This week on The Montclair Pod, we go inside a Board of Ed meeting that ran past 1 a.m. — and somehow still ended with a discussion about how to make meetings more efficient. We also hear from outgoing student rep Wyatt Foster, who's heading to Brown in the fall and has plenty to say. Then we sit down with Anne Mernin, Executive Director of Toni's Kitchen, about what the SNAP cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill actually mean for families in Montclair. Plus: a viral Substack post has labeled us "interracial Wakanda," Pride Fest has a new new date, Eclectic Chic Boutique is closing, the Fieldstone tree story gets an update, and a Father's Day dinner at Sam's Table. Oh, and it's graduation day. Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

In this episode:

• The BOE meeting that would not end — executive session ran 2+ hours before the public meeting even started, and the whole thing wrapped past 1 a.m.
• Student rep Wyatt Foster on the board, the budget crisis, district consolidation, and what he's taking to Brown
• Anne Mernin of Toni's Kitchen on SNAP cuts, food insecurity in the suburbs, and what communities can actually do
• The CBO projects up to 47,000 NJ residents could lose SNAP benefits in a given month — a number larger than Montclair and Glen Ridge combined
• A public comment session on the district's use of the IHRA antisemitism definition drew a broad coalition of critics — including representatives from both CAIR and J Street
• Tech updates from the district: internet upgraded to 10GB (free), e-rate-funded network switches, new security cameras, Chromebooks going cart-based in K–5, predictive text disabled, AI guidelines in the works, and a student-built data dashboard
• Fieldstone trees update: the township responds, four trees confirmed removed, a new tree protection ordinance in the works
• Eclectic Chic Boutique closing July 24 after eight years on Bloomfield Ave
• Pride Fest has a new new date: October 11, National Coming Out Day, at Lackawanna Station
• Stay Sassy Substack's Jersey suburb power rankings: Montclair = "interracial Wakanda." We'll take it.
• Father's Day dinner recap at Sam's Table — Cape Verde tied Uruguay, the lobster pasta was great, and the burger got a very enthusiastic endorsement

• Toni's Kitchen
• MESH Montclair
• Human Needs Food Pantry
• Out Montclair / Pride Fest
• Eclectic Chic Boutique
• Sam's Table
• Stay SaaSy: Jersey Suburbs Post
• June 17 BOE Meeting Agenda
• Our Fieldstone tree story
• Our earlier Pride Fest coverage

• Watch the show: YouTube Channel
• Join our weekly newsletter and stay in the know
• Follow us on Instagram @themontclairpod
• Follow us on NewsBreak

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This week on The Montclair Pod, we're serving up a packed episode featuring school budget questions, local food news, community concerns, and a few major updates from around town.

For the latest installment of Supper with the Super, we sat down with Montclair Schools Superintendent Ruth B. Turner at Turtle + the Wolf for an honest conversation about the issues residents are talking about most: the forensic audit, the Juneteenth lunch menu controversy, the search for a permanent business administrator, and the school tax increase that's moving forward despite voters rejecting Question 2.

Plus, Mike accidentally becomes Montclair's unofficial tree correspondent after witnessing the removal of several large trees in the Fieldstone neighborhood—and hearing firsthand from residents who are upset about what happened.

And because this is Montclair, we spend plenty of time talking about food.

In this episode:

• Why school taxes are rising despite voters rejecting Question 2
• The latest on the stalled forensic audit, business administrator search, and upcoming tech policies
• Updates on special education, transportation changes, and the Juneteenth lunch menu controversy
• The debate over tree removals in Fieldstone and Montclair's proposed tree preservation ordinance
• New developments in the ICE detention cases involving pastry chef Leonardo Argoti Rubio and Montclair resident Alba
• A look inside Montclair's food scene: Java Love's 15-year journey, the reopening of Jackie's, and Mike's review of Ani Ramen's new sushi menu
• New features on The Montclair Pod website, including our community events calendar

• Turtle + The Wolf
• Java Love
• Jackie's
• Ani Ramen

Have a question for a future edition of Supper with the Super? Send us a DM or email us—we're collecting listener questions now for our next conversation with Ms. Turner in August.

•Watch the Show: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

•Join our weekly newsletter and stay in the know

•Follow us on Instagram @themontclairpod.

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We have a very food-forward episode this week.

We dive into our unforgettable dinner at Clementina, the new Adriatic-inspired Italian restaurant on Valley Road, and explain why we think it's one of the most exciting openings Montclair has seen in years. We share the remarkable origin story of chef and co-owner Michele Rocchi, whose dream of opening his own restaurant was sparked by an unexpected conversation with a guest while working on a luxury cruise ship.

We also share the news that sushi is coming to Ani Ramen. Mike spotted signage inside Ani Ramen announcing an upcoming sushi program and spoke with partner Kat Reyes about what's coming next.

And we spend time with the players, parents, and coaches behind Montclair Ultimate Frisbee, one of the town's fastest-growing youth sports communities. Farnoosh visits a middle-school practice at Brookdale Park and explores how a small local program grew into a thriving community that now competes at high levels and has launched its first girls team.

In What the Hell Is Going on with That…We discuss the terms surrounding the date change for Pride Fest 206 in Montclair, organized by Out Montclair.

In local news, we discuss Montclair State University's selection to operate New Jersey's public television stations, replacing the outgoing NJ PBS management arrangement. We also review the Historic Preservation Commission awards, and the latest updates involving ICE detentions affecting members of the local community.

Resources and Links

• Clementina
• Montclair Ultimate Frisbee
• 162 Union Street Listing
• Montclair Historic Preservation Commission
• GoFundMe campaign supporting Alba and her family
• GoFundMe campaign supporting Leonardo Argoti ("Chef Leo") and his legal defense fund

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This week on The Montclair Pod, we tackle some of the biggest conversations happening in town—from breakfast sandwiches to PrideFest, the World Cup, school finances, and a local immigration case that has touched many residents.

After asking listeners for recommendations, we embarked on a highly scientific (and cholesterol-heavy) tour of six local favorites: Dutch’s, Hot Bagels Abroad, Ray’s, Minia’s, Sunrise, and Jefferson’s. We sampled them side-by-side, debated the merits of rolls versus bagels, crowned favorites, and explored what each sandwich says about Montclair itself.

Out Montclair has postponed PrideFest from June 13 to August 1, citing rising costs, declining sponsorship support, and public safety concerns related to the opening weekend of the FIFA World Cup in New Jersey. We discuss the challenges of producing large-scale community events and what the late change means for vendors, attendees, and the broader community.

Montclair Public Schools continue moving forward with a forensic audit tied to the district's nearly $20 million budget deficit. Superintendent Ruth B. Turner tells us the district is reviewing proposals and interviewing firms, but details remain limited for now. We discuss what residents hope the audit will uncover and invite listeners to submit questions for our upcoming installment of "Supper with the Super."

Farnoosh visits the newly opened OddFellows Ice Cream downtown, talks with the co-owner about why they chose Montclair, and explores some of the shop's more adventurous flavors. The Brooklyn-born brand officially opened its doors last weekend and is already generating buzz.

With the FIFA World Cup arriving in New Jersey, we explore what it means for Montclair. We spotlight Sam's Table's transformation into a World Cup Café and welcome Montclair resident Greg Kahn, founder of GK Digital Ventures, to discuss the business, tourism, and economic opportunities surrounding one of the largest sporting events in the world. We also talk about traffic, visitors, local businesses, and whether World Cup ticket prices may actually come down.

We're excited to announce a new collaboration with Java Love. Look for co-branded Montclair Pod stickers on iced beverage cups around town featuring a QR code to learn more about the show and enter to win a $50 Java Love gift card. We'll also be partnering on several fun community stories throughout the summer.

MFEE Honors Outstanding Educators

CVS Shoplifting Highlights Cost-of-Living Pressures

A Local Family Caught in the Immigration Debate

• Sam's Table World Cup Café Reservations 
• GK Digital Ventures
• Weston Winners Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE)
• GoFundMe for Alba 

• Email: [email protected]

• The Montclair Pod Website
• Instagram @themontclairpod
• Join our Newsletter

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This week on The Montclair Pod, we dive into a surprisingly emotional episode about football, parking and civic spirit.

First: Montclair parking is officially getting more expensive. Meter rates are rising for the first time in eight years, evening enforcement hours are expanding until 10 p.m., and surge-style pricing is coming to parts of downtown Thursday through Saturday nights. Mike and Farnoosh unpack what’s changing, why residents are frustrated, and why the “after 7 p.m. is free” era is officially over.

We also get into the failed valet parking ordinance, the mysterious Warman Street overnight parking vote, and Farnoosh’s own parking ticket saga involving ParkMobile, the wrong car, and an upcoming possible Zoom court appearance.

Then: Montclair High School football enters a new era. New head coach Manj Singh — a Montclair native and member of the 1994 state championship team — joins the show to talk about restoring the spirit of Mountie football, building a new feeder system, creating a true home-field atmosphere at Woodman Field, and why sports matter far beyond wins and losses.

Plus:

• Freshman sports funding is officially saved after the Blue and White Club raised more than $176,000
• Farnoosh reports from freshman sports orientation night at MHS
• A new Uptown music festival is coming to Bellevue Avenue this fall
• Dan Campeas previews Farmhouse Fried Chicken, opening soon in Upper Montclair
• A disturbing assault involving a 14-year-old bicyclist
• Another attempted luxury car theft tied to a Bloomfield Avenue car wash
• MFEE’s “Minute to Win It” fundraiser returns to Lackawanna Plaza

Resources & Mentions

• Montclair parking ordinance updates and council meeting coverage
• Contesting a parking ticket in Montclair: Township parking portal
• Montclair Blue and White Athletics Club fundraising information
• MFEE “Minute to Win It” fundraiser: mfee.org
• Montclair Police Detective Bureau: 973-509-4721
• Montclair Police non-emergency line: 973-744-1234

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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
• Follow the Townwide Yard Sale on Instagram for updates — Sunday, May 31, 9 a.m.–5 p.m… weather permitting.
• ROUTE (Restore Our Transit in Essex): EssexRoute.org
• ROUTE on Instagram/Threads: @EssexRoute
• Human Needs Food Pantry
• NJ Transit World Cup travel information
• Stephen Colbert on Instagram

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• Subscribe: The Montclair Pod on YouTube.
• Official Documents: 2026-27 User Friendly Budget and Sullivan's April 29 Presentation Deck.
• History Center: Archives & Farm Camp.
• Read the Montclair Pod’s Complete Guide to Day Camps Within 5 Miles of Montclair.
• Support MESH: wearemesh.org.
• Athletics Fundraising: montclereblueandwhite.org.
• New Pods: Check out the Glenfield Pod and the MPACT Pod on Spotify and read their report, Budget Process 101.

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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 has played with everyone from The Breeders to Jeff Buckley, but his journey to Montclair is one of “kismet.”

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.

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.

The Board of Education held its vote on the 2026–27 spending plan, and the numbers are staggering.

This Saturday, May 9th, The Bellevue Theatre is throwing itself a birthday party from 10 AM to 2 PM.

• Guest: Follow Kevin March and Rocking for Inclusion at rockingforinclusion.org.
• Guest: Buy Workhorse by Caroline Palmer at Watchung Booksellers.
• Book Review: Read the New York Times review of Workhorse.
• Music: Look out for the new GBV record, Crawl Space of the Pantheon (Out May 29).

• Official Document: Township Recovery Plan for Local Parks
• Official FAQ: Erie & Essex Parks Snow Masses FAQ
• NJ.com: Will this trash-covered pile of snow ever disappear?
• NJ.com: Officials scramble to clean up trash-filled swamp in NJ park
• News 12: Trash-filled snowbanks remain in Montclair parks
• Patch: Montclair’s remediation plan for local parks

• School Budget: Full breakdown of the $851 tax increase and planned cuts.
• Budget Docs: Review the 2026-27 User Friendly Budget on the Montclair Schools website.

• Watch the Show: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
• Join our weekly newsletter and stay in the know
• Follow us on Instagram

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• 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.

• 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.
• Walnut Street Fair: (Sunday, May 3, 11am-4pm). 250 vendors, food trucks, and Touch-a-Truck.
• Mike’s Gigs: Catch Bard 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
• Join our weekly newsletter and stay in the know

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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.

Following our "Supper with the Super" 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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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!

• Guest: Follow Jen Tripucka and the team at The Montclair Girl. Learn more about their courses and coaching here.
• Guest: Buy Nikki Mammano’s memoir, Breaking Good.
• Book Sale: Get the details for the College Women's Club Book Sale.
• School Budget: Read Andrew Rice's deep dive into the math at My Montclair Education.
• Watch and subscribe to The Montclair Pod on Youtube
• Join our weekly newsletter and stay in the know

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