When Dead Deer Don't Disappear

Dow dipped down briefly 800 points, setting a new record for a one-day point drop.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Conversations on Race (COR). More than 1,000 area residents have participated in the program, engaging in honest, thought provoking and sometimes uncomfortable conversations with neighbors, colleagues, friends and strangers about race and race realtions.

COR starts tomorrow night (Oct. 4) and promises to promote some interesting discussion, particularly in this historic election year. Here's how it works: For two hours a week, over a five-week session, participants, volunteers from the community, discuss their personal experiences in a safe and confidential setting, monitored by trained facilitators. For information, email Myrna Marcarian Mincey or call 973-509-4907.

We told you about Baristanet's short film contest here. Folks have started sending in entries. Here's one to watch...

Calling all Giants fans: Former star player Mark Bavaro, considered one of the toughest and best tight ends in NFL history, will be at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 6-8 pm, to sign copies of his novel “Rough and Tumble.”

Museum director Dave Kaplan is offering to set up a private meet & greet with Bavaro for two Baristanet readers. Be the first two people to send us an email at tips@baristanet.com saying "Take me to Bavaro" and you and a friend will be Kaplan's guest at the event.

UPDATE: We have two winners.

Continue reading "Meet NFL's "Rambo" In Baristaville" »

Not it's not Bluestone Coffee that's in danger. It's those slabs that line some sidewalks in Montclair. From the Star Ledger...

At its introduction last month, Montclair's councilors also adopted a resolution to form an advisory task force on repairing and replacing sidewalks.

In the meantime, anyone who wants to disturb the bluestone would need the "written permission" of the township manager, Joseph Hartnett.

"I'm excited at the prospect of having another domain to watch over," Hartnett quipped. "The sidewalk czar."

But Montclair has long taken its sidewalks seriously.

If you ever tried to push a stroller for more than a block, you pretty much know that's not true. Still, it's good that someone will be babysitting the bluestone, since it's become something to steal.

Continue reading "Montclair: Save The Bluestone!" »

Continue reading "(Live Blogging the) Trouble on the 7:38" »

A busload of Obama supporters left Montclair High School at 7:30 am Saturday morning to register voters in West Philly, and -- as a bonus -- got to attend Bruce Springsteen's rally-concert there yesterday afternoon. The trip was organized by Blue Wave NJ. The organization is sending more volunteers to Pennsylvania the next three Saturdays -- as well as the weekend before election day -- but, alas, no more Springsteen rallies are scheduled. Bus fare is $35 ($20 for seniors.)

Photo: Michael Reitman

Last week I learned how to crochet and this week it paid off. Look, I made a beautiful...a beautiful...a really great...uh....SQUASH COZY!

This poster's prayers were answered--SNL opened with a disturbingly sharp depiction of the VP debate. But this week there was a Jersey twist-our own Queen Latifah portrayed moderator Gwen Ifill. Watch it in the jump...

Continue reading "Jersey Girl On SNL" »

UPDATE from Bob:

PAWS asked us to be a foster home for him for 7 days, at which time they would put him up for adoption. - He became not-so-cute when he would growl at us, and then bit a hand and drew blood last night. Not to mention marking his territory indoors. - Animal control picked him up this morning and made the connection (along with PAWS) to the owner 3 doors down and across on Walnut Street. Compassion can be dangerous.

Found Saturday, wandering around on Walnut Street in Montclair near Egan's: this adorable (and, we hear, friendly) little fellow. If he's yours, write to Bob to arrange a reunion.

It looks like Baristaville remains high on the radar for reality TV shows. Two casting calls recently made their way to our e-mailbox. If you're committing crimes against the planet or fashion, have they got a show for you...

Planet Green is casting families, homes and businesses for the second season of the eco-makeover show WASTED They want to know: are your utility bills running sky high? Are you running the AC when no one's home? Can you confess to crimes you're committing against the environment? Wasted will set you straight, turn you green, and save you money. "Wasted is looking for households with big personalities that include at least one person who needs a push in the right direction for a more efficient, effective green household."

Applicants, you must own your home/apartment. Send photos and letter of persuasion to:greenhome@liontv.us.

So you're already green? Not a problem. You've got another chance with Fine Living Network.

Continue reading "Pick Your Kind Of Home Makeover " »

How long have you been waiting for this headline? Exactly 13 years, as a matter of fact. Overnight, a Las Vegas jury found O.J. Simpson guilty of armed robbery.

We report lost and found dogs fairly frequently, but rarely stolen dogs. But Montclair Police are looking for the public's help finding Ruby, an American Staffordshire Terrier removed from PAWS animal shelter yesterday between 2 and 4 pm. If you have any information, call Det. Adam Toops, 973.509.4717.

There's plenty happening around Baristaville this weekend. Among the offerings on our calendar:

Tonight, have a few laughs (and maybe a few beers) for a good cause at Tierney’s: Café Theater is staging a series of short comedies, offering Monty Python-style hilarity. This show is the second of three cancer-awareness fundraising events happening around town (the third happens tomorrow at the Unitarian church) in honor of healer and yoga master Jyoti Chrystal.

Tomorrow, stop by the Crane Park Festival for tons of kids' activities, amazing food, special musical guest Jefferson Newman, Capoiera and TaeKwon-Do demonstrations. Or cruise by the Makeready Press gallery to check out a striking new work called "Obama Making Waves."

It’s a great weekend for theater-goers: Dessa Rose opens at Westminster Arts Center at Bloomfield College. It’s the NJ premiere of this powerful musical by the composer of “Ragtime,” produced by 4th Wall Theatre.

And on Sunday, you'll find the Indie Music Circus at Luna Stage.

Congress today voted 263-171 passing the country's biggest financial bailout. The vote came after members of the House of Representatives debated the business of a (700) billion dollar bailout this morning. Representative David Dreier (R-CA) ranking member on the House Rules Committee, called the bill "a necessary evil."

"Today we are not experiencing market failure," Mr. Dreier said. "We’re experiencing the inevitable attempts of government to manipulate the market."

More about the historic rescue measure, here.

Holy windfall! Environment New Jersey tells us our state will reduce "dirty power" in favor of clean power, by jumping on one of the country's first offshore wind projects.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities selected Garden State Offshore Energy, a joint venture between PSEG and Deepwater Wind, to build our first offshore wind farm. The project will position New Jersey as a leader in creating new “green jobs” and tackling global warming.

The project embraces wind as a clean, renewable technology that can meet energy needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power -it's predicted to generate enough electricity to power 90,000 NJ households every year.

Twelve-year-old Maddy Polen, of Montclair, has made this her cause celebre, as a tribute to her dad Barry, a survivor of Hodgkin's disease. Last year her team walked the Brooklyn Bridge, tomorrow night, it's close to home. You can support her cause by registering on her LTN webpage with a donation, and walking a round of the park with her team "Maddy's Moonlight Marchers." Meet at the playground at and look for her tent/booth. You'll be given an illuminated balloon and be on your way...

With the election of the century only weeks away, dontcha wanta know that your vote will be accurately counted? The issues surrounding our voting machines just got murkier.

Andrew Appel, IT prof and computer security guru at Princeton, was asked by NJ Superior Court to review security and accuracy of the Sequoia AVC Advantage voting machines then disclose findings thirty days after delivering his report to the court. Today was the day the public was to hear from the expert witness and his team of scientists - but Appel says a judge ruled last week that he can't release the information to the public, the legislature, not even Governor Corzine. He blogs about it on Freedom To TInker:

This is part of a lawsuit filed by the Rutgers Constitutional Litigation Clinic, seeking to decommission of all of New Jersey's voting computers. New Jersey mostly uses Sequoia AVC Advantage direct-recording electronic (DRE) models. None of those DREs can be audited: they do not produce a voter verified paper ballot that permit each voter to create a durable paper record of her electoral choices before casting her ballot electronically on a DRE.

Continue reading "Our Voting Machines - Are They Secure?" »

Montclair shop owners are on the move: UPMO's Vintage clothing store My Inheritance moves from 206 Bellevue next door to the former Blueberry Lane at 202 Bellevue. They're opening in their new digs today. Last week, Watchung Plaza's Irish Store moved to 16 Church Street (a knitting shop for 40 years); anyone interested in their Plaza location should contact Schweppe Realtors. Two doors down from Piazza della Sole, we hear they're getting new neighbors where the antique shops used to be: a Christian Science reading room and a new spa/nail salon.