On Saturday, August 29, 2015, I attended the grand opening of the Sri Sri Krishna Temple and Cultural Center at 1020 West 7th Street.  There was a beautiful festival named the Balarama Purnima .  Plainfield is rich in culture and diversity and is something we should all celebrate.  I welcome the  Krishna Temple and Cultural Center to the Plainfield community. I am proud to carry on Plainfield's rich tradition of embracing diversity in all its forms.

 

Abraham Ramos and Maria Ramos, owners of Mi Buenaventura Restaurant, Inc., first opened their doors in 1986. Maria used to sell Empanadas and Arepas out of a little corner shop in Colombia, South America. After settling in the US, she decided to open a restaurant which she has been running for the past 28 years. Abraham worked in a plastic factory and after their marriage, left his job to work with Maria. He has been overseeing the restaurant operations since 1987.

 

The restaurant sells a variety of typical Hispanic foods including Empanadas (Beef and Chicken Patties), Carne Asada (Grilled Meat), Pescado Frito (Fried Fish), Arepa (a flatbread made of ground maize dough), and Chicharron (Pork Rind). At first, they thought the business would only attract Plainfield's Hispanic population, but after a year in business their clientele expanded and they began selling to all cultures. Although their expansion was  by word of mouth, they began serving customers from North Jersey to New York City. In 1997 they expanded their menu to include Cazuela de Mariscos (Seafood Stew), Pescado Guisado (Steamed Fish/ Fish Fricasse), and Ceviche de Camaron (Shrimp Cocktail).

 

On March 21, 2015, due to unforeseen circumstances, the business suffered structural damages which caused the restaurant to close and find a new, suitable location.

 

Fortunately, the City of Plainfield, under Mayor Mapp's Administration and the Economic Development staff were determined to maintain "Plainfield Open for Business " mantra. A  partnership has now been formed with the Regional Business Assistance Corporation (RBAC) .  RBAC's financing assistance made it  possible  for Mi Buenaventura to begin the process of reopening their successful business at another location and maintain their employees in Plainfield.  Not only did RBAC assist financially, they also worked in partnership with Kevin Chu of Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation (GNEC) to meet Mi Buenaventura's complete relocation, expansion and upgrade needs.

 

Soon the City of Plainfield will be announcing a Grand Opening date and a Network event at Mi Buenaventura. " I am extremely happy to see the partnership with RBAC and the City of Plainfield Loan Fund Program produce the first loan to benefit  a local small business", said Mayor Mapp.

The Superintendent of Schools and the Plainfield Board of Education welcome over 9,100 students to our 15 schools for grades k-12; including 1,500 pre-k learners to 17 Pre-School Centers and Schools managed by our Early Childhood Education programs. This year will be the second year our students in grades 6-12 will receive electronic tablets to complete school assignments, access grades, teacher assignments, and actively participate in their studies. Our early learners will also be experimenting with tablets to further their knowledge and prepare them for the future.  Plainfield Public Schools Mission states, "The Plainfield Public Schools, in partnership with its Community, shall do whatever it takes for every student to achieve high academic standards- no alibis, no excuses, no exceptions."  We believe that is our mandate to prepare our students for the next century.

Plainfield High School Student Orientations

Plainfield High School Principal Mr. Willie Worley began his mandate by requiring that all students attend a school Orientation.  He wanted the students to know, even before they walked through the front door the first day of school, his expectations and requirements for a successful school year.  Mr. Worley said he wants the students to be leaders, responsible young adults and civic minded individuals, among many other directives he gave them to prepare them for the opening of school. Mr. Worley who previously worked in the Newark School District, will preside over a 1,500 student body and a professional staff of 125 members, 40% of whom have advanced degrees. Plainfield High School faculty also includes Professional School Counselors, a Child Study Team, a Speech Pathologist, and a full time nurse. The school provides college-level courses through partnerships with Kean and Rutgers University, including a highly recognized sports program, over 25 school clubs, Band, Cheerleading Squad, and Air Force Junior ROTC Program, among many other programs. Mr. Worley has been Principal at Plainfield High School since July 1, 2015.

School News

With parents and community members increasingly on the go, it is important to stay connected to your school news. The School Messenger notification service is trusted to deliver large volumes of messages through several channels including voice, email, text message, push notification, social media, web posts, desktop alerts, and more. You can also elect to receive alerts for school news, school closings, and information about student activities or events via our free Plainfield Public Schools' APP.  Visit our schools website at www.plainfieldk12nj.org to keep informed.  Don't miss out on your school news.

Booker: "Applications under consideration represent a serious threat to the New Jersey's coastal economy and coastal wildlife."

Sen. Booker Urges Denial of Applications for Offshore Oil Exploration in Mid-Atlantic. (2015, August 28). Retrieved September 2, 2015.

By JOSH LEDERMAN

MARK THIESSEN

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration will change the name of North America's tallest mountain peak from Mount McKinley to Denali, the White House said Sunday, a major symbolic gesture to Alaska Natives on the eve of President Barack Obama's historic visit to Alaska.

By renaming the peak Denali, an Athabascan word meaning "the high one," Obama waded into a sensitive and decades-old conflict between residents of Alaska and Ohio. Alaskans have informally called the mountain Denali for years, but the federal government recognizes its name invoking the 25th president, William McKinley, who was born in Ohio and assassinated early in his second term.