Bloomfield Old and New -- landmark book now accessible online

Thanks to the Historical Society of Bloomfield, you can now freely download the entire Google-scanned copy of the original 1912 publication of Bloomfield, old and new: an historical symposium edited by Joseph Fulford Folsom. You can also read it online without downloading the 200 page work. What's really cool is that the extensive index(sampled above) is hyperlinked, so you can easily locate any page with a reference of interest with the click of your mouse.

End Game Near at Foley Field

Originally built in 1934 as a Depression inspired WPA project, Foley Field's massive major renovation project is finally reaching it's goal line. The renovations were funded by a $2.9 million bond passed in 2010 after a more ambitious bond issue was defeated. Bloomfield High's first football game in the new field is scheduled for September.

A live streaming video of Foley Field’s renovations cab be seen at http://www.bloomfield.k12.nj.us/foley/

Go Jump in the Lake!

Since, Bloomfield is one of the few large NJ towns without a public pool, we've found this beach to be the closest, cheapest($5), cleanest, cheeriest, and less crowded of them all.

Stay Cool!

Temps were at an all time high of 108 degrees in Newark today, so we checked out the Bloomfield Township website to see if there were any contingency plans in effect for power failures or seniors in need of help. In fact, Bloomfield has its page updated thusly:

"Friday, July 22, 2011 EMERGENCY NOTICES:
Due to the predicted amount of snow this winter, we would like to request that all residents move their cars off of the street once the snow starts to fall...."

Thankfully, we are now able to enlist the help of Google to find an NJ.com list of Essex County cooling centers that included our very own  "Civic Center, 84 Broad St., open continuously through 6 p.m. tomorrow."
If you know of anyone without working air conditioners, please let them know about this.

By the way, one of Yoshi Manale's observations at Saturday's Q & A was that our town doesn't have the resources to water its newly planted curbside trees. He suggested that we all assume the responsibility of watering the trees on the strips in front of our homes -- or next door if they look parched. It would be a great project for a neighborhood group to organize.

BNAC Interview with Yoshi Manale (Video Link)

The 90 minute discussion with Bloomfield's Neighborhood Association Committee and the Bloomfield Town Administrator can now be viewed online via this WBMA-TV link. After the meeting, Susanna Sotillo commented: "This was a very informative event. Participants from all three wards were represented and we were given sufficient time to ask questions and express our views. Yoshi provided a lot of useful information. This is democracy in action."

Bloomfield's Underground Streams and Lakes

Baristanet just posted an interesting piece on the historic rivers, streams, and ponds of the Bloomfield and Montclair area. Many new maps and diagrams have been unearthed by local historian Frank Gerard Godlewski as a result of the discovery of forgotten underground streams surrounding Montclair's newly constructed Sienna condo complex. At right is one of the more revealing maps (click on map to enlarge) showing the older streams that flow from Montclair to the former Watsessing Pond. The numerous comments reflect a continuing fascination with the subject in both towns.

New State Aid Targeted for Bloomfield Schools Announced

Bloomfield's Public Schools will see $1.6 million in additional state aid for the 2011-2012 school year. This is a result of revised figures from from the Governor's Office.
(Photo of 1939 BHS archery team courtesy of The Historical Museum of Bloomfield)

According to Bloomfield Life, all non-Abbott school districts are receiving a second aid package, matching February's initial allotment. The exact figure is $1,580,857, raising the Bloomfield schools' state funding total to $18,876,003 for 2011-12.

Adjacent towns are seeing a boost as well. Examples include Nutley ($1.08 million), Belleville ($1.16 million), Montclair ($2.2 million) and Clifton ($2.86 million). And East Orange, a former Abbott District, is receiving over $10 million.\

Relay for Life KIcks Off

Last night was the first organizing session for Bloomfield's Relay For Life at Bloomfield High School's Media Center. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.
Although every Relay For Life is different, there are certain traditions at all Relays, no matter where they are held. These traditions help participants celebrate, remember, and fight back

Yoshi Manale to Speak at BNAC 10 AM Saturday

Bloomfield Township Administrator Yoshi Manale will be the guest speaker. at Saturday's meeting of Bloomfield's Neighborhood Association Committee. Manale was narrowly confirmed by the Town Council in January after the abrupt resignation of the previous Administrator, Fred Carr.

The meeting format is usually a brief overview by the guest then questions from residents.It will take place in The Mayor's conference room in the second floor of the Police Building at the corner of Montgomery and Franklin streets,

The BNAC is a loosely organized grassroots network of Bloomfield residents which meets 6 times a year to share interests, concerns and events. Anyone can attend meetings. The BNAC sponsors candidate forums and periodically invites local leaders to meet with residents.

The Kootz Plays Brookside

It was a hot night on The Third River as The Kootz's smallest fans shook it up during the concert.

Big News Regarding Thursday Cell Tower Meeting

T-Mobile has requested an adjournment to the Zoning Bord hearings
until September 30th 2011 (July/August/September). Essentially it is
an indefinite adjournment. The only reason given is that "T-Mobile is
presently reviewing certain issues related to this application"

What this means is when T-Mobile is ready to come back in front of
the Zoning Board they will have to re-notice everyone again, including
the ad for the newspaper. It will be read in to the record on Thursday
July 16th, either through Mr. Pryor (T-Mobile's attorney) in person,
or a letter will be read in to the record.

At this point we do not know if the Zoning Board will vote to reject
the application on Thursday because of this adjournment.

Stay tuned for updates.

Treffinger Now Leading Bloomfield Prayers

Jim Treffinger grew up in Maplewood and graduated magna cum laude from Seton Hall University in 1972 with a degree in history. . A Fulbright scolar, he earned a J. D. degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark in 1976.

In 1994, Treffinger became the first Republican County Executive of Essex County in 35 years and was re-elected in 1998. He was a rising star in Republican politics and the favorite to win his party's nomination for a U.S. Senate seat when federal authorities raided his Newark office in 2002. He ultimately admitted he put two campaign staffers on the county payroll and obstructed the federal probe.

After spending time in prison for his crimes, he graduated from seminary and is now one of the pastors at Brookdale Christian Church in Bloomfield.

Bloomfield Map, c.1880

Courtesy of The Historical Society of Bloomfield

Open Gardens comes to Bloomfield

Among seven local hosts for Cornocopia's latest Open Organic Gardens event were two Bloomfielders: Toni Spiotta on Watchung Ave. and Florence Rollino at Wells Ct. Rollino (above) started her own landscaped-designed garden about 10 years ago
and for the past two years has included a 16 x 24-foot
working ‘farm’ within the landscape design. She grows
many, many tomatoes for ‘home-drying’ as well as for
sauce, along with many other veggies and floral displays.
Their next event will be September 17.

Runners Pass Through Broad and Essex Neighborhoods

Video can be seen on YouTube. Here's the official list of those who finished. Congratulations to all!