Outside of Diva Lounge, a shrine for Javier Barros. The 24-year-old Jersey city man was a victim of a hit and run last week.

Montclair Councilor Baskerville must really know how to work a crowd…Baskerville’s open invitation to a community meeting, “Moving Montclair Forward,” scheduled for Tuesday, has received such an “overwhelming response” that the event has been moved to a larger venue – Glenfield School Auditorium, 25 Maple Ave., Montclair. The township-wide meeting will run from 7-9 p.m.
The first of a series of “Moving Montclair Forward” meetings features Montclair’s own Dr. DeForest Blake Soaries, Jr., – Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey, and a leading expert on Economic Stimulation and Community Revitalization.
The event is co-sponsored by the United Way of North Essex Financial Stability Partnership. For more information, please contact Councilor Baskerville at 973-509-4929.

Update: The victim was Daniel Pritchard, 29, a Boonton resident, formerly of Verona.
In Verona, residents are reeling over an armed robbery that resulted in a homicide at a Sunoco gas station on Rte. 23 in Verona near Platinum Fitness. The gas station is owned by a Verona family; the name of the victim has not yet been released. A tipster adds the following…

I was filling up at the BP on Broad St in Bloomfield just a short while ago when a police car pulled in to warn them about this incident. The attendant also mentioned to me that apparently a gas station on Bloomfield Ave in Bloomfield was held up within the last few days.

Update: We’ve received unconfirmed reports of a shooting at a Chinese restaurant on Bloomfield Ave. in Montclair; police are looking for suspects in a red car headed in the direction of Glen Ridge. Helicopters from the incident in Verona are covering this area as well.

Check out Montclair’s first Green Expo Sunday, February 22, from 2-5 PM at Bnai Keshet Synagogue, 99 South Fullerton Ave. The Green Expo, sponsored by the Interfaith Environmental Coalition has a green mission: “Our religious traditions teach us to be good stewards of the earth.”
At Green Expo, you’ll meet other greenies from companies that sell environmentally friendly cleaning and household products, recycled paper, and energy – plus businesses offering green landscaping, green dry cleaning, and energy-saving building insulation. There will be product demonstrations, presentations and info about Fair Trade.
The first of many speakers will be from GreenFAITH, a New Jersey organization that emphasizes the connection between religious faith (of all types, including non-doctrinal) and protection of the planet on which we live.
Admission is free.

Carl Bergmanson, Soprano Sue, and a lot of Glen Ridgers have a starring role opposite Kevin Bacon in HBO movie “Taking Chance,” premiering tomorrow night. Well ok, the local Baristavillians are really just extras in the film which was shot in Glen Ridge, a couple of summers ago. So we imagine there’s going to be a number of Ridgers at HBO watching parties. “Many locals, including myself, got gigs as extras thanks to b’net,” writes Bergmanson.

Watch the trailer then tune in tomorrow at 9 p.m.

Training for law enforcement and first responders isn’t just about guns and car chases. Captain Manny Ayers, of Montclair Police Department, writes that Montclair’s finest and bravest are in a special training course this week:

The Montclair Police Department has partnered with P.O.A.C , the Parents of Autistic Children, to train police officers and firefighters in identifying and properly responding to emergencies involving persons with autism. The training is being presented by Gary Weitzen, the Executive Director of POAC. The training is taking place at Montclair Fire Headquarters, during the police departments semi-annual training.
It is the goal of the Montclair Police and Fire Department that our officers and firefighters gain a basic understanding of the disability , and are able to identify behaviors and characteristics associated with autism and related neurological disorders such as Asperger’s Syndrome. Specifically, we hope that this training will give our officers the necessary knowledge in the event that they respond to a call where a person with autism is involved.

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Ladies, mark your calendars, and get your reservations in for MFEE’s next big event. MFEE, who raises big bucks for Montclair schools and really knows how to put the fun into fundraising is hosting an evening of bingo with “bubbly on March 19 at the Women’s Club of Upper Montclair. The $35 ticket gets you delicioso desserts, bubbly beverage, bingo cards all night long, a starter pack of raffle tickets (that’s the basket part), and a “silver lining” scarf.
Send in your check by March 12, please, to MFEE, 22 Valley Rd, Montclair, 07042. Sponsor a table of eight for $400, or a bingo number of your choice for $100. Sorry, no minors at this party! For info and reservations, contact info@mfee.org, or call 973-509-4021