22nd District Dems kick off fall campaign tonight

Large political rallies were invented during the era of
Jacksonian politics, as pictured here by regionalist artist
George Caleb Bingham in 1851. Note the absence of women
and people of color and the presence of alcoholic beverages.

Plainfield Assemblyman Jerry Green will join his running mates Assemblywoman Linda Stender and Senator Nick Scutari in a kickoff rally of District 22 Democrats tonight at Scotch Plains' Italian-American Club.

The rally is a political tradition going back to the era of President Andrew Jackson, who invented the large BBQ rally with plenty of spirits and speechifying.

In our own time, the spirits have dissipated and the rallies are hardly as raucous as their ancestors, but the intent is the same: to introduce the candidates and their platforms to the voter, generate enthusiasm and rally volunteers.

Tonight's event will feature burgers and hot dogs for all as well as speechifying.

There will be opportunities to sign up to volunteer as well as to pick up the traditional lawn sign.

This year's calendar is also complicated by the special October 15 election to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg. That race pits Newark's mayor Cory Booker against Tea Party favorite and former Bogota mayor Steve Lonegan.

The rally is from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and the Italian-American Club is at 1976 Valley Avenue in Scotch Plains (behind the Scotchwood Diner).

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Has JFK overplayed its hand on Muhlenberg?

At issue is the future of the Muhlenberg Hospital campus.

From the beginning of its relationship with Plainfield, when it first created Solaris Health System as the umbrella for Muhlenberg and JFK, JFK's administration and board have had a tin ear for how to approach the community and matters of mutual concern.

Now, with the era of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs drawing to a close, one has to wonder if JFK has not made another blunder in having the Rev. Dr. Gerald Lamont Thomas be the messenger in its tussle with the City over the future of the Muhlenberg campus.

When it first closed Muhlenberg, Solaris (JFK) proposed a 'Community Advisory Group' that would monitor the conditions of the closure agreement. While they acceded to the demand that Mayor Robinson-Briggs chair the group, that has turned out to be pretty much a disaster with Robinson-Briggs being erratic in calling meetings and apparently rudderless with regard to any policy position.

JFK has not been happy at not being able to get its way over the property, after having had Jeffrey Otteau draw up a 'plan' for developing the six-acre campus into so-called luxury apartments, at one point even touting the proposal as 'transit-oriented development'.

In a move meant to  mobilize forces more friendly to JFK in the community, it formed a group of three preachers over a year ago (Dr. Thomas, Bishop Herbert Bright and the Rev. Gary Kirkwood) to ostensibly help resolve the issues.

The principal result to date was for Dr. Thomas to present what was in effect an ultimatum to the Council on Monday evening: submit to the JFK rezoning and construction proposal or face the withdrawal of JFK's services at the Muhlenberg campus.

This is no way to conduct negotiations.

With the certainty of a change of administrations in Plainfield's City Hall come January, JFK is faced with the likelihood of having to deal with a new mayor intent on salvaging some healthcare-related functions for the Muhlenberg campus.

That, combined with pressure from the City for tax revenues since JFK has abandoned the use which justified its tax exemption, will combine to change the landscape under which negotiations will now move forward.

While Dr. Thomas referred to a letter to the Council, and implied an ultimatum, the actual letter itself is less forceful.

First, it is not from JFK, but from their attorneys Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, which is well connected to powerful Democrats. It was hand-delivered Monday afternoon.

Second, it is addressed to the Mayor and the Council, and asks for rezoning of the Muhlenberg campus as 'the most appropriate and feasible opportunity for redevelopment of this site'.

JFK would be hard-pressed to withdraw services from Plainfield (and certainly not without one year's notice, as already agreed), but is absolutely being faced with a new team on the Plainfield side come January.

What is the point of this kind of inappropriate and bullying communication?

Far from causing the Council and a new mayor to quake, it may firm the resolve to find a solution which JFK has to date been unwilling to consider.

It seems highly likely JFK once again overplayed its hand, missing an opportunity to work for a win-win resolution of the outstanding issues between it and the City.

In that regard, JFK has learned nothing in its dealings with Plainfield.

Come January, there will be another opportunity. Will JFK make the best of it?

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Doctor's appointment today

Doctor's appointment today. For the juicy bits about Plainfield City Council meeting Monday, be sure to check Bernice's post here.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Council should look hard at African Caribbean Commission proposal

Lately, Council meetings have had the feel of Dorothy's house
being swept up in the tornado in 'The Wizard of Oz'.

Things certainly seem to be in a whirl with the Plainfield City Council of late, and tonight is no exception. To borrow a metaphor from Olddoc, it's like Dorothy and Toto surviving the tornado in 'The Wizard of Oz' to find that they are not in Kansas anymore.

Besides taking up a hasty proposal for a RODEO, the Council will have its second reading of an ordinance proposing an African Caribbean Commission.

This would be the third new commission that Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs has proposed in her two terms. The other two, the Hispanic Affairs Commission and the Youth Commission, have fallen into disuse owing to a lack of appointments by Her Honor. It would be a shame to set up yet another commission to come to naught.

Reading through the proposed ordinance (MC 2013-07), some questions came to mind that I hope the Council will take into account before making a decision to adopt --

First, why shouldn't the ordinance be set to become effective January 1, 2014, thus keeping the appointments in line with the vast majority of Plainfield's boards and commissions, seats on which expire December 31st of a given year.

Secondly, the membership criteria is vague, to say the least. Speaking at the August 19 Council meeting, spokesperson Fatou Njie said the currently existing committee does not confine its membership to those areas, which seems a bit odd. Shouldn't the Council want clarification on the basis for eligibility for the proposed commission? And if it's limited to persons from Africa and the Caribbean, shouldn't that be spelled out with more precision?

Thirdly, the phrase 'citizens of the city' in the ordinance is unnecessarily murky. Does it mean to propose any resident of the City is eligible, or that those eligible must be US citizens. The word 'citizen' is not normally used in connection with one's residence in a given community. Would some clarity help?

Lastly, there is no mention of funding. While Ms. Njie said the group would look to grants to support its activities, she also left open the possibility such a commission would seek funding from the City. Shouldn't this be tightened up? We have a lot of experience in this community with folks coming hat in hand after the camel has got its nose under the tent (to mix a metaphor). Shouldn't everything be perfectly clear before the ordinance is enacted?

My suggestion is that the Council have a full discussion of these and any other issues this evening before any kind of a vote. And if the Council determines the ordinance needs amending for clarification's sake that they will table it and send it back to the Administration for fine-tuning.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Dems do double-dutch as campaigns kick off

Double Dutch is a team sport requiring fancy footwork.

Double Dutch jump rope may come to mind as Plainfield's Democratic campaigns this week kick off the final fall push toward the November general election.

Supporters of mayoral candidate Adrian Mapp will gather this afternoon at 5:00 PM at the home of Rick and Belinda Smiley to kick off the fall phase of the mayoral campaign.

Mapp, who won the June Democratic primary, will face off against Republican candidate Sandy Spector and two independent candidates, D. Scott Belin and Mustapha Muhammad.

On Thursday, District 22 Democrats will gather at the Italian-American Club in Scotch Plains from 6:00 to 8:00 PM to kick off the fall phase of the campaign for Sen. Nick Scutari and Assembly candidates Jerry Green and Linda Stender.

The event is open to all and will feature hot dogs and hamburgers in the classic political campaign fashion. Of course there will be speechifying and opportunities to sign up to volunteer and take lawn signs.

This year's calendar is also complicated by the special October 15 election to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg. That race pits Newark's mayor Cory Booker against Tea Party favorite and former Bogota mayor Steve Lonegan.

Summer's over, let's get to work!

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Memorial for Jane Kanter of Ars Musica Antiqua SUNDAY

Jane Kanter, right, with other members of
Ars Musica Antiqua at the Shakespeare Garden, 2000.

The group delighted arriving guests by playing
Renaissance music in period dress.

Plainfielders who remember when the community sported its very own Renaissance music ensemble, Ars Musica Antiqua, will have a chance to say good-bye to one of its founders in a SUNDAY memorial service (I mistakenly said it was Saturday; my apologies).

Jane Kanter, who with her late husband Walter, helped found the group, passed away recently at her daughter's in Sarasota, Florida. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 1:00 PM at Grace Episcopal Church, East 7th Street and Cleveland Avenue.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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PMUA Environmental Fair Saturday

The Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority's annual Enviromental Fair is slated for this Saturday, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Library Park.

Originally started as an environmental outreach event, in the early days the Fair featured demonstrations of technology used by the PMUA and improvements being made to the community's solid waste management systems.

Kids from the youngest ages were engaged with creating posters and other art works with an environmentally responsible theme and awards were given for winners of an essay contest.

Though there have always been kids entertainment, food and music, over the years the emphasis seems to have shifted to primarily being a giant outdoor (and very good!) barbecue, with the educational components considerably scaled down.

More's the pity, as I don't see a reason Plainfield's residents can't have both, considering the rates they pay.

At any rate, be sure to come out Saturday and check out this year's offerings. Rain date is Saturday, September 14.

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-- Dan Damon [follow

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Plainfield Symphony's 94th season kicks off with showcase gala

The Plainfield Symphony Orchestra in performance
at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church.
(Photo courtesy David Beverly)

The Plainfield Symphony kicks off its 94th annual season with a showcase gala at one of Plainfield's glittering mansions, the Watchung Avenue home of Liz Adam and Tom Crownover, on Saturday, September 28, from 7:00 PM to midnight.

The magnificent bluestone colonial at the corner of Cedar Brook Road will be opened to the Symphony's subscribers and guests with a buffet supper, open bar and musical interlude by members of the PSO.

Visitors will be able to see the magnificent grounds and gardens at the rear of the property which are not visible from the street.

The Plainfield Symphony's 94th season will bring a selection of four concerts plus a free family concert, capping the year in May with Mahler's magnificent 5th Symphony.

Tickets for the event are $125 per person and may be reserved (by September 20) by sending your check to: The Plainfield Symphony, P.O. Box 5093, Plainfield, NJ 07061 or by reserving online at plainfieldsymphony.org/events.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Barbara Sandford dies; Plainfield loses stalwart friend

Barbara Sandford (right), with friend and fellow
Plainfield Garden Club member Bernice Swain.

Plainfield has lost a devoted and stalwart friend in the passing of Barbara Sandford at her New Hampshire summer home on Labor Day.

Word came last night that Barbara passed peacefully after a glorious final summer at the Lake Wentworth home she loved.

I met her soon after moving to Plainfield in 1983 and felt immediately at home with her direct and no-nonsense approach to public issues -- especially the sense of pride she expected Plainfielders to take in their community and its appearance.

Nor was she concerned with the appearance of the business district and City Hall only. She introduced me to the Shakespeare Garden (one of a few worldwide) and the work of the ladies of the Plainfield Garden Club, who have tended it on the public's behalf for more than three-quarters of a century.

She was also a devout person of faith who lived out her Presbyterian convictions in as firm and generous way as she did her civic activities. In fact, her civic activities were just another way of expressing her faithfulness.

But she did much more and much of it discreetly, without fanfare or publicity.

When I was working in real estate, I was surprised one day to receive a call from Barbara asking if I could drop by her house to discuss an urgent but unspecified matter.

Puzzled, I met with her to learn that she wanted me to help her secretly pay off the mortgage of someone who had been something of a handyperson once and was now in danger of losing their home.

Though the amount was substantial, it was not huge. Her main worry was in offending the pride of the family she wished to help. After some finagling, and with the help of a friendly lawyer, we put together a transaction which saved the day. I never knew the family being helped and Barbara was adamant that she did not want anyone to know how it all had come about.

I thought of it as the sort of good work that John Calvin at his best encouraged, worthy yet self-effacing, characteristic of her deep faith (and of that of my own Puritan forebears).

When I had the temerity to try and compare her care for Plainfield to that of Eleanor Roosevelt, another woman of culture and means who devoted her life to others, Barbara said sharply, 'Dan, don't you ever compare me to that buck-toothed woman!'.

Even so, I think she was secretly pleased to be compared to such a respected figure -- even if she was the wife of a Democratic president, and Barbara was a staunch, lifelong Republican of a sort that is now dying out.

Barbara, we thank you for all you have done and for the inspiration you were to us all. We shall miss you, but you have set a standard for us to aspire to.

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MEMORIAL SERVICE
for
Barbara Sandford
Saturday, November 9,
Note change to: November 16
1:00 PM
Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield artist exhibits in Spain

The Costa Concordia ran aground within sight of the Italian shoreiine in 2012.

It's always great when a Plainfield artist does well, and this summer painter Maria Mijares was invited to show in a group exhibit at Galeria Siboney in Santander, Spain.

Maria, who is active in the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District, is renowned for her realist paintings of contemporary subjects. Her largest recent commission was a series of four murals in porcelain enamel on steel at NJT's Union City station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.

The two paintings selected for the Santander show are both of ships, the Costa Concordia and the SS United States.

The cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground within sight of the Itaian shoreline in January 2012, and was shown worldwide in news stories of the disaster, with the ship lying on her side in shallow water.

The SS United States, on which Mijares first sailed to Europe in 1953, is a majestic figure now docked in Philadelphia whose future is uncertain. Though she still holds the world's record for fastest Trans-Atlantic crossing, she no longer suits the style of ship that operators find profitable in today's culture, where one can almost forget one is even at sea.

The show runs through September 14, which means you have time yet -- providing you fly over.

Congratulations, Maria!

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Student recruits restaurants to feed homeless at YMCA

Plainfielder and Loyola U. student Jeanine Gill prepares to serve dinner.

As a summer volunteer at the Plainfield YMCA, Jeanine Gill took on a challenge: helping find new ways of feeding the homeless who are sheltered by the YMCA on a regular basis.

According to Ravenell Williams, the YMCA's executive director, the local facility regularly shelters upwards of 30 people who are temporarily homeless, with the number fluctuating on an almost daily basis.

Feeding these guests is usually done by volunteers from churches, sororities and other community groups, Williams said, but summer presents particular challenges with many folks away on vacation.

So, when Ms. Gill, a Plainfield native now studying at Loyola University, the Jesuit school in Baltimore, proposed recruiting the help of local restaurants, Williams encouraged her to go forward.

Gill was excited to get going and targeted a number of restaurants in Plainfield and surrounding communities. 'While most were eager to help,' she says, 'I did have to use a little persuasion with a couple of managers who thought it was an unusual request.'

When all was said and done, and Jeanine and her mom had gathered together the various offerings, a feast was spread out for the YMCA's guests this past Thursday evening.

'We had so much that there was enough left over for lunch the next day,' the beaming student said.

'Please make sure to thank all the restaurants and their managers for their gracious cooperation,' she added.

The following Plainfield restaurants contributed to the feast --

• Giovanna's
• Italian Village
• Pharaoh's Texas Weiners
• Rise and Shine

as well as The Stage House, Scotch Plains' landmark eatery, and Paulo's Barbecue of South Plainfield.

Thanks to all for a memorable meal!

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Sharon supporters show signs of shift

Muhammad signs are springing up in Ward 1...

...while Sharon's neighbors sport Campbell signs.

As Labor Day approaches, Plainfield's political sign wars are beginning to heat up.

The familiar blue and white signs for 'Scutari-Green-Stender' are seen throughout the city, often enough paired with green 'Barbara Buono' signs.

Most interesting though, is the shift taking place in neighborhoods that sported signs for Sharon Robinson-Briggs in the June Democratic primary.

In Ward 1, many of those who had supported Sharon are now sporting 'Mustapa Muhammad' signs, whose independent campaign headquarters is located on the corner of East Second Street and Netherwood Avenue.

In Robinson-Briggs' own neighborhood around Pemberton and Central Avenues, her Sharon signs have been replaced with those supporting young John Campbell, GOP candidate for Assembly.

No signs have been spotted yet for the second independent mayoral candidate, D. Scott Belin, nor any signs of a campaign headquarters (though some are expecting him to inherit the old Sharon HQ across from City Hall).

Enjoy the holiday weekend, then it's back to the wars.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Belvidere Avenue home badly damaged by fire

A vacant home on Belvidere Avenue was extensively damaged
in a fire Thursday night.

A vacant home in the 700-block of Belvidere Avenue in Plainfield's Netherwood Heights neighborhood was badly damaged by a fire on Thursday evening.

A neighbor and I were at a meeting when the neighbor received a phone call from yet another neighbor about 9:15 PM that a fire had broken out in the vacant home.

By the time we got there a few minutes later, the Plainfield Fire Division was busily extinguishing the flames. The police had barricaded both Belvidere and Berkeley Avenues, making for minor traffic jams on this quiet 'shortcut' street just blocks from the Netherwood Train Station.

The home has been vacant since it was damaged by Hurricane Irene in August, 2011, when a tree crashed into the roof causing the home to lose power and suffer water damage.

Since that time, the vacant home has become an eyesore greatly upsetting the neighbors in this quiet, well-maintained historic district.

There is no word yet about whether the fire is of suspicious origin, but a routine arson investigation will be conducted.

An insurance adjuster and home repair crews were on the scene already at 8:00 AM when I went by for a daylight photo.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Percy Fennell, owner of Plainfield KFCs, dies

Word came Thursday evening of the passing of Percy Fennell, owner of Plainfield's two KFC franchises, located on South Avenue and at West 7th Street and Clinton Avenue.

Percy was a longtime supporter of the Plainfield community and served for more than twenty years as a  member and board member of the Plainwood Square Merchants Association.

'We will all remember his wisdom and generosity,' said Donna Albanese of the Plainfield Dairy Queen and the Plainwood Square Merchants Association.

The viewing is this evening from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at the Damiano Funeral Home, 181 Franklin Avenue, Long Branch.

Friends and family will gather at Second Baptist Church of Long Branch at 9:00 AM on Saturday, August 31; the funeral service will be at 10:00 AM. Second Baptist Church is at 93 Liberty Street, Long Branch.

Condolences may be left on the Damiano Funeral Home website at damianofuneralhome.com/.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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65-foot PSEG poles reach Plainfield

New 65-foot poles are being placed along Clinton Avenue...

Standard pole behind officer's patrol car
is dwarfed by the newcomer which will eventually replace it.

PSEG's push to install new 65-foot telephone poles has finally reached Plainfield.

Over the past few weeks, the giant poles have begun a relentless march up Clinton Avenue and have now entered North Plainfield.

Crews have planted the new poles alongside the older, shorter ones and will eventually suspend the wires from the new taller poles and remove the old ones.

The taller poles, designed to carry PSEG's new 65 kilovolt service (an upgrade from the standard 26 kilovolt lines), have drawn considerable comment from some towns in northern New Jersey, especially Glen Rock and Ridgewood, where residents complained that the taller poles were being installed without prior notice. PSEG engineers responded that they had met with town officials months before and explained the power line enhancement program.

PSEG says that the newer configuration is needed because of heavier demand and for greater reliability. The taller poles, which have already been installed in some sixty New Jersey communities, will be protected from lightning strike by special 'shield wires' that would shunt lightning strikes and safely ground them. In addition, newer breakers are being installed that shut down power on a line as soon as a fault is detected.

Though some North Jersey homeowners complained of the smell of the new poles, PSEG engineers said they are treated with the same preservative as is used on lumber for building decks on homes and that the smell gradually dissipates.

Watching the work on Clinton Avenue, it occurs to me that having the wires moved out of the way of tree branches can only be a good thing when contemplating the damage that windstorms often do to Plainfield's older trees.

While the Robinson-Briggs administration has kept mum about whether it was informed of the PSEG program in advance, one can only wonder if we will begin to hear public comment at Council meetings once the program reaches other neighborhoods.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Giant sunflower spotted

Special care leads to special sunflowers...

I have always found sunflowers fascinating, from those grown yearly at Plainfield's Bethel Presbyterian Church's community garden at East 6th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, to the wild roadside beds that used to be visible along Inman Avenue in Edison.

But Tuesday, I was wowed by a yardful of giant sunflowers in front of a Clinton Avenue home. Tucked in a neat fenced-in yard, the towering giants had somehow magically escaped the predations of squirrels, who always broke the leaves off mine while climbing up them for the seeds.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Something new for Plainfield: Coping with success

Food, music and cerveza have brought tens of thousands of visitors
to Plainfield, and some conflict...

While listening to the squabbling at Plainfield City Council's special meeting Monday evening to (re)consider allowing Edison Garcia's Central American Independence Celebration festival to go forward, it occurred to me that everyone -- Council, merchants and public alike -- are learning to cope with an unusual situation for Plainfield: Success.

Some merchants and plenty of residents have complained about the sound levels of the amplified bands. Disinformation and misinformation has been spread about whether attendees are kept within a specific area while drinking cerveza (and the propriety of having children witness adults drinking beer). There are complaints that the food vendors are all from out of town (not so, others say).

One business owner's petition against allowing the festival is said to contain some fictitious names; others are said not to have known what they were signing. After a lengthy discussion at a SID (Special Improvement District) board meeting, the board adopted a resolution asking the Council to deny Garcia permission, suggesting a location away from the central business district. In the end, the Council agreed to grant permission for the Festival, with modified hours and a shutdown of amplified music at 9:00 PM (Storch and Williams were the only 'no' votes).

Some grumble that Garcia seems to have a special access that allows for circumventing the Council's decisions. Dottie Gutenkauf suggested to the Council that one problem was the inconsistencies in how it treats different instances coming before it, including allowing Rodney Maree's event longer hours.

Councilor Mapp argues (and no one disputes him) that the festivals have brought thousands of visitors to Plainfield's downtown. But there is no evidence that the influx has had any positive impact on the downtown businesses (aside from the two sponsors' bars: Faraone's and Chez Maree).

Not only do we have the festivals, now the City is bombarded with requests for street closures for everything from a bike show on Front Street and 'customer appreciation days' for Hugo's Lounge on Church Street, to another bike extravaganza on several blocks of North Avenue between Richmond and Berckman Streets, and at least two religious groups seeking encroachments or street closures.

The Robinson-Briggs administration has not even attempted to assess the situation, let alone offer guidelines for coping with the impact of the large-scale events. And just as nature abhors a vacuum, so the Council feels it must address the issues since it is caught in the crosshairs, though the issues are complex and not easily resolved around the Council table.

Everyone has some reason to complain, but no one seems to take into account that if the festivals (and the other events mentioned) were not so successful, there would be no reason to complain because they would have disappeared.

Perhaps Councilor Mapp has taken the best approach by recognizing that the influx of visitors is a good thing, not a bad thing.

Now, what needs to happen is for all the stakeholders to sit down and work out some measures that bring a measure of fairness and economic benefit to everyone. That is certainly within grasp, but it is clearly not within grasp of the Robinson-Briggs administration.

So, folks will have to be patient and look forward to a better response to the challenges and opportunities that success will present to a new Plainfield mayor come January 1.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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UEZ layoffs, Latino festival at tonight's special Council

Magic 8-ball having trouble?

Plainfield's City Council holds a special meeting at 7:00 PM tonight to consider (or is it reconsider?) two items: the UEZ layoffs plan and Edison Garcia's request for permission for (another) festival in City parking lots 8 and 8-A.

The Council has gotten itself in a bind over the UEZ business.

After Councilor Mapp pointed out that the UEZ funds on hand are not a 'grant', cannot be considered a 'grant' and should not be put on the books as if they were a 'grant', the Council previously removed the funds from being available as if they were grant funds.

That meant that the two UEZ positions, which the Robinson-Briggs administration had been funding with UEZ monies now had no funding since Robinson-Briggs did not include them in the regular budget.

The only recourse was to submit a layoff plan to the State and carry it out.

However, at last week's business session, with only five councilors in attendance, three (Brown, Greaves and Reid) voted against the layoff plan.

While it is possible that Councilors Brown and Greaves just didn't understand that funding can't just be wished into existence (notwithstanding Sharon's attempts to spend money she doesn't have), there is no excuse for Reid's vote since he has years of experience in public agency management and perfectly well understands the ins and outs of fiscal procedures.

With Councilors Storch and Rivers presumably back in the saddle again this evening, the outcome may be presumed to be different.

As for Mr. Garcia's request for another festival (his second this year), Bernice has aptly raised the question of whether the Council has thrown its own rules (45-day adance notice) out the window. Has Mr. Garcia gotten hold of some magic button to push?

It all unfolds at 7:00 PM tonight in the Library at City Hall.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Holy, flockin' flamingos!

Flamingos flockin'...

Flocks of flamingos have been spotted around Plainfield recently, and this one was seen in front of a Plainfield Today reader's home Saturday afternoon.

Someone having a birthday?

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Suddenly, a quiet summer weekend

The Shakespeare Garden can be an inspiration...

2013 has been one of the busiest Plainfield summers I can remember. However, with the cancellation of today's West 3rd Street community event and the Mayor's ill-timed, ill-planned event for Hannah Atkins Park, we are left with a quiet late-summer weekend.

I'm taking advantage with a lazy day, maybe out photographing with my new camera.

Tomorrow is Grace Church's annual Peach Festival and Carillon Concert at Noon.

The sun is out, enjoy!

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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