After an unexpected puppet sighting in a corner at Cafe Eclectic, we wondered what was going on. Turns out, one of the cafe’s part-timers is a professional puppeteer. Like seriously professional–Montclair’s James Wojtal Jr. has worked with Jim Henson.

He offered up a few of his beloved puppets for display. Part of the reason? He just had too many of the puppets in his bedroom.

For as long as this awesome puppet the display is up, C is for Cafe Eclectic. Get the full story over at Barista Kids.

We got a tip that there was a lot of filming activity at Tierney’s Tavern on Valley Road. So this photographer swung by to see what was up. What’s up is the filming of a pilot for a new TV show: it’s called ‘Lights Out’ and its a pilot for an FX tv show about the life of a retired boxer. I wasn’t allowed in to shoot, but the location scout I spoke to was friendly and said that the assistant location scout for the show actually lives in Montclair. They weren’t able to give us any more information, so we’ll just have to stay tuned.

Missing your kitty? A reader has seen this white cat walking around her neighborhood and wants to reunite it with its owner:

White cat, no collar, seen wandering on Morningside Avenue, off Grove and Watchung, for the last month. Looks to be a lost house cat. Please contact Lisa Chiappinelli at 973-783-3848 or lisachiappinelli@msn.com for more information.

First it was Dr. Melfi. Now another Soprano cast member is making wine. New York actor/radio personality John “Cha Cha” Ciarcia (on “The Sopranos”, he played Albie Cianflone, part of Phil Leotardo’s New York Crew), brings Grandpa Cha Cha’s Home Style Wine, a red developed from Ciarcia’s grandfather’s guarded family recipe, to Bloomfield tomorrow from 5-8 p.m. at Toscana. Ciarcia will be giving out samples and signing autographs and bottles.

Jane Califf of Bloomfield is on Day 4 of a 5-day fast. No, she’s not doing a cleanse (although her doctor said she’ll get the benefits anyway). She’s one of more than 200 people who have registered to fast anywhere from 1 to 40 days to demonstrate their passion for an energy bill that will help save the future of the planet. Fasters signed up at Fasting For Our Future, a site founded by Califf’s husband, Ted Glick. By getting out the word about fasting for the cause, Califf and others hope to put pressure on Congress to act on important energy legislation. Califf, who is a member of Essex County Greens, says she knows of 15 people around the country who signed up to fast for a period of 25-40 days. The time period comes from the goal that developed nations by 2020 would see a reduction in their greenhouse gas emissions of 25-40 per cent of 1990 levels.
“I’m thinking a lot about the environment,” says Califf, because it takes her mind off the food she’s not eating (she’s only having juices, teas and water). “I know there are lots of people who are suffering people around the world who can’t eat and if we continue the way we are, we’ll end up having climate refugees, as people leave areas that are too flooded or too dry.”

HAMLET, directed by Katie Kennedy, will be performed tonight at 8 p.m. at Montclair State University in the Student Center Annex Room 126, by MSU’s Players Club. The show runs through Sunday night with performances at 8 p.m. each evening and a 2 p.m. show on Saturday.
According to Wikipedia, today is when The Bard’s “unknown” b-day is most often celebrated; it’s also the day he died. Admission is free.

Attention lovers of garden gnomes and giant Santas. Back in March, we learned that Fountains of Wayne’s future was uncertain. This Saturday, loads of gnomes, statues and of course fountains will be auctioned off, along with a wide array of Santas engaged in unusual acts, including the jolly man in red snorkeling with some sharks. More about the auction here. Hat tip to our new cyber-neighbors, New Jersey Newsroom.

The Montclair Police Department issued a warning about a suspicious male spotted outside of Mountainside Park and Tennis Courts on April 13. The male is described as white, 6’0, with brown hair, an athletic build and bad acne. He was parked in a white car and watching a children’s sporting event. He left his car to approach the children, but when he became aware of a parent observing him, he returned to his car.
On TuesdayWednesday, the child of the parent who had observed a lurker on April 13 was approached again while playing with a friend on The Fairway by a white male in his 20s or 30s, driving a white Nissan “with no dents.” The children quickly ran to a neighbor’s yard instead of talking to him.
Although unsure of whether it was the same man in both instances, the child’s parent called the MPD to report the second incident and sent out an email to her son’s baseball team. One of the coaches, who had noticed a similar person at an event, passed on information about a license plate number and model of the car he had observed.
The MPD is currently investigating the matter, but wants to remind readers to report any such information earlier rather than later, when it can be most useful. Also, take care and be aware of your surroundings while you and your family are are outdoors.

Remember the huge staff cuts at the Star Ledger? Some 40 or so of those former Star-Ledger editors and reporters banded together to create their own news source. Launching a “breaking news web site for N.J.,” New Jersey News Room, the staffers sent out a note to municipal officials…

A group of about 40 former Star-Ledger editors and reporters have launched a new breaking news web site: Newjerseynewsroom.com. Be advised that you may be contacted by Newjerseynewsroom.com reporters, just as you are often contacted by local newspaper reporters.

Citing the struggles of daily and weekly newspapers, Newjerseynewsroom.com is offering an alternative source of breaking news for New Jersey citizens. Maybe there’s something in the water in Baristaville. The site was founded in January when “over 40 journalists came together at the Montclair Public Library and decided to create a news site — unlike any other — to address the growing journalism void. All we possessed was determination, experience and vision.”
NewJerseyNewsroom.com states a goal of “providing high-quality news for New Jerseyans and not just about New Jerseyans.” And yes, there will be linking…

We will do our best to gather all the stories you want, regardless of the original sources. If it is of interest to you, we will write it or link to it.

Just watch that linking thing, or you might get called a lamprey eel. Remember, there’s no crying in baseball and no linking on the Internet. See the faces and bios of New Jersey Newsroom founders here.

I work 32-plus hours a week at one job, 15 hours at an internship, go to grad school two nights a week, do boot camp at 5:30 a.m., and co-edit, co-run and co-own Baristanet. So, yes my kids watch a wee bit of telly. My mother, who worked and had six kids of her own, would approve (of the TV watching, not my crazy schedule). She’s always insisting “There’s nothing wrong with a little benign neglect. That’s what we gave you kids and you all turned out OK.”
Juggling work and parenting, especially when you work from home (did that, too) adds to the challenge. Over at BaristaKids, there’s one Montclair parent raising kids in a no-TV zone (this guy hasn’t had a TV in 14 years!) and others questioning the feasibility of turning off the tube when the kids (Montclair anyway) are off from school for spring break. Last night, I came home after work and class to find the kids watching 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea with their dad. My son’s favorite character was Ned Land played by Kirk Douglas. The undersea footage was a kick as was the evil Captain Nemo. Maybe Mom’s right and it’s not all bad. Weigh in here.