C L I P S: A NYTimes fish tale.. Budget: Burney digs up must-read docs, Storch on Info Tech, Mapp says Mayor should step up.. Courier profiles Annie & Adrian..

PLAINFIELD

Believe it or not, the Ledger's entire Sunday edition appears to be lost in the ether -- including its endorsement of Obama, the failure of the Sierra Club to endorse either Stender or Lance, the Union County section -- including the FOSH Halloween dine-out, and the business and top stories sections. Gremlins?

The Courier advises that home delivery rates are going up November 1st. More for less.

PLAINFIELD TODAY:

"The New York Times: A fish tale."

Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Picturing a foreclosure on 6th Street by the YMCA, Bernice wonders how foreclosures will affect tax collections. You should, too. Councilor Storch continues his overview of budget issues with a discussion of information technology. Councilor Burney posts two must-read budget documents prepared by retired CFO Pete Sepelya. Candidate Adrian Mapp urges Mayor Robinson-Briggs to step up and take responsibility for the $1.66M budget error. Olddoc recalls leaving the nest, in the midst of the Depression. At PEPtalk, Renata praises divine intervention, and outlines three conflict-handling styles. Which one are you? As the leaves change gloriously, you will want to re-read Greg Palermo's post on Red oaks at Plainfield Trees.

City Council: "Come January, Council will have two new members"

Endorsements: "Courier: Obama for president" -- Ledger too, but you won't find it online.
Redevelopment & Parking: "A back seat for parking space" -- Many cities require parking structures to have 'active front-door uses'. And Plainfield?
Double-Dipping: "Young J.C. councilman makes enemies over campaign against double-dipping"

Star-Ledger: "40% decrease in Star-Ledger news room" -- Many more opted for the buyout than the Ledger will take. How would you like to now work for a company that wants to get rid of you but won't let you go?
Gannett: "Gannett halts monthly financials" -- Running from bad news?
Media: "Newspaper slump could affect investigative reporting" -- Letting scoundrels get away with everything?

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

WHAT'S HAPPENING

BUDGET CALENDAR: A three-year budget comparison document is online here.

~~Mon Oct 20~~ ~~| Fire Division and $1.66M error~~.
~~Thu Oct 23 - 7:30 PM, City Hall Library~~ ~~| Extra budget meeting: IT [Information Technology], Public Information,~~ ~~and Project Alert [Dudley House]~~.
Fri Oct 31 | Citizens Budget Advisory Committee sends budget recommendations to council.
Fri Nov 7 | City Council sends budget changes to Council finance committee.
Mon Nov 10 | City Council discusses budget changes and recommendations (from CBAC) with self, and requests administration comment and implementation. CBAC presentation of recommendations to City Council.
Wed Nov 13 | Administration responds electronically to change recommendations.
Mon Nov 17 | Resolution for budget changes is finalized and brought forward.
Mon Nov 24 | Public hearing on FY2009 Budget.
Mon Dec 1 | FY2009 Budget adoption..

Today - 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/.
Tomorrow - October 27. 6:30 PM. 'African Heritage in the Latin Caribbean'. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Plainfield's Cultural and Heritage Commission offers a presentation by Dr. Orlando Edreira. At the Anne Louise Davis Meeting Room, Plainfield Public Library, Park Avenue at West 8th Street. FREE.
Tuesday - October 28. 3 - 9 PM. FOSH Pre-Halloween Dine Out. Take a break from fixing dinner, call a few friends and put together a table. Meet new neighbors and old friends, and check out one of Plainfield's favorite dining spots -- The Queen City Diner. Brian will donate a portion of the evening's receipts to FOSH in support of its PHS Scholarships, Netherwood Station beautification and the Leland Avenue Park. Brian Schoenberger's Queen City Diner (http://www.queencitydiner.com/) is at 1324 South Avenue. Putting a group together? Give Brian a heads up at (908) 756-7900.
Tuesday - October 28. 7:30 PM. Historic Preservation Commission. City Hall Library. Public invited.
Friday - October 31. 6 PM. Community Halloween Party & Haunted House. The Recreation Division's annual family party includes a haunted house, a costume contest, prizes, snacks and lots of fun for all. A safe and fun alternative for children ages 5 - 10. Parents MUST accompany children. At Washington Community School, 427 Darrow Avenue (parking in Spooner Avenue lot). Info: (908) 753-3097.

Got an event to publicize? Click here and send me the details.

REAL ESTATE SUNDAY

SMALL PICTURE

Mortgages: "Should an ARM holder convert to a fixed-rate?"
Yard Sales: "Raising needed cash, sentiment is the first thing to go" -- Signs of desperate times.

BIG PICTURE

Auctions: "The home auction, deconstructed" -- Auctions are coming to Plainfield, if you've noticed.
NJ Foreclosures: "Corzine urges U.S. to stem foreclosures in N.J."
Reverse Mortgages: "Reverse mortgages retooled" -- New laws taking effect.

TOOLS

This Week's Sales: "NYTimes's Residential Sales Around the Region" -- Week of October 26, 2008.
Ledger: "Home Finder", "Premier Estates" and "Real Estate" sections online.
Courier: "Real Estate" section online.
Trulia: "Your Personal Real Estate Google"
Mortgages: "US Mortgage Payment Index"
Buy or Rent?: "Cost Comparison Tool" -- Enter your own values to calculate which is better, buying or renting. A really neat tool!

CENTRAL JERSEY

Stender/Lance Race: "NYTimes Endorsement: Lance"

Newark Bears: "Newark Bears on verge of folding"
Newark Shootings: "Two men arrested in drive-by shootings" -- Ledger | NYTimes |
Morris County: "Dems dominate the rolls of newly registered voters"

STATE

U.S. Senate Race: "NY Times endorsement: Frank Lautenberg"

Dropout Rate: "A plan to cut high school dropout rate"

The 'Other' Bonaparte: "Digging up Joseph Bonaparte's home in exile" -- Once King of Spain and Naples, Napoleon's brother lived in exile in New Jersey.

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

NATION / WORLD

2008 Campaigns --