Another sighting from the nanny files. A reader writes us yesterday (Sunday)…

I’m not sure what else to do with this info but as a mom, I feel like I have to let someone know about it and I can’t think of any other way to get this out to the Montclair parents who need to know about the danger their nanny put their child in today.

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My Ballot Box The big story of 2007 was… Sopranos shoot last scene at Holsten’s Glen Ridge votes down turf Montclair town council lawsuit (s) Bloomfield ditches Forest City redevelopment Geese slaughter in Edgemont Park Mayor Remsen does not seek second term Plans for Hotel Caliplofker announced Crisco homes sell! View Results

Let’s make this New Year’s Eve one for the scrapbook. The digital online scrapbook that is. Baristanet now has its own Flickr photo-sharing group and our own photo editor, Frances Pelzman Liscio, who also caught this picture of a grasshopper celebrating New Year’s Eve. (In Photoshop, we think. And if not, we’ll have some of what she’s having.) And what better timing, a tipster who prefers to remain anonymous has already sent us a picture taken from his cellphone of the ball being tested this morning in Times Square!

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It’s that time of year when many of us are thinking “what am I going to do differently in the next year?” This year’s buzzword, replacing Reduce, Reuse, and Recylce is “Green;” EcoSeek has come up with some interesting green resolutions, like championing the work of the Red Wiggler:

I resolve to continue to spread the word about the red worm’s abilities to improve soil through enriched microbial activity when their casts are used in each person’s garden, either vegetable or flower garden. In doing this we can all save landfill space, save our organics from the waste water treatments plants and enjoy bountiful crops and flowers.

Personally, I like the idea of a national ban on styrofoam and environmental unfriendly take-out containers:

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A part of Newark’s culture we seldom hear about is getting attention from Mayor Booker, for promoting AIDS prevention and fighting discrimination…From The Star Ledger:

These days, the House of Jourdan and seven other gay “houses” in Newark are finally getting respect. The city’s gay ball subculture — in which men and women compete in rituals of posing and runway walking, sometimes as the opposite gender — is earning a place for itself in civic life, with outreach efforts and charity drives

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Congratulations to the Renaissance Nerds for taking first prize in a regional research competition this month. This group of 13 green teens mapped out an earth-friendly resolution for their community in 2008.
They call themselves TORN — the Technological Organization of Renaissance Nerds — and competed in the FIRST Lego League at Mt. Hebron on December 1, guided by Todd Smith, 6th Grade science teacher and robotics coach. From Montclair’s BOE website:

“Each year a project is required, based on a theme consistent with today’s issues and technologies. This year it was energy, and we conducted a complete energy audit in our school.
“We proposed an energy efficient revamping of the building’s energy infrastructure consisting of fluorescent lights, LED Exit signs, radiator reflectors, door weather strippiing, and water flow restrictors, among other suggestions.”
“The proposed upgrade,” continued Smith, “would cost over $30,000 and save over $11,000 per year in energy cost savings — a very nice return on investment, and very earth-friendly too.”

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Whaddya do when you’ve got a handful of paper, cups and cans from snacking on the run, far from your recycling bin at home? Yeah, most of us probably trash and dash, green with eco-guilt.
Thankfully, we can trash guilt-free, at Baristaville’s most popular pedestrian hang-out, Church Street. Recently spotted in front of Terra Tea Salon: this pristine photo of Mother Nature on a public recycling box. Terra recycles and composts everything from their store – and put the container out as a gentle reminder for passers-by.

The holiday season can be stressful, but even more so when your car becomes a conflagration. Our own FrankGG recounts how he narrowly missed becoming road fondue…

I’m just fine but my car became the world’s largest Christmas candle on a 280 exit ramp in Orange. My car began to smoke….(more than usual)…I got an inkling….pulled over…jumped out….and it just BURST into flames! (the picture I took is of the firemen trying to ax open the hood!) I’m cross because I just spent $2000. to repair it…just to have it blow to smithereens!!!!
In January it will be in my budget to buy another $700. eventually exploding car. (I would look stupid in an Escalade anyway!)

Frank — we’re glad you escaped.

Wait a minute, don’t all shout out at once. We’re talking pound losers. No, it’s not a casting call for the TV reality show; Montclair Y, the social hot-spot where everyone knows your name, has signs all over the club announcing a competition in 2008 for big losers.
If your holiday feasting has been over-indulgent, are feeling things a bit tight around the middle, or plan to make “lean and mean” your New Year’s Resolution, then get thee to the Y. They say weight loss works better using the buddy system. Form your team, prepare to lose, beginning this February. And that’s all they’re saying…for now.

Ted Mattox’s decision to run for mayor of Montclair may indeed become the center of local political controversy in 2008. John Reichman opines, from The Montclair Times:

In announcing his candidacy for mayor, Ted Mattox is promising “out-of-the-box thinking.” Mr. Mattox’s previous “out-of-the-box thinking” has consisted of suing his fellow council members and former running mates when they would not vote with him.
To date, this debacle has cost Montclair at least $200,000 in legal fees. Mr. Mattox’s lawsuit makes him unqualified for any position in town government, much less mayor.

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