PLAINFIELD TODAY

• More shoes to drop in schools certifications mess?

  
  
  
  Are there more shoes to drop in the ongoing mess over certifications of officials in the Plainfield Public Schools? It seems possible.
  
  The Courier's Mark Spivey reported Sunday (see here) on the continuing saga of Plainfield school officials' mess' [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 10:38am EST
  

• Second Swine Flu clinic scheduled

  
  
  
  Snyder School of Nursing at Muhlenberg will host the clinic.
  
  
  Trolling Plainfield's official website Friday morning, I discovered that a second H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccination clinic has been scheduled for this coming Saturday, December 19, (see here, PDF).
  [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2009, 8:39am EST
  

• Heart-stopping Holiday decorations

  
  
  
  Like everyone, my inbox gets its share of jokes (some family-friendly, some not), but Plainfield Today reader Dr. Ted really got my attention with the picture seen above.
  
  Turns out to be an anonymous homeowner's attempt at some holiday humor, [...]
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  Posted: December 13, 2009, 9:34am EST
  

• Mugging at train station Friday evening

  
  
  
  Netherwood's historic train station.
  
  
  Received a report of a mugging at Plainfield's Netherwood train station Friday evening, between 7:30 and 8:00 PM.
  
  A young male is said to have snatched a woman's purse as she was walking to [...]
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  Posted: December 12, 2009, 9:17am EST
  

• Three must-do events for this Holiday weekend

  
  
  
  Shepherds at the manger (Canterbury Cathedral).
  
  
  Plainfielders have three outstanding holiday opportunities this weekend --
  
  PLAINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY: BOOK-SIGNING AND GIFTING EVENT
  
  On Saturday afternoon, local authors will be hosted by the Plainfield Public Library at a [...]
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  Posted: December 11, 2009, 9:56am EST
  

• Dashield's departure leaves Robinson-Briggs' hands full

  
  
  
  Famous sign on desk of President Harry S. Truman,
  one of America's best CEO's ever.
  
  
  [Updated with Montclair blog Baristanet's posts at 1:10 PM] The news that Plainfield City Administrator Marc Dashield is leaving to become Montclair's township [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 9:08am EST
  

• Hillside Avenue accident victim medevaced

  
  
  
  Map showing location of accident.
  
  
  A woman traveling down Highland Avenue failed to stop at the corner of Hillside Avenue, and her car proceeded through the intersection to crash into a tree at the foot of the driveway of [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 8:05am EST
  

• BREAKING: Plainfielder Paul Beckwith on Gay Marriage Bill

  Plainfielder Paul Beckwith is cited in a story from Bay Windows, a New England GLBT newspaper on the Senate Judiciary Committee's vote to send the gay marriage bill to the floor. Read more HERE. [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 12:55pm EST
  

• Council trapped by its own monkey business

  
  
  
  
  Staring down a 10% local tax increase possibility in the budget Plainfield's City Council is currently struggling with, the cost of government is much on my mind lately -- as I presume it is on yours, too, dear reader.
  [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 11:18am EST
  

• Flood Insurance presentation: Not exactly flooded with useful info

  
  
  
  Residents get an informal flood zone map
  twice a year in the DPW mailer; this one's on my fridge.
  
  
  Plainfield's City Council wanted to hear about flood insurance Monday evening, and got an earful from Director Jennifer Wenson-Maier.
  
  However, [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 10:42am EST
  

• Bob Ferraro, former Plainfield councilor, passes away

  
  
  
  Bob Ferraro, 'the man in the van',
  in the 2008 July 4th Parade.
  
  
  Plainfielders will be saddened to learn of the death on Sunday of former city council member Bob Ferraro.
  
  Known to one and all as 'the' [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 10:03am EST
  

• Today's the day: 740 reason$ not to mi$$ the VWB tour

  
  
  
  Special Treat: A completed three-year restoration.
  
  
  Plainfield house tour junkie alert!
  
  The Van Wyck Brooks Historic District's holiday extravaganza, 'An Old-Fashioned Christmas', is upon us today.
  
  Check the weather (it's a rain-snow-or-shine event) and lace up your [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 7:21am EST
  

• Swinish handling of Plainfield's Swine Flu program

  
  
  
  With H1N1 swine flu still pandemic, Plainfielders are waiting to hear about further vaccine clinics sponsored by the City.
  
  After only 500 inoculations out of 2,000 available were distributed at its November 21 clinic at Muhlenberg's Snyder School of Nursing [...]
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  Posted: December 05, 2009, 10:48am EST
  

• Political meddling in Roselle Civil Service case?

  
  If you think Plainfield politics is a jungle, consider outside political intervention in the affairs of Roselle, and the statewide effects of same.
  
  When Roselle's mayor, Garrett Smith, appealed a borough Council layoff plan which eliminated the borough's CFO, Adrian Mapp (who is also a Plainfield council member) [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 11:11am EST
  

• CSI Plainfield: Budget crime scene

  
  
  
  Scrounged seating was the least of the issues Thursday evening.
  
  
  There have been two burning questions in Plainfield politics the past few days about the budget process.
  
  Of course the most important is what the Council will do [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 10:09am EST
  

• Mayor, Dashield reprise Lucy and Ethel in candy factory?

  
  
  
  Lucy and Ethel found it hard to keep up with the pace at the chocolate factory.
  
  
  While the Plainfield City Council is preoccupied dealing with the boobytrapped budget the Robinson-Briggs administration delivered to it after the state's budget-filing deadline, [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 10:25am EST
  

• UPDATE: Rape and robbery at gunpoint

  
  
  
  The Carlton-Watchung-Kensington-Putnam area.
  
  
  Update on the rape and robbery at gunpoint Tuesday evening on Carlton Avenue.
  
  A reader reported a large number of police vehicles in the area of Carlton, Watchung and Kensington Avenues somewhat before 2:30 PM Wednesday afternoon.
  [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 8:38pm EST
  

• Budgets are not just about the Council making cuts

  
  
  
  
  Watching the Plainfield City Council's first budget session after the past-due-date introduction by the Robinson-Briggs administration was instructive on two fronts: positively by Judge Joan Robinson-Gross and negatively by the Council itself.
  
  Judge Robinson-Gross opened the evening, offering both [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 10:45am EST
  

• Rape and robbery Tuesday evening

  
  A Plainfield Today reader alerted me to a rape and robbery at gunpoint Tuesday evening, on Carleton Avenue.
  
  
  -- Dan Damon [follow]
  
  View today's CLIPS here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe. [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 6:58am EST
  

• Making Lautenberg's seat safe for Corzine?

  
  
  
  Something tasty is always being spun in NJ's political cotton candy machine.
  
  
  Plainfield's Ward 2 Dem committee leader Rebecca Williams told me a fantastic tale a couple of weeks ago.
  
  Loser of the governor's race Jon Corzine would [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 11:35am EST
  

• Municipal aid cut no surprise to the Wise Virgins

  
  
  
  The Foolish Virgins miss the boat, so to speak.
  
  
  Plainfield budget watchers' anxiety is always compounded by the wait for 'the figure'.
  
  The figure in question being the annual municipal aid granted by the State to the City.[...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 11:10am EST
  

• House Tour Fever: 740 reason$ not to mi$$ the VWB tour

  
  
  
  
  Special Treat: A completed three-year restoration.
  
  
  Plainfield house tour junkie alert!
  
  The Van Wyck Brooks Historic District's holiday extravaganza, 'An Old-Fashioned Christmas', is upon us -- this Sunday, in fact.
  
  Lace up your comfortable walking shoes,' [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 10:03am EST
  

• Robinson-Briggs administration plays Grinch to Council's Christmas

  
  
  
  The Grinch team makes off with Whoville's gifts.
  
  Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and City Administrator Marc Dashield are playing the Grinch (and sidekick) to City Council's Christmas.
  
  While the Grinch and his dog Max stole Whoville's Christmas gifts, [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 10:09am EST
  

• Thanksgiving is 'tinker' time

  
  
  
  Improving the user experience?
  
  
  Plainfield Today will take advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to tinker with and spruce up the blog site.
  
  There will be no posts on Plainfield Today from Thanksgiving Day until Monday, November 30.
  [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 9:21am EST
  

• Holiday gift ideas

  
  
  
  
  With the Holiday shopping season upon us, Plainfield Today readers may be interested in two gift-giving opportunities.
  
  SWAIN GALLERIES
  
  Swain's is celebrating its 141st Anniversary with a special sale and Open House THANKSGIVING WEEKEND. Almost everything will be [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 9:11am EST
  

• Budget: Council pushes back against recalcitrant administration

  
  
  
  The Robinson-Briggs team a vaudeville act?.
  
  
  With only three items on the Plainfield City Council's special meeting agenda Monday night, most of the meeting was devoted to just one of them: the Robinson-Briggs administration's proposed layoff plan.
  
  Under [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 10:05am EST
  

• Budget situation more complicated than Robinson-Briggs understands?

  
  
  
  
  Plainfield's budget struggle gets under way in earnest tonight with the Administration's formal offering (finally!) of its FY2010 proposal to the City Council.
  
  Besides the budget itself, the Council will take up the Robinson-Briggs administration's proposed layoff plan and its [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 10:13am EST
  

• Memo to Dr. Gallon: Wisdom from Mark Twain

  
  
  
  Statue of Twain at Hannibal, Missouri.
  
  
  Plainfield Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Gallon III has been much in the news in the past few days, and it hasn't been exactly edifying.
  
  Like it or not, the public is going' [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2009, 9:48am EST
  

• What Corporation Counsel wanted Burney to take down from blog. But why?

  
  
  
  Screenshot of Google cache for Burney post.
  
  
  Plainfield's City Council President Rashid Burney posted his concerns about the Robinson-Briggs administration's proposed layoff plan to his blog last Sunday, November 15.
  
  His original post was altered at 10:16 AM [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 9:19am EST
  

• Reader suggestion: Make League attendance a homework assignment

  
  
  
  Lobby of the A.C. Convention Center.
  
  
  A reader commenting on Plainfield officials' attendance at the League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City (see yesterday's story here) made the following suggestion --
  I think that everyone who goes' [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 10:10am EST
  

• Census jobs available for Plainfielders

  
  
  
  
  Taking Plainfield's 2010 Census will provide $13/hour jobs for full- and part-time workers, according to information distributed by local coordinator George Gore at Monday's council meeting.
  
  Today's Star-Ledger notes that officials responsible for New Jersey's count are looking to hire [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 9:49am EST
  

• Free Swine Flu vaccinations in Plainfield

  
  Per Plainfield's Health Division, FREE Swine Flu vaccinations are available Saturday --
  
  FREE H1N1 (SWINE FLU) VACCINATION CLINIC
  
  WHERE:
  Muhlenberg Campus School of Nursing
  Park and Moffett Avenues
  
  WHEN:
  Saturday, November 21, 2009
  
  TIME:
  9:00' [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 9:16am EST
  

• The PMUA retreats ... to the Borgata

  
  
  
  Legal notice of the PMUA's 'retreat'.
  (Click to enlarge or print.)
  
  
  The Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority had a 'retreat' yesterday at the Borgata in Atlantic City, according to the special notice in a local paper supplied by a reader [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 8:47am EST
  

• League Conference in A.C.: What should officials be boning up on?

  
  
  
  Elected officials and administrators from Plainfield will be joining those from across New Jersey this week for the 94th Annual Conference of the NJ League of Municipalities (NJLM).
  
  Traditionally, it has been a week of schmoozing, boozing and deal-making -- including some [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 7:55am EST
  

• Mayor's Census show barges in ... and sinks

  
  
  
  Some of the 150 or so who attended last night's Council meeting
  -- though not there because of the Census presentation.
  
  
  Plainfield City Council President Rashid Burney pressed the Robinson-Briggs administration pretty hard at last week's agenda-setting session, wanting [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 10:41am EST
  

• Monarch condos occupied without certification?

  
  
  
  Monarch condos.
  
  
  Is someone living in the Monarch condos above Plainfield's new Senior Center without the building having been certified for occupancy?
  
  Even as late as Veterans Day, when attendees were specifically told to park ELSEWHERE than the [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 9:23am EST
  

• What the NY Post doesn't know about Jim McGreevey

  
  
  
  The NY Post ran a story on McGreevey Sunday.
  
  
  Plainfielders should never get their sports news from Dan ... or their religion news from the New York Post.
  
  The Post ran a story Sunday about ex-Governor Jim McGreevey's' [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 8:35am EST
  

• BREAKING: Burglary on Charlotte; DWI seriously injures man

  
  
  
  Map showing locations of DWI incident and Charlotte Road.
  
  
  Two breaking items Sunday morning --
  
  BURGLARY:
  Word received mid-morning Sunday that a male broke the glass of a rear door on a Charlotte Road home, entered and [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 11:33am EST
  

• Where are they now? Plainfield's 'stalking horse' political blogs

  
  
  
  
  During Plainfield's most recent political seasons there have been two 'stalking horse' blogs perhaps not known to the general blog-reading public. I thought to check up on them this weekend, to see what they're up to now that there is [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 9:49am EST
  

• Three priests rise out of a modest congregation

  
  
  
  The Blessed Virgin Mary,
  stained glass window in Grace Church.
  
  
  An abbreviated Plainfield Today today -- am off to the ordination of my friend Susan Ironside as a 'transitional' deacon at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton this morning. 'Transitional' [...]
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  Posted: November 14, 2009, 7:51am EST
  

• Speed humps? What are your suggested locations?

  
  
  
  Today's Courier features a story (see here) on the new speed humps on Kensington Avenue, promoted by Councilors Cory Storch and Rashid Burney and noted previously on their blogs (see here and here).
  
  Speed humps (see more' [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 9:32am EST
  

• Home invasion Thursday evening

  
  
  
  The 800-block of George Street is a quiet residential neighborhood.
  
  
  I have learned there was a home invasion in the 800-block of George Street Thursday evening. UPDATE. I have since been told the incident happened around 3:00 PM, when [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 7:51am EST
  

• Holiday decorations ... not exactly a correction

  
  
  
  A DPW worker (not Superintendent John Louise)
  mounting holiday decorations outside the (original) Texas Weiner
  near Watchung Avenue and East Front Street.
  (Photo courtesy Cheri Bullock)
  
  
  
  Consider it an amplification of yesterday's picture gallery of scenes around' [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 7:40am EST
  

• Scene around town

  
  
  
  Aarons Furniture store on Somerset Street
  was attacked by an unidentified flying (or nearly so)
  object, Saturday night October 24.
  
  
  
  
  
  Is that DPW Superintendent John Louise
  mounting holiday decorations
  outside the [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 8:56am EST
  

• Sympathy to Dr. Harold Yood and family

  
  
  
  Opening line of the Kaddish.
  
  
  Veteran Plainfield-watcher and Council commentator Dr. Harold Yood's wife Helen passed away yesterday.
  
  News of his loss was posted to his blog, Doc's Potpourri last evening (see here).
  
  My deepest sympathy [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 9:36am EST
  

• Man shot Tuesday night

  
  
  
  Plainfield has had yet another shooting incident.
  
  Tuesday evening, a man was shot multiple times in the 400 block of West 5th Street (between Central Avenue and Liberty Street).
  
  
  -- Dan Damon [follow]
  View [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 7:59am EST
  

• A Plainfield swine flu runaround

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Consider Pat Kavanaugh's Kafkaesque quest for a swine flu shot.
  
  The Plainfield native, community activist, and retired Star-Ledger reporter told me she has been trying to get a shot for the better part of a' [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 10:51am EST
  

• Plainfield shocker: Somerset Street milled, paved!

  
  
  
  
  As of yesterday, drivers entering Plainfield via Somerset Street no longer need endure the bone-jarring corduroy road which the block from the North Plainfield line to Front Street has been for decades.
  
  In a SINGLE WORK DAY, the stretch [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 9:34am EST
  

• Plainfield's Veterans Day Observance: Incontrovertible, inscrutable, inexplicable

  
  
  
  Veterans Day annouccement on City's website.
  (Click to enlarge.)
  
  
  Plainfielders who read the city's official (and presumed official) pronouncements on this year's observance of Veterans Day may find them alternatively incontrovertible, inscrutable, and inexplicable, or' [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 8:42am EST
  

• Commuter robbed at gunpoint walking home from train

  
  
  
  
  A Plainfield commuter who lives in the 900-block of Madison Avenue was robbed at gunpoint while walking home from the train station this past Tuesday evening, I learned from a VWB resident on Saturday evening.
  
  This, even as Public [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 10:01am EST
  

• Plainfield photography contest exhibit opens today

  
  
  
  'Wiener Man' took First Place in the 2008 contest's amateur division.
  
  
  Entries in the Plainfield Public Library's 4th annual photography contest will be on display in an exhibit that opens today with a reception from 1 -3 PM in [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 8:06am EST
  

• Political signs: A fine idea

  
  
  
  Plainfield streets were bombarded with campaign signs.
  
  
  Plainfielders who get annoyed at how long it takes for political signs to disappear after an election (even if taxpayer money is spent picking many of them up) may wish they had [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 7:26am EST
  

• Plainfield, District 22 and Union County: 2005 and 2009 compared

  
  
  
  Chris Christie campaigned in Plainfield this summer.
  Here he is shown with Assembly candidates 'Bo' Vastine and Martin Marks.
  
  
  Plainfield's turnout in Tuesday's general election fell by 5% compared to 2005, despite the surge in Democratic registrations brought about by [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 10:43am EST
  

• Plainfield Today is 4. What is the appropriate gift?

  
  
  Plainfield Today is four years old (see the very first of 1932 posts so far here).
  
  Here are some suggestions derived from the 'modern gifts' table at findgift.com (see here), which says 'APPLIANCES' are just the thing for a fourth anniversary.
  [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 10:00am EST
  

• Courier declares Marks winner over Green

  
  22nd District results in today's Courier.
  
  
  Plainfielders who thought the election was settled may want to check their dead-wood editions of the Courier News today, where they will find (on page A-4) that Marty Marks beat Jerry Green in the 22nd Legislative' [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 9:20am EST
  

• Jerry and Sharon win, but find themselves between rock and hard place

  
  
  Image by Stephanie Hough.
  
  
  Plainfielders who turned out to vote yesterday (MOST DID NOT) gave Sharon Robinson-Briggs a second term by a wide margin.
  
  Assemblyman Jerry Green and running mate Linda Stender, however, got the fright of their political lives.
  [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 9:32am EST
  

• Tweeting the Plainfield election today

  I'll be tweeting election day news in Plainfield throughout the day.
  
  You can catch me on Twitter here --
  
  [https:]
  
  Don't forget to vote.
  
  
  -- Dan Damon
  
  View today's CLIPS here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily?' [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 10:23am EST
  

• "JERRY ... you sold us out"

  
  
  Detail from a piece circulating in the 22nd District.
  
  
  Plainfielders can hardly be surprised to learn of last minute 'dirty tricks' in political campaigns.
  
  Remember the phony 'endorsement letter' mailer in which then-Senator Jon Corzine supposedly supported Sharon Robinson-Briggs for [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 7:41am EST
  

• 10 reasons to vote for Mayor Sharon

  
  
  
  Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs.
  
  
  Here are ten reasons to give Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs a second term. (Follow the links if your memory needs refreshing.)
  10. She's a MATH WHIZ.
  Defying the laws of mathematics and gravity, Mayor Sharon' [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 9:43am EST
  

• Corzine must do better the second time around

  
  
  
  The promise Jon Corzine showed in 2005 has proven illusory.
  (Shown here in 2005 with Mayor Al McWilliams and Councilor Rashid Burney.)
  
  Jon Corzine must do better as governor the second time around.
  
  And thoughtful Plainfielders must put aside [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 8:29am EST
  

• The soon-to-be-former BUF?

  
  
  
  Plainfield's 'BUF' has been identified by this sign in recent years.
  
  
  Reading an article in The Positive Community magazine on the National Black United Fund's recent launch of a campaign to increase donors and donations (see here), [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 9:57am EST
  

• All Dem 'volunteers' are not actually volunteers

  
  A Plainfield Today reader forwarded the following email they received from Plainfield's Democratic HQ --
  Good day,
  
  We only have seven days left until the 2009 Gubernatorial Election and we can still use your help! This is the last stretch of the campaign and we' [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2009, 9:16am EDT
  

• Are Mapp's Town Hall meetings worthwhile?

  
  A Plainfield Today reader, with whom I was discussing Councilor Adrian Mapp's town hall meeting in advance of last night, expressed some scepticism as to whether this kind of forum was worthwhile, saying they saw no immediate benefit from Mapp's previous Town Hall in August, which focused on the [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 10:53am EDT
  

• UPDATE: Mayor Sharon and 'lying bloggers challenge'

  
  

  Plainfield Mayor Robinson-Briggs said bloggers "dont' always tell the truth".
  

  On October 16, Plainfield Today challenged Mayor Robinson-Briggs to cite chapter and verse to back up her charge that "city bloggers don't always tell the truth" (quoting Bernice, see here).
  
  It is [...]

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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 10:25am EDT
  

• Town Hall Meeting: Quote of the Night

  
  My nomination for Quote of the Night from Plainfield Councilor Adrian Mapp's town hall meeting at the Plainfield Public Library last evening would be this, from remarks made by Assemblyman Jerry Green to the 40-or so attendees --
  "One of the things I have tried to do over'" [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 9:48am EDT
  

• Muhlenberg a big focus of races

  
  
  
  Sign on a Watchung Avenue yard during Muhlenberg closure crisis.
  
  
  Plainfield's Muhlenberg Hospital is the gift that keeps on giving -- headaches, that is -- for incumbent candidates Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and Assembly incumbents Jerry Green and Linda Stender.
  [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 10:39am EDT
  

• Dan was wrong! Do you hear me -- wrong, wrong, wrong!

  
  
  
  In my post on Monday that it was about time for Mayor Robinson-Briggs to pull a rabbit out of the hat in regard to Muhlenberg Hospital (see here), I was wrong.
  
  Do you hear me?! Wrong, wrong, wrong!
  
  I predicted [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 9:59am EDT
  

• Town Hall on Plainfield finances, other issues tonight

  
  Plainfielders have an important opportunity to discuss important community issues BEFORE next Tuesday's general election, at which we will vote for Mayor, Council and Assembly seats -- as well as Governor and, for the first time ever, Lt. Governor.
  
  Councilor Adrian Mapp continues his series of Town Hall [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 9:16am EDT
  

• Somethin' funny with the (PAS) Stimulus money

  
  
  
  
  
  You'd think with the mayoral election less than a week away, Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs would not want another how-does-she-handle-the-city's-finances matter on her plate.
  
  Yet, here we are.
  
  I got rumbles yesterday that the Plainfield Action Services [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 11:15am EDT
  

• Muhlenberg: The world according to Dottie G.

  
  
  
  Protesters at first 'Save Muhlenberg' rally, March, 2008.
  
  
  Plainfield's inimitable Dottie Gutenkauf has written an election piece attacking Republican candidates 'Bo' Vastine and Marty Marks, which was given prominent display under its 'Guest Commentary' section by the Courier [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 10:42am EDT
  

• Man accused of sexually assaulting 5-year-old boy

  
  An alarming Ledger story concerning an alleged sexual assault against a 5-year old boy was posted yesterday (see here).
  
  The headline caught my eye as there have been rumors for weeks that a Plainfield man was arrested on September 28 (a month ago) on a similar -- [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 9:57am EDT
  

• Important meetings: LWV Forum Wednesday, Mapp Town Hall Thursday

  
  Plainfielders have two important opportunities to discuss (and hear the candidates discuss) important community issues BEFORE next Tuesday's general election, at which we will vote for Mayor, Council and Assembly seats -- as well as Governor and, for the first time ever, Lt. Governor.
  
  Plainfield's 89-year-old chapter of [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 9:42am EDT
  

• It's rabbit-out-of-hat time in Plainfield!

  
  
  
  Pols are famous for pulling rabbits out of hats
  as Election Day approaches.
  
  
  As Plainfield's mayoral race comes down to the last week, it's time for Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs to start pulling rabbits out of hats, in the age-old [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 9:46am EDT
  

• Botánica a window into a changing Plainfield

  
  
  
  A Black Madonnia, but which one?
  
  
  Those who never walk downtown Plainfield's shopping district are missing a ground-level window into the increasing pace of Latinization of the Queen City.
  
  A case in point is the Botánica San [...]
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  Posted: October 25, 2009, 10:36am EDT
  

• Monarch sales trailer site put to better use

  
  
  
  Playground equipment being assembled on former sales trailer site.
  (Yes, that's my finger in the picture.).
  
  
  The vacant lot formerly housing the Monarch at Plainfield's sales trailer has a new -- and probably better -- use.
  
  Stopping by [...]
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  Posted: October 24, 2009, 9:53am EDT
  

• What's with the unfinished roads?

  
  
  
  Mayor Robinson-Briggs put President Obama's
  Stimulus money to work on a road-to-nowhere.
  
  
  While bumping down one of Plainfield's begun-but-unfinished road projects Thursday evening, I came upon a reader out walking his dog.
  
  'You know, the asphalt plants will [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 10:15am EDT
  

• DCA letter now online here, question of criminality remains

  
  
  
  Detail of letter, showing it was addressed to both
  the Mayor and the City Council.
  
  
  Exactly two weeks after the state wrote Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and the City Council concerning its concerns over Plainfield's CFO (Chief Financial Officer) [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 10:42am EDT
  

• Plainfield IT job is posted, get busy if you want it

  
  
  
  Anyone interested in Plainfield's new IT position needs to get cracking.
  
  The position has been posted (you can see the posting online at the League of Municipalities website here -- about three quarters of the way down the page). [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 8:00am EDT
  

• Dems Green, Robinson-Briggs energize GOP campaigns

  
  
  
  Republican mayoral candidate Jim Pivnichny with
  Barbara Sandford, who hosted a meet-and-greet Sunday.
  
  
  Entering the two-week home stretch to the November general election, missteps by Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and Assemblyman Jerry Green have energized local GOP campaigns.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 11:23am EDT
  

• Plainfield mayor covering up criminal financial deception?

  
  The unspoken question hanging over the Plainfield City Council's special meeting Monday evening was this: Are Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and her Administration engaging in a coverup of potentially criminal activity with regard to the city's finances?
  
  And it all hinges on a letter from a DCA official to [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 10:43am EDT
  

• Election-time budget hanky-panky by Robinson-Briggs administration?

  
  I am scratching my head wondering why Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, having to face the voters in two weeks in her quest for re-election, would engage in budget hanky-panky just when the voters are most likely to be paying attention.
  
  After having promised to present the city's FY2010 [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 11:02am EDT
  

• Governor appoints Estevez to School Ethics Commission

  
  Plainfield Board of Education member Christian Estevez has been appointed by Gov. Jon Corzine to a seat on the state's School Ethics Commission (see appointment here).
  
  The School Ethics Commission is a nine-member body appointed by the Governor to oversee enforcement of the School Ethics Law, including [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 10:15am EDT
  

• Two train fatalities near Netherwood Station

  
  A Plainfield Today reader wrote over the weekend --
  We were at a neighborhood gathering Friday night and 2 men at the party said both of their trains were interrupted last night...5:30 train, in Fanwood, supposedly a man was chasing his dog from the tracks..the dog made it, [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 8:53am EDT
  

• Another Connolly water shutoff notice posted

  
  
  
  New water shutoff notice for 600 East Front Street.
  
  
  For Connolly Properties' Plainfield residents, the news just doesn't stop being worrying.
  
  A reader -- and Connolly tenant -- sent along the above photo, which she found on her [...]
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  Posted: October 18, 2009, 10:19am EDT
  

• It's a rainy day, perfect for Jazz Brunch and 'Four Centuries'

  
  
  
  Like the weatherman said, it's a rainy day in Plainfield.
  
  Meaning a MUCH BETTER ALTERNATIVE yard work today -- Jazz, brunch and history!
  
  Plainfield's own Bev and Kev (Beverly Calland and Kevin Catwell) are hosting a JAZZ BRUNCH today at Adrian's' [...]
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  Posted: October 18, 2009, 8:06am EDT
  

• Plainfield Friday Night: Shootings, Robberies, Beatings, more

  
  Crime on Friday night, October 16, in Plainfield --
  Robbery -- Armed robbery with handgun, Crescent Avenue;
  
  Robbery -- Armed robbery with knife, East Second Street;
  
  Robbery -- West Front Street, man shot in arm;
  
  Shooting -- Two males shot in the leg, Madison Avenue;
  [...]
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  Posted: October 17, 2009, 9:36am EDT
  

• Plainfield artist Maria Mijares in Newark show

  
  
  
  Paramount Theater, Newark. By Maria Mijares.
  
  
  Plainfield artist Maria Mijares is an invited participant in Theater Town, the theme for this year's annual group show at the New Jersey School of Architecture.
  
  Maria has four paintings drawing on [...]
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  Posted: October 17, 2009, 9:01am EDT
  

• Jazz Brunch and 'Four Centuries' perfect for rainy weekend

  
  
  
  Plainfielders dismayed they will not be able to do yard work on Sunday because of the expected rain have a MUCH BETTER ALTERNATIVE.
  
  Jazz, brunch and history!
  
  Plainfield's own Bev and Kev (Beverly Calland and Kevin Catwell of Adrian's) are hosting [...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 10:38am EDT
  

• UPDATE: Mayor Sharon and 'lying bloggers challenge'

  
  Plainfield Today challenged Mayor Robinson-Briggs to cite chapter and verse to back up her charge that "city bloggers don't always tell the truth" (quoting Bernice, see here).
  
  It is now one week since the challenge was issued, and no response from the Mayor.
  
  Plainfield Today:' [...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 8:43am EDT
  

• BREAKING: Director's settlement with Dover may have to be divulged

  
  The Government Records Council has ruled that Plainfield's Director of Administration and Finance's settlement with her previous employer is a public record and that a confidentiality agreement in the severance agreement does not constitute a legal basis for denying public access to the document.
  
  This according to an [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 12:07pm EDT
  

• Monarch Condos: P&F/Dornoch end run around rentals prohibition?

  
  
  
  Monarch sales sign was recently blown over by strong winds.
  
  
  Notwithstanding Plainfield City Council President Burney's recent announcement that the proposed tax abatement for the Monarch condos is off the table, that does not mean the project may not [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 10:40am EDT
  

• Public employees removing roadside Christie signs?

  
  
  Are public employees removing Christie for Governor signs in Plainfield?
  
  Seems it might be so.
  
  Got the following comment Wednesday in response to the post about Linda Stender getting in the sign game (finally) by chipping in for some new Linda/Jerry signs.
  [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 9:40am EDT
  

• Administration runs off a cliff at Council meeting

  
  
  
  Wile E. Coyote was constantly running over a cliff's edge.
  
  
  Plainfield's City Council meeting on Tuesday reminded me of the old Looney Tunes cartoons, in which the hapless Wile E. Coyote often is found running off a cliff, [...]
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  Posted: October 14, 2009, 10:09am EDT
  

• New Finance & Admin director paid nearly $250K to leave former job

  
  Plainfield's new Director of Administration and Finance was paid nearly $250,000 to resign her position as administrator with the Town of Dover (Morris County) before her contract expired, according to a report in today's Daily Record (see here).
  
  Pursuing an OPRA request, it took the Record 15 [...]
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  Posted: October 14, 2009, 9:31am EDT
  

• Assembly race: Linda finally puts some skin into the game

  
  
  
  Finally, some 'real' Stender campaign signs.
  
  
  Plainfield Today readers who have been scratching their heads over the lack of any Linda Stender campaign signs are having their questions answered before their eyes, as the picture above shows.
  [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 9:57am EDT
  

• Update: Is 'pedestrian' fatality homicide #3?

  
  
  
  
  Updating Plainfield Today's post yesterday that a pedestrian was run over and killed on East Front Street Friday evening, it appears possible the incident may be Plainfield's third homicide of 2009.
  
  Word in the street is that the male was pushed [...]
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  Posted: October 12, 2009, 10:47am EDT
  

• Everyone (almost) honors the Symphony's 90th season

  
  
  
  
  Recovering from the Plainfield Symphony's 90th season opener, I had time to go over the program booklet Sunday, and noted that everyone -- well, ALMOST EVERYONE -- honored the Symphony on reaching this milestone.
  
  The front of the book contains congratulatory [...]
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  Posted: October 12, 2009, 10:31am EDT
  

• Pedestiran fatality

  Pedestrian fatality downtown on East Front Street Friday night.
  
  No other information yet.
  
  
  -- Dan Damon
  
  View today's CLIPS here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe. [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 7:23am EDT
  

• Dan done in by Symphony Gala

  
  The Plainfield Symphony's most excellent opening concert for its 90th season packed the hall at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church last night.
  
  And the gala party afterward was oversubscribed.
  
  Altogether, a swell evening.
  
  But it kept this little blogger up waaaay past his bedtime.
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 7:12am EDT
  

• DPW Fall leaf pickup schedule: A game of mother-may-I?

  
  
  'Children's Games', Breughel (click to enlarge).
  
  
  Not having received the Plainfield DPW's Fall Leaf Pickup schedule, I was told by a city employee at the Fire Safety Fair last weekend that copies were available at City Hall and the Plainfield Public Library.
  [...]
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  Posted: October 10, 2009, 9:44am EDT