Mark your calendar and then head down to Asbury Park, for the 2009 Garden State Film Festival. It’s the seventh time around for the festival, which takes places this year April 2-5. Schedule here. More about the films here.

We told you about it here; the show is set to premiere on May 12. People has the story on the gals. Expect to see Paterson get its closeup as two of the women are connected by a family catering business, The Brownstone.
So…will you watch, if only to see the Jersey tomato get its closeup?

Fourth Ward Councilor Dr. Renee Baskerville and the 4th Ward Collaborative are inviting Montclair residents to attend the second in a series of Moving Montclair 4Ward meetings. The theme: how to stay afloat in difficult economic times. The next meeting is Tuesday, March 31, 7 p.m., at the Montclair Fire Headquarters, 1 Pine Street.
Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin, will discuss The 1974 Anti-Eviction Act and share information about tenants’ rights during foreclosure proceedings.
Mayor Jerry Fried address property taxes in Montclair and the challenge of preserving a high quality of civic life while restraining property taxes. Ms. Joanne Paul, mother of Monica Paul, will discuss “Monica’s Law” and the effort to strengthen legislation against domestic violence. For more information, contact Councilor Baskerville at 973-509-4929

A group of MSU’s College of the Arts Students have organized a benefit production of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues as part of the global V-Day campaign to end violence against women and girls. Proceeds from the show will go to help Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as The Safe House, a haven for battered women and children in Essex County. Performances tonight at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 8 p.m., will be held at Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are $15 (general admission; $10 for MSU students/faculty). For tickets, email organizer Liz Mackintosh.

The Great Falls in Paterson get national recognition. Legislation was approved yesterday to designate about 35 acres of the Paterson Great Falls Historic District as a new unit of the National Park System.
The Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Act was approved as part of the Omnibus Public Lands Act by a vote of 285-140 clearing the park’s final hurdle in Congress. President Obama is expected to sign off on it as early as next week.
Rep. Pascrell said in a statement: “We have finally done it. Beginning today, Paterson, New Jersey will finally be fully recognized for the seminal role it has played in shaping American history.”

A tipster sends in a reminder…

The Montclair Civil Rights Commission will hold a public forum (3/25) tonight in the Council Chambers at 205 Claremont Ave. The topic will is ” Change in Montclair–Where We’ve Been; Where We’re Going.” Discussion will focus on the history, current state, and future plans for public education, residential real estate issues, and township employment practices in Montclair, with a panel including the Mayor, Superintendent of Schools and Chief of Police, along with several residents with varying perspectives on the history of our town. Questions will be taken from the audience. This event is intended to continue the series begun last year.

For appealing your property taxes that is. The deadline is next Wednesday, April 1 at 4 pm. Go over to Real Estate to find out if you should be filing.