The Montclair Pod

Yard Sales, Transit Woes, and Farewell, Colbert

It's 90 degrees in May, NJ Transit has heard from Montclair, and this Sunday there's a townwide yard sale (not to be confused with a garage sale). We've got the story behind the two tag-sales, a packed NJ Transit survey, and a Montclair coffee truck that could keep you up at night for two reasons. Plus: a farewell to a neighbor who’s repped Montclair to the world honorably and hilariously… and is not allowed to leave (at least not entirely). The Townwide Yard Sale We talked with Valentin Guerin, the Montclair dad who organized this Sunday's town-wide yard sale in partnership with Downtown Montclair—weather permitting! The Original Garage Sale Longtime resident and realtor Penny Patnaude, who started Montclair's town-wide garage sale in 2023 as a fundraiser for the Human Needs Food Pantry, shares why she ultimately decided to sit this year out—and what she's seen change in 30 years in town. Possessed by Coffee We got a tour inside the orange coffee truck that launched on Halloween and has been turning up at Walnut Street Station, Brookdale Park, and Montclair High School ever since. NJ Transit: The Survey Results Nick Giglia, founder of ROUTE (Restore Our Transit in Essex), breaks down what more than 2,300 respondents said—over 80% want more weekend trains—and what it could mean for service on the Montclair-Boonton line, the World Cup, and beyond. Local News: Car crashes into chinese restaurant T.S. Ma on Bellevue; Dodge Durango stolen from a Bloomfield Avenue car wash; Belleville elects a 24-year-old mayor; Stephen Colbert's Late Show finale; and Montclair Pride is June 13th. Resources & Mentions * Subscribe: The Montclair Pod on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMontclairPod] * Follow the Townwide Yard Sale on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/montclairyardsale/] for updates — Sunday, May 31, 9 a.m.–5 p.m… weather permitting. * ROUTE (Restore Our Transit in Essex): EssexRoute.org [https://essexroot.org/] * ROUTE on Instagram/Threads: @EssexRout [https://www.instagram.com/essexroute]e * Human Needs Food Pantry [https://www.humanneedsfoodpantry.org/] * NJ Transit World Cup travel information [https://njtworldcup.com/] * Stephen Colbert on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/colbert/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Local History, Home Discoveries, and Last-Minute Summer Camps

IS HISTORY JUST A BOATLOAD OF FUN, OR A SERIES OF ANXIETY-INDUCING TESTS? THIS WEEK, WE ARGUE IT’S THE FORMER AS WE TAKE A FIELD TRIP TO THE MONTCLAIR HISTORY CENTER. WE EXPLORE 250 YEARS OF TOWNSHIP SECRETS—FROM THE "MONTCLAIR SITUATION" AT THE SEGREGATED YWCA TO THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO SLEPT IN OUR BEDROOMS 100 YEARS AGO. WE TACKLE OUR INBOXES, INCLUDING A HIGH SCHOOL HIBACHI LUNCH THAT HIT A RAIN DELAY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A $20 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT. WE ALSO HAVE YOUR FINAL GUIDE TO SUMMER CAMPS AND A HEAVY-HITTING NEWS UPDATE ON WHY YOUR SCHOOL TAXES ARE OFFICIALLY GOING UP. THE HIBACHI FIASCO MONTCLAIR HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULED AN OUTDOOR HIBACHI DINING EVENT—SPONSORED BY SODEXO—AMIDST MASSIVE STAFF LAYOFFS AND BUDGET CUTS. THE MONTCLAIR HISTORY CENTER WE SAT DOWN WITH ANGELICA DIGGS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MONTCLAIR HISTORY CENTER, [https://montclairpod.com/montclair-history-center/] TO TOUR A SITE THAT IS A "TREASURE TROVE" OF OUR TOWN’S IDENTITY. A LAST-MINUTE SUMMER CAMP GUIDE IF YOU HAVEN'T BOOKED BY FEBRUARY, OPTIONS ARE SLIM—BUT NOT GONE. WE HAVE A WHOLE BREAKDOWN OF DAY CAMPS [https://montclairpod.com/day-camps-near-montclair-2026/ ] WITHIN A 5-MILE RADIUS HERE. LOCAL NEWS: THE SCHOOL BUDGET, NEW HYPERLOCAL PODCASTS, AND THE LATEST FROM MESH RESOURCES & MENTIONS * Subscribe: The Montclair Pod on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMontclairPod]. * Official Documents: 2026-27 User Friendly Budget [https://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/departments/business_office/budget_2025-2026] and Sullivan's April 29 Presentation Deck [https://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_889476/File/Presentation%20April%20BOE%20MTG.pdf]. * History Center: Archives & Farm Camp [https://www.montclairhistory.org/]. * Read the Montclair Pod’s Complete Guide to Day Camps Within 5 Miles of Montclair [https://montclairpod.com/day-camps-near-montclair-2026/]. * Support MESH: wearemesh.org [https://www.wearemesh.org/]. * Athletics Fundraising: montclereblueandwhite.org [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.monclereblueandwhite.org&authuser=2]. * New Pods: Check out the Glenfield Pod [https://www.mfee.org/post/students-take-the-mic-glenfield-pod-launches-with-mfee-support?fbclid=IwY2xjawRtyC1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF2alBlVElmRUx5eG1JWm1Tc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnTzb0vjN2Jt31L_TwdzYoF2IwsI5LoD12vzZjWSUrwe7RhlamuGLkckdfGQ_aem_JHdSPo5sRUp6j27aTpYGPA] and the MPACT Pod on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7kewubJIDvlRnvJfGCzQSq?si=o0aqVXZ4S8K2hNd5nyfCEA&fbclid=IwY2xjawRoV3dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFGUUNTTWptWkJBZHhlQTVKc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHui12Oq8UtJgJnTt1ZM6qYk4ct8mC9RmLoepUY95DFYVFmoe2BNt0RN5nhV0_aem_Y03FgzXg4CYScrZXF8OTRw&nd=1&dlsi=158fff5ca2ac46c0] and read their report, Budget Process 101 [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/68fd137ff3876f7b7bd79be2/t/69f0e09c92925825a373e3ea/1777393821341/MPACT+Explainer++Budget+Process++101+%E2%80%93+Understanding+the+Budget+Approval+Process+%26+the+Opportunity+for+Public+Input.pdf]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Inside School of Rock, Fashion World Fiction and Another Big School Budget Meeting

This week, we are celebrating Montclair as a “Creative Island.” We sit down with legendary drummer Kevin March (Guided by Voices, The Dambuilders) to discuss his journey from Brooklyn to the heart of the Montclair music scene and his mission to help the next generation find their “Honest Noise.” We also explore the high-stakes world of fashion with former Vogue editor and author Caroline Palmer, whose debut novel Workhorse is taking the literary world by storm. But it’s not all rock stars and fashion icons—we have some heavy lifting to do in the local news department. We investigate the “toxic garbage snow” and break down the staggering $179.8 million school budget proposal that includes a massive tax hike and deep cuts to student programs. KEVIN MARCH (GUIDED BY VOICES / SCHOOL OF ROCK) Kevin March has played with everyone from The Breeders to Jeff Buckley, but his journey to Montclair is one of “kismet.” CAROLINE PALMER (WORKHORSE) Former Vogue and Amazon Fashion editor Caroline Palmer joins us to talk about the “spell” of the fashion industry and the discipline required to transition into the writing life. “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THAT?”: THE TOXIC SNOW FIASCO It started with February’s 19-inch blizzard. We investigate why the town dumped massive piles of salt, chemicals, and road debris in Essex and Erie Parks. IN THE NEWS: THE $179.8M SCHOOL BUDGET The Board of Education held its vote on the 2026–27 spending plan, and the numbers are staggering. ONE BIG THING: THE BELLEVUE’S 104TH BIRTHDAY This Saturday, May 9th, The Bellevue Theatre is throwing itself a birthday party from 10 AM to 2 PM. LINKS & RESOURCES * Guest: Follow Kevin March and Rocking for Inclusion at rockingforinclusion.org [https://rockingforinclusion.org/]. * Guest: Buy Workhorse by Caroline Palmer at Watchung Booksellers [https://www.watchungbooksellers.com/]. * Book Review: Read the New York Times review of Workhorse [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/28/books/review/workhorse-caroline-palmer.html]. * Music: Look out for the new GBV record, Crawl Space of the Pantheon (Out May 29). THE TOXIC SNOW FIASCO * Official Document: Township Recovery Plan for Local Parks [https://www.montclairnjusa.org/News-articles/News/Montclair-Township-Announces-Park-Recovery-Plan-Following-Winter-Snow-Operations] * Official FAQ: Erie & Essex Parks Snow Masses FAQ [https://www.montclairnjusa.org/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/news/documents/erie-essex-parks-snow-and-ice-masses-faq.pdf] * NJ.com: Will this trash-covered pile of snow ever disappear? [https://www.nj.com/essex/2026/04/will-this-trash-covered-pile-of-snow-and-ice-that-looks-like-a-nuclear-waste-dump-ever-disappear.html] * NJ.com: Officials scramble to clean up trash-filled swamp in NJ park [https://www.nj.com/essex/2026/04/officials-scramble-to-clean-up-trashfilled-swamp-in-nj-park-heres-how-it-got-there.html] * News 12: Trash-filled snowbanks remain in Montclair parks [https://newjersey.news12.com/trash-filled-snowbanks-remain-in-montclair-parks-months-after-blizzard] * Patch: Montclair’s remediation plan for local parks [https://patch.com/new-jersey/montclair/montclair-has-plan-clean-snow-dumps-garbage-local-parks] SCHOOL BUDGET & LOCAL NEWS * School Budget: Full breakdown of the $851 tax increase and planned cuts [https://montclairlocal.news/2026/05/montclair-boe-approves-179-million-budget-with-851-tax-hike/]. * Budget Docs: Review the 2026-27 User Friendly Budget on the Montclair Schools website [https://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/]. FOLLOW US * Watch the Show: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMontclairPod]. * Join our weekly newsletter [https://montclairpod.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5df4477ae0c43750cd4455b00&id=ea8bfef5d3] and stay in the know * Follow us on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/themontclairpod] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Parents Race to Save Montclair Sports. Plus: What’s Happening at The Corner Restaurant?

THIS WEEK, WE’RE LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BUDGET CRISIS HITS THE PLAYING FIELD. WITH FRESHMAN SPORTS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK AT MONTCLAIR HIGH, WE SIT DOWN WITH THE PARENTS LEADING THE CHARGE TO SAVE THE PROGRAM. WE ALSO HEAR FROM A GRADUATING SENIOR ABOUT HIS JOURNEY THROUGH THE MHS ATHLETIC SYSTEM AND TAKE A STUNNING TRIP BACK IN TIME TO THE 1960S "GOLDEN AGE" OF MONTCLAIR FOOTBALL. THE FIGHT FOR FRESHMAN SPORTS: THE BLUE & WHITE CLUB THE ELIMINATION OF FRESHMAN SPORTS AT MHS ISN'T JUST ABOUT MISSING GAMES; IT’S ABOUT A LOSS OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIALIZATION. WE SPEAK WITH KEVIN PRICE AND LAURA QUIROS, LEADERS OF THE NEWLY FORMED MONTCLAIR ATHLETICS BLUE & WHITE CLUB. LEARN MORE AND DONATE AT MONTCLAIRBLUEWHITE.ORG [https://montclairblueandwhite.org/]. STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: DYLAN KAELIN PANICO GRADUATING MHS SENIOR DYLAN KAELIN PANICO (FOOTBALL/LACROSSE) JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HIS PATH FROM A NERVOUS FRESHMAN TO A COLLEGIATE ATHLETE HEADING TO NJIT. HE PROVIDES A CRUCIAL "PRIMARY SOURCE" PERSPECTIVE ON WHY THOSE EARLY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS IN THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT CHANGED HIS LIFE. LIVING HISTORY: THE RACCOON COAT ERA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MONTCLAIR HISTORY CENTER, WE AIR A 2018 ORAL HISTORY FROM BRENDA SMITH WILLIAMS WHO SHARES MEMORIES OF STANDOUT PLAYERS, RACCOON COATS AND MORE. "WHAT THE HELL IS EVEN HAPPENING WITH THAT?": THE CORNER FARNOOSH WENT UNDERCOVER (WELL, SHE JUST HAD BREAKFAST) AT THE CORNER (GROVE & WALNUT) TO GET THE LATEST INTEL ON THEIR MUCH-ANTICIPATED EXPANSION. SPECIAL ED TOWN HALL (APRIL 22 RECAP) * The Good News: IEP and 504 services are federally mandated and cannot be cut. * The Reality: The Montclair Counseling Services (MCS) program is being eliminated due to budget constraints. * Accountability: The district committed to fixing "unintelligible" numeric-coded progress reports for the 2026-27 school year. ANALILIA MEJIA SWORN IN ON APRIL 20TH, ANALILIA MEJIA OFFICIALLY TOOK HER SEAT IN CONGRESS (NJ-11), FILLING THE VACANCY LEFT BY MIKIE SHERRILL. AMID CHANTS OF "SÍ, SE PUEDE," SHE DELIVERED A POWERFUL FLOOR SPEECH INVOKING HER ROOTS AS THE DAUGHTER OF FACTORY WORKERS AND CALLING FOR A JUST ECONOMY. READ MORE AT MORRISTOWNGREEN.COM [http://morristowngreen.com].  MOUNTAINSIDE MEDICAL CENTER WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT A FAMILY FROM EAST ORANGE HAS FILED A $40 MILLION WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT AGAINST MOUNTAINSIDE MEDICAL CENTER, ALLEGING THAT A LIVER BIOPSY KILLED THEIR 65-YEAR-OLD LOVED ONE, PHYLLIS BURRELL, A CIVIL SERVANT. MORE: NJ.COM [https://www.nj.com/healthfit/2026/04/she-went-in-for-a-routine-test-and-died-3-hours-later-now-her-family-is-suing-for-40m.html] ALSO IN THE SHOW * Oddfellows Ice Cream: Coming to 450 Bloomfield Ave. Get ready for 500+ flavors, including Miso Cherry and Chorizo Salted Caramel. * Oggi Gelato: Opening at 40 Church St. This creates a "Gelato War" with the longtime staple Benvenuti just steps away. * Ju-Ichi Japanese: Expanding their Morristown success to 512 Bloomfield Ave with their signature 24-hour pork bone ramen broth. * Montclair Literary Festival: (May 2-11). 60+ authors including Colm Tóibín and Joyce Carol Oates. Most events are free! Full Schedule Here [https://succeed2gether.org/montclair-literary-festival/]. * Walnut Street Fair: (Sunday, May 3, 11am-4pm). 250 vendors, food trucks, and Touch-a-Truck. * Mike’s Gigs: Catch Bard [http://www.bardband.com] at Cricket Hill Brewery on Friday night, or see Mike and Jamie sit in with Workingman's Jed on Saturday. * Watch and subscribe to The Montclair Pod on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMontclairPod] * Join our weekly newsletter [https://montclairpod.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5df4477ae0c43750cd4455b00&id=ea8bfef5d3] and stay in the know ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Making of The Montclair Girl, Book Buzz & a Church Street Mystery

This week, we’re clearing the air on the school budget "heist" rumors and diving into the incredible backstories of two women with ties to Montclair. We sit down with Jennifer Tripucka, the founder of The Local Girl Media Group (and our own The Montclair Girl), to talk about building a local media empire in a shifting landscape. Then, we hear a story that sounds like a movie: Nikki Mammano joins us to discuss her memoir, Breaking Good, which follows her journey from the criminal underworld in Hawaii to finding a new life in Montclair. Plus, we investigate that unfinished eyesore on Church Street and celebrate a major national win for our favorite local bookstore, Watchung Booksellers. THE $20M DEFICIT: HEIST OR OVERSPENDING ON CREDIT? Following our "Supper with the Super [https://montclairpod.com/supper-with-the-super-mesob/]" session with Ruth B. Turner, Mike and Farnoosh address the persistent rumors that the school district's $20 million deficit was a "heist." We break down why the "credit card analogy" is the most accurate way to describe years of overspending, uncollected bills, and structural math problems that date back to previous administrations. "WHAT THE HELL IS EVEN HAPPENING WITH THAT?": 65 CHURCH STREET You’ve seen it—the five-story building near Park Street that’s been sitting half-finished for years. We dig into the 35-year history of development limbo at the old Hahne’s parking lot, from the failed hotel plans to the recent foreclosure. We look at where the building stands now. GUEST: JENNIFER TRIPUCKA (FOUNDER, THE LOCAL GIRL MEDIA GROUP) How do you build a hyperlocal news empire with 4 million readers and no outside investors? Jennifer Tripucka shares her journey from being a school counselor in Bloomfield to running six regional outlets. We discuss the demise of traditional print media like the Jersey Journal and why the demand for local information is actually higher than ever. GUEST: NIKKI MAMMANO (AUTHOR, BREAKING GOOD) Standing in line at the Montclair supermarket, you’d never guess Nikki Mammano’s history. She joins us to discuss her raw and inspiring memoir, Breaking Good, detailing her past as a cocaine dealer on Hawaii army bases, her time in prison, and her ultimate redemption as a Montclair mom. LOCAL BEAT: AWARDS & ELECTIONS * Bookstore of the Year: A massive congrats to Watchung Booksellers for being named Publishers Weekly’s 2026 Bookstore of the Year! We discuss the legacy of Margot Sage-El and Maddie Ciliotta-Young. * NJ-11 Results: Analilia Mejia soundly defeated Joe Hathaway in the special election to fill Mikie Sherrill’s seat. We discuss what this progressive victory says about the current political climate in the suburbs. ONE BIG THING * The College Women's Club of Montclair Semi-Annual Book Sale (April 24-26). With 100,000 items and most books under $3, it's a treasure hunter's dream that has funded over $1.5 million in local scholarships. Meet Mike at 26 Park Street! LINKS & RESOURCES * Guest: Follow Jen Tripucka and the team at The Montclair Girl [https://themontclairgirl.com/]. Learn more about their courses and coaching here [http://coaching.thelocalgirl.com]. * Guest: Buy Nikki Mammano’s memoir, Breaking Good. [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Breaking-Good/Nikki-Mammano/9798895651681] * Book Sale: Get the details for the College Women's Club Book Sale [https://www.cwcmontclair.org/book-sales/]. * School Budget: Read Andrew Rice's deep dive into the math at My Montclair Education [https://mymontclaireducation.substack.com/]. * Watch and subscribe to The Montclair Pod on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMontclairPod] * Join our weekly newsletter [https://montclairpod.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5df4477ae0c43750cd4455b00&id=ea8bfef5d3] and stay in the know ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.