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This week on The Montclair Pod, a chance encounter with Gov, Mikie Sherril, Montclair Film's Tom Hall previews the 2026 festival, and public tickets go on sale today. Plus: religious signs at a Bloomfield preschool, the lieutenant governor's resignation, a shuttle bus report, and the end(?) of the swim school saga.
WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE
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What the Hell Is Going On With That? Foundations Prep parents push back on religious and political signs posted by Brookdale Christian Church, their landlord.
Montclair Film Festival preview: Tom Hall on "Wild Horse Nine," Colbert's conversation with Eisenberg, Giamatti and Moore, why "Referendum" didn't make the cut, and his advice for getting tickets. (tickets)
Montclair's jitney: What the township's interim report says about routes, fares and cost. (our 11 takeaways)
Swim school denied: The Planning Board votes down SwimQuest on Valley Road. (full story)
Lt. Gov. Caldwell resigns: What the investigation found, and how Gov. Sherrill fills the seat. (full story)
Sabor Montclair: MFEE's takeout fundraiser, Saturday, Oct. 10. (reserve a meal)
One Big Thing: The Fire Prevention Block Party at Nishuane Park runs 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday. Then Uptown Sound takes over Anderson Park, 2–8 p.m. (The Pod is a media partner of Uptown Sound.)
Resources & Links
From our archive, Montclair Film: Our 2025 festival preview · Last year's episode with Tom Hall · The Arts in Montclair: Voices of the Creators
From our archive, MFEE: Our past episodes with MFEE Executive Director Masiel Rodriquez-Vars: [LINK] / [LINK]
Montclair Film's full 2026 program
Township shuttle bus report
Foundations Prep: Who We Are
Questions or tips? [email protected]
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Happening on October 21.
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This week, Supper with the Super is basically doing double duty as What the Hell Is Going On With That? — Montclair Schools Edition.
We sit down with Montclair Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ruth B. Turner for a candid conversation about the first weeks of the new school year — and some of the biggest questions parents, students and taxpayers are asking right now.
We get into the district’s financial picture, the latest on the forensic audit, concerns around IEPs and special education services, the new cell phone rules, changes in classroom technology, freshman sports — and the middle school dress code controversy, where Dr. Turner shares an important update about what happens next.
We also talk about what feels different inside the district compared with this time last year, what still keeps the superintendent up at night, and what Montclair families should be watching as the school year unfolds.
Then, in town news: another ICE enforcement action in Montclair, a potentially significant change involving the Municipal Building property, and we remember a Montclair-born Grammy and Tony Award-winning musician.
Montclair Township: Current Road Closures & Traffic Impacts — because getting across town lately requires snacks and a contingency plan.
Toros Restaurant — where we recorded this edition of Supper with the Super.
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Happening on October 21.
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This week on The Montclair Pod, we dig into how the school district quietly updated the middle school dress code — and the very loud debate it's kicked off among parents, students, and now the Board of Ed. We hear from the 8th grader at Glenfield Middle School who started a petition over it. We also check back in on freshman sports: the community raised enough to bring them back this year, but is this a one-time rescue or an ongoing bill? Plus: your library card can save you money around town this month, two festivals close out September, a leadership shakeup at the BID, and Stephen Colbert's unexpected next act.
WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE
Register now for the NJ Small Business Sumit at Montclair State University.
Happening on October 21.
Use code MONTCLAIRPOD when you register here for $10 off.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, we sit down with comedian and Trump impersonator J-L. Cauvin — who also happens to be a full-time eviction prevention attorney and once ran for Congress in this district — to talk about his viral impression, why he never left the law, and what it was like campaigning against Anna Lilia Mejia. Plus: a Church Street development finally gets a tax-break green light, Montclair's water lines show a stark lead divide by ward, and we remember 9/11 and Gloria Steinem.
In this episode:
Resources & Links
Register now for the NJ Small Business Sumit at Montclair State University.
Happening on October 21.
Use code MONTCLAIRPOD when you register here for $10 off.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's the first day of school, and we're digging into Montclair's new cell phone and Chromebook rules with Screen Aware Montclair co-founder Jordan Goldberg, breaking down the massive Meta settlement, and introducing you to Beltley — the brand-new "town" that popped up overnight in a field between Nutley and Belleville, whose founder has some choice words for Montclair. Plus: a loaded magazine (no gun) found at a West Orange movie theater, a new Italian steakhouse coming to town, a rough night for Mounties football, a Tupac tribute event, and a very special tease for next week's show.
In this episode:
Register now for the NJ Small Business Sumit at Montclair State University.
Happening on October 21.
Use code MONTCLAIRPOD when you register here for $10 off.
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This week on The Montclair Pod, the new school year is almost here — and there’s a lot changing inside Montclair’s schools. Farnoosh and Mike sit down with MPACT founding member Dan Hafetz to unpack the group’s new report on Board of Education governance, what stronger oversight could look like, and why it matters heading into a wide-open school board race with zero incumbents running. They also look at the long-awaited forensic audit — including what it can and can’t actually tell us about the district’s financial problems.
Then, Montclair schools are going bell-to-bell phone-free. Farnoosh and Mike break down the new rules, and the bigger debate over whether taking phones out of students’ hands will actually improve focus, learning and school culture.
Also: that property tax letter every Montclair homeowner just received. What’s locked in for 2026? What’s merely a placeholder for 2027? And why might the number printed on your bill not mean what you think it means?
Plus, the Church Street piano may be making a comeback, Industry Tavern is headed to Lackawanna Station, Tous Les Jours is making way for Lenwich, Montclair High School climbs the national rankings even as some academic measures tell a more complicated story, and the Mounties gear up for football season. And on the home front, Mike becomes an empty-nester!
MPACT & the School Board
Property Taxes
ICE Enforcement in Montclair
Restaurant News
High School
From a previous episode
Register now for the NJ Small Business Sumit at Montclair State University.
Happening on October 21.
Use code MONTCLAIRPOD when you register here for $10 off.
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Montclair's 07042 ZIP code just landed at #2 on Realtor.com's list of the hottest housing markets in the country — so naturally, we wanted to know: is this a bubble waiting to burst? We put the question to Professor Joshua Harris, a real estate economist at Fordham, and break down what's actually driving the numbers, including a wild bit of compounding-interest math on a Bellevue Avenue building that sold for $50,000 in 1973. We also cover a very "Montclair Pod" legal question after a tree branch came down in Mike's yard, catch you up on the sights and sounds of the Montclair Jazz Festival, and hit the news: a new lawsuit against the school district, the never-ending saga of the Church Street piano, and another delay for the proposed Upper Montclair swim school. Plus: real estate headlines, including Aaron Rodgers listing his Cedar Grove-adjacent mansion, and Mike says goodbye to his daughter Rea as she heads off to college.
Register now for the NJ Small Business Sumit at Montclair State University.
Happening on October 21.
Use code MONTCLAIRPOD when you register here for $10 off.
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What does Upper Montclair need — and what should it look like in the years ahead? This week, we’re digging into the conversation about Uptown’s future, following a community meeting where residents and business owners weighed in on what’s working, what’s missing and what they want to see next.
We’re also catching up on a busy stretch of Montclair school news: the long-awaited forensic audit is moving forward, the district has hired a new communications director, there’s some encouraging news about district reserves, and new data offers a window into just how much students are using AI.
Plus: Why does it seem like there are rabbits everywhere this year? We went looking for answers. Mexicali Rose is making a comeback, a road rage incident on Park Street turns physical, and Jazz Fest is on the way.
And stick around for the food recommendations: our junior correspondents Coco and Priya share picks from around town, and Farnoosh and Mike reveal the Montclair restaurant currently at the top of their list.
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Happening on October 21.
Use code MONTCLAIRPOD when you register here for $10 off.
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This week: Christian McBride stops by ahead of the Montclair Jazz Festival, Madonna's new single traces back to a Montclair DJ, and we get real about how (and when) we use AI on this show.
Christian McBride & the Montclair Jazz Festival Eleven-time Grammy winner and Montclair Jazz Festival artistic director Christian McBride joins us to talk about how he and his wife, Jazz House Kids founder Melissa Walker, put down roots in Montclair back in 2005. We get into the 17th annual festival, happening Saturday, August 15th at Lackawanna Plaza, this year's collaboration with the Smithsonian's "Of the People" celebration, the Miles Davis and Coltrane centennial tribute, and the full lineup.
How We Use AI on This Show Our World Cup reflection reel sparked some questions from listeners, so we're pulling back the curtain on how we use AI to produce the show and run our newsroom.
Madonna, Danceteria, and a Montclair Connection Madonna's new song "Danceteria" pays tribute to the legendary early-'80s Manhattan nightclub, and it turns out there's a direct line back to Montclair. We talk to longtime resident Rafe Gomez, who snuck into the real Danceteria as a teenager and now recreates its sound weekly on Twitch as "Danceteria Rewind," reaching an audience of 60,000 around the world. He also tells us the story of the night he bought a young Madonna a drink, back when she was working coat check and the elevator. Catch Danceteria Rewind live on Twitch every Thursday night.
Register now for the NJ Small Business Sumit at Montclair State University.
Happening on October 21.
Use code MONTCLAIRPOD when you register here for $10 off.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The Montclair Pod:Church Street goes car-free (for now), Urban Outfitters quietly leaves downtown after 20 years, and our youngest correspondents ask Montclair what they’d change about their town — plus fried chicken, a music festival, and an ab robot.
Urban Outfitters quietly closed its downtown Montclair store after 15+ years, the chain’s first-ever NJ location. We dig into why, with theories from BID director Cesar Claro and developer Dave Placek, break down how Urban, Free People, and Anthropologie actually differ, and share your wild guesses for what should move in next (spoiler: “another clothing store” won).
Then we headed uptown to meet with Dan Campeas and Dayana Ordonez, the couple behind Farmhouse Fried Chicken and the new Uptown Sound music festival hitting Anderson Park on September 26. Mike previews his own set alongside Kevin March, a salsa band, and headliners Waterbury Road.
Farnoosh and Mike visit Pure Balance Center in Clifton for chiropractic care, Pilates, and a very high-tech ab-robot — this segment is part of our sponsored Farnoosh and Mike Get Healthy series.
Plus: Council member Susan Shin Anderson explains the thinking behind Church Street’s monthly car-free weekends (our poll on this is done in partnership with Twocents, the app that lets you give feedback directly to businesses, anonymously if you want), junior correspondents Coco and Priya hit the pavement to ask what people would change about Montclair, and a full news roundup: the MPACT school board report and this fall’s BOE candidates, Senator Andy Kim’s MediKids Act, NJ’s new Fair Price Protection Act banning grocery surveillance pricing, a scare at an East Orange summer camp, Montclair’s new permanent township attorney, and Pig & Butter’s new Orange Road location (opening tomorrow, 7/31).
Want to weigh in on Church Street? Give us your Twocents: montclairpod.com/church
Resources & Links
Register now for the NJ Small Business Sumit at Montclair State University.
Happening on October 21.
Use code MONTCLAIRPOD when you register here for $10 off.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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