Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Bus, Pharmacy, Restaurant: 3 Fights In Montclair Draw Police To Scene

Coming up on the Montclair Patch calendar: Virtual Open House at Berkeley College

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Wednesday August 19th Patch AM
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Greetings Montclair! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Three Montclair disputes in four days send police racing across town
  • How will Montclair State's new $120M science building affect students' wallets?
  • Meet the Montclair State leader quietly reshaping town-gown community partnerships

Also on today's calendar: Virtual Open House at Berkeley College and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do evil hens lay? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny and less humid, with a high of 88 and low of 72 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Thursday: Humid with a few showers, temps: high: 83, low: 68.
  • Friday: Mostly cloudy and less humid, with a high of 85 and low of 67 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Bus, Pharmacy, Restaurant: 3 Fights In Montclair Draw Police To Scene (patch.com) — Montclair police responded to three separate physical disputes in town over four days, including a fight on an NJ Transit bus near Lackawanna Plaza, an assault at the Valley Road CVS, and a refund-related altercation at Boschetto on Grove Street. One CVS employee was hospitalized and a customer was treated after being hit by thrown merchandise, while the other incidents ended without serious injuries. A Newark man faces multiple charges in connection with the pharmacy attack.
   

2. Montclair State Breaks Ground on $120 Million Science Building, Raising Student Concerns About Costs (themontclarion.org) — Montclair State University is moving ahead with a $120 million interdisciplinary science building while students grapple with rising tuition and housing bills for Fall 2026. Administrators insist the project is funded through grants and bonds, not directly from tuition, but acknowledge broader financial pressures. Student leaders are demanding clearer communication as many question whether they can afford to stay on campus.
   

3. Bryan Murdock (montclair.edu) — Montclair residents should know Bryan Murdock is the associate vice president leading Montclair State University's Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships. He's driving long-term collaborations like the Paterson One Square Mile project and the Anchor Collaborative, aligning university resources with local priorities. His work connects students, faculty, and community partners to tackle regional social and economic challenges.
   

4. New Jersey Has Two Of The Hottest Zip Codes In The US (nj1015.com) — Montclair's housing market just ranked as the second "hottest" ZIP code in the entire country, with a median home price around $1 million and homes moving quickly. A new Realtor.com study says limited supply and proximity to major cities are driving intense buyer competition. The piece contrasts Montclair with more affordable Sewell and other top-ranked towns nationwide.
   

5. Cedar Grove Keeps Montclair Ambulance Unit on the Job (montclairlocal.news) — Montclair Ambulance Unit will keep providing daytime emergency medical coverage in Cedar Grove under a new five-year contract, while still serving Montclair from its Walnut Street headquarters. The deal, nearly revenue-neutral for MAU, reflects rising EMS costs and the shift from volunteer to paid ambulance services across nearby towns, with billing policies that avoid sending Montclair or Cedar Grove patients to collections.
   

📸 Around Montclair

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • YMCA of Montclair posted a job opening for Wellness Floor Operations in Montclair. Apply here.
  • Mercado Montclair posted a job opening for Chef de Cuisine in Montclair. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Montclair here.

Ok Montclair! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Deviled eggs (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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