Okay folks, it's the moment you've all been waiting for. Or at least we have. You're most likely, if you're not on RSS at the moment, looking at the new version of Baristanet, let's call it version 2.0, for amusement's sake.

Over the last few weeks, we've rolled out forums, a calendar section, and a few more things are on the way. What you'll notice most here is that the navigation is much lighter, and mostly focused on the top of the page. Shortly, you'll see a new "tabbed" section of featured content that will sit below the "feature" entry that is sitting at the top of the page. Most notable, however, is comment registration. We are not using an outside source - TypeKey, for instance - but are using our own Forum logins in order to a) maintain some reasonable behavior and ability to "cite" people's behavior and b) keep the spammers away without having to close posts, ever. While you don't have to use your real name to register, you will have to use an email address to confirm your commenting abilities. Should you find any problem with that, or have a hotmail address (those have been disastrous so far, as they mark anything from a forum as spam right now), then please contact me directly at tom@baristanet.com. I'll do my best to get back to you in a reasonable amount of time.

You'll also notice a list of things that are also to come here at Baristanet, or that I have to take care of, at least. Hopefully, you'll enjoy the new site. Let us know if there's anything else we can do to make your stay better!

Posted by Tom at 9:50 PM | Permalink | Comments

Part of a continuing series about places to explore in the Garden State.

You don't go to the Oldwick General Store for the food, you go for a drive in the country and for the atmosphere. It's only about a 45 minute drive from Baristaville, but with the blazing white country church right across the street, you'll feel like you're in a small New England town.

The store, which functions more as a deli and grill than it does a general store, offers counter service. They'll make you a sandwich, a burger, an omelette or a salad. You put in your order, choose one of the small cozy rooms to sit in (some of which will remind you of a much higher-priced country tavern) and then they call your name. Or you can look around in the front room, where lanterns and boots hang from the ceiling, where you pour yourself a cup of coffee, buy a paper, look in the bakery case or buy an Oldwick General Store t-shirt to take home.

Continue reading "A Country Outing in Oldwick" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments

Here's a heartwarming story behind yesterday's three-alarm blaze in Bloomfield. From 1010 WINS, it was the family's two-year-old son, sitting in his high chair, who saw the flames first.

1010 WINS' Terry Sheridan reports, Ethan Molina was eating lunch in his high chair when he screamed to his father and grandmother to look outside the window. That's when the spotted the flames.

Ethan's dad was able to get the family out before the house became fully engulfed.

Four other families had already evacuated, but nobody knew the Molinas were still inside the home.

Eric Molina called his son Ethan a hero. "He saved our lives today. I thank God for him."

Hat tip to Geoff Gove for letting us know.

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

A tipster sends us this pic of folks lined up early to sign up for YMCA's summer camp. Where are the kids going this summer? Tell us your camp plans.

Posted by Liz George at 8:29 AM | Permalink | Comments

The next presidential election is still far off on the horizon, but residents of Baristaville are already gearing up for the battle.

The New Jersey for Obama Meetup Group, formed to organize, fundraise and register voters for Barack Obama, is holding their Glen Ridge "Kick-Off Event" this Saturday afternoon (check our calendar for details). Obama won't be there in person, but they're bringing him in via video from Iowa, as he speaks live to a family there. The group is using this event to "kick off a week of support" for Obama and his "movement to change America."

To talk Barama, Hillary or other politics, go here.

Posted by Melissa Rayworth at 5:03 PM | Permalink

Find out what's new in all things Soprano here.

Posted by Liz George at 4:25 PM | Permalink

Soprano Sue is stuck on the Garden State Parkway going north, along with hundreds of other cars, as a result of a raging fire in Bloomfield. One or two homes are burning, adjacent to Home Depot, by Exit 148. "Flames have engulfed the rooftop of a three story building," says Sue. "Water is spraying everywhere. There are big clouds of white smoke pouring out. The parkway is backed up in both directions."

Debbie Galant is at the scene. Avoid driving on Bloomfield Avenue east, past the Glen Ridge border! Cars are being diverted onto the GSP, whether you like it or not. If you are heading west from Newark, you'll hit a detour at Orange Road in Bloomfield.

Police, fire trucks and ambulances have reported from Bloomfield, Newark and Montclair. Smoke is coming from what looks like a four-family home, next to O'Donnell's Signs. Rooftop spectators across the street taking it all in.

Continue reading "Huge Blaze In Bloomfield" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

In what looks to be a settling of scores, two different groups of teens beat up two students from Montclair High within hours of each other.

Deputy Chief of Police Roger Terry says the assaults occured yesterday at 3 pm in the vicinity of Rand School, and at 5 pm in Nishuane Park.

The first call came from security at MHS to the police officer stationed in the school. A fight was going on near Rand School, across the road. Both men went to investigate and found a 16 year old student sitting on a park bench, bleeding from the left side of his head. One of his assailants was looking on. The victim says a group of several boys "jumped him" when he went to the park to settle an argument that started in school with another teen. The victim came alone, the other guy came with some friends.

Police called an ambulance. The victim received first aid on the scene and was taken to Mountainside Hospital. He was received two staples as a result of lacerations to the head; he also suffered a knee injury and abrasions to the left elbow.

Terry says the victim doesn't know all of his assailants. But police investigation led to the arrest of two juveniles and one adult.

Continue reading "Two Teen Beatings In Montclair " »

Posted by Annette Batson at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments

It's almost 2 pm, do you know who's skipping lunch today?

If you've ever had the incredible, stick-to-your-ribs breakfasts served here, you'll know why. Find out on Food.

Posted by Liz George at 1:50 PM | Permalink

Got plans for April Fools' Day? The Montclair Community Band invites you celebrate their 25th-anniversary season at their annual Family Concert (Sunday afternoon at Monclair High School -- see calendar for details). The show, titled "Music and Magic in Montclair," features a hour of exquisite music and a performance by professional magician Ron Owens.

Martin Felder (pictured here with Owens -- can you guess who's who?) will narrate, and Jim Wasko will conduct the band. No tickets needed.

The Band, comprised of adults from the Baristaville area, will also play Friday, May 18, as part of the "May in Montclair" festivities, and they’ve got three outdoor shows planned for June and July.

Posted by Melissa Rayworth at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments

Chief of Police David Sabagh says yesterday's accident involving a van that hit a 13 year old skateboarder is a "real tragedy for everyone involved." "Everyone is in shock and the victim's family has been with him at UMDNJ hospital 'round the clock." MVAU rushed the boy to the hospital yesterday afternoon. "He sustained multiple internal injuries and was admitted in critical condition. At least one tire of the van appears to have run over the boy's torso," says Sabagh. After undergoing surgery, his condition is improving, but medical staff are reluctant to divulge additional information.

UPDATE:Montclair PD has released the name of the driver of the van, Peter Farnese, of Montclair. Mr. Farnese, described as "distraught at the scene of the accident," is cooperating fully with police investigators.

Investigators have received conflicting reports about the incident, and are piecing together information now from witnesses, family, and people involved. Here's what we do know:

Continue reading "Montclair Teen Hit By Van: Update" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments

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

We have just received information from Town Manager Joe Hartnett about the condition of a 13-year old Montclair boy who was hit by a van yesterday afternoon.

We have been informed this morning through the Police Department that the medical condition of the youngster on a skateboard who was hit by a motor vehicle yesterday on Orange Road near Hillside School has been upgraded to "guarded" following surgery. Our thoughts and prayers remain with this boy and his family.

We are waiting for a call back from Chief Sabagh, and will update during the day as we receive news. And based on reader comments, it sounds like, in general, both drivers and pedestrians need some remedial safety lessons.

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments

Montclair Police report a man impersonating a Board of Ed employee tried unsuccessfully to get inside a private home this week.

On Monday evening, at 7:30 pm, a woman living on Maple Avenue heard a knock on her door. A man identified himself as "Sylvester," claiming to work for the Board of Education. He showed a wrinkled piece of paper as his I.D. "Sylvester" told the woman he needed to verify that her grandson lived at that adress. Then he asked to be let inside. The woman answered that her grandson was not home, so he left on foot. The next morning, March 27, just before 10:00 am, "Sylvester" returned to the Maple Avenue residence and began banging on the grandma's door. He demanded to be let inside. Grandma called the police and the man ran off, heading south on Maple Avenue.

The Board of Education tell police they have no inspectors named Sylvester.

The suspect is described as a black or Hispanic male, approximately 6 feet tall, between 30 and 40 years old. He was wearing a green jacket and blue colored Yankees cap. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ray Gulbin at 973-509-4739.

Continue reading "Beware The Pretender" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments

We told you about the opening of Chipotle. Now Pollo Tropical is opening in Clifton's Riverfront Center and from the sound of the press release, you'd think the Sopranos were filming their last scene here...

Pollo Tropical® openings are synonymous with celebration. It’s typical for hundreds of people to line up hours before the 10 am opening of the restaurant to be among the first customers to receive what has been called “the most desirable chicken”, says Daniel W. Lessem, Worldwide Event Manager for Pollo Operations, Inc. Guests are also eligible for grand opening prizes, ranging from gift certificates to a $1,000 grand opening grand prize.

Now that they've thrown down the gauntlet, we'll have to go and taste this "most desirable chicken" as well as the plantains. To find out all the events connected with the day, including salsa music from Frankie Negron, click here.

Posted by Liz George at 4:07 PM | Permalink | Comments

Reports have come in from two tipsters regarding another pedestrian hit.

Pedestrian hit by car Orange Rd, S of Blmfld. In hospital, condition unknown. Orange Rd now closed

We'll update...

Posted by Liz George at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments

What's it really like to live on Gordonhurst Ave? How would folks rate Mission Street (oh, wait, Clyde told us here). What's the vibe on Baldwin Street? A new site is taking it to the streets literally and it will affect the way real estate is sold. Suddenly, really annoying neighbors, noise from the nightclub down the street and yes, cell reception (watch out Watchung Ave.) will all be transparent. StreetAdvisor offers a new resource, and since it's open source, you can start telling it like it is, when the site goes Beta to the public next week.

Posted by Annette Batson at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

Jerry Mosier, aka JMO, is a Montclair film producer, outspoken conservative, and occasional Middle East blogger on Baristanet. JMO returned from Beirut last week loaded with DVDs of his latest film War Of Peace, produced for the Middle East market, in Arabic. His cargo caught the attention of customs officials at Newark, who "siezed" JMO's property. Details on this questionable detainment, from The Montclair Times:

According to Mosier, the Arabic writing on his copies of “War of Peace” triggered the decision by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) employees to interrogate him and confiscate his DVDs.

“Originally, they suspected I was going to sell them on the street. I showed them that my name is on it and it’s my company. Then, it’s ‘Now we’re going to hold it for content review. It might be subversive,’” Mosier said the security officers told him.

Continue reading "Patriot Games" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments

We're thinking Bloomfield Avenue's controversial porn adult entertainment store is going to be busy this weekend. Apparently, Baristanet readers aren't the only ones debating the merits of Montclair Video. The Star Ledger picks up the story we've been talking about, and NJ Monthly singles out Montclair for having one of the best downtowns in the state, giving Montclair Video a big plug.

Jeffrey Namer, owner of the store, says he's within his legal rights, and people should give it a rest. From The Star Ledger:

"It's my First Amendment right to have adult products," he said. "They have an abortion clinic next store, a head shop next to that. Why are they bothering me?"

...While Namer insists the shop is not an adults-only business that would be prohibited by state law in its new location, Montclair authorities aren't so sure.

Alan Trembulak, the township attorney, said he believes Namer's store is in violation of a state criminal statute that prohibits sexually oriented businesses within 1,000 feet of a residential neighborhood, school or place of worship.

"It's now an active police investigation," Township Manager Joseph Hartnett said.

The issue comes down to whether Montclair Video meets the definition of a sexually oriented business, which requires that it offers materials that depict "specified sexual activity" or sells related devices or paraphernalia as one of its principal business purposes. The statute is a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

Namer said his store does not met the definition.

Continue reading " Montclair's Hot Downtown" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

There was just one catch: Most of the crowd arrived in strollers, and the drink of choice came out of juice boxes.

We’d gone, along with about 200 other residents of Baristaville, to see Rebecca Frezza and her band Big Truck in concert at Temple Sholom in Cedar Grove. Mason became a fan while watching Big Truck videos between cartoons on PBS, and he was elated when I told him we could see them play live.

If you’d asked me, during my pre-baby existence, how old my child would be the first time he went to a concert, I probably would have said 14. Maybe 12, if I was feeling progressive. That was before I discovered the growing world of rock and pop music made especially for kids.

Continue reading "Kid Rock" »

Posted by Melissa Rayworth at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments

The shopowner from Jujarat in central India was already famous in the neighborhood for providing 14 years of friendly service, but unfortunately, his notoriety skyrocketed when he was shot three times during an early morning armed robbery. Amin remembers everything: "The guy came in and asked for a cigar. He paid, I gave him his change. Then he told me to give him all the money. I opened the cash register and stepped aside to let him take it all. Instead, he shot me three times, in the arm, my chest, and my ear. Then he ran off, taking nothing."

Continue reading "Dilip Amin, Recovering" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

Political gaming is off to a good start in Bloomfield as we learn that two council persons, Bernard Hamilton and Patricia Spychala, are conspicuously absent from the democratic mayoral ticket. And from the report in Bloomfield Life, the incumbents are not amused:

Though the Democratic ticket running with Mayor Raymond McCarthy has not officially been announced, Bloomfield Democratic County Committee Chair Peter Strumolo has confirmed that incumbent councilpersons Bernard Hamilton and Patricia Spychala are not included. In their place, Strumolo is reportedly running Antoinette Rodriguez and — much to Spychala's chagrin — Strumolo's son Christian.

In dispute is whether Spychala and Hamilton asked not to run on the ticket, or whether Strumolo removed them without their consent.

Strumolo claims the two "don't want to run with the mayor," though he declined to elaborate, saying he would release a statement soon.

The two incumbent councilpersons deny this allegation. Spychala called it "a blatant lie," saying Strumolo has treated her and Hamilton "unfairly." She said Strumolo originally told her she and Hamilton would have to "duke it out" for the ticket's third spot, which he eventually gave to Rodriguez.

...Spychala said she asked Strumolo why his son could not wait until next year and run as a ward councilman. But according to Spychala, the elder Strumolo said taking his son off this year’s ticket is “not an option.”

“Why can’t his son wait his turn?” she asked. “This is nepotism at its best."

Or payback, perhaps?

Continue reading "Bloomfield: Look Who's Missing On Mayoral Ticket" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

Tiny is a black male with a hint of white under his chin. Unlike his name, Tiny is large in stature and heart. Tiny was left behind in an apartment when his family moved. When PAWS arrived at the apartment, Tiny was right by the apartment door, as if he was waiting for his owners to return. Tiny can be a little grumpy at times, but wouldn’t you be if you were treated in such a callous manner? Tiny just wants to be in a loving home again. He is spayed, up to date on his vaccinations, and ready to go home with you. Please come and meet him.

Or...

Continue reading "Adopt This Black Beauty..." »

Posted by Liz George at 12:43 PM | Permalink

Soprano Sue scored a ticket to New York City's hottest premiere, and shares the excitement...

Last night, I got to go to the premiere of The Sopranos at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The "no camera rule" was strictly enforced, so I dumped my camera with someone I knew. For now, there is some video on YouTube of the “mob scene” at the 51st Street entrance, as the cast arrives on the red carpet. HBO was also filming the cast on the carpet (no they weren’t rolled up in it) and the crowd watching the fun from across the street. Some of the loudest noise in the crowd came when a truck was stuck at the light, blocking everyone’s view.

Continue reading "Sopranos Premiere, Seen By Soprano Sue " »

Posted by Soprano Sue at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments

Montclair resident Barbara Webster, a self-employed bookkeeper representing Montclair Campaign for Peace and Justice, was one of five anti-war protesters arrested yesterday in Newark, for staging a peaceful sit-in in the Gateway Center lobby where US Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez have offices.

Webster, 64, tells Baristanet the protest is part of a nationwide effort to stop further funding of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Our goal was to camp out in the senator's office until he signed the pledge we delivered last week, or until the office closed and they called the police to get us out. We expected to get arrested." Webster said.

Continue reading "Montclair War Protester Arrested" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments

A tipster writes about porn reborn, right in downtown Montclair:

I noticed that "Montclair Video" lost its lease at 363 Bloomfield Avenue, but rather than leave town, they've moved 6 stores up to 385 Bloomfield Avenue. If you're not familiar with their business, they are not a video store that happens to have an adult section. They are a porn store that fronts as a legitimate video establishment. Their back room is three times the size of their front room and their inventory isn't limited to adult videos, but toys, devices etc.

I don't know how the Montclair BID let this one slip past them, and I don't know how Karen Kadus isn't going to war against this establishment, but someone dropped the ball and I hope it's addressed. We pay a lot of attention to new restaurants and such that inhabit Bloomfield Avenue, now it's time to pay attention to the stores that are detracting from that area of town.

The master plan discourages adult video stores, car dealerships, fast food restaurants etc. Should someone be fining this establishment? Maybe a protest is in order. Either way, this is a detriment to the community and I hope someone can resolve it.

The days may indeed be numbered for Montclair Video. Karen Kadus, Director of Planning and Community Development, tells us "adult entertainment" is not permitted in that location, and this case is being handled by the town's Code Enforcement Department and Legal Department. Tom Lonergan, Executive Director of Montclair BID, replied that BID has very little control over what stores go where. But based on the size of the adult video section in the establishment, Lonergan has made his concerns known to the Planning Department and Township Attorney. "If the store is determined to be in violation of local code, the BID will work with the township to pursue appropriate remedies," says Lonergan.

Posted by Annette Batson at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments

The unusually rambunctious postings on our animal shelter stories have caused us to close comments several times, most recently today.

But we've set up a place where you can carry on the debate over in our forums.

By the way, starting next week, everybody who wants to comment on the site will have to register through forums, so you might as well go over now and get a username. We've heard your complaints about behavior on our front page, and we're hoping that registration will help.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:21 PM | Permalink

Montclair Police have just released a composite sketch of the suspect wanted for the March 6 attemped armed robbery we reported, in the area of Grove Street and Stanford Place. A Montclair resident was walking home from the bus stop when he was approached from behind by a black male who pressed a gun against the back of his head, stating "Give me your wallet". The victim immediately fled on foot.

The victim observed a Beige Suzuki Forenza parked in the area, occupied by a black female with long braids and a possibly another person.

The suspect is described as a black male, early 20's. Approximately 5'11", trim build, medium skin, clean shaven. The suspect was wearing a tan hat, and a green football jersey with possible "6" on front. Suspect was carrying a black semi-automatic handgun.

If you have any information please contact Det. D. O'Dowd, 973-509-4723, at
Montclair Police Headquarters (973) 744-1234.

Posted by Annette Batson at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments

When it comes to competitive professions, realtors are definitely right up there. Top selling agents vy for both commissions and awards, then there's always those behind the scene stories of backstabbing. It's no wonder there hasn't been an Aaron Spelling show yet, but reality TV got there with HGTV's Bought & Sold. Just as the Sopranos is poised to say goodbye to New Jersey, Bought & Sold says hello by featuring NJ power realtors from Montclair, Glen Ridge and South Orange.

Here's the premise...

"Bought & Sold," premiering at 10 p.m. on April 29, showcases "what really happens when Realtors compete and calculate their way to closing the deal," according to an HGTV media release.

Remax scored the prize here and some of the realtors featured on the show might be familiar to our readers as a few have a Baristanet connection. Sam Joseph, the former Macy's window dresser turned realtor and former GR resident, was written about here. Watch for Joseph to pull out all the stops to snag a historic listing -- including showing up with caviar, paté and champagne. Then there's often-quoted realtor Roberta Baldwin. Linda Russell is also featured, a Montclair realtor who also has her own staging business (I can vouch for her magic -- she whipped my home into shape for sale two years ago). Last, is Chris Lane, of the free moving truck, who isn't difficult to spot in this picture. Baldwin and Lane both have blogs. Baldwin's is at Suburbandigs, while Lane came up with one recently called Realburbs. Also from Montclair is Nancy Gentile; meanwhile, Maplewood's Vanessa Pollock is in the mix here.

Photo: Todd Plitt/Scripps Howard

Posted by Liz George at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments

Last Sunday night, while walking with her boyfriend to her apartment, a young woman witnessed six men ambush her companion, and beat him in the face.

It happened around midnight: the young couple was outside on Glenridge Avenue when a dark colored, 4-door pulled up to the curb. The occupants of the car started talking with the woman, a 20-year-old resident of Montclair. As she and her boyfriend, a 20-year-old Newark resident, were walking back towards the apartment foyer, the car door opened: six black men emerged and surrounded the young man.

The victim was struck in the face and the back of the head with closed fists by at least two suspects. The girlfriend screamed and the six men got back in their car and fled east on Glenridge Avenue. When police arrived, the victim refused medical treatment.

The suspect who punched the victim is described as a dark skinned male, 18 - 21, with short black hair. He was wearing an army fatigue jacket and blue jeans. Another suspect was described as 18 - 21, approximately 5'10", wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jeans, long dread-lock style hair with a black baseball hat.

Motclair Police say they are still trying to determine a motive for the assault. If you have any information about this incident, contact Detective Rob Romito at 973-509-4724.

Posted by Annette Batson at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments

In Baristaville soccer circles, rumors are flying that Ashley's Soccer Domain will be kicked out and replaced by condos.

"The Dome's going nowhere," says Ashley Hammond, about the giant white bubble adjacent to Walnut Street Station in Montclair. "Sure I've heard the rumor going around, and it's just not true."

The Dome has been a Montclair soccer fixture for eight years and Hammond hopes it will be there for at least 12 more. "Our lease option comes up for renewal every five years, and we have two more options remaining." Hammond, who is also Director of Training for MUSC, says demand for playing time within the Dome is huge. "I've got soccer teams, lacrosse teams, and even some baseball here. It's running seven days a week."

Hammond explained to us how the deal works.

Continue reading "Montclair Soccer Domain, Here To Stay " »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:28 AM | Permalink | Comments

With only 13 (very long) days before the premiere of Season 6, part two of The Sopranos, HBO has been busy at work coming up with some cool stuff to get us more excited than we already are. If you want to know what is in store, check out this link. I have to find someone who has Comcast Cable, I heard about the “Sopranos Heaven” spot, when it was made, and it sounded really good.

Some character names, you just can’t shake of, check out this video on YouTube, about one of the most loved characters on the show.

Shot by shot, “Sopranos altered New Jersey landscape”, read some of the comments made by the people directly affected by the show, and what it has been like.

Albert Ching from AZStarNet is asking fans to voice what they want to see in the final episodes of the show.

Continue reading "Countdown To Season 6" »

Posted by Soprano Sue at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments

Montclair's not just the Upper West Side West. It's also Hollywood East.

Tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 27), local filmmakers come together at Trumpets Jazz Club to form the Montclair Film Network. From Jim Peskin, over at the Montclair Arts Council:

The idea to form a Montclair Film Network was born during the production of the Montclair Emerging Filmmakers' Festival when many Montclair film professionals participated on panels. The stories told, ideas shared and connections made led to creating opportunities for the Montclair Film Community to connect. So come to network, meet the producers, writers, directors, DPs, editors, engineers, publicists and others who make up such a vital part of our town - and whom you never knew live right down the street.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments

A tipster alerts us to this, from the Montclair Times...

An intoxicated man who police officers spotted giving a piggyback ride to a female friend and walking toward an ice-covered street objected to putting the woman down, then cursed at responding officers and resisted being handcuffed, authorities said.

The tipster asks you...

So, is piggybacking a crime? Since when is "walking towards" an ice-covered street a crime? And since when is it the cops job to prevent folks from doing (dumb and stupid sure) legal activity? Can I give my love a piggyback in Edgemont Park, near the lake, drunk on love? I mean, I could stumble, fall and drown.

Seriously though, this is crazy. Not that his reaction was justified, but really, why were the cops even involved?

Posted by Liz George at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments

What do you do when Montclair's reval costs you an extra 25,000 in taxes? Sell. A tipster writes...

This big old mansion on Park St (corner lot, east side, halfway between Watchung and Bellevue) just came on the market $832,600 BELOW the new appraised tax #.

Asking price is $2,895,000. New assessment is $3,727,600, which would mean $74,812 taxes at the new rate of $2.007.

Hopefully it doesn't end up as a subdidvision, because the lot is huge (over 90,000 sq. feet, or almost two acres). Crisco is on 2.25 acres I recall.

Located at 333 Park St, the mansion (which also has a carriage house) was initially reappraised at $4,039,200, so the appraised value must have been adjusted.

Posted by Liz George at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments

Men, what do women really want? The Cambridge Women's Pornography Cooperative has the answer, and it doesn't involve whips or chains. This review, in today's "Shelf Awareness," an e-letter than covers the retail bookselling trade, forced a grudging smile from me despite it being Monday morning.

In this dreamy world, Michael gazes intently at you and whispers, "God, that's so interesting. Tell me more." Or with the same sweet smile declares, "Ooh, look, the NFL playoffs are today. I bet we'll have no trouble parking at the crafts fair." Joe, with dimples and a six-pack, leans forward and says, "Well, I can't offer you any solutions, but I am a good listener." Later, arising seductively from bed, he offers: "Is that the baby? I'll get her." Curly-haired Rich checks to see if he is folding the clothes properly while making sure that the house never runs out of chocolate. And Adrian, who does the laundry shirtless and likes to give massages, suggests, "Have another piece of cake. I don't like you looking so thin." Every woman's fantasy is here, from the man who enjoys cooking or snuggling or even cleaning the cat box to the man who says, "Why don't we invite your mother over this weekend" or stops to ask for directions. Then there is the three-hour foreplay sequence that begins with Michael and rose petals.

Discuss.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments

The recent crimes around the Pine Street/Glenridge Ave/Bay Street area have stepped up police presence in the area. Phil Read spends a shift with two of Montclair's finest, officers Glenda Rivera and Robert Anderson, outside of Caggiano & Sons Liquors. From the Star Ledger...

At community meetings, residents asked for more police presence, which is why Rivera and Anderson were turning up the heat on a recent Wednesday night.

But they're not always appreciated.

"Slow down a minute. Slow down a minute," Rivera says as the officers stop four young men who changed direction while walking by the cross-topped pillars outside Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. "Listen up. We're getting strict down here. ... I want to know why you're trying to avoid us."

Meanwhile, concerned residents have set up a meeting with the MPD...

A meeting has been scheduled by the Montclair Chief of Police, in response to concerns raised by residents, to discuss growing concern about criminal activity in Montclair. The meeting will take place at the Montclair Fire Department at 1 Pine Street, Montclair (next to Bay Street Train Station) on March 28th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Posted by Liz George at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Internet is full of dangerous sites for kids, but you want to think your school site is a safe place to click. Not so in Clifton, where porn was the lesson of the day recently on an external website linked to Woodrow Wilson Middle School's website. From North Jersey Media Group...

When visitors clicked on the link for Color Math Pink, an Internet-based mathematics resource for girls, they were taken to a search engine for pornographic material, said Assistant Schools Superintendent Ira Oustatcher, citing a complaint from a New York City television station that prompted school officials to remove the link.

Administrators and Board of Education officials said no parents, teachers or any of the school district's 1,200 students complained to them about seeing the inappropriate materials on the Woodrow Wilson Middle School Web site.

Oustatcher said soon after the 6:30 p.m. complaint to Clifton administrators on Wednesday, the external link was removed.

Oustatcher said the last time he visited www.colormathpink.com was on March 9, and he knows, because Google keeps track of when someone visits an Internet address. At that time the link worked normally.

Color Math Pink is one of the top-rated math learning resources on the Web, according to Educational World, an Internet magazine which reviews and rates such sites for schools. Color Math Pink is linked to hundreds of other schools throughout the country.

Posted by Liz George at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Clairidge re-opened this weekend after two weeks of renovations -- but the Clearview's head of marketing told us it was going to be a "soft opening" because the job is only half done, and the real grand opening is still another week or two away.

True enough. We planned to see "Pan's Labyrinth" last night -- which was listed online -- only to discover when we got there that the theater it was supposed to be shown in wasn't ready yet.

Instead, we saw the very charming "Avenue Montaigne," and got a little inside glipse at the renovation too.

About a third of the seats in the theater our show was in were not yet installed, so it made finding four seats in a row impossible. But, the seats that were installed now recline. For those who care about the creature comforts at the movies (and our companions are included in that group), it's a big improvement.

We just hope the economics of the business allow the Clairidge to continue as an art-house theater for many years to come. With the Screening Zone and the Wellmont gone, it's all that more important a venue. And (listening, Dick Grabowsky?) make no mistake about it: the Clairidge, more than just about any institution in town, is the jewel in the crown that is Montclair. With it, Montclair is the Upper West Side West -- a place where relocated urban sophisticates can still get their weekly cinema fix. Without it, we might as well be living in Ohio.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments

It's a beautiful day. Go out with a camera and send us pictures of cool things you're finding in and outside of Baristaville.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments

Monday is traditionally the night of the week that New York theater actors put up their feet and rest. Broadway theaters are dark, and the streets of Hell's Kitchen (okay, the neighborhood is called "Clinton" now) are mainly filled with young actors scurrying to off-off-Broadway rehearsals.

But a group of past and present Broadway performers are giving up their night off this coming Monday to sing and dance at Bloomfield’s 12 Miles West theater, where they’ll help raise money for 12MW and the New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts.

The evening, billed “Broadway in Bloomfield: Act II,” promises to be a raucous good time. It’s being hosted by the incredible Richard Skipper (whose dead-on impression of Carol Channing has been wowing audiences for more than a decade) and features musical director (and three-time Tony nominee) Larry Hochman. You’ll hear cast members from a slew of Broadway hits, including “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Les Miserables” and “The Pajama Game.”

Check out our calendar for details. Tickets are $50, but an additional donation of $25 will get you an invite to a reception with the stars.

Posted by Melissa Rayworth at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

PAWS animal shelter, may have just used one of its nine lives to survive in Montclair. The town issued a press release this week stating the threat of eviction from its North Willow Street home has been called off.

“We are not evicting PAWS,” said the Mayor. “We are looking only to ensure accountability, professionalism, safety and quality services on the part of the agency providing these services to the Township.”

There was no indication how much longer the lease has been extended. Town Manager Joe Hartnett is seeking help from state and county agencies to evaluate how PAWS is being operated, and how shelter services and pet adoptions can be improved. Montclair recently hired a new Animal Control Officer to improve animal welfare services. The town will also be considering shared services arrangements as part of a long-range management strategy. Expect a public hearing on the future of PAWS, once recommendations have been reviewed by township management and the council.

In recent months, volunteers initiated a pro-active adopt-a-dog blitz on the watercooler, and put contingency plans in the works to to repatriate the cats, but folks at PAWS, for now, are breathing a sigh of relief.

Posted by Annette Batson at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments

No need to worry about danger at Montclair High, just traffic congestion. Avoid driving around the school right now. Police have blocked off surrounding streets and are conducting a lock down drill with students today.

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments

You tipped us to an FBI take down in Montclair early this morning. We followed up with Montclair Police, who tells us the Feds arrested a registered sex offender.

"David Short, approximately 40 years old, a registered Megan's Law Offender, was arrested by the FBI on federal charges for sending child pornography over the internet," Deputy Chief Perry Mayers told Baristanet today.

The arrest took place on the 200 Block of Grove Street, just after 7 am. Montclair Police assisted in the arrest.

Here's how a tipster described the scene:

...my wife who went past on the #33 bus into the city - said she saw at least 2 people at the house both wearing bullet proof vests with 'FBI' on the back - one person was outside and one was standing in the front door.

We'll update this story as we learn more.

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

Have we got a chef for you!

Check it out on Food.

Posted by Liz George at 10:57 AM | Permalink

Bobbi Brown's new book, "Living Beauty," which was 14th on the New York Times hardcover advice bestseller list last week, has a very nice, if predictable, message: love thyself, even if thyself is over the hill. "I don't know why it's not OK to age," she says in her introduction. "I think that a face without lines and planes is an expressionless face..."

On the other hand, why shell out $29.99 just to hear to hear that your beauty shines from within? What we really want from our local cosmetics queen is some down-and-dirty tricks of the beauty trade, and Bobbi does not disappoint. Let's start with her revelation that she takes her own bras to the tailor.

Continue reading "Beauty Tips of the Rich and Famous" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments

You read our live blog, now see the video, and hear the buzz from the fans at yesterday's historic film shoot in Bloomfield.

Click To Play

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:33 AM | Permalink | Comments

Continue reading "Let Them Adore Him" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 2:19 AM | Permalink | Comments

Let's just talk about basketball here for once, shall we? It's March Madness, leaving plenty of men (and plenty of women, too - have you been to the Shannon Rose?) giving all their attention to the tube, or the sports radio station, to see whatever men's hoops teams are doing at any given time. Do they root for the Salukis during the regular season? Heck no. Does it matter? Heck no. All that matters is that it's a crazy amount of basketball, all crammed into a few weeks' time. It means two days - last Thursday and Friday - of basketball during the workday. It means entirely too many pools being taken part in, and an unhealthy addiction to the updates every twenty minutes while in the car, listening to the radio.

Is it ever going to change? Nope, attention-flipping Americans. It's March Madness, and that's a good thing. Well, at least it's supposed to be.

Posted by Tom at 11:37 PM | Permalink | Comments

A commuter over a Conductor Josh's listserv reported that trains were slowed because of broken crossing bar on Grove St. in Montclair. This is what it looked like.

Readers have been reporting train crossing weirdness on this site for some time; most recently it was Katie. NJ Transit workers on the scene explained that the gates often seem to be broken -- first they're down, then briefly up, then they come down again -- because they're "timed out" after the train is in a station for a certain amount of time. They insist the system is actually supposed to work that way.

Seems to us like a bad system. This scene took place right across from the Decamp terminal.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 6:33 PM | Permalink | Comments

Patrons of the Bellevue Barber Shop on Bellevue Ave. may have noticed the shop has closed. Sadly, it's a result of the recent death of owner Frank Muscara, who owned the shop for 48 years. A reader writes...

He owned and lived in a house on Lorraine Avenue since the early 1970s, and moved to Nutley only 3 years ago. I rented an apartment from him. Frank was definitely not part of the Montclair latte circuit. No pretentiousness, not personally stylish (although he was a generally good barber); he liked people and liked to talk, whether it was good for business or not. The inside of his shop was basically something from the 50s. He was the kind of guy who helped to keep Montclair from getting too unreal, too distant from 'the other 99.9%'. He and his barbershop were as much a part of the scene in Upper Montclair as the Presby Gardens. It would be good for you to give some respect to the passing of the old in Montclair, as much as you celebrate the coming of the new/fru-fru.

Frank, you'll be missed.

Posted by Liz George at 4:19 PM | Permalink | Comments

"This is the most exciting thing that's happened to this neighborhood -- ever." Carol Leone, Bloomfield resident for 28 years. "It was crazy to go against this."

Annette Batson is on the scene, reporting that the entire town of Bloomfield (sans Manny Alfano and Mayor Ray McCarthy, of course) have pretty much taken the day off to welcome the Sopranos to Bloomfield.

Morning sighting around 11:30 am: Paulie Walnuts, Tony, Carmela (in rollers) and A.J. When Tony got out of his limo, looking dapper in suede jacket and baseball cap, the crowd started roaring and screaming his name. He rewarded them by playfully sticking out his tongue. Carmela didn't make eye contact with anyone. The cast and crew are gorging themselves on pastry, sandwiches, pizza and cappuccinos from Cafe Tartufo. Owner Nora Loachamin says the cafe will be open to 1 am tonight to accommodate them.

Continue reading "Live Blogging Sopranos: Bloomfield, NJ" »

Posted by Liz George at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Comments

Broad Street is Gawker Central today in Baristaville -- as dozens of spectators and journalists crane their necks for a view of the cast and crew of the Sopranos sneaking into a black-curtained Holsten's to shoot the last scene of their final season.

People on the street report seeing James Gandolfini, Edie Falco and Robert Iler, in their brief street appearance before disappearing into the controversial Holsten's set.

Bloomfield police are out in force trying to manage the crowd and the traffic at the busy intersection of Broad and Watchung, but there's plenty on-street parking if you know the back streets between Broad Street and Ridgewood Ave. Amazingly, traffic is still moving through the intersection.

Thanks to the folks across the street at Rita's Ices (which is open for business by the way) for letting us file from their office.

Another view (inset) by John Zingali.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments

Residents in a South End neighborhood are wary of a big, homeless dog that's been roaming the streets. A frustrated Isabella Olen, in a letter to the editor of The Montclair Times, is appalled that Animal Control can't catch the elusive hound.

I am writing about the sad state of affairs regarding our animal control situation in Montclair. I live in the South End of town close to the estate section. There has been a large dog on the loose in this area for a year.

I have called Celia Tremulak [sic] in the Health Department so many times that her phone number is in my personal address book. Celia has always seemed genuinely concerned about this situation. She has told me that there is a family in the neighborhood that feeds the dog and that they have been willing participants in trying to catch it.

Continue reading "Dog Catcher Misses Catch" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments

Watch it here. Talk about it here.

Posted by Liz George at 11:37 AM | Permalink

They'll be at Holsten's today, but yesterday, The Sopranos were filming at New Jersey’s favorite pork store, “Satriales” (love this place, pork chops are aways on sale, they never change the prices in the windows) according to The Associated Press. Reports that I got from my spies, say it was a scene, with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) and Paulie Walnuts (Tony Sirico) sitting at a table in front of the store, shot from different vantage points over several hours, exciting stuff! Good to know our boys are in the “hood!”

In a few hours, (depending when you read this), a new Sopranos commercial is set to air on MSNBC (check out this neat countdown clock) around noon. Not sure whether this is the commercial, but on the MSNBC website, “they have a trailer up (click see trailer, window pops up, then in right column, "Final Episodes"). Feel free to talk about it in at the Baristanet Sopranos Board.

Couple of nights ago there was a very, very exclusive screening of the first two episodes of The Sopranos. An article in NY Mag, reveals 14 things that you will learn from these episodes.

Vanity Fair, this month has a photo spread of The Sopranos which was shot by photographer, Annie Liebowitz. The text of the interview with Sopranos creator, David Chase is on line.

I see we have some younger readers out there. Yesterday’s title was a reference to those television commercials from years ago, that touted Wednesday as being “Prince Spaghetti Day.” Sundays now have become, “Baked **$#*&*&*& Ziti Day.”

Continue reading "Sopranos Film Today in Bloomfield" »

Posted by Soprano Sue at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

If you're looking for used books, music, clothing, and sporting goods at rock bottom prices - and even free, there are two local shopping events you shouldn't miss.

Starting this afternoon and for the next two weekends, the College Women's Club of Montclair is holding their annual Used Book & Music Sale. If you've gone in the past, you'll know that Friday is usually mobbed by used book dealers, and carries a $5 admission charge. Admission is free on any other sale day. All proceeds go to Collete College Scholarship Fund for girls in West Essex. Held in the Technopulp Building, 26 Park Street, Montclair. For the full event schedule, go to the jump.

Got Stuff? Looking for more? Then put this extraordinary freebie on your weekend calendar: The Second Montclair Swap, this Saturday, 9 - 12 in the gym at Hillside School, 54 Orange Road.

The Deal: To make this work, they need donations of clothing, sports equipment and
books, dvds and videos. Donations must be in very good condition. Drop off is tomorrow, March 23, 3:30 - 6:30 at Hillside gym. (If you can't make that time, or want to help out, call Jane Marcus 973-783-3432.) Games or toys must be in original wrapping and still sealed. Saturday is shopping day, and everything will be free. (You don't have to donate anything to take things.)

Continue reading "Bargains In Baristaville" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments

Now that county executive Joe DiVincenzo has cleaned up Essex parks, he's reaching out to the feathered squatters. DiVincenzo wants to keep the parks' growing number of geese in check - in a humane way.

And if you think the Adult School has a corner on the unique curriculum department, there's a free class DiVincenzo and Essex GeesePeace are jointly sponsoring tonight:

All are invited to a training session to learn about a humane population control method endorsed by the Humane Society, helping to limit the birth of goslings. 7 pm, Essex County Environmental Center, 621B Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland.

The training session is free but registration is required. For more information: 973-228-8776.

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments

Detective Chris Goul of Bloomfield PD reports a man was robbed at gunpoint on March 13. The victim, a 20-year-old resident of East Orange, was walking home along the 100 block of Prospect Street. At 11:25 pm, as he neared Watsessing School, the victim says he was approached by two black males. One of the suspects brandished a silver automatic handgun and said "hand over whatever you have." The victim turned over his wallet and an IPOD, and the suspects ran away. The armed suspect is described as a light skinned black male, thin build, 5'10", short dreadlocks, wearing dark clothes and a hoodie. A description of the second suspect: thin black male, six feet tall, wearing dark clothing and a hoodie.

And last Thursday, BPD put four alleged drug dealers out of business.

Continue reading "Armed Robbery, Drug Arrest In Bloomfield" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 3:34 PM | Permalink | Comments

It’s Wednesday, and if you were camped out last night at Montclair High, you all ready know that the filming was canceled for today (no idea whether they are rescheduling or if it is history), although some are speculating about it, and the Holsten's shoot, here.

Tonight is the live airing of Vincent Pastore’s Wise Guy Show on Sirius Radio, Raw Dog 104 at 6 pm. For a listing of tonight’s guests, check out Cha Cha’s web site. Cha Cha plays the character of Albie Cianflone, Phil Leotardo’s driver on The Sopranos. Immediately afterwards at 9 pm, The Sopranos airs on the A & E network.

Check out these two new Sopranos video clips. The first is entitled, “Paint it Black” and the other is a “Sopranos Death Montage”.

Don Metzger, when you win the prize while participating in this reality show, remember WHO you pay the “vig” to, after all I told you about this one.

Continue reading "Yes, It's Prince Spaghetti Day" »

Posted by Soprano Sue at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments

We'll have to wait a few more months for the produce stands to open up at Walnut Station, but you can still do your part to support Jersey farmers.

Today, Baristaville Whole Foods Markets is donating 5% of the day’s net sales to the Foodshed Alliance and the Buy Fresh Buy Local Campaign.

Buy Fresh Buy Local farmers will be greeting customers from 11a.m. to 6 p.m. with samples of local food and farming information.

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments

Lovers of contemporary dance and drama, prepare yourselves to be entertained, moved, and shaken up by the performance of Broken Chords - "a searing new work about love and loss." Presented by Peak Performances @ MSU, the UK dance company, Vincent Dance Theatre is making its US debut of Broken Chords in Baristaville tomorrow night.

The New York Times calls Charlotte Vincent's program “…the most harrowing, yet inspiring transmutation of personal pain into artistic achievement ..."

Both tragic and bleakly comic, Vincent uses the experience of her divorce to explore a range of emotions. The show plays out against rows of wooden chairs in the shadow of a huge chandelier.

Peak Performances @ Montclair has become one of the premiere showcases in the country for the best in dance, presenting work you cannot see anywhere else in the area. Thursday, March 22 and Saturday, March 24 at 7:30pm; Sunday March 25 at 3pm. Peak Performances, Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair State University. Tickets: $25.

For tickets and information: 973-655-5112 or click here.

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments

Montclari PD reports officers were called to break up a group of teens causing trouble at the Montclair Library. A 15-year-old girl involved in the disturbance was arrested.

In what sounds like a repeat of the trouble recently reported at Maplewood Library, Lt. Carlucci describes what happened:

On March 19 at approximately 5pm, a group of 9-10 boys and girls were inside the library on South Fullerton creating a disturbance. The library security officer and police officer who was assigned there (police officers are assigned to work library on different days ) asked the group to leave. The group refused and had to be escorted outside. While leaving, they continued to yell profanities, disrupting the peace and quiet of the library. Outside, the group continued to be loud and were asked to disperse several times. The group walked away and then stopped at he corner of Plymouth & South Fullerton blocking the sidewalk. Two elderly woman who were approaching the group had to mount a snow pile to walk around them, causing a public inconvenience and hazard.

The officer, joined by two other officers, walked towards the group and told them to stop blocking the sidewalk. The youths then began yelling at the officers "This is public property, we don't got to move, you can't make us move no where." As one of the officers began to walk through the group, a 15-year-old Montclair girl attempted to physically block the officer, stiffening her body and clutching her arms. The girl was told she was under arrest.

Continue reading "Montclair Teen Arrested At Library" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 6:55 PM | Permalink | Comments

This post has been corrected to properly credit staff reporter Anthony Reinhart's article from the Globe and Mail. Baristanet apologizes for the omission.

Combine Canadian Hockey, political banter, and Stephen Colbert, and what do you get? Well if you're in Oshawa, just east of Toronto, you'll be celebrating Stephen Colbert Day. Tonight 1,500 people are expected to show up for free cake, Dr. Pepper, and a night of partying but the guest of honor is a no-show. Maybe that's why the hockey crazed town has chosen hockey star and TV bully Don Cherry to officiate, and the town's holding a Canadian Colbert look-alike contest. For those of you who didn't follow the drama , here's the story from The Globe and Mail, by Anthony Reinhart...

The fun started last year when the Spirit, Oshawa's rivals in Michigan, set out to find a name for their miniature mascot. The team hosted an online vote, word of which surfaced on Mr. Colbert's show, prompting more than two million viewers to flood the Spirit's site in support of the name Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle, after the TV host.

Mr. Colbert's newfound affinity for Saginaw soon had him talking trash, on air, about opposing teams, including Oshawa. Before long, Oshawa Mayor John Gray shot back with a challenge, just before a January showdown between the two clubs.

If Oshawa won, Mr. Colbert would wear a Generals jersey on his show. If it lost, Oshawa would hold a Stephen Colbert Day, initially pitched by Mr. Gray for the TV host's birthday in May, until a counter-taunt led to today's date, which is Mr. Gray's birthday.

"The only cool thing that has ever happened to Oshawa," commented one blogger

Tell us if you'd like Baristaville to have its own official Colbert Day...or is one flavor of ice cream enough?

Posted by Annette Batson at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

Homeowners living in the neighborhood of Montclair's First Lutheran Church, at 153 Park Street, received a notice last week that Omnipoint/T-Mobile has leased a portion of the rear parking lot from the church and wants to install an 80 foot tall mono pole there. The notice, mailed by the Board of Adjustment, says that the cell phone company is requesting several variances that would allow them to put up the equipment.

A reader who lives nearby says he can't believe it. "Why do they want to do this in the middle of a residential neighborhood? With real estate values being such a hot-button issue in this town, this can not be good for the neighborhood. I'm in favor of better cell phone reception, but why don't they put the pole in a commercial neighborhood, on a rooftop?"

"I think this is a major imposition, and wonder what others think," a neighbor said.

Tomorrow night, neighbors will have their chance to speak out at a public hearing, 7:30 pm in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Street.

Posted by Annette Batson at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

Forget about eggs. The best way to celebrate the vernal equinox tomorrow (Wed, March 21) is to find yourself a Rita's Ices, where they'll be giving out free ices all day long.

Here in Baristaville, that's at 1066 Broad St. in Bloomfield. Or, if you're closer to Nutley, there's one at 371 Centre Street. Tell them you heard about it on Baristanet!

After that, go to Dunkin' Donuts, where they're celebrating the first day of spring by giving out free coffee.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments

Sure, anyone can be "hiding in Baristaville" now. And a lot of you are. In fact, as our tech guru Tom Biro says, "hiding" is really a collective of people posting. Still -- once someone picks the name as their user name, that will change things. Who will stake claim to the handle "hiding in Baristaville" first?

Posted by Liz George at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments

While the Sopranos are returning to Broad St. at Watchung, another big low-profile production is returning to Broad St. at Liongate. Known by the innocuous title as AFC/Fairways, the often rejected, neglected, resuscitated, and re-erected projected Liongate Townhouse Development is about to receive yet another hearing by Bloomfield's Planning Board and the DEP. The purpose this time is to tweak their project enough to pass muster before strict new state mandated flood control measures take effect. Their latest plan calls for 104 Units on about 6 buildable acres. Normally, Planning Board meetings are listed, with agendas, well in advance on the Townships website. This special meeting has been scheduled for weeks, but somehow the powers-that-be neglected to post it. Perhaps they fear another big turnout by unhappy residents. When? 7:30 PM Tuesday. Where? Bloomfield's Town Hall.

Posted by Annette Batson at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

Did you know that in the state of New Jersey you can marry your first cousin? Now that's a slogan. It's just one thing we learned from watching Mary & Jocelyn (who you met first here) getting "hitched." True confession: I got teary-eyed, but I always cry at weddings. Congrats to the beautiful brides. We love ya!

Watch Love & Rights

Posted by Liz George at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments

RG wrote to us last week about a ticket he'd just received after navigating that weird Bermuda triangle in the South End of Montclair.

I don't know if this is of interest but I received a 3 point ticket this morning for making a left turn at Orange Rd. West onto Linden Ave. that I believed it was a legal turn. The reason I assumed this was because there is only one sign and two left turns.. The hard left is obviously illegal because you can turn about 20 feet earlier to go in that direction so of course the sign must relate to that turn! Well it's doesn't'.. It relates to the second left, the left that hundreds of cars turn onto every day, the left that has no line in the center of the road, and the left that; While I was getting my ticket I saw about 5 other people make, but the cop could only get one at a time.

The only reason I raise this concern is because there I vote like many others; that they either open the turn up for easy commuting or install cones on the line to stop drivers from turning. This is one of the many road signs in Montclair that need to be cleared up for outsiders who don't want to learn the hard way. Imagine if one of the many directors or actors who travel to our town for filming get busted for this and decide to not return... These are not the simplest streets to understand so why not make the signs easier to read?

We went out to the intersection today with a camera. Actually, RG, there are two "no left turn" signs, including one right at the entrance to Linden Ave. But we agree with you that the intersection -- both in design and signing -- is confusing. Even worse: the intersection right up the street, where Orange Road "West" crosses Cedar, and where everybody gets the go-ahead to make turn onto Orange Road "West" at the same time. We've labeled RG's intersection "Bad" on the map below, and the other "Worse." And the consequences could be a lot worse than just having some TV crews decide not to film here anymore. Take a look.

Continue reading "Maybe the Guy Who Designed the Intersection is the One Who Should Get the Ticket" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments

The most common infractions are crowding too many passengers in the car, driving during the provisional curfew of 11:01 pm and 5:00 am, speeding, driving while using a cell phone, and not wearing seat belts. First time offenders are slapped with a $100 summons, second time around, they'll face Judge Booker and could lose their license. With each summons issued, MPD will also send a letter to the parents, who may not know what the driving restrictions and rules are for their child.

In a press conference yesterday, on the steps of Montclair High School, Sabagh quoted chilling statistics about fatalities and accidents involving teen driving, citing recent teen driving fatalities in Freehold, and in Belleville, saying "we're trying to prevent something similar happening in Montclair. This program is not about issuing summonses, it's about safety, educating teens about the risks. Kids think they are invulnerable to danger, when in fact, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people ages 16-24." "The most dangerous driving situations are driving with other teens and driving at night," Sabagh added.

Continue reading "MPD Clamps Down On Teen Drivers" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments

Today, the swallows return to San Juan Capistrano. At this point, I’d be happy to see some of those Canadian Geese flying north, like anywhere far north of NJ. Those oversized rats with wings are just plain obnoxious.

One of Baristaville's bold-faced names Bobbi Brown, has a new book out, “Living Beauty”. Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Jennifer Melfi) makes the first chapter where Brown lists her as a role model for women.

Father Phil Intintola (oh how I hate to bring up anything religious at Baristaville), apparently is joining the cast of the movie, Rambo IV according to Rotten Tomatoes. No word on what character the actor, Phil Schultze will be playing.

Continue reading "Sopranos Arrive And The Swallows Leave Baristaville" »

Posted by Soprano Sue at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments

Or so Sal, the bus driver from DeCamp, led me to believe. All through my morning ride today, Sal told every passenger who got on the 66, that they had to check out the sculpture on the lawn at Fernwood and Valley in Montclair. Not only did he tell all the passengers, but Sal also alerted some other bus drivers by radio to make sure and take note of this "not-to-be-missed" siting. Curious, I asked one of our crack Baristanet photographers to send me the photo.

Warning: it's a little anti-climactic...

Continue reading "The Snow Sculpture You Just Have To See" »

Posted by Liz George at 3:36 PM | Permalink | Comments

A fire last night outside the Glen Ridge Country Club could have taken down the whole building -- had a kitchen worker not extinguished the blaze within minutes. Amy Sikkerbol, controller of the country club, says the fire did get inside the club's wall. Firefighters from Montclair Fire Department took infrared pictures to make sure it hadn't spread further.

Sikkerbol suspects that the blaze, which happened around 5 pm last night, started when somebody put a cigarette out in a outside planter containing a dried-up Christmas tree. The club, which still smells heavily of smoke, was closed for dinner last night. It is always closed on Mondays.

The current club house dates from 1911.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments

Spring is coming and that means more new homes for sale in and around Baristaville. This week, 4 Duryea Road, comes on the market at $2,499,900. To see what else is for sale this week, go here.

Besides what's new to the market, check out what condos at The Reserve and Walnut Street Lofts sold for, as well as one of these twins. It's all on Real Estate.

Posted by Liz George at 12:45 PM | Permalink

And we know that everbody who's anybody in the New York media scene lives out here, and reads Baristanet.

Our friend NYU J-school prof Jay Rosen has just hung a great big "help wanted" sign on his blog. He's looking for journalism pros to volunteer to join the biggest reporting team in the history of journalism.

The overall story is crowdsourcing -- think Wikipedia -- or as the folks at Assignment Zero put it,"how the Web makes it possible for the crowd to be the source of good ideas."

Barista-in-chief Debbie Galant was inspired by "Conductor Josh's" experiment in distributed transit news, and will be working on Assignment Zero's transit-traffic crowdsourcing story. Join the team of 450+ journalist-volunteers here. And tell them Baristanet sent you.

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

If the temporary closure of the Clairidge Theater has you in art-house flick withdrawal, there's always the New Jersey Jewish Film Festival, going on through Sunday.

The 2006 Israel film "Three Mothers" led things off at the Film Fest opening last Thursday. It's a fascinating story about triplets whose intense bond leads to betrayals and suffering. If you missed it at the opening, there's another chance this Thursday in Parsippany.

Playing this afternoon, at the JCC in West Orange, is "Toots," a biopic of 40's and 50's Jewish saloon-keeper Toot Shor. Tomorrow night's feature, "A Kiss is a Kiss is a Kiss," explores some unlikely Israeli romances. For the full schedule of films, click here. For day by day offerings, go to our calendar.

The Clairidge, by the way, is set to reopen Friday.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments

This picture is Gabriel. He disappeared from my locked apartment at 480 Valley Road sometime during late October. I sent flyers around the complex and we got in touch with animal shelters.

It just remains an unsolved mystery. He was a very timid soul as well as unable to eat regular cat food without becoming very ill.

Perhaps some nice person is caring for him or he my be gone forever. I just ran across this photo and thought maybe one of your readers might know something about him.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Posted by Liz George at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments

Yes, they're filming this week in Baristaville -- first Wednesday at Montclair High School (according to the Montclair Times) -- and they're looking for actors, 18 and older, to play high school students. Then Thursday, for that final scene, at the much-contested Bloomfield shoot at Holsten's.

Who's happy? The owners of Holsten's, who tell the NY Times they might get a part in the final episode "working behind the counter and cooking." Who's unhappy? Manny Alfano, who is also unhappy about the Godfather making it to the big screen. Alfano fired off a letter to Bloomfield Life, entitled, "The Sopranos Is Not Just A TV Show."

So we ask you...

Continue reading "Sopranos Among Us" »

Posted by Liz George at 8:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Girl Scout cookie buyers, check your wallets...

If you (or somone you know) purchased GS cookies outside of Raymonds on Church St yesterday, please check your change. A customer was given a $100.00 bill by mistake. This is a huge loss for our GS troop (#75)! You can contact me via email or our GS Troop Cookie manager, Kris Solomon ksolomon@actavis.com Thanks for any help! Jeannine Cox & Beth Wilensky

Posted by Liz George at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments

Photos like the one below, and the jump, come from the quirky lens of Scot Surbeck, who sees things differently than the rest of us. Above, a photo of a pool that makes us wish winter was really, truly over, was not only taken by Surbeck, the photographer, it was also designed by Surbeck, the architect.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for someone or have someone you want to recommend, check this out.

Continue reading "Behind The Photos" »

Posted by Liz George at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments

We know there are a lot of folks on Baristanet commenting about global warming. This is your thread...

Gray Russell trained under Al Gore to give local presentations prepared by Al Gore on Global Warming. The training was free and he promised to give at least 10 talks and not take money for them. As of this week he had already given three and had nine more scheduled. Below is the announcement of the one scheduled for Montclair.

Continue reading "Gray Russell As Al Gore To Save Planet" »

Posted by Liz George at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments

UPDATE Monday, 3/19: Paul Kramer gets the Unethicist treatment.

Here's a tip for moral midgets: don't tell Randy Cohen. Unless, of course, you want to be outed to all the readers of The New York Times and Gawker.

Today's sacrificial example of ethical ambivalence is Paul Kramer of Montclair, who confessed that he's been feeding his kosher sister-in-law out of a traif pot.

Continue reading "You Can Fool Your Sister-in-Law, But You Can't Fool Randy Cohen" »

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

This indoor/outdoor bazaar has become one of my favorite places to shop. Granted, a lot of the produce is seasonal, and maybe not grade triple-A, but you just can't beat the prices anytime of the year! For example, if the current price of citrus sends you into shock, at the Farmers' Market, you'll find California oranges five for a dollar, cukes, although not the biggest I have ever seen, were two for a dollar.

Let me take you on a little tour: Enter on Crooks Avenue. Brother's Produce, first store on the right, is the place to look for a large variety of apples. Are their apples a bargain? Let's put it this way, those pies I like making, don't end up costing me 15 bucks in fruit. Brothers also has an extensive selection of bagged nuts and exotic, hard-to-find spices. The variety store nearby is worth a walk through - they carry everything from pinatas to plastic lawn decorations.

Traveling further down the block, you come to the heart of the farmers market. The tiny but ever popular Spinella's had pineapples for $1.59 each. Across the street, another excellent place is FrutiMex. This store carries an extensive selection of Mexican and Peruvian foods. If your Spanish is lacking and you get lost looking for the piqullo peppers, the clerk there is the nicest guy and will answer any questions you have.

El Campesino offers an large selection of fruits and vegetables El Campesino, has a full service deli, fresh rolls (4 for a dollar!) and some store packaged fruit salads. The store is located by the two black and white cows (naturally these are Jersey Cows)... California cows may be happy, but remember Jersey cows can navigate traffic circles! Don't stop bargain hunting there: you never know what you may find at the many smaller sidewalk stands.

Continue reading "Paterson Farmers' Market: Shopping Outside The Box" »

Posted by Soprano Sue at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments

What St. Patrick's Day looks like from Crisco:

Click for a close-up!

Posted by Katie at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Annette Batson at 9:29 AM | Permalink | Comments

You gotta love a feel-good story -- especially when Baristanet's involved.
Debbie Galant shares the freaky coincidence of a dog reunited with his owner -- all because of a Sopranos Google search, with a national audience, here.

Tony Soprano may be a no-good mobster with a foul mouth, a trigger temper and a habit of making Italian Americans look like thugs, but he does have one redeeming virtue. He helped reunite a 13-year-old Jack Russell terrier named Caesar with his rightful owner last weekend.

Of course, the local news Web site I run did lend a hand.

The story goes like this: John Stani, who owns a vacuum cleaner shop in Bloomfield, N.J. was in the back of the store one day in February and when he came back, his dog was gone. He got in touch with some local vets and shelters, but nobody had seen a dog by Caesar's description, and Stani was actually suspicious that someone had stolen his pet.

"I was so upset," he said. "My outlook on life changed. I wondered what kind of person would take a dog."

He didn't sleep for almost a week.

Caesar, meanwhile, had wandered about three miles into the next town, Montclair. He was found, during a cold snap, by the owner of an auto-detailing shop, who saw the dog running in the middle of the busy Bloomfield Avenue.

A week or so later, customer Laura Gardner offered to take in the dog, who had been sleeping at the detail shop, and either find its owner or place it in a nice home. Her daughters put up signs around town, while Gardner sent a picture of the dog to my Web site, and asked us to poste a notice on the site.

For sites like ours -- sometimes dubbed "citizen journalism," sometimes called placeblogs -- lost dogs and cats are a standard feature. Animals are always wandering off, and their phone skills are so limited; it's left for good Samaritans to take care of them.

But this story isn't that simple. Stani had never heard of our site -- in fact, he rarely goes on the Internet.

As it happens, a controversy was brewing over whether "The Sopranos" could shoot the last scene of its final episode in Holsten's Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Shop in Bloomfield.

We, of course, were all over the story. It started out as a minor anecdote. It got interesting when the town council, under pressure from the Italian American One Voice Coalition, decided to nix the shoot because of how the show portrays Italian Americans.

Continue reading "Baristanet + Sopranos + Google= Found Dog" »

Posted by Liz George at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments

Or how I spent the day off from school. If you've got good snow pics (or St. Patty's shots) send them here.

Posted by Liz George at 4:06 PM | Permalink | Comments

Here's a guy who does a friend a favor, and is repaid by having his car stolen. From the blotter of the Montclair PD:

Shortly before 8:00 am on March 13, a Montclair resident drove his friend, 18 year old Rakim Stephenson (of Montclair), home from Willowbrook Mall. The owner of the car ran into his house to drop something off and left Stephenson in the vehicle with the car running. When he retuned to his driveway less than three minutes later, the vehicle, a '94 gold Mazda 626, - and his friend- were missing.

The next day, officers saw the stolen vehicle being driven on Valley Road near William Street. They followed the vehicle onto Dey Street, where it parked in front of a home. The driver of the stolen vehicle, turned out to be none other than the complainant's so-called friend, Rakim Stephenson. He had the car key in his possession. Officers arrested Stephenson and charged him with "Theft of Moveable Property." Bail was set at $75,000 cash only. Last week, Stephenson had been arrested in Verona for being in a vehicle stolen from the Y.M.C.A. on Park Street March 4. Stephenson has been transported to the county jail.

What else happened...

Continue reading "With Friends Like That, Who Needs Enemies?" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments

With only weeks left before The Sopranos' final season, Baristanet has a major shake-up to announce. Sue Sadik, a.k.a. "Soprano Sue" has joined the Baristanet "family."

Soprano Sue's Bada-Bing blog, a staple of NJ.com's blog offerings, leaves NJ.com today. Baristanet made Soprano Sue an offer she couldn't refuse. Soprano Sue will be blogging every last detail about the Sopranos starting now, until the season ends, here on Baristanet. We welcome Soprano Sue's readers to Baristanet. Now pass the @!%&^#@* ziti.

Today is my first day in Baristaville. To those who don't know me, since 2001, I have been following (OK, stalking) The Sopranos for my web site Soprano Sue Sightings. It has been said that, “Sue knows when someone on the show will get killed before they know” (once that was true). If having my 15 seconds of blogging fame wasn't enough, I've appeared on the show (season 6, episode 9, "The Ride"), and have a mention on the Directors commentary on the DVD set. As a web designer, I've designed and maintain web sites for six of the cast members of the show (so I pretty much know what is going on with them most of the time). I’m excited to share my enthusiam and intel with you!

HBO releases some tidbits about the new season, set to start April 8 (Easter Sunday – does this mean the dead of The Sopranos will rise?) According to Newsday, new guests will include Nancy Sinatra, Geraldo Rivera (my guess he will be airing on a television set during the show), and Daniel Baldwin. Returning guests include Tim Daly (J.T. Dolan) and Julianna Margulies (Julianna Skiff). The Penn Live website has episode descriptions. On YouTube, there is a season 6, part 2 promo, spotlighting some of the more memorable deaths on the show. Interestingly, they are showing “Valery” the infamous Russian as dead, dead, dead. Could this be the answer to the question we’ve all been asking?

Continue reading "Baristanet's Sopranos Spoiler" »

Posted by Soprano Sue at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments

Baristaville’s live music scene will be hopping this weekend, with St. Patty’s Day bashes happening all over. You don’t have to be Irish to check out these offerings (check out the Baristanet calendar for details):

-- World champion Irish dancer Niall O'Leary brings his dance troupe the Montclair Art Museum, where they’ll appear alongside musicians The Celtic Seishun for a concert on Friday night at 8pm.

-- Expert fiddle player Dave Rimelis and friends returns to Just Jakes for their annual St. Patrick's Day party, where they’ll play Irish music and more for the whole family beginning at 5pm on Saturday night.

-- Raise a few pints with the Pale Boys at their favorite Irish pub, Fitzgerald's Harp'n Bard in Clifton, also on Saturday night.

Want to get your Irish on? For a roundup of Jersey's Irish pub scene this weekend, check here.

Posted by Melissa Rayworth at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments

Just after reading Katie's story on erratically functioning train gates, my man, Mr. B, described this accident scene when he got home last night:

“I was on the 6.40pm Midtown Direct from Montclair last night. At the railroad crossing at Clairmont – near the Blockbuster and CVS -- I came across what could have been a very nasty accident. There were police cars everywhere. The train slowed to a halt. Outside the window I saw a cop running to a waiting ambulance. As we slowly inched along I saw a car inside the safety gate – just inches from the train. It was kind of wedged inside the safety arm and was so close to the train I could see inside the vehicle. Both airbags had been deployed. I hope everyone was okay”.

MPD's Chief Sabagh tells us the victim, a 22 year old Newark woman, crashed into the pole supporting the train crossing gate adjacent to the tracks, while the gate was up. The woman, who was alone in the car, suffered minor lacerations and received First Aid at the scene. The car had to be towed away, and she was issued two summonses. Sabagh says it looks like she might have taken the curve too quickly or been distracted when the accident happened.

Continue reading "Weird & Dangerous, Part 2" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Veteran architect Stephen W. Schwartz estimates 50,000 – and he should know. This Sunday, Schwartz is once again inviting area families to help build a Lego model of the movie theaters, schools, museums and fire houses of Montclair, which will be displayed on a huge (20 ft x 30 ft) map of downtown. Part history lesson, part architecture and civics workshop, this kid-centric event is open to spectators. Proceeds benefit the Montclair Historical Society.

Schwartz has previously presented these workshops in Summit, Harrison and Kearney and, four years ago, in Montclair. Check the Baristanet calendar for details on registration and location.

Posted by Melissa Rayworth at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

The snowy weather, as pretty as it it, is bound to mess up our plans today and tonight. If you need to announce cancellation of an event, do it here.

We'll start you off with our first notice from Glen Ridge:

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments

Originally produced on Broadway in 1988 to critical acclaim, the Barry Harman-Keith Herrmann musical, Romance, Romance, at Paper Mill Playhouse through April 1, is actually two short musicals tied together by romantic themes: specifically, that only by stripping away facades can the truth of love emerge. And in the end, it's either embraced or rejected by those in its grasp.

Continue reading "My God, A Literate Musical!" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 9:43 AM | Permalink | Comments

Tips are coming in about an overturned car on the tracks near the Watsessing Station in Bloomfield. Only one track is being used for inbound and outbound trains between Bay and Broad, causing backups and delays.

Hoboken Trains: Conductor just made an announcement the the later Hoboken train is cancelled and Hoboken passengers should take the Penn Station train to Newark Broad and change.

Update: NJ Transit rep Dan Stessel tells us a car slid down an embankment near the Watsessing Station at around 2:30 am, blocking both tracks. NJT was on the scene three hours before the first train was scheduled to travel through. They were able to drag the vehicle off one track. Right now they have a rail mounted crane at the scene to lift the car off the track.

"A combination of single tracking, and a disabled Amtrak train inside a tunnel has disrupted service this morning causing delays of five to ten minutes. It should all be cleared up in the next hour," says Stessel.

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:05 AM | Permalink | Comments

From the National Weather Service.

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 AM EDT SATURDAY...

LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET IS EXPECTED EARLY THIS MORNING. SOME LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE EARLY THIS MORNING...SO DRIVING COULD BE QUITE DIFFICULT. A MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SNOW WILL LIKELY MIX WITH SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT. TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW AND SLEET WILL RANGE FROM 4 TO 8 INCHES BEFORE THE ACCUMULATING SNOW ENDS LATER TONIGHT. NASSAU AND NORTHWEST SUFFOLK COUNTIES COULD SEE SLIGHTLY LESSER AMOUNTS.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW... SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

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

As we tuck ourselves in to bed, they're calling for a return of winter tomorrow, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches by the end of the day. The school district at Little Falls has already called an early closing, but there's no word yet on Montclair, Glen Rige or Bloomfield.

You know the drill. If you get up earlier than the baristas, and you have word about delayed openings or school closings, leave word in the comments. Folks in outlying districts, you can leave word too.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments

Montclair Chief of Police David Sabagh tells Baristanet the young woman injured in a hit and run last night suffered minor injuries to her arms, face, and shoulders. She was released from the hospital today. Police have spoken with the victim and her family about the accident.

The victim and several eyewitnesses describe the vehicle as a light colored compact, but so far, no one has come forward with the license plate number. "It happened during a busy time, and we're hoping other witnesses will contact us with information.

"A hit and run is very uncommon in Montclair," said Sabagh. Detectives are working on the case, and they expect to report in a few days. MPD can be reached at 973-744-1234.

Posted by Annette Batson at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments

The developers are calling The Village at Clifton a lifestyle retail center. Call it what you want, just give us Trader Joe's.

Continue reading "Trader Joe's In Clifton?" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments

Baristanet loves Taste of Essex. It's the 6th year for this food lovers extravaganza next Tuesday, March 20th. This year, yours truly is one of the judges. The real winners are always the attendees, who have been treated to flowing chocolate fountains, amazing cheeses, wine and beer tastings, as well as chefs from all over Essex showing off what they do best.

Enjoy food from over 25 local restaurants, eateries, caterers and delicious wine, spirits, and beer tasting. The evening affair features a juried contest between restaurateurs and vendors for “ Best Appetizer”, “Best Beverage”, “Best Entrée”, “Best Dessert” and “Best Overall”.

Proceeds from The 50/50 raffle and gift auction will be use to benefit the North Essex Chamber of Commerce Scholarship foundation, which grants scholarships to business-interested students from local schools.

Posted by Liz George at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments

Katie Mancine was biking in Montclair when she witnessed a harrowing scene at the train tracks by North Fullerton Avenue.

Mark and I were riding our bikes on North Fullerton 2 nights ago when the rail came down on the train tracks. So we waited and waited for the train to come by and then nothing (no train). By now there were a few cars waiting on each side of the tracks. The gates lifted, Mark and I rode our bikes across, a car behind us crossed the tracks and literally 10 seconds after the gates lifted, the gates started closing again, but this time a van was on the tracks. She should have just driven across but I guess some people in that situation get nervous. So she began backing up but the gate had already closed behind her. She wasn't exactly trapped, but she was pretty skaken up and didn't know what to do. I got off my bike and saw the train coming towards the van, and they were just staring at me like "What should I do?" I just yelled and moved my arms in the direction of the street yelling "GO GO!" They sped away with the most frightened look on their faces. I can't believe this happened, it has to be completely dangerous for the gates to lift and then close, just in time for one car to get stuck on the tracks.

Continue reading "Weird & Dangerous Train Crossing?" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments

For the second consecutive year, "the fashion show girls" are running "Sisters On The Runway," (March 30) a fashion show and raffle that last year raised $3,000 for Shelter Our Sisters. Liz tells us "it's the largest student fundraiser to come out of MHS."

After last year's success, the teen entrepreneurs formed a group of 40 students at the high school to inspire other kids to think of giving instead of getting. And if you happened to be at MHS yesterday, you'd have seen about thirty students voluntarily mute for the day wearing tees with hand scrawled facts about domestic violence. "It's a way to get people to notice what we're doing, and raise awareness about problems of domestic violence in our own communities," says Liz.

Producing the fundraiser is a full time after school job for the teens. They've successfully enlisted dozens of sponsors, collected donations for the raffle, rented space at Montclair Art Museum, and are doing fittings with clothes donated from local boutiques and teen models chosen for the show. Look for the flyer in shops around town.

Continue reading "MHS Teens Against Domestic Violence" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments

Add this to the list of lost causes. Carl Bergmanson, the self-appointed Essex County ambassador to Pluto, is politicking for the tiny former planet. He declared March 13 "Planet Pluto Day in the Borough of Glen Ridge" and has even started a Plutonian News Network online.

We'd feel pretty slack for missing Pluto Day on Tuesday if Phil Read hadn't missed it when it happened also. Why he's running the story two days later is anyone's guess.

Continue reading "Has Carl Bergmanson Flipped His Whig?" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

After playing doorman during last week's Baristanet breakfast, we pushed for a sign on the station door here. A few days ago, we noticed a sign on the door, which shows you the folks at Claremont Avenue are paying attention.

Town Manager Joe Hartnett has also been making a push to find a tenant for the space who can provide a service, leave room for commuters, and deter graffiti writers or other would be vandals. Last month, a flyer went out to local merchants at Watchung Plaza:

The Township of Montclair is interested in entertaining ideas for locating a merchant in the Watchung Avenue Train Station. We are seeking someone who would open the station during morning rush hour and perhaps two hours during evening rush hour, in exchange for the rights to do business inside the station. The possibilities include running a newsstand with coffee and other amenities, or concierge type services such as accepting dry cleaning in the morning, and returning dry cleaning in the evening. Or, use your imagination as to what might be successful for you to run out of the station. We are also willing to try this on an experimental basis, if you are not sure how something would work out.

Continue reading "Watchung Station Open...For Suggestions" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments

Get a free caffeine fix at Starbucks today. They'll be handing out 12 ounce cups of coffee all across America, 10 am - noon.

Posted by Annette Batson at 7:38 AM | Permalink | Comments

A pedestrian was struck on Bloomfield Avenue; the accident was a hit and run. The victim, a woman, was hit at the intersection of North Fullerton and Bloomfield Ave at approximately 7 p.m. Police questioned several people on the scene to determine if anyone could identify the car; Bloomfield Ave. was closed and traffic was rerouted while police collected evidence.

UPDATE: Deputy Chief of Police Perry Mayers tells Baristanet the victim, an 18-year-old Montclair resident, is now at University Hospital, in guarded condition. The victim was struck by a car heading eastbound on Bloomfield Ave., who possibly sped up to beat a yellow light. After striking the victim in front of Bangz Salon, the driver made a right onto South Fullerton and sped away. Police are looking for the driver and speaking with witnesses. If anyone has information, contact MPD at 973.744.1234.

Posted by Liz George at 9:46 PM | Permalink | Comments

Depending on where you enter Port Authority, this could be good news or bad. A flyer on the window of the 66R states that on Monday, 3/19, Decamp commuters will go back to the old 400 level gates.

Posted by Liz George at 2:51 PM | Permalink | Comments

Local mayors, musicians, and business moguls showed up for martinis and manhattans at partner Andrew Durborow's elegant new bar at Mangia Questa, while consuming mountains of gourmet italian pickings.

Janet saw an opportunity to give her customers something more, and persuaded Andrew to move his bar from down the block into her restaurant. "Verona needs this kind of a restaurant/bar. There's not much else here, and we need to attract some of the Montclair dining crowd," she told us. She's on the right track, considering the recent restaurant ordinance passed to promote Verona as an eating destination. Mangia Questa will also be opening a patio for outdoor dining, and feature live jazz.

Continue reading "Verona: Eat This, Drink This" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments

If you haven't checked out our Baristanet calendar, you might not know that tonight is Greek Night at Whole Foods in West Orange. On the menu? Lamb, baklava and baccala salad. Funny, I don't remember my diner-owning pappou serving that last one. Did the Sopranos take a hit out on the octopus supplier at Whole Foods? I may just have to go and see how they pull this off. Meanwhile, we're hoping they put out some tzatziki, taramasolata, stuffed grape leaves, skordalia, kalamata olives and other Greek faves.

In other Greek news, there are rumblings of the NJ-based Greek chain, It's Greek To Me, planning to open in Livingston's Town Center.

Posted by Liz George at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments

With all the talk of recent Sopranos filming in and around Essex County, we've been feeling teased, tempted, and tantalized by the thought of catching a glimpse, or better yet, finagling a way onto the set of The Sopranos. Not an easy feat, given the ultra high protection surrounding each shoot, and the crew's sworn vows of secrecy. We're not going to divulge our tactics, but Dalton Ross, Montclair resident and editor of Entertainment Weekly, a frequent schmoozer on the sets, lays out his strategy to share spumoni with Tony when the filming starts at Holsten's.

Getting on set for the final scene would be a feast of epic proportions. But partaking in said feast will not be easy. You see, David Chase is perhaps the most spoilerphobic person in the world. (Not that I blame him. If I held the keys to that kingdom, I'd probably hide them from even myself.) Trying to pull plot points out of Chase is next to impossible, so getting official access to the final scene? Not bloody likely. Assuming he puts the kibosh on that request, I need some backup plans for infiltrating the ice cream store. Here's what I've come up with so far.

Continue reading "Secret Sets Of The Sopranos" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments

What is it with politicians and the Sopranos? Last week, Bloomfield's Mayor McCarthy was at the center of controversy over filming the popular mobster TV show in his town. Now The Sopranos get whacked again, this time by Morris County Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio. Pennacchio singled out the show, in production yesterday near his Morris Plains office, to argue that the tax incentives New Jersey is doling out to the film and TV industry is robbing taxpayers. From The Star Ledger:

...Pennachio yesterday said the state should yell "cut" on the $10 million per year in tax credits it awards television and movie companies that work in New Jersey.

"I like the show, I just don't like paying for it twice - once for HBO and as a taxpayer," Pennachio said.

But a spokesman for the state said The Sopranos haven't collected any money or even applied for the tax credit... Even though The Sopranos hasn't yet applied, Pennacchio said he was certain the show could qualify and there were "better ways to spend or not spend $10 million of taxpayer moneys."

(Last year's biggest and only award to a TV show was $4.46 million paid to Law & Order.)

Filming yesterday at a gas station on Route 10 and Littleton Road in Morris Plains added to the rush hour traffic congestion... Maybe the crew filled up the tank for a drive to Holsten's.

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments

In what looks like a good business move for both Bloomfield College and the downtown business district, the college announced it will build a new dorm on Broad Street to house their growing out of town student population. They have purchased three parcels of land at 454-474 Franklin and 37-59 Broad Street, for $2.1 million. This is the college's first major expansion in over 100 years.

The new building will be a mixed-use property including one level of retail space and three levels of student dormitories, including 160-bed, suite-style units.

College President Richard Levao says their plan follows the model of Rutgers University's partnership with New Brunswick for the redevelopment of that city. "By this purchase, Bloomfield College is partnering with the township of Bloomfield in helping to create a revived downtown area. Exterior renovations and landscaping around surrounding the dorm will create a high-quality edge to the town of Bloomfield and to the campus, college officials say.

Continue reading "Bloomfield College Grows Broad" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments

Would a sign like that get your attention? It just might remind folks at the Crescent Deck to pay before they jump in their cars and try to drive away. Baristanet went back to parking czar John Teubner, to follow up on the back-up and frustration several parkers experienced last week. What we learned? The problem isn't the machines. In fact, it's human error...of the parkers.

Teubner took me through the problems that can cause a perfect storm of parking woes at the Crescent Deck. Despite numerous signs throughout the garage that state "Pay First," people do forget, says Teubner, and walk back to their cars. Then they drive to the gate, only to realize they can't get through until they pay. They get out of their car to pay at machine, and this causes cars to back up in the line.

Then there are people who get to the gate and realize they've lost their ticket. To prevent possible theft of cars, anyone who loses a ticket has to fill out a form and pay the full parking rate ($12). People get annoyed that they have to do this, (sometimes calling the police) and this adds to time in line.

Meanwhile, all of this excitement can be avoided if parkers (say it with me, now...) PAY FIRST. When you pay, you still have a 15-minute grace period to get to the gate and leave. When the two lanes became backed up during the aforementioned incident, drivers were reaching the gate after their 15-minute grace period expired. That's why the machines were rejecting the "paid tickets."

Continue reading "Don't Even Think Of Not Paying First" »

Posted by Liz George at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Annette Batson at 2:25 PM | Permalink

Jeanine Cox passes on a nifty spreadsheet from Bob Brutzman, that provides yet another way to find out how screwed (or lucky) you emerged from Montclair's reval...

This spreadsheet is the end result of importing the data displayed in residential pdf files from the recent tax assessment into a database, ‘scrubbing’ and subsequently exporting out to Microsoft Excel. Although the methods used to peel the data out of these files are susceptible to manual error, a fair amount of effort was put into the task of ensuring data quality. (If you find any gross inaccuracies in the data please let me know, I am happy to amend and republish.)

Items to note: (see jump)

Here's the link to the file; it's a 3.1MB XLS file.

Continue reading "More Tools For Montclair's Reval Obsessed" »

Posted by Liz George at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments

Did the meows, hissing, and barking from inside and out of Bukowski Animal Shelter pressure Bloomfield's Board of Health into action? Or did Ace Maly's investigation turn up some new evidence? At last Thursday's BOH meeting members voted to sever the town's relationship with the current manager of the shelter, FoBAS. Health Officer Trevor Weigle says FoBAS will be out of the town's shelter by May 31. This decision means the responsibility of caring for the animals reverts back to the township and BOH. "Hiring decisions will need to be made, and there will be a role for volunteers," Weigle says. From Bloomfield Life:

BOH President Jim McLaughlin was not present at the meeting, but said he thought the contract termination was "premature." According to McLaughlin, who said he was called away on business at the last minute, he knew the board was planning to discuss the shelter and how to improve it, though he did not know they were going to take any action.

Powley is understandably upset about the BOH's decision. She said doesn't know why board members decided to terminate the contract without discussing it with her first.

It will be interesting to see who's going to be walking the dogs and cleaning the cages, since a few weeks ago, Mayor McCarthy told Baristanet "the township isn't in the business of running an animal hotel." We'll take your suggestions now...

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments

Former governor, Jim McGreevey is not only dueling with ex-wife Dina Matos McGreevey at the bookstores. Armed with a new attorney and a new game plan, he's seeking sole custody of his five year old daughter - and child support from mom. From The Star Ledger:

Last month, after McGreevey originally filed for divorce, Matos McGreevey issued a statement disputing his claim that they had reached a settlement. "We continue to have profound differences about what our daughter should be exposed to, and until they are resolved, there will be no agreement," the statement said.

...John Eory, a partner at the law firm Stark & Stark...said that if McGreevey continues to push for full custody, the judge likely will ask for detailed parenting plans from both parties.

"If he's claiming he's better fit to be entrusted with the residential care of his child, I'm presuming he's prepared to go to the mat to do that," Eory said. He said McGreevey might argue that he can provide a "stable nuclear two-parent household ... (and) offer benefits to the child that she can't get in a single-parent home."

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments

Continue reading " South End Story" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments

Talk about deer, or anything else now.

Posted by Liz George at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments

Some folks in Montclair would like to set up an online destination to showcase Montclair's architectural treasures, homes and other buildings by significant architects including Van Vleck and Goldsmith, Charles Follen McKim, McKim, Mead, and White, Henry Hudson Holly, Charles A. Platt, Alexander Jackson Davis, Dudley Van Antwerp, Effingham R. North, Frances Nelson, and others.

If you are interested and have skills that would help make the site a reality (web design, photography, etc) and would like to be involved, drop an email here and we'll put you in touch.

Posted by Liz George at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments

I was wondering, how would I post a question about where to find a great Banh Mi sandwich in or around Montclair?

Bill

For the uninitiated, here's more on Banh Mi. Meanwhile, have you got a question you want the Baristanet community to answer. Now's your chance.

Posted by Liz George at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments

Another report of vandals at Watchung Train Station on the 8th. According to MPD's Lt. James Carlucci, the vandals entered the building and using pink ink wrote several letters on the front window.The letters were BFL, LUCINDRRR and KILLA. Also reported on the 8th, vandalism at Montclair Heights train station, where inside the commuter walls the initials, RBC, BAPE 3, EMR 06 and ZKI, were written in red paint.

Village Laundry Center on Bellevue Ave. was also attacked by vandals who used black spray paint to deface the rear of the property, located at the Bellevue Lorraine parking Lot. The writing was un-readable and occurred sometime between 9 p.m. on the 9th and 7 a.m. on the 10th.

There was also a new development in the recent armed robbery/carjacking. East Orange police have the car, but no driver yet.

Recovery of the Carjacked Vehicle: On the 9th, shortly after 2:30 a.m., East Orange P.D. contacted Montclair and advised us that they recovered the stolen vehicle. Officers spotted the vehicle, which turned onto Beech Street at a high rate of speed, lost control and struck a fence near South Arlington Ave. The lone occupant fled on foot through backyards..

Montclair was also the target of burglaries last week...

Continue reading "Vandals (Some With Poor Penmanship) Strike Again" »

Posted by Liz George at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments

A tipster writes...

I'm wondering why standardized testing is happening at the Montclair schools this week, right after the clocks changed. Is this a state mandate? A district decision? Are all baristaville schools doing testing today (and this week)? This morning we had to wake both our children for school, for the first time since last spring when we changed the clocks. I'm sure we are not the only ones.

Not a great idea to have tired children taking these tests, in light of the consequences related to NCLB....

This morning we had to wake both our children for school, for the first time since last spring when we changed the clocks. I'm sure we are not the only ones. When I first read this, I thought you meant your children had been sleeping since last spring. Now I realize you actually have kids who wake up unprompted on weekday mornings. I think your children will be OK. In fact, they sound quite superior. Tell us your secret. Do they come and wake you up, too? Can they wake up my kids? OK, I digress...

Who's having standardized tests this week, who has overslept and is the time change wreaking havoc with your life?

Posted by Liz George at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments

OK, so it's not as funny as the much-abused slogan campaign for New Jersey, but there's a new contest of sorts. CelebrateNJ wants 365 reasons. To find what one Montclair resident said, click here (note to webmaster: is a spreadsheet the best way to showcase this info?) Meanwhile, we do see an opportunity here...

Is there a place, a group, a person or an event in your community that you think deserves recognition? Tell us! Click to enter.

If your Reason is selected as one of the "365 Reasons to Celebrate NJ!" you could see it on billboards, on posters, in newspapers, on TV and hear it on the radio-- along with your name and town-- all throughout 2007. Tell the rest of NJ what you celebrate about New Jersey in 25 words or less, and be the first to enter your reason to have the best chance of being selected!

Posted by Liz George at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments

Remember the not-so-good old days when crime's weapon of choice was a shiny blade and there were rumbles rather than wildings? Those days are gone, thanks to the proliferation of easy to get guns, making the switchblade downright declasse among thugs. From the Star Ledger...

In the past two years in Essex County, at a time when homicide has been on the rise, only 16 of 303 killings had a knife listed as the murder weapon. And in almost all of those slayings, the assailant was an older person, usually involved in a domestic dispute.

"In recent years, the switchblade has been virtually non-existent in terms of a murder weapon," said Gregory DeMattia, head of the homicide unit in the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. "We can't think of any recent killings with a switchblade."

Posted by Liz George at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments

The State Street Grill's Sunday morning brunch scene is getting to remind us of the stateroom scene from "A Night at the Opera." Between the church-goers and the regular Sunday morning slackers, the line at midday yesterday was so long we were beginning to think they were going to need a bouncer.

What was hopping in your corner of Baristaville last weekend?

Posted by Debbie Galant at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments

How else could they have written a whole love letter to Montclair, NJ without mentioning the town's own Gawkeresque blog, Baristanet. Imagine our surprise when we read Where They Weekend: Montclair, NJ.

Gawker, along with help from

native informants John Manners—a writer and the world expert on Kenyan runners (!)—and Dick Satran—a Reuters business editor who's married to Pamela Redmond Satran, novelist and founder of the 500-subscriber-strong MEWs (Montclair Editors and Writers) email group (Pam herself is away on a writer's retreat)

put together a list of Montclair media darlings, but our own site merits nary a link. We would have liked a cool name like David Carr's Bloggerus carpetus. You're telling us this didn't come up on their Google searches?

Oh well -- we could pout, but it's not attractive. If they want to ignore the site that kept the national media running around Bloomfield following the Sopranos' every twist and turn -- and miraculously reunited a dog with his owner, all in the same week, so be it. We can always take solace in this.

Not-so-gentle readers, rewrite the piece here and find a way to work us in, would ya? Or better yet, go over to Gawker, leave a comment and try to straighten them out.

Posted by Liz George at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments

Atlantic Health Systems chose the Kentucky-based for-profit hospital corporation in July, disappointing a local group, The Community Friends of Mountainside Hospital, which had hoped to keep the hospital in local hands.

Continue reading "Speak Now, or Forever Hold Your Peace" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Debbie Galant at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments

From the folks who found "Rufus"...

People at a local carwash at Walnut Street found him one week ago. When I went to get my car washed yesterday, they told me they found him on Bloomfield with a flea collar on. He fetches, sits and is very friendly. I took him home but he doesn't get along with other males. The jury is out whether he likes females. He is neutered. This dog is someone's, but we aren't sure they are Barista readers. One friend is putting it on the Watercooler today and no results yet from PAWS. This dog is awesome and we want to place him immediately.

We're calling him Rufus and he was found one week ago trotting up Bloomfield Avenue. He is totally trained and a lovely dog. If the owner doesn't come forward, we'd love to place Rufus in a loving home. Could you send the word out?

UPDATE: Happy ending. Rufus, who turns out to actually be called Caesar, has been reunited with his owner.

Posted by Annette Batson at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

Owner Susan Fine serves an exotic variety of imported hot chocolate beverages in her newly renovated space. Sit at the bar, and be tempted by madeleines, biscotti, and tea cakes while Fine gives a short tutorial on the essence of her brews. The daily menu features four hot chocolate selections, which churn before you in sleek, shiny Italian mixers resembling upscale slushy machines. All the recipes use dark chocolate, and there's no charge for the extra calories if you have a top-off of home made whipped cream.

The day I stopped by for a taste test, I started with European Classic, a gourmet version of what we usually put in the mug at home. It's their signature cup.

Continue reading "Hot New Bar In Baristaville" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments

Okay, you know you need to lose the (5...10...15) pounds you put on this winter, but it's cold, hard to find a parking space and, frankly, really boring to do the elliptical for 30 minutes. Luckily our own beloved Katie has revealed one good reason for getting yourself to the Park Street YMCA in Montclair: the Paulie Walnuts lookalike who's a regular fixture there. And since it's Sopranos week here at Baristanet, why not quote at length from her blog, StopKatie:

Continue reading "If You Go to the Y, You Probably Know Who She's Talking About" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments

If you're in the mood for raucous comedy, celebrate Purim at Temple Ner Tamid (936 Broad St., Bloomfield) on Saturday night at 7pm.

This year's production, "Goys and Dolls" (with the music of Frank Loesser), revolves around excessive gambling in the Persian court, leading to attempted rub-outs, Jews in danger, and Esther and Mordechai providing the happy ending.

(A purimspiel, for the uninitiated, is a comic drama depicting the characters from the Book of Esther, describing what transpired on Purim and why it's become an important -- and awfully fun -- Jewish holiday.)

Remember to check out the new Baristanet calendar for more events -- and to enter your own!

Posted by Melissa Rayworth at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments

If you're looking for a St. Patty's Day celebration with a pedigree, check out the West Orange St. Patrick's Day parade this Sunday, March 11. The parade, which traces its roots back a half-century, begins this year at 12:15pm at the corners of Mt. Pleasant Ave. and Main St. in West Orange. It follows Main St. to Our Lady of Lourdes church, with the revelry lasting about two hours. In the past the parade has drawn big crowds, according to organizer Carol Corcoran.

"There are no floats," says Corcoran. "This parade is all about the people." Marchers this year include Brownie troups, Cub Scouts, Irish-American associations, local civic organizations and students from throughout the state. Keep an eye out for vendors selling trinkets along the parade route.

Word is that post-parade bashes at the Dangler Funeral Home parking lot, the Shillelagh Club and Tierney's have been exceptional in years past. Seeking a family-friendly celebration after the parade? Try the cafeteria at Our Lady of Lourdes, where the party will continue indoors.

Closer to St. Patrick's Day, Montclair Art Museum will host world champion Irish dancer Niall O'Leary and his dance troupe at a world music concert titled “Irish Traditions in Music and Dance” next Friday night.

Posted by Melissa Rayworth at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments

The Sopranos scored a sweet victory in Bloomfield. After being denied permission to film at Holsten's on Broad Street, Town Clerk Louise Palagano, the person ultimately responsible for making the controversial decision to allow the Sopranos to film in town this month, says the show must go on! From Bloomfield Life:

The township, reversing itself a third time, has decided to let Tony Soprano film at Holsten’s after all.

Palagano, who stated at the Feb. 26 meeting that the shoot would “bring a lot of publicity to the town,” will be approving the license, McCarthy said, allowing the Sopranos to come to Bloomfield once again.

After all the recent controversy, over Holsten's ice cream shop on Broad Street may well become the most famous stop on the Sopranos tour... We'll be looking for a whole new menu of Sopranos Sundaes. (Thanks to Geoff Gove at Ecorealty for the tip.)

Update: Joey DiVincenzo tells Baristanet he's happy this has been resolved. DiVincenzo got a call from Palagano yesterday to say she was preparing to issue the film permit. "Louise did the right thing. Legally, there never should have been a vote," says the county exec...I spoke with the Sopranos people yesterday, David Chase is thrilled. I told Ron and Chris (owners of Holsten's) the good news, and they are ecstatic. This is really great for Bloomfield, great for Essex County," DiVincenzo said.

Last night DiVincenzo was at Holsten's again, celebrating with a cheeseburger and an ice cream sundae.

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments

A delivery man returning to the Domino's Pizza shop on Glenridge Avenue was the victim of an armed robbery and carjacking last night. The shop is located next to the Crowd Around Deli, where another armed robbery and shooting recently occurred.

Chief of Police David Sabagh tells Baristanet the incident occurred around 7:30 pm. The driver parked his Toyota in the lot behind the store. When he got out of the car, a man whose face was concealed by a black hoodie draped over his head, approached him holding a black handgun. The suspect demanded money; the driver complied, handing over $60 cash. Then the robber demanded the keys to the Toyota, and drove off in the car (complete with Domino's sign on the hood) heading west on Glenridge Avenue, then south on Pine Street towards Bloomfield Avenue.

Later that evening, the car was spotted by East Orange PD. Officers pursued the car and the driver ended up crashing the car. The suspect ran from the car, officers chased him on foot, but he got away. Chief Sabagh says the car has been recovered, and is being processed for fingerprints and other info. The investigation is in process and more information will be released soon.

The suspect is described as a dark skinned black male, 20-30 years old, muscular build, 5'9'', 160 pounds. The victim says he also saw another black male at the scene of the crime who was standing alongside a Nissan Sentra. That person sped off at the same time as the robber. Sabagh says they probably came together, and the vehicle theft, which is technically a carjacking, was most likely a crime of opportunity. "Once the suspect got the cash, he saw his chance to make a quick get-away," Sabagh says.

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Great location, no property taxes, and a $287,000 check from NJ Transit are some of the carrots dangling to attract investors to the Upper Montclair Train Station. Following the release of a "request for proposal" two inches thick, inquiries have come from restaurateurs both near and far, like Montclair's Chris Egan and West Hollywood's Charles Nuzzo of Em Bistro.

Town manager Joe Hartnett tells Baristanet today the vibe was very positive at yesterday's meeting with potential investors. With space at a premium, the most interesting question that came up, he says, was if the new occupant would be allowed to dig down under the existing structure, to make extra space for the "back of the house" operation. "That's a question we'll have to investigate," says Hartnett.

He added "NJ Transit made it clear to those in the audience that the key factor in determining who the next occupant will be is not how much rent they'll be paying, but who has the best build/design/operating experience and financial strength to make this a successful project."

And from The Star Ledger (no link available yet):

As an enticement for a restaurant-developer to undertake the reconstruction, NJ Transit is contributing $287,000 toward thedemolition-construction, what [NJ Transit Rep James] Zullo said represented the settlement from the Garden State Joint Insurance fund.

The developer, since he will lease rather than own the station won't be exposed to property taxes on the station, which also comes with a liquor permit.

"For those of you who don't know, the last liquor license in Montclair sold in excess of $1 half a million, Joseph Hartnett, the township manager said of the value.

While it may sound appetizing, restaurateur Artaserse, from New Orleans, estimated it would take 15-20 years to recoup any initial investment. And Cafe Panache owner Kevin Kohler says because of its small size, the establishment going in would have to be an upscale, $50 a plate place.

Continue reading "What's Cookin' At The Station" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments

Two people in the extended Baristaville community need your help. Former Montclair resident Harriet Epstein urgently needs donations of O+ white blood cells. And the Essex Running Club is selling a cookbook to raise money for a member who was paralyzed from the waist down in a bicycle accident several years ago.

Here's more details on both:

Continue reading "Department of Good Causes" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments

They should call it American Hottie Idol. That is, if NJ's lovely Barba doll remains this week. Her thigh-high boots last night may have scored her another week, even if the Point Pleasant stunner wasn't singing at the other gals' level. Meanwhile-- why were naked pics a no-no for Frenchie and not for Antonella? Of course, Barba's exposure might end working in her favor.

Talk about Idol or anything else now.

Posted by Liz George at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments

The Petite Cafe in Nutley had such good time at their last beer tasting dinner, that they've scheduled two more mug-lifting events. Join 25 other beer lovers this Sunday, March 11, or next Sunday March 18 and sample five ales from around the world. There's a new menu ($40 pp), and it's BYOB. Pick up your five-pack sampler (for two) at Nutley Liquors ($16), 558 Franklin Street.

Posted by Annette Batson at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments

The finale of the evening is a hip-hop choreographed by the MHS dancers - Rhythm, Ruckus and Reason, featuring 47 performers.

The annual performance starts tomorrow, through this weekend. Main Auditorium on the MHS campus, 100 Chestnut Street (Park Street entrance). Curtain at 8:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, and at 3:00 PM on Sunday. General admission tickets purchased at the door for $10. Students, children and senior citizens $5.

The dance company, composed of male and female students, are chosen by audition. Students work with professional dancers and choreographers. This year SVPA performs at NJPAC in May, as part of their “Dance Jam” series. Congratulations to our future stars.

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments

This Tuesday at around 5:30 pm, a Montclair resident descended a DeCamp commuter bus at Grove Street and Stanford Place. Within minutes, he became the victim of a predator, and had a gun in his face.

The victim, a 52 year old man, started walking east-bound on Stanford Place and passed a beige colored, Suzuki four door Forenza parked on the same side of the street. There were people sitting in the car. He passed the vehicle, then the front passenger got out, walked up to the man from behind and put an object to the back of the victims head. Then he heard a man say "Give me your wallet." The victim partially turned his head to see a black, semi-automatic handgun pointing in his face. The victim started yelling and ran away, down the street. The suspect returned to the car, which reversed into the intersection of Grove Street and headed north-bound on Grove Street. Nothing was stolen, the victim was unharmed. The suspect is described as a dark skinned black male, 19-24 years old, 5'10", 180lbs, of thin build. He was wearing a tan colored baseball cap, and a green colored sports jersey with white numbers. The driver of the suspect vehicle is described as a black male. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Dave O'Dowd at 973-509-4723.

A neighbor on the street says she is scared:

Continue reading "Neighborhood Hold-Up In Montclair" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments

There was trainside delivery for train conductors on the platform, and inside the warm station house at Watchung Station, the Baristas were at the ready with breakfast sandwiches, bottomless cups of joe, and a morning welcome. We saw familiar faces, like Appletony and Mike M., and our unscientific poll revealed high name recognition among the crowd (could it have been the subliminally imbedded image of our frisbees casually scattered around?)

The Baristas thank Camille Tyson, owner of McDonald's at 265 Crooks Avenue, Paterson (near Clifton border) and her manager, Angela, for providing the complimentary breakfast.

Note to Joe Hartnett: Love the new white door, but it's so hard to open that people are walking away. We need a new sign on the door that says PUSH.

Continue reading "Breakfast With Baristanet" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments

Meanwhile, Annette is at Holsten's right now as Essex County Exec. Joe D Vincenzo tells a group of media that he's going to do everything he can to make sure the Sopranos are able to film in Bloomfield.

"I'm Italian and I'm not offended," Di Vincenzo says, of The Sopranos. "The reversal is not in the best interest of the county or the town. The Sopranos have been a great neighbor and bring in dollars to the county. I'm speaking with the mayor to see how we can make this happen."

We hear David Chase handpicked the Holsten's location for the history-making final scene of the final episode of the series, because of his fond memories of visiting the ice cream and candy store from childhood. The Sopranos are also scheduled to film at South Mountain Reservation and the now-closed Cedar Grove Mental Hospital.
(--above, Holsten's owners Ron Stark and Chris Carley talk with Joe DiVincenzo.)

UPDATE AFTER THE JUMP...

Continue reading "Joe D Goes To Bat For Sopranos at Holstens Today" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments

If you haven't noticed the new strip mall that's sprung up on Rte 3 in Clifton, it's got a Starbucks, Bed, Bath & Beyond, as well as a Chipotle. They open on Friday, but they're having a fundraiser tomorrow (Thursday), from 5-8 p.m. Your $5 donation gets you a hefty meal and the chance to help a little girl with leukemia.

Posted by Liz George at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments

Montclair Parking Authority(MPA) has mailed out renewal forms for commuter parking, along with the new rates effective April 1. Sure, residents were forewarned about the rate hikes, but parkers are feeling the sting...ker-ching! A reader's complaint:

Fees are going up 58% for residents, from $190 to $300 every 6 months!... So we are looking at $600 a year for the privlege of parking in our own town where we are already paying an arm and a leg in property taxes.

Clearly there has been no increase in service or spending to help commuters...the Parking Authority is planning to build a web site for...administering wait lists, online renewals, blah blah blah...more spending on administrative overhead...Wait time for residents to get a parking permit...is years for the Bellevue Avenue lot, and probably the other lots too (except maybe Bay St. once the deck gets built).

So just how difficult is it to get a permit, assuming you want to pay the price?

Continue reading " Montclair's Parking Lot Sticker Shock" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments

Many of you asked why there was a swarm of police cars and an ambulance on Bellevue Avenue, Montclair last Friday night. Here's what happened:

Montclair PD reports around 6:30 pm, a pedestrian was walking westbound on Bellevue Avenue. When she crossed the entrance to the Upper Montclair Plaza Lot, she was struck by a 1996, Chevy Camaro. The driver, an 86 year old Fairfield man, was turning into the lot from Bellevue Ave. The pedestrian, a 37 year old woman from Union was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital and treated for injuries. She suffered a laceration above her left eye and complained of pain in her back and neck, and was held overnight for observation. The driver stated he didn't see the pedestrian when he turned into the lot until " she was on top of the hood." A summons for "failing to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk" was issued to the driver.

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments

The teen murder suspect who surrendered to police for the March 2 slaying of Kyle Ali, 21, of Montclair, was residing in Newark while illegally enrolled at Bloomfield High School. From Bloomfield Life:

[Superintendent Frank] Digesere said the district has a Broughton Avenue address on file for the student. According to police, however, the suspect lived with his grandmother in Newark.

The alleged shooter is a recent transplant to BHS, having transferred from Newark’s Barringer High School last year.

...Digesere admits, however, that while the suspect’s family submitted a Broughton Avenue address, the district does not know “whether he was going there every night.” The district checks out “every situation” where it suspects a student is not domiciled in Bloomfield, Digesere said, adding that it is difficult to expel students from a Bloomfield school, even when it is proven they live elsewhere.

Continue reading "Teen Murder Suspect Illegally Enrolled At Bloomfield High" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments

Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, that is, and we're loving it! Baristanet is going to warm up commuters at Montclair's Watchung Station (and anyone else who wants to schlep over) with a cup of joe and a free breakfast starting 7:30 a.m and ending when our supply of 75 meals runs out. Don't get too excited, we're not doing omelettes and champagne, but we will serve you their acclaimed java and breakfast sandwiches courtesy of the tri-state owners and operators of McDonald's, who will be serving free coffee at all their locations, all day Thursday, March 8 (but you get it first, Baristaville!)

Just in time, there's a new door on the oft-battered Watchung Station waiting room, and it's open. Today, commuters were sitting comfortably inside. So let's celebrate as we take the station back from the vandals.

Posted by Annette Batson at 4:08 PM | Permalink | Comments

Shea, from Hillside Ave in Glen Ridge, has a black/brown portly male daschund with a red harness and no tags. She's already contacted the local shelters and Bloomfield/Glen Ridge police.

Posted by Liz George at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments

Your open thread for all things politics and Libby...

Posted by Liz George at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments

We heard it in comments first, how Italian-Americans in Bloomfield are taking on the Sopranos. Now we hear that many residents expressed concerns to the township about their feeling that the show negatively stereotypes Italians. Those concerns prompted city council members to act. Councilman Bernard Hamilton tells Baristanet that a request to film the Sopranos on Broad Street this month was denied at last night's council meeting, overturning the Feb. 26 decision to grant the filming permit. Councilwoman Janice Maly who was absent at the first vote, was against it. Hamilton and Councilwoman Dunigan switched to a "no."

We have to say we're bummed that Holsten's won't get its closeup. Maybe Montclair's vacant Soda Pop Shop can stand in...

Posted by Annette Batson at 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments

Captain Chris Goul of Bloomfield PD confirms the homicide suspect in Friday's murder in Bloomfield has been arrested.

Goul says late last night, the suspect, a 16 year old male, turned himself in to police at the Essex County Prosecutor's office, 50 West Market Street, Newark. The youth, who gave a Newark home address, was accompanied by his parents and his attorney.

Upon the suspect's surrender, Detectives from BPD and the county prosecutor's office transferred him back to Bloomfield PD for processing. The youth was charged with one count of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of aggravated assault, and two counts of unlawful possession of a handgun. He was then remanded to Essex County Youth House in Newark.

"The investigation is on-going, round the clock," says Goul, and he can not compromise the investigation by providing more details of the arrest. Goul did say "there is absolutely no indication whatsoever" that the incident is gang related.

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments

Remember Montclair's Mayor Remsen accusing councillor Ted Mattox of bribery? You can read the emails here which are now a matter of public record.

Then, give us your "I'm not a legal expert, but I play one on the web" opinion...

And while you're at it, what do you think about the whole salary issue for council members?

Posted by Liz George at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments

Last Saturday evening, residents living near Woodman Field endured more than five hours of non-stop noise and flashing lights when a fire alarm at the field house malfunctioned. Close to midnight, a fed-up Jim Langell, who lives on Columbus Avenue, shot off an email to Frank Alvarez, Mayor Remsen, Councilwoman Robin Schlager, Joe Hartnett. A flurry of emails followed over the weekend, and Langell is still furious about how badly the situation was handled.

I just want you to know that the fire alarm at the Woodman field house has been ringing, and ringing, and ringing, and ringing, and ringing for 5 hours. It is very loud. There is a big red revolving light. Its now almost midnight. My wife has to work tomorrow at Mountainside at 8am. My three year old daughter has been asking me to do something and I can do nothing. I have now called the cops 3 different times to get it shut off and they are powerless to do anything. They keep paging someone form the schools and no one seems to come. Is anyone in charge? Who set up this flawed process? Does anyone cover if the responsible person is out of town? Do any one of you give a damn about my family and neighborhood? I am tired of hearing this alarm, of no one taking responsibility and no one caring. I will wake up tomorrow (assuming I get some sleep), look out my window at the dumpsters and rusted trailers that have been in plain view for years (but weren't there when I bought this house a short 3.5 years ago) and the BOE's alarm will probably still be running. I'm really tired. Sincerely, James Langell

At 1:30 am, Langell says the bells were still ringing...Will the BOE be fined for the false alarm, like a homeowner, one resident asked?

Continue reading "For Whom The Bell Tolls" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments

Baristanet has just learned that the suspect in Friday's slaying on Glenwood Ave. in Bloomfield is on his way to police headquarters to be booked. More details as they come in.

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

The Montclair Parking Authority received the same letter via email over the weekend. I have contacted the contracted operator, Propark America, to look into this. I have a meeting set up with Propark Management for Tuesday, March 6th to discuss their findings. This is the only complaint of this nature for the time/date indicated, and before any action is taken, the MPA needs to investigate the matter further. We hope to know more after we review security video and speak to the staff that was at the facility during the referenced times.

John Teubner
Executive Director
Montclair Parking Authority

Posted by Liz George at 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments

Picture yourself trying to leave the South Fullerton parking lot and then getting stuck there for 40 minutes. The Montclair Parking Authority is looking into an incident that occurred Sunday at the Crescent Lot South Fullerton parking lot. We first learned about yesterday's parking nightmare (that makes the above this incident sound like a tea party) from a reader who sent this letter:

Today [Sunday] was my son's 6th birthday. We held it at 50 Church St in Montclair. We had some 15 sets of parents of children from Bradford Elementary School in attendance. Most of us parked at the South Fullerton Parking deck [Crescent Lot].

After a wonderful party at 'Doin Dishes' on Church St, we ended up caught in a chaotic mess which I am still outraged to have found and been subjected to in the United States...but especially in Montclair of all places. It was the direct result of actions taken by your Parking Lot Attendant who had no name tag, would not provide me with his name but who appeared to be of Nigerian descent.

I arrived at the deck at 1:30 pm EST where I parked on the 3rd level. It took me 45 minutes to get down to the bottom level. At the bottom level I observed people getting out of their cars and
walking over to the machines on the left to pay for tickets. One machine's door was wide open.

The other machine was taking everyone's money. Those lucky enough to get their tickets...got into the car and found that despite inserting their paid stub...the rail would not rise to allow them to exit.

Everyone here was very polite. More than 60 % of them were church goers, with the rest being local professionals from Montclair. After attempting numerous times to explain to this Parking Attendant that the machines were not functioning correctly, people were confronted with insults
and indifference as he stepped away defiantly insisting that nothing was wrong with the machines. His behavior was bizarre and his stare was cold and threatening. He had absolutely no concern for the people he was defiantly harassing. You could hear the horns from cars now....going all the way to the top of the deck.

Continue reading "Welcome To Parking Hell" »

Posted by Liz George at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

Sure, a box of chocolates, some roses, those are all nice gifts to get from a guy, right? Not if that guy is Jon Corzine. Seems Carla Katz was the recipient of some lovely parting gifts that are just coming out in the wash now. From Newsday...

Gov. Jon S. Corzine told The Sunday Star-Ledger of Newark that he gave the money to union leader Carla Katz to avoid "ongoing financial connections" after their two-year relationship ended in 2004.

Another large gift, involving the forgiveness of a $470,000 mortgage on Katz's home in Hunterdon County, became an issue in Corzine's successful run for governor.

In acknowledging to The Star-Ledger that there were other gifts, Corzine on Friday wouldn't disclose exact details or amounts, but did indicate that they were more than tokens.

"If you were _ I'm hypothesizing; I'm not stating anything _ if you were going to pay a tuition bill or something over a period of time ... you pre-funded it. I could have done that," Corzine told The Star-Ledger.

But Corzine backpedalled when asked if that meant he paid for Katz's children to go to a private school. "I'm not saying that at all," he said.

When contacted by The Star-Ledger, she declined to comment on past financial ties with Corzine.

Posted by Liz George at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments

The Plymouth Players, at First Congregational Church of Montclair, 40 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, will hold auditions for the Stephen Schwartz musical "Children of Eden," TONIGHT, at 7:30 p.m.

Adults, teens and children are needed to fill the principal roles and a large ensemble of animals and storytellers. Those auditioning should be prepared to sing a short Broadway-style song and provide their own sheet music in the proper key. Show runs April 27 - May 5. For information, call 973-744-4856 ext/117.

Other events can be found on the Baristanet calendar.

Posted by Liz George at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments

A Thai eatery closes its doors. Find out on Food.

Posted by Liz George at 12:41 PM | Permalink

Montclair police have arrested Marquese Lindsey, one of the men charged in the fight at Montclair High School. Lindsey called to turn himself in; officers took custody of Lindsey at an address in East Orange. Lindsey was charged with aggravated assault, weapons possession and riot. A follow-up investigation produced another West Orange juvenile victim who was assaulted by Lindsey. As a result, Lindsey was charged with a second count of aggravated assault and weapons possession. The victim was struck in the head with a bottle and punched. None of the other suspects were charged. Lindsey's bail was set at $ 25,000 cash only. He will be transferred to the County Jail in Newark today.

That's not all that happened. This weekend in Montclair crime, stolen cars, vandalism and more...

Continue reading "Montclair Arrest in High School Disturbance" »

Posted by Liz George at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments

If you're experiencing reval remorse, here's your chance to talk. From the office of the Township Manager:

Following completion of the recent revaluation of all properties in Montclair by Appraisal Systems Incorporated (ASI), the company is offering a transition period for taxpayers who were unable to get an appointment to question their new assessments. If a taxpayer was previously unable to call for an appointment with ASI, the company will review the property record card and the revaluation process with the taxpayer by appointment beginning tomorrow, March 1st and continuing through March 16th. However, to schedule an appointment taxpayers must call ASI at 201-493-8530 by the end of the business day March 9th. After that, taxpayers wishing to challenge their revaluations will only be able to do so by filing an appeal with the Essex County Board of Taxation.

Meanwhile, realtors have been getting lots of calls for comps and assessments. Now we ask local realtors to tell us what they think of this reval real estate anomaly..

Posted by Annette Batson at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Tony, order the mint chip. If you read Bloomfield Life you already know about the Sopranos filming at our beloved Holsten's...

The township council agreed Feb. 26 to allow the HBO hit series "The Sopranos" to film in and around Holsten's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor on Broad Street. The filming is expected to last for one day in mid-March.

Several council members expressed concerns over the effects filming would have on traffic and nearby homes and businesses. Their fears were allayed by Officer Rocco Russomanno, who relayed information from a meeting between Police Chief Michael Sisco and representatives from "The Sopranos."

Russomanno said filming would take place inside Holsten's from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Broad Street traffic will not be blocked during this time, he said. After a break during rush hour, Russomanno said filming would resume directly outside Holsten's to capture a scene Russomanno did not believe would take much time: Tony Soprano parking a car on Broad Street.

"Do they know how hard that is?" Councilman Ray Tamborini quipped.

Of course, not everyone in Bloomfield is a fan.

It's not too late to get on the Sopranos -- they're looking for pole dancers for the Bada Bing. There's even classes. Hat tip to Soprano Sue, who gets her cameo in NJ Monthly this month, in their Soprano-heavy issue.

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Friday's shooter is widely speculated to be an 11th grader at the high school, and no arrests had been made before school started, although a police source told us the shooter is expected to turn himself in today. The victim was a 21-year-old resident of Montclair.

Many parents are nervous about their children's safety today, and one parent commenting on Baristanet was irked that school officials did not return e-mails over the weekend.The issue is sure to come up tonight, when the school board holds a special meeting to decide whether to extend the contract of the district's new superintendent Frank Digesere. Tonight's special school board meeting is closed to the public.

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

SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE: Pursuant to the unfortunate incident taking place in the town of Bloomfield on Friday, March 2, parents/guardians are to be assured the high school is safe. The entire school and all lockers have been searched and the building is secure. BHS will be opened on Monday as per the planned HSPA testing schedule that was distributed. Counselors will be available to help students cope in the aftermath of this event. The administration continues to be available to address any concerns or questions from students or parents/ guardians.

Meanwhile, another sad story about violence in Essex County: the tragic death of Newark police officer Tommaso Popolizio, killed when his car overturned during a police chase Saturday. (Star Ledger)

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

Baristanet introduces a new Saturday feature. Every week one of us will take you to on a little adventure, a place in or outside of Baristaville that we think is worth discovering. Some of these are well-known treasures, others more esoteric finds. Debbie starts off the series this week with a visit to T.M. Ward, the venerable coffee-purveyor on Broad St. in Newark.

There's nobody alive on earth who can remember those events, and yet walking into the coffee-nut-and-candy store in downtown Newark is almost like stepping into a time machine that could transport you back into the era. There are the big barrels of coffee, bins of gunpowder, oolong and Russian tea, old-fashioned scoops and scales and shelf after shelf of candy, nuts and fudge in endless variety. I don't remember if there was actually sawdust on the floor. I was too busy looking at all the candy.

Continue reading "Kid in a Candy Shop" »

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:09 AM | Permalink | Comments

They're selling the beloved cookies this morning at the Starbucks in Upper Montclair. Post sales sightings here...

Posted by Liz George at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments

If you know someone who can help...

I have a friend in hospital and seriously ill. She needs a full-time, live in nanny who can drive and has good references for her 2 young children. She lives in Montclair and really needs help asap.

I’d appreciate any help in finding someone and how I can ask Baristanet readers for their help too.

Many thanks
Wendy Renshaw-Lewis

Posted by Liz George at 8:02 AM | Permalink | Comments

Christie sends in these pictures from the morning flood, with a back story:

Several cars at 180 Orange Road were floaded overnight in the rainstorm. The flood in the parking lot is due to an overflow of a nearby brook. The owner of the apartment complex, Anthony Tino, claims that it's the town's problem to deal with the overflow; the town claims that its his responsibility. According to the neighbors, this has happened many times before. Upon signing the apartment lease, tenants are forced to sign a waiver relieving Anthony Tino of any responsibility for auto damage in the case of a flood. My car is the blue Civic. And by the way, Civics don't float.

Amazing flooding pictures from Bloomfield on EcoRealty.

Posted by Annette Batson at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments

Debbie Galant is on the scene. Mayor Raymond McCarthy (left, in suit) has confirmed that two men were shot, and one is dead; the other is at University Hospital. The victims were shot while walking by 168 Glenwood Avenue in Bloomfield, a private residence. Reporters are all over the scene; police are taking pictures and collecting evidence, but McCarthy was not sure anyone had been apprehended.

UPDATE 5 pm. Traffic is being diverted from Linden Ave. to Maolis Ave. on Glenwood, but Watsessing Park -- across the street from the crime scene -- has become an unofficial press room and gathering place for the curious.

The shooting apparently took place between 3 and 4 pm. No word on a motive. Bystanders say a woman, walking with the two shooting victims, was taken in for questioning.

We also have reports that children were being dismissed from Watsessing Elementary School about the time of the shooting.

UPDATE: Kyle Ali, 21, of Montclair, was shooting victim. (Star Ledger).

Posted by Liz George at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments

Introducing the new Baristanet calendar, where you can not only find out what's going on around town, but you can add your own events. (We have to approve an event before it shows up).

Among the highlights on this weekend's calendar: an wine tasting at Amanti Vino, Larry the Remarkable Pig at 12 Miles West and a Jazz Caberet Brunch at Trumpets.

Or maybe, since the sun finally came out, anticipate the imminent arrival of spring by getting an ice or a custard at Rita's Ices in Bloomfield. Today's their first day back after the winter break.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 3:11 PM | Permalink | Comments

We received this information from Town Manager, Joe Hartnett:

There is a major water main break on Bloomfield Avenue near North Willow. Everything is under control but water to Bloomfield Avenue and properties there is off, and there will be traffic disruption. Estimated repair time is 8 to 12 hours.

Posted by Annette Batson at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

After negotiating a sale price below the $8 million listing, the county purchased the property with $2.8 million from the state Green Acres program and $2.8 million from the county's Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund

"It's absolutely beautiful," said DiVincenzo, who said he envisions using the castle and its surrounding acreage for county office space, a public museum and a venue for weddings and other celebrations.

DiVincenzo said he plans to hold an open house at the castle in April to introduce it to the public. He also wants to get volunteers -- some from the surrounding communities -- who would serve on an advisory board to the county re garding the use of the castle.

"I want the people in the community to adopt it as their own," he said. Like the other county parks, he said Kip's Castle needs a conservancy group, made up of volunteers who would solicit grant dollars for future improvements to the castle and its grounds.

We went up the hill this morning to check out our new park, and learned the two tenants will be moving out at the end of the month.

Continue reading "County Owns Their Castle" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments

10 am at Montclair's Edgemont Park, it almost looked like Edgemont Ocean.

Meanwhile, down at Brookside Park in Bloomfield, things were getting positively marshy.

Continue reading "Seagulls In The Mist" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

But I'm not gonna tell. No matter -- my secret isn't the one that's got Oprah and others all a twitter. The Secret, a new self help book attracting cult-like devotion from Hollywood types, is coming to Baristaville -- TONIGHT..

Hello friends, I am hosting a free screening of "The Secret" at the Center for Conscious Living.Recently, the documentary "The Secret" was featured twice on Oprah (and Larry King Live, msn.com, and several other media sources) with some of the teachers in the film sharing their views on the Universal Law of Attraction, which is essentially "what you focus on in life, increases". Studying Universal Laws has improved my life incredibly over the past 10 years and now I am hoping to spread hope to others that they too can change their lives for the better. If you haven't seen the film yourself, consider coming. I will be MCing and speaking after the film, specifically about how my life has changed in regards to my living situation over the past 4 years, along with a question and answer session lead by Michelle Wadleigh. Much Thanks, Kris Ferraro

So what's your secret...and do you believe the hype?

Posted by Liz George at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments

Don't be surprised if you see cast from Law & Order having French toast at Raymond's this weekend. A tipster tells us that folks from the show are staying a bit longer - and building an actual set in the Screening Zone to shoot scenes through Monday, while continuing at the museum as well. The Zone has 5,300 square feet of space and 23 foot ceilings, so we guess anything is possible, but we'll try and get a sneak peek at the set-up. Meanwhile, Barista swag for anyone who emails a celeb pic.

Posted by Liz George at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments

The value of a membership in the Glen Ridge Community Pool just went up. Starbucks has confirmed that a new Starbucks store will be opening on July 26 in the space next to the Bottle King in Glen Ridge, taking the place of the downscale RiteAid that closed last year. The pool is located behind the Bottle King.

Winners: Pool moms, Glen Ridge teenagers and future denizens of The Lofts, the sleek new Plofker-Curt Schade development retrofitted into the old Matchless Metals building.

Possible losers: Nonprofits who fundraise sellling coffee at Glen Ridge train station, the State Street Grill, with its Starbucks kiosk just .2 of a mile away, and anyone who wants to move a car through the already-crowded Bottle King and pool parking lots this summer.

The Glen Ridge Paper, which interviewed the owner of 710 Bloomfield Ave., says a third, as yet unnamed, tenant will also move in.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

Baristanet correspondent Tom Biro calls us from his car on Route 3, which he says is basically a parking lot, due to flooding. We've been hearing radio stories about retaining wall collapses and mudslides elsewhere in the tri-state area, and even the 5-minute dash to take commuters to the train and kids to school was a mess. Tell us your commuting stories here and send interesting flood pix to our tips hotline.

Reader Meghan Gatens warns fellow Baristavillians to avoid South Mountain Reservation: "Stay away! My car was doing the breaststroke down Brookline Dr. It was crazy."

Be sure you're laptop is well grounded with a good surge-protector. Soprano Sue says there've been a series of major power surges in Clifton due to the flooding.

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:12 AM | Permalink | Comments

By mid afternoon yesterday, four youths were arrested for their involvement in the violent Wednesday night fight at the high school. As of yesterday, one of the suspects, Marquies Lindley, remained at large. From The Star Ledger:

"None of the kids go here. These were outside people who came back looking for trouble," Mel Katz, principal of Montclair High, said yesterday.

Based on a cell-phone video of the attack, police said they charged Marquies Lindley, 20; Nicholas Miller, 18; Robert Morton, 18; and a 17-year-old boy with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and inciting a riot.

Katz described the adults as former Montclair High students. Initially, all the suspects were at large, but by mid-afternoon yesterday all but Lindley had been apprehended, said Police Chief David Sabagh.

"We just haven't found him yet," Sabagh said of the remaining suspect.

Lt. Carlucci states that at approximately 11:30 am, the juvenile suspect was arrested at his residence on Chestnut Street. He was remanded to the Youth House. Nick Miller & Robert Morton were arrested together at Rand Park, near the high school. Miller's bail was set at $25,000 cash and Morton's $20,000 cash. MPD is still investigating to determine if there are other victims.

Continue reading "MHS Fight Aftermath" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments

Someone left their brand-new $140 March train pass on the Midtown Direct train to Montclair tonight. Evan Cutler found it. If it was you, describe yourself, what train you were on and where you got off and Honest Evan will give it back. Email him here.

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

Fron taking a leak to taking a beating. More police news, from the Montclair Times...

Five men, two wielding 2-by-4s with nails and screws sticking out of them, beat a man unconscious on New Street at 2:20 a.m. this past Saturday, Feb. 24, police said.

The victim, a 41-year-old East Orange resident, had asked his girlfriend, 31, also of East Orange, to pull over on New Street as they left a social club, saying he needed to “relieve himself,” according to police.

While the woman waited in the car, the victim walked toward an alleyway between two houses, then began talking with two men who eventually assaulted him with the help of three other suspects who approached from the Mission Street area, stated Montclair Police Lt. James Carlucci.

They kicked, punched and struck the victim with the 2-by-4s, the lieutenant stated, and when the victim’s girlfriend started screaming, the suspects fled on foot in different directions.

EMTs who responded to the scene said the victim had lacerations to his head and temporarily lost consciousness, and they took him to University Hospital, Newark. He was released later that day.

Carlucci stated, “We are still investigating if there are other reasons as to why the victim asked his girlfriend to stop at this specific location.”

Anyone with information is requested to contact Detective James Milano of the Montclair Detective Bureau at 973-509-4726.

Posted by Liz George at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments

There was trouble again at a Montclair High sporting event last night. This report just came to us from Detective Lieutenant Carlucci at MPD.

February 28, around 9:30 p.m. Montclair High was playing West Orange High in a basketball game. There was a group of about 100 juveniles and adults outside and several small arguments began. At one point a larger fight erupted in which a 16 year old West Orange resident was attacked by several youths, one of them struck the victim over the head with a bottle. The victim was transported to Mountainside Hospital by the Montclair Ambulance Unit and was treated and released for minor abrasions. A witness recorded the incident on a cell phone. Based on the video the following persons were charged: Marquies Lindsey, 20, Nicholas Miller, 18, Robert Morton, 18, and a 17 year old Juvenile. All suspects are Montclair residents. All were charged with Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose and Riot. All suspects are currently at large. Also found at the scene was a silver, Crossman Pellet Gun. Due to the size of the crowd and continuous fights, officers on scene dispersed OC in the direction of the fighting groups, which assisted in clearing the area.

We are trying to reach John Porcelli, Assistant Principal of Student Activities and Athletics to get more on this story.

Posted by Annette Batson at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments

Posted by Annette Batson at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments

State Street Pete tells us of a widespread power outage in the Bloomfield Center area this morning, both on Bloomfield Ave. (from Glen Ridge to the Garden State Parkway) and Broad Street (from the center to the Nevada Diner.) With stoplights out of commission, cops are manning many corners and traffic is slowed.

Let us know if there's more to this story...

Posted by Debbie Galant at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

Town Manager Joe Hartnett has released a 20 page year-in-review document detailing accomplishments of the administration. The long list of 2006 acheivements include the obvious tax revaluation, plus successful labor negotiations, historical preservation efforts, the new sewer utility and internal systems upgrades including one to help maintain adequate liability insurance. From The Montclair Times:

Hartnett attributed an innovative management team — 80 percent new in the past three years — to what he views as accomplishments in 2006: A redone Affirmative Action plan, reduced crime rate, exploration of shared services, implementation of traffic calming initiatives such as on Orange Road and North Mountain Avenue, and the launch of the municipality’s new Parking Authority, according to the report.

Amid the accomplishments, Hartnett acknowledged that Montclair faces challenges in property taxes and finances...Hartnett indicated in the report that a grant writer was hired last year, on a consulting basis, “to become more aggressive in exploring all revenue sources that might help our taxpayers.”

Continue reading "Montclair's Annual Report To The Taxpayers" »

Posted by Annette Batson at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Comments