The township's board of education members may begin their search for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Alvarez's successor as early as Feb. 27, if not sooner.

The Feb. 27 meeting, set to start at 7:30 p.m. here at the George Inness Annex Atrium, 141 Park St., would be the first public meeting since Alvarez told them of his intention at their Feb. 6 session.

The seven members may have begun talking about who among them will start a search committee during their scheduled Feb. 9 executive meeting at 22 Valley Rd. offices, and/or their Feb. 13 workshop back here at 141 Park St. Such discussion may have been a late addition for the Feb. 9 occasion; the workshop's agenda was not posted on montclair.k12.nj.us.

Alvarez posted his resignation letter on the Website at the start of the Feb. 7 business day. While he announced his intention to step down on June 30, he added, that "over the next few months you'll hear from me with regard to a transition plan."

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray, joined by Attorney General Paula T. Dow and other Essex County law enforcement officials, announced on June 21 the creation of a county-wide Essex County Prosecutor’s Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force.

The Task Force will be made up of a total of 29 officers from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Newark, East Orange, Irvington and Orange Police Departments. In addition, assistance will be provided by the New Jersey State Police and several suburban towns will assign officers one day a week during the summer months of June, July and August to give officers experience investigating major crimes and to enhance the partnerships among law enforcement agencies.

The incumbent ward council candidates, in a pattern found among most other primary election results elsewhere in “Local Talk” territory, turned back slate and independent challengers here June 7.

Registered city Democratic party voters who mailed in ballots or checked off their choices at polling stations endorsed sitting council members Andrea McPhatter, Jacquelyn Johnson, Quilla E. Talmadge, Sharon Fields and Lonnie P. Hughes. The party faithful picked those over a slate advocating city charger changes and several independents.

The unofficial results, barring any independent candidates who may have filed before 4 p.m. June 7 or are conducting a write-in campaign, makes the Nov. 8 General Election almost a formality. There were no city Republican candidates on June 7's ballot.

There were, however, three upsets among the primary results for municipal, Essex County and State Legislature seats.

The Montclair Public Library is to reopen its Bellevue Avenue Branch June 6 while most other local libraries are curtailing their hours for the summer.

The branch, at 185 Bellevue Ave. in the township's Upper Montclair section, is to hold its "Grand Reopening" June 6 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. A May 27 release touts a 12:30 p.m. ribbon-cutting as that day's highlight.

Children would have been treated with face painting, puppet shows and storytelling since 10:30 a.m. Live music is to be performed 2-8 p.m. and free refreshments served throughout the day.