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MontClairVoyant: Crossing the (Story) Line with Montclair Plots in Famous Novels
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Many Montclairites are finding some solace by reading more books while mostly staying home during the daunting coronavirus pandemic that's brought illness and death to our town and countless other places. With that...
MontClairVoyant: Social Media Group Offers Solace Amid Social Distancing
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
The coronavirus has infected four Montclair residents; caused our schools to start remote learning; temporarily closed parks, the library, and many other places; postponed events; and had numerous other impacts. Anything to say...
MontClairVoyant: Candidates, Coronavirus, and Other Things to ‘C’
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Before discussing how the coronavirus is affecting Montclair, let's focus on our town's May 12 municipal election. How many candidates filed to run by the March 9 deadline?
Sincerely,
The Gist of the List
One...
MontClairVoyant: Cease in Police Gives March 4’s BOE Meeting More Peace
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
You attended the Board of Education meeting last night, March 4. Was there an on-duty police officer -- aka, an armed "man in blue" -- in the room again?
Sincerely,
Edgar Allan Podium
No, thank goodness...
MontClairVoyant: From the Mayor Race to a Policeman in the BOE Space
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Before you discuss February 19's turned-tumultuous Board of Education meeting, your take on the candidates who've announced for mayor?
Sincerely,
'May in Montclair' Election
I greatly admire how hard Township Council member Dr. Renee Baskerville works...
MontClairVoyant: Serious and Silly Superintendent-Survey Submissions
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
The superintendent search! There were public-input sessions this month, and then an online survey asking people what they want in our school district's next leader. Did you fill it out?
Sincerely,
Inboxing Day
I did, and...
MontClairVoyant: Mayor, Mikie, Mike! Some Actions Not to Like
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Mayor Jackson is said to not be seeking a third consecutive term. Others have announced for that job. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill endorsed Michael Bloomberg for president. There was another contentious Board of Education...
MontClairVoyant: Deign to Feign a Mayoral Campaign? Yup!
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Our minds are full of Democratic caucusing folly and Republican support of dictator wannabe Trump, but there's still brain space to think about Montclair's 2020 municipal election. Will you run for mayor?
Sincerely,
Have...
MontClairVoyant: What Was the Superintendent’s Intended Intent?
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
First a prominent person in Montclair was accused of anti-Semitism and now another prominent person in Montclair is accused of racism. WHO'S NEXT?
Sincerely,
Double Trouble
I don't think this is the time and place to...
MontClairVoyant: Budget News and the Parking Deck Blues
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
The proposed 2020 municipal budget has a zero tax-rate increase, and township debt is down about $60 million since Mayor Jackson and the current Township Council took office in 2012. Good news?
Sincerely,
John Kudos...
MontClairVoyant: Has Montclair BOE Become ‘The Board of the Zings’?
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Anne Mernin resigned from the Board of Education after an anonymous email campaign questioned the tax-paying nature of her Montclair residency and whether the town should be funding her child's out-of-district placement. Thoughts...
Sincerely,
Mean...
MontClairVoyant: ‘The 800 Club’ and a 2020 Prediction Hub
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
This is your 800th "Montclairvoyant" column -- 152 for Baristanet (2017-present) after 648 for The Montclair Times (2003-17). Thoughts?
Sincerely,
Reelin' in the Years
Glad to have more separation from Pat Robertson's bizarre right-wing show "The...
MontClairVoyant: Whirring Through Montclair’s 2019 Months That Were
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
This is your last column of 2019, which means it's time for a Montclair...YEAR-IN-REVIEW!
Sincerely,
Mix of Many a Month
I'll start by reviewing your keyboard's "caps lock" feature: DON'T OVERUSE IT! LOWERCASE! LOWERCASE!
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Whatever. One...
MontClairVoyant: Tanks Rather Than Thanks for Montclair’s Two Congresspeople
DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Their support for Trump's deserved impeachment is much appreciated, but Montclair's two congresspeople joined Republicans and many fellow Democrats in voting December 11 for a much-larger-than-needed military budget that gave the GOP nearly...