C L I P S

Where Plainfield turns for news.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

'Scrap' gold drive.. Bernice on C.A.L., a must-read.. Drake House special this weekend.. Corzine rolls dice with pension money..

PLAINFIELD


PLAINFIELD TODAY:
Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Bernice notes Courier changes and 7th & Park issues, but you must read about Compensated Absence Liability. You must! Maria reports some hard-to-hear news from the BOE meeting and introduces Evergreen School's Miss Crabby. Olddoc votes on Debate 3 and gives a shout-out to PHS grad and U Virginia star Eugene Brown. PEPtalk reviews six weeks of achievements and lists to-dos. Plainfield Sports News interviews Coach Robinson at mid-season. Assemblyman Green posts Carol Grant's writeup of the NJT board's vote to fund the final design for the proposed Hudson rail tunnel. Councilor Burney reports on last night's Halloween Safety meeting.

Drake House: "Plainfield museum part of 'Four Centuries' tour this weekend"

Hospitals: "Mountainside hospital exec resigns suddenly" -- Rumors of sale for development swirl.
Municipal Finances: "State aid shrinking, towns look hard at shared services" -- Well, some towns.
Newark Website: "Council rejects contract to manage city website" -- What, only $490,000? Tops Plainfield, but not by much?
Schools: "Education leaders focus on dropouts"

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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 --

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

  • Today - 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!

  • Today - October 16. 8 PM. Planning Board. City Hall Library. Public invited.

  • Four Centuries in a Weekend. Saturday and Sunday. 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.

  • 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.

  • Saturday - 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.

  • 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.

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


CENTRAL JERSEY

Stender/Lance Race: Paul Mulshine: "An emperor without clothes has no coattails"

Eminent Domain: "Union Twp. wants to seize 144 properties to redevelop downtown"
South Plainfield: "Council's GOP majority asks Christie to probe land deal" -- Seller let off hook for contaminated land.
Springfield: "Fire captain dismissed after probe of fake high school diploma"
UC Forensic Lab: "UC lab first in state to be certified for DNA testing"


STATE

NJ Economy: "Corzine looks to invest in banks, saving homes" -- Ledger | Gannett | -- With pension funds.

Bryant Trial: "Pension Director: Bryant can't benefit from 'hand-off' work"
Climate Change: "Report: NJ could lead way on greenhouse impact"
Meadowlands Development: "Cherokee sues Commission over EnCap project"

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


NATION / WORLD

2008 Campaigns --
 The Economy: "Bernanke warns of slump, stocks dive"
Iraq/Afghanistan: "Petraeus mounts strategy review of wider region"
Social Security: "Significant rise in Social Security benefits coming" -- 5.8% increase January 1.

OF INTEREST
Google Phone: "A look at Google's first phone" -- Which is really, finally, here.
 Movies: "'Religulous' panned by Newark Archdiocese" -- As well as Our Lady of Mercy, Park Ridge, where some of Bill Maher flick was filmed.

BOOK REVIEW LINKS: NY Times | Wash Post | Ledger | NY Rev Bks | London Rev Bks |

Posted by Dan at 8:43 AM