Urbi et Orbi: Happy Easter

Crowds gather in St. Peter's Square for the 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing.
(Image, Agence France Presse)

 
To Plainfield and to the world: Happy Easter.

Pope Francis delivered his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing at noon local time in St. Peter's Square (see the full text here).

The blessing takes its name from the form of proclamations issued in the name of the Roman Emperors in late antiquity: 'Urbi et orbi' (literally, 'to the city [Rome] and to the world').

Francis recalls the centrality of the Church's proclamation that Christ has died and is risen. He also prays for concerns facing the world at large today, enumerating several.

Traditionally, those present for the blessing (and now, thanks to the wonders of radio and TV, those who hear it worldwide) are granted an indulgence remitting all venial sins.

Ah, when life was so simple and one could tell a venial sin from a mortal sin!

In any event, a Happy Easter to all, and a sense of renewal and hope for Plainfield and the world as Spring finally takes hold.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Council's April Fools meeting includes lots of discussion

Plainfield's City Council may have piled its plate high for its April Fools Day meeting.

While Olddoc is a bit more sanguine, the list of topics includes some that seem guaranteed (to me, at least) to generate lots of wind --

• East Second Street streetscape contract
  
  
• Plainfield Housing Authority (looking for tax refunds)
  
  
• City-Board of Ed shared services agreement
  
  
• The proposed ordinance for the Council's 'rules of order', and
  
  
• Increasing the allowable liquor licenses for social clubs.

My guess is it could be a long evening this April Fools Day.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Board of Ed passes 2013-14 budget

An excellent overview of budget highlights was presented.

 
In an exceedingly undramatic evening, the Plainfield Board of Ed passed its 2013-14 budget Tuesday evening.

With just myself and two staffers in the cavernous 1300-seat PHS Auditorium, Board Secretary and Business Administrator Gary Ottman stepped to the lectern and went through a PowerPoint presentation of highlights of the proposed budget for the benefit of the Board and the 'public'. (That excellent presentation has been posted online at the District's website, see here).

The District's 25-page 'user-friendly' budget is also online (see here).

One of the few questions raised by board members concerned the debt service payments. As explained by Mr. Ottman, this is the payoff of the 1996 bond issue passed by the voters that led to the building of the Washington Community School.

The payout is structured similar to similar to a home mortgage, as Ottman explained, with the interest making up a decreasing percentage of the total regular payments as time passes.

My only quibble with the presentation is that the public would be better served by being given the MEDIAN where salaries are given (rather than the AVERAGE, as the document does), since medians give a more realistic picture of how salaries really stack up.

I was amazed that with a total budget of over $176 million, there were no other members of the public in attendance. (I wonder if the Board was amazed too.)

Per pupil cost compares favorably with the state average,
which is $18,000 per Superintendent Anna Belin Pyles.

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• Plainfield Public Schools --
• "Board of Ed Budget Presentation, 2013-14"
• "User-Friendly 2013-14 Budget"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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BREAKING: Ward 2 shootings overnight Wednesday

 

Berckman Street area site of double incident.

Word comes of shooting incidents overnight Wednesday in the 2nd Ward.

Sometime after midnight, Berckman Street was the site of two gunplay incidents: Shots were fired neared the intersection with East 7th Street, striking the back of a home on East 6th Street and activating the ShotSpotter system. No one in the home was injured.

As part of the same incident, shots were fired at a group of people gathered at the corner of East 6th and Berckman. It is not clear if anyone was injured, but a male suspect was reported to have fled the scene.

This area of Berckman Street has been the focus of gang-related activity in the past, including shootings. More as details emerge.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Memorial for Thom Lowe set for Tuesday

A memorial service is set for retired Plainfield
firefighter Thom Lowe.

 
A memorial service for former Plainfield firefighter Thomas (Thom) J. Lowe, II, is set for Tuesday, April 2. Thom passed away March 14 at CareOne in Edison.

A lifelong Plainfield resident and 1956 graduate of Plainfield High School, Thom was well known to the community for his many talents and interests, including interests in music and as a vocalist, model railroading, and photography.

As part of his 25-year career with the Plainfield Fire Division, Thom took countless photographs of city activities and events. While part of his collection is in the Local History Collection of the Plainfield Public Library, the bulk of his photographic work is kept at the Fire Division Headquarters at West 4th Street and Central Avenue.

Family and friends will gather for a memorial service on Tuesday, April 2, at 11:00 AM, at Brown 's Funeral Home, 122 Plainfield Avenue (just off West Front Street), Plainfield.

This additional information came in from James Grundy of the Plainfield Vulcan Pioneers --

Dan,
Not only was Lt. Thomas J. Lowe a 25 year member of the Plainfield Fire Division, he was the 1st President of the minority fraternal organization, which he named and co-founded along with members the New Brunswick Fire Department, COFFEE, Inc., ( Community Oriented Fire Fighters for Eminent Equality), which is now Plainfield Vulcan Pioneers of Union Co., NJ Inc., PVPUC, Inc.
Thank you.
Keeping the fire burning for justice,
James L. Grundy, Jr.
Corresponding Secretary
P.V.P.U.C., Inc.

 

This classic view of Plainfield's historic Fire HQ
was taken by Thom Lowe in 1972. (Image courtesy Plainfield Public Library.)

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• Brown's Funeral Home:  "Memorial for Thomas J. Lowe, II"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Mayor's barstool-by-barstool campaign continues

Hard work on the re-election campaign trail.

 
Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs continued her barstool-by-barstool campaign for re-election with a fundraiser this past Thursday at Stone Square Lodge, I have been told.

This makes for a total of four so far, including her Valentine's Day bash at Los Faraones (see my posts here, and here) and two at Hugo's, at least one of which was billed as a joint fundraiser with 4th Ward candidate Bridget Rivers.

The Stone Square event comes as rumors swirl that Her Honor is being helped out by former PMUA executive director Eric Watson (ratepayers might not be exactly amused at the thought of their $1 million 'gift' to Watson being used to help bankroll Sharon's campaign).

In any event, the next installment of Robinson-Briggs' campaign finance reports is due by April 15, and should include details on the expenses incurred and monies raised on these fundraising events.

The locations either charged her a fee or considered the cost of the event an 'in-kind' donation to her campaign; in either case, the amounts need to be reported, as well as any funds actually raised.

The problem will be deciding whether to file her campaign report under 'fiction' or 'non-fiction'.

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• Plainfield Today --
• "Valentine's Day fundraiser raises plenty of questions"
• "Mayor breaks first rule of cheating: Don't get caught"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Jerry Green responds to a Plainfield Today commenter

Assemblyman Green spoke at Councilor Mapp's recent 'friendraiser'.

 
Assemblyman Jerry Green has responded to a Plainfield Today reader's comment on last Monday's post of the video of the Assemblyman's remarks at Councilor Mapp's recent 'friendraiser' event (see the video, the comment and the Assemblyman's response here).

As happens from time to time, I had fallen behind in posting comments, but all are now caught up.

Here is Assemblyman Green's comment --

Dan this is exactly what I mentioned in my previous blog posting before about the cowardly anonymous posts and Anonymous March 18 at 11:11AM is exactly what I’m talking about. This person even goes so far in referring to me as an “old boy”. This is garbage and I would hope that you are better than to print this type of crap. This is the reason I don’t allow public comments at all my blog. Neither positive nor negative comments are allowed because my blog is primarily for information purposes, the legislation we are working on in Trenton. Any comments about those bills you are welcome to email me come by or call my office anytime and talk to me. But for this nameless, faceless, and cowardly hatred filled comment to be posted is disgusting. To use such a derogatory term is uncalled for and I noticed that this person is even man enough to use their name when spreading this hate filled garbage.

Reviewing the post, and the comments -- both the Assemblyman's and that of 'Anonymous' -- I see things a little differently.

The difference between the Assemblyman's blog and Plainfield Today is quite clear. As Jerry says, his blog is 'for information purposes, the legislation we are working on in Trenton', and valuable for that purpose.

Plainfield Today, on the other hand, has in mind providing an opportunity for readers to chime in on topics of interest to the community. That commentary is likely to be somewhat sassy at times, but hey, this is America, the land of free speech.

Reading -- and re-reading -- the 'old boy' reference, it does not seem to me to be a coded racial reference. Rather, I think it is a flat-out reference to age. Now, since the Assemblyman is just a few months older than I, I can tell you I do not like people referring to me as 'old' either, but the fact is, I'll not likely ever be referred to as 'young' again -- nor will the Assemblyman.

Plainfield politics is a bruising affair, to which I can testify from personal experience. And anonymous comments were circulated in Plainfield long before the Internet was available.

In those days the best that could be done was for one's anonymous opponents to copy their diatribes on Rec Division copiers and put them under windshield wipers in the City Hall lot or on the literature table outside the Mayor's office.

But then, familiarity with American political history would lead one to expect all this.

I remember the advice a candidate for ordination was given by his bishop, as applicable to those in public life as to those in the ministry, 'Just remember this, you will often be blamed for things which are not your fault, and you will sometimes be credited for things for which the credit rightly belongs elsewhere; don't spend all your time trying to sort it all out.'

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• Plainfield Today:  "Video: Assemblyman Green endorses Mapp for mayor"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield Schools budget set for Tuesday evening

Amount to be raised from local taxes is approximately
15.8% of total 2013-14 school budget. (Graphic from NJ Spotlight)

 
Plainfield's Board of Education will take up the adoption of a $22.7 million local levy budget for the 2013-14 school year at its business meeting Tuesday, March 26.

The budget was discussed previously at its March 4 work-and-study meeting. The agenda for Tuesday's meeting can be found online here (PDF).

The $22.7 million is the amount to be raised from Plainfield taxpayers and represents approximately 15.8% of the total school district budget of $143.95 million. The state has previously announced that the Plainfield schools will receive $121.2 million in state aid for the upcoming school year, an increase of $2.8 million over the 2012-13 funding (see here).

The Board of Ed's business meeting will be held in the PHS Auditorium at 7:00 PM (note the time, an hour earlier than the usual meeting time). Time has been set aside for public comments and questions.

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• Plainfield Public Schools:  "Board of Ed agenda, 3/26/2013" (PDF)
• 2013-14 School Aid:  "NJ Spotlight" | "Ledger"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Gunplay Palm Sunday afternoon

Palm Sunday gunplay took place near Neighborhood House.

 
Gunplay was reported by a Plainfield Today reader near their West 4th Street home Palm Sunday afternoon.

While listening to a basketball game, the reader heard several 'pop-pop-pop' sounds they at first mistook for fireworks, then realized must be gunshots. The shots were apparently fired from a moving vehicle. Luckily, no one was injured.

The reader lives in the block in which the City's venerable Neighborhood House preschool is located. On a weekday, there would have been the chance of children and others being on the street. The normally quiet neighborhood of older frame homes is an unlikely location for gun violence.

Five Plainfield Police squad cars quickly responded. The reader did not know whether there was any indication that ShotSpotter picked up the gunshots.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Drake House 'Plainfield Parks and Gardens' show opens today

The exhibit features Plainfield parks and gardens.

The Drake House's 'Plainfield Parks and Gardens' show opens this afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and features maps, plans and photographs of Plainfield's legacy of parks and gardens.

The community's two county parks -- Cedar Brook and Greenbrook -- will be featured, as well as the world-renowned Shakespeare Garden which is maintained on a volunteer basis by the Plainfield Garden Club.

A special feature will be a gallery talk by preservation consultant Kathleen Galop at 2:30 PM entitle 'The Olmsted Historic Landscape Legacy in New Jersey'.

The exhibit in the Drake House's second floor ballroom will run through the end of May and is comprised of artifacts lent for the exhibit by the Plainfield Garden Club and the Plainfield Public Library, as well as items from the Historical Society's own collections.

This afternoon's event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

The Drake House Museum at 602 West Front Street (at the foot of Plainfield Avenue) is open to the public Sunday afternoons from 2:00 - 4:00 PM, and at other times by appointment. For more information, call (908) 755-5831 or visit the website at www.drakehouseplainfieldnj.org/.

'Spritzer' area is adjacent to handball courts at Cedar Brook Park. (Photos by DD)

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Fashion Show at Plainfield Library today

 

Celebration of Women's Heritage Month continues this afternoon at the Plainfield Public Library with a fashion show sponsored by the Friends of the Library organization.

Roz Moore and friends will present the show in cooperation with AVM Productions, with live entertainment by Party King Enterprise. Students from the PAAAS Dance Studio will also perform. The event is slated to feature a special guest appearance by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs.

The program will be held in the Anne Louise Davis Meeting Room from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Suggested donation: $5.

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FASHION SHOW

 In Celebration Of

Women's Heritage Month
Saturday, March 23

2:00 - 4:00 PM

Anne Louise Davis Meeting Room

Plainfield Public Library

Park Avenue at 8th Street

Donation: $5.00

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Plainfield Dems sort out 2013 Primary tonight

Plainfield's Democratic City Committee meets tonight under the leadership of Chairperson and Assemblyman Jerry Green to sort out the 2013 Democratic Primary election.

While both Councilor Adrian Mapp and current Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs have announced their candidacies for the mayor's slot, Mapp was given the nod by the Union County Democratic leadership as noted several days ago.

Robinson-Briggs has not, however, made any public comment, and her volunteers have been busy over the past several evenings at her campaign headquarters next to the former Blackberry's restaurant.

Robinson-Briggs could possibly contest the award of the line to Mapp at tonight's meeting. Barring that, her options also include running off the line but in the Democratic primary, or waiting until June 4 and filing to run as an independent in the November election.

The other seat that is up this year is that of the 4th Ward Councilor, currently held by Bridget Rivers, who is this year's Council president.

In addition, the whole Legislature is up for re-election, meaning that District 22's team (Assemblyman Jerry Green, Assemblywoman Linda Stender and Sen. Nick Scutari) is also making its appeal to the voters.

In addition, this is the year for members of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee (who are also members of the County committee to be elected: one male and one female for each of the 34 voting districts in Plainfield).

Both Assemblyman Green and Councilor Mapp addressed the guests at a 'friendraiser' at the Mapp home last Friday, where Green publicly endorsed Mapp, and videos of their remarks have been posted (Jerry's here; and Mapp's here).

Although not given the floor, guests are always warmly welcomed at the City Committee meetings.

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Plainfield Democratic City Committee

Friday, March 22 
7:00 PM (Corrected time)

18 Roosevelt Avenue
(the former Obama for President Headquarters)
Parking on the street and in the lot behind the building.

Guests are always welcome.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Video: Councilor Mapp speaks at 'friendraiser'

Plainfield Councilor and candidate for mayor Adrian Mapp spoke at a 'friendraiser' event at his home last Friday evening, along with Assemblyman Jerry Green, chairperson of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee.

A video of Adrian's remarks is posted below; Jerry's remarks were previously posted and can be watched here.

The Plainfield Democratic City Committee meets this Friday evening (see details at bottom of post, and note corrected time).

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Plainfield Democratic City Committee
 
Friday, March 22 
7:00 PM (Corrected time)
 
18 Roosevelt Avenue
(the former Obama for President Headquarters)
Parking on the street and in the lot behind the building.
Guests are always welcome.

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• Plainfield Today:  "Video: Assemblyman Green endorses Mapp for Mayor"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Will Rivers be denied the 4th Ward line?

When Plainfield City Council President Bridget Rivers failed to make an appearance last Friday at the reception for mayoral candidate Adrian Mapp to which the entire community had been invited, tongues were set wagging.

Was she snubbing the man who would likely be her running mate in November? Was her joined-at-the-hip relationship with Robinson-Briggs going to complicate the Primary? Was she preparing to run -- as she had done in 2009 -- on her 'independence'? Was Jerry looking for a more reliably team player? Or was he looking to reshape the 4th Ward game completely?

Rivers took great pains to emphasize her independence in her 2009 run, distancing herself from both the New Democrats and the Regular Democratic Organization (RDO) alike. She won against her RDO opponent, Vera Greaves, by just a handful of votes.

In the opening phase of her term, she emphasized her 'independence', but that emphasis softened when her employment situation changed.

As time went by, Rivers and Mayor Robinson-Briggs developed a working relationship that verged on becoming Siamese twins, with Robinson-Briggs and Rivers even sharing a joint fundraiser at Hugo's.

(An exception was the flap over the Mayor's permitting a carnival at Hannah Atkins on short notice last October without taking Rivers' constituency into account, resulting in Rivers joining in the unanimous override of the Mayor's vetoes of three ordinances setting some framework for such events.)

Once Rivers became council president in 2013, Robinson-Briggs magically reappeared at Council meetings -- which she had boycotted for months -- and the two were even seen exchanging 'high fives' after the January 14 Council meeting (see my post here). Moreover, at the January 22 meeting (see my post here), Rivers joined with Brown, Greaves and Reid to carry a resolution for the taxpayers to pay for the Mayor's personal legal expenses in the affair of the misappropriated $20,000 used to pay for a WBLS radio broadcast in 2010.

With Robinson-Briggs' loss of the Union County Democratic organization's backing, Rivers is faced with a quandary: Is she going to sever her ties with Robinson-Briggs to get the line, or will she run off the RDO line to be with her buddy?

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Green has problems of his own to deal with as the local party chair and as a legislator who is up for re-election this year and facing a Republican opponent who is hoping to eat into Jerry's vote total.

Will Green be looking for a more reliable team player than Rivers in this difficult 'Year of Christie'?

Plainfield will be looked at to make an overarching effort to deliver the votes needed for a large plurality in the 22nd Legislative District. Will it be easier or harder with Rivers on the line?

Lastly, there is the possibility that Chairman Green could use this year's Primary to reshape the 4th Ward situation for years to come.

Consider this: If Green does not give the 4th Ward line to Rivers, but instead gives it to another, totally reliable, person like Vera Greaves, he would change the 4th Ward game significantly and for years to come.

Firstly, Greaves would win the seat in the push to defeat Christie in November. Secondly, when Greaves would step down from her current at-large seat after November to take up her new 4th Ward seat in January 2014, Green would have the opportunity to select a 4th Ward Councilor more to his liking.

How will it all shake out? Those who are inveterate Oz-watchers (to borrow Olddoc's phrase) will not want to miss this Friday night's Plainfield Democratic City Committee meeting, where all will be made clear.

As for Councilor Rivers' future, it's like birds sitting on a wire -- it all seems effortless, except when it doesn't work out.

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Plainfield Democratic City Committee
 
Friday, March 22
7:00 PM (Note corrected time)
 
18 Roosevelt Avenue
(the former Obama for President Headquarters)
Parking on the street and in the lot behind the building.
Guests are always welcome.

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• Plainfield Today --
• "Council: Rivers high-fives Mayor; more..."
• "Council 'gang of four' picks public's pocket"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Man wounded in Tuesday shooting

 
A man was wounded late Tuesday afternoon in a shooting on Plainfield's Johnston Avenue. Not clear if the victim was riding in a car and just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. At least one bullet is said to have passed through a car.

ShotSpotter is said not to have picked up the gunfire.

Johnston Avenue is just a few blocs from the Emerson School, where last night's special Zoning Board hearing on the development of the Armory was held a short time later.

More as details emerge.

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Sharon leaves trail of misinformation behind at Staple's

Horses must be swept up behind in civilized areas.

Like a horse that needs sweeping up behind after a parade, Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs left a trail of literature behind her after a copying party at a local Staples, as a Plainfield Today reader discovered when they went to use a machine.

At the risk of boosting her campaign, I have posted the complete ensemble (see documents embedded below).

Sadly, Sharon stoops to slinging mud when she lies about Councilor Williams and Plainfield's veterans. (Councilor Williams has posted her own reply to this attack, see here.)

On the other hand, finding the information being copied at Staples is probably a decent indication that the infamous Rec Division copier is not being used this time around. Saving you some tax dollars, but hardly a reason to vote for Sharon.

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Robinson-Briggs 2013 Primary Lit

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• And My Point Is:  "Sharon Robinson-Briggs: Liar"

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Video: Assemblyman Jerry Green supports Adrian Mapp for Mayor

Assemblyman Jerry Green, chairperson of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee, spoke at last Friday evening's reception honoring Councilor Adrian Mapp's selection as the Democratic Primary candidate for mayor.

The video below contains Jerry's remarks at the reception. I will post Councilor Mapp's remarks separately.

Those who are following the primary election will want to mark their calendars for the City Committee's meeting this coming Friday evening.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Morehouse Glee Club sings in Plainfield Monday

Atlanta's Morehouse College Glee Club will offer Plainfielders a rare treat Monday evening with a concert at United Presbyterian Church.

Working their way through a 14-concert tour that has taken them from Cleveland to Buffalo to Boston, the group comes to Plainfield fresh from its concert on Sunday at New York's famed First Corinthian Baptist Church.

Founded in 1911, the Morehouse College Glee Club has grown world famous through its performances at Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral and President Jimmy Carter's inauguration, leading to tours in Africa and the Caribbean, as well as Russia and Poland.

Many may be familiar with the group's sound as it appeared on the soundtrack for the movie School Daze, which was directed by Morehouse alum Spike Lee.

Monday's concert is sponsored by United Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $25 per person and may be purchased at the door. Proceeds will benefit the church's Crawford-Walton Scholarship Fund which provides assistance to students at the undergraduate level.

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Morehouse Glee Club Concert
Monday, March 18
7:30 PM 
Tickets: $25
United Presbyterian Church 
525 East Front Street
 Plainfield

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• Website: "The Morehouse College Glee Club"
  

-- Dan Damon

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Blackberry's closing, everything for sale

Blackberry's is closing its doors forever.

 
Plainfield's Blackberry's Restaurant is closing its doors for good, according to an email received yesterday.

Owner Shelly Withers is overseeing a liquidation sale today, from 10 AM - 6 PM, at which everything in the restaurant will be offered for sale.

The restaurant gained local fame when it was the subject of a Kitchen Nightmares show in September 2011 (see my post here).

Unfortunately, it has not been able to contend with the economic downturn and the location's main deficit -- a lack of parking.

For more information, call Shelly at (908) 755-3444 or drop into the restaurant at the corner of Watchung Avenue and East 5th Street.

A sad day for Plainfield fans of soul food.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Celebration of Joe Gutenkauf's life Sunday

Joe Gutenkauf's life and contributions will be celebrated Sunday.

 
Longtime Plainfield Democratic activist and city committee member Joe Gutenkauf will be celebrated and remembered at a gathering of friends and family on Sunday afternoon at Grace Episcopal Church's parish hall.

Joe and Dottie have been Plainfield residents for thirty years, putting down deep roots and connecting widely with people throughout the community.

Joe and Dottie met at Southern Illinois University, where both were graduate students, and married in 1964.

Joe's long career in politics and civil rights includes having served as executive secretary of the Chicago area Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and a founder of what is now the Democratic Socialists of America.

Joe taught at Ithaca College and Glassboro State (now Rowan University) in New Jersey. He retired from the NJ Treasury Department's Affirmative Action office in 1992.

In Plainfield, Joe and Dottie were active in Democratic politics and local issues, including the struggle to keep Muhlenberg Hospital from closing.

All are invited to share in this celebration and remembrance of Joe's life and contributions.

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Joe Gutenkauf Memorial Service
Sunday, March 17
1:00 - 5:00 PM
Grace Episcopal Church Parish Hall
Cleveland Avenue at East 6th Street
(Parking on the street and in the public lot
on East 7th Street across from the church)

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Breast cancer awareness 'Speak Out' event tonight

 

Plainfield Passionistas, a breast cancer awareness group, is hosting a 'Speak Out' event this evening in collaboration with the Plainfield Public Schools at the Myrtle Avenue Administration Building's cafetorium.

The event is in aid of the Tiffany Corbett Scholarship Fund, named after the beloved teacher of over forty years in the Plainfield schools.

Speakers include Caryl Lucas, author, speaker and life coach; Tammy Holmes Anderson, author of Sacred Wellness and Beauty; and Rev. Rosalyn Moore, motivational speaker.

The program will include inspiring messages from the guest speakers, entertainment (including song, poetry, dance and spoken word), and an opportunity for all to step up to the 'open mike' and share muruting experiences in coping with personal battles.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

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'Speak Out'
A Breast Cancer Awareness Event
Hosted by
Plainfield Passionistas and the Plainfield Public Schools
Friday, March 15
6:30 PM.
Administrative Building Cafetorium
1200 Myrtle Avenue

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Laddie Wyatt, Mark Fury and Rashid Burney tonight at Charter Study

Former Mayor Mark Fury (left), here shown with
former mayors Rick Taylor and Harold Mitchell
is expected to be interviewed this evening.

 
Plainfield's Charter Study Commission continues its interviews of former city officials at this evening's meeting.

A little bird told me that former Municipal Clerk Laddie Wyatt has agreed to be interviewed this evening, along with former Mayor Mark Fury and former Councilor Rashid Burney.

The Chart Study Commission meets at 7:00 PM in the City Hall Library. All meetings are open to the public, which will be given an opportunity to ask questions and make comments.

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