Watercooler's Benevolent Despots the "root of all evil." And Dubya was one of the choices!

And one more thing, you could sex up the lingo a bit. There's the Watercooler with it's Cooleristas, the Waterheater, Montclair Unmod (also known as Radio Free Montclair), and Barista, which has introduced the concept of Baristaville. Glen Ridge Forum, with its drab two gas-lamp logo, is a little, um, dull.

That said, welcome to cyberspace. As soon as we have a moment, we'll add it to the links on our left sidebar. And like our colleague Phil Read at the Star Ledger, will be watching the board for news and gossip.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments

Some of us might be content with a Yellow Submarine action figure, but if you’re looking for the ultimate in Beatles memorabilia, imagine owning this:

In the 1970s, record producer/engineer Roy Cicala lived in this house at 90 North Mountain.  Cicala was the engineer behind the Imagine, Mind Games and Double Fantasy albums.  According to the current owner, John and Yoko slept here, spending the night in a third floor guest room following a marathon love-in recording session in the home's sound studio. All you need is love $990,000 to add this piece of Beatles history to your collection. Not a fan? The home's seasonal NYC views and gorgeous Craftsman architecture are enough to make you forget about Yoko breaking up the band. To see more, the open house is Sunday, 2-4.

Posted by at 6:59 AM | Permalink | Comments

More on the case of a 15-year-old Glen Ridge High School student charged with sexual assaulting a minor:

According to a statement by the Glen Ridge police, the boy was taken into custody on Wednesday, and has been held in the Essex County Youth House, pending an initial hearing. Charges include sexual assault, aggrevated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Unofficial sources say the alleged crime took place while the 15-year-old was babysitting or tutoring the child.

According to unconfirmed reports, the suspect will be allowed to return to Glen Ridge High School next week, pending his hearing. Glen Ridge police had no further statement about this report, and schools super Dan Fishbein has not yet returned our call.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 4:49 PM | Permalink | Comments

The Marlboro Inn Preservation Association reports a court win today in their bid to preserve the Marlboro Inn.

This means that, barring further legal challenges, the temporary restraining order preventing Steve Plofker from tearing the inn down will hold until Dec. 3.

Continue reading "Plofker Motion Turned Down" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments

The Star-Ledger reports today that a 15-year-old male Glen Ridge High School student was arrested Wednesday for the sexual assault of a younger boy. The story is not online, but can be found in the police blotter on page 32 of the paper.

We have no further details at this time.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has submitted a letter supporting the bid by Marlboro Inn Preservation Association to let the courts decide whether the Montclair town council erred in voting not to landmark the inn July. Late last month, MIPA got a temporary restraining order, preventing demolition of the inn until Dec. 3.

But developer Steve Plofker last week asked the court to lift the temporary restraining order and let his demolition go through.

A ruling is expected today.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

... for money to fix the decrepit auditorium at Ridgewood Ave. School, where all the plays in Glen Ridge are performed. Cruise is shooting "War of the Worlds" in the Ironbound section of Newark, and the Newark scenes wrap at 5 pm today!

Cruise, who is said to have been discovered by an agent attending his Glen Ridge High School performance as Nathan Detroit in "Guys and Dolls," has been "charming the socks off Ironbound residents by signing autographs, posing for pictures, and smiling and waving at fans," according to the Star-Ledger. Hey, sounds like he's in a good mood.

Meanwhile, here's a little preview of what's going to be playing on that stage tonight: "Musical Comedy Murders of 1940," presented by the Glen Ridge High School Drama Club. It may not have Tom Cruise, but there are lots of secret passageways.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:33 AM | Permalink | Comments

A reader writes to admonish us for failing to properly acknowledge Veterans Day.

Surely a notation to this effect would rate as non-partisan, even in Montclair? Surely, too, it would have been a nice shift in tone from the self-absorbed postings that fill the site.

Actually, we also forgot to mention that Yasser Arafat's death, too.

However, by our clock, it's only 11:22 pm, so we can sneak both these items in just under the wire.

We also missed this too, which while not strictly about veterans is about fighting. Thanks, Wonkette.

Oh yeah, it was a good day on the stock market, too.

By the way, just so no one gets the wrong idea, we really, really do appreciate all the veterans as well as the future veterans over in Iraq who put their lives on the line every day. We also appreciate the fact that World War I ended.

Tomorrow, we'll resume our regularly scheduled self-absorption.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:23 PM | Permalink | Comments

Maybe we're oversensitive because we've been reading Philip Roth's "The Plot Against America," in which the U.S. becomes a fascist state after the election of Charles Lindbergh to the presidency in 1940. Or maybe we're just bad. But yesterday, the Barista was snapped at twice by people in authority. (And not, believe it or not, for referring to ourselves in the plural.)

The first time, we were parked for a moment on Douglas Road in Glen Ridge, a street that gets maybe 20 cars an hour in the middle of the day, and we were scootched a few feet out in the street to avoid a big pile of leaves. A cruiser flicked his siren and "ma'am"-ed us, complaining of our distance from the curb.

A few hours later, on the Decamp bus to Manhattan, in the early evening, we received a cell phone call from the Barista husband, to inform us that the party we were supposed to be attending at the "W" hotel was, indeed, not going on. Despite keeping our answers quiet and brief, we were in a matter of seconds cut off by the bus driver, who turned on the light and demanded we turn off the cell phone.

Fascist.

We understand that there are a lot of obnoxious cell phone users out there, but we think the quiet and courteous use of a communication device for the purposes of arranging a liason with one's own spouse isn't asking too much of either Decamp or our fellow passengers. Why not, in the interests of fairness, ban all obnoxious conversation on the bus, regardless of whether the person on the receiving end of the conversation is also on the bus or, say, on the other side of the tunnel?

So, we put it to you, dear reader:

Posted by Debbie Galant at 1:56 PM | Permalink | Comments

If you can believe what you read over at NJ.com's Bloomfield forum, the Bloomfield Board of Ed and its administrators need some remedial math. According to one post, Bloomfield has miscounted the number of students at St. Thomas the Apostle who are eligible for a state-mandated bus ride to school or, alternatively, a payment of $771 for the year. Because of the confusion, Bloomfield hasn't contracted for a bus to drive the students, and some parents of the Catholic school kids there are steaming mad.

But resident Ginny Cocchi says that getting busing from the Bloomfield schools is no bargain. Her sons ride the #13 bus in Bloomfield -- when it shows up. 

Posters at the forum also say that large numbers of non-residents are going to the Bloomfield public schools. As many as 300 "aliens" are attending public schools gratis, they say, despite a re-registration drive this summer that was supposed to weed non-residents out.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

The latest move in the Marlboro Inn saga: developer Steve Plofker asks the court to throw out a lawsuit blocking his demolition permit. The decision is supposed to be tomorrow.

UPDATE: No wait. the latest move was that lawyers for the Marlboro Inn Preservation Association appeared in court on Tuesday, along with Plofker's lawyers, and they all argued about Plofker's request to throw out their lawsuit.

The lastest non-move: Judge Sebastian Lombardi, who will make the decision,  said Tuesday he would wait a day for Montclair township attorney Greg Mascera to weigh in on the case in writing. According to the anti-demolition group, Mascera never filed a brief.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments

You can relax the perimeter around your piggy bank. The Department of Homeland Security has downgraded the alert on financial institutions in northern New Jersey from orange to yellow.

What? They don't need us afraid anymore?

Posted by Debbie Galant at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments

It looks like they were digging straight through to the other side of the world, but it's just drain pipe work to correct the flooding that sidelined the Glen Ridge Public Library's children's room early this summer. This will fix  terra cotta pipework done by Glen Ridge paver Pat Pignatello's father 65 years ago. Don't get ready for a new children's room any time soon. Between "electrical work, plaster, paint, carpet and... other repairs on the ground floor," Sitnik doesn't expect to be able to reopen the kiddie space until April.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

Do we have to?

Everybody's talking about David Brook's Times column alerting the Democratic Party to -- get this! -- the exurbs! Brooks has a cute reference to "Mayberrys with Blackberrys," the must-have tool for exurbanites to communicate with the outside world during their long commutes into, ahem, the city.

But, the exurbs? Isn't that place where black people aren't allowed, where they eat pastrami on white bread with mayo and where the only movies are testosterone-packed action films? Sure, they have plenty of parking, but the Barista would rather parallel park her dented minivan on Bloomfield Ave. at rush hour than live in a faux mansion in the faux country.

This, on the other hand, looks like a tempting offer.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments

  Rumors have swirled for months that a new Walmart store is planned for the old Westinghouse property in the Bloomfield's Watsessing neighborhood. The Watsessing Heights Neighborhood Association has been surveying Bloomfield residents about their preferences for the site and plans to submit the results to the town council soon (but not before Mayor McCarthy returns from a trip to Italy). About 100 surveys were completed.

Those interested in the issue, meanwhile, can watch a CNBC documentary, "The Age of Walmart: Inside America's Most Powerful Company," tonight at 7 or 10. (Channel 47 on Comcast.)

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments

This will be old news to Star-Ledger readers, but people who only get The New York Times may have missed Sunday's Ledger story tracking the controversial sexual proclivities of Jim McGreevey over many years. The article, based on 500 interviews, says the departing governor favored strip clubs, prostitutes and gay bars long before anybody in New Jersey had heard the name Golan Cipel.

Ledger readers, on the other hand, may have missed this story in the Times the same day, detailing McGreevey's penchant for influence peddling.

Now, you may go recycle.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

We have early word from the town manager's office in Bloomfield that there will be a new lottery to distribute a new batch of flu shots. No details yet available.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 3:52 PM | Permalink | Comments

Here's one good thing about the election: it's got Montclair resident Dierdre Day McLeod blogging again. After a morning of considering relocation to Canada, Mexico or New Zealand, McLeod decided, instead, to return to penning "My Life as a Rabid Blog," which she'd left dangling since late September.

So, I shall begin to blog again and concentrate on the mundane and merely interesting. This is what I was unable to do in the last few months and neither could I address the political. So I did other things like work on my lotus pose and my bird of paradise with a half twist... flexibility in the body can lead the mind. Or so they say. My ironic distance is the pose I am most accustomed to and you don't find that in the yoga repetoire.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments

Montclair resident and NY Giants defensive end Michael Strahan is out for the year, following an injury during Sunday's game. Guess he'll be have more time to hang out in his new clubhouse: an ultimate garage with six bays, eight cars and an antique bar.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Brian Roseboro, the Treasury department's under secretary for domestic finance, as sent in his resignation and is going home ... to Montclair.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments

Pulled from today's TV promos....

Next, on Law & Order

GOV LOVE

GOVERNOR IN TROUBLE WHEN WIFE IS MURDERED AND HIS AFFAIR WITH BUSINESSMAN LEADS TO GAY MARRIAGE SHOWDOWN -- CHRIS SARANDON GUEST STARS

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments

Or Baristaville does. According to the weather service, it could be tonight.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 5:36 PM | Permalink | Comments

We told you that houses were lingering on the market longer than usual; now it's official. According to Sunday's NY Times real estate section, realtors in West Orange are seeing homes taking an average of 60 days to sell, longer than the four to six week time frame of last spring. In West Orange, listings are so plentiful, open house signs are dotting the streets like squirrel-gnawed pumpkins. Why all the turnover? Realtors, including Baristaville's Roberta Baldwin, weighed in on whether West Orange is becoming the default alternative to Montclair or Maplewood, the "It Girl" neighborhoods of Essex where supply of homes is tighter and sales move faster. Baldwin, who calls West Orange "Essex County's best-kept secret,'' points to the city's addition of jitney bus service to South Orange train station's Midtown Direct service, as an attractive lure. ''If you're not stuck,'' she adds, ''this neighborhood offers a lot of house and roughly the same lifestyle for the money.'' Or for even less money. Consider this Victorian for sale in West Orange. Come-ons include huge rooms, a great room addition, central air, wrap around deck and three fireplaces on a whopping 84 X 200 lot -- all for $799,900 with taxes under $12,000. Just try finding that in Montclair for under a million. So, who's moving and why? If you know, fill us in...

Posted by at 2:12 PM | Permalink | Comments

The Charlie Potters family of Glen Ridge went to Williamsburg for the four-day teachers' convention holiday, where they ran into three other families from Glen Ridge.

According to the Zogby Poll, that indicates that 78 percent of the residents of the borough took their vacation there last weekend.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments

Whatever happened last Tuesday, it wasn't because of the weather. According to a Montclair State University professor and other experts quoted in this Philadelphia Inquirer story, it's probably time to throw out that old canard about bad weather and voter turnout.

There was record turnout in Ohio last Tuesday, despite the fact that the weather sucked. On the other hand, maybe the rain did effect those exit polls...

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

Seniors are more likely to hit the jackpot in Montclair's flu vaccine lottery, open to adults 65 and over, as well as younger folks who meet certain criteria. News of the lottery was posted on the township's website, which is undergoing a revamp (note to webmaster, try spell check). The following info, sans typos, is here for your information

Due to the limited supply this year of flu vaccine, Montclair township will be conducting a lottery for eligible residents only. Eligibility requirements are:

• Montclair residents
• Adults age 65 and over
• Individuals age 18 to 64 with underlying chronic medical conditions (doctor's prescription required)
• All women who will be pregnant during influenza season (doctor's prescription required)
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
• Health care workers with direct patient contact (proof of employment required)

Registration for the lottery will take place on Monday, Nov. 8, from 10 am to 8 pm at Montclair's municipal building, 205 Claremont Ave.

Posted by at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments

The good news is that the county has announced that demolition and replacement of the Hillside Ave Bridge over Toney's Brook in Glen Ridge (just south of Bloomfield Ave) will begin on November 15. The bridge suffered a partial collapse earlier in the year, and really has been on its "last pillars" fo a while.

The bad news is that Hillside Ave will be closed from Bloomfield Ave south to Snowden Pl until August, 2005. At least after waiting nine months for this baby, you won't have to put it through college in 2023.

Posted by at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments

The Barista is tired and, truth be told, a little mopey. We don't know what all those people were doing in Brookdale Park on Friday, and frankly we don't care. Nor do we have an investigative scoop on why the Occupational Center failed to pick up paper recycling in the south end of Glen Ridge.

We're going to take the weekend off. Chances are, nothing monumental will happen. The rakers will rake and the blowers will blow. People will do the normal suburban things they always do: yard sales, parties, Bar Mitzvahs. A few people we know are taking high school juniors off to visit colleges. The Sunday papers, with all the post-election coverage, will be interesting. But not as interesting as last Sunday's papers.

We suggest you check out "I Heart Huckabees" and "Sideways" if you haven't already. And playing cards with your kids is an underrated pleasure.

Have a nice weekend. If you really need a barista, go to Starbucks. See ya Monday.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:04 AM | Permalink | Comments

A heartwarming story from the recent election, sent in by a friend.

Shirley Sapir, long time resident of Bloomfield and former president of Temple Menorah, now Temple Ner Tamid, was leaving the Brookdale School after voting. Shirley commented to Mayor McCarthy, who she met on the sidewalk, that as a senior citizen she had some difficulty in crossing Broad Street. The Mayor got on his cell phone and then proceeded to stop Broad Street traffic to allow Shirley to safely cross the street. Shortly thereafter a patrolman arrived to supervise this crossing. The Mayor won re-election.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments

Just when we were feeling despondent because Halloween the election was over... Starbucks and Whole Foods jump ahead a holiday. Shiny red packages? Snowflakes? Glowing spirits? We know what that's code for. Overheard in Whole Foods: not exactly carols, but some kind of Christmasy music. Oy. We know the Christian coalition won, but it's still the first week of November. Time for Pilgrims and Indians Native Americans.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments

There's a wind advisory in effect today.

STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL RAPIDLY INTENSIFY TODAY AS IT MOVES NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THIS STRONG LOW AND A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE OHIO VALLEY WILL BE RATHER TIGHT TODAY... CAUSING VERY WINDY CONDITIONS. SUSTAINED WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH BY MID MORNING... WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE CAN BRING DOWN LARGE BRANCHES AND BLOW AROUND LOOSE OBJECTS. SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES MAY RESULT. IN NEW YORK CITY... WIND SPEEDS CAN BE MAGNIFIED ON CITY STREETS AS THE WIND GETS FUNNELED BETWEEN BUILDINGS. THIS COULD CAUSE LOOSE AND UNSECURED OBJECTS SUCH AS SCAFFOLDING TO FALL....

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments

Local paparazzo Erika Bleiberg consoled herself after the presidential election by taking pictures of her temporary neighbor, Paris Hilton.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments

This has landed in our e-mail box three times today. No doubt the citizens of Baristaville would top the list, if we counted such things.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 7:34 PM | Permalink | Comments

Guess the newest flu lottery copycat.

Registration for the lottery will start next Monday, Nov. 8, 2004,and run all week at the Glen Ridge Community Center, 228 Ridgewood Ave., from 10-5 (except on Wednesday, when registrations will be taken until 7 pm). Registrants must be over 65 or in a high-risk category. The drawing will be Nov. 15.

For more info, call 973.748.8400, ext. 221.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

A thorough statistical analysis of the voting patterns in Baristaville suggests that most of you will like this.

Via Tom.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments

Now it's really, really, really over. This message appeared on the Montclair Unmoderated message board in the wee hours this morning from Jerry Mosier, who'd entered into an election bet with fellow Unmod participant Thom Kennon in September (photo from September). Under the terms of the bet, if Bush lost the election then Mosier would have to contribute $100 (total) to two liberal organizations of Kennon's choice. If Kerry lost, Kennon would have to contribute $100 (total) to two conservative causes of Mosier's choice. The idea was that the loser would receive junk mail from the other side in perpetuity.

Mosier has named the Republican National Committee and the National Rifle Association (ouch!) as the designees. Kennon will have to send $50 to each.

Continue reading "Kennon Concedes to Mosier" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments

The state of Alaska just got a lovely thank-you note from Montclair resident Lawrence Rosenshein, who visited recently. In addition to the state's natural beauty and hospitality, Rosenshein said, he was wowed by the medical care he received there after he suffered an eye injury:

Had I been in my home state of New Jersey, I would have spent hours sitting in the emergency room. At Alaska Regional Hospital, I was seen by an extremely competent physician, Dr. Dell, within five minutes of entering the emergency room.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments

Bayonne has just joined the list of towns in New Jersey that have copied Bloomfield by setting up a flu-shot lottery. The others are: Woodbridge, Manalapan, Hamilton and Plainsboro.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Just when we thought we had completely run out of news, comes this. According to the Associated Press, the Essex County prosecutor's office today dropped sexual assault charges against two Montclair High School football players accused of kidnapping and raping a 15-year-old classmate on Oct. 4. No word in the story as to whether the kidnapping charges were dropped as well.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments

Go ahead. Rant. Rave. Gloat. Cry into your cappuccino. Tell it to the Barista.

Who's moving to Canada?

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments

It was a virtual landslide for John Kerry (in Baristaville):

Continue reading "Final (Baristaville) Presidential Results" »

Posted by at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

Democrat William Pascrell easily won reelection to US Congress yesterday, taking 69 percent of the votes in NJ's 8th district.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments

We'd say Montclair is the new Massachussetts, but Montclair gave Kerry an even stronger victory than the senator's own state.

Kerry pulled 14,544 (78 percent) of the votes cast in Montclair, while Bush pulled 3,722 (20 percent).

Meanwhile, Mayor Ed Remsen tells us that Montclair's voter turnout beat all records in recent memory with 72 percent of eligible voters going to the polls.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments

Only a philosopher like our own local Yogi Berra could find the words for this election. The question is, which words? You decide.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments

What a surprise. It's the day after the election, and we still don't have a winner (seems familar, no?). Here's the tally:

It seems to boil down to Ohio. Most of us were hoping for at least a couple of "spin-free" days before the NJ Governor's race heats up, but no such luck, we are now in spin overtime. Here is the latest map:

UPDATE (8am EST): We have updated the tally and map to reflect that Wisconsin is now a blue state and that Iowa and New Mexico have gone to red.

Posted by at 4:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

With Ohio still uncalled, we have three little words to leave you with:
DEWEY BEATS TRUMAN.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 1:07 AM | Permalink | Comments

Good morning. We are projecting that President George W. Bush will win Florida, which has 27 electoral votes, and Colorado, which has 9. Here is our updated electoral tally:

If you want to follow along at home, you can go to www.270towin.com, click the "Swing View" option and click the states blue or red as the results come in.

At this point, Kerry must win Ohio, or the best he can do is tie, and a tie will most likely go to Bush.

Posted by at 12:37 AM | Permalink | Comments

We are projecting that John Kerry will win Pennsylvania, which adds an additional 21 electoral votes to his tally. At 11:30pm EST, our Barista electoral tally looks like this:

If you want to follow along at home, you can go to www.270towin.com, click the "Swing View" option and click the states blue or red as the results come in.

Posted by at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments

Glen Ridge voted 59 percent to 40 percent for John Kerry today. (Kerry: 2,249. Bush: 1,513.)

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

Verona today voted 3,512 to 791 to secede from Essex County. In principle. Just like everybody else, they won't get to do it.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments

Mayor Ray McCarthy has won re-election in Bloomfield. The unofficial results:

Ray McCarthy (D)* 9,712
Ray Tamborini (R) 7,272

It was a clean sweep for the Bloomfield Democratic Organization, Council Members Margaret O'Boyle Dunigan and Bernard Hamilton were also re-elected and Patricia Spychala won a council seat. Here are the totals:

Margaret O'Boyle Dunigan (D)* 9,637
Patricia Spychala (D) 9,494
Bernard Hamilton (D)* 9,110
Alfonso Crincoli (R) 6,720
Diana Rivera (R) 6,518
Michael Saunders (R) 6,570

(* indicates incumbent)

Posted by at 9:33 PM | Permalink | Comments

This just in from the Barista Newsroom, we are projecting that John Kerry will win New Jersey's 15 Electoral Votes.

Posted by at 8:07 PM | Permalink | Comments

Essex County voters who showed up at the polls today and found their names not on the rolls found help from a Rutgers Constitutional Law Clinic that shepherded the claims to a Superior Court judge in Newark. According to the AP story, 95 percent of those who asked got to vote.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 5:55 PM | Permalink | Comments

Pssst. Don't tell Paris Hilton that Glen Ridge is supposed to be a rich town. She thinks she's slumming, or least her producers do, by staying this week on a small house at the end of Willow St. in Glen Ridge.
It's for the third season of the Fox reality series "A Simple Life," and contrary to a story we read that said she and co-star Nicole Ritchie would be toting their own luggage and traveling around the country by Greyhound bus, we happened to be standing by while a minivan, groaning under the weight of multiple suitcases, was unloaded.

UPDATE: Paris and Nicole were just spotted at the A&P shopping center in Upper Montclair. (4:25 pm) If anyone sees what they buy, let us know. Get a picture of Paris buying potato chips, we'll give you a free Barista mug.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 4:02 PM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments

Despite reports of long lines in New Jersey, New York and across the country, the Barista observed short lines and short waits at polls in Montclair, Glen Ridge and New Jersey. There was no wait at the train station in Glen Ridge, and and minimal waits at Nishuane School in Montclair, Linden School in Glen Ridge, Watsessing School in Bloomfield and Berkeley School in Bloomfield.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

The yard-sign arms race between two neighbors on Hillside Ave. in Glen Ridge was back in full force today, with four Bush signs to five for Kerry. The Bush signs had disappeared over the weekend. Down the street, on Linden Ave., a small handwritten lawn sign said: "Bush Equals Less Taxes."

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments

.Bloomfield police were called in this morning to investigate an allegation that a Republican challenger at the Berkeley Elementary School poll was handing out GOP literature inside the voting place. But no arrests were made and the challenger remained. "I did not hand out any piece of literature on the premises within 100 feet of the flag," said the challenger (wearing striped shirt), who declined to give his name. "They called it in because I'm a Republican."

A Democratic challenger working nearby confirmed her adversary's story

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

A Jersey City psychic did a Tarot reading and told the Jersey City Journal that it tells her Kerry will win today's election. The psychic pulled a "hanged man" card for the president, which she says predicted his loss.

Via Shabe.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments

A posse of Democrats -- including Bloomfield Mayor Raymond McCarthy, Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith, State Assemblyman Craig Stanley and Sen. Jon Corzine -- have joined in demanding that Bloomfield mayoral challenger Ray Tamborini apologize for political door-knockers that showed up on housesholds this weekend. The knocker featured scary Halloween figures and the words: "At least Bloomfield is Safer than Irvington."

"I thought it was insulting to the people of Bloomfield and I thought it was insulting to the mayor of Irvington," McCarthy told Baristanet today.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Debbie Galant at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

All kinds of political dirty tricks have been reported tonight, and the theft of political lawn signs around Baristaville has long been noted, but we were baffled by this Watercooler post, reporting the theft of an "Employees Must Wash Hands" sign from the bathroom in Raymond's restaurant on Church St. in Montclair.

Ok, it's not up there with fake Norman Schwarzkopf calls in New Jersey, but you have to wonder about the timing. On the eve of the election? Right after the Osama bin Laden tape? Innocent coincidence? We think not.

Raymond's employees, don't be taken in by this vicious hoax. Please, for the sake of democracy, wash your hands anyway.

(Note to self: bring Purell to voting booth tomorrow.)

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments

The League of Women Voters is coordinating rides to the polls on election day for people in Bloomfield, Glen Ridge and Montclair. The number to call is 973.233.1995.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 5:55 PM | Permalink | Comments

We're hardly surprised that local green thumb Pat Tratebas came back from the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade with a picture of someone dressed up as a tree... even though it was a red Merry Kerry Christmas Tree. (Click detail for full picture).

Take Pat's lead and send us your political pix. We can't be at all the local voting stations tomorrow, so take your camera and send us what you got. E-mail tips@baristanet.com . Be sure to send us a brief explanation of where and when your picture was taken and what's going on.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments

Word on the hockey field is that one of the co-captains of the Glen Ridge field hockey team has been suspended from playing two games -- for stealing a jacket from a Whippany player in October. The unconfirmed report is that the Whippany coach spotted the jacket a few days later, on the hockey player, at the Glen Ridge football homecoming game.

We hear that reactions among parents of field hockey players range from disbelief that the alleged thief didn't get a harsher punishment to the conviction that it was just an innocent prank and the girl must have planned to return it all along.

Glen Ridge high school principal Ken Rota and schools super Dan Fishbein have not returned our calls.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments

Our guess is that nobody with a telephone is going to feel lonely for the next 24 hours. We just got a call from none other than New York Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton, urging us to vote for John Kerry. One of the Barista children fielded a call yesterday from "the daughter of that guy who won in 1960" (Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, we presume). Never mind that we couldn't talk back to these famous dem dames. Or that they probably called several million other of their closest friends as well.

Continue reading "The Phone Keeps Ringing" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments

This has nothing to do with Baristaville, but if doesn't blow your mind, you can read the rest of Barista today for free.

Ombudsgod, via Tom.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:08 AM | Permalink | Comments

Essex County voters who received bilingual sample ballots didn't just receive voting instructions in Spanish. They also were given an incorrect telephone number for the Essex County Board of Elections.

The English-only sample ballot doesn't contain a phone number at all.

The story was reported by the Star-Ledger, which credited Montclair attorney Nancy Erika Smith with discovering the mistake.

Secretario del Condado de Essex Patrick J. McNally told the Ledger the number wasn't a misprint but was disconnected for unexplained reasons. "Not to minimize this, but it is not a hanging chad," he said.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:02 AM | Permalink | Comments