One of the many things I love about Montclair is its creative vibe: How many other suburbs can boast an art-house cinema, an internationally-recognized annual film festival, a jazz club, and a dozen or so art galleries?  Next month, though, my town will be focusing more on the sciences than the arts when it honors a hometown hero--astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

Aldrin was the second man (after Neil Armstrong) to walk on the moon. He is also a graduate of Montclair High School's Class of 1947, where he played on the football team. He'll be back at Montclair High School on June 2 to receive the first-ever "Key to Montclair" and see the unveiling of  a plaque commemorating his historic flight. The event is open to the public, and I'm sure it will be mobbed, but I'm definitely planning to attend.

As a Montclair Realtor who loves walkable communities, I can't wait to meet the man who walked all over Montclair before walking on the moon.

 

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Earlier this week, I came across an intriguing headline in The New York Times: "Young Americans Lead Trend to Less Driving."  As aNew Jersey Realtorwhose home-buying  clients tend to be New Yorkers looking for urban convenience along with leafy yards and good schools, I've been a witness to this phenomenon locally. Apparently it's happening nationwide as well.

According to Phineas Baxandall, the author of a report mentioned in the article, "Millennials  (those born in the 1980s or '90s) aren't driving cars".  This is a major change from past generations, when teenagers everywhere saw a drivers license as a symbol of independence. A drop in the number of  licenses issued nationwide is partly the result of a weak economy (fewer jobs to drive to, a desire to save on gas), but also the result of increased environmental awareness and improved mass transit options nationwide. On the other end of the age spectrum, Baby Boomers are "aging out of the daily work force and need to commute less," according John Schwartz, the author of the article.

I believe that the trend toward increased use of buses, trains and feet (for walking and biking) will continue. And whether you are a Millennial, a Boomer, or somewhere in between, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me. I'd love to show you homes in New Jersey communities such as Montclair, Glen Ridge and Maplewood that are already less car-dependent.