Guest speaker Dr. Rashida Govan delivered a poignant sermon on Sunday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Plainfield, relating the struggle against state sponsored violence to the resolve and compassion encouraged by her own faith. After service, the congregation lead a solidarity march down Park Avenue.

I began writing my thoughts about Ferguson on the train last night, but with no time to come close to finishing, they’ll have to wait. I arrived home from New York at nearly midnight, and for good reason. Last night, many thousands of protesters in Manhattan formed four or five large groups who collectively shut down countless major…

The Plainfield Cultural and Heritage Commission issues grants for free community events, and still has money available for projects in 2014. Non-profits, churches, and other community groups are encouraged to apply for these first come, first serve grants. All projects must be free and open to the community. They are usually concerts, art exhibitions, and plays,…

There’s a good deal of buzz about a Maryland trial “taking the nation by storm,” to cite one of many overstatements. I wouldn’t go that far. OJ Simpson’s trial undeniably did that back in the 90s. Casey Anthony was more recent. The trial of George Zimmerman certainly lead a broad national discourse. And who really…

This afternoon, there will be a one day only exclusive performance of One Hour 2 Live at the Metropolitan Church at 1003 West Fourth Street. Written and Directed by Pastor Princeton D. Holt, the play will feature the Plainfield Police Department’s own Bernel Harrison as the priest. “It will make a difference in the lives of those who see the play,”…

Beginning at age nine, I feel that I’ve experienced a disproportionate amount of highly visible coincidences. I’ll spare you all the details and tell you a story. Starting in the late summer of 2010, I taught English at a middle school in Elbeuf, France. I returned to New Jersey a year later in 2011, and…

I didn’t go to work on Wednesday, staying home to battle a cocktail of fatigue, exhaustion, and malnourishment with a backbreaking dose of what felt like fall allergies. Sickness has never felt so gratifying, though. The day of replenishment concluded a campaign that I’ll never forget, and the resulting sweep victory for the Children First Team. Your…

More to follow later. Just wanted to give a great big thank you this morning.

Note to readers: I uncharacteristically made three separate posts between last night and this morning. Please don’t miss the previous two, the first of which is pictures from a wonderful event. This piece has been a long time coming. Unfortunately, when you are a candidate in a campaign, talking to as many people as possible…

For now, I will spare you the most egregious and offensive of Danny Dunn’s recent recorded statements. Apparently when he isn’t fear mongering about supposed state takeovers, making disparaging racist remarks about black people inherently not knowing how to manage a budget (oh the irony), or attacking non-combative candidates on the street as if he lost his sanity,…