Lots of smiles, hugs and goodwill for Mounties Night at Montclair Brewery (Photos)
Who says you can't go home again?
Plenty of Montclair High School alumni who've been in town since their grade school days, who returned for the holidays or who just wanted to see old friends gathered Thursday, Dec. 2 at the Montclair Brewery for Mounties Night — raising $400 for Montclair Mutual Aid.
The funds will be used for the grassroots neighbors-helping-neighbors organizations' many initiatives, including its regular food distributions and Aisle 7, its project to distribute menstrual products to those who need them.
Alumni Kathy Murray, Joy Spiotta, Kevin Pierre and Megan Roberts had been looking for a way to help Montclair Mutual Aid and their fellow classmate, Aminah Toller (one of the group's founding members, and a member of the MHS class of 1989) — so the Mounties Night idea was born. Raffle baskets were filled with gift card donations from Angelbeck's Wine Merchants, The Little Daisy Bake Shop, Ani Ramen and Cornerstone Montclair. Ritesh Patel, owner of Brick Lane Curry House, guest DJ, along with Alonzo Brandon Jr. (class of 1990).
Information provided by Aminah Toler. Photos by Kate Albright for Montclair Local.
Toler is also a part-time employee of Montclair Local.
Shalon Harris holds out a winning raffle ticket Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
From left, Melissa Thornton, Aminah Toler, Shae Evans, Kimberly Ward Malloy (Montclair High School class of 1993), Cassandra Booker (class of 1995), Jason Granderson (class of 1995) and Fanya Feggins (class of 1995) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Derrick Battle gives the ticket bag a good shake while Aminah Toler laughs Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Joy Spiotta holds up a raffle item Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Kendra Brandon and Janine Jones Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Chad Smith (Montclair High School class of 1990) says thank you for the raffle item while Ritesh Patel holds the mic Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Ritesh Patel announces the next raffle item while Aminah Toler holds the bag of tickets Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Thomas White (Montclair High School class of 1982), right, collects his raffle prize from Ritesh Patel while Aminah Toler (class of 1989) looks on Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Alex Vargas (Montclair High School class of 1995) and Marcos Sanchez (class of 1987) browse Mountie gear Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Kahlyssa Foote (Montclair High School class of 1985) announces the beginning of the raffle draw Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
From left, Jason Curry (Montclair High School class of 1992), Lenny Banks (class of 1992) and Darland Thornton (class of 1991) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
From left, Alex Vargas (Montclair High School class of 1995), Landon Crawford (class of 1989), Tim Flowers (class of 1989), John Auletta (class of 1982) and Marcos Sanchez (class of 1987) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
From left, Robin Curry (Montclair High School class of 1986), Thomas White (class of 1982) and Derrick Battle (class of 1987) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Thomas White (Montclair High School class of 1982) and Derrick Battle (class of 1987) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Kahlyssa Foote holds out her "Love" purse Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
From left, Aminah Toler (Montclair High School class of 89), Megan Roberts (class of 1988), Fanya Feggins (class of 95) and Kahlyssa Foote (class of 1985) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Talik Johnson (Montclair High School class of 1988), James Puryeae (class of 1993) and Darian Puryeae (class of 1996) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Aminah Toler (Montclair High School class of 1989) greets Tim Flowers (also class of 1989) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
From left, James Puryeae (Montclair High School class of 1993) and Darian Puryeae (class of 1996) talk with Thomas White (class of 1982) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Nicole Frasier (Montclair High School class of 1988) arrives Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Fanya Feggins (Montclair High School class of 1995) holds a Mounties special flight Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Robin Curry (Montclair High School class of 1086) and Thomas White (class of 1982) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Aminah Toler (Montclair High School class of 1989) greets Thomas White (class of 1982) while Robin Curry (class of 1986) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Kahlyssa Foote (Montclair High School class of 85) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Cassandra Booker (Montclair High School class of 95) and Jean Warsager (class of 89) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Jean Warsager (Montclair High School class of 1989) greets Cassandra Booker (class of 95) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
From left, Jean Warsager (Montclair High School class of 1989), Kathy Murrah ( class of 89) and Joy Spiotta (class of 1990) Dec. 2 at Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Alonzo Brandon (Montclair High School class of 1990) DJs Dec. 2 for Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Shalon Harris (Montclair High School class of 1993) and Robin Curry (class of 1986) check out the raffle items Dec. 2 for Mounties Night at the Montclair Brewery. (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)