Coalition for Better Schools: On union endorsements.. Maria: Ballooning District legal costs.. Olddoc: Notes no BOE budget discussion..

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PLAINFIELD TODAY:

• "What is at stake in tomorrow's school board election?"
  
  
• "Vote on the school budget"
  

duCret Art School: "Teacher Mark Romanoski a picture of versatility"

School Board Elections and Budgets --

• Plainfield Race: "Plainfield school board race strikes a fever pitch"
• Budgets: "Plainfield, others face deep budget cuts" -- Budget is on ballot for Tuesday.
• Opinion - Plainfield: "Get out and vote if you want change" -- Jay Jefferson Cooke, Courier.
• Opinion - State: "Showdown Tuesday between Christie and NJEA" -- Bob Ingle mentions Plainfield.
• Merit Pay: "Discussion heats up on merits of merit pay"
• Pay Freezes: "Poll: Majority of NJ likely voters want educators to take pay freeze"
• Schunder on Schools: "Commissioner maps new path for schools" -- Interview with Gannett.

Age-Restricted Housing: "Bridgewater weighs lifting restriction on development" -- New state law advantages developers.
South Plainfield: "New police chief took a long detour from teaching"

Municipal Lobbyists: "Towns say millions for lobbying state is money well-spent"
NJ Transit: "Rail, bus fare hikes may clog highways" -- Ridership expected to drop.
Obama: "NJ poll finds public supportive of Obama, split on health care reform"
Superfund Sites: "Lautenberg, Pallone press for renewal of 'polluter pays' tax" -- Industries who pollute resist.
Teaching: "Teacher recruitment could be affected by school cuts, Obama initiatives"

Plainfield observers (click on name to go to post): Bernice supplies relevant BOE ethics info, and announces comments are now closed on her BOE posts. Olddoc notes there has been no discussion of the budget in the BOE brouhaha. Maria calls attention to the documentary 'The Cartel' on the NJ teachers union, ballooning legal costs in the District, and Sen. Lesniak's comments on school elections. Plainfield Sports News finds Revolution falls to Fayettevile.

SCHOOL BOARD CAMPAIGN BLOGS

There are three teams of candidates running for three 3-year seats and 1 one-year seat. Each has a campaign blog, listed below in alphabetical order by team name/designation. Incumbents are designated by an asterisk (*). There are two independent candidates who are not blogging as far as I know.

CHANGE OUR SCHOOLS - CHANGE OUR CITY
3-year term: Jaclynne (Jackie) Callands, Dani Fletcher, Mahogany Hendricks; 1-year term: Clayton Tucker, Sr.
COALITION FOR BETTER SCHOOLS -- Posted a discussion of union endorsements on 4/18.
3-year term: Mary Burgwinkle, Martin Cox*, Christian Estevez*; 1-year term: Carmencita Pile
ELECT A GRAND S.L.A.M. (SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ADVOCACY MOVEMENT)
3-year term: Rasheed Abdul-Haqq, Wilma Campbell*, Renata Hernandez; 1-year term: Keisha Edwards
DENISE RILEY, independent candidate for 1-year term (Courier News item)

Don't miss these personal blogs by Plainfielders, each with a point of view: Rebecca Williams' Confessions of a Bathrobe Blogger; Renata Hernandez' PEPTalk: Revisited, celebrates her daughter's 12th birthday; Jackie Schnoop's The (TV) Show Must Go On, posts her Plainfield pix despite being in Texas; and Dottie Gutenkauf's Dottie G Sez.

| 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. »

WHAT'S HAPPENING

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• Today - April 19. 7:30 PM. [Talk] From Martha to Michelle: America's First Ladies. Dr. Myra Gutin, professor of communication at Rider College will present a survey of America's First Ladies, from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama. Sponsored by the Leagues of Women Voters of Berkeley Heights-New Providence-Summit, Hillside, Plainfield and Union. At the New Providence Memorial Library, 377 Elkwood Avenue, New Providence. FREE.
  
  
• Tomorrow - April 20. 2 - 9 PM. School Board Election and Budget Referendum. With fourteen candidates running, there is intense interest in this year's BOE race. Also on the ballot is the approval of the budget for fiscal 2010-11. At your usual polling location.
  
  
• Tomorrow - April 20. 7 PM. FOSH Meeting. Final plans for May's two-day Garage Sale, updates on 5K Run plans and other community activities. At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue (parking in lot on First Place or at Swain Galleries).
  
  
• Wednesday - April 21. 6:30 PM. 2010 UCWPC Notable Women Reception. The Union County Women's Political Caucus will hold its annual reception honoring notable women in public life. This year's honorees are Republican State Committeewoman Pat Quattrocchi, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Union) and the Hon. Jennifer Velez, Commissioner of Human Services under both Governors Corzine and Christie. The Union County group is part of the Women's Political Caucus of NJ, dedicated to increasing the number of progressive women in elected and appointed positions in government. Tickets: $50 members/$55 non-members. At L'Affaire, 1099 Route 22 East, Mountainside. RSVP to info@wpcnj.org.
  
  
• Wednesday - April 21. 7:30 PM. Cultural & Heritage Commission. City Hall Library. 515 Watchung Avenue (parking in lot at rear of building). Public invited.
  
  
• Thursday - April 22. 7 PM. Cable TV Advisory Board. At City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Avenue. Parking and entry in lot behind behind building. Public welcome.
  
  
• Thursday - April 22. 7 PM. City Council Town Hall Meeting (Ward 4). Fourth Ward residents are invited to discuss concerns specific to their Ward and neighborhoods. At Clinton School, West 4th Street and Clinton Avenue.
  
  
• Friday - April 23. 8 PM. (Doors open at 6 PM) NJ Golden Gloves 2010. The Final Night Tournament will be held at PHS. Tickets on sale through the Plainfield Recreation Division. Call (908) 753-3097 or drop by the Rec Division in City Hall Annex. At Plainfield High School, 950 Park Avenue (parking in Stelle and Kenyon Avenue lots).
  
  
• Friday - April 23. 9 AM - 1 PM (Rain or shine). Mobile Document Shredding at Plainfield. Union County's mobile document-shredding program offers residents an opportunity to securely dispose of confidential and personal documents. Plastic binders and paper clips should be removed in advance. Participants can watch the shredding process via closed-circuit TV. Shredded documents are then used in recycled paper products. The program is funded by the NJDEP. The program will end before 1 PM if the shredding truck reaches capacity. At Cedar Brook Park. Free to Union County residents.
  
  
• Saturday - April 24. 8 PM. Plainfield Symphony: Verdi Requiem. The Plainfield Symphony Orchestra and the Crescent Choral Society join forces to perform the incomparable Verdi Requiem with four stellar soloists. Tickets: $25 general admission; Seniors/Students $15; 12 and under FREE. Info: (908) 561-5140 or 756-2468, www.plainfieldsymphony.org/ or crescentconcerts.org/. At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue (parking in lot on First Place or at Swain Galleries).
  
  
• Sunday - April 25. 3 PM. Solid Brass in Concert. The world-famous brass group will present an exciting program at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church. Tickets: $20/general admission, $15/seniors, $5/students. Tickets will be sold at the door only, no reserved seats. Info: (908) 756-2468 or (908) 756-3157. At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue (parking in lot on First Place or at Swain Galleries).

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