Monroe and Jamesburg pulling together

   Churches, schools and other organizations in Jamesburg and Monroe are geared up to support efforts to help victims of the World Trade Center attack.

By:Al Wicklund
   Churches, schools and other organizations in Jamesburg and Monroe are geared up to support efforts to help victims of the World Trade Center attack.
   The good news is that blood has been donated in such quantities that local organizations planning blood drives are on hold. The rest of the good news is that none of the groups is shrugging and walking away. They still want to help in any way possible.
   "I started making arrangements for a blood drive," Mike Bennet, quartermaster for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 262, said Thursday. "But, I was told to wait because they’ve received as much blood as they can process."
   Mr. Bennet said the VFW still has plans for a drive if there’s a need.
   "We want to do whatever we possibly can," he said.
   Henry "Spud" Dobenski, commander of Jamesburg American Legion Star Post No. 127, said he expects his post will make a financial donation "where it’s most needed."
   Jennifer Sternberg of the Monroe Township Senior Center said the center has considered a blood drive.
   "But, we’re not limited at this point. Anything we can do, we will do," she said.
   Area churches are planning special prayers for their regular services and special prayer services.
   St. James R.C. Church of Jamesburg has scheduled a special prayer service at noon today (Friday) for the National Day of Mourning. The Nativity of Our Lord Church of Monroe will include special prayers in all of its masses this weekend.
   The Congregation Etz Chaim Monroe Township Jewish Center will have special will have special prayers at its Friday and Saturday services.
   The Rev. Gary W. Filson of the Presbyterian Church of Jamesburg gave a prayer and read the Psalm 46 before the Jamesburg Borough Council meeting Wednesday.
   Monroe Schools Superintendent Ralph Ferrie said the school district’s emergency management team has been meeting regularly to coordinate district goals, chiefly, maintaining calm and keeping a focus on education during this stressful time.
   "Our principals are handling the situation school-by-school in ways appropriate to their grade levels," he said
   At Brookside School, grades three to six, Principal Dennis Ventrello said his teachers are placing an emphasis on such role models as policemen, firemen and the office workers who had to deal with this unusual situation.
   In addition, Brookside School has scheduled a schoolwide patriotic sing for today (Friday) at 2:30 p.m.
   "We’re also encouraging letter writing as a means of expressing themselves to people involved in the World Trade Center rescue efforts," Mr. Ventrello said.
   Woodland School Principal Victor Soriano (grades four to six) said the emphasis at his school is on helping hands.
   "On Friday (today), The children will trace their hands, helping hands, on a wall in the hallway. The tracings will be in the shape of a rainbow," he said.
   In the Jamesburg schools, Superintendent of Schools Richard Ballard said teachers have been accepting questions about the World Trade Center disaster from their classes for five to 10 minutes before each class.
   He said by Wednesday afternoon the questions had pretty much died down.
   Mr. Ballard also said the district had psychologists in both schools, the John F. Kennedy elementary school and the Grace M. Breckwedel School, to help students who needed it.
   A letter was sent home to parents along with a pamphlet on how to deal with children’s anxieties, Mr. Ballard said.
   He said that on Tuesday, the day of the attack, the children’s files were checked and a special effort was made to determine that all was well before sending the child home after school.