http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/ Daily news source for Montclair en Copyright 2011 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:58:34 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/07/montclair-today-july-22.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/07/montclair-today-july-22.html July 22 Montclair Today Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:58:34 -0800 The Montclair Walkers has celebrated its 25th anniversary, with the intent of walking another 25. 

On July 13, the group was praised by city officials for its years of dedicated service and creating a group seniors that can call each other a family. 

The current 300-member club meets three mornings per week - at 9 a.m. - at the Montclair Plaza, before it opens to shoppers for early stretching exercises then heads up to the second floor for an hour-long walk.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/07/montclair-walkers-celebrate-25.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/07/montclair-walkers-celebrate-25.html Montclair Walkers celebrate 25 years Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:53:12 -0800  Three heads of local construction companies raised concerns at this week's City Council meeting over the possibility of eliminating the redevelopment agency. 

The businesses' anxiety is a result of two trailer bills that were signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in his 2011-2012 budget that would shut down a city's redevelopment agency unless the city pays a portion of its money to the state to keep it operating. 

Cities have until Oct. 1 to decide what their plan of action is. Until then any new project through the redevelopment agency - which is designed to develop or upgrade blighted areas - must be suspended.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/07/case-made-for-redevelopment.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/07/case-made-for-redevelopment.html Case made for redevelopment Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:55:52 -0800 A new special-needs project in the city is on hold because of two state trailer bills that could determine the future of their redevelopment agency. 

Wrapped in Gov. Jerry Brown's 2011-12 fiscal budget were two bills that would shut down each city's redevelopment agency unless the city forks over a portion of its redevelopment money to the state in order to keep its agency operating. 

Under the terms of the new legislation, cities cannot enter into new agreements until they figure out whether they want their agency to go out of business or if they want to continue it, said City Manager Edward Starr.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/07/montclair-officials-halt-proje.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/07/montclair-officials-halt-proje.html Montclair officials halt project due to redevelopment legislation Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:57:29 -0800  City businesses will soon be able to permanently keep their promotional banners waving for 90 days a year. 

City Council members this week approved an ordinance that would relax a policy for banners and special signs to help businesses during the tough economy. 

The council temporarily changed an ordinance in 2009 to allow businesses to display the banners from 48 to 90 days per calendar year, but that policy ended June 30.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/07/montclair-council-to-permanent.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/07/montclair-council-to-permanent.html Montclair council to permanently relax banner ordinance Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:54:49 -0800 Rufus Fairley loves playing the piano, and loves sharing his passion with his friends. 

At the city's Senior Spotlight on June 15, Fairley presented an "Afternoon Musical Interlude" at the Senior Center where more than 50 seniors attend the musical performance. Each month a different senior teaches a workshop on their special skill.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/senior-entertains-montclair-au.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/senior-entertains-montclair-au.html celebrates 89th birthday Senior entertains Montclair audience at the piano Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:46:04 -0800 http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/montclair-today-june-24.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/montclair-today-june-24.html June 24 Montclair Today Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:44:27 -0800 Public safety and other city employees will be asked to permanently contribute to their pension benefits to help the city deal with a long-term shortfall in its bond payments. 

As a temporary relief, employees in the past two years have been asked to pay 6 percent of their membership contribution to the California Public Employees Retirement System. They will be asked again to do so for the next fiscal year, but now as a permanent contribution. 

"This is something that does need to be negotiated," said City Manager Edward Starr.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/montclair-seeks-permanent-solu.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/montclair-seeks-permanent-solu.html Montclair seeks permanent solution Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:47:08 -0800 http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/montclair-today-june-17.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/montclair-today-june-17.html June 17 Montclair Today Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:48:01 -0800 http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/montclair-today-june-10.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/montclair-today-june-10.html June 10 Montclair Today Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:50:45 -0800 What was once an area that residents complained about for its crime is now a place where children play freely and where families have barbecues. 

City and National Community Renaissance of California officials have welcomed a low-income, multi-family housing development at the corner of Kingsley Street and Mills Avenue. 

The project - the third of its kind by the developers - cost about $16.5 million. 

The Montclair Redevelopment Agency provided a loan of $4.3 million.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/ribbon-cutting-in-montclair-fo.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/06/ribbon-cutting-in-montclair-fo.html Ribbon cutting in Montclair for new affordable housing Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:49:19 -0800 A number of speed limits could increase around the city in a month. 

City Council members approved a proposed ordinance at a meeting this month that could increase the miles per hour allowed after conducting an engineering and traffic survey. 

A total of 128 test areas were used with speeds checked on more than 10,000 vehicles, according to a staff report. 
]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/05/montclair-city-council-oks-spe.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/05/montclair-city-council-oks-spe.html Montclair City Council OKs speed limit increase Mon, 30 May 2011 17:43:06 -0800  The City Council has approved design plans for an 18-unit development for residents who have physical disabilities and low incomes. 

The project - which is the first of its kind in the city - will be at 4115 Kingsley St., at the corner of Pradera Avenue. 

Developers National Community Renaissance has teamed with United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles to provide services in the complex that will allow residents to live independently.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/05/housing-plans-for-disabled-okd.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/05/housing-plans-for-disabled-okd.html Housing plans for disabled OK'd Mon, 30 May 2011 17:42:14 -0800 Montclair Human Services Division is trying to help low-income seniors receive free food through their Food Commodity Program. 

At 10 a.m. every third Thursday of the month city residents - with proof of income and residency - are welcome to participate in the program that is coordinated with the Community Services Department of San Bernardino County. 

"After doing this for so long you get to know some of these people, and they are so wonderful, you know - being poor is not a crime," said Ester Vargas-Pipersky, senior program specialist.  ]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/05/montclair-helps-seniors.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/05/montclair-helps-seniors.html Montclair helps seniors Fri, 27 May 2011 17:38:58 -0800 http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/05/montclair-today-may-27.html http://www.insidesocal.com/montclairnow/2011/05/montclair-today-may-27.html May 27 Montclair Today Fri, 27 May 2011 17:34:01 -0800