Letters to the Editor, May 29, 2003

Donations don’t require bids
To the editor:
   
I am writing in response to the letter written by Charles C. Townsend Jr., which appeared in the Hopewell Valley News on May 22. I would like to state, even as I write this response on May 23, that my office had not received his letter.
   The school board, in partnership with the Recreation Foundation of Hopewell Valley, Inc., is working to pursue the development of athletic fields located on the Timberlane Middle School property.
   Funding for this approved and permitted project continues to be a community-wide endeavor.
   Recently an agreement was reached between the school board, Hopewell Valley Recreation Foundation, Inc., and David Robinson, community member and proprietor of Natural Edge, to harvest cedar trees from the site in exchange for the wood. The cost to remove the trees, many of which are dead, would exceed the value of the harvested wood, leaving a net value of $5,000 in savings to the district. The district is not obliged to bid a donation for a service, which otherwise the district would have to pay for.
Robert Sopko, superintendent, Hopewell Valley schools
Township Committee’s effectiveness diminished
To the editor:
   
I am one of the many citizens of Hopewell Township troubled in recent weeks by the controversies swirling around the Township Committee. The replacement of the township attorney and its aftermath ("gavel-gate"), an investigation by the Mercer County prosecutor, bickering over the 2003 budget, and the sudden unionization of municipal white-collar employees indicate that things are not working as well as they should in Hopewell Township.
   Bitter battles, too, often personalized into struggles over prerogatives, have diminished the effectiveness of the Township Committee and tarnished the reputation of our town. We must do better than this. In a community like ours, we should have, as President Jimmy Carter used to say, "a government as good as its people."
   There are many resources available to improve local government. In 2002, the New Jersey Initiative of the Maxwell School of Public Affairs at Syracuse University and the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers studied seven New Jersey municipalities. NJI issued detailed, practical recommendations on financial management, capital management, human resources, information technology, and managing for results for New Jersey local governments. Existing state statutes and regulations provide substantial flexibility in how local governments are organized and structured to conduct public business. While New Jersey is already strong in financial management, there are municipalities in other states that are models for strategic planning, effective citizen participation, and governing for results.
   A Web site—www.HTReform.org—has been established as a public forum on how to improve government in Hopewell Township. It is designed to provide access to resources for improving civic participation and effective municipal government. HTReform.org is also a "weblog," an interactive round-table for everyone with an interest in making Hopewell Township government better. Constructive comments are invited from all — personal and partisan attacks are not.
   Despite diverse American interests stirring their passionate debates, our national founders persevered to build a system of self-governance that still inspires the world. It is time for us to build on that tradition and demand a "government as good as its people" for Hopewell Township.
David Sandahl, Hopewell Township
Not Merrill Lynch land
To the editor:
   
In response to inquiries from the community, we would like to make it known that Merrill Lynch has no connection to the installation of billboards along I-95 in Hopewell Township and Ewing, and the billboards are not on our firm’s land.
   Also, the chain-link fence that has been installed near Exit 3 on I-95 was put there by the state and is not on Merrill Lynch property, nor under our firm’s control.
Joseph Cohen, vice president, public affairs, Merrill Lynch, Hopewell Township
Bad choice of words
To the editor:
   
I attended the Hopewell Valley Self Assessment meeting on May 20 at the school board office along with about 30 other parents. I was shocked to hear Celeste Curley refer to special education classes as the "dummy classes."
   Under no context should such reference be made of our challenged children. It’s s like using the "N" word. Especially for the director of student services to refer to the self-contained classes in such a manner does not reflect well on herself or the district. By referring to this group of classes as the "dummy classes" gives such a poor perception of our students who are trying to do their best and succeed in self-contained classes. Our students will suffer with poor self image, low self worth, and other problems when members of the administration refer to them as being in the "dummy classes."
Len Epstein, Hopewell Township
‘Untruths,’ politically correct term for ‘lies’
To the editor:
   
Upon taking part in a discussion yesterday with some friends on the subject of politically correct language, you can imagine how intrigued I was after receiving my copy of the Hopewell Valley News. My eyes drifted to the headline "Official admits e-mail untruths"—the magic word being "untruths." Far be it from me to exhibit perfection of the English language, but I could not help but believe "untruths" is a politically correct term for "lies."
   In this day and age we all are forced to use our words more carefully than in the past. However, when I think back to when my children were much younger, and as a parent, teaching them the difference between wrong and right, I eschewed political correctness and used the most simplistic words—words they would understand. For example, if one of them did not tell the truth, they were caught in a lie. A lie is wrong. For some reason, I could not envision explaining to a 3-year old they were "truthfully challenged." I would tell them they lied, explained that a lie was wrong and I would expect them not to lie ever again. Direct and to the point.
   What do today’s young parents do? Do they tell their children they are "truthfully challenged" for telling an "untruth," my ignorance — or rather "inability" to comprehend a more user-friendly word for an act that is wrong. Have we become so timid to use a stronger and more direct word for what has been known in the past as a "lie" rather than an "untruth"?
   Do we now go around saying that "someone has failed to tell the truth?" Oops! My bad—I mean, "my not appropriate." I forgot that "fail" is not a user-friendly word. Allow me to correct myself. Do we now go around saying that "someone has not excelled in telling the truth.".
   Correct me, and in a politically correct manner, please, if I am wrong, I mean, "rightfully challenged" on this. Nonetheless, I just found the headline rather odd.
Catherine Urbanski, Hopewell Township
HIKE offers raffle
To the editor:
   
Come visit us at Pennington Market on Saturday and at ShopRite on Sunday for your raffle tickets. HIKE is holding their 50/50 Cash Raffle and if you didn’t get a ticket yet, you have just about a week to get one!
   With only 1000 tickets being sold, there will be a third-place prize of $10,000, a second place prize of $15,000 and a first place prize of $25,000. Now that’s real cash we all could use and all proceeds directly fund the freshman and JV football teams this year.
   Winners will be picked on June 7. For tickets or more information, visit www.HIKE4football.com or call 818-1151.
George Helmstetter, HIKE Inc.
Despite rain, Pennington held parade
To the editor:
   
In Pennington, we take rain or shine very seriously. As such our annual parade again went off with zest. Our parade, which comes together thanks to all of the volunteers and participants, is a fine representation of community.
   Parade-attending recreation members: chairman Kurt Pedersen; members Bonnie Piper, Elizabeth Haines, Ned Fletcher and Houston Landis along with former member Kim Sherman put on rain gear and braved the elements, along with their friends and families — from the wee hours of the morning until the concert end in the evening — to bring us a great day. Thanks!
   Behind the scene, thanks to borough employees (especially the "girls in the office" — Irene, Mary and Betty); the entire Parks and Recreation Commission, Mayor Jim Loper and Pennington Council; business sponsors Ed Gola and Janns’ Sweet Shoppe, Dahlia’s Floral Concepts, The Pennington Market, The Pennington School, Hopewell Valley Regional School District (including Georgia Fesmire, Audrey de Dufour and the Toll Gate Grammar cafeteria), Hardy Nurseries, Rosedale Mills, Hopewell Valley News; and Cyrus Masonic Lodge, Pennington Police Department, Pennington Public Works Department (including a special thanks to Morris and Dave for the day of support).Thanks to the fiends of the recreation department including Kim Haanson, Stew Schwab, Sevy DiCocco, Bill Reuter, John Rizzo, Carmen and Trish DiCocco, Ryan Schwab, Howie Dumhardt and many more. The day of events could not have occurred without your help.
   Job well done to the parade judges, Jennifer and Judge Landis and Gery and Al Farina; vehicle judges Bill Meytrott and Bob Di Falco and Kids on Bikes judges (under the direction of Elizabeth Haines).
   To our bugler, whose name escapes me at the moment, for getting out of bed when all of his band comrades probably were still sleeping, standing in the cold for what felt like an hour and then playing taps in the rain, Thanks!
   Lastly a heartfelt thanks to all of those whose names I missed. You know who you are. Let’s do it again.
Emily Schwab, Pennington
Family says thanks
To the editor:
   
The family of Grace Weidl would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all who expressed their condolences in any way at the time of the loss of our mother. Perhaps you said a prayer, sent a card or flowers, or had a mass said. For those who took the time to visit, prepare a delicious meal, or brought us food or desserts.
   A special thank you to Father Dennis at St. Alphonsus Church for a beautiful funeral so befitting to our mother, and also for saying mass for her at her bedside a few days before she passed. She always said she wanted to see Father Dennis say a mass before she died.
   Thank you to Sister Rosemary for her angelic voice, and Virginia Bachalis, choir director and organist, and members of our choir who lent their voices to us that day. A very big thank you to the New Jersey State Police who granted our mother her wish and graciously served as pallbearers.
   And finally, a very special thank you to Joe Immordino and his family of the Cromwell Memorial Home not only for the wonderful compassionate services they provided, but also for their warm friendship.
Carl and Susan Weidl, Hopewell