BY Christina Gillham | Friday, Jan 06, 2012 3:00pm | COMMENTS (22)
There has been a discussion taking place on Montclair Watercooler about a possible wolf sighting near Brookdale Park a few weeks ago.
The person who wrote the initial posting said that she thought she saw a wolf roaming near the park on Christmas day.
“Not a dog. Really, and not a coyote either,” she wrote on Watercooler. “It was probably about 80 lbs and seemed calm. When I went out the door, it went into the trees behind my neighbor’s house and watched me, then trotted off.”
BY Erica Dietsche | Saturday, Nov 12, 2011 9:00am | COMMENTS (1)
With about 100 properties showing, it’s shaping up to be another busy open house weekend in Baristaville. There is a lot of variety at all price points, but many familiar listings. New offerings and reductions are in the minority.
29 Upper Mountain Ave., Unit C290, No. 2, Montclair
List Price: $225,000
Taxes: $6,748
Association Fee: $252
1BR/1BA
This one-floor, 790-sq. ft. unit features an updated kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances; the bathroom was renovated in the past year as well. The four-room Condo also has a dining area and central air. There are two closets in the bedroom. Heat and hot water are included in the maintenance fee. The building was constructed in 1965. Open house 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Continue Reading
BY Georgette Gillmore | Thursday, Oct 27, 2011 4:00pm | COMMENTS (1)
It’s all about Halloween this weekend. The spooky holiday is on Monday this year, but you can start the festivities tonight. Be sure to check out Barista Kids’ comprehensive Halloween events list here. From Gardens Aglow to Stadium of Screams, there is Halloween fun for all ages. Here are some other Halloween highlights you don’t want to miss:
Halloween makes me think of chocolate, so I think a Chocolate and Cheese Pairing sounds delicious. Continue Reading
Friday, Sep 23, 2011 10:30am | COMMENTS (4)
When 24-year-old former Montclair State University student Shakonna Grier died three days after giving birth to a daughter, Bryana, in 2007, her heart also saved the life of John Acquaro (pictured below), then a 54-year-old Long Island man who was days away from dying from a cardiac condition.
This Sunday, September 25, Acquaro is hoping for a strong turnout at the first Donate Life Children of Heroes 5k Run/Walk in Brookdale Park, which is being held to raise funds for 4-year-old Bryana Grier’s future college education expenses. The registration fee is $25 per participant.
The day promises to be emotionally charged, as it will mark the first time since his heart transplant that Acquaro and his family will meet his donor’s mother, sister, and other family members.
“John has been so wonderful. I just want to embrace him and feel my sister’s heart beating through his chest,” said Shakonna’s sister Tanisha Grier, 36, a special education teacher at Charles H. Bullock Elementary School in Montclair. Tanisha graduated from Montclair State in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is now raising her niece, along with her own 17-year-old daughter. Continue Reading
BY Martta Rose Kelly | Wednesday, Sep 07, 2011 12:30pm | COMMENTS (16)
United Against Puppy Mills (UAPM) will present a free Puppy Mill Awareness Concert, Sound for the Hounds, on Saturday, September 10, in Brookdale Park. This event will be specifically geared toward raising awareness about puppy mills and enlightening the public about how to put an end to the industry.
The concert will take place rain or shine and furry friends are welcome, too.
Featured will be artist Cindy Bradley (pictured), awarded Best New Jazz Artist 2011 and Brass Player of the Year 2011 at the Oasis Jazz Awards.
The event will also feature a Dog Look-a-Like Contest, sponsored by Rescue Ink; door prizes awarded throughout the day; rescue groups representing many different dogs breeds; vendors; and food. There will also be a drawing for an auitographed Neil Diamond “No Puppy Mills” T-shirt.
BY Erika Bleiberg | Monday, Aug 01, 2011 4:00pm | COMMENTS (1)
Were you amongst the 17,000 people who turned out for last year’s The Infernos concert in Brookdale Park? I was, and have never seen so many folks dancing in the ball field before. But if you missed it, don’t worry. The legendary NJ band — who happen to be from Baristaville — will take to the stage again on Thursday, August 4 as a part of the Essex County Summer Concert Series. The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
BY Erica Dietsche | Saturday, Jul 30, 2011 9:50am | COMMENTS (4)
Baristaville’s last open house weekend of July is going out with a little bit of a whimper – just 78 properties are showing. Sixteen of them are priced at $299,000 or less. Other price segments are active as well, but not to such an extent. New listings are plentiful at various price points. Here are three.
2-4 Essex Terr., West Orange
List Price: $524,900
Taxes: $20,139
Lot Size: 1.06 Acres
4BR/3.2BA
A rare Baristaville property on over an acre, this 13-room Contemporary, a new listing, has numerous attributes. Among them: New York City views in the winter, a modern kitchen with a butler’s pantry, many oversized windows, cherry floors, a library, central air, an enclosed porch, built-ins and an updated bathroom in the master suite. A finished, full, walkout basement and two car oversized garage round out this property. The house was constructed in 1952 and renovated last year. Open house 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Continue Reading
BY Liz George | Monday, Jul 11, 2011 12:37pm | COMMENTS (142)
Montclair’s valuable undeveloped “park front” property has been an issue First Ward councilor Rich Murnick has been actively involved in — the Wildwood Ave. property adjacent to Brookdale Park and owned by the town is part of his ward. So he was surprised to learn of a new item added to the agenda for this week’s meeting — a resolution supporting recommendations by the Housing Commission for the Wildwood property involving affordable housing — when fellow council knew in advance he would be out of town on a scheduled vacation.
Murnick, who hopes the agenda item is postponed until he returns, say it’s a slap in the face to have a vote on an issue regarding the Wildwood property when he is not in town to attend and represent the interests of his ward. “It’s like voting on an item about bicycling when the Mayor is out of town,” says Murnick. “The only reason to sell the Wildwood property is to help lower taxes. I agree with affordable housing, but I don’t believe in giving away lots when we need tax relief.”
The Montclair Housing Commission is recommending that two of the lots be auctioned to the highest bidder for construction of single family homes and two of the lots be sold at negotiated prices to a builder of two affordable houses. One of the affordable houses would be sold to a “low income household” described as earning 50 percent of the area’s median income. The other affordable house would be sold to a “moderate income household,” one earning 80 percent of the area media income.
Murnick can’t imagine any developer paying top dollar for the lots only to “give one away,” and adds that the area is not near the trains and transportation, factors you consider when creating affordable housing. The properties, if designated affordable, will also bring in less taxes per year — another loss for the town, says Murnick.
This map details the undeveloped Wildwood lots. Lots 1, 2, 3, 4 on page 2 are the properties to be sold.
BY Georgette Gilmore | Thursday, Jun 30, 2011 10:30am | COMMENTS (1)
Amanda Grafton
Start your weekend off tonight with Italian Arias at a benefit concert at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Maplewood. Young Maplewood Soprano, Amanda Grafton, will present Viva Italia! A Concert and History of Italian Art Songs and Arias. She will be accompanied by pianist Duk kyu Kim of the Manhattan School of Music. Composers including Carissimi, Scarlatti, Bellini, Handel and Puccini, Verdi and Mozart. Half of the donation proceeds will go to St. Joseph’s Food Pantry and the other half will help sponsor Amanda’s summer vocal study in Italy with the Daniel Ferro Voice Conservatory.
Viva Italia! A Concert and History of Italian Art Songs and Arias
Thursday, June 30 at 7 pm
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 767 Prospect St, Maplewood, NJ
The concert is free but donations will be accepted.
Or bring a lawn chair to Church Street in Montclair for the Montclair International Film Festival’s Outdoor Screening of Apollo 13 and celebrate NASA’s final space shuttle mission with this Oscar nominated and winning movie about the 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission. Sit under the moon and watch a moon mission.
Outdoor Screening of Apollo 13
Thursday, June 30 at 8:30 pm (film starts at 9 pm)
Church Street, Montclair, NJ 07042
Free Continue Reading
BY Debbie Galant | Monday, Jun 27, 2011 10:30am | COMMENTS (0)
Yesterday, 39 archers and their fans took to the archery field in Brookdale Park for the Garden State Games, sponsored by the New Jersey Archery Association and hosted by the Bloomfield Archers. Participants ranged from beginners to world-class archers, including 15-year-old bowman Jared Goodlow of Montclair, who just started archery about three months ago, and Mike Usherenko of Oakland, N.J., who will be leaving for Turin on Wednesday to coach the Americans competing in the World Archery Championships, which will allocate 35 spaces for next summer’s Olympics. The US team was finalized in a competition at the Brookdale archery field in May.
