This week, we are celebrating Montclair as a “Creative Island.” We sit down with legendary drummer Kevin March (Guided by Voices, The Dambuilders) to discuss his journey from Brooklyn to the heart of the Montclair music scene and his mission to help the next generation find their “Honest Noise.” We also explore the high-stakes world of fashion with former Vogue editor and author Caroline Palmer, whose debut novel Workhorse is taking the literary world by storm.

But it’s not all rock stars and fashion icons—we have some heavy lifting to do in the local news department. We investigate the “toxic garbage snow” and break down the staggering $179.8 million school budget proposal that includes a massive tax hike and deep cuts to student programs.

Kevin March (Guided by Voices / School of Rock)

Kevin March has played with everyone from The Breeders to Jeff Buckley, but his journey to Montclair is one of “kismet.”

Caroline Palmer (Workhorse)

Former Vogue and Amazon Fashion editor Caroline Palmer joins us to talk about the “spell” of the fashion industry and the discipline required to transition into the writing life.

“What the Hell is Going On With That?”: The Toxic Snow Fiasco

It started with February’s 19-inch blizzard. We investigate why the town dumped massive piles of salt, chemicals, and road debris in Essex and Erie Parks.

In The News: The $179.8M School Budget

The Board of Education held its vote on the 2026–27 spending plan, and the numbers are staggering.

One Big Thing: The Bellevue’s 104th Birthday

This Saturday, May 9th, The Bellevue Theatre is throwing itself a birthday party from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Links & Resources

Guest: Follow Kevin March and Rocking for Inclusion at rockingforinclusion.org.
Guest: Buy Workhorse by Caroline Palmer at Watchung Booksellers.
Book Review: Read the New York Times review of Workhorse.
Music: Look out for the new GBV record, Crawl Space of the Pantheon (Out May 29).

The Toxic Snow Fiasco

Official Document: Township Recovery Plan for Local Parks
Official FAQ: Erie & Essex Parks Snow Masses FAQ
NJ.com: Will this trash-covered pile of snow ever disappear?
NJ.com: Officials scramble to clean up trash-filled swamp in NJ park
News 12: Trash-filled snowbanks remain in Montclair parks
Patch: Montclair’s remediation plan for local parks

School Budget & Local News

School Budget: Full breakdown of the $851 tax increase and planned cuts.
Budget Docs: Review the 2026-27 User Friendly Budget on the Montclair Schools website.

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