After 15 years, Plainfield's -- and country's -- 9/11 focus shifts

In iconic 9/11 photo, first responders evacuate mortally wounded
NYFD chaplain Fr. Mychal Judge. (Photo: Reuters)

On Friday morning, Plainfield marked the 15th anniversary of 9/11 with a ceremony at City Hall (see video and photos on the city's Facebook page here).

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp presided over a ceremony which included remarks by the mayor and others, recognition of Plainfield first responders who took part in the rescue and recovery efforts on 9/11 and subsequently, and musical presentations by students from the Plainfield public schools.

In the earliests commemorations, when we are were still in shock, the ceremonies tended to be very simple, related to the specific times at which events took place, and focused on those lost in the attacks and as a result of them.

The nation was united in grief and shock at the 9/11 events.

But time moves on.

As the names of Plainfield first responders -- police officers and firefighters -- who responded that day and in the days to follow, I reflected on the fact that those day were now half a career in the past.

And schools superintendent Anna Belin Pyles underscored the fact in her remarks when she pointed out that this year's freshman class at Plainfield High School is the first that can have no firsthand memory of the day itself.

Given that terrorism and terrorist attacks have become a steady drumbeat in daily life since 9/11, it is to be expected that the focus would shift from the horror of that day to the issues facing us today.

Mayor Mapp was certainly right to focus on the role of our police and firefighters in protecting the public.

In the new post-9/11 era in which we find ourselves, they are our first line of defense as every community -- no matter how small or seemingly unimportant on the world stage -- learns to live with the new set of circumstances.

It is fitting that the focus should shift to those whose duty is to keep us safe.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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9/11 observance this morning

Photo of the World Trade Center taken mid-afternoon
on September 11, 2001, from Washington Rock Park.

 

The 15th anniversary of 9/11 will be marked with a brief ceremony at City Hll at 9:00 AM today (the actual anniversary falls on a Sunday this year).

The ceremony will bring to mind the attacks on both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and those who lost their lives in the incidents.

Gather on the plaza in front of City Hall.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield's 9/11 observance Friday morning

Plainfield marks the 15th anniversary of 9/11 Friday morning.

As it has done each year since the 9/11 terror attack on the World Trade Center, the City of Plainfield will mark this 15th anniversary of the event with a brief ceremony at City Hll at 9:00 AM, Friday, September 9 (the actual anniversary falls on a Sunday this year).

The ceremony will bring to mind the attacks on both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and those who lost their lives in the incidents.

Gather on the plaza in front of City Hall.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Council recognizes Plainfield Rescue Squad, zips through agenda

Council President Cory Storch reads a proclamation honoring the
Plainfield Rescue Squad. Image courtesy of Fire Chief Tidwell.
(That's me in the front, too close to get a good shot of everyone.)

More time was spent at Tuesday evening's Plainfield City Council agenda-setting session on two "discussion" items than on the agenda for next week's business meeting. To everyone's relief, I think.

With Councilor Taylor absent, Councilor Tracey Brown was unanimously elected chair pro-tem for the evening's meeting.

Plainfield Rescue Squad board president Sue Kessen and the squad's leadership team made a presentation updating the Council and public on the squad's activities and contributions to the community.

When asked by Council President Storch what the squad wanted from the city, Kessen siad they hoped the city could help with grant writing. New communications equipment -- which would allow the squad to follow police and fire communications in real time -- is expensive, beyond the squad's financial resources, for which they would appreciate the help.

City administrators pledged their cooperation. How different from the days of Mayor Robinson-Briggs and Police Director Martin Hellwig, when the administration actively pursued the squad's dissolution.

At the end, Council President Storch called all squad members to the front and presented a unanimous proclamation from the City Council.

The other discussion item was a presentation by the Rev. Paul Dean on a "Black Men Run for All Lives" 5K run/walk slated for Friday, November 25 ("Black Friday", when holiday shopping traditionally begins) at Cedar Brook Park.

Municipal Clerk "AJ" Jalloh outlined the steps Dean's group would need to take for a permit from the County for the park's use and Public Safety Director Carl Riley pledged the Police Division's cooperation in smoothing the way for the event.

Those items out of the way, the Council then zipped through its agenda, with only minor questions raised, except for Council President Storch's close questioning of Administration & Finance Director Ron West on the audit findings concerning failure by some units to encumber every purchase before it is made. When pressed by Storch to publicly name the miscreants, West demurred, saying he would provide a list to the Council.

Storch also questioned a joint grant application by the city with Homefirst, the housing services nonprofit. This would be for a veterans housing support program at the former Dudley House property. Storch wanted reassurances that Homefirst had the necessary financial resources in place to provide the services and was not solely reliant on the grant. He pressed for a representative of Homefirst to come before the Council next week to answer questions -- stating that if he is not reassured, he will not vote for the resolution.

I noted with interest that the only ordinance on the agenda (2016-16) was to extend Title 39 traffic regulations to the parking lot associated with the old DYFS building at 7th Street and Park Avenue -- a welcome sign that that project is beginning to move along.

Council's business meeting is Monday, September 12, 8:00 PM in the Courthouse / Council Chamber, Watchung Avenue at East 4th Street.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield Now golf outing set for Twin Brooks Country Club

A view of Hole 5 at Twin Brooks Country Club in Watchung.

 

Plainfield Now, a recently formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is sponsoring its First Annual Golf Invitational on Monday, September 19 at Twin Brooks Country Club in Watchung.

According to Executive Director Ayisha Mapp, the nonprofit is dedicated to the residents and youth of Plainfield. Proceeds of this first golf outing will allow the addition of a scholarship program for Plainfield High School seniors who will be going on to higher educational opportunities.

The day begins with lunch at 11:00 AM, with Tee Off at Noon sharp. Dinner and awards will take place at 6:00 PM.

Player fees are $350 for an individual golfer and $1,350 for a foursome. Dinner only is $150. A variety of sponsorships are available, from a single hole ($250) to Premier Invitational Sponsor ($7,500).

Nestled at the base of the first ridge of the Watchung Hills, Twin Brooks traces its history to a group of Plainfielders who formed "The Park Club" in 1890. The golf club was an outgrowth of that social club and was incorporated in 1895. See more on the club's history here.

For a brochure, more information or to make reservations, contact Plainfield Now at (908) 477-5735 or by email at plainfieldnow@gmail.com.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Enjoy Labor Day, then back to work

Celebrate the end of summer.

 

With Hermine drifting off to sea, Plainfielders get to enjoy a pleasant Labor Day holiday to bring summer to a close.

Throw some burgers on the grill and enjoy!

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Council's agenda session Tuesday marks end of summer

Plainfield City Council meets Tuesday (Monday is Labor Day) for its agenda-setting session, marking the end of summer and the revving up of Council business as the fiscal year heads toward its end.

Looks like a quiet meeting -- though last month's also did, and was anything but.

One item that caught my eye was a resolution authorizing tax adjustments to 317 properties for nearly $465,000. This reflects downward adjustments on assessments after appeals to the County Tax Board by property owners.

In part, tax appeals reflect the assessed valuations getting out of whack from actual market values due to changes in market conditions and the properties themselves (improvements, expansion, abandonment, etc.).

The state has been cracking down on communities that have not revalued their properties for decades. Plainfield's last revaluation was in 1991, if memory serves me correctly.

Our turn for attention from the state must be coming up.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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New music minister at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church

Clifford Parrish, Crescent Avenue's new organist adh
director of music ministries starts Sunday.

This Sunday will be the first service played by Plainfield's historic Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church's new director of music ministries, Clifford Parrish.

Here is a press release from the church that includes information on his background and experience --

Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church in Plainfield is excited to announce its appointment of Clifford H. Parrish as Director of Music Ministries and Artistic Director of Crescent Concerts effective September 1, 2016.  This is a significant step forward in pursuing a program of music that continues the classic and time-honored traditions CAPC is well known for, while expanding its repertoire to include the finest in world music as well. Mr. Parish will oversee the church’s music program including directing the Chancel Choir and play the church’s 97 rank Gilbert Adams organ for worship services.  As Artistic Director of Crescent Concerts, now in its 35th season, Parrish will conduct the Crescent Choral Society in two concerts and the Crescent Singers in two additional concerts. For Crescent Concerts, he seeks to add  repertoire and expand partnerships with schools and other choruses as additional enhancements to the program. Parrish brings with him a long history of church and oratorio experience, and a strong passion for enabling choirs to lift the music off of the page.

When asked how the church was able to woo him out of retirement Parrish said: “I was drawn to Crescent Avenue because of its rich tradition of great music, with a well-trained choir.  The beautiful pipe organ is also a big plus, and I love the building.  After looking at the website, I was glad to see the many outreach programs.”  He continued, “I love that the building is used for so much music already, and will be looking for new ways and other groups to come and perform or join us to perform.  Besides the wonderful Sanctuary with is great acoustics, there are a number of other spaces that would be great for all different kinds of musical programs. “

Parrish began his work as a church musician at age 13, playing the organ, and gradually assuming choir leadership. In an over fifty-year career, he has served several different denominations, most recently as Interim Music Director for the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township and assistant organist at Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit.  His vision for worship at CAPC is to continue the wonderful work that has gone always been a part of Crescent’s history, and to bring some new music to the church.  Parrish notes “I am a very eclectic musician, with a love for traditional Western European music, but also music that is intrinsically American, including southern harmony type hymns and spirituals.”

 As a music educator, he has taught at all levels, including at Bernards High School and Villa Walsh Academy as well as Fairleigh Dickinson and Rutgers-Newark Universities.  Also active in high school, college and community theater, he has received the NJ Association of Community Theater awards for direction and for music direction twice.  Shows at Villa Walsh Academy won several Rising Star nominations and awards during his tenure there.  As founding artistic director, he conducted Pro Nobis Chamber Singers for 25 years, leading all styles of choral music from Medieval through commissions.  The group was the resident chorus for Lyrica Chamber Music in Chatham for a number of seasons, and was also guest artists of the NJ Symphony at Waterloo. Parrish holds a degree in Music Education from Jacksonville University in his native Florida, and a Master of Music degree in Conducting from Westminster Choir College.  He resides in Bernardsville.
Pastor Lynn Santulli sees Parrish’s joining the staff as a positive step in the church’s evolving ministry.  She commented, "Engaging Cliff Parrish as our Director of Music is just one more element of exciting change I see occurring here at CAPC. The rich tradition of music is expanding to include the best in world music that can be found.  We are committed to partnering with other music programs to enhance the music offerings even more. This church continues to expand its outreach and care with an amazing food ministry program that includes a weekly Soup Kitchen that involves members of the community, local businesses and youth programs, as well as a weekday bag lunch. People think they know about CAPC, but they don't unless they have been here recently. The church is warm and friendly, open to everyone, excited about its future and dedicated to service and mission. We may not be for everyone, but in a world with so much hate and fear and judgement, it is an oasis of hope and love to those who wish for something better for this world. We actively try to make that happen, and it makes all the difference.  It is amazing to see what God continues to do and the changes we see in people’s lives."

Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church is at East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue. Sunday service is at 10:15 AM. Parking in the church lot on First Place, on the street, or in the Swain Galleries lot.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Can Plainfield's November elections be hacked?

A Sequoia voting machine, similar to those used throughout NJ.

 

Plainfield's recent experience with ransomware got me to thinking about this year's November election and whether our voting system can be hacked.

There are actually several components of the election system, each with its own vulnerabilities.

The Sequoia voting machines used in New Jersey are subject to hacking -- if they are connected to the Internet. Thankfully, as the result of a lawsuit by a Rutgers professor (see an NJTV story here), they are not connected to a network. That may slow down the tabulation of results, but that's a fair tradeoff considering it means that any hacking would have to be done on a machine-by-machine basis, which does not seem to me to be an efficient way for a hacker or hackers to attack the system.

But manipulating voting results is not the only area that is problematic.

The "front end" of the election system -- the gathering, verifying, storing and distributing of the voter rolls -- is an entirely different matter.

Suppose that the goal of hackers was not to determine an outcome, but to disrupt -- or even prevent -- the casting of ballots in the first place.

When you go to the polling place, the first thing you do is verify that you are a voter registered to vote in that district. That's what those huge ledger-like books, in which you signature must match the one from the previous election, are for.

That information is stored electronically and printed out to make those books.

If the systems are not well designed or secure, hackers could disrupt the voting process by altering, scrambling or deleting individual voting records.

Or, even worse, if there was a successful ransomware attack, the County's entire voter lists would be copied and encrypted and the original files destroyed. Then, a ransom would be demanded for the key to the newly encrypted files.

Under such a scenario, it is possible to imagine that it would be impossible to even conduct an election.

Are you worried yet?

Though authorities are inclined to tell us they have everything under control and not to worry, I am skeptical.

Just something to think about...

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Jersey's last great independent paper disappearing into maw of McGannett

Though the nameplate may remain the same, everything else will change.

Plainfield newspaper readers who want to catch a last glimpse of one of New Jersey's great papers -- The Record of Bergen County -- better run out and buy one today.

The fabled, award-winning independent newspaper and its other assets (weeklies, another daily, a magazine and the northjersey.com website) are about to be McGannettized.

A duo of news execs from the Gannett stable have been appointed to run the new purchase. They start on September 6. Their appointment was duly reported in the Record (see here).

A couple of things make the Record one of the last great papers. First, it devotes talent to high level, incisive and thoughtful reporting on issues facing New Jersey every day. Secondly, it stills covers its local communities intensely -- long after other papers such as the Ledger and Gannett's Plainfield-area paper the Courier-News have abandoned consistent local coverage in favor of helicopter reporting.

The Record's columnists are also among the best of the state's remaining handful -- with Charlie Stile being one of the most respected observers of state politics.

Employees will probably have to face being laid off and "rehired" -- a now-standard practice to thin the ranks of the newsrooms and support staff. I hear the headquarters will be moved.

And you can be sure the crisp, clean website of northjersey.com will soon look like the hegdish that is universal among Gannett properties -- from the Orlando Sentinel to the Des Moines Register, from the Arizona Republic to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Gannett corporate no doubt thinks it's comforting to the public to recognize the "brand" whenever a Gannett website is visited anywhere in the country. Just like McDonalds.

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(BOE) Sen. Ruiz 'uninvited' from Plainfield school district event

 

PEA adapted District's flyer to announce
Sen. Ruiz has been uninvited.
Sometimes a picture IS worth a thousand words.

NJ State Sen. Teresa Ruiz has been "uninvited" as the keynote speaker at the Plainfield public school district's Thursday Convocation, according to a flyer distributed by the Plainfield Education Association, the district's bargaining unit for teachers and support staff.

You can get the background from yesterday's post here.

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(BOE) Plainfield teachers union questions propriety of having charter advocate as Convocation speaker

Sen. Teresa Ruiz, shown here with Gov. Chris Christie,
has been scheduled to keynote this year's Convocation.

 

In an email to Plainfield Board of Education members and other school officials sent Saturday evening, Plainfield Education Association president Eric Jones registered the union's concerns with Superintendent Anna Belin Pyles' plan to have State Sen. Theresa Ruiz as the keynote speaker for the District's Convocation, scheduled for this Thursday, September 1. (Opening day for classes for the fall term is Tuesday, September 6.)

Ruiz, a state senator whose district includes parts of Newark, Essex and Union Counties (but not Plainfield), chairs the Senate's Education Committee.

She is a longtime advocate for charter schools, has previously served as board member of a charter school, and in 2013 was the keynote speaker at the NJ Charter School Association's annual convention (see video here).

Sen. Ruiz (center) and Senate President Steve Sweeney
(gesturing) at conference on school funding.

 

More recently, she has been active in crafting an alternative to Gov. Christie's plan to gut funding for urban school districts statewide. Along with Senate President Steve Sweeney and other elected officials, she is "hitting the road" (as the Ledger puts it) to tout that plan (see Ledger story here). Ruiz and Sweeney penned a recent OpEd in the Ledger arguing for their proposal (see here).

A Convocation at the opening o the school year has been a feature in the Plainfield school district since at least the tenure of Dr. Larry Leverett, and has always been used by the Superintendent as a sort of pep rally to present the leadership's vision for the district ACADEMICALLY for the coming school year. The purpose has been to inform and enthuse the staff -- teachers, support staff and all employees of the district -- to get on board with the vision and see each one's part in achieving it.

Given her background and interests, Ruiz is not likely to use her opportunity for that purpose -- and, in any event, she would be ignorant of the situation on the ground in Plainfield and what needs to be done.

Here is the text of President Jones' email to the BOE members --

Dear Board of Education:

It is disappointing that the Superintendent of Schools continues to ignore the concerns of her employees and has chosen to proceed with a convocation on Thursday, September 1, 2016.

It is even more disappointing that she has chosen a keynote speaker who is a huge supporter of charter schools.

Charter Schools have drained our district of nearly $20 Million Dollars for his upcoming school year, and there is no response from our district's leadership to address this.

Moreover, since June 2016, 163 students have exited our district's schools - more than half of the population of Cook Elementary.

When this should be a "state-of-emergency" and a "all-hands-on-deck" effort to market our schools to our students and families, our district's leadership has decided to invite a charter school champion to speak to our members.

Employees are furious at the invitation of Senator Ruiz to Plainfield.  She does not understand our challenges here in the Queen City and we feel this decision is politically inspired.

On behalf of the members of the Plainfield Education Association, I ask the Board of Education to reconsider the message you are sending your dedicated employees by subjecting them to hear from a charter school supporter as they face a declining budget and resources due to the influx of charters in our school community.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Some suspect that the invitation to Ruiz is a sign of Assemblyman Jerry Green's moves to build support for the candidacy of Sen. Steve Sweeney in next year's governor's race.

Green engineered a secret "anyone but Fulop" get-together of Union, Essex and other Democratic officials recently as reported by PolitickerNJ (see here), in which Ruiz was a participant. The assumed purpose of that meeting was to solidify support for Sweeney, a politician in the thrall of South Jersey powerbroker George Norcross, of whom Green has been a longtime vassal.

To add some further fizz to this potent drink, Ruiz is being promoted by Essex County Dems as Sweeney's successor as Senate President if he wins the governor's seat (see here).

The invitation to Ruiz appears to be an unwanted and unwarranted intrusion of politics into what should be the Superintendent's primary concern -- improving educational outcomes for the District's students and enlisting all District employees in that cause -- which is the best way of coping with the challenge of charter schools.

While the Plainfield Education Association email does not spell out any further action the union may take, it is clear that this is only the beginning of an important conversation among the union, the Board of Ed and the public about the direction and future of education in the Plainfield public schools.

Stay tuned.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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South Second Street mixed-use project update

The new warehouse for ABC Construction Co. is moving along
briskly, with occupancy expected by the end of 2016.

South Second Street is abuzz with one of Plainfield's larger redevelopment projects currently in progress.

The mixed use project between Grant Avenue and Muhlenberg Place will include a new warehouse for ABC Supply Co. and 90 units of apartments in a complex to be called The Muse at Grant Avenue Station.

One of the interesting features of the project, to me, is that concrete from the former factory building that sat at the corner of Grant Avenue is being recycled to be reused in the construction of the two new buildings.

On-site concrete crusher is used to recycle concrete from
factory building formerly on the site.

A view of of some of the concrete, broken up into large chunks.

It used to be that concrete from buildings being demolished would be dug up in huge chunks and transported to landfills elsewhere -- out of sight, out of mind. I can remember seeing endless caravans of dumpster trucks hauling the stuff west on I-78 to landfills in Pennsylvania.

But times have changed.

Builders now often find it more cost-effective to rent crushers for use on the construction site, where the large chunks are ground down to pebble size and used as aggregate in the new construction.

It saves the developer money, eases pressure on scarce landfills, reduces the project's carbon footprint, and is in general kinder to Mother Earth.

ABC expects to be in their new building by the end of 2016, when to focus will shift to completing the residential portion of the project.

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Plainfield Police Division moves closer to accreditation

Plainfield Police Division patch. 1869 is the year
of the city's incorporation.

 

Plainfield Councilor Rebecca Williams, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, regularly reports to the Council and the public on Police Division initiatives.

At a recent Council meeting, it was reported that the Police Division is "about 90% complete" on the 2-year-long accreditation process which is supervised by the NJ State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP).

Although reference is often made to the process including a review and updating of policies and procedures, there has been no in-depth discussion of what that means.

So, I decided to take a look.

The NJSACOP website is here.

On the website, you can open and view (or download) the following materials --

• The 3-page survey every applicant police division must complete and file;
• The 3-page profile of the agenc;y that must be filed;
• The 29-page Manual describing the accreditation process; and
• The 67-page Manual detailing the Accreditation Standards in 27 areas.
  
  

A list of the 27 standards areas that must be met
in the accreditation process. (Click image to enlarge.)

The next time someone airily waves a hand in discussion of the accreditation as though it was a 10-minute multiple choice quiz, you should check out the depth of the process.

What is intended is that the qualifying agency -- in this case the Plainfield Police Division -- has in place the proper policies and procedures to enable the division to "serve and protect" the public to the best extent possible under contemporary standards.

You will note that the prohibition of racially-based policing is among the first standards addressed.

A review also shows that areas that have been problematical for the Plainfield PD in the past (Internal Affairs, Extra duty (side jobs), and records control) are all addressed in the standards being set.

I suspect that much of the suspicion that Councilor Taylor has attempted to fan centers around past abuses in those areas (as well as civil service procedures) and that Director Riley's moves to bring the organization into compliance are meeting with resistance from those who have benefited in the past from the politicization of the Division under a prior administration.

It is well worth your time to check out these resources.

Meanwhile, Plainfield residents can look forward to the completion of the accreditation process next year. This will be followed by a review and reaccreditation every two years to make sure Plainfield stands among the most current, will-trained and cutting edge divisions in the state.

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Doctor's visit, playing hooky today

Cloris Leachman as Nurse Diesel
in Mel Brooks' 'High Anxiety'.

Playing hooky today -- doctor's visit.

My favorite medical person though, is Nurse Diesel, Cloris Leachman's role in the madcap High Anxiety , Mel Brooks riff on 10 (count 'em) Alfred Hitchcock thrillers.

One of my favorites is the "no fruit cup" scene -- which you can view on YouTube here.

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What happens if the Neighborhood Health Center folds?

Logo of the Neighborhood Health Services Corporation,
formerly the Plainfield Health Center.

 

What would happen to healthcare for low-income residents of Plainfield and surrounding communities if the Neighborhood Health Services Corporation (NHSC) -- the former Plainfield Health Center -- folded?

It wold be disastrous, for sure.

In January, 2015 I wrote a post (see here) detailing the financial pressures that Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) face because of the slow payment on the part of Medicaid managed care organizations and the State. Cash flow problems became endemic to FQHCs throughout the state.

You can view the Neighborhood Health Services Corporation website here.

A filing for Chapter 11 is supposed to give organizations an opportunity to restructure their debt and continue in business on a path to full recovery. (The Plainfield YWCA has also turned to Chapter 11 bankruptcy to keep itself going.)

The first outcome evidently was the shuttering of NHSC operations in Phillipsburg and Newton. (I am told by a source in Newton that the community was able to absorb NHSC's clients into the community's existing clinic structure; I do not know of the impact on Phillipsburg.)

The NHSC currently operates two locations -- Plainfield and Elizabeth -- plus two satellite sites -- at Washington Community School and Plainfield High School (these are for students only).

There have also been rumors of salary cuts and layoffs. The most startling of these is that longtime facilities manager Eugene Baucum has been let go. Those with long memories will recall that Baucum took the fall for others involved in shady dealings with the construction of the Myrtle Avenue facility, then known as the Plainfield Health Center. He did serious prison time as a result. After  his release, he was hired by the Plainfield Health Center, and the widespread belief was that he had a job for life because of his loyalty. Evidently not.

I have also been told that the NHSC has been on a "watch list" by its accrediting agency for years.

Guidestar, which is an online resource for information about 501(c)(3) nonprofits such as NHSC shows the organization's nost recent 990 filing was in 2014. 990 is the common nickname of the annual reports nonprofits must file with the IRS (taken from the form's number in IRS lingo). You can view NHSC's 990s here. It's free, but you must register -- a simple process.

The Foundation Center (see here), which also maintains a database of 990s, has no records of NHSC filings at all.

Besides all this, a Google search turns up a complaint from 2010 (see here), from a signmaker who claims to have been stiffed by the NHSC over two signs made for the Phillipsburg and Plainfield locations.

The most recent rumor puzzles me.

That is that the NHSC is under contract for the sale of its property to a developer, from whom it would then lease back the building. This is not an unheard of scenario, and can free up financial resources for an institution in such a deal.

We should remind ourselves that the NHSC property also includes an undeveloped area behind the adjacent Comcast facility that runs up to the Green Brook.

One interesting question about such a maneuver is the tax consequences for the City of Plainfield. Ownership of the property by a for-profit entity would remove the tax exemption that the NHSC currently enjoys. How would that be handled?

Unless there is news to the contrary yet to be released, things are not looking good for the future of outpatient primary healthcare for the area's low income residents.

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Donald Trump calling

Canadian cartoonist Michael de Adder weighs in.
(from Politico)

As Labor Day approaches, the presidential contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is heatin up. I thought Plainfield Today readers would appreciate some of the nation's premier political toons, as curated by Politico (see here).

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2016 Library photo contest: The Best of Plainfield: People, Places, Things

City Hall Cupola under restoration, 2001.

 

The Plainfield Public Library's annual photo contest theme for 2016 is 'The Best of Plainfield: People, Places, Things'.

Entries in the contest will be exhibited at the in the Anne Louise Davis Galley at the library during the months of November and December.

The contest, made possible by generous support of the Friends of the Plainfield Public Library, invites amateur and professional photographers to submit up to five contemporary photographs of Plainfield locales, activities or people reflecting the theme. Cash prizes and ribbons are awarded at the reception opening the exhibit.

With extensive historic photographic collections documenting Plainfield life and activities back to the mid-19th century, the photo contest is intended to make the gathering of a contemporary record of the community an ongoing process, according to Library Director Mary Ellen Rogan.

Complete details on the contest and the required submission form are available on the Library's website (see here; the form is available here [PDF]).

The deadline for entries for this year's contest is September 30.

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Mayors Fulop and Bollwege join throngs at Mapp's community BBQ

Chatting at the 9th Annual Community BBQ. (l to r): Mayor Adrian O.
Mapp, Councilor Rebecca Williams, Jersey City Mayor
Steve Fulop, and Council candidate Charles McRae.

Among the attendees (l to r): Andrea West, wife of Director Admin
& Finance Ron West; Peter Price, president of the Hillside Avenue
Historic District; Democratic committe member Jeanette Criscione;
and longtime Jerry Green operative Norman Johnson.

Meanwhile, across town, Assemblyman Jerry Green and resident
Danny Dunn sat at a voter registration table at Councilor Bridget
Rivers' 4th Ward Family Fun Day.

Jersey City mayor Steve Fulop and Elizabeth mayor Chris Bollwege joined with throngs of people at Plainfield mayor Adrian O. Mapp's 9th annual community BBQ Saturday.

A brief shower as things got under way at 4:00 PM did not dampen spirits as the crowd waited under tents for the rain to stop.

An enormous 30-foot length of table was needed to serve the food, which ranged from BBQ to hot dogs and burgers to salads, mac and cheese and desserts.

The garage was converted into a bar, which featured everything from icy bottled water to the Mayor's renowned -- and potent! -- rum punch.

First Lady Amelia Mapp and daughter Ayisha circulated through the crowds, making sure everyone had whatever they needed and were having a good time.

Freeholder Linda Carter arrived early with her nonperishable food donation, but could not stay because she had to be on duty as freeholder at another event. Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwege was seen making the rounds and chatting with residents whom he recognized.

A row of half a dozen or so recycling bins were full to overflowing with bags of canned goods, toiletries and nonperishable food items brought by attendees. The items will be donated to Shiloh Baptist Church's food pantry program.

As dusk approached, Mayor Mapp took the stage to welcome the crowd and introduce his friend, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop.

Mapp declared once again his support for Fulop's run for governor in 2017, to applause from the crowd. Fulop took the mike and called everyone's attention to the progress Plainfield has made under three years of Mapp's leadership and called on everyone to continue that success into the future.

As I left about 9:30, the crowd was changing, shifting from the older folks to a younger set ready to dance away the evening. The music's volume and pace increased and people began dancing in the driveway.

Though it was scheduled to end at midnight, I am sure the party went on a bit longer.

This is Plainfield, after all, and we know how to have a good time.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Mayor Mapp's community BBQ highlights Saturday events

Let's eat! Loading up at 2015 BBQ.

Tents provide a shady place to sit and talk.

Some of the nonperishable food donations.

 

The Plainfield community will gather Saturday, as it has for the last eight years, at the annual community BBQ hosted by Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and his wife Amelia at their home.

This is always a highlight of the summer, where resident, friends and political supporters get to mingle, enjoy plenty of good food and barbecue, listen to live music (with a lot of folks dancing as the evening goes along), and take a few sips of the mayor's fabled rum punch.

Little ones play on the swing set as older folks sit in the shade and catch up on community gossip.

While the event is free of charge, it has always been an opportunity for sharing our bounty with others. Attendees are invited to bring a contribution of nonperishable or canned goods, which will be donated to a local food pantry.

On her blog, Rebecca Williams (see here) notes that the invitation to donate "toiletries" includes the need for tampons and sanitary napkins, articles which homeless women are in special need of.

The community BBQ gets under way at 4:00 PM at the Mapp home, 535 West 8th Street. As with all Plainfield parties, it ends when it's over.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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