Memorial Day Message: Veterans, Unite

Naming myriad veterans’ organizations, Frank E. Coit said Monday the time has come for all to unite.

Coit, a past commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, spoke at Memorial Day services held on the steps of City Hall and at the monument on its grounds.

He thanked World War II and Korean veterans “for carrying the banner this far” and called on Vietnam veterans and others to “step up to the plate” in a unified effort for veterans’ causes. Coit thanked Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs for including space for the Plainfield Veterans Alliance in the new senior center building.

At the state and national levels, Coit said commanders of veterans’ organizations must work for unity. He said former Governor James E. McGreevey had called a meeting of all state commanders during his term, but he said nothing has been done since. Under the Bush administration, he said, veterans’ benefits have decreased.

“Where is the voice of our national veteran organizations commanders?” he asked.

In her remarks, Robinson-Briggs endorsed the call for unity, noting her motto for the city is “Growth by Unity.” She thanked the veterans for protecting a nation that has not always been supportive of them and said of those serving in the Middle East now, “It’s time to bring them home.”

The program began with a color guard from Plainfield High School’s Junior ROTC and Lisa S. Dixon, Commander of American Legion Post 219, was mistress of ceremonies. Her father, Rev. Robert Dixon, chaplain of Post 219, gave the invocation. A wreath was placed at the monument on City Hall grounds and veterans from American Legion Post 219 and VFW Post 7474 fired a salute.

After the program, Robinson-Briggs gave out flags for cars and flag lapel pins to those who attended.

--Bernice Paglia

Memorial Day Thoughts

Plaintalker was unable to find information on Memorial Day observances in Plainfield, but most likely there will be a ceremony at the War Memorial.

The sacrifices of military men and women are marked by plaques in City Hall and a monument on the grounds of City Hall, in addition to the War Memorial. A gathering place for veterans is promised in the new building going up at 400 East Front Street. In November and May, we gather to honor all who have served their country.

It would have been nice to have some notice of local ceremonies on the city web site, but nothing appeared to be posted for today except an erroneous listing for a City Council meeting.

So wherever you are today, give some thought to those, past and present, who made the ultimate sacrifice and to the many new survivors who face long years of care for war injuries. Each war is terrible in its own way. The present conflict has produced a generation of veterans with unforeseen needs, both mental and physical, that society must address, because despite the prophecy on the War Memorial, swords have yet to be beaten into plowshares and our leaders continue to "study war."

--Bernice Paglia

More on Public Intoxication

On Saturday, groups of men were once again drinking in Municipal Lot 7. We did not want to call the police, in part because of the Muhlenberg situation. By day's end, one person had passed out on the curb that is the favorite gathering spot. Another man could be seen staggering down the driveway toward Park Avenue.

When that person passed out right in the driveway, we had to call the police. A car started to pull in, then backed out when the driver saw the body blocking the road.

Soon the police and the Rescue Squad arrived to deal with the situation. Both men were placed in the ambulance.

Most likely neither the Rescue Squad nor the hospital will receive any compensation for their services. Just as we all are becoming acutely aware of increases in fuel and food costs, we also know there is not enough health care to go around. Might there be some way to reduce this particular public health issue?

A woman who worked at Muhlenberg was observing the incident and recalled the numerous, almost daily calls to pick up one person who habitually drank himself into a stupor in the Park & Seventh neighborhood. He eventually died in a hit-and-run accident at Park & Seventh. The guy in the driveway is well-known to residents of Block 832 as having a similar problem and may also come to a bad end, but not before running up a large tab for emergency health care. There must be a better way to help both the individuals and the services burdened by their behavior.

--Bernice Paglia

A New Look for the Annex

What a nice surprise to walk down Watchung Avenue and come upon this makeover of the front of the City Hall Annex!

The large pots hold one of my fave plants, Wave petunias, that should bubble up into cascades of flowers (unless folks sit on them, as people do on the pots at Park & Seventh). The intent is very good and let's hope people honor it. This beautification effort fits in with the "pride of place" concept that at least one Plaintalker reader would like to revive.

As time and shoeleather allow, Plaintalker hopes to document more pretty sights created by public and private property owners around the city. Suggestions are welcome.

--Bernice Paglia

Shooting "The Messenger"

Woody Harrelson, seen here on Crescent Avenue, is starring in "The Messenger," an independent film that tells the story of one American soldier. Shooting took place Thursday (May 22, 2008) at Viola's Place and Columbia Apartments.

Harrelson takes a lunch break on the front stoop of Viola's Place. The City Council granted permission for a cast and crew of about 85 people to use the East Seventh Street and Crescent locations.

This car, with a camera in the back and two soldiers in the front seat, made numerous passes in the driveway next to my building. The weather changed practically minute by minute from rain to clouds to bright sun, making me wonder how the scenes would be put together.

The normally tidy Connolly property was deliberately strewn with papers, presumably for that untidy "urban" effect.

The crew pitched a tent and gathered behind one Connolly garage, seen here with my rather overgrown iris garden in the foreground.

A friendly crew member smiles at this blogger/gawker while awaiting the cast.

The War Memorial makes a fitting landmark for the film location. The soldier's tale also stars Ben Foster and Samantha Morton and marks the directorial debut of Oren Moverman, who co-wrote "I'm Not There," the Bob Dylan biopic.

Block 832 was jammed with special equipment for the filming. Tents, trucks, cables and carts of stuff were all over the place. There was an impressive stand with big jars of candy and snacks behind Viola's Place and a food truck nearby at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church. City police kept everything calm and orderly. Now we can't wait to see the movie!

--Bernice Paglia

Tennis Program Questioned

United States Tennis Association Hall of Famer Donald Van Blake speaks of tennis as the great equalizer, but on Tuesday his longtime friend and fellow tennis advocate Curtiss Brown told the school board pricey lessons at a district-owned court are depriving city youth of opportunities to learn the game.

At the Randolph Road courts named in honor of Van Blake, the Plainfield Tennis Council conducts tournaments and lessons, according to online information. Click here to see the hourly rates for lessons, which run as high as $85 for junior players.Young said “outside kids” who can pay for lessons are using the courts, while not enough Plainfield youths are involved.

Board attorney Raymond Hamlin told the board a contract with the Tennis Council had expired and he is in talks with the group’s attorney to develop a new contract.

Board member Wilma Campbell asked whether private entities were “capitalizing” on use of the facility and called for a moratorium at the courts “until such time as Plainfield children can benefit.”

Board member Patricia Barksdale questioned who made the contract with private entities. Campbell said the arrangement dated back to 2001.

The board unanimously agreed that the program should be suspended until the issues are resolved.

--Bernice Paglia

More Twists in Muhlenberg Saga

When it comes to the very emotional topic of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center’s future, recent news stories have only added to the confusion.

This writer cringed at the “sub-hed” on a front page story Tuesday in the Courier News. The headline was, “Muhlenberg to stay open?” and below that, “Solaris offers proposal to keep hospital running.”

This was a perfect example of a process that has plagued both writers and readers over the years. A reporter submits a story to an editor, who reviews it and then passes it along to the copy desk for further review and headlines. Having been a reporter for 16 years, I have seen many a faulty headline. The one cited above was not supported by the story and gave a very incorrect impression. It may have been based on the lead paragraph, which said Solaris Health System “might” be willing to negotiate a price for keeping Muhlenberg’s acute-care facility open. But the writer was not even quoting anybody from Solaris, merely alluding to remarks by Assemblyman Jerry Green.

The story first appeared online early Monday evening, with a longer print version Tuesday that included a disclaimer from Solaris that no suitable buyer has bee identified and that the hospital’s closure was still planned. That information was left off the online version until later on Tuesday.

The newsgathering process is not perfect and any sharp-eyed reader could have concluded that there was a mismatch between the story and the headlines, but the possible confusion is very unfortunate in the current climate of hopes and fears over Muhlenberg.

Solaris took out an advertisement covering two full pages Wednesday, reiterating its stand as explained at an April 21 City Council meeting.

Meanwhile, City Council candidate Olive Lynch had another letter to the editor that, among other things, described the possibility of a “multi-town hospital authority” to take charge of Muhlenberg. Backers of Lynch’s campaign to save Muhlenberg are hoping to stave off a June closing of the hospital while arranging to buy the hospital.

The thought of establishing a multi-town authority brought to mind the process by which another authority came into being. It wasn’t for health care, but for a vital sewer service serving about a dozen towns. The conversion of the Plainfield Joint Meeting to the Plainfield Area Regional Sewerage Authority involved getting all governing bodies to sign off on the plan. It took eight years and 17 lawyers to make the change.

Many of the surrounding municipalities have passed resolutions in favor of saving Muhlenberg, but that is the easy part. The implementation is likely to require a similar number of years and lawyers.

Reporter Brandon Lausch has a Courier News story today on Wednesday’s introduction of a developer who has yet another plan for Muhlenberg. Meanwhile, I’m told state officials have been visiting the hospital, and protesters are calling for a probe of Solaris fiscal policies.

The next thing on the horizon is a second hearing to be conducted June 5 by the State Health Planning Board. The two-hour session will begin at 6 p.m. in the Plainfield High School auditorium. At the first one on May 6, more than 1,000 people attended. About 30 people spoke. Written comments were also taken.

Even if each person sticks strictly to the three-minute limit and there are no interruptions for outbursts by the audience, only another 40 people will be able to speak. Central Jersey residents are also urged to contact elected officials to seek support for keeping the hospital’s acute care facility open. The certificate of need for the closing may be approved next month and hospital employees report that the change is already well underway.

Plaintalker’s view is that the problem lies with the larger issue of health care delivery statewide. Click here to see a file of previous Plaintalker posts on the proposed closing of Muhlenberg.

--Bernice Paglia

Add Squatters to Park & 7th Woes

Police and public safety officials have confirmed that a vacant office building at Park & Seventh has squatters living inside. My neighbor and I suspected as much when we learned that people were seen going down a stairwell to an unsecured door.

But this is a two-part problem. The other issue is for Code Enforcement to get the owner, a Hillsborough resident, to secure the building. Given this owner's conduct at a North Avenue building he owns, compliance will not come easy.

Why are we so worried about squatters? Granted, homeless people need a place to stay out of the weather, but their neediness raises questions about how they meet their daily needs for food, sanitation, clothing, money and more.

I am especially concerned because the building is next to my church. Might these needy ones see nearby buildings as places to exploit for computers and other items to exchange for money?

I hope Code Enforcement will check this situation and get the owner to make the building secure. And I hope that those who may have been staying in that basement will seek alternatives to such precarious living arrangements.

As with the Muhlenberg situation of not having any provisions for the profoundly poor needing medical care, this case points up the homeless situation that we do not want to recognize in the "Queen City."

In walking my block daily, I see my neighbors who lack even my meager resources as a retiree. I wonder, how do they get along?

Can we take care of our own?

Give it your best thoughts and ideas, because in coming days, it may just get worse.

--Bernice Paglia