Montclair State University Graduates, 2013 Is Largest Class Ever

BY  |  Saturday, May 25, 2013 12:00pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

Montclair State University held its 2013 Commencement exercises at the Izod Center at New Jersey’s Meadowlands Sports Complex on Friday, May 24. In a ceremony presided over by Montclair State President Susan A. Cole, the University conferred 4,320 degrees in science and mathematics, humanities and social sciences, business, the arts and education to baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degree candidates. The class of 2013, the largest in University history, includes 3,273 undergraduates and 1,047 graduate students.

Photo: John Munson

Photo: John Munson

Award-winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson delivered the Commencement address and received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Merkerson has received three NAACP Image Awards for her 16-year role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the hit television series Law & Order. She won both Emmy and Golden Globe awards for her work in the 2005 HBO film Lackawanna Blues. Continue Reading

Olympia Dukakis Gets Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame

BY  |  Saturday, May 25, 2013 9:53am  |  COMMENTS (1)

Olympia_Dukakis_with_MoonstruckOlympia Dukakis received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Dukakis, best known for Academy Award-winning role as Rose Castorini in Moonstruck (Montclair held a parade in her honor after the win) and as well as her performances in Steel Magnolias, Mr. Holland’s Opus and Mighty Aphrodite, lived in Montclair for 30 years and founded the Whole Theater Company, with actor-husband Louis Zorich. The company for nearly 20 years until 1990.

The Greek-American actress, born in Lowell, MA, received the 2,498th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. Continue Reading

Lowering Speed Limits on Residential Streets

BY  |  Friday, May 24, 2013 9:00am  |  COMMENTS (12)

speed_limit_signYou would never know that the speed limit on my Montclair street, North Mountain, is 25mph if you were to observe the motorists who drive down it. They are generally going much faster, especially during rush hour. It’s enough to get this mom of two stark, raving mad.

So I was hopeful when I read that earlier this month a state assembly panel advanced a bill that would allow neighborhoods to petition the Department of Transportation for lower speed limits on some residential streets.

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Signs of Change in Montclair Center (Updated)

BY  |  Thursday, May 23, 2013 4:55pm  |  COMMENTS (7)

Signs of Change in Montclair Center

Update: Flurry tells us: “There were no municipal funds spent on this. Signs and installation are paid by a State Transit Village grant to the Township of Montclair. Design was paid for by the Montclair Center BID.”

(Readers may remember the controversial — and ultimately abandoned — $800,000 wayfinding project).

If you’re at the corner of Maple Avenue and Bloomfield, you can now find directions to Crane Park, The Wellmont Theatre, Church Street Shops, with new signage popping all over Montclair Center. Continue Reading

Montclair Doctor Convicted in Conspiracy To Distribute 70K In Oxycodone Pills

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 8:47pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

Montclair internist convicted for role in oxycodone street ring (via Cliffview Pilot)

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A federal jury in Newark today convicted a Montclair internist for his role in a conspiracy that put tens of thousands of oxycodone pills on the street. Jurors after two days of deliberations found 59-year-old Michael Durante guilty of 16 of the 17 counts he was charged with…

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Stolen Gun Used In Canterbury Park Shooting, Community Urged To Take Action at 4th Ward Meeting

BY  |  Wednesday, May 22, 2013 2:54pm  |  COMMENTS (8)

The family of Shanae Howard did not attend last night’s 4th Ward meeting focusing on the fatal shootings in Montclair’s Canterbury Park. The meeting, led and organized by councilor Renee Baskerville, called for healing and taking actions to effect change with speakers addressing domestic violence, gun laws and mental health.

“We meet tonight to gather facts and to make sense of seemingly senseless acts of violence,” said Baskerville in her opening remarks to a packed room at the Pine Street Fire Headquarters.

Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh said he could now confirm that the gun found in Canterbury Park, and that authorities determined was used by Brandon Brown to shoot Shanae Howard, was stolen.

“It was not legally owned. It was stolen. It was in his possession,” said Sabagh. Continue Reading

Montclair Crime: Gun Possession Arrest, Thefts and Vandalism

BY  |  Wednesday, May 22, 2013 11:00am  |  COMMENTS (1)

The following report was provided by Detective Lieutenant Angel L. Roman Jr., Detective Bureau Commander, Montclair Police Department:
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Montclair Canterbury Park Victim’s Mother: “She Was Trying To Get Away From Him”

BY  |  Wednesday, May 22, 2013 8:10am  |  COMMENTS (4)

Canterbury Park Victim's Mother: "She Was Trying To Get Away From Him"Shanae Howard was bubbly, the life of the party. She loved people, church, fashion and trying new hairstyles. She was studying psychology online through Ashford University. She started dating Brandon Brown last September.

The morning she died, Howard-Rush remembers hearing her daughter listening to Hezekia Walker’s “God Favored Me” three times before she left the house. “She didn’t deserve this. There is no doubt in my mind she is with the Lord right now.”

Howard-Rush, who lost another daughter five years ago to congestive heart failure, said the family did not know Howard was in danger. Her family believes Howard’s friends may have known more.

“I was talking with her [Howard's] girlfriend yesterday and she said no, but he was messing with that wet, that embalming fluid, and when he did that, he was crazy.” Continue Reading

Montclair Has Siena, And Now, Venice on Church Street

BY  |  Tuesday, May 21, 2013 1:30pm  |  COMMENTS (7)

We love art in unexpected places, so we were surprised when we first saw and posted this mural back in February on Baristanet’s Facebook page. Now artist Jae Choe is completing his vision of the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy on Church Street.

First Came Siena, But Now Montclair Has Venice on Church Street Continue Reading

They’re HEE-ere…The Cicadas Have Arrived. UPDATED!

BY  |  Tuesday, May 21, 2013 12:12pm  |  COMMENTS (39)

Cicadas

UPDATE: It appears there’s a lot of discussion about the nutritional benefits and meaty flavor of cicadas. Indeed, the delicacy provides as much protein pound per pound as lean beef. 

For the gastronomically adventurous, “Cicada-licious: Cooking and Enjoying Periodical Cicadas,” helpfully divided into chapters on appetizers, main dishes, and desserts, should provide you with an abundance of culinary inspiration. If you’re brave enough to cook up some chocolate covered cicadas, cicada dumplings, pizza or stir fry, please let us know about your results in comments. Bon Appetit!

The 17-year wait is finally over…a reader just sent us this photo of a brand new batch of juicy Magicicada cicadas from her neighbor’s yard on the sunny side of Lorraine Avenue in Montclair.

Nancy Stone says the insects suddenly appeared an hour ago, are brownish, and about 3/4 of an inch long. So far they’re silent, and not yet appearing on the shady side of the street. Continue Reading

Featured Comment

Glad to hear there was a grant. It was an insane amount of $ that was proposed to come out of town coffers. Good job, BID!
Posted by
oliver

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