C L I P S

Where Plainfield turns for news.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Gift card alert.. Bridgewater, Woodbridge malls bankruptcy.. Olddoc: Obama's the MAN.. Storch, Burney report on League..

PLAINFIELD


PLAINFIELD TODAY:
Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Maria, a supporter of public schools, ponders the new charter middle school. Olddoc has been busy -- Obama 'the MAN', commenting on a one-seat ride to NYC, awarding Greg Palermo, and more pics. Don't miss Plainfield Trees' new post on the American Chestnut. Reporting on the League of Municipalities, Councilor Storch notes long-range planning and 'going green' were hot topics, and Councilor Burney cites two firms that caught his eye.

Yesterday was the 45th anniversary of JFK's assassination. Do you remember what you were doing when you heard the news?

Muhlenberg: "Special service this afternoon honors Muhlenberg activists"
Charter School: "Chicagoan to open new charter school in 2009"

Gangs: "Fear of gangs makes cops' job harder"
Hospitals: "Econony sickens U.S. hospitals"
Ledger: "John Farmer becomes opinion editor"
Nonprofits: "In downturn, charities face needs of their own"
OPRA: "Court overturns one of first OPRA fines" -- On a technicality.
School Drug Testing: "Random or suspicion-based?"

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


WHAT'S HAPPENING
  • Food Donations Needed: Consider donating to your a local religious organization's feeding program or food pantry, or give to the COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NJ: Accepts dry, refrigerated or frozen food. Distributes food to charities throughout the state. Location: 31 Evans Terminal Road, Hillside, N.J. Info: (908) 355-3663; or visit njfoodbank.org/.

  • Next weekend - ACT IV Theater: Neil Simon's 'The Sunshine Boys'. Lewis and Clark, a vaudeville team, brings back their act for a TV history of comedy, but their offstage dislike for each other stands in the way. Featuring award-winning John Boucher and Renato Biribin. At First Unitarian Society, 724 Park Avenue. Tickets: $15. Info/reservation: (908) 756-0750. Four performances: 8 PM - Sat 11/22, Fri 11/28, Sat 11/29; and 3 PM Sun 11/30.

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



  • Today - November 23. 5 PM. Muhlenberg And The Nation: A Community Celebration of Thanksgiving and Justice. A special Thanksgiving service honoring the work of Muhlenberg activists. Participants: Rev. LaVerne Ball, Rose of Sharon; Rev. James Colvin, UCC-Congregational; Rev. Carolyn Eklund, Grace Episcopal; Rev. Anthony Johnson, First Unitarian Society. At: Grace Episcopal Church, East 7th and Cleveland Avenue (parking in city lot on East 7th). All are invited.

  • Tomorrow - November 24. 6:30 PM. PEP: Parents Empowering Parents. At Washington School Cafetorium, 427 Darrow Avenue (parking in Spooner Avenue lot). Agenda here.

  • Tomorrow - November 24. 7 PM. Charter School Informational. The state has granted a charter for a new Middle School which will emphasize music and high academics. An informational session on the Ellen G. Pressman Charter School, slated to open for Grades 6 and 7 in September 2009. At the Plainfield Public Library, Park Avenue at West 8th Street. Info: (973) 635-6944. Open to all.

  • Tomorrow - November 24. 7:30 PM. City Council Agenda Session. Citizens Budget Advisory Committee report expected. City Hall Library. 515 Watchung Avenue.

  • Tuesday - November 25. 7:30 PM. Historic Preservation Commission. City Hall Library. Public invited.

  • Thursday - November 27. Thanksgiving Day.

  • Friday - November 28. 8 PM - 2 AM. West End Reunion '08. Dance the night away as Plainfield's most popular social happening celebrates an East-West Connection Blowout. Featuring the band Cosmic Heat and the Doris Spears Jazz Quintet, with DJ Kevin McAllister. At BUF Community Center Complex, West 7th and Central. Dress to impress, BYOB. Donation: $25/person. Info: Frank Coit (908) 722-3498 or (712) 314-1443, Lenny Cathcart (908) 305-0668, Milt Campbell (908) 732-6377, or Albert Mills (347) 892-8981.
Got an event to publicize? Click here and send me the details.


REAL ESTATE SUNDAY

SMALL PICTURE
Property Taxes: "Reducing your taxes on appeal: Possible, but takes work"
Property Taxes: "Corzines touts expansion of tax freeze for Seniors"
Q&A: "For Sale By Owner"
Teardowns: "Today a house, tomorrow a teardown" | "More teardowns in NJ than anywhere else"
BIG PICTURE
Appraisals: "Suddenly, stricter appraisals"
Mortgages: "New 'Good Faith Estimate' rules will help borrowers" -- Cutting down on ripoffs.
TOOLS
This Week's Sales: "NYTimes's Residential Sales Around the Region" -- Week of Nov. 23, 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

First Baptist, Lincoln Gardens: "Church on march to cure a crisis"
Irvington: "Joe Santiago sees small city, big task"
Morristown & Erie RR: "M&E expands its routes into other states"


STATE

2008 Elections: "Five counties granted more time to count ballots"
2009 Governor's Race: "Christie gives notice, GOP takes hope" | "Christie proved himself a man of convictions"

Bonds: "Goldman Sachs sells NJ bonds, then warns of default possibility"
Economy: "Cabinet talk aside, Corzine faces a state crisis"
Adoption: "Families newly made by adoption"
School Curriculum: "Educators struggle with developing 9/11 curriculum"
School Regionalization: "State lacks financial incentives to sweeten regionalization"

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


NATION / WORLD

Obama Transition --
 Automakers: Michael Moore: "Detroit never listened to consumers, workers"
Bank Debacle: "Office of Thrift Supervision: The regulator that didn't"
Citigroup: "Citi pays for rush to risk"
Shale Oil: "Bush's new rules roil the West" -- Using scarce water to extract trace amounts of oil?

OF INTEREST
Newsracks: "Texas town's newsrack ban includes city hall"

'Dreamgirls': "At the Apollo, a dream role draws hundreds"
Religion: "Passing faith on, even with the dogma" -- A journey away from Catholicism and, with parenthood, a tentative return.
Sports Doping: "New suspect is, no joke, Viagra"

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

Posted by Dan at 8:36 AM