C L I P S

Where Plainfield turns for news.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Election Day: Lines and signs everywhere.. Our bloggers urge you to vote.. Muhlenberg appeals may be dropped.. Polls open 'til 8 PM. Do it!..

PLAINFIELD


PLAINFIELD TODAY:
Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Bernice notes Plainfield's voter rolls are up 19%. Lines or not, Maria is ready to vote -- and hopes you are too! Olddoc urges your vote, and has a surprise chateau -- with moat. PEPtalk points readers to the Superintendent's November message as well as Parents for Public Schools. Over at Plainfield Sports News, Augustine points out that some things are bigger than sports...you know. The Assemblyman reports on foreclosure aid coming and the need for a re-entry program for Plainfield. Councilor Burney gives reasons to vote. Candidate Adrian Mapp points out an inaccuracy in the Democratic mailer and that he is on Line 9A, not 10A.


Muhlenberg: "Appeals may be dropped if state, Solaris agree on conditions"

New Voters: "Newly registered may have to use paper ballots"
Nonprofits: "Charities struggle through crisis"
Verizon: "Verizon cuts prices to keep up with cable"

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


WHAT'S HAPPENING
  • Today - November 4. 6 AM - 8 PM. General (Presidential) Election. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

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

  • Today - November 4. 4 PM - 1 AM. Election Night Returns-Watching Party. Join others in watching the returns -- and help a worthy cause: Club Cosmo's Winter Coat Drive. 8 large-screen TVs. At Club Cosmo, 1209 South Second Street (next to All Hands On Carwash, corner of Clinton Avenue). Cash bar, kitchen will be open, no cover charge. Info, call CJ at (908) 577-0708. Donations will benefit the Winter Coat Drive.

  • Saturday - November 8. 8 PM. Plainfield Symphony: Tribute to Leonard Bernstein. Guest Conductor: Gary Schneider. Celebrating Lennie's 100th with the Overture to Candide and the Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. Also: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5. At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, Watchung Avenue at East 7th Street. $25/General seating. $15/Senior & Student. Info: (908) 561-5140 or email info@plainfieldsymphony.org. The Plainfield Symphony, New Jersey's oldest community symphony, was established in 1919.

  • Monday - November 10. 7:30 PM. City Council Agenda Session. City Hall Library. 515 Watchung Avenue.

  • Saturday - November 15. 8 PM. Crescent Concerts: Elijah. The Crescent Choral Society will perform Felix Mendelssohn's classic oratorio, with organ accompaniment. 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

Legionnaire's Disease: "Another outbreak sickens 15, kills one" -- Newark and Irvington.
Middlesex County: "New court program helps those facing foreclosure"
Pru Center: "Owner demands $2.4M back rent from Devils"
Somerville: "Pay-to-play reforms on Monday's agenda"


STATE

Dem Slush Fund: "DeCroce, Codey won't take lie detector tests" -- PolitickerNJ | Ledger |
No Child Left Behind: "State will show slight rise in failing schools"
State Pension Funds: "Corzine wants fiscal leash loosened"

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


NATION / WORLD

2008 Campaigns --
OF INTEREST

Economy & Health: "Ailing economy takes toll on people's health"
Women's Health: "Just a cup of coffee, except to the fetus"
BOOK REVIEW LINKS: NY Times | Wash Post | Ledger | NY Rev Bks | London Rev Bks |

Posted by Dan at 8:51 AM

Monday, November 3, 2008

Dem Committee urging vote fraud?.. Election meditations.. Olddoc's hilarious dissection.. Maria: Adventures with automatic translation..

PLAINFIELD


BREAKING (11:30 AM): "Dick Cheney's Hometown Paper Endorses Obama Today"


PLAINFIELD TODAY:
Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Bernice has a brief, thoughtful essay tying together an invasive Clematis, the financial meltdown, tomorrow's election, and...us, dear readers. Check it out. Maria delves into translating the Evergreen blog into Spanish, causing my extremities to shake with laughter at her test of an automatic online translator. Olddoc also meditates on the momentous election tomorrow, but you won't want to miss his hilarious adventures in cadaver-land.


Plainfield Symphony: "Violinists comibine youth, experience to make beautiful music" -- 79+17= Wow! And this Saturday is a 'Tribute to Lenny' (Bernstein, that is).
Fire: "East End fire displace family of eight"

Same-Sex Classes: "Students improve at Newark school after classes divided" -- An idea whose time has come (again)?

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


WHAT'S HAPPENING
  • BUDGET CALENDAR: A three-year budget comparison document is online here.

    • Mon Oct 20 | Fire Division and $1.66M error.
    • Thu Oct 23 - 7:30 PM, City Hall Library | Extra budget meeting: IT [Information Technology], Public Information, and Project Alert [Dudley House].
    • Fri Oct 31 | Citizens Budget Advisory Committee sends budget recommendations to council.
    • Fri Nov 7 | City Council sends budget changes to Council finance committee.
    • Mon Nov 10 | City Council discusses budget changes and recommendations (from CBAC) with self, and requests administration comment and implementation. CBAC presentation of recommendations to City Council.
    • Wed Nov 13 | Administration responds electronically to change recommendations.
    • Mon Nov 17 | Resolution for budget changes is finalized and brought forward.
    • Mon Nov 24 | Public hearing on FY2009 Budget.
    • Mon Dec 1 | FY2009 Budget adoption..

  • Today - November 3. No 'Save Muhlenberg' Meeting. Next meeting: Monday, November 10, 6:30 PM, duCret School of Art.

  • Tomorrow - November 4. 6 AM - 8 PM. General (Presidential) Election. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

  • Tuesday - November 4. 4 PM - 1 AM. Election Night Returns-Watching Party. Join others in watching the returns -- and help a worthy cause: Club Cosmo's Winter Coat Drive. 8 large-screen TVs. At Club Cosmo, 1209 South Second Street (next to All Hands On Carwash, corner of Clinton Avenue). Cash bar, kitchen will be open, no cover charge. Info, call CJ at (908) 577-0708. Donations will benefit the Winter Coat Drive.

  • Saturday - November 8. 8 PM. Plainfield Symphony: Tribute to Leonard Bernstein. Guest Conductor: Gary Schneider. Celebrating Lennie's 100th with the Overture to Candide and the Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. Also: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5. At Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, Watchung Avenue at East 7th Street. $25/General seating. $15/Senior & Student. Info: (908) 561-5140 or email info@plainfieldsymphony.org. The Plainfield Symphony, New Jersey's oldest community symphony, was established in 1919.

  • Monday - November 10. 7:30 PM. City Council Agenda Session. City Hall Library. 515 Watchung Avenue.

  • Saturday - November 15. 8 PM. Crescent Concerts: Elijah. The Crescent Choral Society will perform Felix Mendelssohn's classic oratorio, with organ accompaniment. 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

Millburn: "Brides picket bankrupt bridal shop"
South Plainfield: "Report sparks debate about contamination at Suburban Transit property"


STATE

Forensics: "NJ's lack of rules for storing evidence hinders convicts"
Medicaid Fraud: "State probes fraud at adult day care centers" -- Nearly one third commit fraud.
NJ National Guard: "Guard mobilizes to help NJ families"
School Administrators: "Cap on vacation, sick time payouts challenged in court today"
State Investment Fund: "Administrator defends $144M to Black Rock" -- Was state between a Rock and a hard place?
State Police: "Troopers with law degrees sue to practice law"
Voting Procedures: "Jersey's provisional ballots worry watchdogs"

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


NATION / WORLD

2008 Campaigns --
 AIG Bailout: "Experts: Bankruptcy might be better than bailout"
Real Estate: "One in five homeowners 'under water'" -- Owing more than house is worth.


OF INTEREST

A 1943 Report Card.
Report Cards: "Online grading systems mean no more changing Ds to Bs"
BOOK REVIEW LINKS: NY Times | Wash Post | Ledger | NY Rev Bks | London Rev Bks |

Posted by Dan at 9:19 AM

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Can 2 historic homes be saved?.. Bernice on city issues.. Evergreen School vandalism.. 2 hurt escaping fire.. McWilliams open house today..

PLAINFIELD

Once again, the Ledger fails to put its Sunday stories online. Is this a trend? Last week's never even appeared online at all.

PLAINFIELD TODAY:
Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Bernice posts some random thoughts on city issues you won't want to miss. Maria details vandalism at Evergreen School and posts a link to its PTO's November blog, as well as an interesting book for young readers. Olddoc is playing with his new toy -- a scanner for his 1,000+ slides -- with results. (I like the 'quiet afternoon' view). At Plainfield Sports News, Augustine catches us up with the Irvington/Cardinals game.

Fire: "Two injured escaping from fire"
Drugs: "Plainfield men indicted in 'Operation Dirty Laundry' drug sting" (Courier)

Elections: "How votes are counted in New Jersey" -- A handy guide.
NJ's Economic Rescue Plan: "Corzine plan will not help most hard-hit NJ residents"
Recycling Theaters: "Montclair's 1922 Wellmont reopens to a rock beat"

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


WHAT'S HAPPENING
  • STANDARD TIME BEGINS TODAY: 'Spring ahead, Fall behind' -- Clocks go BACK one hour.

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

    • Mon Oct 20 | Fire Division and $1.66M error.
    • Thu Oct 23 - 7:30 PM, City Hall Library | Extra budget meeting: IT [Information Technology], Public Information, and Project Alert [Dudley House].
    • Fri Oct 31 | Citizens Budget Advisory Committee sends budget recommendations to council.
    • Fri Nov 7 | City Council sends budget changes to Council finance committee.
    • Mon Nov 10 | City Council discusses budget changes and recommendations (from CBAC) with self, and requests administration comment and implementation. CBAC presentation of recommendations to City Council.
    • Wed Nov 13 | Administration responds electronically to change recommendations.
    • Mon Nov 17 | Resolution for budget changes is finalized and brought forward.
    • Mon Nov 24 | Public hearing on FY2009 Budget.
    • Mon Dec 1 | FY2009 Budget adoption..

  • Today - November 2. 1 - 5 PM. Open House for Obama and Annie McWilliams. The McWilliams family is hosting an Open House today 'to build excitement for our next president, Barack Obama', and to thank the community for its support of the family and Annie's candidacy for City Council. Come out and visit with Darlene, Annie, Adam and Avery (A.T. and Allison are away at school). Light refreshments will be served. At the McWilliams home, 1341 Prospect Avenue. All are welcome.

  • Tomorrow - November 3. No 'Save Muhlenberg' Meeting. Next meeting: Monday, November 10, 6:30 PM, duCret School of Art.

  • Tuesday - November 4. 6 AM - 8 PM. General (Presidential) Election. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

  • Tuesday - November 4. 4 PM - 1 AM. Election Night Returns-Watching Party. Join others in watching the returns -- and help a worthy cause: Club Cosmo's Winter Coat Drive. 8 large-screen TVs. At Club Cosmo, 1209 South Second Street (next to All Hands On Carwash, corner of Clinton Avenue). Cash bar, kitchen will be open, no cover charge. Info, call CJ at (908) 577-0708. Donations will benefit the Winter Coat Drive.
Got an event to publicize? Click here and send me the details.


REAL ESTATE SUNDAY

SMALL PICTURE
Plainfield: "Two Historic Plainfield Properties: Can They Be Saved?"
'Sibling' Houses: "Two 'sisters' on the market, divergent in old age" -- Divergent in price, too!
Secaucus: "New apartments rise from marshes"
BIG PICTURE
Home Equity: "Opening the tap on home equity"
TOOLS
This Week's Sales: "NYTimes's Residential Sales Around the Region" -- Week of November 2, 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


Bill Clinton with Linda Stender on Saturday.
7th District Race: "Clinton calls for Stender success" -- PolitickerNJ | Ledger | NYTimes |
Stender Fundraiser Flap: "UCC Prez: Morin is welcome; Cryan: State Dems would pay for Lance/Bush event"

Scotch Plains: "Woman kicks her way to top in martial arts competitions"
Summit: "For affluent town, clouds of uncertainty"


STATE

2008 Presidential Race: "Poll: Obama holds 21% lead in NJ" | "Menendez: Obama will win Florida"

U.S. Senate Race: "Lautenberg, Zimmer clash over earmarks, bailout bill" -- Ledger | PolitickerNJ |

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


NATION / WORLD

2008 Campaigns --
 Iraq: "Amidst country's violence, a radio station gives hope"


OF INTEREST

Crime Fighting Tools: "D.C. turns to texting to fight crime" -- Why not?
Vinyl: "Just call them the basement albums"

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

Posted by Dan at 10:27 AM

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Recycle electronics today.. Apartments over Eisenman's?.. Olddoc: City finances FUBAR.. Burney: Rednecks 4 Obama.. Stender brouhaha..



PLAINFIELD


PLAINFIELD TODAY:
Be sure to check out fellow Plainfield bloggers: Bernice reports apartments are proposed over the former Eisenman's on Park Avenue. Maria catches a superhero, but is he going down the 'up' staircase or vice versa? Olddoc's home on the (East) range, comments on foreclosure help, and city finances (FUBAR?), and a pic of the Taj Mahal whose framing reminds me of the work going on at Plainfield's mosque at 4th & Grant. Check it out. Councilor Burney comments on the Presidential race, with a roadside sign: Rednecks 4 Obama. And Council candidate Adrian Mapp urges all to vote early, and for Barack!


Drugs: "Plainfield men indicted in 'Operation Dirty Laundry' drug ring"
Halloween: "Jesus costume gets teen sent home from school"

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


WHAT'S HAPPENING
  • DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS TONIGHT: 'Spring ahead, Fall behind' -- Clocks go BACK one hour.

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

    • Mon Oct 20 | Fire Division and $1.66M error.
    • Thu Oct 23 - 7:30 PM, City Hall Library | Extra budget meeting: IT [Information Technology], Public Information, and Project Alert [Dudley House].
    • Fri Oct 31 | Citizens Budget Advisory Committee sends budget recommendations to council.
    • Fri Nov 7 | City Council sends budget changes to Council finance committee.
    • Mon Nov 10 | City Council discusses budget changes and recommendations (from CBAC) with self, and requests administration comment and implementation. CBAC presentation of recommendations to City Council.
    • Wed Nov 13 | Administration responds electronically to change recommendations.
    • Mon Nov 17 | Resolution for budget changes is finalized and brought forward.
    • Mon Nov 24 | Public hearing on FY2009 Budget.
    • Mon Dec 1 | FY2009 Budget adoption..

  • Today - November 1. 9 AM - 2 PM (Rain or shine). Electronics Recycling. Items accepted include: Monitors, keyboards, CPUs, TVs, phones, VCRs, printers and more. (See full list, including conditions and exclusions here.) Sponsored by Union County. At Schering-Plough, Kenilworth. Pre-registration NOT required, but proof of Union County residence is. Info: (908) 654-9889.

  • Today - November 1. 5:30 PM Sharp bus departure. Community Basketball Trip: Nets vs. Golden State Warriors. Bus trip sponsored by the Recreation Division to the game at the Meadowlands. Bus departs City Hall parking lot at 5:30 PM sharp. Game starts at 7:30 PM, bus will return to City Hall parking lot at 11:00 PM. $40/person includes ticket, Nets giveaway and round-trip transportation. First come, first served. Contact the Recreation Division, City Hall Annex, 510 Watchung Avenue or (908) 753-3097.

  • Monday - November 3. No 'Save Muhlenberg' Meeting. Next meeting: Monday, November 10, 6:30 PM, duCret School of Art.

  • Tuesday - November 4. 6 AM - 8 PM. General (Presidential) Election. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

  • Tuesday - November 4. 4 PM - 1 AM. Election Night Returns Watching Party. Join others in watching the returns -- and help a worthy cause: Club Cosmo's Winter Coat Drive. 8 large-screen TVs. At Club Cosmo, 1209 South Second Street (next to All Hands On Carwash, corner of Clinton Avenue). Cash bar, kitchen will be open, no cover charge. Info, call CJ at (908) 577-0708. Donations will benefit the Winter Coat Drive.
Got an event to publicize? Click here and send me the details.


CENTRAL JERSEY

Stender/Lance Race --
 Cory Booker: "Obama win could bring DC opportunity for Booker"
North Brunswick: "Cop indicted in crash that killed fellow cop" | Ledger | Gannett | -- 94mph in a rented car, on duty.


STATE

FBI's Digital Billboards: "Where criminals get their names up in lights"
State Pension Funds: "State shores up hedge fund with further $94M" -- Could earn 20%, or could earn.....Good story to bury on a Saturday.

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


NATION / WORLD

2008 Campaigns --
 Where's W?: "A presidential disappearing act, by design"
Congressional Corruption: "Legislators use law as a shield in probes"


OF INTEREST

Studs has a beer with fellow writer Mike Royko (r).
Obituary: "Studs Terkel, to whom Everyman was a hero" -- 'When he listened, they talked'.

On The Media: "Are newspapers forgetting their most loyal readers, Boomers?" -- Ahem!
BOOK REVIEW LINKS: NY Times | Wash Post | Ledger | NY Rev Bks | London Rev Bks |

Posted by Dan at 9:38 AM

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