Brookside/Watsessing Finales This Tuesday

Bloomfield's outdoor concert goers will have to choose between two great concerts on opposite ends of town. Residents are invited to Essex County Watsessing Park on Tuesday, July 31 for the rain delayed concert featuring Newark-native Carrie Jackson. Jazz vocal stylist Jackson honed her talent in her hometown. She began singing in the Children’s Choir at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Newark,.Whether performing solo or with her Jazzin’ All Star Band, Jackson’s classical performances feature jazz favorites, soulful pop, blues and poignant mellow gospel.

 The Infernos, America’s #1 Show Band and the area’s premier live performance group, has been on the music scene since 1977. In recent years their fame has grown and they have had opportunities that even the most famous main-stream bands would only dream of. The band has performed for President Obama and past Presidents as well. Bloomfield's own Bobby Wells brings his band back home with the release of a new dance single entitled “Boom” which features Jazz Artist Robin Filippone with an assist from Kenny Simmons, former member of the 3-time Grammy Award-winning R&B group The Commodores/ The two artists previously worked together on Filippone’s soon to be released Jazz CD, “Love For Sale.” Filippone is a former New Jersey Miss America contestant. She will be touring this summer with The Infernos on their 2012 “The Ultimate Tour”.

Parking and Traffic Issues Up for Debate at Key Meetings

Key votes in next week's Town Council and Planning Board meetings may both turn out to be decisive in Bloomfield's redevelopment plans. Monday night's biggest council meeting question is whether to keep feeding the PA meter or knock it down -- along with redevelopment plans. Among a long list of items on Monday's conference agenda are proposals that may lead to either increased borrowing for the town's fledgling Parking Authority or it's abolition.

At Tuesday"s Planning Board Meeting, the 225 Belleville's traffic expert is expected to make his case that 332 new apartments (with over 600 more cars) will not significantly complicate the traffic flow on Belleville Avenue. It's possible that this will be the last opportunity for the public to question the experts and state their opposition to the development before the Planning Board votes on the application.

Residents Raise New Concerns on 225 Belleville Cleanup

We've heard reports that the developer for the "Oakes Pond" site is stepping up his efforts to prepare the site for his ambitious development weeks before the Planning Board is prepared to vote oh his plan.

I drove down to the site to check out reports that the cleanup crew had been working closer to The Third River than his permits allowed.

Talked to Dan of Danco Inc. about the status of the operation. He insisted that such reports were "unsubstantiated." The DEP subsequently found enough evidence of unauthorized digging to issue a warning to Danco.

Ben Morse summed up many resident's concerns in an excellent Bloomfield Life column this week.
He points out that

"No cleanup is occurring in the area of historic fill. The developer plans to "cap" the contamination with clean soil. How this "clean fill" stays put during a flood – the site is known to have flooded in the 1930s and 1950s, and during hurricanes Floyd and Irene - is anybody’s guess."

Yet Another "Freeze" by Heller.

There have been many mistakes made over the last two decades that have delayed plans to redevelop Bloomfield's downtown. Some of the officials originally involved in the delays are long gone from the scene. Others may not be around when the ambitious plans are ultimately realized.  But one individual has rising from the rubble as the ultimate negative influence. The last obstacle standing is South Orange developer Cary Heller.

 

 In the unlikely event that hell freezes over and Heller wins his latest appeal, and he winds up building his "Field of Dreams", would anyone come?

Pink Floyd Tribute at BHS Tonight 7PM

Today, July 10, 2012, 7:00 pm

Bloomfield High School, 160 Broad St, Bloomfield, 

 Town Bicentennial Concert Series: 

Childhood’s End

(Pink Floyd Tribute Band)

Liongate 10 A.M. Event Postponed

Just received this  email .---No explanation given-- Called the Mayor –no return call ---nick

From: Rosemary Brown [mailto:rbrown@bloomfieldtwpnj.com] On Behalf Of Raymond McCarthy
Subject: CANCELLED ********Baykeeper and the Green Acre’s Ribbon cutting celebration Desimone property July 10, 2012 10am

The Sun Rises on Liongate Park This Tuesday

We're delighted to share this invitation from the revived and resuscitated Bloomfield Third Riverbank Association:

Dear Friends, You have already heard the good news that the township now owns the 5.7 acres plot of land along Liongate Drive recently purchased from developer John Desimone.

This acquisition, acquired with Green Acres and N.J./ N.Y. Bay keeper funding, is the result of a decade-long effort by the New York/New Jersey Baykeeper, The Rutger's Environmental Law Clinic, the Third Riverbank Association, the township Open Space Committee, township staff, and many, many friends and supporters. To all we say thank you in helping to preserve these critical wetlands.
In honor of this, we would like to invite you to two events:

 Tuesday, July 10 at 10 A.M. To officially welcome the property to the township's fold, the township will celebrate with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the property site. Directions: The property is off of Broad Streets on Liongate Drive opposite Glenridge Parkway. Liongate is the first cross street north of Bay Avenue on Broad St. Going south on Broad Street, it is the first left hand turn after the Glen Ridge Country Club.(You may have to park on Broad St. as roadwork is being done by the adjacent condo association.)

 Thanks,
 Nick Joanow and the Third Riverbank Association

It Always Rains On Bloomfield...

...except when it doesn't. Most towns in NJ and NY maintained their 4th of July plans -- including fireworks. (Still unaware of any other postponements in the area) We happened to pass by the GR Golf Club and enjoyed the climatic conclusion of their show from the lower depths of Broad Street. Seemed like the perfect metaphor for our town's dysfunctional government. Most of our neighboring towns also have a town pool and/or rec center as well as thriving downtowns. This was posted on the NJ Bloomfield Forum site by "byebyebloomfield":

I just don't get it: weather is perfect, everyone is off today, BBQing, celebrating having parties and waiting for the fireworks. Well the whole horizon of the sky lit up, all surrounding towns as ususal having their display, but not Bloomfield. No one knew anything, confusion and disapointment. And just hours earlier a police display sign at Hoover and JFK informend us that we are having fireworks tonight! Cruel joke I guess. I also start to believe in all af those posts below stating how screwed up this town really is!

In fairness, our Rec Department has done a superb job of producing some memorable events in our town -- especially in this Bicentennial year. However, celebrating the 4th on the 5th just won't be the same.