Teens with guns, again!

On Tuesday night, at 10:13 pm, police responded to the area of Edgemont Park on a report of an armed robbery. The victim, a 62-year-old Montclair male, states that he exited a bus and was walking in the area of Valley Road and the Parkway when he was approached by two black males. One of the males brandished a black handgun and walked him into the park, where he was forced to sit on the ground. The suspects demanded his money before fleeing east on the Parkway towards Valley Road. The victim, who reported no injuries, states that the proceeds of the robbery were $160 and a cell phone. The suspects are described as two black males, 16 – 19 years of age, neatly-dressed and wearing dark colored baseball hats. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Detective James Milano at 973-509-4726.

From the Montclair Times…

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has opened a special investigation into the death of Linden Avenue resident James Wiggins.
A family member of Wiggins called the police this past Saturday, May 26, at about 8:30 a.m. after finding the 41-year-old man’s body in a second-floor bathroom at his home, said Paul Loriquet, a Prosecutor’s Office spokesman.
Police closed off a section of Linden Avenue, which intersects with Orange Road near the South End Business District, to traffic while investigators searched for evidence.
Detectives found Wiggins’ body on the bathroom floor, and it appeared that when the victim fell he struck the toilet, since the seat had been broken, Loriquet said.
The death appeared to be drug-induced, according to the preliminary findings of the investigation. A witness from the family told authorities Wiggins had a drug problem, Loriquet said.

A public advocate says NJ towns are abusing property owners’ rights and is pushing for legislative change of redevelopment laws, making it harder to seize property under eminent domain. From The Star Ledger:

In releasing a second report on New Jersey’s eminent domain statute, Public Advocate Ronald Chen said towns officials have exploited the law to include desirable properties in so-called blighted areas, seize land without notice, low-ball landowners being pushed out and rubber-stamp projects where they have a personal interest.

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Last week, we spied an ad in the Montclair Times announcing the official grand opening of Bobbi Brown’s new education station, The Studio. The ad was also a public invitation (would that include Baristanet?) to join Bobbi for cocktails and fun tomorrow night, from 4-8pm.
When we stopped by this afternoon, the “ladies who lunch” crowd were already bellying up to glam beauty bar like it was happy hour. The Star Ledger also checked out her new “garage” at 8 Lackawanna Place:

One other noteworthy feature: Instead of a wall, the office is separated from the rest of the space by an oversize industrial garage door — or it would be, if it weren’t rolled up to the ceiling.
At The Studio, she plans to offer makeup lessons for women with only rudimentary hand-face coordination, plus makeover parties…and introductory workshops for those considering becoming makeup artists

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We’re intrigued by her approach to cosmetic rejuvenation (no knife required), now ours for the asking, right here in Baristaville…(could be worth a try!) And by the way, although the Ledger says the party starts at noon – it’s a misprint. The gals at The Studio assured me they’ll be ready to party at 4 pm. See you there?

A visit from President Bush is expected to jam the NJ Turnpike and adjacent roads today, and make your commute more hellish than usual. Don’t go there. From NJ.com:

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced temporary flight restrictions for the airspace above much of New Jersey this afternoon in preparation for President Bush’s fundraising visit.
The restrictions stretch from Teaneck to Trenton and will be in place between 3:50 and 7:35 p.m.
All flights in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport will also be suspended for a 20-minute window surrounding the arrival and departure of Air Force One, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said this afternoon.
While the president’s travel arrangements are not made public for security reasons, the scheduling of President Bush’s visit to Edison late this afternoon also raises the prospect of traffic problems in Essex, Union and Middlesex counties late this afternoon.
Bush plans to address a reception at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison… If he travels by motorcade to the location, in Raritan Center not far from New Jersey Turnpike interchange 10, that could force the closing of the Turnpike and other roads just as rush hour traffic is building.