On May 21, 2015, we held our Town Hall Meeting to a packed house at the Plainfield Senior Center.  Plainfield residents were engaged as members of my administration presented the key accomplishments of the Mayor's Office and Quality of Life Initiatives, Administration and Finance, Public Affairs and Safety, Department of Public Works and Urban Development, and Economic Development.  

It was with much pride that I presented special awards to residents from all four wards for their outstanding service to our community. The recipients included First Ward Honoree - Former City Clerk, Laddie Wyatt; Second Ward Honoree - Dorothy Henry; Third Ward Honoree - Dottie Gutenkauf; and Fourth Ward Honoree -  Elliot Simmons.  It was a great evening for all the residents of Plainfield as we discussed the administration's accomplishments and provided a venue for residents to interact with my Cabinet. Residents had the opportunity to ask questions, express their opinions and share concerns.  We look forward to our next Town Hall meeting.

On May 19, 2015 I was honored to take part in the NJ Achievement BizTown event with Plainfield students.  This is a great program for Plainfield youth as they are exposed to financial literacy, local government, various job positions including bank tellers, financial services reps, live local radio station workers and managers...all taking place in a "constructed town with a main street." Activities included balancing a checkbook, writing checks for monthly mortgages, and depositing paychecks at the "local bank."  I swore in the newly elected NJ BizTown Mayor, Nidajia Waitlock, who followed with her mayoral remarks and student presentations. 

Community Development Programs and Events

• Comprehensive Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) is available to provide residents with financial assistance for the rehabilitation of  owner-occupied 1-3 family houses. Loans are interest free and payment is deferred until sale or transfer of title. Please call our office today to review your situation and eligibility at 908-753-3610 .

Plainfield Public Schools Superintendent, Anna Belin-Pyles, and the Plainfield Board of Education will honor school educators and support staff at the Plainfield Public Schools Annual 2015 Red Carpet Affair to be held on Friday, May 29, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. The Red Carpet Affair honors  k-12 teachers, educational support staff and school personnel who have distinguished themselves throughout the 2014-2015 school year.  Among the 33 honorees will be Elementary School Teachers, Supplemental Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Bilingual/Bicultural Teachers, Social Studies and Science Teachers, Library Media Specialists, Substance Abuse Coordinators, School Social Workers, Assistant Custodians, Security Personnel and School Nurses.  Congratulations to all!

Students from Washington Community School collected pennies and non-perishable goods to donate to the New Jersey Food Pantry and Elijah's Promise Soup Kitchen, as part of a hunger awareness program held during the months of  April and May 2015 at the school, in collaboration with Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Technologies of Edison, N.J.  The students held discussions on hunger and the prevalence of hunger in our communities and were very excited about making a charitable donation.  Congratulations to Ms. Perez, Ms. Pandurangan, and the Washington Wildcats for this outstanding community service project!

The Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies (PAAAS) presents a school theatre production of the play written by Richard Wesley, The Talented Tenth.  The Talented Tenth will run for four performances from May 28 through May 30. Opening night is Friday, May 29, 7:30 p.m., at Plainfield High School Auditorium, located at 950 Park Avenue, Plainfield, N.J. We invite the students, parents and our Plainfield Community to attend. Tickets are $10 for adults and $ 5 for students.  Tickets may be purchased online.  Please visit www.plainfieldk12nj.org.

The Annual Clearinghouse Scholarship Awards & Senior Recognition Program will be held Monday, June 8, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at Plainfield High School.

Commencement exercises for all Plainfield Public Schools will be held June 19, 2015 at Hub Stine Sports Complex (weather permitting) at 1410 Randolph Road, Plainfield, N.J.  The alternate site will be Plainfield High School Gymnasium, at 950 Park Avenue in Plainfield, N.J.

In this week's address, the President highlights the importance of expanding opportunity for all Americans -- a principle that has guided his work throughout the past six years.