Montclair, NJ Real Estate, Homes For Sale, School & Community Information

Did you know the Montclair YMCA offers need-based financial assistance for programs and memberships, and school-aged child care. Clifton residents are included in this. Please visit montclairymca.org for more information.

They also provide Preschool Readiness Programs from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Each class consists of developmentally appropriate activities based on age. Communities coming together is a wonderful thing!

The student-athletes of Montclair Immaculate wash cars all Saturday morning and afternoon one day every spring to help earn extra funds for their sports program. Coaches, parents and often alumni come by to help and socialize a bit. It's a great way to help a great group of student-athletes!

The car wash became an annual event four years ago when a car wash was organized and held by the student-athletes to help raise funds to keep the school open. Since then these car washes have helped to provide many extras for the athletic program at Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair.

Immaculate Conception High School is located in Downtown Montclair, a co-ed parochial school educating Essex and Passaic County students since 1924. It is located at the corner of Park and Munn Streets, one block north of Bloomfield Avenue and the YMCA.

This year every car washed will receive a special coupon to Modell's for 15% off any purchase in any store or online. A portion of every sale will also go towards supporting the ICHS Student athletes!

The car wash will be held on June 10th, 2017. The cost is $10 for SUVs and $7 for cars.

If you currently live in the city and you're contemplating moving to the suburbs, you have probably heard of Montclair. Montclair has an urban feel, yet it has greenery and more space. There are many restaurants, parks, shopping, museum, farmers market, MSU, and now there is a hotel being built.

Houses are larger and you have more acreage. The styles of the homes are Colonials, Tudors, Victorians, and Craftsman. The square footage can range from 2000-5000 square feet and the prices range from $550,000- $2,220,000.

Montclair commute to NYC is very desirable. The New Jersey transit Midtown Direct, Montclair –Boonton Line, train is approximately 30 minutes commute to Penn station. There are also many bus stops throughout Montclair, which can take 45 minutes to an hour each way.

The 15.52 acre Edgemont Park is located in the heart of Montclair with a small pond and a fountain that is lit in the evening. It has an accessible children's playground and many a summer softball game is played in the park by local little leagues. During winter months, when the pond freezes over, ice skating is enjoyed by the community. Check out my photo taken during the Super Blood Moon Eclipse on Sunday evening, before the clouds totally obscured sight of the sky. The Memorial Obelisk with Winged Victory commemorates veterans of World War I and is the centerpiece of Edgemont Park.

October is going to be a busy month at Brookdale Park and in Essex County. It's a great time of the year to be outdoors! Check out the October calendar below.

October 3 - Essex County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm at 125 Fairview Avenue, Cedar Grove. For details call 973 792-9060
October 4 - Wellness in the Park 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at the Watchung Avenue entrance. There will be 150 health and wellness vendors, food, spa services, music and free fitness classes. More details at www.zenlivingevents.com
October 17-18 - Fine Arts & Crafts in the Park
October 17 - Essex County Computer & Electronics Recycling, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at 125 Fairview Avenue, Cedar Grove. Call 973 792- 9060 for more information
October 24 - Essex County Strut Your Mutt Costume Parade and Contest. This event will be at the Brookdale Dog Park. Registration is at 9:15 am with the parade at 10:00. Raindate 10/25.

If you missed seeing the Essex County Rose Garden in Brookdale Park in June, or if you'd like to take another look, the roses are in their second blooming right now and are glorious! The Rose Garden which was established in 1959 and renovated in 1997 and has more than 100 species of roses.

The 121 acre Brookdale Park was designed in 1928-1930, by the world renowned Olmstead Brothers. The now over 100 year old tree specimens are in beautiful form. This is a great spot on a foggy morning or late afternoon to take eerie photos. Montclair is home to 43 acres of the park and 73 acres are in Bloomfield. The park has trails for walking and running, tennis courts, an archery range, a stadium, and playing fields. It hosts music events sponsored by Essex County and is a very active and great oasis.

Join the student athletes and coaches of Immaculate Conception High School at their annual car wash on May 30, 1:00-4:00 pm to raise money for new uniforms and equipment. The small school will be celebrating its 90th year of educating young people from the Essex County area and beyond which is especially exciting as last year they were threatened with closure. But the students, teachers, coaches, parents and alumni rallied together, fought back and have remained open with a strong viable future. So come get you car washed ( cars,$7, SUVs and vans $10), meet the students and teachers, and get a feel for another part of what makes Montclair - Montclair!

Montclair is an urban/suburban town! Trees, sidewalks, restaurants and a great commute to NYC by either train, bus or drive. There are historic houses, new houses, old houses and apartment buildings. Montclair University is on part of Montclair land, and many residents work or study there.

There are over 200 community organizations that exist and provide services and information for residents and visitors. From the oldest bird club in the country, to new organizations called AIM (Aging in Montclair), there is something for everyone to get involved in. One could just sit around or get out and visit all the gardens such as the famous Presby Iris Gardens, the Van Vleck Gardens and the Campbell Gardens.

If you enjoy theaters or listening to music groups perform, there are many venues with easy access to NYC by train from one of the 5 train stations in town. If there is an interest you have, you could start a new group for that particular whim! Be sure to look at the pictures I uploaded of Montclair street scenes!

It must be spring, the tulips are blooming and people are looking forward to making the weekly visit to the Montclair Farmers Market at the Walnut Street Train Station. This spring also kicks off the weekly arrival of the South Park Farmer's Market on Tuesday afternoons.

It's not just produce offered at one of the area's oldest( this market was started in 1993) and most popular Farmer's Markets. You will find a cheese maker, a seafood fishmonger, local baker, a beekeeper delivering fresh local honey and the always popular pickler! Local farms include: Vacchiano's, Matarazzo's, Tree-Licious Orchards, Sunden Farms and Farmer John, the organic grower. All produce is usually picked within 24 hours of arriving at either market place.

The South Park Street market is held on Tuesday afternoons from 1:00-7:00 pm, and will open on Tuesday June 9, then every Tuesday until Thanksgiving. The Walnut Street Market will open for the season on Saturday, June 6 from 8:00am - 2:00 pm and will also continue until Thanksgiving.

Montclair is a commuters' delight, with five RR stations to choose from, and De Camp bus service to NYC with sidewalks to get there. Trees, parks, gardens, community events, innovative programs at the two libraries, the Art Museum and the Historic Society, plus the municipal programs at the parks, pools and skating rink. Historic homes, with new construction (it seems ongoing) keep the town vibrant. Movie houses, and theaters, Van Vleck Gardens, Presby Iris Gardens, nearby Mills reservation, and an active bike group provide interests for all. One of the oldest bird clubs, the MontclairBirdClub.org is an active educational organization. Local Rotary and Lions clubs, and many community groups provide more areas of involvement. There are 40 churches and civic groups and adjacent to Montclair State University certainly adds to your learning and enjoyment needs.

It maybe Super Bowl season, but this weekend, the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center will be hosting a special guest - The World Series Trophy! Designed by Tiffany & Company, this is the same trophy hoisted above the heads of the San Francisco Giants last October! Stop by beween 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, take a look and have your photo taken with it!

I volunteered at the Museum the first four years it was open - what a special place. Give yourself some time to walk around the musuem and think of warmer days of summer. Pitcher and catcher report in just a few weeks!

The Montclair Adult School, after struggling financially, has now become a part of the Montclair Public Library! It has a longtime tradition for having great classes (learn a new language, go to a wine or cheese class, learn to knit). Combining the two was such an obviously genius choice, I can't believe it wasn't made sooner! This new change will allow the Adult School to offer more classes on a regular basis, in one centralized location, as well as continue with many offsite field trips and workshops around town.

I have taken many great classes there including photography, cupcake baking, and heard different authors speak about their books. A couple of friends and I spent an evening at a Montclair Restaurant Tasting- we got to try a little bit of yumminess from 4 or 5 different restaurants signature dishes in one night! I have even hosted a class once on how to buy your first home!

Classes for 2015 begin on January 12, will run four days and nights a week, making the town library a new cultural community center in Downtown Montclair. If you are around Montclair on January 25, stop in the Montclair Library for the Adult School's open house from 2:00-5:00 pm. Members and volunteers will be on hand to discuss upcoming classes, workshops and day trips planned for 2015. The Montclair Public Library is located at 50 South Fullerton Avenue and there is street parking as well as The Crescent Parking Deck around the corner.

Join the Montclair Mounties football team (defending State Champions), the Montclair High School band and cheerleaders as they kick off their 2014 State Championship run. This is their fourth consecutive trip and takes place on Saturday, November 15 at 12:00 pm. Mountie fans will march from the front of Montclair High School, down Chestnut Street to Woodman Field for the first round of the NJSIAA play-offs. The Mounties are facing Livingston High School and the March Out starts at 12:15 at Montclair High School with kick off at 1:00 pm on Woodman Field!

Congratulations are in order! Deputy Fire Chief John Herrmann was sworn in as Montclair’s new Fire Chief on November 10, just prior to the Township Council Meeting. Chief Herrmann was joined by his wife Patty, children and extended family in the council chambers.

The former Deputy Chief has been with the Montclair Fire Department for 33 years, and has held his current position since 2004. Chief Herrmann has been the Township’s Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator since 2013. Over the course of his career with the Montclair Fire Department, he has received numerous commendations, including a bronze Medal of Honor from the New Jersey FMBA and was honored with a Valor Award. In 2008, he was named Fireman of the Year by the Essex County Emerald Society, where he is an active member. Welcome Chief and Good luck!

Wednesday Movie Matinee is a film series presented by the Montclair Public Library. The matinees are Wednesdays at 2:00pm in the library auditorium/theater. This event is being held through November 2014 featuring film classics and only films listed on the American Film Insitute list of 100 Greatest Movies. Future films will include: Casablanca, October 15; Wuthering Heights, October 22 and It Happened One Night on October 29.

All movies are free and open to the public. The Montclair Public Library is handicapped accessible. Come enjoy an afternoon at the movies!

The Second Annual Healthy Harvest Heritage will take place on October 31, 2014 from 6:00-10:00 pm at the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporate headquarters on 11 Pine Street, next to the Montclair Fire Department headquarters.

The H3 event is open to children of all ages and their families, offers a visit to Fire Headquarters as well as music, storytelling, dancing, crafts and games. Costumes are encouraged but not mandatory; attendees are encouraged to wear or create costumes that might reflect the rich diversity of this community's culture. There will a parade to show off costumes, divided by age group as well as plans for plenty of delicious, healthy food.

Hosted by the Fourth Ward Collaborative and Fourth Ward Council Member Renee Baskerville, the goal remains the same as last year - to provide children and families with a safe, healthier, fun and perhaps a more meaningful alternative to typical Halloween customs. For example, a treat bag of healthy snacks and a seed packet to plant for next year's harvest will be given to each child. Also, fitness experts will be on hand, local health providers, nutritionists and other health and human needs service providers to help promote a healthy lifestyle for adults and children.

For additional information or to find out how to help with the H3 Parade and Festival event, email Councilwoman Renee Baskerville at: [email protected]

The Israel Crane House is planning a grand re-opening celebration for Sunday, October 5, 1:00-4pm, with free admission during this time! Grand re-opening ceremony begins at 1:15 pm. There has been a three year long refurbishing that included exterior and interior painting of all rooms.

Visit the working Colonial kitchen (see and maybe taste some of what's baking), and see Carolina Capehart, a local food historian who will be demonstrating 19th Century hearth cooking on a real fire in the exterior kitchen! Then tour the house, check out the gardens and even visit the chickens in the chicken coop!

Looking for something to do that's fun, relaxing and free? Visit summer concert series at Brookdale Park! Held on Friday nights at 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park hosts a variety of musical venues in the middle of the park. All you need is a blanket or lawn chair, snacks and drink. Then you can relax or dance the night away. Tonight, August 8th was the cast of Beatlemania. Visit the link below for the August schedule in surrounding towns.

The Montclair Township Animal Shelter is looking for volunteers to help care for and feed the township's homeless animals. All shelter volunteers are required to attend an orientation class to learn how and what is done at the shelter. There are currently two new volunteer orientation sessions added to the Shelter schedule: Wednesday, August 20 and Wednesday, August 27.

If you'd like to sign up for an orientation at the shelter or to learn more, visit the Montclair Township Animal Shelter website.

The 4th Montclair High All Class Reunion will be held the weekend of July 18-19-20 with the flagship event being held at Nishuane Park on Saturday, July 19 from 12:00-8:00 pm. This free event will feature a photo booth, class pictures by decade, dunk tank with local "celebrity" tank sitters and local dj's. There will be access to the swimming pool (at a discounted rate), tennis courts, softball field and so much more! BBQ's are not allowed in the park but many local food vendors will be on hand to satisfy any hunger.

Other events this weekend include a "Walk Down Memory Lane" on Friday afternoon with guided tours through the halls of Montclair HIgh School at 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 pm. Following the tours is the All Star Alumni Basketball Fundraiser from 7:00-9:00 pm in the school's main gymnasium. All-Star players will be playing for bragging rights as the odd and even years play each other while being cheered on by alumni cheerleaders. Halftime entertainment will include a fan participation 3 point shoot out, half-court shoot contest and dunk contest. A $5 donation is requested as admission to the game. To cap off the evening, the Pig &Prince at 1 Lackawanna Plaza will host a Meet & Greet from 8:00 pm to closing(no cover).

Sunday Brunch is when all can bid farewell and be sure to get any missing emails and phone numbers from re-found friends at the Office Bar & Grill, 629 Bloomfield Avenue from 10:00 am-2:00 pm. The Office Bar & Grill is offering a 20% discount to all attendees of the Montclair High School All Class Reunion.

The Township of Montclair can be characterized as a medium size (in population), middle class suburban municipality. Montclair is located in the northern section of Essex County. It has a land mass of approximately 6.30 square miles and is bounded to the north by Cedar Grove, to the south by Orange, to the east by Glen Ridge and to the west by the Verona. New York City is located less than 20 miles east of Montclair. According to the 2010 United States Census, there were 15,089 households, and 9,446 families residing in the township. The median income for a household in the Township was $95,696, and the median income for a family was 126,983.

Montclair hosts many art institutions and theaters, and despite its relatively small size, has many art venues. Montclair also has its own art museum, the Montclair Art Museum, as well as several small art galleries. The townships’ income levels are higher than the state and county averages, and are consistent with surrounding municipalities with the exception of Glen Ridge, Essex Fells vs, Caldwell and West Orange.

MONEY INCOME 2010
Median Median Household Family Per capita
Area Name Income Income Income
New Jersey $69,811 $84,904 $34,858
Essex County 55,125 68,683 31,535
Caldwell borough 76,354 99,898 45,693
Cedar Grove 95,152 117,935 46,514
Essex Fells borough 182,031 202,917 94,423
Fairfield township 97,361 117,004 41,615
Glen Ridge borough 160,511 173,466 64,222
Livingston township 129,208 143,429 60,577
Montclair township 95,656 126,983 58,572
North Caldwell borough 151,953 178,750 71,798
Roseland borough 100,289 116,118 53,042
Verona township 93,839 126,000 47,689
West Caldwell township 102,584 118,018 44,244
West Orange township 88,917 106,742 43,368
Source: 2010 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau.

The Township of Montclair is a good choice for commuters to reside. Its income numbers indicate a average economic future in the long term. Montclair is a mature community well positioned geographically and with good accessible bus and rail transportation to Manhattan, which will result in a favorable outlook for single family homes and commercial properties to co-exist.

3rd Annual Beefsteak Dinner to raise funds for the Annual Montclair 4th of July Parade and fireworks celebration and introduction of this year's Parade Grand Marshal... not to give it away but - Elvis will be in the building on April 26!

Enjoy delicious beefsteak dinner with friends and neighbors while listening and dancing to the hometown band, Northeast of Nashville!

Beefsteak dinner features five courses: cold antipasto, French fries, macaroni, and buttery filet beefsteak in French bread... served till you say when or they run out- whichever comes first! - Dessert too if you have room!

This year’s event to be held Apr 26, 2014 at 7 p.m.
Madonna Hall at Immaculate Conception Church
30 North Fullerton Avenue Montclair
Parking in church lot at corner of Munn & Park Streets


Beefsteak dinner: $60 per person (includes dinner, beer, wine and soda)

Call the Montclair Rec Department for tickets: 973-509-4911

Montclair Celebrates is a group of resident volunteers working and fundraising for the annual July 4th parade and fireworks events to help defray cost no longer covered by township budget. The parade, fireworks and all July 4th festivities are now funded almost completely by donations.

The 4th of July Parade is an annual summer event in Montclair dating back further than most residents can remember. Local business create floats and compete for bragging rights, clubs and organizations all march. The Montclair Commonwealth Club, always a parade favorite, usually wins the float competition, in part because they always remember to bring along their super soaker water guns on a hot summer day!

Parade kicks off at 12:15 every July 4th. The parade route starts in downtown Montclair Center at the town library and heads west along Bloomfield Avenue then north along Midland Avenue, to Watchung Avenue around the bend to Edgemont Park on Valley Road to the reviewing stand and town park party.

The prettiest month in Montclair may very well be May... all the tulips and azaleas create a color explosion like no other season! The town has long celebrated the spring season as May in Montclair. It is a month long celebration of garden tours, art shows, fairs, parties, fair and markets through the town to remind people to get out and about town, enjoy their leisure time, shopping dining and exploring and celebrating Montclair.
Annual activities include the May in Montclair opening ceremonies and maypole performance at Watchung Plaza, the May Basket competition throughout town. Local businesses create spring floral baskets in order to win bragging rights for best basket, herb and plants sales as well as many more activities for families, seniors and singles throughout the month. The Montclair Film Festival also takes place in May throughout town at the different movie houses.
A true sign that May has arrived in Montclair is evident throughout the town as over 22,000 tulips bloom throughout the town- Edgemont Park, Kaveny Field, Brookdale Park, Crane Park, Anderson Park, Watchung Plaza, Yantecaw Brook Park, Cranberry Park and Nishuane Park all feature special theme and planted tulips beds.

With Spring approaching all I can think about is gardening...
Mark your calendars for the Essex County Master Gardeners Plant Sale
May 2nd, 3rd in Montclair and May 10th in Roseland.
The sale will include annuals; perennials; shrubs and small trees; beautiful plants for Mothers' Day; native New Jersey landscape plants, and Master Gardeners’ expert advice.