C L I P S: Court receipts up.. UC's 'smart pissoirs'.. POP rally at 3 PM.. Olddoc uncovers HARP.. Bush vows to resolve financial crisis..

PLAINFIELD

Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Bernice has a 'Yikes!' moment reflecting on the budget, the schools and Plainfield politics. Olddoc gives some background on HARP since the Assemblyman's link goes nowhere (actually it goes to a file on his desktop called 'soariestestimony.doc' and allows as how he is doing Grandpapa for the weekend. Go for it! PPS News reports on the 'State of the District' address and posts lots of pix. Plainfield Sports News covers the Lady Cardinals match against Colonia -- talk about close! The rest are perhaps taking a -- needed? -- break. Times are tough and we're not out of the woods yet.

Traffic Citations: "Increased traffic citations rings up revenue for Plainfield"
POP Rally: "Rally against wave of violence set for today" -- 3 PM, West 3rd & Monroe.

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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 --

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

Today - October 11. 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM. Black Collectibles and General Garage Sale. The intrepid Bev, Nellie and Carol bring you a garage sale like no other. Black collectibles, housewares (new, old and collectible), craft items, jewelry (you'll have to pry the Bakelite baubles from Carol's dead fingers), women's and children's clothing and shoes ... and Bev's famous butter cookies. Looking to save on holiday gift-giving with the economy going into the tank? Check out this great sale! At: 1077 Plainfield Avenue.
Today - October 11. 3 PM. Rally Against Violence. Sponsored by POP, the rally will feature remarks by Alfonza Carter, brother of Quran Carter, who was slain in a driveby shooting two weeks ago. At West 3rd Street and Monroe Avenue.
Today - October 11. 8 PM. Plainfield Symphony: 89th Season Opening Concert. Guest Conductor: Charles Prince. Wagner: Die Meistersinger (Prelude), Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Waltzes), Beethoven: Symphony No. 7. At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, Watchung Avenue at East 7th Street. $25/General seating. $15/Senior & Student. Info: (908) 561-5140 or email info@plainfieldsymphony.org.
Tomorrow - October 12. 7 PM. Matthew Shepard Commemoration. Remembering Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was brutally murdered in Wyoming exactly ten years ago. Actor Lou Liberatore will read selections from The Laramie Project with Ocean HS students. Asw Mary Pat Angelini, Thomas Howard of the Matthew Shepard Foundation and Fr. Bob Kaeding of Center House. In Asbury Park, 5th Avenue at the ocean front. Sponsored by Ocean Grove United and GSE. All are welcome.
Tuesday - October 14. Last day to REGISTER to vote for the November General (Presidential) Election. Information: Union County Board of Elections, 271 North Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07208. (908) 527-4121.
Tuesday - October 14. 7:30 PM. City Council Agenda Session. City Hall Library. 515 Watchung Avenue.
Wednesday - October 15. 7:30 PM. Cultural & Heritage Commission. City Hall Library. Public invited.
Wednesday - October 15. 9 PM. Third Presidential Debate. Obama and McCain at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Moderated by Bob Schieffer, host of Face the Nation. This debate will focus on domestic and economic policy.
Thursday - October 16. 7 PM. Superintendent's Town Hall Meeting. The Superintendent and other district leaders will share the exciting programs and activities planned for the new school year, and engage the community in a dialog. (See agenda here.) Hosted by Superintendent Steve Gallon III. At Clinton School, West 4th Street and Clinton Avenue. All are welcome!
Thursday - October 16. 8 PM. Planning Board. City Hall Library. Public invited.
Saturday - 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.
Sunday - 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.
Sunday - 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.

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CENTRAL JERSEY

North Plainfield: "Couple refuses plea deal in infant grandson's death" -- Courier | Ledger |
Perth Amboy: "Budget puts 12 jobs on chopping block"
South Plainfield: "Senior complex has hot water -- at last"
Trenton: "Trenton looks to cut 150 jobs to close budget gap"

STATE

Corzine: "Corzine to appear on Meet The Press Sunday"
Barnegat Lighthouse: "For 150 years, Old Barney has welcomed all"
Developmentally Disabled: "Report: Agencies must be able to deal with dual needs"
Toll Hikes: "Increases approved for Parkway, Turnpike, AC Expressway" -- Ledger | Record |

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: "Obama cautious in economic crisis"

GOP: "McCain: Obama not an Arab; crowd boos" -- A very ugly genie out of its bottle.
Palin: "Probe: Palin abused power in 'Troopergate'" -- Anchorage Daily News.