Sing It With Me: Y-M-C-A

Huh? Link doesn't work.

Nothing about this event on the Y web page.

Yes, there really needs to be an address listed right in the article. The Y website is no help at all.

It is right next to Montclair's finest slum--I would not drop my dogs off in that area! I believe they built these 500K condos that the greedy NYers (like myself) bought up like hot bagels out of an oven. Helloooo did you look across the street--it's a slum!

It is right next to Montclair's finest slum--I would not drop my dogs off in that area! I believe they built these 500K condos that the greedy NYers (like myself) bought up like hot bagels out of an oven. Helloooo did you look across the street--it's a slum!

Link fixed.

I agree with Loonie! We drove down Greenwood last night and it was pretty scary. Looked like Irvington. Guys in the street walking right in front of your car, as if challenging you. Montclair is-a-changin'!

Is this place just for kids or is it for all people? Are they going to have a gym you can sign up for? or do we already have that in this town? I've been looking for ch eap or free yoga classes, especially for during the day this week, since I have no work for the week and I is broke, yo.

Anyone know about any of this stuff? Google's just not cutting it for me today.

Debbie,
The link may work, but there is no info about this event there.

Amandala,
The link WILL give you info about the Montclair YMCA programs. The YMCA DOES have a gym you can sign up for and does have a variety of classes.

Bikram Yoga - intro week for $25

http://www.bikrammontclair.com/classes.html

Bikram Yoga Montclair
18 Lackawanna Plaza
Montclair, NJ 07042
973.233.0414

The only info available by following the link in the original article is from the YMCA home page -> click "Download Summer 2007 Brochure" -> go to page 6 of the brochure. Doing so will not provide any more details than are contained in the Baristanet article.

Financial Assistance

The Montclair YMCA strives to provide positive program and membership experiences for individuals and families, including those who are economically disadvantaged. Individuals and families who reside within our service area and would like more information regarding the financial assistance program are encourage to call the Montclair YMCA at (973) 744-3400 to receive an application.

You people are crazy. That area is great. Unless you consider Bobbi Brown's studio a slum.

"...drove down Greenwood last night and it was pretty scary. Looked like Irvington. Guys in the street walking right in front of your car, as if challenging you. Montclair is-a-changin'!
Get a grip.

Still no mention of an address--Anywhere.

sing it with me...the yankees are...the yankees are dead...it has such a nice hollow ring to it...say goodnite, Derek, Jorge, Johnny, A-Rod et al.

I live in the condos across the street from "the slum" as Ms. Loonie so ignorantly put it, and I must say, I've lived in Montclair my whole life, and I love this neighborhood. Montclair's always had a little bit of spunk, we've always been a bit off beat and funky and if there's a place to buy, it's here. We've got Bobbi's studio, The chocolate Path, Fascino, the new brick oven pizzeria "Salute", Aunt Jean's Toy's and Treats, and we're walking distance from the train, Egans, Eerie Saloon, Richie Cecere's and Trumpets.

I'm sure Upper Montclair has more cache, but I wouldn't trade my place for anything in the world.

It's an area with great potential. It's up and coming, not a slum.

I live in the condos across the street from "the slum" as Ms. Loonie so ignorantly put it, and I must say, I've lived in Montclair my whole life, and I love this neighborhood. Montclair's always had a little bit of spunk, we've always been a bit off beat and funky and if there's a place to buy, it's here. We've got Bobbi's studio, The chocolate Path, Fascino, the new brick oven pizzeria "Salute", Aunt Jean's Toy's and Treats, and we're walking distance from the train, Egans, Eerie Saloon, Richie Cecere's and Trumpets.

You just keep yourself down there missy! I think that neck of the woods is good for you!!! You would not find me in any of the places you mentioned. The only reason those businesses are down there is because they could not afford the rent in Upper Montclair! Have a nice life and enjoy the slums of Montclair!

Oh, and cheers to you too Ms. Gia!

Wow Laura...you're something special. You think Bobbi Brown (Estee lauder) can't afford the upper montclair rents? And I'm not a "Missy", i'm a "Mr.". Please correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't all of the armed robberies up in your neck of the woods? Park Street, Watchung Plaza? Montclair is proud of its diversity, and we'd be much better off without people like you, go move to Short Hills you snob.

You people are crazy. That area is great. Unless you consider Bobbi Brown's studio a slum.

It's like putting lipstick on a pig! Think about it!

Hey, hey, hey. We prefer "historically preserved ghetto."

Don't listen to Laura Loonie. Come on down and share our quality of life. All you have to do is "pack" appropriately and leave home WITHOUT your AmX, money, pocketbook, or car. Not to worry, we have lots of supermarket shopping carts scattered around the streets that you can use for your purchases or your kids. If you get thirsty, stop and have a drink al fresco wid da boys on da block (24/7), and just toss your empty can or cup wherever you like. If you make it home, just leave the carts on the street in front of your house. That way, when you leave the next morning for work, you can see them and remember your exciting trip to another country right here in Baristaville.

Yikes! These are some nasty comments! Back to the actual article -- THERE SHOULD BE AN ADDRESS LISTED RIGHT IN THE ARTICLE! Barista, we expect more professionalism from you at this point! However, I guess the thread that lead to all this nastiness may not have started so could the omission actually be part of a devious plan?

Loonie, a slum? That's been said many times before about places like...Greenwich Village, Hell's Kitchen, UWS (aka "San Juan Hill"), Brooklyn Heights, East Village, and so it goes....

Like it or not, this part of Montclair IS a-changin, but not in the way that has been suggested.

The YMCA also should have had something prominantly displayed at thier website about it.

BTW. Did anyone go? How was it? What is the new family center like?

The YMCA also should have had something prominantly displayed at thier website about it.

BTW. Did anyone go? How was it? What is the new family center like?

So, do you leave it like a slum? Or try to improve the area? Maybe if some "decent" people started coming into the area, it wouldn't be such a slum. Seems like the area has made some major improvements this past year, at least to me.

"You just keep yourself down there missy! I think that neck of the woods is good for you!!! You would not find me in any of the places you mentioned. The only reason those businesses are down there is because they could not afford the rent in Upper Montclair! Have a nice life and enjoy the slums of Montclair!

Posted by Laura Loonie | June 24, 2007 10:43 PM "

You should probably move as soon as possible. You are the type of person that is usally a victim of a violent crime. it's obvious you don't know too much about the community you live in.

It's up and coming, not a slum.

Well, I would think it has to be up and coming. It sure can't get much worse.

In the almost 2 years that I lived near the corner of Grove and Glenwood I have skirted past gangs of kids shouting at each other, been followed home by an individual who appeared from an alley next to the post office (fortunately he saw that I saw him and ducked back into another alley after closing a gap of almost 100 yards), been subjected to people having shouting conversations across the street from each other when they could have just as easily crossed the street to talk, witnessed the son of my building's super arrested twice (once for threatening his girlfriend with a gun!), and heard the "N" word shouted out by the same people who claim offense by its very existence more times than I can count.

So, yes, it is a slum. Hopefully the fru-fru new stores and shiny new YMCA will help change that. But for now, I'm very happy that my fiancé and I have moved to our more expensive, slightly smaller, infinitely safer feeling apartment on North Fullerton.

You should probably move as soon as possible. You are the type of person that is usally a victim of a violent crime. it's obvious you don't know too much about the community you live in.

Posted by Khan Noonien Singh

Okay Lucy, we get the picture! You live down there, so stay put and enjoy yourself! And you are right! I don't want to know about your neck of the woods--stay put!

Are you listening Council? Remember you did not want the new manager to live in "the best or the worse" section of town? Perhaps if he and his family, or any of you, had to live here, like many of us, things would get much better, much faster.

This is kinda interesting; I am curious to know, just why many of you NY folks moved here? Did you think that diversity meant "people just like us, only darker"? Did you even look at the town of Montclair, or just the street your house/mini-mansion/condo was on?
50 Greenwood has it's problems, but so does Upper (oops, that no longer exists) Montclair-remember all of those break-ins last year of unlocked homes and cars by the "troubled youths" that lived in that area?
Not to worry, with the school population at 35% African-American and falling, the Latino population on the rise, the influx of "urban homesteaders" into the Crosstown, Hollow, and 4th Ward areas, and the realization that the "historically preserved ghetto" of the South End is full of homes just as large as Upper (there's that word again!)Montclair, 50 Greenwood will soon take on a completely new flavor Laura may be more comfortable with.

The new building is beautiful, has cooking rooms, a woodworking room and climbing walls.
The pool looks great.
They had free T-shirts for all the kids, free food and Spiderman doing balloon animals.
It was nice.

50 Greenwood will soon take on a completely new flavor Laura may be more comfortable with.

Been here 12 years (do have an apartment in Manhattan--keeps me sane)...it has not changed one lick! You have a mix of new condos and the same old slum. So, looks like the "flava" won't be changing anytime soon!

laura, your nyc apartment does not keep you sane. being looney is the only thing you're right about. you are racist scum and part of the problem. i wish could read this site for valuable community information without having to be subjected to ignorant racist rants by morons like you.

From Dictionary.com:

Slum
n. A heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard housing and squalor. Often used in the plural.

It's not racist if it's true. You don't like being your neighborhood bing characterized this way, then do something to improve it.

I don't give a crap if it's black, white, Hispanic, or whatever: People getting into fist-fights at Path Mart over a shopping cart, attempting to steal a laundry bag with the owner standing right next to it, needing a flash light at night to avoid stepping in broken bottles, and the general destruction (some from decrepit buildings and most from residents) definitely count as "squalor" and if the apartment I had in that neighborhood is any indicator "substandard housing" is pretty abundant as well.

From Dictionary.com:

Slum
n. A heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard housing and squalor. Often used in the plural.

It's not racist if it's true. You don't like being your neighborhood bing characterized this way, then do something to improve it.

I don't give a crap if it's black, white, Hispanic, or whatever: People getting into fist-fights at Path Mart over a shopping cart, attempting to steal a laundry bag with the owner standing right next to it, needing a flash light at night to avoid stepping in broken bottles, and the general destruction (some from decrepit buildings and most from residents) definitely count as "squalor" and if the apartment I had in that neighborhood is any indicator "substandard housing" is pretty abundant as well.

Sheesh... Actually agreeing with Ms. Loonie made me spit typos all over the place and double-post.

Step back and take a wide angle look-this town has changed a lot, particularly in the last 12 years; there is a redevelopment plan for the 4th ward; as renters move out who cannot afford the increases, older residents pass on and their families cannot afford or want to maintain the homes, people are moving into the areas close to downtown and the nearby shops/restaurants, who have the means to not only upgrade and maintain their properties, but can make political demands for better services (the MPD TaskForce is back, better lighting, upgrade of Glenfield Park, etc.)
PathMark was set up for patrons who no longer had the East Orange Shop Rite and could not make the trip to the West Orange Store; even this is changing with it's purchase by A&P and bringing in more high-end items.
With the delay in the building of the new school, the Bd. of Ed. will have to sell the old St. Vincent's/YMCA property. Guess what kind of housing is going to be built in that "slum" area? Section 8/low income need not apply!!
Montclair is going to maintain just enough "flava" to keep the "diversity" selling point, but not enough to be confused with East Orange. (And you do realize that this means just enough "good" po folks to keep the money coming!)

Born and raised ib Bklyn and I see nothing scary or threatening about that area. If Loonie is truly a New Yorker she would say the same unless she truly is just scared of colors.
Shouting teenagers?
Give me a break! cause that only applys to your special location,
ever hear a group of girls in the mall SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER yelling as if they were across the street from each other.
The list of ridiculous statements I have just read make me laugh and afraid of people in Montclair.
Nice diversity.

My daughter and I went to the new Geyer center yesterday and despite the warnings that the area is a slum, we had a great time! This building, the staff and the programs that will launch there are going to bring our "Upper" Montclair butts right on down to the area - hopefully often.

My wife and I have spent many mornings at the Little Gym across the street and I never once thought that the area was seedy. Yes it is more urban down near Bloomfield Avenue as compared to Bellevue but that's what's great about Montclair.

The pool, crafts rooms, cooking rooms, bathrooms and gyms all appeared top shelf and it made me proud to live in a town with the vision to build a center like this.

Born and raised ib Bklyn and I see nothing scary or threatening about that area

Really? How many times have you walked through that area by yourself at 11pm?

Central Park is beautiful during the day, but would you go jogging there at 1am?

I honestly don't give a crap if this isn't that bad compared to Red Hook Brooklyn or even downtown Newark, for that matter. If you think it's not that bad compared to where you used to live, then you live near Lackawanna and I'll live in your house. Sorry, but I guess I'm just not as bad-ass as a what? lawyer? accountant? from Brooklyn (and I'm guessing not Red Hook).

Just because you used to live in NYC, doesn't automatically make you an authority on what is or isn't a dangerous or *gasp* slummy neighborhood.

Live there now. Deal with all the crap that goes on there now. Try and raise your kids there and see if you don't move back to the nicer part of town within the year. I dare ya.

The list of ridiculous statements I have just read make me laugh and afraid of people in Montclair.
Nice diversity.

I'm all for diversity. But, people should be ashamed of what is being passed off as "urban" culture. Glorifying criminal life styles, reveling in the fact that your grammar is worse than most 12 year olds and doing nothing to improve yourself or your children's lives is nothing to be proud of. I don't want to hear this "it's the system keeping us down" crap, either. That may play a part in it, but starting sentences with "I is..." and "I be..." certainly doesn’t help, either.

And no, what I just typed is not racist. You know what's racist? Being the target of harassment based solely on the color of your skin.

Which has happened to me on more than one late night walk to the Lackawanna Plaza Path Mark.

"Been here 12 years (do have an apartment in Manhattan--keeps me sane)...it has not changed one lick! You have a mix of new condos and the same old slum. So, looks like the "flava" won't be changing anytime soon!"

If you have a place in Manhattan, and you hate Montclair so much, why are you still here? Your 12 years in Mtc. is dwarfed by my 30+, and I can tell you that area has defintely improved. Not really sure what you are comparing that area too (Beverly Hills, Short Hills, French Riviera??) You sound like you would be more confortable in a town like Ridgewood, where the only dark skinned people wear uniforms.

Actually, Generically, the main people
"glorifying" urban culture and criminality through their ready cash tend to live uptown and much more comfortably than 50 Greenwood. And OMG, were you called out of your name by some uncouth youth by the PathMark?? Sounds like you need to hightail it on back across the water to urban civility. FYI-50 Greenwood and the Carter Homes were offered as low income housing for Montclair residents displaced by that first explosion of urban renewal-The Montclair Mews Complex built next to the PathMark; it was vacant for awhile due to shoddy construction(not caused by the residents!!)and many people were forced to leave.
Get a grip, people-this is an urban/suburban area with the "urban" steadily shrinking-soon it will be more to your vision of Montclair-Manhattan lite(but I'll still be here, cause ya'll ain't running me out-boo!)

MEC,

You actually have it backwards. I lived in Manhattan for all of 2 weeks before I decided that I absolutely couldn't stand it and moved back to NJ.

The people were loud and rude, the streets were filthy, and nary a tree to be seen outside of a park. While the conveniences afforded a 21 year old’s social life were nice, the NYC environment was more than I could tolerate (or too far below my standards, depending on how you look at it).

The last thing I would want from Montclair is for it to become even more NYC than it currently is. The second to last thing I want is for it to become any more Montville than it already is.

Keep the diverse demographic exactly the same (not that I wish poverty on anyone), but have a cultural revolution on both ends of the class spectrum so respect, common courtesy, and a desire to improve your self and your community are everyone's top priority. Is that too much to ask for?

(Don't answer that. Let me have my dreams.)

Generically,
A dream is a terrible thing to waste (sorry UNCF).

Wow! I am both saddened to read comments like Laura Loonie's and happy to see others responding & making some good counter-points. I have lived here most of my life, aside from a stint in Manhattan and college/grad. school. My wife and I moved back when we decided to start a family. I convinced her to do so because of the diversity of this place. Not just skin color, but economic as well. I knew from going to the Montlcair Public School system that it was an experience like no other. While there are places that did and do a better job at teaching calculus or world history, I have never encountered another person whose social experience prepared them as well for the real world. My expereince in this town from when I was born until now has served to help me appreciate diversity in a way that is truly unique. It taught me a respect and understanding for a wide array of different people. That's something you can't buy. It means that I am well aware that someone who can afford a place in Montclair and a place in Manhattan probably lives in the top 1% in the U.S. as far as income goes and in the top fraction of a percent in the world. (Keep in mind we still live in a world where 40% of the population doesn't have running water) If that person can not appreciate what economic and racial diversity does for this town, then I think that's truly sad and I can understand why people would feel like that person does not belong. This kind of diversity IS Montclair, or at least it was. If we go so far on the current trend that we lose it, it will be a sad day for us and will serve to take away what is special about Montclair.

It's not racist if it's true. You don't like being your neighborhood bing characterized this way, then do something to improve it.

Generically - Ask the police what the old lady on Monroe did to STOP the rampant loitering, noise, etc. Ask the Mayor who has consistently advocated for Code Enforcement to improve quality of life down here. Ask if anything changed. Ask others who reformed Montclair's antiquated Welfare office in the mid-80's, and who chaired the Civil Rights Commission in 1990 and got the ordinance that makes it a permanent part of town government. In my 60 yrs I have tried to make things better.

I am complaining about slum conditions along lower Bloomfield Avenue, New St, Mission St, Maple Ave, Wheeler St, Monroe Pl, and Glenfield Park because it obvious that our Code Enforcement Department IS NOT DOINIG ITS JOB. Why?

Nana,

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that the code enforcement people did start to ticket. And let's say the 4th ward got more tickets per capita than any other ward. Wouldn't David Herron surely sue, claiming unfair enforcement? Should the town risk it?