Montclair State’s Rocky the Red Hawk, staff and alumni joined in the Township of Montclair’s Fourth of July Parade, greeting residents of all ages along the way.

Take a stroll down Montclair’s Valley Road to see a mural created by Montclair State students under the direction of professor Julie Heffernan and adjunct instructor Zachary Wollard through the College of the Arts’ collaboration with the Montclair Arts Council and the township. The mural is on display in the Upper Montclair business district on Valley Road between Bellevue and Lorraine avenues. An official unveiling ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18. The students artists are undergraduates Kyle Coniglio, Alfred Marroquin, Andrew Fondanarosa, Daniela Puliti, and Melissa Graff and graduate students Saydi Kaufman, Ji Yong Kim, Gavin Gewecke Sarah Zar, and Gianluco Bianchino.

Montclair State University's K-9 Officer "Max" recently assisted the Little Falls Police Department in the arrest of a driver transporting marijuana. After stopping the driver for speeding, the Little Falls police officer detected a strong odor of raw marijuana from the vehicle while speaking to the driver. The driver consented to a search of his vehicle and a small amount of marijuana residue was found inside the vehicle. Because the officer still smelled raw marijuana inconsistent with the amount found inside the vehicle, he requested the University's K-9 assistance. Montclair State University Police Officer William Comerro, pictured center, responded with Max, who located a built-in compartment on the outside of the vehicle, which had distribution-sized amounts of marijuana inside. Also pictured with Max are Police Chief Paul Cell and Montclair State President Susan A. Cole.

Little Falls Mayor Mike DiFrancisci was the featured guest on "Carpe Diem," the award-winning weekly half-hour magazine show produced by Montclair State's Department of Broadcasting. This episode's host was Tania Ivanova '09, an associate producer of "Due Process" on New Jersey Network. "Carpe Diem" covers a wide range of topics of interest to New Jersey. Reaching about a half million households in New Jersey, "Carpe Diem" is produced at the DuMont Television Center on campus and can be seen on Comcast and Cablevision. Check your local television listing for the channel that airs "Carpe Diem." The most recent episodes also can be viewed online at www.montclair.edu/Arts/broadcasting/departmentproductions/carpediem.html

Julie Adams, right, executive director of University and Community Relations at Montclair State presents, Montclair State goodies to Holly Reddington, president of the Parent-Teacher Association of the Bradford School in Montclair, for a Bradford School fundraiser. The "Raise the Roof" auction was held April 10 and raised nearly $35,000 to fund teachers' wishlists. The University donated a basket that included the chance for a child to be Little Rocky for a day; discount certificates for the Preparatory Center for the Arts, the Academically Gifted and Talented Program, and the Stokes State Forest Music Camp; four tickets to a 2011 Red Hawk baseball game; and items from the University Bookstore including a sweatshirt, T-shirt, socks, cap and water bottle. The Friedberg family was the lucky winner.

Clifton residents Jonathan Schwartz, a senior, and Edyta Klawinowska, a junior, were two of 37 students from the University’s Accounting Society who provided free individual tax services to qualified individuals at the Passaic Public Library. The group assisted 53 taxpayers.

Members of the community came to the Van Reyper-Bond House on June 5 to watch an ongoing archaeological excavation taking place at the 19th-century house located on the south part of campus. Sponsored by the Center for Heritage and Archaeological Studies (CHAS) and the Department of Anthropology, the excavation is being conducted by students of the Archaeological Field Methods course under the direction of Peter Siegel, associate professor of Anthropology. Siegel talked about the Van Reyper-Bond House, focusing on the historical and social context for the occupation of the house over time, and suggested how social and economic characteristics of historical houses can be reflected in archaeological deposits.

Montclair State University was represented at the recent Bonner Foundation 20th Anniversary Summer Leadership Institute held at Berea College, in Berea, KY. Three undergraduate Bonner Leaders, two graduate student interns, and one staff member attended leadership and professional development workshops along with representatives from more than 60 other college and university Bonner Programs from across the country. The Bonner Leader program is a service-based program providing students access to education, personal and professional development; providing the community with energy and leadership of service-minded college students; and the University with a civic-minded group of student leaders promoting a culture of service on campus. The Montclair State University Bonner Leader AmeriCorps program has completed its second year on campus. During the 2009-2010 academic year, 17 Bonner Leaders completed more than 2,300 hours of community service, and participated in more than 480 hours of training and enrichment activities. As each of these students complete their 300-hour AmeriCorps term of service, they will receive a $1,000 education award to apply toward tuition, student loans or other academic expenses. Pictured from left are graduate students Dan Levy and Maya Bley; Bonner Leaders Stephanie DiCindio, and Caitlin Darragh; Amy Zavadil, staff; and Fernando Campusano, Bonner Leader.

A group of students from Renaissance School in Montclair recently participated in the NJ First LEGO League Smart Move Competition in which they created a fictitious aboveground transportation system for Montclair State University. Before heading off to the regional competition held Dec. 4, the team, Yo-Botics, presented their plan to officials at the University. For the state championship held Dec. 12 in Flanders, the team presented a 3D model of the campus and a model aerial system created with Legos. The project did not place in the competition, but the team earned third place in the Robot Design Category among 48 teams.

Senior citizens from Little Falls and Montclair came to campus April 23 for a free performance of �Saint Nicolas,� Op. 42 Cantata performed by the Montclair State University Singers and Chorale at the Alexander Kasser Theater.

Senior citizens from Little Falls and Montclair came to campus April 23 for a free performance of �Saint Nicolas,� Op. 42 Cantata performed by the Montclair State University Singers and Chorale at the Alexander Kasser Theater.

Montclair State was an official sponsor of this year’s Little Falls Street Fair, which took place on Main Street and Stephens Avenue on July 5. Rocky the Red Hawk and Little Rocky paid a visit to the Montclair State booth, where attendees received some free gifts and information about the University and it’s programs.

Montclair State was an official sponsor of this year’s Little Falls Street Fair, which took place on Main Street and Stephens Avenue on July 5. Rocky the Red Hawk and Little Rocky paid a visit to the Montclair State booth, where attendees received some free gifts and information about the University and it’s programs.

Montclair State University Service-Learning and Community Engagement Program, in partnership with numerous campus offices and programs, is planning for a Sept. 11, 2010 Community Day of Service. Last year, Community Partner Day of Service engaged more than 100 students in service in Montclair, Little Falls, Clifton, Newark, and Hillside. Pictured, Rocky the Red Hawk and Montclair Fourth Ward Councilor Rich Murnick, standing fifth from left, joined students and nearby residents in a clean-up project. It is anticipated that close to 200 students will participate in this year's event. If you are a part of a non-profit or community agency that could use the support of college students for a few hours of service on Saturday, Sept. 11, please contact Amy Zavadil at zavadila@mail.montclair.edu or 973-655-4268.

Four Montclair State students helped the co-chairs of the Little Falls Women's Club Conservation and Gardening Committee spruce up the flower beds around the Club's 100-year building located at the corner of First and Prospect. Pictured, from left, are Bernadette Hourihan of the Women's Club; Chris Ponce, a sophomore majoring in family and child studies; Stephanie Dicindio, a sophomore majoring in psychology; Nicholas Jones, a senior majoring in information technology; Caitlin Darragh, a senior majoring in family and child studies; and Mary Ann Vecchione of the Women's Club.