Ferraro obits.. Bernice: Council agenda items; 3 file for BOE seat.. Olddoc on Council.. Maria: Will Plainfield benefit from Bill Gates grant?..

---

PLAINFIELD TODAY:

• "Flood Insurance presentation: Not exactly flooded with useful information"
  
  
  
  
  
• "Council trapped by its own monkey business"
  
  

Bob Ferraro --

• Courier: "Community watchdog dies at 77"
• Plainfield Today: "Bob Ferraro, former Councilor, passes away"
• Also see Plaintalker here; Olddoc here.
  
• Obituary: Courier | Ledger

Schools Assault Case: "Mediation set in case of Plainfield school administrators"
Arts Funding: "State freezes promised funds to arts groups"
Budget Trimming: "Reducing government costs, a little at a time" -- Editorial, Courier.
Men's Indoor Track: "Plainfield's Garrett Ellis listed 4th in NJCU 400 metres"
Recalls --

• West New York: "Petitions filed to recall mayor Sal Vega"
• Wildwood: "Wildwood votes on recall of mayor, commissioner"

Plainfield observers (click on name to go to post): Bernice reviews Council's agenda discussions, notes the passing of Bob Ferraro and 3 filings for vacant BOE seat. Olddoc also covers the Council and Bob Ferraro's passing as well as remembering Pearl Harbor Day. Maria wonders if Plainfield will benefit from a Bill Gates grant, and the semi-understood SEMI program-- or is it semi-misunderstood? Bo on the 22nd remembers Pearl Harbor and the need for homeland security. Councilor Burney lists three areas for budget focus. Councilor Mapp lists point-by-point steps to cut the budget. Councilor Storch outlines what some other towns are doing about budget dilemmas. CBAC (budget advisory committee) looks for your questions and/or comments -- citizens are chiming in, check it out and add your voice. Plainfield Sports News on St. Pat's vs. Bishop Laughlin (St. Pat's, of Elizabeth, is the top-ranked HS basketball team in the nation).

Also, three personal blogs by Plainfielders, each with a point of view: Rebecca Williams' Confessions of a Bathrobe Blogger, Renata Hernandez' PEPTalk: Revisited, and Jackie Schnoop's The (TV) Show Must Go On.

Budgets: "Atlantic City faces $35M budget deficit"
Dunellen: "Rutgers to handle Dunellen police, fire calls starting January"
Middlesex Boro: "Another Dem councilman quits"
Zoning: "Somerville opposes new legislation that would 'take control away' from towns"

Christie Inauguration: "Newark will host most inauguration events"

Charter School Law: "National group gives NJ's charter laws a 'C' grade"
Gay Marriage: "Bill clears committee narrowly" -- Ledger | PolNJ | Gannett | NYTimes | -- Vote tally here.
'Honest Services' Law: "Supreme Court hears case on law used to convict Sharpe James"
Stimulus Money: "Corzine seeks $200M for NJ schools" -- Reversing initial stand.
Trenton: "Palmer won't run for 6th term" -- Ledger | PolNJ |
Unemployment Funds: "Voters to decide on ban on legislators' raiding funds"

| BERNICE'S PLAINTALKER | MARIA'S BLOG | DOC'S POTPOURRI | PIV FOR PLAINFIELD |
| PLAINFIELD SPORTS NEWS| PLAINFIELD TREES | COUNCILOR MAPP | COUNCILOR McWILLIAMS |
| COUNCILOR STORCH | COUNCILOR BURNEY | JERRY GREEN'S PAGE | BO ON THE 22nd |

« Email Dan your tip or question. » | « Follow Dan on Twitter. »

HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITIES: GIVING & GETTING

---

• Food Donations Needed: Consider donating to your 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/.
  
  
• Today through Friday - December 18. Holiday Toy Drive by Sleepy Hollow Realtors. Once again, Joe Burris, John Nash and the Sleepy Hollow Realtors team are collecting toys for area charities. Bring your donation of a new, unwrapped toy for a boy or girl BY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, to Sleepy Hollow Realtors, 1304 South Avenue. Info: (908) 822-0550.
  
  
• Saturday - December 12. 2 - 7 PM. Christmas Gift Bazaar. Holiday gifts and craft items. Door prizes and light refreshments. Proceeds benefit PHS Class of 1970 Reunion. At Mohawk Lodge #307, 1337 West Third Street (corner of Rushmore Avenue). Some vendor slots still available ($55/table) -- contact Carolyn Jenkins (732) 829-9372 or Viola Eaddy (732) 208-7167. Event is FREE.
  
  
• Tuesday - Dec 15 thru Sunday - Dec 20. All Day. BORDERS Gift Wrap Benefiting Plainfield Area Humane Society. Shop at Borders in Watchung Square Mall and have your book or other item gift-wrapped by volunteers from PAHS. Proceeds benefit the Rock Avenue facility.
  
  
• Thursday - December 17. 7 PM - 2 AM (Showtime 11 PM). Plainfield Fire Division Annual Holiday Party and Toy Drive. A must-do annual event, gathering toys for distribution to social service agencies AND having fun enjoying one of the holiday's great parties. At Los Faraones club, 111 East Front Street. Admission FREE with an unwrapped toy of $10 minimum value.
  
  
• Saturday - December 19. 7 PM. New Dems Holiday Potluck and Canned Food Drive. Mix and mingle with new friends and old and celebrate the winter holiday season! Bring a dish to share and one or two nonperishable food items for donation to Plainfield's local feeding programs. Food, fun, music -- maybe even carolling. At the home of Adrian and Amelia Mapp, 535 West 8th Street.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

---

• (NOTE VENUE) Wednesday - December 9. 7 - 10 PM. City Council: Budget Session. The Council will work on amendments to the proposed FY2010 budget, received from the Administration after the state's budget deadline. At the old Senior Center, 305 East Front Street.
  
  
• Saturday - December 12. 1 - 3 PM. Plainfield Library: Publication Party & Book Signing. Got book lovers on your holiday gift list? This is the perfect place to check out more tha 20 local authors who will be offering their works for sale, and signing their latest books. Discover romance and murder in NJ. Or the history of NJ beers and minor league baseball. Explore NJ's history in photographs and writings. Info: Mary Ellen Rogan at (908) 757-1111 x132 or email me.rogan@plfdpl.info. In the Anne Louise Davis Meeting Room at the Plainfield Public Library, Park Avenue and 8th Street. FREE.
  
  
• Saturday - December 12. 2 - 7 PM. Christmas Gift Bazaar. Holiday gifts and craft items. Door prizes and light refreshments. Proceeds benefit PHS Class of 1970 Reunion. At Mohawk Lodge #307, 1337 West Third Street (corner of Rushmore Avenue). Some vendor slots still available ($55/table) -- contact Carolyn Jenkins (732) 829-9372 or Viola Eaddy (732) 208-7167. Event is FREE.
  
  
• Saturday - December 12. 7 PM. Plainfield Symphony Holiday Pops Concert. Music Director Charles Prince leads the PSO in a medley of holiday carols as well as Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, Victor Herbert's March of the Toys, and Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride. Tickets: $25 at the door; $5 off with the presentation of two non-perishable food items (which will benefit Starfish, Plainfield's food pantry). Tickets may also be purchased online at www.plainfieldsymphony.org/. At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue (parking in lot on First Place or at Swain Galleries).
  
  
• Sunday - December 13. 5:30 PM. Concerts: Yuletide by Candlelight. Under the leadership of music director Ron Thayer, the Crescent Singers present their annual gift of holiday music of all ages to the community. 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.

Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to get started.

---