Connect the Dots: Politics Behind Essex County Detention Center Bid

BY  |  Friday, Jul 29, 2011 9:00am  |  COMMENTS (3)

Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo and Gov. Chris Christie have something in common: Community Education Centers (CEC).

The New York Times reports both men have connections to the company. DiVincenzo received more than $30,000 in campaign donations from Community Education Centers and Christie’s former law partner and mentor is William Palatucci, the company’s senior VP.

According to the Times, Community Education Centers appears to be the favorite for a multi-million dollar contract to run a 450-bed immigrant detention center. CEC was advertising for jobs related to a new detention center before the contract had been officially awarded (the deadline for bids was yesterday). Read the full article and tell us what you think.

The Weekend: Time Travel

BY  |  Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 4:30pm  |  COMMENTS (6)

Sure, 2011 has a lot to offer, but sometimes it’s nice to step back in time and relive a bit of your youth. This weekend is the one to do it.

POSTPONED: Your time travel tonight “Back to The Future” will have to wait until next week. MIFF decided to postpone the screening until next Friday, August 5, because of impending storms.

On Friday night, you can go back to the future right here in Baristaville. Montclair International Film Festival screens the 1985 hit, Back to The Future under the stars of Church Street. Bring a chair and pretend you’re sitting in your own DeLoreon and enjoy the 80s and the 50s just like Marty McFly does.

Montclair International Film Festival Screening of “Back to The Future”
Friday, July 29 Friday, August 5 at 8:30 pm
Church Street, Montclair, NJ, 07042
Free
Continue Reading

Petit Paris, C’est Bien

BY  |  Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 3:38pm  |  COMMENTS (14)

Get ready for macarons, Baristaville. The colorful French confections — something of a cross between a meringue cookie and a whoopie pie, said to be the cupcake du jour — will be amongst the sweet offerings of the about-to-open Parisian cafe on Montclair’s Church Street, Petit Paris.

I caught Parisian owners Baptiste Chigot and Rimi Maldonado (pictured left, with their daughter) in their shop, as they were finalizing plans and tending to last-minute details. “We’re just waiting for the last of our supplies, and hope to be open for the weekend — Monday at the latest” said Maldonado.

The couple moved to the U.S. from Paris in January, and did some preliminary research on where to locate their business. “We narrowed it down to 3 towns; Livingston, Summit and Montclair” said Chigot. “We liked Montclair’s diverse and eclectic mix, and Church Street was the best location.” Maldonado’s brother lives in Montclair, and they knew there was an established French community here.

The cafe will serve espresso and a variety of coffee, Dammann Frères tea, an assortment of chocolates and pastries Française, as well as breakfast and lunchtime sandwiches. They expect to be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week, and until 11 p.m. on the weekends.

Anyone want to meet for an authentically local via Paris cafe latte? Wonder who will get the very first macaron, and set the trend in Baristaville. To read more about the treat that’s been sweeping the nation, click here. Seems the Petit Paris ones are bound to be tres authentiques.

Petit Paris
10 Church Street
Montclair

Free Hyperlocal Cheesecake at Anthony’s

BY  |  Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 1:54pm  |  COMMENTS (4)

You probably haven’t marked it on your calendar yet, but we suspect you will after reading this. Saturday, July 30, is National Cheesecake Day.

While it’s unknown who created this particular celebration, we do know where you can go to get some of the creamy, sweet dessert, hyperlocal style.

To honor the holiday, Anthony’s Cheesecake, a lovely cafe tucked away in the heart of Bloomfield Center, will be giving away free cheesecake bites, as well as other prizes, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Continue Reading

Car Fire on Bloomfield Ave in Front of Montclair’s Cuban Pete’s

BY ,  |  Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 12:45pm  |  COMMENTS (14)

A van spontaneously caught on fire today shortly after noon in front of Montclair’s Cuban’s Pete’s on Bloomfield Ave. Update: An ambulance arrived at 1 pm to assess the driver of the vehicle who was able to get out of the car, along with his wife, before it burst into flames. The driver, Howard Ford, told Baristanet he had seen smoke coming out of his van and assumed it was over heating. He wanted to pull over to see what was wrong, but it started burning and couldn’t. His vehicle ended up alongside the white vehicle (pictured). The wife of the driver was taken away from the scene by a friend, while Ford waited on the sidewalk.

Fire officials on the scene would only say there was an investigative team en route. Traffic was diverted between Glenridge Ave. and Willow Ave.
Continue Reading

Water Interruptions For Montclair’s South Park and Church Street

Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 12:37pm  |  COMMENTS (1)

Tonight, (7/28) Jo-Med Contracting Corp., the contractor responsible for improvements to Montclair’s water and sanitary sewer systems, will be making a tie-in of the new water main on Church Street and/or South Park Street. For residents of the Siena and other neighboring buildings, this work may involve a temporary interruption to water service, for approximately two hours, occurring sometime between the hours of midnight at 2 a.m.

Residents should flush their water systems once service has resumed to ensure that water quality is restored. Additional notifications regarding utility disruptions associated with this project will be posted prior to commencement of construction activities. Should residents encounter any problems associated with these activities, contact field inspector, Steve at 201-841-2119 or the design engineer, Joe Weaver at 973-398-1776 x2310 for assistance.

Gov. Chris Christie Taken To Hospital For Difficulty Breathing

Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 12:19pm  |  COMMENTS (90)

Gov. Chris Christie was taken to the hospital for tests after the governor experienced difficulty breathing, the Star Ledger reports. Christie was taken to Somerset Medical Center in Somerville.

According to a statement from his office, Christie was given “routine tests as a precautionary measure” and out of “an abundance of caution.”

Building Up the 4th Ward

BY  |  Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 10:30am  |  COMMENTS (35)

At Tuesday’s meeting about the proposed plan for the 4th Ward parking lot known as the Montclairion Property (Block 4202, lot 42.01), developer Richard Polton and architect Paul Sionas gave a two-hour presentation at the Fire Department Headquarters building, across the street from the site, and unveiled preliminary drawings of the proposed 6-story, 36-unit (at 1,000 sq. ft. each), mixed-use apartment building. The initial concept includes underground parking and 1,200 square feet of retail space.

According to the Montclair Times, area residents remarked that traffic from commuters using the Bay Street train station is already heavy, and expressed concern about the added congestion that the development would bring. The developers admitted that there would be more traffic, but focused on the upside.

When the issue of affordable housing was brought up, Polton said he’d consider making some mixed-income units available, but not one unit for every five market-value ones. He thought one out of every 10 was more realistic.

After the development of Glenmont Square nearby (Smashburger/Panera) we’re wondering — what do you think would be successful in this space?

Do You USPS?

BY  |  Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 9:08am  |  COMMENTS (18)

This week, the financially-strapped U.S. Postal Service announced that it is considering closing 3,653 of its approximately 32,000 stations and branches across the country, and the Garden State isn’t exempt.

While most of those targeted are in rural locations, of the 50 threatened NJ offices, one is in Baristaville. West Orange’s Town Center (07052) office is on the list for possible obsolescence.

Being a computer literate crowd, we wonder how much our readers still use the postal service. Do you still use the USPS? If so, what for. Do you think it’s a smart financial cut back to close offices? Perhaps you frequent the WO 07052 branch?

Weigh in, folks, but if your comment is oversized or heavy, better add some extra postage.

You can find a complete listing of proposed closures here.

“73 See Gallery” Opens in Montclair’s Fourth Ward

BY  |  Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 4:30pm  |  COMMENTS (14)

Nestled away in a tight alley on Pine Street in Montclair is an amazing trove unknown to many in Baristaville. Owned by Montclair artist Mary Z, the 73 See Gallery & Design Studio is both a creative showcase as well as a work of art in its own right.

The gallery, opened officially on April 8, was once an ice factory, but after a year and a half of renovations — with the help of the local community — it has been transformed into the ideal space for exhibiting art. From the shape of the walls to the color of the floors, the structure was “designed by Mary, built by the community,” says Stan Stepney, business manager and executive director of the gallery.

The gallery’s location — off the beaten path from the prime real estate of Montclair Center — is less than commercially ideal, but Z has no worries. She is enthusiastic about joining the Pine Street Historic District. Continue Reading

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