Tri-County History Fair at the Library Saturday

Plainfield's modern Library replaces a Carnegie Library
building, shown here in a 1920s photo.

The Plainfield Public Library has a real keeper with its annual Tri-County History Fair, which will take place this Saturday (September 29) from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The well-organized event has more exhibitors this year than ever, plus activities for the whole family centered around history and genealogy.

Attendees will receive a free raffle ticket upon entering. This year's Grand Prize is an AncestryDNA testing kit. (Join the millions who are having their DNA tested and gaining surprising insights into their heritage.)

In addition, there will be two free lectures. At 11:30 AM, New Jersey historian and author Linda J. Barth will discuss "NJ Originals: Technological Marvels, Odd Inventions, Trailblazing Characters, and more".

The afternoon lecture is at 1:30 PM, when genealogist Judy G. Russell explores family history with "No Vitals? No Problem -- Building a Family Through Circumstantial Evidence".

Between the lectures, free antique appraisals will be offered by Winterhill Antiques.

Confirmed exhibitors include the following --

• Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society
• Central Jersey Genealogical Club
• Elizabeth Public Library - Local History & Special Collections
• Genealogical Society of New Jersey
• Genealogical Society of the West Fields
• Green Brook Historical Society
• Historical Society of Plainfield/Drake House Museum
• League of Historical Societies of New Jersey
• Metuchen Public Library
• Metuchen-Edison Historical Society
• Miller-Cory House Museum/Westfield Historical Society
• North Jersey Genealogy and History Center
• Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission
• Plainfield Symphony
• Proprietary House
• Somerset County Historical Society
• Somerset County Library
• South Plainfield Historical Society
• The Dutchess Bookstore
• Ukrainian History & Education Center
• Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs
• Van Wyck Brooks Historic District
• Virtual Genealogy Club

Join your friends and neighbors at this free, marvelous event.

All activities take place on the lower level of the Plainfield Public Library at Park Avenue and West 8th Street.

Parking available in the library's two lots and on the street. The Plainfield Public Library is an ADA-accessible facility. For more information, contact the Local History Department at (908) 757-1111 x136.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Dem doubleheader this weekend: Friday fundraiser, Saturday Kickoff Rally

As this Dem donkey reminds us,
the November election is kick-ass time.

Plainfield Democrats will kick off the 2018 election season with two events this weekend.


FRIDAY FUNDRAISER

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and First Lady Amelia will host a fundraising reception for Citywide at-large Councilman Elton Armady at their home from 6:00 to 9:00 PM on Friday, September 28.
.
Contributions to "Armady for Council" can be made in the following amounts:  Platinum: $500, Gold: $250, Silver: $100, and Young Democrats: $50.
.
The Mapp residence is at 535 West 8th Street. Parking on the street. (Mind not to block the neighbors' driveways -- Thank you!)

SATURDAY KICKOFF RALLY

On Saturday, September 29, Mayor Mapp, as chairman of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee invites "all friends of the campaign and volunteers" to a Kickoff Rally at Plainfield Democratic Headquarters.
.
The rally is from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Breakfast will be served. Candidates will be introduced. Everyone will be energized.
.
Plainfield Democratic Headquarters is at 31 Watchung Avenue (next to Antojito's Restaurant). Parking available on the street or in the public lot adjacent to headquarters.

Unless you have been living under a rock since January 22, 2017, you will know that this election is crucial for the future of the country.

The most important person's name does not appear on any ballot: Donald Trump.

Whatever and whoever else you may think you are voting for, make no mistake: This election is a referendum on Donald Trump and his presidency.

Pressure is on Democrats at every level to set aside disputes and hurt feelings and to unite to show Donald Trump what the American people want and stand for.

This will be Plainfield's opportunity to stand tall.

Let's show we are up to it.

Looking forward to seeing everyone Saturday morning.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Short film 'Driver' to be screened at FUSP Saturday

Image promoting 'Driver'.

Yucef Mayes at the Hip Hop Fim Festival.

"Driver," a remarkable short film by filmmaker Yucef Mayes will be screened at FUSP this Saturday (September 29) at 7:00 PM.

Mayes produced, wrote, and directed  the short film about an estranged father who was afforded another opportunity at fatherhood after a family tragedy.

Mr. Mayes will lead a discussion after the screening.

"Driver" toured the film festival circuit and has been an official selection of the Newark International Film Festival, the Harlem Hip-Hop Film Festival, and Baltimore’s Reginald Lewis Museum Screening Series.

Yucef Mayes is the Founder of Shine Black Art & Film, a film company that creates content and alternative narratives about under-represented populations and people of color.

This program is jointly sponsored by Mayor Adrian O. Mapp through the Office of Community Development with FUSP (the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield).

FUSP is at 724 Park Avnue (just off 7th Street). Parking available on the street and in the lot across from the church.

For more information, contact the First Unitarian Society at (908) 756-0750.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

South Avenue redevelopment: Is Dairy Queen next to go?

Will the Dairy Queen property and those to the west of it
soon attract the gaze of developers?

Redevelopment in Plainfield appears to run on the pizzaria principle: A developer orders as many slices of land as they are interested in and the Administration relays the order to the City Council, which orders the Planning Board to put the slices in the oven.

You could be forgiven for thinking that's the way it goes. Especially after witnessing the Nishuane Group's presentation at last Thursday's Planning Board meeting.

While City Council technically directs the Planning Board to conduct a study, my bet is that you would draw nothing but blank stares if you asked one of them why a residential property on Terrill Road was included in the study and the 7-Eleven store on the corner of South Avenue and Terrill Road was not.

Back in the day, the Planning Board designated a lot of areas "in need of redevelopment" but developers were scarce as hen's teeth.

Now, however, there seems to be much more likelihood that a designation will lead to a project, with a developer designated.

If a developer (or developers) are eyeing the stretch on South Avenue from east of the Dairy Queen to Terrill Road, does it seem beyond possibility that the Dairy Queen and the properties to the west of it will soon attract the gaze of a developer also?

And if we put out of business the businesses that made South Avenue a thriving business area, what will replace them?

The fate of the Netherwood Cafe should be kept in mind: they are still in business (as Sheelan's Crossing), making money -- but just not in Plainfield.

Would we want to see that happen to the rest of the businesses on South Avenue?

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Plainfield's MLK Plaza gets its street sign

The new sign marking MLK Plaza. Bent, but still standing,
after being struck by an SUV Friday afternoon.

Plainfield's Martin Luther King Plaza finally has its sign.

Though the plaza was marked with a bronze commemoration plaque at the foot of one of its trees ever since its inception, resident Norman Deen Muhammad noticed that it did not have a street sign, unlike the one on Court Place designating that block in honor of former mayor Rick Taylor.

I first noticed the sign on Friday afternoon as I was turning from Front Street onto Church Street to get gas at the station on the corner of Church and Second.

The driver of a large SUV directly in front of me made a short turn, striking the new sign and dinging his vehicle.

I texted Muhammad -- who just happened to be in the Blink Fitness center -- and he was able to check out his successful effort to get the sign installed.

Now the only downtown spot that has no appropriate marker to honor the person for whom it has been designated is Mayor Albert T. McWilliams Park.

Know where that is?

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Deadline nears for Library's annual photography contest

July 4th Parade in Plainfield, 1959.

Once again, the Plainfield Public Library is conducting its annual photography contest -- and the deadline for entries (September 29) is fast approaching.

The contest is open to Plainfield residents -- amateur or professional -- and cash prizes are awarded.

Each entrant may supply up to five (5) photographs, and they need not be from this year, but must feature a Plainfield connection.

This year's theme is 'Holidays in Plainfield'.

For complete requirements for submissions and submission forms, visit the Plainfield Public Library's photo contest web page here, where you can also download contest registration forms.

Submissions become part of the Library's permanent collection and help expand its documentation of Plainfield daily life.

An opening reception for the exhibit will be on November 17th.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

BOE candidate Priano unloads on Council over duCret matter

Resident Timothy Priano is a 2018 candidate for the Board
of Ed. The original image with this post (from the 2017 BOE
race was removed).

Like the rest of us, Timothy Priano has his positives and his negatives.
On the plus side, in the little over a year CORRECTION: IN THE LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS since he has lived in Plainfield, he has established himself as the maven of public spaces.
His obsession with the cleanliness of streets and other public spaces brought him to the attention of the community and helped mobilize residents who turn out for his periodic public clean-ups.

The less positive side was on display at City Council's September 14 business meeting where he made an unwarranted and unhelpful attack on the Council during public comment.

Unwarranted because the Council has nothing to do with the matter he brought up.

Unhelpful because if he intended to help duCret in a matter, he ended up annoying the Council and the Mapp administration.

Councilors sat with puzzled looks as he castigated them (without specifics) about a "performance bond" he alleged dated back to 2004 and was still not settled.

Councilor Storch -- the only sitting Councilor who might remember the matter -- told me he did not recall the issue and further that Priano had not reached out to him about it.

Mayor Mapp said, "I am not familiar with what he (Priano) spoke about."

THE BACKGROUND

It seems that the matter dates back to the early 2000s, when duCret subdivided its property which originally ran from Central Avenue through to Field Avenue.

A portion on the Field Avenue side was sold to a developer; part of the deal was that that developer would put up a boundary fence and pave duCret's parking area.

In the event, the fence was erected and the rear of the lot -- nearest the fence -- was paved and striped.

The developer put up one house, and before the rest of the paving (along the side of duCret) could be done, the developer went belly up.

There things sat for several years, until a new developer bought the undeveloped properties on Field Avenue and put up two more houses, filling out the original concept.

The new developer was evidently not party to the paving agreement. Over the years, a duCret board member inquired of the City concerning the cash portion of the performance bond on the original developer's deal -- which had been forfeited when the developer went under.

Though it is understandable that duCret would like to see the paving of its lot finished, the school had no part in or claim to the cash the City holds on the performance bond.

All of this Priano could have ascertained with a couple of conversations or phone calls, just as I did.

But he evidently did not do that, choosing instead to unload with both barrels on the Council in public session.

I am told that the City is working on resolving the issue and may in fact be close to a resolution that would see the balance of the paving at duCret finished.

This is not the first time that Priano has spoken out before doing his homework.

Something for voters to bear in mind as they approach voting on November 6 for Board of Ed candidates.

NOTE: The original image with this post, from the 2017 BOE campaign had a headline using the "TAP INTO" phrase without first seeking permission from the online newspaper of that name. Just another example of Priano's modus operandi.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

UPDATED: City fronting expense for free IT training -- potential 6-figure salaries

Plainfield is underwriting cost of Cisco training at UCC.
Graduates can earn up to 6-figure salaries.

See update at end of post.

The City of Plainfield is fronting the money to pay for free IT classes for Plainfield residents at Union County College that could lead successful graduates to 6-figure IT careers.

In partnership with Union County College, a Cisco training program is being offered to Plainfield residents who are at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).

According to Nat Singleton, Director of Information Technology for the City of Plainfield, residents who meet those qualifications are invited to an information session on Monday, September 24, from 5:30 - 6:30 PM in Room L-20 at the UCC Plainfield Campus.

The classes will include a classroom instructor, online content, hands-on training with Cisco equipment and preparation for the workplace through project collaborations and presentations.

Those who complete the course will be able to take the CCNA exam. Salary ranges for CCNA certificate holders range from about $62,000+ at the entry level; with experience, that can rise to over $100,000.


Register to attend the information session here --

https://form.jotform.com/IBIatUCC/ccna


Union County College Plainfield campus is at East Second and Church Streets (behind the Post Office). Parking in the college lot on Church Street or on the street.

UPDATE: Starting in October, Cisco and Digital Literacy training are also being offered by the City at New Covenant Church. The training schedule is outlined below:

• Mondays-Digital Literacy 10 am -12 noon
• Tuesdays-Digital Literacy 6 pm – 8 pm
• Tuesdays-Cisco CCNA training 10 am -2 pm
• Wednesdays-Cisco CCNA training 6 pm to 10 pm
• Thursdays- Cisco CCNA training 10 am to 2 pm
• Fridays- Cisco CCNA training 6 pm to 10 pm

For more information contact Shakirah Campbell-Huggins at 908-753-3237 or shakirah.campbell-huggins@plainfieldnj.gov.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Google Maps helps North Plainfield community yard sale -- and much more

Friends of the North Plainfield Public Library
created a  Google Map of this weekend's
borough-wide Yard Sales.

Short-cutting to Route 22 on Westervelt Avenue Saturday afternoon, I noticed a number of yard sales in North Plainfield.

On my return trip, it dawned on me that this weekend is the borough-wide yard sale event (an idea that the City of Plainfield could enlist the FOSH folks in presenting?).

And then I remembered that the North Plainfield TAPinto website had posted a story on the yard sales -- that the Friends of the NP Public Library had put all the yard sale locations on Google Maps and made them available to the community.

What a great idea!

Years ago, I had created a similar map for all of Plainfield's liquor licenses, but Google Maps was much less user-friendly then -- plus the technology has advanced. I never bothered to update the map since it was such a pain in the butt.

But you can see -- and enlarge -- the North Plainfield yard sale map here. (By the way, that yard sale continues on Sunday -- lots of stuff!)

Later Saturday, my copy of The Living Church -- an Episcopal magazine -- arrived in the mail. Glancing through it, I noticed a story on the Church of South India (CSI) aiding in flood relief.

Kerala State, in southwest India, has a significant Christian presence. The Church of South India is a merger of Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian churches effected more than 60 years ago.

This year's monsoon season caused 35 of 36 dams in the region to fail, causing flooding that displaced more than 700,000 people.

CSI has mobilized all its physical resources -- schools, parish halls and administrative offices -- to aid those displaced by the flooding.

But its young people have used technology in new and exciting ways to save lives.

First, they set up a special Facebook page (see here) to link those displaced by the flood with family members and other help.

Second, they are using Google Maps to pinpoint people's locations and share that with rescue teams.

The Diocese of Kerala gave them a shout out and thanked them as young IT professionals for putting their skills to work in this lifesaving way.

Something for our own Emergency Management and CERT teams to keep in mind in our own country, don't you think?

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Plainfield landmark E&A closing, all kitchen supplies on sale

The Arlington Avenue entrance to E&A (Earl and Al's),
"The Chef's Toy Store" -- where everything is on sale.

After 85 years of servicing the restaurant industry, Earl & Al's Restaurant Supply (known as E&A) is closing the doors of its Plainfield store the end of September.

Though it primarily serves the trade, the store has always been open to individual retail customers, as I learned when I first moved to Plainfield 35 years ago and found needed kitchen items in the store -- at a far better price than in the department stores (Macy's) and of a better quality (restaurants beat the hell out of equipment!).

Later, I gave gift certificates to friends who enjoyed cooking so they could explore the "cook's toy store" as A&E tags itself.

So I was surprised to notice one day last week a "For Sale" sign in the window and sale notices everywhere.

I stopped in on Thursday afternoon and chatted up Al -- the legendary "Al" of Earl & Al -- and Bobbie, who manages the store.

Al told me the he and his wife bought the business 45 years ago, from a family that had owned it for 40 years. They bought their current building at Arlington Avenue and East 5th Street from the city, which had foreclosed on the previous owners for unpaid taxes (that would be post-1968 riot, when many businesses fled downtown Plainfield).

But Al and his wife saw a business opportunity and over the years saw a brisk trade with the restaurant industry not only in New Jersey, but in New York and Pennsylvania as well.

But, Bobbie says, all that began to change with the Internet. "I've had people shop here and then come up to me -- after checking on their cellphones -- and tell me they found a better price elsewhere," she said. Sadly, a story that can be repeated by thousands of retailers.

"So," Al told me, "we finally decided to pull the plug on the bricks-and-mortar store."

"We're not going out of business," he assured me, "we are merging with another restaurant supply business -- physically located in Bridgeport, CT -- and will continue to operate E&A online, allowing a seamless experience for all our current customers."

In order to close the store, they need to sell off all the merchandise on the floor.

That's where you come in.

If you are a kitchen or cooking maven -- this place is for you. And everything is on sale. For the next two weeks only.

Here are some shots of just a sampling of the huge inventory --

Restaurant quality pans and equipment...

... China, crystal and tableware...

...Chairs, stools, tables and more...

... Chef's jackets, toques and tools. Did you know you need
a padded sleeve for hot pot handles? They have it.

If you have renovated your kitchen and have restaurant-quality appliances, you should take a look at what's on offer at E&A's.

From utensils and pans to china, crystal and tableware. From chairs, stools and tables to chef's jackets and toques. There are thousands of items to peruse, some waiting to whisper to you: "You need me, you just know it."

The store is open from Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (except for this Wednesday, when it is closed for Yom Kippur).

Parking is available on Arlington Avenue ACROSS from the store, or in DESIGNATED spots in the YMCA parking lot.

Or you can shop at their website here, where items are NOT on special sale.

Plan now to stop by while the store is still open, check out what's available, and say "Hi" to Al and Bobbie and thank them for their many years of service to the Plainfield community, and wish them well on their future journey.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

As Blink Fitness opens, parking lots are nearly finished

Blink Fitness, Plainfield's newest gym, had its Grand
Opening Thursday. It's across from the YWCA.

This shot on Thursday afternoon shows the parking lot
behind Supremo is finished and awaiting striping.
Blink Fitness members park in the adjacent public lot,
which has also been repaved.

As Blink Fitness was opening its 71st facility in Plainfield Thursday morning, crews were rushing to finish paving and striping the parking lots behind the building (the Supremo parking lot) and the adjacent public parking lot -- which Blink has leased 90 spaces in from the city.

Half of each lot has been striped and it looks like the balance will be finished by the weekend or at the latest early next week.

Emphasizing its "Mood over Muscle" philosophy, Plainfield Blink manager Lindsey Westwood said,  "We're sure that Blink will become a healthy, happy hub of activity in the neighborhood."

The newest Blink Fitness facility boasts a broad offering of top-of-the-line strength equipment that includes free weights, plates, and machines for upper body, lower body, and core.

Additionally, the facility will offer a wide variety of premium cardio machines and a multi-use space for additional exercises, stretching, and functional training.

Certified personal trainers will be available for those members who wish to create a custom workout experience tailored to their personal goals.

Memberships are available for as low as $15 per month with a free start up personal training session.

Blink's philosophy is that exercise is not only about looking good, but also about feeling good.

Blink Fitness strives to make working out fun and uplifting through a commitment to providing contemporary and colorful design, elevated customer service, a relentless focus on cleanliness, energizing music and confidence-boosting training programs.

As part of the grand opening, Blink donated 50 free one-year memberships to Homefirst and to Angels For Action.

Blink is at 235 West Front Street (above the Dollar General, across from the YWCA). The gym is served by an elevator available through Front Street or rear entrances.

Parking for Blink members is available in the newly paved and striped lot behind the building.

To see a drone tour of a Blink facility, click here. For more information, call (908) 490-8130 or visit their website here.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Board of Ed race shows Dem disarray

Sleeping with the enemy? Mr. Plainfield Republican John
Campbell hosted a cookout for BOE candidates last weekend.
(l to r) BOE member Cameron Cox, John Stewart (Mayor
Mapp's former Chief of Staff), Fanwood Mayor Colleen
Mahr, Richard Wyatt, John Campbell, Emily Morgan
and Terence Johnson. (Rear) Unknown man and woman,
BOE candidate Eric Andrews and Sean McKenna.

The 2018 Board of Education race shows the continued disarray in Plainfield Democratic ranks.

The candidate field includes nine running for three three-year seats, and two running for a one-year term to fill an unexpired term.

The field has evidently shaken down into two slates of four and three candidates running as independents.

Here's the breakout --

• The #getmadforkids slate is composed of Melba Mullins, David Graves (a former BOE member), Alma Blanco, and Dorien Hurtt. The group evidently has the blessing of Plainfield Democratic chair Adrian O. Mapp as they had a "Meet & Greet" at Dem headquarters on August 29.
  
  
  
• The other "slate" consists of current Board members Richard Wyatt (who is President), Emily Morgan (past President) and  John Campbell. Eric Andrews is the candidate for the one-year seat. Morgan and Wyatt are Democrats; in fact, Morgan was backed by Mapp for Board President two years ago. Campbell, of course, is Mr. Plainfield Republican. Strange bedfellows!
  
  
  
• That leaves the three who are running as independents: Rebecca Perkins, Timothy Priano and Harry Waters, Jr. Perkins served on the Warren Twp. BOE (before she moved to Plainfield). Priano is well-known for his enthusiasm for cleaning up Plainfield's public spaces. This is the second go for Watson, who failed to win a seat last year.

The #getmadforkids slate is hosting a fundraiser Thursday (September 13) from 7:00 to 10:00 PM at the El Imperial in Bound Brook (200 Talmadge Avenue). Prices are $125 for general admission, and $50 for "friends of education". Please RSVP to Derel Stroud at getmad4kids@gmail.com. Checks payable to: Get Mad for Plainfield.

Plainfield Democrats have been in increasing disarray since the election of Nick Scutari as Union County Dem Chair this past spring.

Chairman Mapp evidently considered no consultation with the Executive Committee was needed and that 100% of the Plainfield Dem Committee vote would be delivered for Scutari. In the event, nearly a third of the Plainfield Dem Committee backed Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, who lost to Scutari 341 to 412.

Sadly, the breach in party unity has not been healed, with some now in near-open revolt.

Where things will go is anyone's guess.

The Board of Ed is now elected at the November general election, which this year will be Tuesday, November 6.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Lenny Cathcart honored for prostate cancer awareness advocacy

Councilor Steve Hockaday presents Lenny Cathcart
a resolution honoring his prostate cancer
awareness activities.

Plainfield legend Lenny Cathcart was honored by Councilor Steve Hockaday at Tuesday evening's Council meeting for his contributions to prostate cancer awareness.

Cathcart, known to generations of Plainfield youngsters for his involvement in youth sports, spoke of his own prostate cancer diagnosis, and urged men not to wait and not to be embarrassed, but to get their prostate cancer screening early.

Prostate cancer is one of the most successfully treated cancers if caught early enough, Hockaday read from the resolution.

Lenny Cathcart is hosting a Prostate Cancer Awareness event at City Hall today (Wednesday, September 12), from 6:00 - 8:00 PM, with screenings, information and drawing for prizes.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Not my worst day ever, but close

Google can bite your butt if you're not watching
as I learned the hard way.

Tuesday, September 11, was not my worst day ever, but it came close.

I awoke in time to get ready for the 9/11 Commemoration at City Hall.

Before I got out of bed, I checked my blog posts from Monday night -- as I often do, because I finish posting at 2 AM or so and check back after sleeping to see if there were any typos that missed being corrected.

I read the blogs on my cellphone. I compose them on my laptop.

To my absolute astonishment, there was an ad for Bob Hugin at the bottom of the Plainfield Today post on my cell phone.

What!!!!???

I jumped out of bed and spent the next hour trying to fix the matter.

Google owns Blogger, the platform I use for my blogs. Maybe 8 or 9 years ago, I signed on for Google's AdSense service, which posts random ads on the blog. If folks click on them I get a fraction of a penny per click.

Not much money -- when we had TJ, I considered it "dog treat money".

You need to know that I have ad blocking on the browser I use for the blogs, since ads tend to get in the way while I am working.

The good thing is that I can get work done quickly without the time for ads to load. The down side is that I don't see the ads displayed on my own blogs.

The lesson for me is to pay more attention to what Google is up to and not just assume it will be harmless.

I have now made sure that no GOP ads appear on the blog, thank God.

A warning to others: Don't assume Google's algorithm will not bite you in the butt.

Though their artificial intelligence could certainly have learned from my profile that I am a Democrat (through and through), they messed up and sold the ad slot to the Republicans.

Word to the wise: Pay attention!

I certainly will from now on.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Should there be "detention" for Council?

City Council is about to adopt changes to the City Charter
that will affect us all for decades to come -- if not forever.

Plainfield City Council is scheduled on Tuesday evening to take up the ordinance (MC 2018-22) enshrining the changes to the special city charter (and the code) authorized by the Legislature over the summer.

This will be the second and final reading, and includes a public hearing on the ordinance. If passed on second reading, it will take effect in twenty days.

So, to my mind, the question arises: Does the City Council need "detention"?

In the 3-room country schoolhouse of my boyhood, we got detention if it became apparent we had not done our homework.

Not only did we complete the unfinished homework during detention, we also wrote on the blackboard a sentence like "I will always complete my homework on time." As many times as the teacher felt appropriate -- the hope of a lesser number held dear by those who had been singled out. And then, to top it off, we had to clean the blackboard and erasers before we could go home.

One only had to face this punishment once to understand it was far better to set aside the time at home to get your homework done. Lesson learned.

Why do I bring this up?

At last week's agenda-setting session, Councilor Storch was the only one to step up to the plate and discuss how much of the 131-page ordinance he had read (120 pages, he said). The rest of the Council remained silent on whether they had read the document at all.

Resident Mary Burgwinkle testified that she had read it all and had quite a few questions. (Her thoughts have been posted online here and here.)

As I have noted before, I do not have any problem with expanding the number of departments, and while including the Confidential Aides in the charter is unfortunate, the provision mostly has the effect of forever after limiting the Administration in this regard.

I do have problems with the way in which this was done, with Mayor Mapp having publicly stated at Council meetings and to the Courier News that he took it upon himself to make the changes to the petition -- exceeding his authority, and giving no rationale for why he didn't convene the Council to change the petition.

Nevertheless, done is done.

What disturbs me about taking up the ordinance for final passage on Tuesday is that there is a lingering suspicion -- bolstered by the silence of everyone except Storch -- that the Councilors have not closely read the ordinance and do not even know if they are comfortable with everything in it.

All elected officials in New Jersey swear to "faithfully, impartially and justly perform all the duties of the office."

Should that include reading and understanding ordinances before one votes on them?

I certainly hope so, especially since the charter changes being enacted are likely to stand for 50 years or more -- as the last revision did.

Certainly such a responsibility demands the utmost care in its execution. It would be reassuring to hear from Councilors' own mouths that they had read and understand what they are voting on.

And if they can't demonstrate that they have a clear grasp of what they are voting on, should they face "detention" -- that is, perhaps tabling the ordinance until they can show they have read and mastered it?

After all, they must make such a declaration to the state each and every year upon the adoption of the budget.

I hope no one is going to suggest to me that the Council doesn't truthfully honor THAT pledge. That would be the height of cynicism.

City Council meets at 8:00 PM (note the time change) on Tuesday, September 11, in the Council Chambers / Courthouse, Watchung Avenue at East 4th Street.

Parking available on the street or in the lot across from Police Headquarters.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

9/11: Observing the day that changed everything

Giant plumes of smoke and ashes rise above lower Manhattan
after the collapse of the twin towers. This photo was taken
in the afternoon from the foot of the lookout
at Washington Rock Park.
(Photo by Dan Damon, Plainfield Public Information Officer)

9/11 is the day that changed everything.

Plainfield's annual commemoration of 9/11 will take place Tuesday at 8:30 AM at City Hall Plaza.

While America had been the subject of a devastating surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, with 2,335 persons losing their lives (and 1,143 wounded), the 9/11 attack was the first on American soil (Hawaii was not a state in 1941). 2,796 persons lost their lives on 9/11 -- including 2,606 at the twin towers and 265 airline passengers.

Suddenly, terrorism was on our doorstep.

Domestically, things have changed so as to be unrecognizable from after that date.

On 9/11, I took the picture at the top of this post from the Washington Rock monument. A week later, I flew from Newark to my niece's wedding in Tucson, AZ. On the flight out, I simply checked my bag, showed my boarding pass at the gate and got on the plane.

On Sunday, September 30, when I went to board the return flight at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, there was a security check -- with a metal detector AND wanding by a sheriff's deputy, including removing shoes, belts and dumping out the contents of my pockets. In less than two weeks, air travel had changed forever.

Back in those days, we were far less worried about security (and terrorism) in Plainfield. I mean, who would target our relatively sleepy town for anything, right?

The only security at City Hall was a buzzer on the Mayor's office, installed after resident Bill Hetfield harassed Cynthia Blake, then Mayor McWilliams' administrative assistant.

There was no police presence at the courthouse or City Hall Library when Council was in session, unless a rumpus was expected over a contentious meeting.

Today, we have metal detectors and police officers on duty at the Courthouse, City Hall and the Annex whenever the buildings are open. In addition, the hallways in City Hall are now monitored continuously by security cameras.

I was again put in mind of the change on Saturday morning in the arrangements for naming the Park-Madison Plaza in honor of the late Assemblyman Jerry Green.

Second Street, Madison Avenue and Park Avenue were blocked off by police vehicles, with only those with parking passes allowed through -- no traffic, causing snarls downtown.

At the event itself, there were droves of sheriff's officers and police, scrutinizing everyone who walked onto the plaza from whatever direction.

How different from the days when Christie Todd Whitman was governor (pre 9/11) and would visit Plainfield with only a cabinet member or two plus a couple of staff and walk around the streets shaking hands and talking with anyone who happened to be out and about.

Even when President George W. Bush visited Grace Church (at the invitation of Martin Cox, whose youth program was located there), the security arrangements by the Secret Service were limited to securing the building and blocking off the stretch of Cleveland Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets (protesters were allowed to assemble on 7th Street, within full view and earshot of the President as he walked into the church).

It does not look like we will ever return to the freedom of access and movement that residents enjoyed in those pre-9/11 days. That is why I say that things have changed forever.

And as part of that change, we pause every year on the anniversary of that terrible day: to remember the tragedy, to commemorate all the victims of the terror attack on both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon (including the 265 airplane passengers who died), and to recommit ourselves to unity and our American values.

Residents and officials will gather at the steps of City Hall on Tuesday, September 11. The commemoration, which is brief, is scheduled for 8:30 AM. It is best to arrive early, so as not to miss any of this moving ceremony.

Parking available in the rear of City Hall and on the street (unless posted).

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Even in death Jerry Green gets out the troops

The program for Saturday's dedication of the
Park-Madison Plaza in Jerry's name had a nice
photo of him on the cover. (Sorry for the crease.)

Jerry Green must have been smiling Saturday when, in spite of a cool morning and an overcast sky, a couple hundred people came out to witness the dedication of the Park-Madison office building plaza in his name.

Even in death Jerry was getting out the troops. The bevy of elected officials who extolled his contributions to affordable housing and other favorite issues included seekers of top elected office in New Jersey -- just-elected Gov. Phil Murphy, US Senate candidate Bob Menendez, Plainfield's favorite US Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Jerry's replacement in the Assembly Linda Carter -- who now must face election for the seat. Plus of course the Freeholder candidates.

All of this made it seem more like a campaign rally than a naming ceremony, to which Jerry would have grinned and winked.

Jerry would have loved it -- and not least because it didn't cost him a penny.

Well known for being tight-fisted with campaign money, Jerry nevertheless used it judiciously where it mattered.

And where it mattered was -- in Jerry's view -- on Election Day. Jerry always ran a classic "knock and drag" effort on Election Day and paid street workers to get out the vote -- even if it meant driving folks to the polls.

Jerry always took great pride in the fact that Plainfield's turnout for Democratic candidates could excel the percentages of other towns in Union County.

With Sen. Nick Scutari as the new Union County chair and having no personal footprint in Plainfield, the baton has passed to Mayor Adrian Mapp, chair of the local Democratic party.

Events will show whether Plainfield keeps up Jerry Green's illustrious record.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

Jerry Green gets his due -- at last

Assemblyman Jerry Green sitting in the plaza
of the Park-Madison complex during a 2013 rally.

Jerry Green is finally getting his due, with the "renaming" of the Park-Madison office building and plaza in his honor.

The ceremony will take place this Saturday, September 8 at 10:00 AM in the plaza in front of the building at West Front Street and Park Avenue.

It is a fitting dedication, since Jerry was a prime mover in getting the Union County Improvement Authority to erect the building on the 4-acre plot created by the demolition an entire block in the heart of Plainfield's shopping district in the late 1960s.

The demolition presaged the closing of the famed Tepper's department store after downtown business began to dry up following the Park-Madison demolition and the growing trend of stores moving out to strip malls on Route 22 with their ample parking right at the door.

The UCIA, I am told, actually passed the resolution to name the complex after Assemblyman Green a number of years ago, though no action was ever taken during his lifetime.

When I told him I was annoyed about how long it was taking and that I was considering posting on the blog about it, Jerry asked me to hold off, saying he didn't want me to jinx him. So I held off.

Too bad Jerry can't be here to bask in the limelight.

The notice for Saturday's event also stated that parking will be available in the parking deck.

That is a sore spot. Residents are supposed to be able to park in the deck according to the original development agreement. Though Charlotte DeFilippo stonewalled for years, the Mapp administration supposedly resolved all the outstanding matters with the UCIA -- including parking in the deck and moving the famous "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" clock from across Park Avenue to the plaza.

Yet residents still have no regular use of the deck, and as former Democratic committeewoman Carol Bicket will remind anyone in earshot, the clock has yet to be moved to its location in the plaza.

I hope this naming brings a smile to Jerry as he looks down on us. He deserves the honor.

---

 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

View today's CLIPS  here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.