Sunday, May 5, 2013
New Jersey is ranked as the seventh friendliest state for bicyclists, according to the League of American Bicyclists
- GOING GREEN
-
Sunday, May 5
(Editor's Note: The map above was created by the League of American Bicyclists) For the second straight year The League of American Bicyclists has named New Jersey one of the 10 friendliest states for cyclists. The League, a national bicycling advocacy group, ranks all fifty states for bicycle friendliness based on a variety of characteristics including legislation and enforcement, programs and policies, infrastructure, education and encouragement, and evaluation and planning. New Jersey, which ranked third on the East Coast behind Delaware and Massachusetts, scored highest in "policies and programs" and "education and enforcement," but trailed behind other states in "infrastruture and funding." Along with conducting its annual ranking, …
Sunday, April 28, 2013
The Montclair school was labeled a 'Reward School' by the New Jersey Department of Education for its exceptionally high academic achievement.
Watchung Elementary School was recently ranked among the best in the state for academic achievement, a recent state report said. The New Jersey Department of Education’s “School Performance Reports" found Watchung School's 456 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in 2011-12 met 100 percent of their state academic targets. In addition, Watchung School was designated a "Reward School," a recognition as one of the highest performing schools in the state in terms of schoolwide academic proficiency and student growth, among other things. There are only 112 Reward Schools in the state. Watchung School students schoolwide were 91 percent proficient in language arts. This ranked the Montclair elementary school in the 97th percentile …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Wednesday announced a $1.5 million renovation to Kip's Castle Park in Verona.
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. unveiled the county’s Kip’s Castle renovation plans Wednesday designed to bring the century-old home into the 21st century while maintaining its historical integrity. On hand to hear the county executive describe Phase One of the renovation project at the summit of Kip's Castle Park were Verona Mayor Frank Sapienza, Deputy Mayor Bob Manley, Verona Township Manager Joseph Martin, Kip's Castle Conservancy members Anthony Ambrosio and Jane Eliasof, as well as Essex County Freeholder Brendan Gill and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura “We have restored the roadways, paths and lighting with grant money from Green Acres and open space,” DiVincenzo said. “We will complete phase after phase until…
Monday, April 22, 2013
The middle school was labeled a 'Focus School' for its large achievement gaps, according to the New Jersey Department of Education's 'School Performance Reports.'
Glenfield Middle School is getting special attention from the state after a recent report found large achievement gaps among its students. Those achievement gaps have led to Glenfield School being labeled a "Focus School" in the New Jersey Department of Education's “School Performance Reports." Charles H. Bullock Jr. Elementary School is the only other school in Montclair to be labeled a Focus School. The Focus School label will require the school to develop solutions to increase student achievement under the close watch of the state Department of Education. The largest achievement gaps in the school was seen in sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade student test scores in math. In addition, economically disadvantaged students fell short of…
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Topping the list is former Superintendent Frank Alvarez, who earns $123,239 a year, according to New Jersey Watch Dog.
Former Superintendent Frank Alvarez and six other Montclair pensioners receive more than $100,000 in pensions every year, according to a state watchdog group. The names of 1,474 former public employees who receive more than $100,000 in annual state pensions was released by New Jersey Watch Dog. Dubbed the “100K Club,” the top five paid pensioners, earning up to $195,000 a year, are all executives, according to the website. Topping the list of Montclair $100K Club members is Alvarez, who receives a pension of $123,239 a year, according to the website. Alvarez stepped down as superintendent in June 2012 after nine years on the job with a salary of approximately $216,000. The announcement came as a shock to the community, as he still had …
Saturday, April 13, 2013
The famous Essex County event celebrating the blooming cherry blossoms begins at 11 a.m.
Branch Brook Park will be pink Sunday for Bloomfest. The event will run between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Branch Brook Park in Newark. It is part of the 37th annual Cherry Blossom Festival that will continue through April 20. Bloomfest will feature a packed schedule of events, including cultural demonstrations, children's activities, live music, a crafter's marketplace, food and much more. Winners from the “Why My Essex County Park is Important to Me” essay contest for fourth-graders and “Cherry Blossom Poster Contest” for sixth-graders will be recognized on stage. Bloomfest is free and will be held rain or shine. 1-Mile Fun Run and Walk April 20 Celebrate the arrival of spring and get fit with your family or friends. Children are …
Friday, April 12, 2013
New Jersey Department of Education released its 'School Performance Reports" Thursday.
[Updated 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 12] Montclair High School’s academic performance is “about average,” but its college and career readiness is ranked “high” when both are compared to schools across the state. These were some of the findings in the New Jersey Department of Education’s “School Performance Reports” released Thursday, which analyze schools in a new, more detailed way. The report, which replaces the state’s annual School Report Card, factors in a host of never-before-used data, such as whether students are on track for college and a career, percent of students taking at least one AP test in a certain subject, and the percent of elementary and middle school students chronically absent. Superintendent Penny MacCormack welcomed …
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Blogger Joanna Buffum gives you a rundown of Garden State films. Join the conversation and see if you agree.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Mark Alexander, of Montclair, is running for state Senate and seeking the Democratic party's endorsement in June's primary.
- ELECTIONS
-
Thursday, March 21
Former United States Senator and Presidential candidate Bill Bradley has endorsed Mark Alexander for the 34th District Democratic primary. “From his time as a college intern in my Senate office, to his work as Policy Director on my 2000 presidential campaign, Mark has been a thoughtful, energized, and articulate champion of Democratic causes and progressive policies,” stated Bradley in a press release. “I am endorsing his campaign in the 34th District Democratic primary because he is the type of leader we need in the New Jersey State Senate. He will advocate for working class families with a passion and energy that is desperately needed right now. On June 4th, I am encouraging Democrats in Clifton, East Orange, Montclair, and Orange to …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Montclair State University's School of Communication and Media has formed an alliance with six of the top news organizations in the state.
- SCHOOLS
-
Wednesday, March 20
Six of the state’s top media organizations can now be found at Montclair State University. The university’s School of Communication and Media announced Wednesday a newly formed alliance with AOL's Patch New Jersey sites, NJ.com, NJ Spotlight, North Jersey Media Group, Reuters and WBGO, who will join with existing on-campus news operations established by New Jersey Public Radio and NJTV. The school will provide the news organizations with full operational news bureaus and access to student internships. General Manager of NJTV John Servidio said in a press release that "... the new Center for Cooperative Media promises to further enhance our content-sharing opportunities with the school and other news outlets, resulting in more …
Rhiannon
12:50 am on Thursday, May 2, 2013
"The school that year had 68 students with disabilities (15 percent of the school), 6 economically disadvantaged students (1.3 percent of the school) and zero students with limited English proficiency." Not a surprise to anybody that notes important data like the % of students that are economically disadvantaged. more ›