C L I P S: Ledger ponders unpaid furloughs.. Bernice: BOE candidate forum.. Maria: BOE candidate endorsements?.. PEPtalk: 5 candidate profiles..

PLAINFIELD

"Ledger ponders unpaid furloughs"

Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Bernice notes PEA is hosting a BOE candidate forum on Tuesday (against which the Mayor does NOT compete with a different forum -- error corrected -- DD). Maria wonders about the propriety of BOE candidate endorsements. Olddoc has some soothing pix, including a windmill with no one tilting at it. Go see! PEPtalk has 5 BOE candidate profiles up so far. Assemblyman Green does a cut-and-paste with the Courier's editorial on Solaris bond money.

No Plainfield stories in Courier or Ledger today. Good? Or bad?

Newark: "Stimulus money raises public housing hopes"

Artist Profile: "Frank Thorne: Scotch Plains artist known for racy material"
Bank Fraud: "Construction project manager indicted in Franklin bank fraud"
Insurance Fraud: "Ex-cop gets probation in knee-injury fraud"
NJ Ponzi Scheme: "Real estate investment chief charged with Ponzi scheme" -- Ledger | APP | -- Involving Asbury Park development.
Police Pay: "At budget time, who dares to mention police pay?"
Postal Service: "Kilmer administrative unit to be closed, among others"
Union County: "Springfield gets county grant to upgrade playground's safety"

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WHAT'S HAPPENING

Today - March 21. 11 AM - 1 PM. (Rain/snow date: March 28). Community Butterfly Garden Work Day. Residents interested in helping develop a Butterfly Garden are invited to join with students from the 21st Century After-school program of Plainfield Community Outreach. The first of three work days, this one will focus on clearing the garden area and visioning the plantings. Wear work clothes, bring gloves. Lunch provided. At Grace Episcopal Church, East 7th Street and Cleveland Avenue. Parking in public lot across street. Info: (908) 756-1520 or visit www.graceplainfield.org/ or www.educateplainfield.org/.
Tuesday - March 24. 4:30 - 6:30 PM. PEA: Board of Education Candidate Forum. Plainfield Education Association, the union representing school district employees, is hosting a Board of Education candidate forum. At the Plainfield High School Cafeteria, 950 Park Avenue. Parking and direct entrance to the cafeteria off the Kenyon Avenue parking lot. Your first chance to see, hear and question school board candidates.
Tuesday - March 24. 7 PM. Mayor's Community Forum. Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs will host a community forum to outline efforts to obtain stimulus funding and planning for the economy's rebound. At Washington Community School, 427 Darrow Avenue. (Parking available in the Spooner Avenue lot.) Public invited.
Tuesday - March 24. 7:30 PM. Historic Preservation Commission. City Hall Library. 515 Watchung Avenue (parking in lot at rear of building). Public invited.
Wednesday - March 25. 7:30 PM. Plainfield Shade Tree Commission. City Hall Library. 515 Watchung Avenue (parking in lot at rear of building). Public invited.
Thursday - March 26. 6 - 9 PM. Rotary's 10th Annual Wine Tasting Dinner and Silent Auction. Guest of Honor: Janice Allen, who just completed three terms as mayor of North Plainfield. Proceeds benefit college scholarships for PHS and NPHS students. Tickets: $70/person. Checks payable to and mailed to: Rotary PNP, Inc. 165 Palmer Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 or email to: rotaryclub@rotarypnp.org.
Saturday - March 28. 9 AM - 1 PM. Free Rabies Clinic. Free rabies clinic for pet cats and dogs, sponsored by the City of Plainfield. All dogs must be on a secure leash. All cats must be in a secure carrier. Dog and cat licenses will be available. This is the first of four opportunities. At the South Avenue Fire House, adjacent to Netherwood Station.
Saturday - March 28. 1 - 4 PM. Childrens Book Signing Event. A book-signing event and workshop for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, with artist Bryan Collier, who illustrated Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope, written by Nikki Grimes. Sponsored by the Raritan Valley Chapter of LINKS. At the Plainfield Public Library, Park Avenue and 8th Street. Copies of the book will be distributed one per family on a first-come, first-served basis. FREE.
Saturday - March 28. 8 PM. Plainfield Symphony: Springtime Pops. Featuring the NY Philharmonic's principal tuba Alan Baer as soloist in John Williams' Concerto for Tuba. Guest conductor Chris Wilhejm, of the Ridgewood Concert Band will lead the orchestra in Copland's Appalachian Spring and other pops favorites. At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue. (Parking at Swain's or on 1st Place.) Tickets available at the door: $25/person, $15/seniors and students. 12 and under free. Info: (908) 561-5140 or visit the PSO website at www.plainfieldsymphony.org/.
Saturday - March 28. Post-Concert. Plainfield Symphony: Conductor's Circle Reception. Following the Pops Concert, all are invited to honor longtime Plainfield Symphony supporters and friends, Jean Mattson and Lois Mattson. At the home of John DeMarco and Alan Cohen, 940 Glenwood Avenue. $35/person, payable at the door. Includes buffet supper and full bar.
Monday - March 30. 6:30 PM. Restore Muhlenberg/POP Meeting. Note regular meeting date change, as the group's legal briefs appealing Commissioner Howard's July 29, 2008, decision are due in early April. At duCret School of Art, 1030 Central Avenue. Parking and entrance to Hall off parking lot at rear of complex. All Muhlenberg supporters are invited.
Monday - March 30. 6:30 - 8:30 PM. PEP: Board of Education Candidate Forum. All candidates for School Board seats have been invited. Sponsored by PEP (Parents Empowering Parents), Plainfield's citywide parents organization. At Washington Community School, 427 Darrow Avenue. (Parking available in the Spooner Avenue lot.) For more information, visit the PEP website here.