Suburban satire? First Amendment chest-beating? Or simply an eyesore? This oil tank, or whatever it is, on Chapman Place in Glen Ridge has become the canvas for of a running series of gags. Last week, the sign said, "Guess how many M&M's are inside?" This week, the sign said this.
What would you say if this was sitting next door to your house?
Today's New York Times features an article on a subject we know all too well: people who seek fame in the blogosphere by commenting on popular blogs. One media expert says blogs have become the new talk radio. One big-shot commenter admits, "It’s easier to join in on a conversation than to start one."
You don't say.
Like the narrator of the Elton John song "Rocket Man," frequent commenters can spend a little time every day inhabiting the identity of their wished-for selves — Mr. Hsiao becomes DaShiv, or Georgia Logothetis, a second-year lawyer in Chicago, metamorphoses into the respected liberal commenter georgia10 on Daily Kos. Online they indulge the sweet fantasy that "I’m not the man they think I am at home.""You are one of the millions of people who sit at a computer all day," said Marshall Poe, a professor of history and new media at the University of Iowa, who has studied Internet communities. "Every hour you have 10 minutes where you’re not doing anything productive at work, and you can’t look at porn. So you make a comment and fulfill this desire to show yourself off as a smarty-pants."
There's a deadline you soccer fans might not want to miss this weekend: Thanks to some last-minute field juggling, Montclair United Soccer Club will have a 9th/10th grade league this season. Space is limited. Registration is first come/first served on Saturday, 3-5pm, at Northeast School. We're told that the co-ed teams will be balanced by grade, gender, number of players and talent level. Dress to play: Odds are some pick-up games will be happening during registration.
You can always check Baristanet's calendar to find out what's going on, but Montclair Arts Council also keeps us au courant about a ton of cool music, art, film, literary and cultural events happening each week.
The annual Watchung Plaza Street Fair gets in gear today, Saturday, September 29, at 10 am. Mingle with your neighbors and friends, treat the kids to pony rides, face painting, and more -there'll be shopping bargains at Plaza stores. Stop by Watchung Booksellers at 1 pm and meet Chief Tommy J. Russo for a book signing of "Street Kid to Top Cop." At 2 pm, there's an Artist Signing of Garden Gallery 2008 Weekly Engagement Planner with Sharon Pitts.
The opening last night of Tony Award winning Urinetown at the Studio Playhouse looks like a winner - "a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold." Urinetown will have a three-week run.
Today, MFEE sponsors Ropes and Hopes, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the David Greenwald Challenge Course. 11-2 pm at Rand Park.
Don't forget it's all happening at the zoo - Free admission today, 10-2pm, at Turtle Back Zoo.
From NJ.com:
Following the controversial appearance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Columbia University this Monday, questions have been raised about the University's decision to host such an appearance.
NJ Voices asked several NJ academic instituions about their take on the event. Dr. Susan A. Cole, President at Monclair State University responds:
Continue reading "Ahmadinejad's Visit: Tell Us How You Really Feel" »
It's going to be jumpin' tomorrow because Montclair's Crane Park (you know, the little triangular park behind Lackawanna Plaza) is having a party, 11-4 pm. It's all free, family-friendly fun.
Enjoy live music by The Dogz, then cuddle up with the dogs, presented by PAWS (adoptions encouraged). There'll be yoga and taekwon-do demonstrations, cookie decorating, capoeira, bookbinding, make-up by Bobbie Brown, face-painting, balloon sculpture and parachute games for the kids.
Team Barista will be hangin', passing out free Baristanet whizbees (because we can't call them Frisbees). Stop by and say hi. But wait, there's more:
Grand Opening and free champagne, at Chalk Farm, Glenridge Avenue's newest arrival...
Continue reading "Whizbees, Music and More: Crane Park Celebrates" »
From Lt. James Carlucci, MPD:
Montclair Resident Bryan Foster, age 19, has been arrested and charged with burglary and criminal trespass.
On September 25, at approximately 1:30 am, a resident called police to report a man trying to break into his car.
The witness was on his front porch when he heard a clicking noise coming from his driveway, then saw the interior light of his vehicle turn on. When he saw the suspect, the witness told the man to get away from his vehicle. The suspect replied, "Alright, alright," and began walking south on Montclair Avenue near McDonough Street.
Baristaville hot women: are you busy Sunday night? Soprano Sue sends us this Craigs List casting call for a woman with a great figure, who's not shy about showing it off...
Seeking girl for nude scene in a drama seriesWe're in search of a young actress/model (18-25) who is willing to 'bare all' in a 10 - 15 second segment in a current drama series in production. This is NOT a love scene and there is absolutely no physical contact whatsoever. This is an exterior shot in front of a house in Montclair, NJ that will be on a closed set with minimal crew present. It will also be shot at night.
Essex County Freeholders met Wednesday night in Montclair and voted in favor of a 10-day deer shoot to control the deer population in South Mountain Reservation. Now, reports The Star Ledger (link not available), they're looking for volunteer shooters to kill 150 deer this January and February.
More wildlife news: New Jersey black bears have received another year of amnesty. NJ Fish and Game Division lost an appeal in court, and were denied permission to schedule a controlled bear hunt. From The Star Ledger:
Ok, I'll admit it, I'm clueless about baseball. Thanks to Iceman, and a Baseball-for-Dummies primer from Barista Deb, I get that the Mets have really blown it the last two weeks, after being in the lead all season... And do they even have a chance to make it to the play-offs? Here's your open thread to rant and rave...
Realtors have been predicting for some time that the first casualty of a Real Estate downturn would be that not so big "Green Monster."
Foxtons, a Long Branch-based real estate company that made a marketing splash with its two per cent commissions, said Wednesday night it is shutting down.
With a backlog of 4400 active listings, the 8 year old company said it is contemplating bankruptcy for an orderly shutdown, and it will continue only with a skeleton crew, laying off 350 of its 380 employees.
A man who threatened to "shoot all the white people on campus...and rape all the black women" at the MSU campus has been arrested and criminally charged for making terroristic threats.
Chief Paul M. Cell says his arrest came about after receiving several tips from the public when they issued an alert last Friday. At first, MSU police said in the same alert the man's threats did not appear to be a credible or present a danger to the community. University police did not reveal the man's identity, but say he was a visitor to the campus.
Stores along Pine Street and Glenridge Ave, including Ma Dear's and The Upscale Thrift Shop, show their support for the Jena 6.
Photos: Gerard Bizzaro
The Glen Ridge Free Public Library will be moving to the basement of the Women's Club starting in November, while its building gets a $1.2 million facelift. Some of the collection will move, but much will go in storage.
We expect to offer a scaled down version of our collection that will include selections from our Children’s Collection, best sellers, periodicals, videos and Reference collection. Additionally, we plan to have our Historical Collection available on a limited basis as we need to digitize and reorganize this vital community resource. The rest of our collection will be boxed and stored at an alternative location as will most of our furniture.
If you live at 292 Grove Street (pictured) and you just happened to be reading the Montclair Times this morning, you were surprised to learn that your house sold for almost $6 million. And then the Cupid of typos shot an arrow and popped that lovely real estate bubble fantasy.
Meanwhile, forget blue state, red state for a moment. Find out if you live in a green, cream, red or peach neighborhood and what it all means for sales prices of area homes here.
Better not put Big League Chew in your kid's next birthday goody bags. And I guess passing out chocolate cigars is a no-no, too. The township of Woodbridge is looking to further outlaw any candy and gum that resemble tobacco products reports Newsday.
Now, it may ban all shops from selling such goods, including chocolate cigars and bubble gum shredded to resemble chewing tobacco. Currently vendors at public events in town can't sell the stuff."We'll see if we can legally do it," Councilman Charles Kenny, a proponent of the ban, told The Star-Ledger of Newark in Wednesday's editions.
Meanwhile, Burger King has come up with fake fries for kids...
Continue reading "Put the Candy Down and Walk Away Slowly, Kid" »
The year's first armed robbery in Cedar Grove have police looking for three white males in connection with armed robbery late Tuesday of a food delivery driver on Cedar Grove's Second Avenue, according to the Star Ledger.
The attackers, described only as white males in their early to mid 20s, fled in a white car after taking cash, credit cards, the driver's cell phone and car keys, police said of the brazen robbery. "They took the food, too," police said.
The bogus order of chicken with broccoli and fried rice was being delivered by the victim from Hunan Wok in Little Falls to a house in Cedar Grove. The attackers were waiting across the street.
For all the readers nostalgic for Bond's and the Awful Awful, the beloved ice cream haunt is getting its own memorial. From Icecreamgirl's blog...
Does anyone remember Bond's Ice Cream of Northern N.J. in the late 1930's until they closed in the early 1970's? There is going to be a Dedication of a Plaque honoring Bond's Ice Cream on the Valley Road site where Bond's was located in Montclair, N.J. on Saturday Oct. 6th. It will be held after the football game around 4 p.m.
More talk here at Roadfood.
Readers gave the Montclair Times a verbal spanking this week for running a mean-spirited cartoon last week directed at Mayor Ed Remsen.
Last week's cartoon portraying Ed Remsen, an honest, very hardworking, smart, caring, intelligent mayor (and coach), as someone to be hated or spurned was one of the worst editorial cartoons I've seen in your paper. Columnist Dave Astor's usually baseless commentary was almost as bad.
The letters of outrage are printed here and here and here . The Montclair Times shoots back with more talking animals, in this week's cartoon.
More than 60 people were arrested for underage drinking at a party thrown by three Pi Kappa Alpha members at their home in Little Falls early Wednesday morning. From The Montclairion:
All of the party's guests were taken into custody and most were summoned with underage consumption of alcohol, Little Falls police said.According to the landlord, the tenants of 53 Ridge Road, about a mile from campus, moved in just one week prior to the night of the party.
The three tenants named on the lease received charges for providing alcohol to minors, according to police.
Tickets are selling fast and furiously for Peak Performances ($15 for every seat)
at MSU's Kasser Theater. If you've got interest in these two shows -- Blind Date in October, and upcoming Dan Zanes in December, get on it fast. When we checked for our own tickets, large blocks of seats were already sold out. What else we noticed: the upcoming season is packed with BAM-worthy, unexpected offerings.
This Saturday, it's Newband, a self-described "traveling circus of new and experimental chamber music." Newband performs on the 31-tone zoomoozophone invented by composer Dean Drummond and on the incredible collection of instruments inherited from the legendary instrument builder, Harry Partch.
For tickets and performance schedules, click here, or call the box office at 973-655-5112.
Who says teachers can't have fun? Renaissance School's Science team, Todd Smith (at left), Carrie Hittel, and Emily Burtnett got the plane ride of their lives when they joined a group of 60 teachers, donned spiffy blue jumpsuits, and experienced "zero-gravity" on G-Force-One.
"It was me who got tossed, and it went awry. I was dropped," reported Burtnett cheerfully. "Then I body-slammed into Carrie. That was definitely a high point of the day."At the memory, the two burst into laughter. As gravity force lowers, it becomes harder to control physical movement. "People think you just float inadvertantly but actually you need to push yourself off. But it takes just the pressure of a single finger, and then you fly," said Burtnett.
Continue reading "Baristaville Teachers Soar To New Heights" »
Girlfriends, get your beautiful face on, scoop up great stuff at discount prices, and top off the evening with a night-cap (or two) at the first annual Montclair Girl's Night Out.
Tomorrow, 4-8 pm, Baristaville gals will start stylin' at Bobbi Brown -The Studio. They'll get a complimentary cosmetic touch-up, a manicure, and more. All Bobbi Brown products are 20% off that night. Then shop 'til ya drop at area shops (listed below) offering special GNO discounts. The party keeps goin' at Egan & Sons - specially priced cocktails, DJ, and (ahem) crazy KARAOKE!
If you're craving some Broadway theatre this week, there's no need to trek through the Lincoln Tunnel. Broadway veteran (and film/TV actor) Bill Bowers is bringing his hit one-man show, "It Goes Without Saying," to Bloomfield's Westminster Arts Center on Thursday and Friday nights.
This 75-minute show is heavy on comedy and Bowers' style has been compared to David Sedaris and other witty monologuers. But the performance also packs a punch: Bowers explores the ways that silence literally and figuratively impacts our lives. Tix run just $15 -- way less that you would have paid if you'd caught the show during its run in NYC. Check out the details here.
This bad-guy didn't line up a getaway car, so he hailed a cab. From The Star Ledger:
A man attempted to hire a taxi cab as a getaway car after robbing a gas station early yesterday morning, police said.The cab was called to Bloomfield Avenue and Ampere Parkway at 2:20 a.m., police spokesman Capt. Chris Goul said. When the cab stopped, the suspect hopped in for a second, asked the driver to wait while he got a friend and then ran toward the Gulf Station on Bloomfield Avenue, the police captain said.
Just in from the Star Ledger...
New Jersey did particularly well in fourth-grade reading scores on the National Assessment of Education Progress, landing among the top four states in the nation with 77 percent of those tested at least at the "basic" level and 43 deemed proficient. The national average was 66 percent basic and 31 percent proficient.In addition, the state stood out for narrowing the gap in both reading and math between white and minority students, although a wide disparity remains. Eighth-grade scores also rose but not by as big a margin.
Not everyone's impressed.
More here.
Caldwell/West Caldwell is banning food at birthday parties. Food, we all know, is really just code for cupcakes.
From the New York Times...
THE Caldwell/West Caldwell school district has become at least the third in the state to put its students on a strict diet during classroom birthday parties, according to the New Jersey State School Boards Association. And more are likely to follow, said Mike Yaple, an association spokesman.A large number of schools are continuing the birthday celebration tradition in which students bring cupcakes and candy to share with classmates, Mr. Yaple said, “but we have seen a fair number of schools who have told parents they want to get away from it.â€
Continue reading "Caldwell Latest Casualty Of War On Cupcakes" »
It's been 20 days and counting for the Bloomfield man. His son Daniel created the video. For more information, go to Climate Emergency.
They call it Continental Arena. You call it the Meadowlands. Now they want to name it after a clothing line. From NJ.com...
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority received bids from Manhattan-based Izod and Rocawear as well as the Fort Lee sportswear firm Southpole by the 4 p.m. deadline today, according to three people who were briefed on the bids.State officials declined to say how much the firms offered to pay for the naming rights or how long the contract terms would be. The authority's board plans to review the bids and make a decision as soon as their Oct. 4 meeting.
A nomination for landmarking is a step in the right direction for preservationists, but there's still many people who disagree with the idea of moving the Freed Slave House. From the New York Times...
A historian and a City Council member have been among the African-Americans speaking out against the move. Stacey Patton, 29, an adjunct professor in the history department at Montclair State University, said moving the house would “compromise the integrity of the building.â€Ms. Patton said the society had presented its plan to move the house in an “underhanded†manner that was not attentive to the concerns of black residents. She said, for example, that black churches should have been notified of the plan but were not.
Councilman Ted Mattox says that many black professionals who have moved here in recent years do not have the same strong interest in local issues as those who grew up here do.
He also said that the historical society had showed “a lack of due diligence†in dealing with black residents on the house moving and that the matter raised the issue of whether “African-American history takes precedence†in such situations.
Last Thursday evening, members of the Montclair Preservation Committee evaluated the history of the James Howe House on Claremont Avenue, making sure the home satisfied criteria to obtain a protected landmark status. Also known as the "Freed Slave House," it easily met all the benchmarks for nomination and wheels are now in motion to seek landmark designation.
"The nomination will go through several levels of review, and ultimately town officials will decide upon the designation of the Howe House," says Montclair Historical Society Trustee, Mindy Berg. "I am optimistic that the town will do the right thing in terms of preservation of this artifact of African-American history. Historical designation does not mean the house can not be moved," Berg added.
Continue reading "Freed Slave House Cinches Historical Nomination" »
From CNN...
Loyer D. Braden, arrested about 3 a.m. in his dorm room, was charged with attempted murder, assault and reckless endangerment, as well as a gun charge, according to court documents.A justice of the peace set bail for the East Orange, New Jersey, teenager at $75,000 and ordered him to stay away from the victims and Delaware State. Braden is a freshman at Delaware State, according to a man at Braden's home in East Orange who identified himself only as a family member.
Some students have said the shootings stemmed from a rivalry between students from Washington and New Jersey, although university police have said the investigation has not led them to believe there was a "turf battle." Others have said a dispute followed a card game.
Braden graduated in June from Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, New Jersey, where he played basketball and football. "This would be the last thing I'd ever expect of Loyer," football coach Sean Morris said.
Yes, many of us moved from the city to Baristaville at least partly because of the third-floor attic that could become an office or art studio. Yet somehow, dreams of writing the Great American Novel or painting the next American Gothic keep getting deferred -- either because of distractions from the family or the Sisyphean chore of keeping house.
If you can't get to Yaddo, Montclair resident Eileen Kolbasuk has a solution (and a new business) designed to help. It's called ArtShare Montclair, and it offers studio space in three-hour sessions, for 10 weeks, $199. Up to eight artists will share the partitioned space, along with a small kitchen, lounge, Wifi and unlimited coffee.
Baristanet's Melissa Rayworth told you about it here. Now the New York Times tells you about it here.
Corcoran's tip for Cheng Du 1 -- ask for a bowl of spicy peanuts instead of the requisite fried wonton noodles. Good call, but don't fill up on the peanuts. You'll want to save room for the ma po tofu (pictured), the spicy baby wontons, the fiery pork and lamb dishes, or for something savory without the sizzle, try the fish with pinenuts.
I guess when you're a kid who's funny and famous, you get to stay up late with the grown-ups...
Attention all Noah Levinson fans:The 2006 "Funniest Kid in New Jersey" will be performing in a New Talent Showcase tonight at 9:30 pm at Comedy Village, 82 West 3rd St. This is a grown-up show, not a kid's show. The cover is $20 if you pay at the door, $12 if you call in a reservation and only $9 if you pay by credit card online in advance.
For directions, click here.
If you can't make it tonight, catch Noah on TV Tuesday at 5:30 pm, where he'll be a guest of Steve Adubato on CN-8.
Be on the lookout for FBI-hat wearing, crazy-talking, angry older men who are most likely harmless. At least that's what the alert that went out this weekend from Montclair State University seems to say...
At approximately 4:30 p.m. the University Police Department received an anonymous call stating that at 12 p.m. while seated in the Red Hawk Diner, an African American male stated "I'm going to kill all white people on campus, I'm going to get my M63, I want to rape all black women." This male is described as elderly, 5'10" tall, husky build, mustache and scruffy beard. The male was also noted wearing a dark t-shirt and baseball cap with the FBI logo.We do not believe this to be a credible threat or that there is any danger to the community. Although we find no merit in this threat, as your law enforcement agency we want to keep you informed of these types of incidents.
All community members are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior immediately to the University Police Department at (970) 655-5222.
In what's seen as a sad commentary on modern life to some, a new survey reports that we're becoming so dependent on our web lives that we're giving up face-to-face time friends and even (say it ain't so!) sex to stay connected.
The survey of more than 1,000 American adults reveals other scary stats including:
- 48 percent said they "felt something important was missing" without Internet access
- 28 percent admit spending less time face-to-face with peers because of the amount of time they spend online
- 20 percent say they spend less time having sex because of time spent online.
JWT, the advertising agency behind the study, coined a name for the new advertising demographic: "'digivity denizens."
It serves to describe folks umbilically connected to the web, those "whose online and offline lives are co-mingled and who would chose a Wi-Fi connection over TV any day," according to JWT trend spotting director Ann Mack.
Unhealthy? Perhaps, but it can be more engaging, thought-provoking and interactive than TV has ever been.
From Ecorealty
It's been over four years since the NY Times began putting an extra price on the online heads of their top columnists. Although it was often possible to google the column for a bootleg version, enough of us went without to persuade the Powers That Be to relent. Dowd, Rich, Friedman and crew are once again easily accessible.
"We have ended TimesSelect. All of our Op-Ed and news columns are now available free of charge. Additionally, The New York Times Archive is available free back to 1987."
It's not every day you see a grown woman dressed up as fairy princess at the customer service desk at the Brookdale Shoprite. But this afternoon, during the mid-afternoon grocery cart rush hour, that's exactly what caught our attention. It turned out to be the Reading Fairy, aka Tracy Brown of "Rock, Read and Eat," who will be doing a 6 pm cooking class for kids 4 to 9 on October 4, doing a little advance marketing. Pre-registration, $10 at the store's courtesy desk, is required. Children are encouraged to dress as princes or princesses for the cooking class.
(Of more importance to those without little princesses in the house: Edy's Slow-Churn Special Edition Pumpkin ice cream is on special today for $2.74.)
God works in mysterious ways. Here it was, the night after Yom Kippur, a day when my people fast and pray, stand up, sit down, in English and in Hebrew, for hour after mind-numbingly boring hour -- all towards the end of getting in the Book of Life for the coming year. At certain moments along the way, there are these small flashes of transcendence, when a prayer or the rabbi offers a glimpse of the way you should really be living your life. But the misery to transcendence ratio is about 25-to-1.
And then, last night, at oh let's say around 1 am, a strange little Google journey leads me to this, The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon who expects to die of pancreatic cancer in three to six months. And there it is: the secret of life, part one.
I went on, as the clock ticked on past 2 am and 3 am, to all the parts up to eight, to the end of the most remarkable lecture I've ever heard, by the most remarkable man I'd never heard of, a man who almost certainly won't be entered into that Book of Life for the coming year, but who has packed more fun and meaning into his 46 years than a whole bus of rabbis. The lecture starts with Randy Pausch's quirky childhood dreams, which included achieving weightlessness, becoming a Disney Imagineer and winning lots of huge stuffed animals at fairs, all of which he achieved. It goes on to a subject even more interesting: helping other people achieve their childhood dreams.
This expert in virtual reality, who believes that brick walls are erected to stop the other guy but to help you realize just how much you want your dreams, has you laughing all the way through.
Continue reading "The Secret of Life, or Your Money Back (The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch) " »
Opportunities to give a hand abound in Baristaville today. From 10 am til 4 pm, parents and neighborhood volunteers will be painting a Peaceful Playground at Watsessing School in Bloomfield. The Watsessing Heights Neighborhood Association has put out a general call for volunteers and paint supplies, especially after noon.
At 12:30 pm, members of Temple Ner Tamid will be unloading groceries collected during the annual Yom Kippur food drive at the Montclair Food Pantry, 9 Label Street. There will be dozens of bags filled with non-perishables to be unloaded.
And over at Church Street, Montclair's roaming video cameraman Wayne Robbins has had a table out for the past four Sundays to collect money to help fire victim Donna Brieger. He's already collected more than $1,000 and is making one last push today during the last concert at Montclair Center Stage from 3 to 5 pm.
While Baristaville theatre fans are mourning the (hopefully temporary) loss of 12 Miles West and making plans to catch 12MW shows in Madison, other local theater companies are poised to keep us entertained. Among the fall offerings:
If it's Saturday in Baristaville...then we'll see you at the Montclair Farmer's Market. Merchants with NJ grown products bring it fresh to you every Saturday through November 24. And by the way, in addition to all the great produce, and market vibe, we've been hearing great feedback about the new fish vendor, Shore Catch.
Need a snack while shopping? Around the corner, on Walnut Street, Lisamarie at Cucina 98 says market-goers can stop by Saturday from 10:00-2:00. She'll be serving homemade zeppoles (yes!), gelato, homemade pizza, and two boxed lunches - mama's fresh lasagna and a grilled veggie sandwich.
While discussions are underway about redevelopment for Montclair's 4th ward, the nearby 300 block of Bloomfield Avenue is getting a facelift. Seymour Street Associates (yes, that's Mr. Plofker) is renovating the building that formerly housed Montclair Video, at 363-367 Bloomfield Avenue. Here's the architectural rendering.
"The Historic Preservation Committee gave up their approval for the new facade; renovation may begin within the next 30 days," says Plofker. "There will be 7,200 square feet of street level retail space, and eight residential apartments above."
We know what you're thinking... will the upgraded retail space languish vacant like so many neighboring storefronts in town? (If they build parking, will they come?) Director David Genova says: "There is an existing underground parking lot beneath the building already accessible by a garage door on Willow Street. There is also a parking lot behind this building that has historically been used for the retail tenants."
Continue reading "Blooming Buildings On Bloomfield Avenue" »
Baristanet historian-in-residence, collectionista, and bon-vivant Frank Gerard Godlewski reminds us that it's a perfect weekend for sailing through other people's garages. His sale sounds like one antique hunters shouldn't miss:
Mark Booker and I are combining a very eclectic melange of items from our vintage collections, including old books, records, photos, paper items and paintings. But also odds and ends, like our parents' old sets of High Ball Glasses, a garage door opener, old clothing and tremendously ordinary table ware. Normally, Mark deals in African American history items and I have paintings, prints and decorative things that I use to “fill in the blanks†when I’m furnishing someone’s home. Sometimes we put out valuable items - but mainly $5-$20 items.The sale is at the Booker's: at 15 Upper Mountain Avenue, between Bloomfield Avenue and Claremont, this Saturday and Sunday, from 8 to 4.
Reader Reminder: announcements for garage sale listings, and all events are always FREE on the Baristanet Calendar.
The Montclair Historical Society is sponsoring two food related fundraisers: next Sunday, September 30, you and seven of your friends can dine in the historical Israel Crane House and be served a traditional hearth-cooked dinner - they're talking real slow cooking - six hours over an open fire with iron pots.
Billed as a "unique dining experience," the menu features recipes lightly flavored with lemon balm, this year’s “Herb of the Year.†BYOB, a non-alcoholic beverage is provided. Seating is at the historically accurate time of 5 pm, Israel Crane House Museum, 108 Orange Road. To reserve your table for eight call 973-744-1796 Ext. 3 or email carol@montclairhistorical.org. The cost is $500. (They'll take two groups of four and pro-rate.)
On Sunday November 4, the historical society is sponsoring a kitchen tour in Montclair:
Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, and Montclair high school all played their varsity football games last night, to avoid scheduling the games on Yom Kippur. Glen Ridge played Cedar Grove, Montclair played Nutley, and Bloomfield played Belleville.
Here are the scores; Bloomfield Bengals beat Belleville, 21-14 in OT; Montclair Mounties trounced Nutley 41-7; Cedar Grove took the win 28-3 from Glen Ridge, after a tough first half. Football fans are talking about it here.
Were you there? Talk about your favorite Fall sports here.
With signs of local election fever beginning to surface, former Montclair police chief Tom Russo expounds on how to fix a broken Montclair. In a letter to the Montclair Times he writes:
The issue that motivates us is the restoration of our township’s integrity. The image and quality of life in Montclair is being destroyed by our government’s relentless attack on every element of life here. We need to catch our breath, clean up Montclair and refocus our priorities while we await the next election when the people can reclaim their township, bringing responsible solutions to problems that the majority of us can support.
What are the priorities that our future leaders need to focus on? Read Russo's list of suggestions:
Cory Booker sends us his statement on the march in Jena, LA:
Today, I wear black in solidarity with all those across the nation who are calling for justice for the “Jena 6.†As Mayor of Newark, I am outraged at the double standard being displayed and the inequalities that exist throughout this case. I support justice, fairness, and equality in Newark and our entire nation, and call upon the District Attorney in Jena, Louisiana, to dismiss the current charges and apply appropriate sanctions that are equal and just for the six young men. I encourage all Newark residents to show solidarity with this drive to help make justice for the “Jena 6†and justice for all a reality in our nation.
In other Newark news, former mayor Sharpe James sees son off to combat.
The latest installment in "As The Geese Turns" from the Montclair Times...
Township Councilwoman Robin Schlager, who represents the 2nd Ward where Edgemont Memorial Park is located, cited two major problems as an extreme amount of goose feces and the geese occasionally attacking people."We tried many options," Schlager said. "That was our last resort, to kill [the geese]. We certainly looked into other methods and spent thousands of dollars on other methods."
David Feld, national program director for GeesePeace, told The Times that Montclair's decision to kill the geese could be the result of bad advice, and that it will not solve the long-term problem.
"Stuffed coyotes don't scare Canada geese. Geese that are plastic and that look like they're dead don't scare Canada geese. Scary-eye balloons don't scare Canada geese," Feld said.
"Those are the types of things that Montclair did to get rid of the geese. That does not work. What works is taking the water away from the geese, making it very inhospitable and unsafe for them.
"We are willing to work with Montclair. They need to ask. We are not an activist group," Feld said. "If they ask for our assistance, we'll do it."
It's the week for lawsuits. Dan Rather is suing CBS and others for $70 million. Montclair's Stephen Colbert is being sued for 65 million dollars for stealing jokes.
From the AP...
Cenk Uygur of Air America's morning show "The Young Turks" insisted on his program Wednesday that Colbert used his joke on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." Uygur posted a video on YouTube comparing his joke — which he claims he first told on his Sept. 7 radio program — with a segment that aired on "The Colbert Report" four days later.In both jokes, Uygur and Colbert suggest that the Republican presidential candidates sounded like Klingons from "Star Trek" while speaking about the value of honor.
Renata Luczak, a spokeswoman for Colbert, said the comedian had no immediate comment but will most likely address it on the show.
Let's see if Hillary Clinton lets Colbert take her Cheney as Darth Vader joke.
NJ's Bill Pascrell got word from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday that the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee wants him back to fill a vacancy on the House Homeland Security Committee. Pascrell will continue serving in his primary position on the exclusive House Ways and Means Committee.
"I actually never felt like I've left the committee," says Pascrell. "I will pick up exactly where I left off on advocating for our first responders."
From the Star Ledger...
Word of her intentions appeared yesterday afternoon in her latest update to constituents on her Web site, www.j.michaelson.home.att.net. There, she insists she will spend the next few months governing, rather than campaigning.Michaelson has made no secret of the fact that she garnered more votes than any other candidate on the ballot in her 2004 run for at- large councilor.
Ted Mattox, an at-large councilor who in 2004 ran with Michaelson on Remsen's "Leadership Montclair" slate, had harsh words about a potential Michaelson candidacy.
"Based on Michaelson's and Mayor Ed Remsen's voting record, voting for Joyce would be the exact same as voting for Ed," Mattox said.
"In her spare time," he said, "she championed issues such as doubling the parking rates at the municipal lots ... Montclair can't afford -- literally -- Joyce's vision of what Montclair ought to be."
We hear that Chef Mike Carrino from Passionné just returned from a trip to Williamsburg, Virgina to cater for the likes of Bill Clinton, George Bush Sr. and Tony Blair (Dubya didn't show).
Margaret Thatcher and Sandra Day O'Connor were also on the guest list - but Mike didn't get any face time with the politicos. "It was fun helping out behind the scenes, in a chaotic kitchen. We made lots and lots of hors d'oeuvres - about 11,000 of them. They were not my recipes, unfortunately," says Carrino.
Everyone's got an opinion on how local governments should spend our hard-earned tax dollars, especially in Baristaville. What can we learn from the Katrina aftershock? From The Star Ledger:
Municipal leaders in New Jersey facing the high cost of repairing or replacing aging infrastructure should consider the risks of neglecting such issues based on lessons learned in Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, according to a visiting professor who spoke yesterday to a group of state leaders in New Brunswick."You must work regionally and cooperatively and think about where you make investments," said powell, of the Kirwan Institute at Ohio State University. "The problem in New Orleans, where resources were unevenly distributed along racial lines, is not just a problem in New Orleans."
Continue reading "What Baristaville Can Learn From Katrina" »
The proposal to grant historical landmark designation to the James Howe House, aka "The Freed Slave House" is up for public discussion tomorrow night. The Montclair Historic Preservation Commission meets at 7:30 pm, in the Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Avenue, 1st floor, and public comment will be allowed at that time.
Emotions are running high over a related proposal which has pitted local African-American historians/preservationists against the Montclair Historical Society. The Montclair Historical Society requested permission to relocate the historical home from its original, and current, location - 369 Claremont Avenue - to a spot behind the Crane House on Orange Avenue. In a letter to the Montclair Times, preservationist Joanne Spencer says the move will compromise the integrity of the historical site, and should only be moved to avoid demolition.
On campus at MSU this morning, the Baristas met up with Harold Dinzes, who at age 91, is the university's oldest student. Harold, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, has a wall full of military awards in his Passaic home, but just as precious is the framed acceptance letter he received from MSU.
Harold, a senior year history major, spoke at a press conference today, saying how much he loved the university, "Before enrolling, I visited a lot of big universities, and I think it's better here than Yale," he says. "And I really love going to school with my grand daughter." MSU President Susan Cole invited Dinzes, along with faculty and press, to attend the discussion about MSU's year-long centennial celebration.
Harold is so passionate about the university, that he's asked if he can be buried on campus...And that's a question even President Cole couldn't answer.
Baristaville, we just heard from Reuters, that today is International "Talk Like A Pirate Day." Never heard of it?
It all started back in the 1990s as a cult joke between two American friends -- John "Ol Chumbucket" Baur and Mark "Capn Slappy" Summers -- but really took off when syndicated columnist Dave Barry got to hear about their surreal festival."We tap into that need for whimsy in people's lives," Summers says of the 24-hour celebration of quirkiness when they urge all self-respecting swashbucklers to show "pirattitude."
Lt. James Carlucci of Montclair PD reports two burglaries where the perps entered homes, and apparently took their time to look around but didn't see anything worth taking.
A Pine Street resident tells police her apartment was burglarized sometime between Sept. 6 and Sept. 9. The burglar seems to have entered the apartment through a kitchen window which faces the rear porch. The suspect(s) rummaged through two laundry bags and tampered with some of the victim's appliances, though nothing is reported missing. There are no suspects at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Adam Toops at 973-509-4717.
In a second burglary attempt, the perp rang the doorbell first and chatted with a neighbor on his way out...
Continue reading " Montclair: Picky Burglars Leave Empty-Handed" »
Remember this daytime robbery at the Commerce Bank in downtown Montclair? Download the flyer with a description of the guy police are looking for here.
The weather is perfect, and two guys brought in from Detroit with two shining new Lincoln MKZ's have been polishing the cars to an impeccable luster, for a commercial being shot on Hamilton Road in Glen Ridge today featuring Sarah Reinertsen, the first woman with a prosthetic limb to complete an Ironman Triathalon championship.
Dry cleaning delivery trucks, meanwhile, are banned from the street, and you can see the drivers, waiting for the "all clear" sign, then sprinting down Hamilton with their burdens of clean clothes.
What does it sound like when doves fly? If you're anywhere near Montclair State University, tomorrow at 3:30 pm, you'll find out. MSU is kicking off a yearlong party to celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2008. Part of the ceremony will involve "the release of 100 doves to symbolize the transition from our first century to our second century."
What -- they couldn't use some of our fine, local Canada geese? Meanwhile, a little birdie tells us that during a test flight conducted yesterday with about 20 doves, one dove broke from the flock, flew into a laundromat in Clifton and left a large deposit on a washer/dryer. For MSU insiders, who are in the midst of a battle with Clifton over their objection to letting the university add a third exit from campus by expanding the Quinn Rd. entrance into an exit onto Valley Road, the errant bird and its deed elicited schadenfreude.
Relying on the kindness of strangers, 12 Miles West goes futher west -- about another 16 miles -- to share space with Playwrights Theatre in Madison after a deal to keep their existing space in Bloomfield fell through. Here's the gist of the letter that went out by email today to company members...
After only three years in our Bloomfield facility, we have found it necessary to leave that space.When we first moved into the old Center Theatre in Bloomfield in August of 2004, it was with the intent of purchasing the building and establishing a permanent home for our company. After we had completed all the necessary steps towards the purchase including an appraisal, structural, environmental and mechanical inspections and an architectural plan for the renovation of the building, reached an agreed price, and arranged very favorable private financing from a local developer, in a sudden and surprising turn of events the landlord withdrew the offer. With the option to purchase the building off the table, our Board knew continuing to operate under the burdens of our "triple net" lease structure would quickly sound our death knell and so negotiated to terminate the lease as of September 15.
Stumbling on to the historic falls in Paterson is one of Baristaville's coolest -- and shortest -- road trips. Now their natural beauty is poised to get a man-made makeover of a surrounding park to match. From the Star Ledger...
The Department of Environmental Protection is calling for a 60-acre park that would link existing open space with historic factory buildings and would offer spectacular new viewing venues, including a tunnel dug into bedrock below the falls.Unveiled at a public meeting at the Paterson Museum 10 days ago, the plan calls for tens of millions of dollars of work -- state officials wouldn't say how much. DEP officials vowed to forge ahead quickly, despite tightening budgets. They have set aside $10 million for an initial construction phase.
The DEP hopes the first work -- including a new amphitheater and a refurbishing of the viewing boardwalk above the falls -- can begin in the next year or two.
The weather this week is supposed to be beautiful and rain-free. For an impromptu alfresco meal, grab Texas wieners at Libby's Hot Grill, across from the Falls.
Montclair township recently organized a slaughter of the geese, claiming to have exhausted other goose control options; now Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo wants to let hunters open fire on 150 deer at South Mountain Reservation, starting with the does and fawns, to control population growth. County officials say deer are destroying the park's ecology and the habitat of other animals. From The Star Ledger:
DiVincenzo unveiled plans to hire a consultant to organize the county's first-ever deer shoot planned for 10 days in January and February."I don't like hunting at all, but in this situation there's no alternative," he said.
But maybe there are alternatives, like leaving the killing to these guys...
Eco Realty gives us a heads up about coyotes in South Orange who are snacking on cats for supper.
Thai Chili (formerly Sri Thai, and before that Deja Vu) is closed and will change again, this time to Mexican. A tipster writes that the new name is Pinatas.
We also learn that Noodle Central (pictured) has closed and will be replaced by Greek Village (here's hoping the menu has lots of fish, lamb, good skordalia and taramasalata).
Tell us what you think about the latest from O.J. Simpson, Sally Field and the Emmys, Hillary's new health plan or what you did this weekend.
It's your open thread...
Joel Schwartzberg loves the Montclair Y, especially all you caring folks who wipe your sweat off machines after work outs! From NJVoices...
Of course, my real workouts happen at the relatively cheap Montclair YMCA, a 115 year-old commmunity center which blew away every preconceived notion -- and Village People song -- I had about local exercise gyms. My girlfriend, a YMCA gym devotee, turned me onto it shortly after I moved to Montclair, and it has to be one of the town's best-kept secrets. Moving from Equinox in midtown, New York, to Motion in Millburn, to the Montclair Y may seem like a step-machine down on paper, but the Y is gorgeous in design, rich in programs, and extremely well-kept.One thing I especially appreciate is that members wipe down their machines with spray and paper towels when done. It's not particularly hygienic to follow in the sweaty palm prints of the person before you -- I think about this every time I climb aboard a New Jersey Transit train.
Tell us your favorite Y story (we've already heard Katie's).
Meanwhile, here's something that shouldn't be a secret. The new Little Y (a.k.a. the Helen and Bill Geyer Family Center) is offering classes for kids, including a cartooning class (for kids 8-10) scheduled for Thursdays at 4 that was canceled because not enough kids signed up. To find out about their offerings, download the class schedule here.
Last week, it was a parent stealing from the Home and School association. This week, we've got a 73-year-old man stealing from disabled veterans from Belleville and Nutley. And he's one of their own. From the Star Ledger...
After years of discussions, the Belleville and Nutley chapter of the Disabled American Veterans started looking for a new home three years ago after selling their old building along Washington Avenue.But each time the group was ready to make an offer on a property, Nunzie Cupo Jr., the chapter's commander, vetoed the deal and claimed there wasn't enough money to buy the buildings.
Soon the veterans discovered why they were cash-strapped -- only $82,000 of the $400,000 they received from the sale of their building remained in the bank.
Cupo couldn't be reached for comment, but his wife Frances Cupo said her husband was ill and was upset by the situation.
"He apologizes for what he did, what else can he say?" Cupo said.
We know plenty of New Yorkers who come to shop at the Short Hills Mall. Now NY robbers have discovered its lure, as thugs make with $50,000 in jewels yesterday. From the Star Ledger...
Police said three men entered Nordstrom's jewelry department around 5:30 p.m. With one man posted as a lookout near the parking lot entrance to the store, another man pointed a knife at a sales associate and forced her to open the display case while a third robber removed the contents of the case, police said.
Another reason why we don't want Church Street to become Short Hills...
If you're looking for something to do today, and you have a literary bent, you might want to drive up to Rutherford for a celebration of the birth of pediatrician-poet William Carlos Williams. Numerous poets will read Williams' work and discuss his life. The event goes from 1 to 4:30 pm.
News of this event comes to us from William Carlos Williams biographer Neil Baldwin, a Glen Ridge resident and professor of history at Montclair State. Baldwin writes:
Continue reading "Happy Birthday, William Carlos Williams" »
Looking for something to do with the kids? Come celebrate as Bloomfield puts out its best fall colors for its annual Harvest Festival today from 10 am to 6 pm and tomorrow from noon to 6 pm.
The festival runs down Broad Street, from Bloomfield Avenue to Belleville Avenue.
Harvest Fest features live entertainment, rides, games, ethnic foods, fall decorations and lots of civic groups giving out information about what they do.
...we can't get voting machines in New Jersey with printers? Today's Star Ledger describes a predictable problem at the polls:
In 2005, the Legislature gave the state until this January to add printers. Voters would view printouts to verify their electronic ballots; the paper record also could be used for recounts.Yesterday, Attorney General Anne Milgram said she will ask the Legislature for an extension -- An extension would mean the 10,000 electronic voting machines now used by all 21 counties would be rolled out again for the state's presidential primary Feb. 5 -- still without the paper printers intended to reassure voters that their ballots are correctly counted.
Need a party to go to? Want to meet a baseball legend? Need to shop? It's your weekend, do what ya wanna do..Newark's four-day African American Fest, in its 41st year, is going on right now, through Monday, at Weequahic Park. You get a carnival, culture, food, music, kids crafts, and today - a dance contest and concert by the Delfonics Revue and Slave Funk Revue. Tomorrow, there's a big parade at noon tomorrow, jump-started (literally) by sky divers leaping from a plane and landing in front of city hall. Open 1pm - midnight each day. And it's FREE!
Saturday, at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center, meet Hall of Famer Monte Irvin for a discussion/booksigning. Legendary Negro Leaguer and former New York Giants outfielder Monte Irvin, along with baseball writer Phil Pepe, will discuss all things baseball and sign copies of their new book, "Few and Chosen: Defining Negro Leagues Greatness" 2 - 4 pm.
Now, about the shopping...
Continue reading "This Weekend: African American Festival, and More..." »
If you've ever driven up to the end Claremont Avenue, you've probably attempted a daring merge onto Bloomfield Avenue where the one of the area's worst intersections creates a messy convergence of traffic. The addition of new traffic lights at the merging point should help the flow...or does it? Dave C. writes:
The recent addition of a light at the top of Claremont Avenue has created as much confusion as the one at Fullerton & Bloomfield Ave.
We knew they were coming, and as of last week, Applegate's ice cream outpost on Church Street is open. It's in a strategic location, indeed - the lobby of the Claridge Theater, across from ticket booth. (Does this mean plans for Ricky's next door has been iced?) Owner Jason Street said they're seeing a lot of customers coming in after dinner and the movies, of course. They're stocking 24 flavors, and you can get the same sundaes, shakes, and waffle bowls that are served on Grove Street, says Street. Open Monday - Thursday, 2-9:30; Friday and Saturday - 12-11 pm, and Sunday - 12-9:30.
Other scoops on the Montclair retail scene:
Baristaville commuters, if you're not a subscriber of Conductor Josh's CleverCommute listserve yet, you need to pay attention to ease and speed your commute. Enhancements to the site are making it more useful and user friendly. Now, for instance, there's complete NJT train coverage, and a pilot program for LIRR and Metro North...For full details, go to the CleverCommute Blog....and enjoy the ride.
Playground politics are changing the face of Montclair's Mountainside and Edgemont parks. Mountainside is being updated, and Edgemont is the location for the town's first universal playground, which by next spring will accomodate children with and without disabilities. Friends of Edgemont Park helped the town with the lay out and design of the playground. From The Montclair Times:
Double-wide ramps, adaptive swings, an adult adaptable swing, play stations and a rubber surface are just some of the things children with special needs can look forward to at the playground, said committee member Susan Irby.
Boiling Springs Bank, Valero gas station, Mr. Dino's Pizzeria. Montclair's planning board wants to make you part of history. From The Montclair Times...
According to the nomination report prepared by the township Planning Department, the plaza sits amid three historic sites, with the Erwin Park residential development and the Watchung Avenue Train Station, from 1904, to the west, and the Marlboro Park development to the east. Erwin Park dates back to 1898, while Marlboro Park can be traced to the year before. All three are on the state and national Registers of Historic Places.
Wait a second...Marlboro Park? You mean where there used to be that historic building, The Marlboro Inn?
Continue reading "Watchung Plaza Under Historical Scrutiny" »
What happens when the kids go to preschool and Daddy has a few blissful hours to himself?
Baristaville's favorite stay-at-home dad, Looky, Daddy, shows us, with video here, those magical, tender moments from the first day of school.
That's the rally cry we expect to hear on Bloomfield Ave, as angry animal rights activists storm Montclair for its wholesale geese slaughter.
We're already in the Canada Goose Hall of Shame. From the Star Ledger...
"I feel sick about it," Sandy Reynolds, who runs a nonprofit called Humane Montclair, said after appearing with members of a group called GeesePeace at Tuesday night's council meeting to protest Montclair's action. "It's a disgrace."
Drivers in Essex county had better chill out when they're behind the steering wheel or they could be busted for road rage, rudeness, and pedestrian endangerment. Beginning early next year, local police will be watching for aggressive drivers and offenders could be caught on videotape.
Continue reading "Aggressive Drivers, Smile For The Cameras" »
If there's Christmakwanzakah, shouldn't there be RoshHaRamadan too?
Well, maybe we're first to the trend. But you should know that the big fall holidays are starting for your Jewish and Muslim friends. Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, starts at sunset. Ramadan begins tomorrow morning.
Pegi Adam, of Montclair Watch describes last night's council meeting as "stimulating." Members of watchdog group attended the meeting hoping to get answers about the Elm/Mission Street redevelopment plan, like how it will benefit Montclair residents. Adam writes:
"Montclair Watch has several concerns about "the area in need of redevelopment": we agree that retail section of Bloomfield Ave is unattractive, but it is now affordable to the current retailers. Any developer will need to raise the rents, potentially driving out the current retailers, leaving no space for small stores that serve the community. Our retail space is already not affordable to many potential occupants -- note the 34 vacant spaces within ½ mile along Bloomfield and Church Streets, between Lackawanna Plaza and South Mountain Ave.
Continue reading "Montclair's Stimulating Council Meeting " »
This robbery happened in Montclair, in broad daylight last Saturday morning. Fortunately, the victim was not hurt. From Lt. James Carlucci:
On September 8, at approximately 11:15 am, a woman from Irvington called police to report that she had been the victim of an armed robbery. After making an ATM withdrawal inside Commerce Bank at Bloomfield Avenue and Grove, the woman was approached by a man while walking through the parking lot. He engaged her in conversation, then suddenly stuck a hard object into her side and asked how much money she had on her.
The victim removed $40 from her purse and handed it to the suspect, who fled the scene in a small/mid size light gray, beige, or tan older model vehicle, occupied by a black male. The suspect who stole the money is described as a black male, dark complexion, gray moustache and goatee, approximately 45 years old, 6'0"-6'2" tall, thin build. He was well dressed, wearing dress slacks, dress shirt, shoes, and a green hat. The suspect possibly spoke with a Caribbean accent. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective James Milano at 973-509-4726.
If you were wondering why Bellevue Avenue was closed off in the vicinity of Mt. Hebron School around 9 am this morning, Laura Federico at Montclair Board of Ed says a car flipped over in front of the school when the driver hit a ramp attached to a Montclair Public Schools truck. Police kept the street clear until the overturned vehicle was removed.
If you're a Mt. Hebron parent, then you probably received a recorded message from the BOE about the accident by 10 am. "If they heard about the accident, parents might be worried that their child was nearby. We want to assure parents that no students were harmed or involved in any way," says Federico.
The recorded message is one of the emergency preparedness measures which was put into place a few years ago. As for the driver, the message reported he emerged from the car, and was seen walking around unharmed.
Another season of Peak Performances at Montclair State University begins on Saturday afternoon with an appearance by Montclair's Rebecca Frezza and her band Big Truck, who have developed a following as rock stars for the preschool set.
They're part of an eclectic slate of Peak performers scheduled to take the stage at MSU's Alexander Kasser Theater during the 2007/2008 school year.
An anti-islamic chat group on Facebook, the student-oriented networking site, inspired a cyber-protest organized by a student at Montclair State University. 58,000 subscribers reacting against the group accused of trafficking in "hate speech" have signed a petition threatening to drop out of Facebook if the group is not removed. From The NY Times:
One of the officers of the petition-drive group, Essma Bargewee, who said in an e-mail message that she is 20 years old and studying business at Montclair State University in New Jersey, said she joined and invited some friends and posted at a few other groups in Facebook. “Next morning I came and was expecting 15 or something to join but found hundreds,†she wrote. “As you have seen we ended up with thousands of both Muslims and non-Muslims defending our idea.â€Facebook declined to comment on Friday on the subject of hate speech or on what steps had been taken.
Tonight's town council meeting, agenda here, sounds like it will be a real doozy, including a redevelopment plan for Elm/Mission Streets. Soon Ed Remsen won't have to worry about all that.
Mayor Ed Remsen, who wants to make history as the first mayor in recent history not to seek re-election, had this to say about Montclair. From the Star Ledger...
In a 10-page address that covered as many bases as a State of the Union message, Remsen on Sunday spoke with pride of leading "this noisy, opinionated, over-caffeinated, often frustrating town we call home."
Funny, his description sounds like he's talking about Baristanet. Remsen says he's done with this mayor stuff except for a little unfinished business to take care of before his term ends.
In his final months, Remsen said, he hopes to secure a commitment for a midsize downtown hotel, which has been proposed by Montclair developers John Cali and Steven Plofker. Also on the agenda is securing public-private funding to revamp the aging Clary Anderson Arena.
After that, Remsen describes a "to-do list" that sounds like it was written by George Bailey, Mr. Rogers and an Eagle Scout.
James Madison is going to be wearing a new hat now -- a striped one. From the Star Ledger...
"Madison was prolific and original. He may even have thought his method was a smart or a cute way of robbing banks," U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie said. "In fact, there was nothing cute or smart about it. He's just another greedy thug who stole other people's money."
That's right -- nothing cute about a hat-wearing bandit. But having the name Christopher Christie -- now that's downright adorable.
Bill Clinton likes you, Montclair, he really likes you.
Former President Bill Clinton was in Baristaville this past Sunday at a fundraiser for wife and presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton. Speaking at the Upper Mountain Ave. home of Baristanet's favorite two dads, Jeff Appel and John Caraccioli, Bill Clinton did that voodoo that only he can do.
Taking pictures with everyone -- from the swells who showed up for $2,000 a head ($3,000 a couple) event to members of the band, Sax and Sound, (Clinton told the crowd how he often wondered how different his life would have been had he been a better sax player), to the catering staff in the kitchen from Terra Luna -- Clinton shook hands with every one of the 100-plus people in attendance, including Lucie Arnaz and Larry Luckinbill. Clinton knew Arnaz right away and even remembered that Luckinbill had performed at his inaugural. He's also got a Baristaville connection. Clinton told Caraccioli that back in his Georgetown days he had a girlfriend in Montclair. He used to visit her when she lived on Valley Road in the 700 block -- and they're still good friends.
Here's who else was at the bash and what Bill said...
Photos: Charles Rosen
Continue reading "Bill Clinton Wins Montclair, Hillary Gets $200,000+" »
The second half of Glen Ridge's ongoing contest over playing fields kicks off at the Borough Council meeting tonight (Tuesday), and both sides have huddled and are approaching the line of scrimmage.
Glen Ridge voters opposed Hurrell Field turf in a February referendum, although not by as great a margin as they opposed turfing Carteret Park. But a bipartisan committee charged with looking at the playing field problem again, this summer recommended turfing Hurrell, and adding lights.
The council's recreation committee is recommending artificial turf on Hurrell Field, with the option of temporary or permanent lights. The council may decide as early as tonight whether to send the project out for bids.
Bob Salvatelli, president of the Glen Ridge Athletic Association, has given marching orders to his team, n an e-mail that expressed conviction that the GRAA has both the council votes and county support to make the project fly:
After five years of memorials, many are looking for new ways to commemorate 9/11. We like the idea behind MyGoodDeed. You can register and share what you've done with others, or stay anonymous
and be inspired by the good vibes.
9/11 related groups are here.These are some of the Non-profit Groups that can always use help.
from EcoRealty
-- Photo by Mahmoud Sami
Six years after the tragedy of 9/11 in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania, our nation remembers the victims and the families left behind. 705 New Jerseyans died from the terrorist attacks. Honor their memory, read each of their stories, put a face to each name, here.
Memorial ceremonies are taking place in Baristaville today - at Watchung Plaza and Eagle Rock. Bloomfield will hold a ceremony at 6 pm, on the town green. Today's ceremonies in Manhattan begin with a moment of silence at 8:40 am, in Zuccotti Park. Many streets will be temporarily closed.
UPDATE: Pip is found. "Pip is home," Julie wrote in tonight. "I found him while doing some suspect trespassing in back yards. He was in a garage."
Julie is looking for her cat -- and she'd love some more pairs of eyes to help...
My cat disappeared Sunday morning. He has never been gone more than an hour, ever. I live at 51 S. Park St. He is gray and white, short haired male, declawed, neutered and weights 30 lbs. He has a gray nose and a gray goatee and is named "Pip". He is my soul mate and miss him terribly. My number is 973-650-2132
Perfectly positioned for the best Fourth of July parade party, this house is now for sale. Go to Real Estate.
Breaking news from the Star Ledger. You won't have Mayor Ed Remsen to kick around come 2008...
"Some like to talk about how we've never re-elected a mayor in Montclair as if it's some kind of contest to be won," Remsen said as the keynote speaker at St. Mark's Methodist Church's 24th annual community breakfast. "Well, I'm taking it one step beyond that. I'm the first Montclair mayor in recent history who will NOT be seeking re-election."Back in May, Remsen had said he would make a decision in the early fall on whether he'd seek to become the first mayor to win a second term since Montclair began directly electing its mayors in 1988. Today, he kept to that promise.
Things change. Remember the days when Mayor Ed used to come on and respond here?
If a solar roof isn't cutting edge enough, you could always add the ultimate in green roofs. All you'll need to know about the ups and downs of these cool slopes -- including how to mow it -- can be found here.
Spectacular examples of all kinds of green roofs can be seen as close by as Battery Park City.
from EcoRealty
Speaking of mowing, a tipster writes in about a house in desperate need of it...
The family of Glen Ridge murder victim Joan Galligan will have their day in court, but not in Essex County. From the Star Ledger...
Essex County Assignment Judge Patricia Costello ordered the change of venue in the Herbert Maisenbacher trial because the daughter of victim Joan Galligan is employed in the Essex courts.The daughter, Kimberly Cicala, works in the information and community relations office in the Essex County Veterans Courthouse.
Robert Grady, the assistant Essex County prosecutor handling the case, said he opposed the change of venue, but he declined to comment on his reasoning.
Grady said he will continue to handle the case. He said that it initially has been assigned to Superior Court Judge Peter Vazquez, who is the presiding criminal judge in Hudson County and previously sat in Essex. In Essex, it had been assigned to Judge Michael Casale.
Grady said some pretrial issues would probably need to be ironed out before the case is scheduled for trial. He said no hearing dates had been scheduled. Maisenbacher is free on $250,000 bail.
Note to high school administrators: if you see a lot of hugging going on in the hallways today, it's not a sudden release of pheromones or last night's premiere of "Tell Me You Love Me" on HBO. Today has been declared Free Hug Day by a Connecticut high school kid named Alex Schaffer, who wants to spread some love around on the day before the 9/11 anniversary, and by now, just about everybody who has a Facebook account has received an invitation.
Is this some kind of GOP dirty trick? Or do they keep donkeys at Richfield Farms?
At any rate, Soprano Sue just called us with a tip, hot off her police scanner, that donkeys have gotten loose onto the Garden State Parkway in the vicinity of Clifton.
Last night, the Montclair literati toasted Christina Baker Kline, whose new novel, "The Way Life Should Be," is doing so well that it has already sold out its first run and will be on the front table of every Barnes & Noble in the country starting next week.
But while we were picking up a copy of Christina's book to get autographed, we found out about a little sleeper of an anthology on the sex lives of the middle-aged that, according to Margot Sage-El, is simply flying off the shelves at Watchung Booksellers.
And why not? "Over the Hill and Between the Sheets," which came out in July, is edited by Montclair's own Gail Belsky and features true confessions by four other Montclair writers: Anne Burt, Alice Dark, Peg Rosen and Pat Berry.
Amazon does not have a "Search this Book" feature, so I guess if you want to know what's going on in your neighbors' bedrooms, you'll have to run down to Watchung and buy your own copy.
Ruth Borgenicht makes baskets, wall hangings and other sculptures out of chain mail, the stuff that knights wore under Medieval armor. Not only will her work be on display tomorrow (Sunday), but her studio will be open to the public too as part of "Homegrown," a Glen Ridge garden and artist studio tour featuring lots of local talent.
The event goes from noon to 5, rain or shine, and costs $12 per person or $25 for family. Tickets can be purchased at the Women's Club of Glen Ridge, 219 Ridgewood Ave.
The Star Ledger reports that the top vote-getter in the election to pick a slogan for Cedar Grove's centennial was "A Century of Memories."
The victor, with 193 of the 350 votes cast, had seesawed with "A Place to Call Home" in recent weeks but surged ahead in the final 10 days and will headline the suburban Essex County community's 100th anniversary in 2008."We have a winner," Cindie Newkirk, co-chair of the 33-member Cedar Grove Centennial Committee, said after paper ballots as well as e-mail votes were counted.
"A Century of Memories" ultimately beat "A Place to Call Home" by 82 votes, garnering 193 to the runner-up's 111.The other four contenders trailed far behind, with "We've Only Just Begun" getting 20 votes; "Only Getting Better," 12; and "Thanks for the Century" and "A Celebration" holding up the rear with 10 votes each.
Tongue-in-cheek entries included "Pull Over and Step Away from Your Car."
Surely, Baristaville can do better, without waiting for a centennial. How about Montclair: "A Century of Teardowns". Or Bloomfield: "Where Downtown's a Ghost Town."
Tonight, Outpost in the 'Burbs kicks off their Friday night concert season of live music with singer/songwriter Amy Correia and special guest Terence Martin . Correia's Outpost debut a few years ago was sold out, so you might want to check for tickets at TicketWeb or by calling 973-744-6560. (They're also sold at the door.)
The Outpost's lineup for this fall/winter includes Richard Shindell and Ollabelle later in September, Lesley Gore in October, Joan Osborne in November and a Chapin Family Christmas in December.
Next Tuesday, “Essex County Remembers,†a solemn ceremony at the Essex County Eagle Rock September 11th Memorial, will mark the sixth anniversary of the tragedies in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania.
A brief program with family members who lost a loved one and clergy members from diverse religious faiths will be held at 8 a.m. Memorial wreaths will be laid at the monument and a new American flag will be raised. A string quartet will perform reverent selections of music at the memorial site from 8 am to 2 pm. Essex County Eagle Rock Reservation, Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange.
And in Montclair, there will be a ceremony at Watchung Plaza:
A tipster writes:
"I heard that the FAA is trying to re-route flight paths for Newark and Elizabeth is up in arms. I heard a passenger jet fly over our house the other night that rattled the windows. Wonder what kind of effect the re-route will have on Baristaville?
Then, there's the quote of the day, from a Star Ledger report on the bribery sting:
"Today we witnessed another example of the disease that affects the state of New Jersey: the disease of public corruption," U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie said....FBI agents were "taken on a corruption tour of New Jersey," Christie said, "almost as if there is a corrupt-public-officials underground."
And...the normally gay friendly, Methodist-ruled town of Ocean Grove decides to draw the line at civil unions, never mind that it's legal in New Jersey now. Steve Adubato comments here.
Anyone have something to say? Your daily chat begins now.
Get out your checkbook, if you dare, because this is no garage sale. "The Jean and Michael Strahan Collection" - the legendary, and massive, collection of antiques, art and home furnishings of their Lloyd Road estate - will be hitting the auction block on September 14 at the Morristown Armory .
These are some of the treasures you can bid on, in person or online: a Victorian bronze-mounted walnut billiards table, Victorian carved oak and walnut bedroom, dining room and library furniture, a pair of large Victorian figural lamps with Tiffany shades, antique Persian carpets and antique Louis Vuitton luggage. The French armchair covered in football-themed toile upholstery, though, sounds iffy.
Preview the collection next Thursday, Sept. 13, or view it online. More information on the Millea Bros. auction, here.
Demo-men are at work today, gingerly handling what salvageable architectural elements remain in the rubble of Montclair's former historic Upper Mountain train station. The distinctive "porte-cochere" will remain intact during the rest of the demolition, and be incorporated into the new building design. It's now completely detached from the main building, which as of tomorrow, will meet its final demise. NJ Transit workers removed the passenger tent (it'll be back by Monday, they assured me) and were taking down train schedules.
See you tomorrow at the wrecking ball...
Meanwhile, we got an inkling of what's to come from the Star Ledger:
You better watch out, you better not cry... Montclair PD announced they're aggressively enforcing teen driving rules and setting up DWI checkpoints during a month-long safe driving campaign.
The MPD has declared September as "School's Open Safety Month" to send high school drivers this message: take your driving privilege seriously. The "vigorous enforcement" means zero tolerance for provisional driver's licenses infractions and moving violations. Traffic officers will be at each of the high schools to go over the rules and address safety concerns. "The complaints most commonly reported around schools are speeding and pedestrian safety," says Officer Brian Fazio.
Update: PSE&G called back this afternoon. All their (verified and revised) numbers are in: 5,540 homes were affected by the blackout, 3,274 of them in Montclair, the rest in Bloomfield and Glen Ridge. The problem, in fact, was an above-ground equipment failure where "the underground cable that runs up the utility pole attaches to the overhead system." And they're still saying power was restored by 11:30 pm...
No, the dog did not eat the transformer...And now we know why so many of you emailed us questioning Wednesday night's blackout, which started around 10 pm. Karen Johnson at PSE&G tells us 2400 homes were temporarily in the dark due to "an underground cable failure." (OK, the rodent ate my cable...?)
Most of the power outage affected Bloomfield residents, with spillover into parts of Montclair and Nutley, says Johnson. Half of the customers had power restored by 10:45 pm, and the remaining 1200 homes were lit up by 11:30 pm.
Like to belt out the tunes? Baristaville Divas, the township of Little Falls is looking for their very own Idol. You have until October 1 to enter the vocal competition.
Tipsters have been writing in wondering why they were suddenly in the dark last night. Parts of Montclair experienced a blackout, while many others remained blissfully unaware.
It was basically everything south of Chestnut at least as far as Bloomfield Ave in the area of Forest, Midland, Park, etc., Maybe the cops were exaggerating but they said it "rolled" through town.
It wasn't the heat, it wasn't the weather. Heck, it wasn't even mist. We're waiting to hear back from PSE&G. The dog at my homework transformer?
Barack Obama came. John Edwards came. Now it's Clinton's turn. Except we're getting Bill instead of Hill. This Sunday, for $2,000 a pop (or $3,000 a couple), you can spend an afternoon with President William Jefferson Clinton as he comes to stump for Hillary. He's also got a new book out.
If you want to avoid traffic, steer clear of Upper Mountain Ave between Watchung and Van Vleck. Meanwhile, what question would you most want to ask Bill?
Mims Hackett, Jr., the mayor of Orange and a state lawmaker is under arrest.
From 7Online...
Eyewitness News is told Passaic Mayor Samuel Rivera and Orange Mayor Mims Hackett, Jr. were busted this morning on bribery charges related to roofing and insurance contracts for schools.They were among a dozen public officials busted as part of an 18-month investigation into the Pleasantville School Board in Atlantic County.
Their connections to Pleasantville were not immediately clear. However, officials say the arrests were part of a sting dubbed "Broken Boards."
Maybe that should be the theme of the new school going up on the grounds of the former Y and before that a former graveyard. From the Montclair Times...
Human bone fragments. Portions of disintegrated coffins.Those were some of the items found during an archeological dig of a site where the Montclair School District intends to erect a new $35 million elementary school.
It is believed that the pieces of bone are from the old cemetery, which was once owned by the First Methodist Church. The church had used the land during the late 1800s and early 1900s, before selling it to the YMCA in the 1920s.
After the property was sold, the human remains were relocated to Mt. Hebron Cemetery.
“What they think happened was that the whole body wasn’t removed,†Business Administrator Dana Sullivan told The Times.
The district is now waiting to hear from its lawyers regarding the next step it must take for proper disposal of the human remains, which were described by Sullivan as bone fragments.
Despite the findings, the state Department of Environmental Protection has granted the district approval to move forward with its intention to raze the Washington Street Y, St. Vincent’s Hospital and Nursing Home, and the Mother Seton Residence.
Think of the teachable moments. Kids can study decomposition, take electives in geneology, do DNA analysis, you name it. At the very least, the school should definitely throw the best Halloween party. Hopefully before the first kindergarten class takes their seats, talk of bones and coffins will have died down.
With new nutritional guidelines in effect at NJ schools, websites advising moms how to pack a lunchbox that's politically correct, cupcakes and the "S" word totally taboo, MeMe Roth's junk food vendetta has pretty much gone mainstream. From the NY Times:
MeMe Roth said she tried in 2005 to persuade other parents to ban Twinkies, doughnuts and other treats from celebrations at her children's school in Millburn, N.J. While some parents supported her, Ms. Roth, who is president of an nonprofit organization called National Action Against Obesity, said that some were openly hostile. Her effort ultimately failed..."Until healthful food stops competing against junk food, it doesn't stand a chance," Ms. Roth said.
After the jump, take our poll on what's acceptable in a kid's lunch box:
Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, Harrar - these are three of Ethiopia's Finest shade grown and Fair Trade organic coffee beans that Jon and JoAnna Luks are selling through their home-based business in Montclair. If you've seen the documentary film "Black Gold" or are familiar with the Fair Trade movement, you know that purchasing fair trade goods makes shopping somewhat socially redeeming. "We all drink coffee every day, so this is a no-brainer," says JoAnna. All you have to do to make a difference is buy fair trade beans. We want to spread the word and make that possible."
The Luks have embraced this idea, but taken it to a new level. And it's changed the course of their lives. Here's their amazing back story:
Baristanet has just received word from Paul Loriquet, spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, that Katie Lawrence, the former treasurer of Oakview Home and School Association, is under investigation in for thousands of dollars that are missing from the association's account.
"Tracey Rennie, President of the association reported a possible theft of funds to Bloomfield PD last month. Bloomfield PD contacted the Essex County Prosecutor's Official Crime/Economic Corruption Unit and a joint investigation was launched. We have determined that the alleged theft is approximately $50,000. The amount may change pending the conclusion of the investigation," says Loriquet.
Continue reading "Bloomfield Parent Under Investigation: Missing Funds" »
Bloomfield Police and Essex County Prosecutor's Office are actively investigating a report that thousands of dollars are missing from the PTA coffers at Oak View Elementary School, in Bloomfield. The missing funds were discovered by this year's incoming treasurer. Police and prosecutors were not able to provide further information.
Don't think you're left out of the new school year frenzy. The Adult School of Montclair just opened registration for fall classes. If your catalogue didn't arrive in the mail last weekend, check out all the class descriptions, here.
Feng-Shui, political debate, and photo shop - they've got the usual eclectic bunch of classes in the offerings, including a made-for-Baristaville course "Know Your Trees." Here's a plus: this year they've added ASM Online. Courses are 12 lessons, 6 weeks and $99...available in the comfort of your own home, and have been test-driven by director Lisa Redburn and her staff. As for the Baristas, we're thinking about volleyball...
Woodman Field Neighborhood Association (WFNA) has been wondering why it's been so quiet at the "Fuzzy" Furlong Fieldhouse. Construction for the $4.5 million renovation got started in early July, but residents whose homes overlook the field say they've been staring at dormant backhoes amidst the dozen port-a-potties. What's holding things up?
Dana Sullivan, Business Administrator at Montclair BOE, responds:
Very detailed bid specifications are prepared for public school construction projects. The specifications require the contractors to prepare shop drawings and plans for all areas of work that will be done. These plans are then submitted to the architect for his written approval. The contracts are set up in this manner to provide quality control over the contractor’s work. The contractors don’t usually begin preparing these documents until a contract is awarded to them.The reason that work has been light lately is that many of these submittals have been given to the architect. The architect is in the process of reviewing them.
Continue reading "Woodman Fieldhouse Construction - Who's On First?" »
Montclair School Superintendent, Dr. Frank Alvarez, comments about the recently published Montclair Schools' Rap Sheet:
Please note that the numbers reported are for the 2005-2006 school year. The NJ State Department of Education is one year behind in its reporting. You may recall that we had several incidences at Glenfield Middle School during that time period, which were out of the ordinary for us. We took aggressive measures, including the appointment of a new administrative team. Our numbers for the 2006-2007 school year show improvement--violent incidences were reported at 9, while vandalism/substance abuse incidences were reported at 23.
Yes, Baristaville school crime numbers taking a downturn. It's a good thing NJDE isn't tracking food violations. More on that later...
Its days were numbered.
Once the big house took shape behind it, we knew the little white house, blocking its views and taking up some front yard, would be demolished. The only question was when. Today it, and a little part of old Montclair, disappears. Yes, we know we'll hear a chorus of "it wasn't architecturally significant," etc. Still tipsters wrote in to let us know of its demise, one commenting on seeing "some of the original red sandstone foundation blocks lying around in a giant heap."
There are still a number of houses around Montclair that look like this one -- at least for now.
It's the inevitable question teachers ask students on their return from school. In fact, I kind of miss that reflective moment when you try and capture everything that was special about your summer vacation. So here goes...
Kids doing the backstroke on a pristine pond rather than hitting keystrokes on an invariably temperamental PC. Lobster. Bloody Marys. Sunsets. Good books. Bonfires. Sleeping in. No computers. No email. Frogs. Tadpoles. Minnows. Skin that smells of salt and sunshine. Lying under a blanket of stars. Walking in the woods.
OK, it was only a week, but it was heaven. Tell us some of your favorite things of summer before the season is a distant memory...
Who is David Spear (a.k.a. DaVido) and what is his claim to fame? He's been thrown out of some of the best Starbucks in the tri-state area, all in a bid to get the coffee giant to sell his music on their shelves. From the Star Ledger...
During eight months, Spear claims to have been ejected from 203 Starbucks shops in New York and New Jersey while being filmed belting out "Java Jitter" amid a swirl of caffeinated dancers and angry baristas."I decided to take rejection to a whole new level," Spear said. "If I ever pull this off, it could go down as one of the greatest success stories ever."
He has garnered some success. Spear's "Java Jitter" video has landed more than 36,000 hits in three weeks on the Web site YouTube, giving him a small taste of the stardom he craves.
Spear is an athletic-looking man who combed his hair into a pompadour for his coffee-shop appearances. He grew up in Bloomfield. His dad owned a nightclub; his mother was singer, actress and model.
But Starbucks officials are not amused. The company forbids singing and videotaping in its stores without permission, said Tara Darrow, a Starbucks spokeswoman.
View the Starbuck's rejection tour here.
If you live on or near Fernwood Place, and heard noise this weekend, Montclair police tell us what happened...
Juvenile Arrests at House Party: Montclair Police responded to a house at the intersection of Valley Road and Fernwood Avenue on the 1st shortly before 11:30 p.m. Officers observed several intoxicated juveniles and numerous empty cans of beer. The homeowners were away at the time and their 17 year old son had the party. One juvenile, who was extremely intoxicated, was transported to Mountainside Hospital for treatment. Several juveniles, including the juvenile who had the party, were charged with underage consumption of alcoholic beverages. The investigation is still active and anyone with information is asked to contact the Juvenile Aid Bureau at 973-509-4751.Strong Arm Robbery: Occurred on September 1st, shortly after 11 p.m. A 16-year-old West Caldwell resident was riding his skateboard on Valley Road near Fernwood Place when he was approached from behind by an unknown suspect who put the victim in a headlock. The suspect told the victim "don't block your pockets," while a second suspect struck the victim in the mouth with a closed fist and took his LG flip phone. The victim was unable to provide any type of suspect description other than he believes they were around his age. "We believe this incident and the house party are connected." Anyone with information is asked to the Juvenile Aid Bureau at 973-509-4751.
Today's abrupt Day-after-Labor-Day school opening in Glen Ridge was softened slightly by the reappearance of the inimitable Valentine Jackson, who crosses children and grownups at the intersection of Ridgewood and Bloomfield Ave. Her offering for the morning: #2 pencils for all takers.
NJ DEP concluded its summer dig of an old cemetery in Montclair, and has given the Board of Ed a green light to build a new elementary school on Washington Street.
Months of archaeological investigation on the proposed building site for a 550-student school has had the project on hold. The dig revealed some human remains, bone fragments and artifacts. From The Star Ledger:
The dig at two former church-associated cemeteries, undertaken in June and July, determined that the "archaeological integrity" of the sites had been lost, making them ineligible for historic designation. In short, the long-delayed work could begin.The go-ahead means demolition should begin soon on the circa 1926 YMCA, known as the "colored Y" in the days of segregation, as well as the long-vacant St. Vincent's Nursing Home and Mother Seton Residence.
Continue reading "Back-to-School Building For Montclair BOE " »
Like refugees fleeing a village, their belongings in great disheveled piles visible for all to see. Only in reverse. They weren't leaving, they were arriving.
Move-in day, class of 2011.
At the 16-story, 600-resident Bohn Hall at Montclair State, the chaos generator of life showed off, deciding that Saturday would be an excellent time for one of the two elevators to break. Moms sat guarding large piles of suitcases, laptops, mini-refrigerators, fans and full-length mirrors, while dads and little brothers lugged possessions up the narrow staircases to lodging that resembled the stateroom scene in "A Night at the Opera."
And (you'll find this hard to believe, I know) tempers actually snapped, ruining the sentimental goodbyes that had been anticipated for weeks.
Now?
Baristanet was unavailable for about an hour this morning, due to what our hosting company describes as "DNS problems." We're back up and running now, but if you're sitting at your laptop anywhere but in a nice shady spot by a body of water, you're not using your weekend correctly. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Can you ever have too many books? Yes, says Montclair's Alice Elliot Dark. From the New York Times...
The process is agony. First comes the decision, which can be as fraught with various projections and separation anxiety as any other sorrowful parting. I have to feel strong and disciplined to handle this, and when I feel strong and disciplined I tend to go to the Y.M.C.A. for a swim. If I do manage to fill a few paper bags, there is the question of where to take them. There’s a store in town that deals in secondhand books, but the staff is picky. Often I’m sent home with my load only slightly lightened.What to do with the rest? A friend gave me a list of places that accept them, but only according to obscure schedules. I can barely keep track of my glasses, much less that. Often the leftovers end up in our basement storage room, to be dealt with, if I’m lucky, by someone else long after I’m gone.
Makes you want to start a Baristaville book swap. What have you got to trade?
Man #1 pulls up in a parking lot, sees a spot, but just as he goes to take it, another car approaches from the opposite direction. Man #1 takes the spot, but Man #2 comes up afterwards, knocks on his window, scares the bejesus out of him, and tells him he needs a lesson in parking etiquette.
Turns out Man #2 had his blinker on and Man #1 didn't. Who's right? Who's wrong?
This is the situation laid out by Man #1, Joel Schwartzberg, in an NJ Voices column yesterday. And of course it happened in Montclair.
Continue reading "Here's One for The Ethicist ... or Larry David" »
Want to get outta town this Labor Day weekend? Less than an hour from Baristaville, you can discover many scenic drives around Wawayanda State Park.
Forested hills surround the large lake creating a peaceful backdrop for canoers, boaters and fisherman, while a variety of trails, from old farm roads dotted with remnants of old iron mines and Lenape Indian shelters, to steep mountains delight casual as well as serious hikers. A twenty-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail runs through the park, while the top of Wawayanda Mountain offers sensational views. More than forty miles of trails are marked.
If you're desperate for a dip when the beaches close after Labor Day, follow the trail around the south shore of the lake to a series of "micro-pools" for a swim under a refreshing waterfall.
From EcoRealty
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