It’s two full days of antiques at the Glen Ridge Congregational Church, featuring 28 dealers, at the 63rd annual Glen Ridge Antiques Show. Hours are 10 am to 9 pm today (Friday) and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday. Admission is $7/$5 for seniors. And if you want to bring in Aunt Matilde’s silver candlesticks to see if they’re worth anything, appraiser John Clark will be on hand both days from 2 to 5 pm to tell you – for a $3 fee. More info on our calendar.

Twenty reputed gang members of the Bloods, ranging in age from 18-53, were arrested over the last five days following a huge cocaine and heroin operation bust by Essex law enforcement officials. Prosecutor Paula T. Dow made the announcement yesterday, adding police recovered a significant amount of illegal drugs, weapons and cash during a series of raids in Essex County.
At the time of the arrests, some of the suspects were armed with loaded semi-automatic handguns. Detectives seized more than 500 grams of cocaine and 100 grams of heroin. In addition, three loaded semi-automatic handguns, three vehicles and approximately $50,000 in cash were recovered. Seven additional targets remain at large.

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Clary Anderson skating arena was packed tight last night at the sold-out annual hockey meet between arch rivals Montclair High Mounties and Montclair Kimberly Academy Cougars. Outside the arena, $5 tickets were being scalped for up to $20 before the 7pm gametime. The exciting match led to a victory for the Mounties, 4-0. An eyewitness describes what happened next.

Montclair students were crazy happy after their win. Kids were spilling out over the ice and pulling down the hockey nets. Outside, under the train bridge on Chestnut Street, a crowd had gathered. There were two groups of about ten kids each – they looked older – maybe MHS grads or upper classmen. The two groups were screaming at each other, yelling in each others’ faces. Then a black kid punched a white kid in the side of the head, and the rest of them jumped into the fight and went to blows with each other.

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I can barely make it down my driveway, with black ice clinging to the ground. If you’re venturing out on the road, watch out: we’re receiving warnings from Clever Commute about dangerous driving conditions on Route 3.

7:09 am: [Decamp-33-66] Just watched a truck flip over a guardrail rt3 before secaucus
7:12 am: [Decamp-33-66] Route 3 moving very slow. Cops all over
[Decamp-33-66] Already rt3 backed to rt21 at 7:28am
8:05 am:[Decamp-33-66] Exited rt3 at rt120 at Stadium to around the rt3 tractor trailer in the ditch. Smooth sailing now to 495
8:53 am: [Decamp-33-66] Sitting on route 3 for 30 minutes. We’ve barely moved.

Careful!

Finally.

Congrats to Baristaville’s Aimee Hertog, who landed not one, but two pieces in the 32nd Small Works Exhibition. Hertog had previously tried five years in a row to get into the juried show unsuccessfully. Hillary in Green (shown) is one of the pieces (could the other be Obama in blue?) Opening reception is this Saturday, from 12-4 p.m. at the 80 Washington Square East Galleries; the exhibitions runs through March 13.

Montclair Kids blogs about the annual rite of passage for new kindergarten parents — crafting a top six list for Montclair’s elementary schools…

Parents drag themselves through six schools in a week’s time, pick one they think will get their kid into Princeton, and then rank elementary schools in order of preference from first to last. Parents do this while trying not to get too emotionally attached to a certain school because very few get their first choice in the end. Montclair has had a magnet school system since 1977, a move made to desegregate our town’s schools. Basically, that means you can live in the uppermost part of Upper Montclair and still choose to go to Nishuane–at least theoretically. We hear it’s a complex process meant for people who understand quantum physics.

Schools are open for tours starting Feb 2. Scroll down here for open house touring schedule.

Reservations. At least next week, during Montclair’s first-ever Restaurant Week. All the participating restaurants are listed here. Baristanet loves food and yet when I look over the list, I’m amazed at how many places I’ve still yet to try in Montclair, despite eating out an inordinate amount. Call up and make your reservations, for Feb 2-8, where you can try a new restaurant at a gentler tariff — three-course, fixed-price dinners at $20 or $30 (beverages, gratuity and tax not included). Check out the list and tell us where you are going in comments and if you are trying a new place or heading out to a fave resto. Check out the wine merchants, shops and retailers also participating here.

Baristanet readers are the best…

I received so many wonderful books when you put in a piece about the Orange Fire Department’s Annual Christmas party for needy children. All the 100 or so children in attendance had a mountain of books to pick out and keep, and it caused much joy and excitement.
My project (“reread”) to re-distribute gently used children’s books to schoolchildren in Orange is on-going, and I believe, will improve literacy in children who have no access to reading material at home. The only reading they do is skill and drill material they are forced to read in school. And reading remains forever difficult and laborious. I have come to believe in the power of Captain Underpants and Junie B. Jones (and so many others) to inspire children to read, and become fluent readers—but most children never come near books like that.
There is no better time to get involved (and get your children involved) in service to making this a better country, and helping a neighboring community. What can be more significant than helping children one town over become stronger readers? Please donate your unused, outgrown children’s books, and let them inspire another child. This can change lives!
Books can be dropped off anytime at 376 North Mountain Ave, or contact me (crlukoff@aol.com) to arrange a pick-up. (baby books thru 6th grade ONLY)

Verona’s Todd Smith, author of the newly released novel, I Pledge Allegiance, is partnering with area businesses to raise funds for homeless veterans. Smith’s novel follows a fictional character’s journey from the Viet Nam War back to the U.S., as he slips through the cracks of the system, ending up homeless on the streets of Washington DC. Wheelchair bound, he lives on handouts. Smith researched the work intensely, relying heavily on a report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The report indicated that 26% of the U.S. homeless population are veterans. On any given night, 195,000 U.S. veterans go homeless.

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