What were you doing in 1979? Watching the solar eclipse, disco dancing, or maybe using the first-ever DustBuster? In Montclair, some very special women were meeting for the first time. Their mission: to beautify the natural landscape of the town and celebrate the spirit of their community.
Betty Dallery and Jean Kidd were among the small group of residents with a simple, beautiful idea: plant bulbs in the fall and then, when the bulbs are blooming in the spring, distribute a calendar of special events around town. Donations from the residents would cover the cost of the bulbs and advertising from local businesses would pay for the publication. Now almost forty years later 'May in Montclair' remains a vital volunteer-driven initiative that beautifies the town and showcases the best of what the town has to offer.
Bulbs by the thousands are ordered in September, arrive by November, and Vice Chair Cyndee Rowan (whose children are fifth generation Montclairians) transforms her garage into the tulip/daffodil depot where committee members bag, label, and deliver to eager volunteers planters all over town - in schools, gardening groups, park conservancies, houses of worship, and in the business districts. From Canterbury to Tuers, and Kaveny Field to Edgemont, the town fills the flowerbeds for a spectacular spring display.
Volunteers are even more important this year than ever before. After forty years, the bulbs will be funded SOLELY by tulip donations. This year's Calendar of Events will appear here in the May in Montclair web site, and will also be distributed as a special supplement in the April 25th issue of Montclair Local. If you'd like to advertise your business in the supplement that will be mailed to all 16,500 households and businesses in Montclair, please view the brochure for details.
Springtime events all around town continue to be showcased in the MIM website Calendar of Events. Opening day ceremonies will take place in Watchung Plaza on May 1st. The school children's musical performance will continue as a beautiful community celebration to kick off May in Montclair.
It is a month-long festival of art shows, concerts, garden tours, health and exercise programs, fairs and markets presented to make people feel good about living, working, shopping, and spending leisure time as they celebrate the spirit that is Montclair.
Ah'Pizz
The MAX Challenge Montclair
Dedicated to: All the Strong Women in Montclair
Bellevue Avenue Dental Associates
The Montclair Foundation
Dedicated to: The Van Vleck House and Gardens
Friends Of Anderson Park
Montclair Kimberly Academy
Moline Kronberg Cleaners
Montclair Community Band
The Montclair History Center
Montclair Tree Experts
Partners for Health
Sanford Insurance Group
Town Auto Body
Upper Montclair Dental Associates
Woman's Club of Upper Montclair
Frances Adams
In memory of Jean Kidd
Anonymous
In memory of Betty Ferdon
Nancy and Dick Appert
Penny and Mitchell Arons
Bonni Babson
John and Janice Benton
Monica Biondi
Gene and Joan Bloch
In memory of Jean Kidd
Jon and Sara Bonesteel
Martha Brown
In Memory of Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Ferdon
Ellen and Robert Campbell
Dedicated to Catherine Howe
Deana and Robert Campion
In memory of Jean Kidd
Stuart A Christie & Catherine A Mazza
Shirley M. Cobert
Patricia Colagiuri
In memory of Jean Kidd
Terrance and Charlene Connolly
Terrance and Charlene Connolly
Susann and Jim Connors
Cynthia Corhan-Aitken
Molly Cotton
Dedicated to Judy & Harris Zinn
Laura Couchman
In memory of Jean Kidd, from her 3 children
Grace and John DePaola
Michael and Eileen Diaz
Maureen Donahoe
Judith and Paul Dorphley
Chloe & Alexander Eichler
In dedication to Dorothy Tomasik
Emer Featherstone
In memory of Jean Kidd
Susan Helman and Michael Frank & Family
Blaine and Lynda Frantz
Ethelyn L. Fulton
Gloria Fulton
In memory of my dear friend Elizabeth Kelleher Ferdon
Alica and Peter Giuffra
Bravo!
Laurie and Bruce Goodman
Randy Simon & Lee Greenberger
Judy Greene
Linda Grotenstein
In memory of Jean Kidd
Donna and Jim Hains
In dedication to Greg Poage
Peter and Deborah Hirsch
In dedication to The Garden Club of Montclair
Mayor Robert Jackson and Cheryl Jackson
Ann and Tom Johnson
In memory of Jean Kidd
Mary Lee and Dave Jones
Duncan, Laura, Jay, and Carolyn Kidd
In memory of Jean Kidd
Jacklyn and Roger Kling
In memory of janet and Michael
Annette Korn
remembering Hiram who loved flowers
Carolyn Lack
In memory of Jean Kidd
Susan and Norman Ladov
Anonymous
Patricia LaDuca
James & Josephine LaDuca
Peter and Bebe Landis
In memory of Jean Kidd
Gerry Lavner
In memory of Ronna Lavner-Rose and Jules Ravner
Mary Ann and Cliff Lindholm
Anna Mae Maas
Theodora McKee
Robert & Peggy McMillan
Mary McMillan - 85 year resident of Montclair
Tracy McVeigh and Andrew Melitz
Barbara and Robert Meyer
Joyce Michaelson
In memory of Jean Kidd
Jory and Deborah Miller
Robert and Joyce Mims
In memory of Jean Kidd
Gregg Peters Monsees
In memory of Laura, Warren and Dorothy Monsees
Rita Nadler
Bianca V. Nealley
Janet Orr
Addie Palmer
Mary Ellen Palmeri
Susie Price
Celia Radek
In memory of Jean Kidd
Lisanne Renner and Adam Grace
Judy & Robert Rich
Marguerite Rieder
Cynthia and John Rogers
Marcia S. Rogers
Mr. & Mrs. John Ruggero
in Memory of Elizabeth Ferdon
Christine and Bob Russo
Robin and Ken Schlager
Karen Shinevar
Denise and Paul Silverman
Rita Singer
Marilyn Sopkia
In memory of Dr. Stephen Sopkia
Councilor Sean Spiller
Stocks Family Fund
Sarah Stransky
Susan and Roland Straten
Patty and Tage Strom
Marcy Sullivan
In memory of Bob Sullivan
Jane and Harvey Susswein
Michele and Cal Trevenen
In memory of Jean Kidd
Judy and Bill Turner
Sharon Burton Turner and Lincoln Turner
Judy and Josh Weston
Lois Whipple
Stanley White
Karen and Larry Whitehaus
Margaret Whitsett
Leslie Wiesner
Sue Williams
In loving memory of Dick Williams
Clare and Mike Winchester
Nancy Wolff
In memory of Richard Wolff
Hal and Brigitte Wolkoff
In memory of Lawrence Wolkoff
Kamie Zaracki
