C L I P S: Five for Monday.. Interfaith house tours.. LWV: Write-ins please.. Maria and Jerry's 'duckies'.. PEP kicks off tonight..

PLAINFIELD

"Five for Monday"

Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Bernice notes the tax collection rate will be reported on at Council tonight, and that the League of Women Voters is seeking write-in candidates for the general election. Maria has an amazing pic of 'Jerry's aligned duckies'! Olddoc gives comprehending Jerry's blogs yet another try. PEPtalk notes its kickoff meeting tonight: Moving the District toward educational excellence. The Assemblyman's quill is (evidently) at rest for today.

Homefirst: "Interfaith group holds house tours to raise money"

Voter Registration: "NJ Dems see unprecendented wave of voter registrations"

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WHAT'S HAPPENING

VOTER REGISTRATION: The Plainfield Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Phi fraternity is conducting a voter registration drive on Wednesday and Thursdays from 5:00 - 8:45 PM at the Plainfield Public Library through October 9th. Members will provide voter registration forms and assistance for those not currently registered to vote. Info: Jerry Black, (908) 922-5898 or the Library's Bob Golon, (908) 757-1111 x132.
Today - September 29. 6:30 - 8:30 PM. PEP: First 08-09 Meeting. Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) has its first meeting of the 2008-09 school year. Come out to share, learn and unite. Dinner and childcare provided. At Washington Community School, 427 Darrow Avenue (parking in Spooner Avenue lot). 'Time to PEP it up!'
Today - September 29. 7:30 PM. City Council Agenda Session. City Hall Library. 515 Watchung Avenue.
Tomorrow - September 30. 9 AM. 'Chamber Walk'. Members of the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce will be walking in the South Avenue shopping district to meet business owners and hear about their needs and concerns.
Wednesday - October 1. 7 PM. Zoning Board of Adjustment. City Hall Library. Public invited.
Wednesday - October 1. 7:30 PM. (OPRA) Finding Out: How to Exercise Your Right to Obtain Public Records. Understand NJ's public records law and make it work for you. Speakers: Guy Baehr, Rutgers professor and former Ledger reporter; Tina Renna, chairperson, Union County Watchdog Association; and John Paff, citizen-activist. Sponsors include Rutgers Dept. of Journalism and the NJ Foundation for Open Government. At the Rutgers Student Center, Room 410. College Avenue Campus, New Brunswick. The symposium is free and open to the public and Rutgers students.
Thursday - October 2. 8 PM. Planning Board. City Hall Library. Public invited.
Thursday - October 2. 9 PM. Vice Presidential Candidates Debate. Biden and Palin at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Moderated by Gwen Ifill, senior correspondent on The NewsHour. The debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics.
Friday - October 3. 8 AM - 2 PM. First Union County Green Conference. A one-stop resource for businesses and local government officials to get the most from new 'green' products, services and funding opportunities. Workshops include: Green Grants, Alternative Energy & Conservation, LEED Certification, and Green Shared Services. At Kean University's Downs Hall. Registration: $25, includes breakfast and lunch. More information here, and registration form here (PDF).
Friday - October 3. 7 PM. Girl Scout Information and Recruitment Evening. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character. Come learn how you and your daughter can get involved in an organization that helps girls become leaders, learn about themselves, and serve their community. Children welcome. Light refreshments will be served. At Washington Community School, 427 Darrow Avenue (parking in Spooner Avenue lot). Information: Call Fatima Latif at (908) 232-3236 x1218. FREE.
Saturday - October 4. 9 AM - 3 PM. Annual Hispanic Health Fair. Sponsored by the Coalition of Hispanic Physicians. Screenings for: Vision; Pap and breast exams; HIV; Bone density; and Hypertension. Mini-lectures in Spanish by Coalition doctors. Refreshments, music, face painting, clown. At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue. All are welcome. FREE.
Saturday - October 4. 11 AM - 3 PM. Millions More Multicultural Health Fair. Sponsored by the Plainfield LOC of the Millions More Movement Ministry of Health. Health screenings, dental screenings, free health information. At the Respect For Life Cetner, 407 Watchung Avenue. All are welcome. FREE.
Saturday - October 4. 7 PM - Midnight. Plainfield Symphony's 'Fall Festival'. With a bountiful buffet, libations galore and marvelous music, the Symphony puts the fun in fundraiser at this gala event. At the historic home of Tom & Julie Shortridge, 996 Hillside Avenue. $75/person. To order tickets, call Brenda Anderson at (908) 757-5363 or email brendamaryanderson@hotmail.com.
Sunday - October 5. 1 - 3 PM. FOSH: Annual Blessing of the Animals. Plainfield pets and their families and friends gather at Leland Avenue Park (the Cook School Pond) to schmooze and romp. Animals will be blessed at 2 PM. Every year finds interesting new pets -- what will it be this year? Come out and see. FREE.
Sunday - October 5. 1 - 3 PM. Book Signing: Union County Black Americans. Plainfield's own Ethel Washington signs her important Union County book. Also featured: Jews of Weequahic, Jews of Morris, and South Orange Revisited. At the Livingston Barnes & Noble, 112 Eisenhower Parkway. (973) 758-1317.

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CENTRAL JERSEY

New Brunswick: "Goldie Hawn kicks off 'Smart Talk' women's lecture series"
North Plainfield: "Man indicted for Cypress Gardens burglaries"

STATE

Ft. Dix Trial: "Terror trial tests government's conspiracy theory"
Lawmakers: "Make landlords pay for bedbugs"
Public Worker Benefits: "Corzine to sign law cutting benefits"

Sheneman's Cartoon is here.

Margulies' Cartoon is here.

NATION / WORLD

2008 Campaigns --

FactCheck: For a daily analysis of the latest spin from either campaign see the non-partisan FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dems: "Post-debate, Obama's lead grows"

GOP: "For McCain and team, a host of ties to gambling"
Palin: Kathleen Parker: "Palin Problem: She's out of her league" -- The National Review columnist who endorsed Palin has second thoughts.