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Mother's Day 1962: Donald J. Trump gives his mother a Whitman's Sampler from which he has artfully removed the best pieces. |
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
¡FELIZ DIA DE LOS MADRES!
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Mother's Day Greetings
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
¡FELIZ DIA DE LOS MADRES!
Friday, May 12, 2017
This weekend: Breakfast with the Mayor at Adrian's Restaurant; Postal workers food drive
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Mayor Mpp with young participants in last weekend's NJ State Bicycle Championship Races. |
BREAKFAST AT ADRIAN'S
Friends of Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp are hosting a fundraising breakfast at Adrian's Restaurant, 1108 East Second Street (at Netherwood Avenue).
This is a low-key, casual affair for friends, supporters and family. The restaurant is also one of Plainfield's favorite caterers.
The suggested donation is $20/person. Breakfast will be served from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
For more information, contact Miguel Edghill (908) 922-0143, Trevor Barrow (908) 842-4950, or Adrian's Restaurant (908) 754-8532. Make up a table and come on down!
POSTAL WORKERS FOOD DRIVE
Also on Saturday (May 13), Plainfield postal workers will be taking part in the 25th annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive.
Residents are asked to put out canned or dry foods in a sturdy paper or plastic bag near their mailbox before the mail carrier's usual delivery time. Canned goods of all kinds are welcome as well as dry food such as pasta, cereals, rice, beans, etc. Carriers will pick up the donations as they make their rounds.
All donations will be given to a local food bank.
We should remember that hunger in America takes no vacation -- it is a year-round phenomenon that affects millions -- especially children, the elderly and veterans.
Since the first food drive in 1993, letter carriers have collected more than 1.5 billion pounds of food. Every contribution helps.
And take a moment to thank your letter carrier.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Longtime Nation of Islam activist endorses Tracey Brown
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| Endorsement of Brown appeared on Muhammad's Facebook page Tuesday, May 9. |
Muhammad ran against Mayor Mapp in the 2013 mayoral race, along with D. Scott Belin, and Republican candidate Sandy Spector. In that race, Muhammad and Belin ran as independents, filing their petitions on Primary Election Day in June.
The results in that 2013 general election were: Mapp - 5,234; Muhammad - 1,061; Belin - 392; and Spector - 765.
At the same time, it should be noted that Plainfield politics watchers have been expecting Muhammad to file once again on Primary Day and run in the fall election as an independent.
But the clever Muhammad may be hedging his bets. Urging his supporters to back Tracey Brown in the Primary would give him leverage with Brown for political appointment or favors if she wins in her long-shot bid.
On the other hand, his endorsement of Brown now could lead to her endorsement of him in the November election if she loses the primary, as is expected.
All this is a little more sophisticated than we normally see in Plainfield politics.
The Democratic Primary Election is on Tuesday, June 6. The polls are open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Many voters have already made arrangements to cast their ballots early.
Van Wyck Brooks Historic District sponsors Drag Queen Bingo this Saturday
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It will be a fund evening in the Queen City. |
This Saturday (May 13), VWB offers for the community's enjoyment an evening of "Drag Queen Bingo" at the duCret School of Art.
I had never heard of such a thing (having moved here from NYC 34 years ago), so two members took turns explaining the concept to me.
It is a real evening of bingo. But the twist is that the Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening is a drag queen -- in this case a NYC drag queen, Trina Tabloid (see her Facebook page here).
Guests may come in drag, or not, as they wish. The whole is a fab fun evening of letting your hair down and adult fun and humor (leave the kids at home).
Bingo will be played with real bingo cards and counters. The prizes will be gag items and trinkets of no commercial value. (The point is having fun.)
The Van Wyck Brooks HD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its members are stewards of the neighborhood and work to maintain the charm and character of the neighborhood.
Drag Queen Bingo is a fundraiser for the District. Suggested donation is $35/person. VIP tables for 8, 4 and 2 may be reserved by contacting webmaster@vwbhd.com for prices/availability.
More information is available on the VWB website here; as well as a link to PayPal to make your payment.
The Saturday evening event is from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at the duCret School of Art, 1030 Central Avenue (across from Cedarbrook School). Drive to the rear of the complex and park in the spacious lt at the back. Entry to the auditorium is directly from the parking lot.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Council adopts $83M 2017 budget, Rivers and Toliver soggy "fireworks" fail to ignite
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Rivers' soggy fireworks let her down Monday night. |
The 2017 budget was amended to take into account $424,000 in grants that will be coming in during the rest of the year. The amendment passed 5-2 (with Councilors Rivers and Toliver being the 'no' votes). Rivers felt constrained to explain that she was going to vote 'no' on the budget as there was "too much money in a slush fund".
As expected, the amended budget was then passed by an expected 5-2 vote (Rivers and Toliver again).
At this point, with the budget adopted and opportunity to question it past, Toliver said she had a question about the budget. Council President politely told her the time for questions was before the vote, and that the meeting would continue with the agenda and Toliver could ask her question at the end. Which she did, after Rivers got apologies from a couple of councilors who spoke out of turn.
Toliver and Rivers objected to a raise for the Superintendent of Park & Recreation and asked for an explanation.
City Administrator Rick Smiley explained that since the Senior program and the Municipal Alliance were now under Parks & Recreation, the salary increase was to compensate the Superintendent for the extra oversight responsibilities.
After some back-and-forth, Toliver said To Smiley, "That's not good enough! ... That's not acceptable!"
Rivers wanted to know when the supervision of the Senior program had been given to Parks & Recreation. "Over a year ago," Smiley said.
Council President Williams tried to move the meeting forward, but Rivers resisted, talking over the chair, over the gavel, and making quite a scene (catch in on PCTV), during which Williams called for a motion to adjourn, got it, conducted a voice vote -- all the while with Rivers loudly blathering.
With that, Rivers' soggy fireworks failed to light and we got safely through the last Council meeting before the June primary election.
Monday, May 8, 2017
FOSH Garage Sale registration closes Wednesday
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Mugs appropriate as gifts for President Trump... if you're so inclined. |
The annual event is FOSH's big fundraiser, and proceeds are used to fund scholarships for local Plainfield students as well as various animal initiatives in Plainfield and surrounding communities. (FOSH is the sponsor of the annual Blessing of the Animals at Leland Avenue Park.)
The registration forms are available here. You can pay via PayPal via the link at the bottom of the FOSH home page here. Be sure to list some categories for your merchandise, to be included on the map showing garage sale participants.
For more information, email fosh@foshnj.com, or call Shannon Pacheco at (917) 204-2112.
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Adoption of Plainfield's 2017 budget is on Monday's agenda
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Magic 8 Ball declines to help. |
It appeared on last week's agenda-setting session as a reserved space.
When Councilor Rivers asked what that meant, Council President Williams explained that the Finance Committee was to meet on Wednesday (May 3), and if there were no amendments to be suggested as a result of the CBAC report, it would go on the May 8 for adoption.
The Citizens Budget Advisory Committee's very thorough report, made verbally to the Council last Monday, is now available on the city's website (see here).
With only a handful of resolutions not on the consent agenda, a short meeting is suggested. However, this is the "silly season" and there is no knowing what will come up during the meeting.
I'll be consulting my Magic 8 Ball.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
State wants to demolish Woodland School, replace it
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New school would be where playing fields are now, at left of triangular property. |
It seems that the school district was not contacted by the State and knows nothing of the plans.
Scott Bey said that he is asking for a copy of its long-range facilities plan for the site. There should be one either from the District or the state, covering such topics a student population projections and whether neighborhood boundaries need to be adjusted.
If the school district knows nothing of the proposal, it is going to be interesting to see this project unfold.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Remembering Barbara Ballard, Plainfield radio personality, Chamber of Commerce executive, organizer and volunteer
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Barbara was always ready to offer a toast. |
The word came from her longtime friend and another former Plainfield activist, Nellie Dixon, who now enjoys being within walking distance of the beach in North Carolina.
Barbara passed away in Del Mar, CA, where she had moved in 2014 to be with her daughter Kim.
I first met Barbara in 1986 when she presented herself in my office at the Plainfield Public Library. She noted that my job involved outreach and community programming for the Library and she wanted to recruit me to work on a project tentatively called "New Audiences for Plainfield".
AT&T was sponsoring an arts grant competition and Barbara thought we could put together a winning proposal for Plainfield. I signed on then and there.
There were eight or ten of us, including Barbara, Nellie Dixon, Vicky Griswold (who owns the Plainfield Music Store), Barbara Fuller (then with Union County's arts division), and Helen Rodriguez and Amelia Andrade, who had built up a Hispanic dance troupe based on local young people, Ballet Folklorico Sentir Criollo.
To our amazement, we not only won a grant, it was the largest amount awarded ($10,000 which was real money in those days).
We were able to find a marvelous consultant -- Andrea Olin Gomes -- who shepherded us through a regimen that included tracking down and interviewing every artist, musician and arts group in the community. Once the interview were complete, we compiled a strengths-and-weaknesses analysis that helped us build an action plan (New Audiences for Plainfield) that had the buy-in of the arts community, but unfortunately not the political leadership.
Throughout this time, Barbara was the President and CEO of the Central Jersey Chamber of Commerce, one of the state's oldest.
The CJCC sponsored two other annual events that drew big crowds to Plainfield. At Christmas time, there was always a big festival of decorated holiday trees. These were quite spectacular and for several years were shown at the Questover mansion on Central Avenue.
The other was the outdoor Summer Festival of Art, begun in the 1960s, with parters tht included duCret School of Art and Swain Galleries. At my first visit to the Plainfield show in 1984, I met an artist I had known from the famous Promenade Art Show in Brooklyn Heights (where I lived before moving to Plainfield).
Alas, the times they were a'changin... The Chamber of Commerce dwindled. Radio state WERA, where Barbara was an on-air personality, was squeezed as so many small local station were by limitations on their power, range and hours.
In fact, Barbara was interviewing me about the New Audiences project when the plug was pulled.
But Barbara's incomparable networking skills came to the rescue and she went to work for former US Representative Bob Franks with his Healthcare Institute of New Jersey.
We had some great times, and some tough times. Through them all Barbara was upbeat and resourceful.
Her loss really does bring a whole era in the Queen City's history to a close.
We will miss you Barbara! But I will catch up to you for that cup of coffee yet!
VISITATION
Family and friends will gather at McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, this Sunday afternoon (May 7) from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. You may read the obituary online here. Donations may be made in her memory to the Girl Scouts, an organization of which Barbara was a longtime supporter.
The Funeral Home is at 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield (near the Borough Hall complex).
NJ State Bicycling Championships return to Plainfield for second year
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2016 NJ State Bicycling Champions are acknowledged in front of City Hall. |
Among the featured professional cyclists will be State Champion (and Plainfield resident) Juan Pablo Jiminez, three-time Olympian Bobby Lea, and Women's World Champion Kim Geist.
Start and finish lines for the races are at Plainfield City Hall, 515 Watchung Avenue. The course is 1.1 miles long, flat with four corners (all left hand turns).
General registration starts at 8:00 AM. (Registration for the youth races starts at 12:30 PM.) Complete details on the different races, the race schedule and fees are online at the BikeReg website here, where you may also register online. If you are a USA Cycling athlete, please note the restrictions on the website. There will be podium presentations after each race -- be sure to bring your camera or cellphone for pictures.
There are two specialty races that will be of interest. The elite, or highest level cyclists, will be doing 25 laps of the course with their race starting at 1:00 p.m. At Noon, there will also be a public safety challenge race, which will include Plainfield police and firefighters and other area public safety squads.
This year's event is being enhanced by the addition of "Taste of Plainfield", an all-day al fresco food festival showcasing the many cuisines of Plainfield. This open-air event will take place in the block of East 5th Street adjacent to City Hall, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
As with last year, Champion bicyclist Greg Cordasco's Liberty Bike Shop is organizing a bike giveaway for youngsters. "Every child that participates in the races will receive a bicycle," Cordasco says, "and this year we expect to gift 100 bicycles."
The Recreation Division will provide family friendly activities throughout the day for young children, also on the grounds of City Hall.
Sunday's weather is expected to be cloudy and a little on the cool side (high of 60º), with a very slight chance of showers -- perfect race weather!
By arrangement with Union County College, free event parking will be available in the college's parking lots. The college is at 232 East Second Street (corner of Church Street). The main lot is off Church Street, immediately behind the main building. There is a second lot at Roosevelt Avenue and East 3rd Street, a short block from the campus building. Both lots are only a couple of blocks from City Hall.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Rivers, Toliver flog dead horses at Council agenda session
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Under Mayor Mapp, "just and capable" have improved markedly. |
The first hour was filled with committee reports and the presentation and discussion of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee's report and recommendations.
Councilors Bridget Rivers and Diane Toliver took the opportunity to flog a couple of dead horses.
During the budget discussion, Rivers noted that the Recreation Division's summer programs for young people budgeted for 50 youngsters. Rivers held forth at length on the large number of youngsters needing the program ("and I get the phone calls", she said).
Her little speeches ignore incovenient things like the facts: for instance, that in 2015 only 23 youngsters citywide signed up for the summer program (amd Rivers chaired the Council's recreation committee at the time).
Councilor Toliver obsessed on the repairs to the main fire house on Central Avenue. Eventually, she got Director of Administration and Finance Ron West and Public Safety Director Carl Riley to the table.
West politely explained to Toliver (for the umpteenth time) that there was a request for $50,000 for a feasibility study, and that $160,000 for repairs was on hand.
Toliver continued, her pitch and volume rising (indications she was about to lose control). Director Riley stepped to the table to reassure Toliver the project was under way.
I'll have more on the meeting once the CBAC report is available on the city website.
Council's business meeting is next Monday, May 8, at 8:00 PM in the Courthouse / Council Chambers, East 4th Street and Watchung Avenue.
Just too pooped to type tonight, check back tomorrow
Just too pooped to type tonight, check back tomorrow.
Monday, May 1, 2017
CBAC to make budget suggestions at Monday's Council meeting
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The CBAC will make budget suggestions tonight. |
The Citizens Budget Advisory Committee is slated to make its recommendations on Plainfield's CY2017 proposed budget at Monday's agenda-setting session.
The agenda has a slot reserved for "possible adoption of the 2017 budget", which suggests that the budget is likely to be adopted at the May 8 business session.
Though it will be passed in good time, it is not the earliest Plainfield has adopted a budget (that was under Mayor Al McWilliams, when the city was on a July 1-June 30 fiscal year and adopted a budget on September 21 -- just 11 weeks into that fiscal year.
At any rate, the budget will be passed well before those annoying (and potentially embarrassing) letters start arriving from the State demanding that action be taken.
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Plainfield artist, designer featured at "Mansion in May' showcase in Morristown
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Alnwick (The Abbey) on Madison Avenue is the site of this year's "Mansion in May" showcase. |
The showcase is a fundraiser for Morristown Medical Center and is organized by their Women's auxiliary.
The mansion -- originally known as Alnwick, and subsequently "The Abbey" -- sits along the mansion row on Madison Avenue between Morristown and Madison.
Sixty-four top designers from around the region have renovated and decorated 41 spaces in the 20,000 square foot mansion and 17 landscapes on the spacious property. Over 1,300 volunteers will staff the showcase during May.
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"Along the Passaic II", painted in the Great Swamp, is among the works of Heydt being exhibited. |
Heydt, Santoriello and Studio 7 are in space #13 on the second floor, where 17 of Gerry's works are featured. Gerry's website is here, where she displays a variety of her works; Studio 7's website is here, where you can see more of Gerry's work. Plainfield Restoration and Reproduction's website is here (you may want to check Bill's Angie's List rating here).
The "Mansion in May" showcase is open 10 Am - 3 PM every day through the month of May. Tickets may be bought online here ($40/person if bought in April; $50 if bought in May). The showcase website also has useful information on offsite parking, as well as on the work of the Women's Association.
Friday, April 28, 2017
(2017 Dem Primary) Hockaday event rocks Ward 4
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Hockaday event Thursday rocks Ward 4. |
The home, where Hockaday has lived since 2001, is a warm and inviting presence in the heart of the 4th Ward for supporters of the Democratic nominee.
Attendees got to hear from the Mapp team -- Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, who is seeking re-election; Hockaday, and Joylette Mills-Ransome who is running for the Wards 2/3 at-large seat -- talking about the progress Plainfield has made under Mapp's leadership and the need to keep moving Plainfield forward.
Hockaday told of encounters with residents who shared with him surprising things they are doing in their neighborhoods. One story was told of a resident telling a canvasser how happy they were to see them, saying "No one ever comes over here (meaning the 4th Ward)."
Emcee for the evening was Hockaday's campaign manager, Derel Stroud, who noted he was using his "indoor voice" for the event.
Also on hand and making brief remarks were Wards 1/4 at large Councilor Barry Goode; Citywide at-large councilor (and Council President) Rebecca Williams and Ward 3 councilor Charles McRae.
Hockaday drew the program to a close with a call to "Vote Column A all the way ... to Hockaday" -- bringing laughs from those present.
Attendees were reminded of opportunities to help the candidate by walking with him door-to-door and spending time at headquarters making phone calls to neighbors.
Plainfield's Democratic headquarters is at 31 Watchung Avenue (next to Antojito's restaurant). The phone number is (908) 561-5038. Headquarters is open daily from Noon to 8:00 PM (Sunday opening is 1:00).
Thursday, April 27, 2017
(2017 Dem Primary) Brown opens Headquarters. Why does that address ring a bell?
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Brown's campaign headquarters suggests Malcolm Dunn is a backer. |
The 1920s-era red brick building includes office in the front and a still indoor parking ramp in the back.
Signs in the window indicate the building houses the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce, the SID office, SCORE (a nonprofit aiding businesses) and a Small Business Development outpost.
The building has for decades been under the control (one way or another) of former Councilor Malcolm Dunn. May we guess that Mr. Dunn is supporting Tracey Brown in the upcoming primary?
Those with really long memories will recall that the building became an embarrassment to Dunn, who was sitting on the Council at the time, when a review of tax records during the term of Mayor Al McWilliams revealed that Dunn owed more than $40,000 in back taxes and prior city administrations had done nothing to collect on them. After that news flash, the taxes were paid up.
Resident Alan Goldstein put Dunn's son Jeffrey through the ringer over a jobs program that was questioned about its record and evidently exorbitant rents for programs housed on site that were funded from grants.
We should not forget that Dunn, as a newly appointed PMUA commissioner, engineered the wrecking of severance negotiations for former PMUA Executive Director Eric Watson and his deputy David Ervin. As a result, the PMUA board settled with Watson and Ervin in 2011 for $1.2 million (see my post here).
At the time, Tracey Brown sat as a commissioner of the PMUA. Though she carefully avoided participating in the milion-dollar-giveaway, Brown did suggest that the way to clean up the resulting fiscal mess for the agency was to furlough its workers to pay for the cost of the settlement (see the last page of February 9, 2012 PMUA minutes here).
After all this, Brown revised her PMUA history (see my post on that here).
So now we have Mr. Dunn aiding Brown's campaign through renting her office space. If indeed there is a rental agreement and Brown actually pays anything. Dunn could give it as an in-kind gift if it meets the ELEC rules, but Brown would have to declare the gift or show rent paid on her ELEC reports. Which I'm sure we won't see until after the vote is over -- if then.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Plainfield Symphony wraps up 97th season with Ravel
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Maurice Ravel. Would you have guessed he was a perfectionist -- and probably gay? |
The Plainfield Symphony's music director Charles Prince leads the orchestra in closing out its 97th season this Saturday (April 29) with a program focused on French composer Maurice Ravel.
Three Ravel masterpieces are on the menu -- the 'Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 2', 'le Tombeau de Couperin' (his homage to that famed Baroque composer), and the mesmerizing 'Bolero'.
Helen Shen, YPCNJ gold medal winner, rounds out the program with a performance of Chopin's 'Piano Concerto No. 2 in f minor'.
Immediately following the concert, Peter and Libby Price will be honored at the Conductor's Circle after party at the home of Vickie White and Michel McCarthy at 1440 Prospect Avenue. Tickets to the after party are $50/person, payable at the door.
The concert is a 7:00 PM at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue. Tickets are $25/person at the door. Parking in the church lot on First Place, on the street, or in the Swain Galleries lot.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
DuCret Annual Spring Student Show and Sale Friday
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The duCret School of Art is housed in a distinguished Plainfield mansion. |
Members of the public who attended Monday evening's Planning Board hearing on the draft Muhlenberg Redevelopment Plan got a sneak peak at some of the student pieces for Friday's event.
Many students make the first commercial sale of their art careers at these student shows, so there is always an air of excitement as the budding artists show their work.
Students work in a variety of media, including oil, acrylic, and mixed media; digital art, ceramics, jewelry and sculpture. Juried winners will be announced and their works highlighted.
Among the new twist this year: a raffle of an original painting from the 'duCret Collection' (raffle proceeds will benefit the Ceramics Department), a live jazz band, cash bar and "tasty bites". Table will be available for seating.
The event runs from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM in the Auditorium at the rear of the complex. Parking and entry from the rear parking lot. duCret School of Art is at 1030 Central Avenue (across from Cedar Brook School)
For more information, visit the school's website here, or call (908) 757-7171.
Monday, April 24, 2017
(2017 Dem Primary) Did Tracey Brown break the law by not reporting 2016 billboard?
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A billboard in support of Tracey Brown from last year's Dem primary. She has never reported it on her campaign statements. |
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The required "paid for" declaration says the billboard was paid for by Tracey Brown's campaign. What gives? (click image to enlarge) |
Did Tracey Brown break the law by not reporting a billboard used in her 2016 campaign to ELEC?
New Jersey has some of the strictest requirements for reporting political campaign expenses and contributions in the country. And considerable fines when candidates or their proxies fail to abide by the rules -- which include not only truthfulness, but timeliness in making the required reports.
I noted during the 2016 Democratic primary -- in which Councilor Brown ran against Coundilor Williams for the citywide at-large Dem nomination -- that Tracey had a large billboard atop the store at the southeast corner of East Front Street and Watchung Avenue (see above).
I kept waiting as her ELEC reports dribbled in to see the disbursements for billboard design, production and space rental. The total for a month's exposure could come to as much as $2,500 (or more, depending on the designer's fee).
Nothing ever came through.
I checked all Tracey's 2016 filings again over this past weekend. Nada. She was quite scrupulous about reporting expenses -- except for the billboard and a number of mailings (at at least $3,400 each).
So, we have a mystery. Did Tracey fully and completely declare all her campaign donations and expenses?
Even if the billboard and some of the mailings were paid for by a donor or donors, Tracey was required by ELEC to report those items as in-kind contributions, whe she evidently did not.
Right away, we are starting off the campaign season with a trust issue.
Has Tracey Brown knowingly misled not only the ELEC officials, but her supporters and the community at large.
Trust is what makes it all work. Can Tracey Brown be trusted?
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Revised draft Muhlenberg Redevelopment Plan to be taken up Monday
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The striped area is the subject of the proposed Muhlenberg Redevelopment Plan. |
There are TWO versions of the draft plan online. The first (see here) is numbered 033117; the revised draft (see here) is numbered 042417.
Bernice has done an excellent job comparing the two (see her post here), noting several items to which attention should be paid.
Though questions about the housing component have dominated public discussion so far, attendees should note there are other issues of importance.
Monday's meeting is a Planning Board meeting to discuss the draft redevelopment plan. The developer will not be present. The Planning Board must adopt a redevelopment plan for the former hospital campus in order for the project to advance.
The public will have opportunity to ask questions and express concerns.
duCret School of Art is at 1038 Central Avenue, across the street from the Cedarbrook School. Follow the drive around to the rear of the complex. Parking is in the rear lot, with direct entrance from the lot into the Auditorium.
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