C L I P S

Where Plainfield turns for news.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

$1.66M budget deficit found, needs straight talk.. Bernice: 7th & Park improvements.. 4 Centuries today.. FOSH sale tomorrow..

PLAINFIELD


PLAINFIELD TODAY:
Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Bernice salutes the new traffic lights and cameras at Park & 7th, but is less sanguine about the State of the School District non-Address. Olddoc ponders the presidential election with posts No. 2 and 2.10. Plainfield Sports News reports the Cardinals kicked some serious butt in Linden. Looks like everyone else in on break.

FY2009 Budget: "Plainfield finds $1.66M deficit"

Dem Slush Fund: "Records give back-room view of process"
Voting Machines: "Judge releases two conflicting reports on Sequoia machines" -- We vote on Sequoia machines.
Jayson Williams Trial: "Lawyers go at racial slur again in Williams trial" -- Ledger | Courier |

Got a tip? Question? Click here to send PT an email.


WHAT'S HAPPENING
  • TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGES: The following street patterns changed 10/9/2008 as a result of ongoing NJT overpass work on the Raritan Valley line --

    • CLOSED: Central Avenue [Northbound/Southbound].
    • OPEN:
      • Southbound: Madison Avenue, New Street.
      • Northbound: Liberty Street.
      • All underpasses East of Madison and West of Liberty.

  • Four Centuries in a Weekend. Today and tomorrow. Four Centuries in a Weekend Historic Tour. Plainfield's Nathaniel Drake House joins with 24 other historic sites countywide for this annual tour. In the midst of its $1.2M restoration, the city-owned museum will be open Saturday from 10 AM - 5 PM and Sunday from Noon - 5 PM. The Nathaniel Drake House is at 602 West Front Street, at the foot of Plainfield Avenue.

  • Today - October 18. 8 AM - 2 PM. Household Special Waste Collection. Items accepted include: Batteries, tires (limit 8/household), propane tanks, paints & varnishes, aerosol cans, and more. (See full list, including conditions and exclusions here.) Sponsored by Union County. At Union County College, Springfield Avenue, Cranford. Pre-registration NOT required, but proof of Union County residence is. Info: (908) 654-9889.

  • Today - October 18. 9 AM. HERITAGE Show Choir Auditions. Plainfield's famed HERITAGE Show Choir, winner of the 2006 and 2008 McDonald's GospelFest is holding OPEN AUDITIONS this Saturday. Children from age 7 to 17 are eligible. Location: Bethel Presbyterian Church, 300 East 5th Street (corner of Roosevelt Avenu). Info: (908) 222-1722.

  • Tomorrow - October 19. 9 AM - 4 PM. FOSH Fall Garage Sale. By popular demand, Plainfield's oldest, biggest and best community garage sale is being offered in a Fall setting. Participating homes will be identified with balloons. Woodland, Watchung or Leland Avenues are good places to start as you work your way around -- or you can just pull over wherever you see a crowd. A not-to-be-missed Plainfield event attended by thousands yearly. FOSH is a nonprofit grassroots community organization. Among the activities it supports are scholarships to a graduating PHS senior, scholarships for classes at duCret Art School, maintenance of Leland Avenue Park and beautification of the Netherwood Train Station. Rain or shine. FREE.

  • Tomorrow - October 19. 9 AM - 3 PM. Annual 'HAL' Yard Sale. 'HAL' -- the Homeless Animal Lifeline -- does exactly what its name implies: helps homeless animals. Come on out for this annual multi-household yard sale to benefit HAL. Furniture, housewares, collectibles and more. At: 1326 Watchung Avenue.

  • Monday - October 20. 9:30 AM Registration. 'Last Chance 2008' Golf Outing: Benefit of the Tri-County Red Cross. 18 holes w/golf cart, full clubhouse access. Prizes and team awards. Brunch and dinner receptions, open bar cocktail hour, silent auction. $250/golfer ($100 tax deductible). To reserve your foursome, call Corinna Krauskopf at (908) 756-6414 or visit www.tricountyredcross.org/lastchance.

  • Monday - October 20. 8 PM. City Council Business Meeting. City Council Chambers/Courthouse. Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street.

  • Wednesday - October 22. 7 - 8:30 PM. League of Women Voters Candidate Forum. Candidates for City Council seats in the November general election will participate the forum, a League tradition dating back more than 80 years. Resident Brenda Gilbert is running a write-in campaign for the Ward 3 seat. Candidates on the ballot are: Annie McWilliams (citywide at-large), Adrian Mapp (Ward 3) and William Reid (Ward 1). All are Demcorats. At the Anne Louise Davis Meeting Room of the Plainfield Public Library, Park Avenue at West 8th Street. Info: (908) 756-9682. All are welcome.

  • Wednesday - October 22. 7:30 PM. Plainfield Shade Tree Commission. City Hall Library. Public invited.

  • Friday - October 24. 7 PM. In Concert: Jim Scott, Songs of Peace and the Environment. An acoustic guitarist acclaimed for his work with the Paul Winter Consort, proceeds of the concert will provide compact flourescent bulbs to be distributed through the church's food pantry. Sponsor and venue: First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, 724 Park Avenue. Tickets: $15/ adults, $5/12 and under. Free childcare available. Info: (732) 287-5181.

  • Saturday - October 25. 10 AM - 3 PM. Community Scrapbooking and Memory Making Event. Bring your favorite photos and learn how to tell your story. A scrapping share-and-swap table will be available. Albums and multicultural supplies will be available for purchase. Refreshments provided. Info: Recreation Division, (908) 753-3097.

  • Sunday - October 26. 3 PM. Crescent Concerts: Young Artists Showcase. Five exceptionally talented young artists under the age of 16 will appear in this eagerly awaited annual event. At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, Watchung Avenue at East 7th Street. Tickets: $20, $15/senior, $5/student. Info: (908) 756-2468 or www.crescentconcerts.org/.
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CENTRAL JERSEY

Bound Brook: "New restaurant sought for train station" -- Sports bar couldn't make a go of it.
Elizabeth: "Men busted for stealing bronze doors from mausoleum" -- Scrap dealer called cops.
Irvington: "U.S. Marshal arrested for giving gun to pal, a Crip"


STATE

Dem Slush Fund --
 Guns: "Chatham man held in sale of 8 guns, including 2 AK-47s, for drugs"
Hospitals: "Passaic's St. Mary's lays off workers, closes campus, citing hard times"
Rutgers: "Investment in athletics a work in progress"
Tax Revenues: "State tax revenues plummet, $77M below projections in Sept."

Sheneman's Cartoon is here.
Margulies' Cartoon is here.


NATION / WORLD

2008 Campaigns --
 Bush: "Bush struggles to be heard in economic crisis" -- Ah yes, the Ivy League MBA.
Iraq: "Deal on removing U.S. troops faces possibly fatal objections"

OF INTEREST
Obituary: "Levi Stubbs, powerful voice of Four Tops"
Organ Donation: "12 years after heart transplant, man runs in A.C. Marathon to promote cause"
BOOK REVIEW LINKS: NY Times | Wash Post | Ledger | NY Rev Bks | London Rev Bks |

Posted by Dan at 10:11 AM