Graffiti, Wave Of Burglaries, Struggling Pet Store

It may be a quiet summer in some parts but it's been another busy week in Montclair. In case you missed them, here are the top five stories from the past seven days in Montclair. If you have any stories you'd like to see covered, please email Shelley@patch.com.

The Montclair man accused of shooting to death a Villanova University student in Montclair pled not guilty early Tuesday at his arraignment in Essex County Superior Court in Newark, The Montclair Times reported. Judge Peter J. Vazquez asked Ernest Williams, 21, if he reviewed the charges against him, if he understood the charges, and if his lawyer, John McMahon, reviewed his rights. In each case, Williams responded "yes, I do." Vazquez told Williams that the matter will go before a grand jury—most likely not until December—and that his bail will be continued at $750,000.

Three homes and two auto body shops were broken into over the last week and, in the most recent case, a resident woke up Monday night to find two teenagers in his home, Montclair Police reported.

A beloved local pet store known for its rescue of hundreds of dogs and cats over the last five years most likely will close its doors this month due to a dramatic drop in business. Danny Heaps, owner of  on Valley Road in Upper Montclair, told Patch that business has dropped by about 50 percent in the last several months.

Montclair Police are reporting a rash of graffiti incidents on everything from playgrounds to homes. Over the past 10 days or so, several graffiti incidents have been reported including one at the Union Congregational Church on Cooper Avenue, where graffiti, written with a black marker, was found on the roof. Graffiti also was reported on the playground at Northeast Elementary School—again painted with a black marker. (Over the last few months, many graffiti incidents have been reported at Northeast.)

In February, Montclair Patch featured the 13,000-square-foot home at —a stunner priced at the time at $1,725,000. The pricetag on this house has now been reduced to $1,300,000.