Gallery U On Glenridge Avenue – Affordable and Innovative

Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 1:00pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

IMG_2805.jpgGallery U, at 179 Glenridge Ave. in Montclair, is already open and gearing up for their big opening reception on December 5, 2009, from 7 to 10 pm. I spoke to Robert Greco, who is both the Gallery Director and also the Executive Director of the gallery’s parent company, Universal Institute Rehab, Inc. Universal is a rehab facility for people with Traumatic Brain Injuries and Neurological Impairments. Gallery U will present artwork by people with disabilities as well as emerging artists from around the country, and present work from a broad variety of mediums.

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Britain Tastes Sweet Victory in Local Chocolate-Off

Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 12:00pm  |  COMMENTS (5)

The Great Chocolate Off at London Food Co. yielded a downright winner – with 47 votes going to UK-made chocolate, 31 to US-made. And one of those 47 votes came from Montclair’s own Bob Russo, the former mayor.
The store on Bloomfield Ave held a taste-test for patrons on Saturday, blindfolding them and getting them to vote on which chocolate tasted better: UK’s Cadbury or Cadbury Hershey’s, UK-made (Nestle) KitKat or US-made (Rowntree’s) KitKat, and US’ Mounds vs UK’s Bounty.
The victory, small as it is, reflects Cadbury’s appeal in a much bigger battle of chocolate companies. Cadbury‘s stock in the UK hit a record high on Tuesday on expectations of a bidding war. Kraft recently made a hostile bid for it, Hershey’s is thought to be considering a counter offer, and Italy’s Ferrero was said to be mulling a bid, with or without a partner.

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NJ Voters Narrowly Oppose Law on Same-Sex Unions – Poll

Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 11:30am  |  COMMENTS (30)

gaymarriagesign.jpgNJ voters, by a slim 49-46 percent margin, oppose a law that would allow same-sex marriages, according to a survey released today by Quinnipiac University. Democrats supported same-sex unions by 60-34 percent, independents supported it by 49-45 percent, and Republicans opposed it 69-25 percent.
The result is the opposite of a similar survey the university did in April, in which 49-43 percent were in support of same-sex marriages.
The poll comes in the wake of Montclair Township’s Council’s failure to unanimously endorse same-sex marriages last week.

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Spread a Little Warmth, Your Sweaters are Needed

Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 10:30am  |  COMMENTS (2)

sweaterdog.jpgReeled you in with those sweet puppydog eyes and winsome smile! But focus, instead, on his deftly-knitted outfit. The community service committee of the West Essex Board of Realtors needs your gently worn or new sweaters and sweatshirts for its annual Just Sweaters® Project.
WEBOR, which manages to collect about 400 sweaters yearly, will pass them on to the Tri-City People’s charity organization in Newark, which will set up tables in a park and distribute the warm woollies to those who need them. New sweaters in all child and adult sizes are welcome, so have a rummage through your closets and spread a little warmth to someone this winter, which rounds off a year that’s been extra rough on those wanting for basics.
The sweaters and sweatshirts may be dropped off, through early December, at the WEBOR board office at 311 Claremont Avenue, Montclair. Call 973.655.9660 with queries.
(Picture/http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbtrama/325408685)

Alvarez Says Measures Being Taken After MHS Incidents

Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 9:00am  |  COMMENTS (21)

Montclair Schools Superintendent Frank Alvarez wrote to district parents late on Monday about the incidents last week at Montclair High School, which involved MHS and other students, and resulted in many arrests.

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers:
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of recent incidents at Montclair High School. Although you may not have a child at the high school, it is important that you understand that these matters are of serious concern to the district and that appropriate measures are being taken.

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Local Advocate for Foster Children Awarded Business Grant

Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009 5:25pm  |  COMMENTS (17)

Tanisha Cunningham knew too well how difficult the transition from foster care to emancipation can be. Having been raised in foster care and group homes herself, the sudden transition to independence was jarring. “The fact that I succeeded is not the usual case. It was not because I was given the resources, but because I sought them out for myself.”
Her own experience in foster care inspired her to work in the New York City Child Welfare Office and to later pursue advanced degrees in Public Administration. In January 2009, she started The Underground Railroad to Success, Inc., a Montclair-based non-profit designed to provide resources to children transitioning out of the foster care system. According to Cunningham, most children in this situation never receive information about available resources, information that could assist with housing, job opportunities, and tuition grants for higher education.
The website lists dire statistics about the path of emancipated foster children: “According to the Child Welfare League of America, 25 percent become homeless, 56 percent are unemployed, 27 percent of male children end up in jail.”

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Cézanne Exhibit Breaks Attendance Records at Montclair Art Museum

Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009 3:10pm  |  COMMENTS (1)

Since the “Cézanne and American Modernism” exhibit opened on September 13th, attendance records for individual exhibits at the Montclair Art Museum have reached an all-time high. In the approximately ten and a half weeks since its opening, the exhibit has drawn an average of 270 viewers per day, adding up to a total of 16,257 visitors, says Michael Gillespie, Director of Marketing & Communications at MAM. This number does not include guests on group tours, which have been completely booked up through the end of the exhibit.
New memberships have also increased by 15% during this period. Most of these members are renewing lapsed memberships, which indicates a revival of interest attributed to the exhibit.
The Museum has opted, in light of the current economic situation, to maintain standard admission fare prices instead of charging extra for the exhibit. “We were interested in getting as many people as possible through the door, and it seems that our decision not to raise admission prices has definitely paid off,” said Gillespie.

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How Do You Do (Sniff): Dog Park Etiquette

Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009 1:15pm  |  COMMENTS (27)

When we first took our Maltipoo Kai Mephistopheles home, the vet warned us not to let him into the company of other dogs until his vaccinations were completed. This meant he lived the life of a fluffy hermit indoors until the day, at the age of six months, he was deemed fit to go forth and prosper in the great outdoors.
Being completely unsocialized with other dogs, I immediately took him to the Brookdale Dog Park. It was just like my first day of middle school all over again: he cowered by my feet in an ugly, homemade sweater I made him wear (it’s cold outside! I don’t care how it looks!), looking longingly at the romping dogs but too scared to join them, completely stripped of his usual devilish self. Whenever other dogs came to sniff, he shrank away and immediately sent out signals that he was available for bullying. Soon even the 4-pound toy chihauhaus were getting saucy with my ten-pound ball of fur.
While there were a couple of yappy skirmishes, there was nothing we couldn’t break up. However, a tipster wrote us about an unfortunate case of aggression that ended up in a hospitalization:

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Possible Layoffs at Mountainside Hospital

Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009 11:42am  |  COMMENTS (25)

Approximately 300 employees are facing lay-offs from Mountainside Hospital in the upcoming year, according to The Montclair Times. The employees are working under a contract with Atlantic Health, which owned Mountainside Hospital until the June 2007 sale which transferred ownership to Merit Health Systems. The Hospital will be meeting with the unions that represent the workers soon to discuss the contracts.
Our calls to Mountainside Hospital Marketing Public Relations representatives have not been answered yet, but we will update when we have more information.

Montclair Sports Blood Drive This Friday

Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009 10:25am  |  COMMENTS (0)

The Montclair Sports Blood Drive is taking place this Friday, November 27th. The drive is organized by three Montclair High School students in conjunction with the New Jersey Blood Services. Students who donate will receive two community service hours, and a free ticket to a home MHS basketball game with each pint donated. For everyone else, you’ll get a raffle ticket with a chance to win tickets to the Rutgers University December 5th football game, and the following prizes are offered on a “first-come, first-served” basis:

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Featured Comment

I was very glad to see this post. The running in the street around here drives me crazy, mostly because the the majority of the runners I've encountered (not every runner)seem to think that it's their right to take up half the street when what they are doing is in fact illegal. And let's not be silly. Yes, concrete is hard on the joints, but the pavement isn't that much better. It's not like the roads are made of track rubber.
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