Tax Bills, Montclair Student Killed, Kindergarten Placement Letters

It may be a quiet summer in some parts but it's been another busy week in Montclair. In case you missed them, here are the top five stories from the past seven days in Montclair. If you have any stories you'd like to see covered, please email Shelley@patch.com.

by a NJ Transit bus earlier this week as Deshon L. Johnson, a 22-year-old Essex County College student living in Montclair. A preliminary investigation indicates Johnson was rushing to catch the #709 bus to get to his job when he was struck and killed by a NJ Transit Bus in the vicinity of Broad Street and Bay in Bloomfield. No charges have been filed at this time. The investigation is ongoing.  

, taxpayers stepped forth one after another to ask questions about the third quarter tax bills that showed up in mailboxes recently. Residents have even set up a Facebook page called Tax Us Fairly Montclair. Township Manager Marc Dashield explained that the third quarter bills are the result of last year's reassessment, one that was designed to make taxes more equitable. But many residents are more than angry over higher taxes.

. But at least some parents reported this week that they haven't received anything in the mail yet, creating more than a bit of frustration. Those who have received their letters didn't always get their top choice. This is a saga Patch will follow up on this coming week.

for two air conditioning units to ease conditions for hundreds of cats and dogs at the Montclair Township Animal Shelter after it was revealed that the shelter's air conditioning system was not working properly in the midst of a major heat wave. The shelter has an antiquated air conditioning system that does not work at full capacity, which has been making it uncomfortable and possibly dangerous for the pets being housed at the shelter.

Several weeks ago, Montclair Patch  surrounding New York Times bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey at Watchung Booksellers and elsewhere. The continued interest surrounding the steamy trilogy penned by British author E L James has been strong enough to keep us wondering what's next next. Last week, academics at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK released a computer generated composite sketch of like based on descriptions from a dozen women of the mental image they have of him.