Schools Miss Performance Goals, Montclair Man Indicted for Murder and More This Week

Students in the Montclair School District are missing the mark when it comes to meeting academic proficiency benchmarks.  

Superintendent Penny MacCormack said on Monday that data from standardized testing shows Montclair students failed to meet state proficiency standards in both language arts and mathematics.

Montclair Man Indicted in Murder of Villanova Student

A Montclair man accused of shooting to death a Villanova University student in town last year was indicted by an Essex County grand jury on Friday, according to NJ.com. 

Three separate apartments in a building on Valley Road were burglarized last week, according to Montclair Police. 

A hair salon on Fullerton Avenue was burglarized this past weekend, according to Montclair Police. 

Vinney's Barber & Hair Syle, located at 55 N. Fullerton Ave., was found with its front door open on Sunday morning at around 9:23 a.m. Police officers found the cash register open when they inspected the business. 

NJ Spotlight recently released an interactive map detailing storm damage and cost estimates broken down by municipality. 

In Montclair there were 2,300 businesses impacted compared to only 28 homes. 

Inside Montclair's Chatni Indian Restaurant

Wayne Robbins is at it again and this week points his camera at Chatni Indian Restaurant, located at 381 Bloomfield Ave.

In the latest edition of "Inside Montclair," Robbins chatted with the owner Ram Sha about opening a restaurant in Montclair's busy downtown and the fusion concepts of the menu.  

Montclair Budget Hearings Scheduled

The Montclair 2013 budget hearings will begin in April. 

All hearings will be held in the municipal building, located at 205 Claremont Ave. The meetings will be televised live on TV34 and streaming live at http://montclair.peg.tv.

Montclair's Medical Marijuana Dispensary Limits Patients to North Jersey

Burdened with supplying medical marijuana to patients throughout the state, the only dispensary in the state located in Montclair will limit new patients to those living in north New Jersey, NJ.com is reporting. 

Montclair State Unveils News Media Hub on Campus

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. 

Peace Garden Grows at Bradford Elementary School

No matter what time of the year it is, students at Bradford Elementary School will have a garden growing in their hallway. 

A large was mural of flowers was unveiled at the school on Friday, March 15, and accompanied by songs and poems. The idea for mural, called the Peace Garden Song and Mural Project, sprang from Montclair resident and artist Jennifer Levine and songwriter Scott Massarsky, of Oakland. 

Edgemont Park Pond Drained Dry [Photo Gallery]

Edgemont Park's pond was recently drained as construction enters its third week. 

The pond was emptied this week for crews to begin dredging and building a new retaining wall. Fish from the pond were removed and relocated to Verona Pond.

Sights Around Montclair

Check out this small photo gallery of people and things around Montclair by resident Michael Greene. 

Former United States Senator and Presidential candidate Bill Bradley has endorsed Mark Alexander for the 34th District Democratic primary. 

Adult School of Montclair Puts on Poetry Fest in April 

Poetry Fest is coming to Montclair. 

The Montclair Adult School will host Poetry Fest next month in celebration of National Poetry Month. Local poets and spoken word artists will be welcomed to read and perform their work at an open mic nights in Essex County libraries throughout the month. 

2013 Montclair Pool Badges on Sale April 8

Pool Badges for the Montclair municipal pools will go on sale on Monday, April 8.

Essex Pool will open for the season on Saturday, May 25, and will remain open during the weekends only until June 27. 

The Montclair Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs has multiple job opens for the summer.

Applications can be sumbitted now to the Human Resources Department in the municipal building, located at 205 Claremont Ave.

Adopt This Montclair Pup: Stone

Stone is waiting to find a new home. 

At about 2 years old, this dog is still a puppy and he has the energy to prove it. He is ready for adoption now at the Montclair Township Animal Shelter.