DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Sadly, Montclair this week was still feeling the impact of August 4’s Tropical Storm Isaias. Lingering power outages, downed trees, fallen branches, etc. Were you affected?

Sincerely,
Wan With the Wind

Less than many other residents. My apartment lost power for six hours, but at least I knew where downed tree limbs were before my walk the next day. How? My bank website’s branch locator.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Was there any significance to the storm reaching Montclair on the one-month anniversary of July 4th?

Sincerely,
Phil A. Delphia

None that I can think of except for the Declaration of Independence being signed by Isaias Washington, Isaias Jefferson, Isaias Franklin, Isaias Adams…

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Speaking of democracy and one-month spans, there’s now less than a month before the scheduled September 11 court hearing about whether all the votes in Montclair’s mail-only May 12 election will be counted. Can you recap the situation?

Sincerely,
House of the Rising Summary

Sean Spiller received just 195 more mayoral votes than Dr. Renee Baskerville, even as over 1,000 mailed-in-time ballots were nixed for arriving late or for minor signature issues. My phone calculator says 1,000 is more than 195, but I’ll double-check on an abacus.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
On August 7, Baristanet published a great piece listing Black-owned businesses in Montclair. How many establishments were mentioned?

Sincerely,
Rosanne Cashregisters

An impressive total of nearly 40, according to the abacus I purchased between questions. How did I buy an abacus so quickly, and where? If you’re looking for answers, write to “Dear Abby.”

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Also on August 7, Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Ponds sent out another letter with more details about Montclair’s upcoming school year during this Covid time. What were three things discussed and one thing not discussed?

Sincerely,
Four to the Fore

Discussed: K-2 instruction, special education, and ventilation. Not discussed: abacuses.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Speaking of Dr. Ponds, he’s having a conversation with 4th Ward Councilman David Cummings that’ll air on TV 34 and YouTube. When is the deadline for people to submit questions?

Sincerely,
A Talk to Remember

Tomorrow, August 14, which also happens to be the 70th birthday of “The Far Side” creator Gary Larson. I’m still haunted by his darkly funny cartoon of a chicken taking a human baby after a person takes the chicken’s eggs. Not exactly the Hillside Swap.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Then, on August 8, Montclair Mutual Aid held an event at Glenfield Park to give out books, ice cream donated by Gelati by Mike, and more. How good was all that?

Sincerely,
An MMA Day

Very good. Speaking of books, I’m currently reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s excellent “Americanah,” which partly takes place in our state. My abacus indicates that more novels are set in New Jersey than in toaster ovens.

DEAR MONTCLAIRVOYANT,
Perhaps you should chuck today’s abacus theme?

Sincerely,
Bea Gone

Maybe, because another Montclair power outage would render my abacus useless. Not sure why an ancient analog device was souped up with so many bells and whistles that I can even hold a Zoom meeting by clacking some wooden beads.

Dave Astor, author, is the MontClairVoyant. His opinions about politics and local events are strictly his own and do not represent or reflect the views of Baristanet.