The Operations Director at the Clifton Promenade, who wished to be anonymous, said that an LA Fitness will be coming to the Promenade.
The major construction that our readers have been noticing and sending tips and pictures about will also be the new home to a “Greek to Me” restaurant that already has a coming soon sign up.

Turkeys are still needed!
The Food Pantry: Please drop off a FROZEN turkey, 10-14 pounds being the ideal size, on any of these dates: Sunday 11/22, Monday 11/23, or Tuesday 11/24, between 9 a.m. and noon. The food pantry is located at 9 Label St., near the corner of Forest St., across from the old DMV inspection station, down the block from the soccer dome. (You can park in the parking lot behind Egan’s if there’s no room in our driveway.)
For other ways to help, please check their website at www.humanneedsfoodpantry.org, and thanks very much from all of us at the Human Needs Food Pantry.
A free Thanksgiving Day Dinner will be served on Thanksgiving Day to those who are in desperate need of a meal this Holiday Season. The Human Needs Foot Pantry has also started a food drive for anyone who is interested in donating Turkeys, ham, vegetables, desserts and juices to distribute to this dinner as well.
The Elite Real Estate Group and Montclair JR Bulldogs Team: Will be sponsoring their first annual free Thanksgiving Day Dinner.
If you or someone you know are in need of a meal this coming Thanksgiving Day, you are cordially invited to join us for a free dinner as we give thanks
for our blessings and fellowship with our children and families by giving back to
those who are in need of our love and support today!
We ask that all donations be delivered to 68 Pine Street in Montclair at any time until wednesday, November 25. Please call Margie Walker at 973.619.2726 prior to delivery. Thank you so much for all of your support. Should you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to email me. Have a great day.
For more information on the dinner, continuing reading.

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The Little Y is hosting a free family day tomorrow. For more information check out baristakids.

John King, anchor of CNN’s State of the Union, with John King and his wife, Dana Bash, a Capital Hill reporter for CNN will be talking to students at Montclair State University tomorrowtoday.
King will be taking over Lou Dobbs’ time slot in early 2010 after Dobbs recent resignation from CNN.
King and Bash will speak and answer questions in the broadcasting building at 1 p.m.

Zohar Atkins, Montclair resident and senior at Brown University was selected as one of the Rhodes Scholars for 2010.
Atkins is currently a senior at Brown University where he is studying for a bachelors degree in classics and Judaic studies and a masters degree in history.
Atkins is one of 32 Americans chosen for the scholarship that provides all expenses for two or three years of schooling at the University of Oxford, where plans on pursuing a doctorate in theology.
NJ.com reports:

Brooklyn, N.Y. native, Atkins’ family moved to Montclair when he was five. A product of the town’s school system, he feels “blessed” to have grown up in the northern Jersey community.
“I owe a lot to my parents, my synagogue, and the school system, all of which helped me accomplish my dreams, as well as the incredibly rich education I’ve received at Brown,” he said.

This week, I’m going to be thinking a lot about food, and what I’m going to make for Thanksgiving dinner. I used to spend hours scouring Epicurious.com, gather a gazillion recipes, then struggle to short-list the winners for my table. The whole process was mind-numbing. Now, I try to simplify and get help. For instance, if there’s a big crowd, I order an extra smoked turkey and a pan of cornbread.
Make a phone call to any of these Baristaville BBQ chefs who’ll smoke, bake, or fry your turkey, and provide all the sides you need to complete your dinner. (Call and order today; pick up on Wednesday or Thanksgiving day.)
Lawrence at The Wood Pit (973-954-4679) will cook up turkey, leg of lamb, or salmon for $49.95, and is offering a full dinner for six, $150.95 with coupon. Download the Thanksgiving menu here.
At Ruthie’s BBQ (973.509.1134) Eric’s Thanksgiving menu has smoked and roasted meats priced by the pound, fixin’s by the quart. To download the menu, click here.
Lance at Indigo Smoke (973-744-3320) prepared a special Thanksgiving dinner package including sweet potato pie for $30 pp + tax. Check out Indigo Smoke’s Thanksgiving day menu, here.
More help at hand, and just a phone call away, after the jump.

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Chronicler of all things Montclair, our good friend Wayne Robbins was kind enough to send us this wonderful photo and explanation:

Hi Folks…On Fri. Montclair set up their Holiday Tree. As in the past Montclair Tree Co. got the tree from a Montclair Home, and set it in its place on Church St. The lights will be put on in a few days, and the Township will have the official Tree Lighting on Dec. 4th….along with music by the Community Band, and photos with Santa.

Thanks for sending this our way, Wayne!

Fotos For Funds is a consortium of photographers who are dedicated to giving back to the community through their art. Browse the website and take a look at the beautiful fine art photography available for purchase, as calendars, notecards, fine art prints and more. The best part is, while purchasers enjoy beautiful photographic objets d’art, they are also giving real monetary support to important charities. Fotos for Funds will introduce its members and their beautiful photographic work to the public at a fundraising exhibition and reception to be held at the Essex Fine Arts Gallery on Friday, December 4, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The proceeds from this exhibit will be donated to the Montclair Salvation Army. What a beautiful way to enjoy lovely work and help a good cause at the same time. (Photo of autumn leaves by Diane Israel copyright 2009)