Dave Astor Archives

MontClairVoyant: Hard to Hear About Our School District’s Tone-Deaf Hire

Dave Astor - September 22, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, Our school district's hiring of an Executive Director of Communications and Community Engagement is unfortunate for several reasons. Can you name them? Sincerely, Multiple Mulling Name "them"? I thought only one person...

MontClairVoyant: Money from the State Is Great to Help Us Educate

Dave Astor - September 15, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, The state has agreed to pay $58.5 million of the cost if Montclair voters this November approve a $187.7-million bond proposal for fixing and improving our school infrastructure. Good news? Sincerely, Money for...

MontClairVoyant: Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci Visit Montclair

Dave Astor - September 8, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, Montclair expected to hear from New Jersey last month about what percentage the state would pay of the proposed capital improvement plan for our schools. Why the delay from Trenton? Sincerely, Slow...

MontClairVoyant: At Summer’s End, the Wrong Way to Spend

Dave Astor - September 1, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, By the time your next column appears on September 8, our town's 2022-23 school year will have begun. Summer went fast, right? Sincerely, June J. August Not sure how speedy Donna Summer was...

MontClairVoyant: When Spending Is Close to the Edge(mont)

Dave Astor - August 25, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, The Township Council finally got the ball rolling on replacing the Edgemont Park pedestrian bridge. Can you believe the contracted cost will be $187,750 for such a small overpass? Sincerely, A Man...

MontClairVoyant: Column Unites a Union and the Municipal Building

Dave Astor - August 18, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, What do Montclair's downtown Starbucks (whose workers just voted to unionize) and Montclair's Municipal Building (whose future was the subject of a recent Planning Board vote) have in common? Sincerely, Traits Avenue ...

MontClairVoyant: These Swimming Pool Substitutes Don’t Hold Water

Dave Astor - August 11, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, You often complain about the actions or inaction of local leaders, so why not offer more solutions? For instance, the weather's been HOT yet only one of our town's three public...

MontClairVoyant: Meeting Attendees Waited for the Council Instead of Godot

Dave Astor - August 4, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, At its July 26 meeting, the Township Council went into a long executive session before hearing public comment from attendees -- a number of whom left in disgust. Any positives to the...

MontClairVoyant: The Blight of Too Much Height

Dave Astor - July 28, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, The Planning Board wants four-story limits on future Bloomfield Avenue buildings but the Township Council might be okay with some additional higher structures. Is that your understanding of recent PB and...

MontClairVoyant: The Art of the Squeal About Arts-Related Topics

Dave Astor - July 21, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, Today, can you discuss Montclair's "arts district," Montclair's arts teachers (and other educators), and Montclair's "Art of the Deal" with Glen Ridge to provide firefighters (some possibly named Art)? Sincerely, Thou Art Asked ...

MontClairVoyant: From Three to One Makes Summer Less Fun

Dave Astor - July 14, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, When town officials said this spring that Essex and Nishuane pools wouldn't open until June 29 due to renovation work in the parks they're in, did you doubt the openings would happen...

MontClairVoyant: Independence Day Not Independent of Weird Humor

Dave Astor - July 7, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, Wasn't it nice that Montclair's great, inclusive Independence Day festivities resumed this past Monday after 4,041 years? Sincerely, Millennia Trumped Um...those festivities were last held in 2019 AD, not 2019 BC. ...

MontClairVoyant: Independence for Women Yanked Prior to Independence Day

Dave Astor - June 30, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, With our town's Independence Day parade next Monday, do you even feel like celebrating when women now have little independence over their bodies after the far-right Supreme Court's June 24 ruling...

MontClairVoyant: Library and Council Are This Column’s Protagonists

Dave Astor - June 23, 2022

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT, Our town's library system basically returned to pre-pandemic hours starting Monday, June 20. Comment? Sincerely, New Jersey Woolf, Not Virginia Woolf So THAT'S why Montclair's libraries renamed "The Hours" book "The Pre-Pandemic...

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Clever Commute

MBT - Weekend Gate Changes - NJ Transit Due to construction this weekend, there will be several temporary gate changes impacting NJ Transit service. Gate reassignments are effective Saturday (9/24) and Sunday (9/25) from 6 AM 10 PM. Please visit www.panynj.gov/PABTgates for info and follow signs in the terminal. (10:01 AM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
Another CoachUSA 77 boarded at a different gate. Passengers found by accident. No announcement from dispatcher. Left Port Authority at 6:08. (06:12 PM) (sent Wed 09/21/22)
Due to a accident on route 3 East bound DeCamp buses are operating late. (07:46 AM) (sent Tue 09/20/22)
Bridge & Tunnel Alert The Exclusive Bus Lane (XBL) to NY is planned to close at 10:15 am due to the volume of traffic. (09:44 AM) (sent Wed 09/14/22)
33 full at Parkview. Driver says 20 mins for next bus. (07:06 AM) (sent Wed 09/14/22)
MBT Delay - General Traffic The Midtown Bus Terminal is experiencing delays due to the general volume of traffic on NJ RT 495 East. (05:07 PM) (sent Fri 09/09/22)
MBT Delay - Motor Vehicle Accident - UPDATE The motor vehicle accident in the Lincoln Tunnel (NY-bound) has been cleared. Please expect residual delays. (05:18 PM) (sent Thu 09/08/22)
MBT Delay - Motor Vehicle Accident The Midtown Bus Terminal is experiencing a delay due to a motor vehicle accident in the Lincoln Tunnel (NY-bound). Additional information will be provided when available. (05:08 PM) (sent Thu 09/08/22)
Detour Notice--Saturday, September 10th. Due to the Montclair Jazz Music Festival, buses will be detoured around Bl (11:56 AM) (sent Thu 09/08/22)
At least 100 people waiting at PABT for Academy Parkway Express bus. Line was long before 6:30. Dispatchers not communicating with passengers (06:53 PM) (sent Tue 09/06/22)
MBT Delay - Traffic Incident - UPDATE The incident in the Lincoln Tunnel (NY-Bound) has been cleared and traffic has been released. Please expect residual delays. (04:21 PM) (sent Tue 09/06/22)
MBT Delay - Traffic Incident in LT The Midtown Bus Terminal is experiencing delays due to a traffic incident in the Lincoln Tunnel (NY-bound). Additional information will be provided when available. (03:48 PM) (sent Tue 09/06/22)
33express running late. On Lakeside Ave now (06:52 AM) (sent Tue 09/06/22)
Bridge & Tunnel Alert The Exclusive Bus Lane (XBL) to NY is planned to close at 9:00 am due to the low volume of traffic. (08:31 AM) (sent Fri 09/02/22)
30 minutes from PABT to Turnpike Exit 15E. (08:02 PM) (sent Thu 09/01/22)

MOBO train #1087, the 8:58 PM departure from Hoboken, is cancelled due to equipment availability resulting from an (08:01 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
Montclair-Boonton Line rail service has resumed in both directions between Netcong and Hackettstown following an ea (07:46 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
Montclair-Boonton Line rail service is suspended in both directions between Netcong and Hackettstown due to a downe (06:31 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
MOBO train #1009, the 5:50 PM departure from Hoboken, is up to 20 min. late due to earlier mechanical issues. (06:31 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
MOBO train #1009, the 5:50 PM departure from Hoboken, is currently delayed due to mechanical issues. An update will follow. (06:11 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
?????????? Reminder! Smoking and vaping is strictly prohibited on board NJ TRANSIT vehicles, platforms and all NJ TRANSIT (11:11 AM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
Rail service in and out of Penn Station New York is on or close to schedule with residual delays to trains already (07:31 PM) (sent Wed 09/21/22)
Courtesy msg Rail service in and out of NYP is subject to up to 20-minute delays due to an Amtrak signal issue at Portal bridge (06:17 PM) (sent Wed 09/21/22)
Rail service in and out of Penn Station New York is subject to up to 20-minute delays due to an Amtrak signal issue at Portal Bridge. (06:11 PM) (sent Wed 09/21/22)
?????????? Reminder! Smoking and vaping is strictly prohibited on board NJ TRANSIT vehicles, platforms and all NJ TRANSIT (11:06 AM) (sent Wed 09/21/22)
Rail service into and out of Penn Station New York is operating on or close to schedule with residual delays to tra (11:16 PM) (sent Tue 09/20/22)
MOBO train #1087, the 11:07 PM arrival into Hackettstown, is up to 25 min. late due to being held for a late connection with train #6671. (09:46 PM) (sent Tue 09/20/22)
Rail service into and out of Penn Station New York is subject to up to 30-minute delays due to an Amtrak signal iss (09:31 PM) (sent Tue 09/20/22)
MOBO train #6293, the 9:27 PM arrival into MSU, is up to 30 min. late due to a signal issue in one of the Hudson River tunnels. (09:26 PM) (sent Tue 09/20/22)
Rail service into and out of Penn Station New York is subject to up to 20-minute delays due to a signal issue in on (08:11 PM) (sent Tue 09/20/22)

M and E Line Train #0481, the 8:31 AM arrival into Bernardsville is up to 15 min late due to equipment availability (07:26 AM) (sent Mon 09/26/22)
Update M and E train #6928, the 4:39 PM arrival into PSNY, is up to 25 min. late due to a late connection at Secaucus. (04:51 PM) (sent Sun 09/25/22)
M and E train #6928, the 4:39 PM arrival into PSNY, is currently delayed at Secaucus due to a late connection. An update will follow. (04:46 PM) (sent Sun 09/25/22)
M and E train #884, the 10:24 PM arrival into Hoboken, is up to 20 min. late due to equipment availability resulting from late train #881. (08:51 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
M and E train #881, the 8:04 PM Hackettstown arrival, is up to 30 min. late due to congestion from train #1009. (07:51 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
M and E train #807, the 7:00 PM arrival into Lake Hopatcong, is up to 15 min. late due to congestion from train #6647. (06:46 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
M and E train #6647, the 6:37 PM Dover arrival is up to 20 min late due to earlier congestion. (06:36 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
M and E train #6643, the 6:06 PM Dover arrival is up to 15 min late due to making additional stops for earlier cancelled train #6343. (05:41 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
M and E train #6643, the 6:06 PM arrival into Dover, is up to 20 min. late due to making additional stops for cancelled train #6343. (05:41 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
Update M and E line train #880, the 6:45 PM arrival into Hoboken, is cancelled at Mt. Olive due to a crossing gat (05:36 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
M and E line train #880, the 6:45 PM arrival into Hoboken, is currently delayed due to a crossing gate issue near M (05:26 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
M and E train #6654, the 4:52 PM arrival into PSNY, is up to 15 min late due to accommodating customers from earlie (05:01 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
Morris and Essex train #6651, the 5:34 PM departure from PSNY, is cancelled due to equipment availability resulting (04:21 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
M and E train #6343, the 4:43 PM PSNY departure is cancelled due to equipment availability resulting from earlier m (04:16 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)
Update 2 M and E train #6650, the 4:11 PM arrival into PSNY, is cancelled at Millburn due to mechanical issues. Pl (04:01 PM) (sent Fri 09/23/22)