A 14-year-old female Montclair reported witnessing inappropriate behavior this past Wednesday around 5 p.m. in the area of Norwood Avenue and Bellevue Avenue. The witness stated that she observed a male sitting alone in a blue minivan engaged in a lewd act. The male did not say, talk, or look towards the juvenile. A police investigation identified James Thiessen, 63, of Butler, as the suspect in this incident. Thiessen was arrested on Friday and charged with lewdness before being released on his own recognizance.
A Montclair woman reports that her 15-year-old daughter had witnessed a lewd act while walking in the area of Park Street and Lorraine Avenue on Thursday around 4 p.m. The 15-year-old stated that she was walking on Park Street when she observed a male sitting in a parked red or purple pick-up truck with gold writing on the side. She then noticed that the male had exposed himself inside the vehicle before she left the area. The male is described as a heavyset white male, 30-35 years old, with close-cropped brown hair. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Ray Gulbin at 973-509-4739.
Police responded to a Maple Avenue apartment after a witness reported observing an individual climbing through a first floor window on Friday around 11:30 p.m. Police conducted a search of the apartment and located a 16-year-old male who resides in Montclair hiding in a bedroom closet. The residents of the entered apartment stated that they had been asleep and did not hear or see the juvenile entering their residence, but were awakened when police knocked on their door to investigate the incident. The male was charged with burglary and turned over to his guardian.

The Glen Ridge jitney driver, Roy Campbell, who was arrested in March for “offensive touching” of a jitney passenger has a new court date of Oct. 8 at West Orange Municipal Court.
A tipster sends in:

A number of residents, including myself, have been subpoenaed to testify. This is a story that Debbie has been following. I am a supporter of Roy’s and am very hopeful that he’ll be able to return to his job soon.

Campbell who pled not guilty in April, was suspended from his job.

The 2008 Uniform Crime Report was released last week by New Jersey state police showing crime in Bloomfield has dropped from 2007 to 2008.
According to the report, Bloomfield dropped from 1,429 to 1,278. Violent crime decreased from 130 to 106. Although there were decreases there were exceptions in burglary, arson and bias crimes.
The Independent Press reported:

Police Chief Mark Leonard said the crime rate going down was a good thing, and attributed it to the increase in officers on the street, which he said helps with deterrence of crime.
“The professional work of the whole police department is a great asset,” Leonard added the drop is the result of “just good police work,”

Did you have homework when you were in preschool? Find out who took it harder, the mother or the preschooler on BaristaKids

On September 30 at 6 p.m. Montclair Arts Council’s (MAC) Broadcast Film and Video Network presents the American Premiere of “Finding Paddy”, a documentary produced by filmmaker and Montclair resident Stephen McCarthy. The film will be screened at the Montclair Public Library. Admission is free.
On September 11, 2001, Captain Patrick “Paddy” J. Brown and eleven men from Ladder 3 in New York responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Along with many other rescue workers, the men of Ladder 3 participated in perhaps the most successful rescue effort in U.S. history. It is believed that Paddy and his men were on the 40th floor of the North Tower with 30 or 40 severely burned people when that tower fell.
Paddy lived a tough and unapologetic life – an alcoholic home, sexual abuse, a traumatic Vietnam tour of duty, a string of lovers – and emerged as a classic hero…one profoundly flawed but driven to acts of bravery and redemption by motives sculpted by his emotional past.
The making of “Finding Paddy” was an incredible journey for me, says McCarthy.

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Three weeks into the school year seasonal flu clinics are being held and school systems are sending out flu symptom reminders.
With flu season quickly approaching, parents and students are urged to take precaution against the H1N1 virus or swine flu.
Montclair State University held a seasonal flu clinic on Sept. 22. Due to the large turnout, MSU has used all of their current supply of season flu vaccines and have canceled the two scheduled flu clinics that were supposed to take place on Sept. 26 and Oct. 6.
According to an article that appeared on northjersey.com:

Eleven new possible cases of swine flu were reported at Montclair State University this week, bringing the total there to 17, a spokeswoman said Friday.
Montclair is not testing students for influenza but is asking students with flu-like symptoms to follow the protocol for swine flu treatment and stay home if possible, said Paula Maliandi, spokeswoman for MSU.

At least one student who was sent home with suspected swine flu was diagnosed the next day by a family doctor as having acute tonsillitis and bronchitis and put on antibiotics.
Little Falls Township Public Schools Superintendent, Bruce deLyon, sent out a reminder to parents and families of what swine flu is, what are the signs and symptoms and what the district recommends for your children. Some recommendations included: receiving a seasonal flu vaccine, not sharing water bottles and reporting your child’s illness and symptoms to your building registered nurse

I told you about it here and I hope you were able to attend. This headline picture shows part of an amazing harvest panel created by floral artist extraordinaire Brenda Bingham. And there was so much more to see.

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