An Epic Night in Asbury Park

BY  |  Saturday, Dec 10, 2011 2:19pm  |  COMMENTS (1)

When my college student son texted me from Montreal to say that The Gaslight Anthem would be playing at the Asbury Park Convention Hall on December 9, I impulsively bought two tickets, not knowing exactly who I would go with. As it turned out, he decided to make the trip down for a long weekend, so we could go together to see one of his favorite bands. My Jersey boy was coming home for what turned out to be a quintessential Jersey experience. Continue Reading

Guster: Feel Good Guitar Pop at the Wellmont, 11/26

BY  |  Saturday, Nov 26, 2011 10:13am  |  COMMENTS (0)

Every year, Guster — a sweet, lyrical acoustic pop-guitar quartet, which originated (as a trio) in the dorms of Tufts University back in the early 1990′s — plays a Thanksgiving weekend concert in the New York metropolitan area. This year, they’re in Baristaville, at the Wellmont Theater. They opened their double gig last night, to a happy, jumping, sing-along kind of crowd, and will be back on the stage tonight, Saturday, November 26. It’s a light-hearted show that’ll please the whole extended family, if they’re still around. They’re a fun and friendly band, and Brian Rosenworcel’s unusual high-arching, hand-drumming techniques are not to be missed.

Make sure to get to the Wellmont in time for Brett Dennen’s opening act (8 p.m.). The California folk/pop musician has been a rising star on television and at music festivals, and cites Van Morrison, Paul Simon and Neil Young as role models. His distinctive, raspy voice and laid back (almost reggae beat) style, are a nice way to begin the evening.

Thanks for coming to town, fellas. Last night’s show was the gravy on my turkey and the ice cream on my pumpkin pie.

Tickets are available for tonight’s show at the door, or online (click here).

Sick in a Storm

BY  |  Wednesday, Nov 09, 2011 11:30am  |  COMMENTS (2)

Human bodies get sick and injured despite inclement weather — in fact, sometimes because of it. During the freak storm of Saturday, October 29, a higher than average number of Baristaville residents needed emergency medical attention and called 911 for ambulance service. Between Bloomfield and Glen Ridge alone, there were 14 calls between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., when 8 would have been typical.

Surprisingly, none of these were storm related problems, but were the type of medical calls that might have happened on any other day. While the nature of the particular emergencies may have been unrelated to the weather, however, the storm conditions certainly complicated matters. Slippery roads, crashing branches, unexpected road closures, delaying detours, exploding transformers, downed live electrical lines and widespread power outages (meaning once the sun went down, pitch black houses where the only light source is a high beam flashlight), made the job of being an emergency responder all the more challenging — and dangerous. And for patients and their loved ones, it raised the anxiety level of an already stressful situation. For EMS workers, in addition to providing care and transport, our highest priorities are to ensure our own safety and that of those around us. Saturday posed a challenge to all three.

Continue Reading

Montclair Settles with PSE&G Over Gray Street

BY  |  Monday, Nov 07, 2011 7:12pm  |  COMMENTS (5)

According to Brad Thatcher (pictured) — Gray Street resident and spokesperson for the fight against PSE&G’s installation of high tension utility lines on his block — the township of Montclair has agreed to pull their petition from the Board of Public Utilities, and has settled with PSE&G so that there will be no need for the BPU to issue a ruling.

The agreement stipulates that the utility company can continue their work as originally planned, but that it will provide new street lights and plant some new trees on the block.

Meanwhile, in Glen Ridge, residents are gathering forces and have formed a citizen’s group (G.R.E.A.T.) in anticipation of their own battle over curbside utility poles.

We’ll update with details on the settlement soon.

Reclaiming Open Space: Hope for Flood-Prone Homeowners

BY  |  Wednesday, Oct 19, 2011 12:00pm  |  COMMENTS (60)

Our towns occupy one of the most densely populated counties in the most crowded state of the union. Land that would elsewhere be a meadow, hillside or river bank, here is a prime setting for housing. But, as residents of flood-prone areas around the Passaic River and its tributaries know all too well, many of the homes in these 100-year flood plains should never have been built. This certainly holds true for Little Falls, but is also a significant issue for houses near the Second and Third Rivers in Bloomfield. As of last Thursday, new legislation has gone to the state senate that would draw further attention to this problem and broaden the possibilities of implementing a program for municipalities to buy back the worst of the flood zone homes. The concept is designed to reclaim problematic properties and convert the land into park and conservation areas. But the idea isn’t brand new. In fact, it’s already underway in Bloomfield.

Continue Reading

Trey Anastasio Shines On at the Wellmont

BY  |  Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 11:00am  |  COMMENTS (8)

There was a kind of Vermont mellowness at the Wellmont Theater last night, and the crowd of late 20-somethings who packed the filled-to-occupancy rock venue seemed extremely happy. Maybe it was the copious amounts of beer that they were consuming, or perhaps they just had a natural sort of Green Mountain buzz going. Whatever the root cause, it was upbeat wholesome in a head-bobbling and swaying kind of way. Certainly not typical fast-moving, loud-talking Jersey. And that was the mood before the music started. Continue Reading

Colbert Notes Shift in Space/Time Continuum and Puts His Face on USPS Stamp

BY  |  Friday, Oct 07, 2011 3:00pm  |  COMMENTS (5)

Stephen Colbert has commemorated the passing of the U.S. Postal Service with an actual U.S. postage stamp featuring the Montclair comedian sending an email to the Post Office. In case you don’t know, Comedy Central’s product description states that “a ‘stamp’ is a picture you affix to a ‘letter’ before you drop that letter into a “mailbox.” They suggest you ask your parents about the antiquated process.

In a more metaphysical conversation, Colbert is suggesting that there was recently a shift in the space/time continuum. While he claims that there have been reports of “goldfish spontaneously switching gender, dogs and cats weeping in each others’ arms, and the image of Federal Election Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly appearing in a tortilla in New Mexico,” the real news is that his recently-formed PAC has reached the next level and is now a 501(c)(4). Continue Reading

PSE&G Crews Back on Gray Street

BY  |  Friday, Oct 07, 2011 1:59pm  |  COMMENTS (3)

After a month-long hiatus, PSE&G’s installation of high voltage power lines along Gray Street, resident Brad Thatcher told Baristanet that the utility company was back on his block today.

Everton Scott, PSE&G’s Regional Public Affairs Manager spoke with Thatcher, and said that “work would resume no matter what on Monday, to finish putting in the 3-phase lines to serve the Glen Ridge Country Club.”

Thatcher said that Scott’s unwavering declaration is despite the fact that PSE&G’s own technician told residents that it isn’t the best route for those business lines, “which could easily go along the existing line of poles along the club’s property.”

Scott stated that PSEG can’t set a precedent by adapting the plans. Thatcher notes that this might be of particularly importance, since the company has plans for a similar project in South Glen Ridge. “I bet that Glen Ridge will put up such a big fight, that they’ll block it,” he said.

Mountainside’s Surgical Team Goes Robotic

BY  |  Friday, Oct 07, 2011 12:00pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

From the left: Dr. Robert Caruso, Surgery/Urology; Dr. James Saidi, Surgery/Urology and Medical Director of Robotics; Dr. Aiman Shilad, Surgery/Obstetrics and Gynecology.

While the name daVinci may evoke one image in the world of art, in the field of medicine it’s associated with enhanced surgical techniques that can reduce patient discomfort, shorten recovery time and minimize the risk of complications. This week, Mountainside Hospital launched its robotic surgery program, and doctors are now performing gynecological and urological procedures using this innovative surgical tool. The facility is one of just a few hospitals in NJ to house an in-house training simulator for daVinci.

According to a Mountainside Hospital press release, the robotic system can enhance surgeons’ own capabilities by extending their range of motion, accessibility and visibility. “Many surgeries performed with robotics are even less invasive than the most minimally invasive laparoscopy alternatives,” said Dr. James Saidi, Medical Director of Robotics at Mountainside. Saidi explained that this translates into a shorter hospital stay, less discomfort and inconvenience for most robotic surgery patients.

Like traditional surgeries, the robotic procedures are performed in an operating room with a complete surgical team. However, rather than being positioned at the operating table, the surgeon is seated at a nearby console. From that vantage point, the surgeon controls the robot which functions as the doctor’s hands. High resolution, 10x magnification, 3D images transmitted by the robot, the miniaturized size of the robot’s surgical “hands” and its agility, make it possible for the surgeon to achieve greater precision.

From a Darfur Refugee Camp to Essex County, NJ: Meet Philip and Musa

BY  |  Friday, Oct 07, 2011 9:00am  |  COMMENTS (1)


For Darfur refugees Philip Abiballa (24) and Musa Aluga (21), their August arrival in New Jersey may have felt like coming to another planet, after surviving the ravages of their homeland and enduring years in a Kenyan refugee camp. There’s indoor plumbing and electricity here, for one, not to mention communication technology. Their first trip to a shopping mall left an strong impression, and they’ve become big fans of the local cuisine, particularly pizza and Italian food.

But the fact that they’re here at all, being housed, educated and supported in making new lives for themselves is clearly bigger than the creature comforts. It’s a second chance.

Using an $88K grant from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, the Jewish Vocational Service — a beneficiary agency of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ — have provided everything from temporary housing, social work support and job training, to a formal education in the JVS’ classrooms. The men are currently working towards completing their GEDs, and eventually plan to attend college. They also want to get their driver’s licenses.

Glen Ridge resident Sayydah Garrett (pictured above with Abiballa and Aluga) teaches Adult Basic Education and ESL (English as a Second Language) to low-literacy adults at JVS. After instructing them for less than a month, Garrett said that the pair aced the Adult Basic Education test and were moved up to the next level. “I got teary-eyed upon receiving the news – I was happy they were promoted but also sad that our class time together was short-lived,” she told Baristanet. “I have complete confidence in these two young men, with electric smiles. They’ll become successful in their chosen fields. Happily, they have the love and support of many people who will help them along the way.” Continue Reading

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Perhaps yesterday's heavy police presence would have been better applied to Mission Street than to the Montclair State campus.
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cathar

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