New traffic signals are being installed at three intersections in Glen Ridge, as part of a state road improvement project. They're not expected to go live until the end of the month. This picture, taken yesterday, is from the intersection of Bloomfield and Ridgewood Aves.
UPDATE: The viewing and funeral service will be held Monday, June 5th, 2006 at St. Mark’s Church, #51 Elm Street, Montclair. Viewing: 10:00 a.m.- 12:00, followed by service. Interment will be at Rosedale Cemetery. There will be a repast following the internment at St. Marks Church.
Deputy Chief Perry Mayers at the Montclair PD informed us of the untimely death of Detective Carlos Wormley yesterday morning, May 30, after a long fight with diabetes. Wormley, who served on the Montclair police force for 16 years, was also a life long resident of Montclair. He was 47 years old.
Detective Wormley became a member of the Montclair Police Department on August 17, 1990 after serving for 13 years as a volunteer member of the Montclair Deputy Police. Detective Wormley was most recently assigned to the Juvenile Aid Bureau. He also served as a firearms instructor for the Police Department and was the recipient of numerous awards for service and valor.
Det. Wormley is survived by his daughters Nyia K. Wormley and Jade Clarice Wormley, two sisters Delma Wormley Lacy and Wanda R. Wormley, his father Milton J. Wormley Sr., and a first cousin, Marion L. Parker. Funeral arrangements are being made at the Martin Funeral Home, on Elm Street, Montclair.
Can the Democratic Party win control of Congress come November? DNC Chairman Howard Dean thinks so, if they campaign hard in all 435 districts with a unified message. And that's just what he'll be discussing in Montclair this Sunday. If you missed out on the recent $2,100 a person cocktail party at the Plofker/Brown residence with Cory Booker, Barack Obama and Bob Menendez, then maybe you'll want to shell out $125 for brunch starring Governor Dean and other democratic heavies. The fundraiser is this Sunday June 4th, 10:30am-12:30pm in Montclair. Besides Governor Dean, the sponsors tell us "it looks likely that US Senator Robert Menendez (back again), NJ State Senator Nia Gill and former Montclair resident Olympia Dukakis" will be in town for the brunch. They are hoping Governor Corzine will show, and you are all invited.
Continue reading "Howard Dean Brunching for $$$ In Montclair" »
Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. will host a reception and awards ceremony announcing the winner of the Tenth Annual Congressional Art Contest at 6 p.m. tonight in the new George Segal Gallery at Montclair State. The art competition, open to highschool students in the eigth district, gives them an opportunity to showcase their work in the new gallery. The Congressional Art Contest is part of a nationwide program, and the first place winner's artwork will be displayed in the United States Capitol Building for one year alongside winners from across the country. The runner up's artwork will grace Pascrell’s Paterson office.
Continue reading "Pascrell Celebrating High School Artists Today At Montclair State" »
The bells, whistles and gongs are going off at Baristanet as our own Comment-o-meter, keeping count of all our readers' comments, just reached 50,000! justeL was the 50,000th person to "Talk back to the Barista" about this morning's post, Crimes Against Nature:
Same thing happened last year in the new Children's Garden at Verona Park. Plants taken right after they were planted.Posted by: justeL | May 31, 2006 10:28 AM
The unsuspecting justeL eclipsed the honor from regular commenter Walleroo, who logged in at 10:16 a.m. as our 49,999th. This is a milestone for Baristanet, and a testament to our loyal following. Your wild, unbridled and (don't hold back) opinionated comments make this site a cool and fascinating place to be. Some of you may disagree, and yes we do feel the sting sometimes, but we are still happy to hear from you, any day, every @#$%$& day.
While most of us were celebrating the beginning of summer this past weekend, new plants at Anderson Park were ripped out and ripped off by vandals. Scott Kevelson, of Friends of Anderson Park (FAP), who's been keeping us updated on the park's renovation, told us about the recent thefts.
"Over the past two weeks vandals have stolen about 15 bushes from the park. At first they only took bushes by the back of the (new) bathroom. They then moved to the front of the bathroom. I thought that once the lights come on they would be deterred. But over the last two nights (Saturday and Sunday) they started to take bushes by the new entrance at Bellevue Ave. So far in that area 7 bushes have been taken."
Maybe it's time for another name change. Mike M. alerts us to this Christopher Court, located less than nine miles from our own Crisco.
Sitiuated a stone's throw from the Garden State parkway in Irvington at 157 Western Parkway, this Christopher Court is the real deal, says Mike..
"Why settle for the new urban experience when you can have the old one?
Hard to tell from the pic, but they might actually have more green space. Your daily chat starts now...
Glen Ridge is celebrating a bumper crop of Eagle Scouts. Props to the guys who've made it to the pinnacle of scouting. They'll be honored/inducted this Friday.
Alexander Michael Flannery
Alex's project was to have the students in our middle school write letters to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. They wrote letters in support of the troops dedication and to express their appreciation for the risks taken by the troops.Sean Patrick Flannery
Sean's project was to erect a flag pole and provide landscaping for a local school. Now the school can raise the American flag every morning and show pride in our country.
Christopher J. Matthews
Chris' project was to collect food and supplies for our local animal shelter. The shelter is run entirely by volunteers and supported by donations. It is part of our community and is the source of many pet adoptions.Eric Robert Olson
Eric's project was to reassemble book shelves and re-shelve books in our local library after some flood damage had been repaired. The library and many books on the ground floor were damaged by water. His project allowed the library to open the lower floor to the patrons sooner.Jeremy F. Kane
Jeremy's project was to collect reading materials and pre-paid phone cards for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The magazines and books let the troops know what was happening at 'home' and help pass the quiet hours. The phone cards are to help the troops stay in touch with friends and family back home.
Meanwhile, another local group would love to see the next group of Eagle Scouts be a little more inclusive. Members of the Unitarian Church of Montclair, NJ spoke at this rally...
Today, Phil Read catches up with Jersey's land hunters, including a few in Montclair. From the Star Ledger...
They are land hunters, on the prowl. Poring over tax maps to eyeball a hot prospect. Getting behind the wheel to scout for the next acquisition. Knocking on doors, hoping to find an owner in the mood to sell.Denis Orloff knows the terrain.
"It's getting harder and harder to find any place to build in this town," said Orloff, who is building two five-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot houses on Montclair's Valley Road. That deal came after he got a tip. He found the seller, quickly, and started talking.
"While I was making a deal and shaking his hand ... his phone was ringing off the hook," Orloff said. "It was unbelievable. I got that one by the skin of my teeth."
Montclair's tax assessment poses some taxing questions. A reader writes...
I had some questions about the current Montclair tax assessment and called Appraisal Systems Inc. at (201) 493-7300. Spoke to Janine, who at some point said:"I have to end this call now" and provided less than helpful information. She told me to call the Montclair tax assessor's office for all information (!!!???). I immediately asked to speak to her supervisor, who was called Fran.Fran answered my question about the field Inspectors' training and qualifications as follows: Some of them have an appraiser license. Some of them are in the process of getting one. Some of them are unlicensed.They fill out the record cards and take them back to the office where the licensed appraisers review the data and come up with the appraisal value.
I asked Fran for written guidelines that the field inspectors have to use. Answer: there are none.
I was told the field inspectors measure the outside of the house, count the rooms and grade the condition (on a scale fair-average- excellent).
I was shocked...this compares in medicine to have an unlicensed aide examine a patient, give the written data to a licensed physician and have the doc come up with a diagnosis. It is SCARY. It is even more scary to consider that I will have to pay 100,000 $ or even more over the next five years to the town to live in my own home, depending on what these unlicensed field inspectors write on their record cards.
I called the Montclair Tax Assessor's office and spoke to Joanne. I told her about my concerns and she referred me to ask all these questions at the public meeting on June 15.
Marion Brown, the 100-year-old Glen Ridge resident who started the Animal League of Bloomfield-Glen Ridge, and rescued countless pets over the years, died this morning at Mountainside Hospital home. She was just a few weeks shy of her 101st birthday.
Why save wine tastings for trips to California, when there's a big outdoor wine-tasting event in New Jersey today (Sunday)? At Waterloo Village, from noon to 5, you can taste the wares of 17 Garden State vineyards, listen to live music, and enjoy a decent variety of food, from crabcakes to barbecued pork. We went yesterday and had a delightful time, and although we didn't come home with any bottles, we did bring back a wine glass, which is included in the $18 admission. (You bring it from tent to test to do your tastings.) By the by, In addition to the usual white and red grape varieties, New Jersey wine growers ferment a lot of cranberries, blueberries and raspberries.
We've just learned that grieving mom and anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan will be speaking in Montclair next weekend, and signing copies of her book Not One More Mother's Child. Sheehan's son Casey died in Iraq in April, 2004. The event next Sunday from 2:45 to 5:30 pm, at the First Congregational Church in Montclair, is already sold out.
Yes, we know, it's still too early for anyone over the age of 40 10 to immerse themselves in water. This is New Jersey, after all, not South Carolina. However, the lure of the swimming season, denied to us for eight and a half months, is powerful. We have rejoined an out-of-town pool club this year, and experienced a strong gravitational pull that way around 4 pm on Saturday, and though we could do little more than sit in the shade and read, it was very nice.
Pool? Lake? Country club? Jersey shore? Where's the first water you stick little pinky toes in, did you do it yesterday, how was it? We will get to the fallen soldiers soon, but for now: did you try on summer and how did it feel?
SOUTHPAW, a rock club in Park Slope, Brooklyn, doesn't ordinarily have a velvet rope. But when Kyler Charles made an attempt to rush the entrance on a Saturday afternoon, it could have used one. ''She can't wait to dance,'' said Kyler's mother, Hermian Charles, as she blocked her daughter's jelly-legged run for the door. ''She's a real club kid.''Kyler, 15 months old, wasn't the only one. Baby Loves Disco, a traveling 70's-style dance party for kids out of Philadelphia, drew such a crowd that shortly after the doors opened at 2 p.m. the party's founders, Heather Murphy Monteith and Andrew Hurwitz, had to start a waiting list. ''We're over capacity right now,'' Mr. Hurwitz, 39, explained to a group of parents pushing strollers. They looked crestfallen.
Inside the club the dance floor was packed with toddlers, who squealed, wriggled and wobbled like bobble-head dolls to the disco classic ''Funkytown.''
''We never get to go to clubs anymore, so this is a real treat,'' said a woman in sneakers. She was admonished by her toddler son. ''No talking,'' he commanded. ''Just dancing.''
On this Saturday in Park Slope, William Weiss, 8, dropped to the floor and executed the break-dancing move the Worm. Everyone whistled and clapped.
''I used to be able to do that,'' somebody's father muttered.
So we ask you -- could it fly in Baristaville? Would you go? And who's gonna make it happen...
Some interesting letters in this week's Montclair Times. There's this trippy one about camels. And another about the need for preserving the past with references to the Marlboro Inn.
Here's one that didn't make the paper, and hasn't made it to the Watercooler (it's in that posting purgatory...). So of course, we'll print it here...
Political Rhetoric or Preservation Epiphany? With the 4 Duryea knockdown now heading towards a more positive end, there was also good news to hear about Deputy Mayor Joyce Michaelson's seeming interest, to give real protection to all landmarked Montclair homes that already appear on the state and federal historic registers. With her comments at the last planning board meeting, this was the first time I've heard, where Ms. Michaelson expressed public concern to offer those worthy properties an enforceable, local protective status (see "Decision on Landmarks" - Montclair Times May 11th ). Joyce Michaelson also communicated the same concern about these homes to me personally, during a recent function at the Van Vleck House and Gardens. The million dollar question is, does the deputy mayor really mean what she says?
Baristanet regular Fran Liscio, a punk rocker aficionado from way back, recommends:
The Stay-at-Homes are worth getting out of the house for!Fans of raunch may wish to include a trip to the lower east side's Lakeside Lounge this evening. It is there that they can enjoy a scathingly hilarious send up of the iconic late 70's all-girl rock quintet the Runaways. 'All girl,' you say? Isn't that demeaning? Weren't they women? Well, no actually. The Runaways were a group of 16 year old teenaged girls assembled by Los Angeles rock scene impresario Kim Fowley. Not shy about crass pandering, he dressed them in leather, latex and garter belts (lead singer Cherie Currie got to wear the garter belt get up while she sang 'Cherry Bomb.')
Cut to May 2006—tonight, specifically. Stunningly unexpurgated country music songstress Tammy Faye Starlite will head an all-woman group called the Stay-at-Homes. As the band tells it, "They're not teens, but they're still hot-and though they may be too tired and jaded to run away – they still rock! "Two of the Stay-at-Homes are Hoboken residents, two live in Weehauken, and one in Jersey City – outer, outer, outer Baristaville.
You may have noticed when driving on Valley Road this week, that the island at Edgemont Memorial Park is getting a nice new look, just in time for the Memorial Day Service. The massive overgrown shrubs at the base of the monument are gone, revealing a famous bronze sculpture "The Billboys" by Charles Keck. When we walked over to inspect, we met up with the work crew and Superintendent of Parks, Kevin Ward. Ward is a wealth of information and he gave us the low-down. "The old green light cages are gone, new high wattage lights have been installed to illuminate the monument from all sides. We're trying to reestablish the memorial garden to its original 1924 scale - we've restored three raised formal beds in the original shape, put in about 30 small perennial and flowering shrubs - varieties that will remain three to four feet high, eliminating the overgrowth problem we just tackled," Ward said..."and it's long overdue."
And beginning Memorial Day, you'll be able to walk on the island and see the improvements up close. Gates that have been chained shut on and off for years due to vandalism and safety issues will be open daily.
Glen Ridge Memorial Day Parade
The Glen Ridge Memorial Day Parade begins Monday, May 29, 2006 at 11:00am.
The parade starts at Sherman & Baldwin and proceeds down Ridgewood Avenue to the Ridgewood Avenue School.A Service of Remembrance begins at 11:30am in front of the Ridgewood Avenue School.
The community picnic will follow at Hurrell Field located on Bloomfield Avenue.
Bloomfield Memorial Day Events
8:30 am Fireman's Memorial Service, Village Green
9:30 am Memorial Day Parade begins on Broad Street at Brookside Park, ending at Broad and Liberty Streets. Grandstand seating set up at the Village Green, Broad and Liberty.
Memorial Day Service at the Unitarian Church of Montclair is on Sunday, May 28th 10AM-11AM, will include the presentations of two Vets. Mark Anthony will present his reflections on the Iraq War, and Jose Vasquez, President of the NYC Chapter of the Iraq Veterans Against the War, will present a talk with slides: "Walkin' to New Orleans - The Veterans' and Survivors' March." The service will be child friendly and include a memorial to fallen soldiers past and present.
Also on display will be AFSC's "Eyes Wide Open - New Jersey" exhibit. This display honors the 43 New Jersey residents who have lost their lives in Iraq. For more information about the exhibit, click here. 67 Church Street, Montclair.
Allen (pictured above with showhouse owner and radio personalty Patty "Steele" Kushner) spent more time giving the crowd his quick and dirty lesson on wine appreciation than talking about his book. His last great meal in NYC? Tom Colicchio's Craft Steak. On wine and food pairings, Allen likes Alsatian Rieslings or Gewurtztraminer with spicy Asian; Chardonnay & sushi; and Sauvignon Blanc with lemony chicken. But he shocked the crowd with his fave: Cristal Champagne with Popeye's Chicken. Recommending Pinot Noir as a great drop, he added "but I liked Pinot Noir before Sideways, and although Merlot got a bad rap, it's also delicious with tomato sauces. Don't be mean to Merlot." Cab Franc is fabulous with lamb, he gushed, and the grape is "criminally under rated."
Aaron Miller, our new Baristanet summer intern, captures last night's action as 95 cyclists from here and abroad rode 30 one mile laps for honors in Montclair’s first Giro New Jersey. That’s the nice part of our story. The race, which began at the height of rush hour, not only closed four Upper Montclair streets along the course, but many more for at least eight hours. We’re guessing that several hundred -- if not thousands -- of boiling mad Baristaville residents and commuters were caught in the monumental gridlock as they navigated their way home around closed and congested streets. We’ve been hearing angry complaints from folks about their kids’ delayed buses, simple ten minutes trips turning into 40 minute ordeals, and congestion beginning at the Garden State Parkway. Compounding the problem was the Amtrak power outage that canceled afternoon and evening trains and left hundreds of riders turning to Decamp for a bus ride home. Landscaping trucks and parked cars made the side streets almost impassable, repaving work closed the southern entrance of Brookdale Park, and PSE & G started digging at Bellevue and Grove right in the middle of it all.
The lack of planning for Giro NJ in Montclair is what has most people royally pissed off, and may create a severe backlash for future biking events in the town. This reader summed it up.
After yesterday's nightmare commute, you're probably wondering...All trains are back to the regular schedule this morning. Yesterday's commuting disaster was attributed to an Amtrak power outage at a Philadelphia substation which crippled the Northeast corridor. Some commuters were trapped for up to five hours underground. Read about it here, if you can stand it.
Leena writes to Baristanet that this adorable cat wandered its way under her deck, and into her heart. But this fabulous feline must have a home, and someone must be missing her!
A kitty was found near Grove and Watchung (actually she found us!). She had found shelter from the recent cold evenings under our deck. She was cold, tired and starving. She is a petite brown, gold and black tabby. I would guess about six months old. She has a collar without a name. Her frail bony appearance leads me to believe that she has been missing for quite some time. I believe she belongs to some wonderful family who is desperately searching for her. She is amazingly calm and friendly. As you can see, she is resting peacefully in our home, waiting to be returned to her family. If you are her owners, please contact me at Leena104@aol.com.
A reader has just called to advise that at Penn Station, many Mid Town Direct trains are canceled. This update from NJ Transit:
Due to this morning’s power outage, we will need to operate a modified service this evening. All MidTOWN Direct service on the Morris & Essex lines and Montclair lines will operate to and from Hoboken throughout the evening. MidTOWN Direct service to and from Penn Station New York will resume tomorrow morning. PATH and NJT Bus will cross honor NJT Rail tickets/passes.
Hang in there, commuters!
Baristanet readers, summer is a great time for outdoor shopping at yard/garage sales. After a trip to the farmer’s market, while on a bike ride, or before hunkering down at the pool, who doesn’t like to poke around other’s people’s stuff hunting for bargains or an incredible find that could land you a spot on Antique Road Show? As a summer treat to you, Baristanet starts a new Friday feature tomorrow “Treasure Hunts†where you can post information about your own garage/yard sale. Make it interesting, tell us what cool stuff you’ve got, where, when and why we should stop by. And please, only bona fide lawn covering, garage stuffed sale listings, through Labor Day. Click here for some tips to get your sale ready.
We're surprised that no one's commented on this morning's rail problem news. Was anybody inconvenienced by today's train mess?
Bloomfield High’s 2006 graduation ceremony is back on schedule at Foley Field, despite the shocking announcement yesterday that the stadium seating was unsafe and could not accommodate the estimated 475 grads and their guests. Bloomfield Board of Ed President Ed Zilinsky told us this morning “an additional 3,800 chairs have been rented, over and above the usual number of chairs we rent, and the graduation ceremony will take place as originally scheduled, at Foley Field.†He could not confirm that they would distribute the usual ten tickets per graduate, but thought eight might be available.
Continue reading "Bloomfield Grads Back On Track At Foley Field" »
Today at Whole Foods Montclair, just in time for Memorial Day weekend, they're having a "Grilling Event" 4:30 - 6:30 pm:
They’ll be passing out lots of free samples and recipe ideas: assorted house brand Gourmet Burgers, Grilled Halloumi Cheese, Barbeque Chicken, Vege Burgers, Grilled Marinated Barramundi (from Down Under), Grilled Pineapple with Agave Nectar, and Crepes with Grilled Banana and Chocolate Hazelnut Sauce. Representatives from Naked Juice, Leggio’s Italian Gourmet Dipping & Cooking Olive Oil, Steaz Tea and Solar Recovery will also be on hand with their product samples. 701 Bloomfield Avenue. 973-746-5110.
Bicycle mania has bitten Baristaville this week. Sunday's Tour de Montclair got a good showing of about 600 cyclists, despite drizzly weather. Tonight in Upper Montclair it's not a ride, it's a race, as dozens of would-be Lance Armstrongs ride in Giro New Jersey. There'll be three bike races on a one mile closed course along Bellevue Avenue, Park Street, Lorraine Avenue, and Valley Road. There's also a family three lap fun ride ($5 per person/$15 family) and a three mile running event on the route. A festival with kid rides, contests, food, fireworks, and continuous live entertainment from 4-10 p.m. is wrapped around the cycling events. Part of the funds raised for Bike Montclair will go towards bike paths and permanent bike racks. More information is available here, or call Montclair Bikery: 973-744-7252.
From the NJ Transit website:
Due to an Amtrak power outage, MidTOWN DIRECT service is operating to Hoboken. PATH and NJT Bus will cross honor NJT Rail tickets/passes.
Due to an Amtrak power outage between New York and Washington, all Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line service is currently suspended. NJT Bus, PATH, Suburban and Academy buses more...
DeCamp is looking good today...
UPDATE: The power outage this morning stranded thousands of commuters for hours, stopping five trains in tunels. Power was restored at 10:30 a.m. - cause of the outage is unknown. Full report here.
New lot coverage limits that would reduce the allowable size of Mc Mansions built in residential neighborhoods by half were proposed in an ordinance at Montclair's council meeting Tuesday night. From the Star Ledger:
On a 60-foot-by-150 foot lot, for example, simple setback require ments now allow 49 percent coverage, meaning a two-story house could have some 8,800 square feet, not counting any finished attic or basement. A 25 percent coverage would allow for a two-story house with 4,466 square feet; add a half- story -- Montclair's maximum allowable-- and the house would approach 5,600 square feet of living space.
Bloomfield Life reports that the ever-popular Bloomfield Board of Ed has decided to close off the concrete bleachers at Foley Field, due to dangerous conditions in the deteroriating stadium. A $4.9 million bond referendum to fix up the stadium failed last month, bringing Bloomfield's school budget down with it. Now, the board is saying that high school graduation might be somewhere else. Options apparently include holding the graduation at Bloomfield Middle School, splitting the graduating class in half and holding two ceremonies, bringing folding seats into Foley or limiting each graduate to two tickets per family.
Naturally, as with everything, Bloomfield BOE-related, there's already a bruhaha. The comments roll in...
We wish Tom Cruise would spend less time knocking antidepressants and more time (well, any time) trying to fix depressing state of the Ridgewood Avenue auditorium where he was discovered during a Glen Ridge High School production of "Guys and Dolls." Until he does, though, the little people are going to have to do it. A massive renovation is planned for this summer, as soon as school ends. The Glen Ridge Educational Foundation is raising money by letting people sponsor individual chairs: $350 puts your name (or your kids' names) on a single new auditorium seat, $1000 gets you three. Glen Ridge Educational Foundation is where to send your check. PO Box 8063, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028. For more information, contact Jessica Sporn or look for her next Monday at the Memorial Day Parade and Picnic. (We even hear something about a float with a kid dressed up as an auditorium seat. Hmmmm.)
We declared the peak of the Presby Iris Gardens yesterday, but we apparently were one day early. The irises peaked today, when they got their close-up in the New York Times (registration required).
The story re-hashes last summer's Iris-cide, still unsolved, and reports happy news about the garden's regeneration.
What better a town than the City of Journalists, aka Montclair, to hear journalist Eric Boehlert lash out at his colleagues in the fourth estate for giving George W. a free pass? Ok, maybe Washington DC. But who cares? In Baristaville, the hot ticket among the local liberalati and the literati tonight will be the Unitarian Church, where the Montclair-based Boehlert will talk about and sell his new book "Lapdogs: How the Press Rolled Over for Bush." Co-sponsored by Watchung Booksellers and BlueWaveNJ, the event tonight is at 67 Church St., Montclair, at 7:30 pm. Free. And just so you know the acronyms going in, MSM stands for...
Stop the presses! It's going to be a nice day. Looking ahead, Weather.com shows things warming up for most of the Memorial Day Weekend, but with possible thunderstorms on Saturday.
Continue reading "Center Hall Colonial, Great Location, Owner Charged With Murder" »
We're going to call it: over at the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, it looks like the stately flowers are at their peak! And we're not alone in thinking that: we just drove by and saw that the gardens are packed with artists, photographers, and nature lovers getting up close and personal with the blooms. You don't want to miss the spectacular sight with nearly all the beds of rare and historic irises in bloom. A Presby gardener told us it's an important bloom season this year, they'll finally be able to identify which plants survived last year's vandalism. While you're visiting, there's a new gift shop to check out (The Bloom Room), in the historic Walthers residence. Parking can be a bit dicey, so we recommend approaching Upper Mountain from Mt. Hebron Rd, and heading south. 474 Upper Mountain, Montclair. 973-783-5974.
We noticed something missing on the sign of Cuban Pete’s recently: the words "and Sangria." To comply with a court order owner Dominick Restaino received during his day in court the "and Sangria" part of his sign is history. But while it's off the sign out front, it doesn't mean it's off the menu. Dominick told us he's still serving nine kinds of Sangria, but with only five per cent alcohol content, which he maintains is perfectly legal.
"I am still distilling the wine in my copper vats, in the courtyard, in front of everyone, and selling more Sangria than ever," Dominick told us. " By adding a pinch of salt to the sangria, it makes it legal, because then you are cooking, like when restaurants make chicken marsala. They don't need a liquor license for that. And anyway, I don't know why they are making such a big deal. Did you know Nyquil that's sold in pharmacies has 10% alcohol? Do they need a liquor license? (At that point in the conversation, there was no going back.) And in a few weeks, we're going to be selling mojitos, with real rum!
Continue reading "Cuban Pete's: What's Wrong With This Picture?" »
Some interesting opportunities on our Classifieds page, including this little nugget that might entice a few realtors to consider jumping ship?
Each full time Realtor gets a Salary of between $30K and $75K per year plus commissions. The Salary is based upon your experience and sales record.
And if you're looking for a "Polish Cinderella," we've got one of those, too.
If anyone driving in Glen Ridge this morning is worried about the yellow police tape wrapped around a home on Hawthorne Street like a crime scene...it's nothing quite that mysterious. Glen Ridge police say the tape was up as a precautionary measure due to a fallen tree limb.
Glen and Laura Gardner, who live on Yantacaw Brook Road, have just survived a much dreaded visit from the Reval Man. Reval Man #42, who knocked on their door, is one of the many guys Appraisal Systems hired to inspect the 9,432 households in Montclair as part of the Essex County mandated property tax revaluation...the guy who’s inspection could put a big hole in your bank account. The Gardners described their experience to Baristanet:
We received a letter from the town of Montclair the day before the appraiser showed up. Of course, like everyone else, we were wondering how messy and unappealing to have the house when the appraiser came. Other people we know were nervous about the work they've done without permits or the fire alarms that weren't working. The appraiser came to our door at first when we weren't home, measured our stoop, deck and outside dimensions of the house (as our neighbors told us) and left a tag on the door that they will be back in four days between the hours of 5 and 7 pm. They were very punctual. Apprasier #42 came over who was a young guy (I didn't ask for i.d., he didn't offer). I gave him my schpeel about how my house should be billed as a one-car garage home rather than a two-car garage. He said the only thing he will do is measure the interior for square footage only. He measured the finished basement, the garage and all interior rooms. In the letter that we received from town, it notes "if your property has a unique condition that influences value, please send documentation to Appraisal Systems Inc., 20 Wilsey Square, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 and it will be considered."
A big thank you to Baristaville residents who came through with their support for baby Andrew LoMonte at Sunday’s fundraiser. The amazing Montclair firefighters who organized the event at Just Jakes reported a whopping turnout of more than 500 people, raising approximately $30,000 for Andrew’s medical care.
Firefighter Michael Lizza, Montclair FMBA#20 Secretary, wrote Baristanet to express his gratitude:
On behalf of the LoMonte's and the Montclair Firefighters, I just want to thank you and the Baristanet Faithful for all that you've done to support little Andrew in his fight. As firefighters, we constantly try to be the catalyst for people getting help they need. And, time and time again, Baristanet comes through when we need to get the word out. You guys helped us when we were collecting for the Hurricane Katrina relief, and you really came through this time. It makes us feel good to know that there's so many people in our community that are so willing to help any way they can. Thank You!Readers who missed the fundraiser have been asking if they can still make a donation. The answer is YES: information about Andrew is here, and checks can still be sent to: Andrew LoMonte, PO Box 1254, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.
Hungry, and just a little confused. For the latest myriad restaurant changes in Baristaville, get a taste here.
While Jim McGreevey may not get a highway rest stop officially named after him, his name, with its helpful "Mc" prefix, may just become synonymous with fast food trysts at rest stops. The New York Post reveals more of McGreevey's tawdry-titled tome, "The Confession"...
"As glorious and meaningful as it would have been to have a loving and sound sexual experience with another man, I knew I had to undo my happiness step by step as I began chasing my dream of a public career and the kind of 'acceptable' life that went with it."So instead, I settled for the detached anonymity of the bookstores and rest stops - a compromise, but one that was wholly unfulfilling and morally unsatisfactory."
Bookstores? Damn, he's good!
What fool decided tattoos and movies don't mix? And what's next -- airbrushing Angelina Jolie? From the Asbury Park Press...
To William C. Smith, the faded tattoo on each of his forearms are reminders of his World War II service. To AMC Movie Theatres, they were grounds for his termination.Smith, 80, said two AMC theater managers at Bridgewater Commons mall met with him on April 14 and said they had to fire him because of the tattoos he has had since he was a 17-year-old Marine.
Smith, a ticket taker at the mall's movie theater for the past 15 years, then contacted Somerville attorney David W. Trombadore, who then called the Courier News. On Tuesday, AMC Theatres offered Smith his job back, along with back pay.
Smith, of Bridgewater said Tuesday he accepted the offer, which included the condition that he cover his tattoos — a Marine Corps emblem and his Marine Corps serial number, 416096 — while he works. So, it seems Smith's movie career will have a sequel. His return date is not set.
Smith said he started working at the theater — which was then General Cinemacq — in 1991. Back then, "Silence of the Lambs" was a hit and the theater's uniform was a long-sleeved dress shirt.
A few years later, the employee wardrobe changed to a short-sleeved polo shirt.
In 2001, AMC bought General Cinemacq and set down new rules. The following year — 2002 — Smith said he was required to sign papers that listed employee rules, including a clause that the company does not hire people with visible tattoos.
The AMC letter also states that Smith was asked to cover his tattoos with "makeup, shirt sleeves or in some other equally effective manner."
It's hard to believe that anything could make us nostalgic for this, which after all is not one of the great vistas of Baristaville. But plans for a 100-unit condo complex on the site could change our mind.
Scott Kevelson, founder of Friends of Anderson Park (FAP), has been working for months to make sure Essex County's renovation of Anderson Park in Montclair is done correctly, intelligently, and beautifully. Remember how the County's original plans only had about 9 trees and about 50 trash cans going in, and an overabundance of park benches, some facing the street? Thanks to Scott's efforts, neighborhood support, and a ton of good will from County Exec Joey D, the park's rehabilitation has gotten back on the right track. After hearing so many stories about trees in Baristaville whose very existence was threatened or are gone for good, Kevelson shared some good news about recent improvements at Anderson Park. We took a walk there to personally inspect, and found the transformation pretty amazing.
Pathways have been resurfaced, lawns have been sodded, and last week, approximately 165 plants, trees and flowering shrubs have been planted down by the railroad and throughout the park. "This is a superb start to rehabilitating the Park in the spirit of the 1903 Olmsted plan. We have researched the park’s history and, based on century-old documents, have a fairly good idea where various trees of specific species should be planted to match the Olmsted’s Firm original design," Kevelson said.
Continue reading "Anderson Park's Extremely Good Makeover" »
The highest reaches of the literati got some titillating tidbits of former Governor Jim McGreevey's new book, The Confession, at the Book Expo in Washington, DC this weekend. He spent 90 minutes meeting people in the industry and signing 16-page excerpts from the book, due out in September. In addition to the ex-gov's own sordid tales of lying to cover up his own secret sexuality, he outed his straight former colleagues, saying that sex and politics in New Jersey are "inexorably intermingled."
One of the things we got too busy to report this past week was the fact that Jon Corzine has given up on a plan to introduce self-serve gas in the garden state. From USA TODAY:
In New Jersey, motorists who need to fill 'er up haven't pumped their own gas in 57 years. But in the face of soaring gas prices, Gov. Jon Corzine came up with a novel plan last month to try to ease the pain: allow self-service at some stations along the New Jersey Turnpike and see if prices dip. He believed prices could drop 5 to 7 cents a gallon.
Corzine retreated after about 1,400 e-mails and calls poured in from a mostly outraged public. Concern about other state issues paled in comparison. A proposal to raise the sales tax by one cent, for example, received about 200 responses from the public, says Brendan Gilfillan, a spokesman for the governor.
Come on, USA TODAY, when you say "outraged public." you really mean Montclair realtor Adriana O'Toole, right? We're pretty certain that it was the missive she sent out to members of the Red Had Society at the end of April that did the trick.
Continue reading "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Red Hat Asked to Pump Her Own Gas" »
No one was injured as a result of a small explosion in Nutley, but the homemade bomb that exploded has left police baffled. From CBS News...
Residents along Nutley's Union Avenue say they heard the bang - and knew immediately something had gone wrong. Nutley police responded to several 911 calls at about one o'clock.When they arrived they saw chunks of concrete on the ground - pieces of the curb that line an apartment complex parking lot. There were no injuries in the blast. The front end of one car parked in an adjacent parking space was badly damaged.
Jay Balde, who lives across the street, compared the explosion to what you would, "see on television, a car bomb...that's exactly what it looked like."
His daughter, Anta Balde, said the force of the explosion literally knocked her off her feet. She ran outside, saw a lot of smoke, but didn't see anyone walking or running away from the area.
Shortly after they arrived, officials determined the explosion was the result of a rudimentary acid bomb made in a glass bottle.
Both the bomb squad and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called in. Law enforcement officials plan to focus on who placed the bomb in this residential parking lot - and why.
We told you about the Irvington family getting a new home this Sunday night, courtesy of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Now we learned ABC had the good taste to tap one of Baristaville's hippest shops, our very own Semplice. Watch the Turner family (who lost their home in a fire) get a new one built from scratch tomorrow night at 7 pm; we hear the "reveal" (the moment when the crew yells "Move that bus!") is pretty amazing. Look for some red, white and blue decorative items from Semplice outfitting one of the kids' rooms; owners Kelly and Jim also donated lamps and desk accessories. The show has yet another Baristaville connection: Alan Turak, the previous owner of Montclair's Shades of the Past on Bloomfield Ave, recommended Semplice for the show, and also volunteered his time to work on the Turner house project.
It's Essex County Computer and Electronics Recycling Day. 9 to 3. Richard J. Codey Arena, 560 Northfield Avenue
West Orange. Items accepted: Computers – Monitors – Printers – Fax Machines – Scanners – Telecom Equipment – Speakers – Televisions – Keyboards – Main Frames – VCRs – Stereos – DVD Players – Toasters – Irons
Old Cellular Telephones
Baristanet loves a happy ending. The wandering feline finds his way home...
I just wanted to let you know that Frodo was found this afternoon, less than 2 blocks from home. Thank you and everyone who helped bring him home. -- Janine
Want Some Kinky Catholicism With Your Popcorn? It's the big DaVinci Code opening weekend. If you go, tell us how it was ... but leave out the spoilers.
Bookworms: Starts today! Lacordaire Academy Annual Used Book Sale: Thousands of used hardcover($2), soft cover, and audio books($1)! Proceeds Benefit High School Athletic Program. Friday, May 19, 9-8, Sat/Sun, May 20&21, 9-5. Admission is free. 155 Lorraine Ave. corner of Park Street, Upper Montclair. For more info: Lisa Mollé Padilla 973-744-1156 x27. At Watchung Booksellers: Jonathan Alter signs copies of his new book, The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope , on Saturday at noon. Also on Saturday, from 4 to 6 pm, come meet and nosh with a bunch of local Baristaville authors at the store.
High Robotics: Those young geniuses over at Montclair High have been working very hard to create very cool robots which will be on display tonight. Bring the family - it's free. The robots were designed, programmed and built by the Montclair High School Robotics Teams and were entered into various FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competitions competing with high schools from all over the country. "The Robots are programmed to go to a goal and shoot a ball into it without any external control (but can they wash dishes?). Then they are divided up into teams for an exciting game of BotBall, played under the remote control. " Presented by the Montclair Society of Engineers tonight, Friday, May 19 at Union Congregational Church176 Cooper Ave, Montclair, 8:00 PM (get there at 7:30 for coffee and desert). For more information to to the website or call Bob Chamberlin (973) 748-0385 or Pete Donegan (973) 783-7998.
12 Miles West Main Stage: My Italy Story, By Joseph Gallo - Now through May 28. This one-man show traces a sweetly nostalgic journey of a young man attempting to recapture for his family the closeness that they felt when they were children. He's inspired to take a trip to the town in Italy that his grandparents are from to make a connection with his ancestors. When he gets there it doesn’t work out the way he had hoped. Thursdays thru Saturdays, 8PM. Sundays, 3PM. General Admission $26/ Students & Seniors $21. Theatre Students and professionals receive specially discounted price ($15) for all Thursday performances. Read the reviews here and here
Make Me Laugh: Hey kid, think you're funny? Here's your chance to be onstage at 12 Miles West! Audition for Improvapalooza! Our June comedy festival co-sponsored by Lunatic Fringe is having two stand-up competitions. One for kids and one for adults. Auditions for the "Funniest Kid in NJ" are Saturday, May 20, 2:00 – 5:00 pm.
We're not talking gold, bronze, or silver medals here... We've heard from various sources that the venerable haberdashery, Olympic, in Upper Montclair, may be closing its doors. It's been a cornerstone of community shopping for years, purveying dedicated consumers with with the likes of Polo and Tommy Bahama, a steady supply of Brighton and everything Vera Bradley. While the talk of their closing is just a rumor, the very attentive help were uncharacteristically unhelpful when we inquired. We called the store a second time to find out what was up, and found the owner very tight lipped. He told us "I have nothing to report. I am not saying anything until everything is nailed down." Hmmmm.....We'll keep you posted as we hear more.
We can, however, confirm another retail shake up in Upper Montclair:
A Montclair lawyer is among those named yesterday in a 20-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles. The NY based firm of Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman, the nation’s leading class-action securities law firm, and two prominent partners, David J. Bershad of Montclair and Steven G. Schulman, are accused of racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.
The accused are charged with providing $11 million of “kickbacks†over a period of 20 years to three people who served as plaintiffs in over 150 lawsuits, reports the New York Times.
The firm and lawyers for Mr. Bershad, 66, and Mr. Schulman, 54, said they would fight the charges and have issued a statement on the firm’s website denying any wrongdoing.
If you are having trouble linking to the NY Times story, you can also read about it here.
Continue reading "One of These Things is Not Like the Others (La la la)" »
MSU wants their freshman students to feel safe on the 260 acre campus, and carry a cell phone. That's what officials say is behind a new requirement for all first year students to subscribe to a cell phone based security system dubbed "Guardian" that can follow their tracks. From the Star Ledger:
It isn't Big Brother, school officials insist. It's Guardian.The service from Rave Wireless of New York City enables students to activate a timer on their cell phones when they sense danger. Think of late-night walks from parking garages to dorms.
If students don't reach their destination in the allotted time, their phones send an alert to campus police, along with satellite tracking data that can show their location, with varying precision, anywhere in North America.
A student photo and other identification details appear on a dispatcher's screen. The tracking information soon will be accessible on laptops in campus patrol cars, too.
"It's like a LoJack for people," says university Police Sgt. Paul Giardino, referring to a system for tracking stolen vehicles.
The new requirement means purchasing GPS-enabled cell phones from Nextel, at a student discounted price, of course.
If you haven't heard, Glenfield Middle School's fabulous production of Fiddler On The Roof premieres tonight and and will be presented tomorrow night as well. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Take family and friends to see this well loved musical production.
"Fiddler on the Roof" is a beloved musical filled with both laughter and wisdom. Since its premiere in 1964, "Fiddler" has enjoyed several Broadway revivals and been performed around the world. Set in a small Russian village just before the Russian Revolution, the heart warming story presents Tevye, his wife Golde and their five high-sprited daughters, whose marriage prospects and dreams of the future create confusion and merriment among the cast.Glenfield's cast of seventy is headed by Ben Rosenfield as Tevye and Francesca Federico-O'Murchu as Golde, with Gavi Keyles, Brianne Kennedy, Emma Van Inwegan, Drisana Hughes and Bar Shoham as their daughters. The play is directed by 2006 New Jersey Governor's Award winner, Ed Guinan. Production staff includes dance teacher Rick Kitts as choreographer, Vocal Music Director Anne Marie Juliano, and Instrumental Director Jonathan Ward.
Montclair literary lioness Dottie Frank, now on book tour in the lowcountry, waves to us from her perch at #9 on The New York Times Best Seller list, where she landed this past weekend. This is her sixth book to make the list. As always Southern, funny and quintessentially Dottie, her new novel, "Full of Grace," features a grandma who knits toilet-paper cozies in the shape of the U.S. Capitol building and a main character, Grace, who tells the reader, "Rule one: If you want a man to take you seriously, keep your britches on." A paragraph later, she's living in sin. But the novel's religious content, which includes miracles, is a departure.
It's been a while since we visited Tia’s Food of Love. In search of a quick nosh we headed over, thinking about a warm goat cheese salad or that tasty coconut chicken. It may not be news to you, but we discovered lights were off at the shop. Then there was a sign: “Business Hours By Appointment Onlyâ€. Above it hung the dreaded “Dear Customer†letter, informing us that “due to the overwhelming demand for their catering services†the retail business is closed indefinitely.
The good news is she'll still take small orders and make any old favorites with a couple of days notice. Tia D'Addario is keeping the Valley Road storefront as command central for her catering/event planninng business. Tia also plans to offer personal chef services, so folks can order a week's worth of meals delivered to their doorstep.
No, it's not an oxymoron.
Wiseass commentary and witty repartee is what Baristanet is all about, but we also know that verbal sparring aside, our little online community has a big heart. Here's to reaching out and touching others beyond cyberspace.
First there's that brave toddler we told you about here; the event at Just Jakes is this Sunday. We've heard many Baristanet readers have already come through -- join in and help if you can.
Fellow first graders came out to walk for him. Now it's time to rock. Join Parents Who Rock on Sunday, June 10, to help Dion, another amazing boy who seems to touch everyone. Come hang and enjoy a night of live musical entertainment; your $10 admission fee goes directly to Dion and his family. For reservations, call Diva Lounge at 973-509-3000.
And if you need us to send out a call for help, write us here.
We're happy to announce that yes, we were listening to your feedback about the colors, layout, and yes, the Barista-lady in the logo. While we still have plans to make the page more usable and whatnot for everyone, irrelevant of if you have a 800x600 monitor or not, we wanted to make the changes less....abrupt. So we've more or less brought over the old layout from the TypePad-powered site, and will be working to bring over all the other Baristanet features that you've been using.
Of course, we could poke fun if we wanted to, because for as many quirky problem things we had people screaming about, we had lots of people tell us they preferred a bigger layout that catered to those who had a larger screen, rather than having 400+ pixels open to the right of every single page. That being said, we're happy to announce that we're in the process of getting a skin-your-own-Barista setup so that those of you who like the "old" way of doing things at 800px wide will have that choice, those of you who like the fullscreenforeveryone layout (that you're looking at) can have your cake, and those of you who prefer a brown, coffee-filled layout will have a chance in the sun as well. In any case, just trying to make things make y'all happy, and hopefully this will do so. As always, feel free to post your comments here, or send email to me tom@baristanet.com if you are having problems viewing the site, especially. Everything seems to be working on all browsers at the moment for us, so hopefully it is for you, too.
The one major feature that is giving me a hassle right now is the "Remember Me" item for the commenting section - I apologize for that, as I know it's a pain, but it's my #1 priority at the moment.
Thanks for your patience, as we're happy to note that you all are on comment-filled fire the last few days, which is grand. Cheers!
After weeks of neighborhood protests, petition signing, and action to designate the Huestis House at 4 Duryea Road a historic landmark, it seems the threat of its immenent destruction may be over. When Realtor/developer James Van Note toured the property with Ted Lippincott, of Montclair's Historical Commission Van Note acknowledged he was thinking about restoring the 22 room Victorian. From the Star Ledger:
"That's what he told us, but that's not binding him to anything," said Ted Lippincott, who as the chairman of Montclair's Historic Preservation Commission toured the estate with Van Note and other commissioners about two weeks ago.The prospect of losing the grand house -- whose listing on the state and national registers of historic places provides little protection -- prompted 1st Ward Councilman Gerald Tobin to persuade his colleagues to give the go-ahead for the preservation commission to nominate the house for a local historic designation.
Tonight, the preservation commission is meeting to consider a nomination to designate the Charles H. Huestis House a local landmark, setting in motion a process that could ultimately head off any demolition.
Continue reading " 4 Duryea Road Escapes The Wrecking Ball" »
Attention buyers and sellers: My Morning Out's (MMO Programs) is having its 2nd Annual Tag Sale, this Saturday, from 9 - 1 at the MMO school grounds (corner of South Fullerton and The Crescent) in Montclair. MMO is renting out tables and/or spaces for folks to bring and sell their stuff; $20 for a spot on the grass and $25 for a spot with a table and a chair (in case of rain, the sale goes indoors). All rental profits go toward MMO Programs.
Clean out your garage or fill it up with more stuff -- it's up to you. Either way, you won't go hungry, as a simultaneous bake sale --home-made baked goods, lemonade and iced tea -- will be there for your eating pleasure.
For more information or to rent a spot,call MMO Programs at 973-744-6521. Meanwhile, Bloomfield has a mega-yard sale the same day...
There's still a Mother's Day fashion show tonight (Wednesday) at 12 Miles West, 562 Bloomfield Avenue in Bloomfield. Refreshments 6-7, 7-9. Admission is $10 for adults, students are free. Sponsored by the Bloomfield Center Alliance, with fashions by downtown Bloomfield merchants. Proceeds will go to 12 Miles West.
Another bear has been caught in Outer Baristaville, this time in Millburn This just crossed the AP wire:
MILLBURN, N.J. (AP) _ For the third time in less than two weeks, a black bear was caught in an urban part of New Jersey and was to be killed because of a state policy that bans the bruins from densely populated areas.A resident spotted the 150-pound black bear walking across a lawn just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, and calls started coming into police "every two or three minutes" as more residents spotted it, said Police Lt. Robert Brown.
As teams of police officers scrambled to locations of sightings throughout the township, Patrolman Alfred Freem spotted the bear in a tree at about 8:40 a.m., Brown said.
Police surrounded the tree and hit its trunk with sticks to keep the bear in place, he said.
State Department of Environmental Protection officers soon arrived, setting up a net around the base of the tree, Brown said. DEP officers then tranquilized the bear and it dropped into the net, he said.
The sudden proliferation of suburban bears is making Colbert's anti-bear stance on the "Threat Down" segment of the Colbert Report look even funnier and sharper than we thought.
A Montclair attorney tell us he's considering a lawsuit against HBO and "The Sopranos" -- on behalf of a client who claims he was harrassed by the show's crew while trying to take pictures during several shoots, even going so far (the client says) as to pour sand in his gas tank. The attorney, Sean Branigan, is dubious enough about his client (whom he admits is a "Mafia-looking guy") to be calling him "Mr. X" for the time being, but he wants to know if there are others who feel they've been mistreated by local TV or film crews. Branigan, who is also a lawn contractor, says he's been told by crews that he couldn't go down public streets and thinks that crews often exceed the authority of their permits. "They have no rights telling New Jersey residents they can't be on Bloomfield Ave.," Branigan said, adding that TV crews, in general, have a habit of "bullying and intimidating" onlookers. If you want to talk to Branigan, his number is 973.744.2223.
For the record, we had no problem taking these snaps of actor James Gandolfini in September. But you might remember this bruhaha, caused by a crew member who left a coffee cup on the lawn of contractor George Buchmann.
Auditions for the Youth Orchestra of Essex County, seen here performing at the organization's 50-year-anniversary concert in South Orange on April 30, start next Monday night. More than 100 students, including two from Bloomfield, one from Montclair and five from Glen Ridge, participate. More information on the auditions, which are by appointment only, can be found on the orchestra's website.
A memorial service for Raymond Szczesny, the homless man whose death in Bloomfield moved so many readers last week, will be held Friday, 11 am at St. Luke's Church, 73 S. Fullerton St. in Montclair.
Traffic ground to a halt once again in our little section of the Garden State Parkway last night, but this time the cause was a distraught would-be bridge jumper, who said he'd been pressured to confess to a crime he didn't commit, and had lost his fiancee as a result.
From the Star Ledger:
Deon White, an Irvington resident, spent more than two hours clinging to a chain-link fence atop the Union Avenue overpass, his feet too big for the sliver of a ledge on which they rested, before Irvington detectives and State Police hostage negotiators talked him down at about 8:10 p.m., Irvington Police Chief Michael Chase said.
End of story: the proposed "25 Foot Rule" that would have sent smokers down the block and around the corner for a puff has officially been snuffed out. Smoking outside is ok, sort of, depending on where you are: business owners and municipalities can set their own rules. From the Star Ledger
The so-called "25-foot rule" would have all but snuffed out plans by restaurants and taverns to create outdoor patios or decks where customers could smoke. Strongly opposed by restaurant and tavern owners, the proposed rule was not part of the smoking ban that took effect April 15.State Health and Senior Services Commissioner Fred Jacobs said yesterday the state instead will ask business owners to set their own outdoor smoking rules, but urged them to not permit smoking near doors, windows or vents that would allow smoke to float into indoor dining or drinking areas.
"We will leave it up to towns and business owners to set up some reasonable approach that is best for them," Jacobs said.
Old Navy has issued a nationwide APB through May 29 in search of a new "spokesdog". In the late 90s, Old Navy featured its beloved pooch, Magic, and now they want to find a new Magic to star in their holiday 2006 advertising campaign. Enter photos of your furry pal with a personality profile or attend one of four casting call events in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York City. A panel of celebrity judges including Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy), Alfre Woodard (Desperate Housewives), Malcolm David Kelley (Lost), Kristin Chenoweth (The West Wing and RV), Betty White (The Golden Girls) and dog trainer Andrea Arden will select six dog finalists who will be showcased in more than 950 Old Navy stores. From June 23 through July 7, people can vote for their favorite dog star.
Baristanet reader and tipster extraordinaire Arnie Korotkin raises some questions about the checks and balances of airport security after a reading how a plane landing in Newark with suspicious passengers was temporarily detained. Arnie's letter appeared in today's Readers Forum of the Star Ledger:
Tuesday, May 16, 2006Your May 7 article "FBI briefly detains five from plane to Newark" raises questions about airline flight security. For instance, once the incident was reported, why weren't the identities and backgrounds of the suspicious passengers investigated by authorities on the ground using information from passenger flight rosters, and was there coordination between the Port Authority and local FBI officials that would perhaps have averted the scenario that occurred upon the flight's landing at Newark Liberty Airport?
-- Arnold Korotkin, Montclair
Kudos to Baristaville actor Garth Kravits (left), known as an acting teacher and coach, formerly for Luna Stage, now for the Glen Ridge High School Drama Club, for his role in the Broadway musical to receive the most Tony nominations today. "The Drowsy Chaperone" garnered 13 nominations. Garth wasn't there, but Glen Ridge theater lover Margot Levinson was.
Five organizations met the May 12 deadline for submitting bids to acquire Mountainside from Atlantic Healthcare System (AHS). As expected, bids came from locally based Community Friends of Mountainside Hospital and St. Joseph's Healthcare System in Paterson, but hospital officials are keeping quiet about who the other three contenders are. From the Star Ledger:
Atlantic officials yesterday declined to name the bidders for the Montclair/Glen Ridge hospital, calling the process confidential.Atlantic officials said they want a buyer with financial backing, as well as expertise running a hospital. They also want a buyer that will retain as many Mountainside employees as possible, provide competitive salaries and invest in the hospital, according to Atlantic spokeswoman Joan Lebow.
Well, we're feeling snubbed. When we heard that Steve Plofker had bought the historic Wellmont Theatre and called him up, he didn't return out calls. But Phil Read got the grand tour of the place. In today's Ledger, he traipses around after Mr. Bobbi Brown, who bought the movie theater for about $1 million, but can't remember the last show he saw there. Nevertheless, Plofker promises to be a Prince of Preservation on this project ...
"It could be a great restaurant, bar. ... Who knows what it could be."The multiplex, which seats a total of 903, would remain, Plofker said, provided he can find either a nonprofit or commercial operator.
"I'm not in the theater business and don't want to be," Plofker said. "But that's certainly the intention. ... Whether it's a live theater, film, whatever."
"The building is in an historic district," Plofker said of a designation that affords the theater some protection. "If it wasn't in the district, we probably would have nominated it."
Tomorrow, East Orange gets its own Hollywood walk of fame and yes, Queen Latifah will be honored. From the Star Ledger...
Four living and four deceased entertainers and artists, all with ties to East Orange, are being honored during an 11:30 a.m. ceremony outside the theater at 636 Central Ave. The public is invited. At 1 p.m., there will be free showings of "Mission Impossible III," "Poseidon" and "Akeelah and the Bee" in the theater."We're trying to preserve some of our history by recognizing those individuals who displayed talent," Mayor Robert Bowser said of the upcoming celebration. "It's a recognition of the value of our past. The Walk of Fame really memorializes positive images of people who have come from the city."
The four living honorees are singer Dionne Warwick, actress-singer Queen (Dana Elaine Owens) Latifah, jazz trombonist Slide Hampton and actor Derek Luke.
Other luminaries (and possible future inductees with an East Orange connection include) Bette Davis, Eva Marie Saint, Janis Ian and Cecil B. DeMille. Meanwhile, what did Latifah buy at Whole Foods? Turns out she was jonesing for the rotisserie chicken.
Markos Moulitsas Zuniga of Daily Kos and Jerome Armstrong of MyDD will be at Willie McBride's at 616 Grand Street in Hoboken tonight from 7-9, signing copies of their book, Crashing the Gate. They'll be taking questions and talking about what they think of political leadership these days. Details here.
So if you attended the Black and White Gala this weekend, spill it. It sounds like an event a swell like Sebastian might attend (remember him from comments here), although we haven't heard from him in ages and wonder if he ever really existed?
Meanwhile, here's the Star Ledger's society gush (yes, I know, we're just jealous) complete with mother of the year Bobbi Brown twirling like a princess in white leather (ya think anyone uttered a word about Crisco...).
Baristanet disclaimer: Say what you want about the Brown Plofkers or Plofker Browns, (and we do), but museum folks would like you to know that "both are long-time and generous supporters of the Montclair Art Museum. As "Exhibition Angels" they contribute to direct costs of Museum shows. Plofker serves as a vice president of the board and, and as chair of several committees, is one of MAM's most active and deeply involved trustees."
Even the appetizers got into the act. At the Montclair Art Museum's "Black and White Gala" Saturday night -- a fund-raiser for the museum, staged as a re-creation of Truman Capote's famous 1966 party -- the dinner started with black caviar on white blinis, just one of many details that played into the evening's theme.Where Capote's original bash had Frank Sinatra, Babe Paley and Candice Bergen on the guest list, the museum's version featured local celebrities including cosmetics mogul Bobbi Brown, novelist Benilde Little (in a J. Crew wedding dress), Olympic skating champ Dick Button and Sen. Robert Menendez.
The evening's most honored guest was pianist and band leader Peter Duchin, who played at Capote's original party.
Bobbi Brown, the creator of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, wore black sunglasses wrapped with white netting -- but did not come in jeans, as she had once planned to."It's a Charles Nolan, made just for me," Brown said, twirling in her fitted black ballgown topped by a cropped white leather jacket. "But I brought my jeans, because I know (Duchin) plays great music for dancing."
(As for makeup for a black and white ball? "Black eyeliner, and then whatever you like," Brown said.)
Continue reading "Yikes, We Missed The Ball and Dick Button!" »
Heads up from our friends at the Montclair Times who want to make sure y'all are ready to vote. Here's the 411 on registering to vote or obtaining an absentee ballot.
Are all reunions created equal? Planners of the MHS graduating class of 1985 reunion say no. In fact, they are trying to buck the trend of prepackaged reunion in a box affairs for something more personal. An organizer writes...
I, along with a hand full of fellow graduates, are coordinating our 20th reunion (a year late). We have taken it upon ourselves to create a reunion unlike recent others. We decided to go against the trend of using a Reunion Service who organizes those boring - cookie cutter - hotel-in-Parsippany dinners. Instead we have planned a casual and LOCAL event that will feel more like an open house from 1985 than a "rubber chicken" affair will people politely stand around in dressy clothes checking their watches often. Ours will take place at The Commonwealth Club in Upper Montclair. We have put a lot of effort into this and have arranged every detail ourselves, including the confirmation of all graduates and their current contact information - not an easy task. Our goal is to have a Reunion with a real personal touch - a chance to be brought back to our fun times at MHS. We have received many enthsuiastic responses so far - and are arguably the envy of other classes - mainly 1986 - who just received their 20th invites which will take place at a hotel in Fairfield or the like in late June.The fact that they are having the event in Montclair seems a step in the right direction, although I expect there still will be the inevitable "watch-checking". For 1985 grads who want in on the fun, click through to the jump. Meanwhile, do we have any MHS alum in the house now?
Montclair's Anne Burt will be on the Leonard Lopate show today (noon to 12:40) to discuss her new book, "My Father Married Your Mother," about stepfamilies., and to take listener phone calls. You can listen live here.
Yes, things do look different today. And change isn't always easy. To implement some new features, including an events calendar to replace the Thrills listings people have been missing (and yes, an ad server so we can stay in business and keep bringing you your daily dish) we are working on our redesign.
Your feedback is most welcome and since we may be able to tweak certain things, let us know what you like, what you don't like, what you're willing to put up with, and what you want Santa to bring you. We'll do our best to listen and address your concerns. Consider this thread our Baristanet suggestion box...
In yesterday's New York Times, the story of DeCamp losing riders to the big bad train.
"The train's more reliable," Ms. Connor, 29, said recently on the platform at Montclair's Walnut Street Station, before boarding the 8:19 train to New York Penn Station. "I find the people to be nicer, actually."As a result, DeCamp says it has been losing riders and money on Lines 33, 66 and 88 since the Montclair Connection opened. And while the company does not begrudge New Jersey Transit the right to compete for customers, DeCamp is suing the transit agency in State Superior Court, claiming it has engaged in "predatory" pricing by using its $140 million in annual state and federal subsidies to keep train fares artificially low. The company is seeking at least $20 million in past and future revenue it says that it has lost or anticipates losing.
"How can you take taxpayer dollars to compete against private business?" said Robert DeCamp Jr., the company president.
Help DeCamp here -- tell them what they need to do to win back the riders.
If you've been watching, feel free to comment. If you haven't -- beware, there'll be spoilers. Although, we guess it's ok to tell you that Carmela's ordering out from Italianissimo's.
Caught by the lens of Scot Surbeck, of course.
Ok, Moms, you had a good 15 minutes to enjoy Mother's Day. Now, a feel-bad message from our Millburn friend (and anti-obesity advocate) Meme Roth.
As women across the U.S. celebrate Mothers Day, anti-obesity advocate MeMe Roth draws attention to obesity’s continued threat to women and their families. Today, MeMe Roth announces the Top Three Lies mothers tell about their weight:1. Pregnancy Made Me Fat
2. Genetics Made Me Fat
3. Middle-Aged Spread Made Me Fat
Want the rest? You have to go to her blog.
(Our waffles, by the way, were whole wheat and topped with sugar-free maple syrup, if that's ok MeMe.)
A breathless call just in from Liz with the news that Queen Latifah -- yes the Queen herself! -- was in Whole Foods. The Queen (who you remember from Chicago, among other movies) has local roots: Wikipedia says Newark, we remember East Orange. Whatever. Looks like the gal came home and is cooking breakfast for her mom!
Mother is on the pedestal today, and that means all the Baristas (we're all hot mamas) want good treatment from our families and our readers. But we know we're not the only mothers out there. Reader Bruce McGuire wrote with this request.
Post an entry so we can wish you, as well as our own (sob...today is 16th anniversary of mine's passing) or our lucky kids' mom (my 3 sons have a great one!!) a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!
Your Daily Chat starts now. Let's honor all the mothers and wives. (Old photo from Irish Eyes Graphics..
Shop anywhere in Montclair, and you can't help noticing bright paintings on the storefront windows. It's the artwork of "2006 Paint Montclair", sponsored by the Montclair Art Museum. Last Saturday, 160 kids who participated in the contest found their inner artist. MAM provided paints, brushes and palettes (ok, paper plates) and instructions to paint a springtime picture. The junior painters spread out in seven business districts from the South End to Upper Montclair
Was this the reason Friar Tuck's closed?
For some great ideas for yummy weekend dining – and where to take Mom -- check out Food.
-- Photo: Anthony Batson
(The clubhouse and majestic scenery that is...Ballyowen)
The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and the greens are greening.
For many of us in the area, spring marks the rite of passage known as the golf season. And unlike golfing in any other part of the country, only in New Jersey will you see hackers hacking at one another over ball placement.
But fear not, there are still some places in the state where civility is upheld -- not to mention breathtaking landscapes.
Ballyowen is such a place. Nestled in Sussex County (about a 45 minute drive up Route 23), Ballyowen is the crown jewel of the Crystal Springs 6-course golf network. Through the years, greens fees have risen to jewel-like highs (Weekend Primetime rounds cost $140). But I dare you to walk away from the Scottish-styled links course (high fescue, hilly terrain, bagpipers, and a sheep meadow on the 13th) no matter your playing ability unsatisfied by the experience.
Some tips:
Matt Caruso
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