Week in Review: Township Tackles Debt, School Bus Catches on Fire, Winter Storm Photos and More

Montclair is getting serious about reducing its debt.  

In the past six months alone, the township has erased $8.1 million of red ink from its books, and plans to nix about $68 million during the next 10 years. 

Two vehicles parked and three homes in Montclair were broken into during the last month of January, according to Montclair Police. 

School Bus Catches Fire on Willowdale Ave. 

A small yellow school bus burst into flames on Willowdale on Thursday and sent long trails of black smoke into the area on. 

Capturing the Blizzard in Montclair – Post Your Photos/Videos Here!

The most recent meteorological anomaly is seen here through the eyes of Montclairions! Check out the things residents saw during the winter blizzard. 

And if you took any photos or videos, send them to the editor at mike.donofrio@patch.com for posting. 

Professor Talk: Common Myths About Weight Loss Debunked

If you believe having sex or breastfeeding are bona fide ways to keep the extra pounds off, you may want to check your sources. 

Montclair State University’s Diana Thomas, involved in the Center for Quantitative Obesity Research at the university, recently participated in a study to debunk common myths about weight loss, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

Montclair Interested in Purchasing Former Social Security Building

If the Montclair Council had its way, the township would take control of the former Social Security Administration Office itself which has sat vacant for nearly a year. 

Data Driven Education is Not The Answer [Opinion]

Read this op-ed about the educational system by Brian Ford, a history teacher at Montclair High School and a educational doctoral student at Montclair State University.

Calling the six-days-per-week mail delivery business model “no longer sustainable,” the U.S. Postal Service announced Wednesday it willeliminate Saturday delivery of mail during the week of Aug. 5.

Montclair was an agricultural and farming community long before it separated from Bloomfield, and in 2012 the township is revisiting its roots. 

Reflecting the revived interest in urban farming and locally grown produce, the township is looking to regulate how residents can lawfully use their property for community gardens. 

Students Successfully Lobby For Safer Intersection

The Montclair Township Council unanimously passed an ordinance Tuesday to place a four-way stop at the intersection of Chestnut and Forest streets. The passage comes after months of students from Montclair Cooperative School lobbying the council to post the stop signs in front of the school and a new traffic study.  

Adopt This Cat: Smokey

A young cat down on his luck is looking for a good home. 

Meet Smokey, a four-year old black and white cat currently residing at the Montclair Animal Shelter, located at 77 N. Willow St.

He is a domestic short-haired cat, neutered, very playful and dog friendly.

Essex County Golf Courses Offer Early Registration Discount

Golfers who want to play on Essex County’s three public golf courses in 2013 have an incentive to register early.