Letters-March 18, 2004

Attend dinner-dance

to support firefighters
To the editor:
   Another year has passed us by, and under the direction of Chief Robert Hayes, the Lambertville Fire Department continues to progress with the ever-changing times.
   The few dedicated members of this great department have spent numerous hours attending classes to both expand their knowledge and to keep current with what the state mandates. Over the last year, the department answered 131 fire calls, participated in 81 training exercises and 81 special details, totaling 553 hours and 28 minutes of dedicated service.
   In 2004, Chief Hayes projects many more hours will be spent away from each member’s home and family, just trying to keep current with all of these mandates. Of course, if the need ever arises, you can expect these same dedicated professionals to arrive at your front door. We are simply a phone call away!
   At the beginning of February, we sent out letters to many of the city’s business owners, seeking donations to defray the costs of our annual dinner dance. This event is held each year in an effort to thank not only the members who serve on the front line, but also for their families who put up with the missed meals, being woken up in the middle of the night and the many hours spent away from home.
   It’s not easy to fund such an event so we depend on financial contributions to make the dinner a success. Donations can be sent in the name of the Lambertville Fire Department, P.O Box 494, Lambertville, 08530.
   The date of this year’s event is Saturday, April 10, and is being held at the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad’s banquet hall. It is open to the public with limited seating available. The cost of the evening is $25 per person, which includes sharing an evening with your local firefighters while enjoying a family style roast beef dinner, open bar and live entertainment provided by Jeff Kline and 519 South.
   If you are interested in sharing an evening with some fantastic people, contact me at 397-5908.
   On behalf of the officers and members of the Lambertville Fire Department, I would like to thank you in advance for your continued support and hope to see you on April 10.

Sharing first step

between schools
To the editor:
   Previously I wrote about South’s upcoming superintendent search as being one of the most crucial endeavors a board can undertake.
   For the superintendent, curriculum development is one of the major challenges. Both South and the West Amwell Elementary School have been independently undergoing an intense assessment of their individual curriculum strategies to ensure they remain compliant with ever-changing state standards.
   Having regularly attended South board meetings over the past four years, I have witnessed several excellent presentations by the administration and staff on how they have or are in the process of revamping curriculum. To date, South has achieved measurable results where changes have been applied as evidenced through improved standardized testing scores.
   At West Amwell, we also have revamped or are in the process of assessing various curriculum areas although we are looking at alternative measurement and testing methodologies. This will provide us with more timely feedback on the success of those enhancements, which is currently not possible through existing standardized testing. This is will enable us to make adjustments within a school year if needed, rather than over multi-year periods.
   As a West Amwell Curriculum Committee member and parent, my focus has always been on two aspects. First, changes should be pursued when and where they are needed, where goals are clearly defined, are measurable, achievable and supported by the community. I believe both schools have been working in that direction and need to continue doing so.
   Secondly, curriculum enhancements are more effective and streamlined when coordinated between schools so our children receive consistent and comprehensive education throughout all their school years. This is an area that has been receiving growing attention by South and West Amwell as both schools have increasingly shared their individually developed curriculum plans.
   But sharing is just the first step. At West Amwell, we believe our students are entitled to highly effective education at all grade levels. In order to achieve that goal, more effort must be committed to the co-development of curriculum between South and all sending schools.
   As a West Amwell board member, I have been a persistent driver for more collaborative and joint curriculum initiatives. It is a slow process to transition from sharing to collaboration, one that requires thinking and working differently than in the past.
   Yet progress is being made, evidenced by a new K-12 science curriculum that recently was implemented.
   As a candidate for the South Board of Education, it is my goal to assist it and the administration in fostering and encouraging increased mutual curriculum development, not only with West Amwell, but with all sending districts so equitable education is available to all incoming South students.
   As an added benefit, it is conceivable South then could become more viable as an option for those higher-achieving elementary graduates who might otherwise seek alternative schooling. More students at South could mean more educational opportunities for all students.

Stockton School

won’t be ‘history’
To the editor:
   Thank you for your editorial regarding the My Ben purchase and Stockton’s commitment to preservation.
   I was happy to see such an article until I read your interesting prognostication of our school’s demise: "Someday, Stockton’s small school will be history; it can’t last forever in this day and age."
   What? I really am interested in your assessment as to what you base this on and your facts that support the implication our days are numbered. We are a school on the cutting edge of technology with the latest in computer equipment and a curriculum that reflects the best practices in education.
   The fact that 25 percent of our students are tuition, and we have one of the lowest cost-per-pupil ratio in the state reflects our commitment to education. Your prediction "we will be history" is not only unfounded, it is also irresponsible.
   One of the goals of the board and the superintendent is to get and retain the finest elementary teachers possible. How do you think your statement affects them and their decision to teach at Stockton?
   If I were teaching and actually believed your insightful comment, I’d be looking for a more stable environment.
   Not to worry, we have a dedicated team that is not easily swayed by the press throwing out a comment that has no fact and little thought behind it.

Gifts beautified

First Baptist Church
To the editor:
   The Rev. Raymond Force, pastor of the First Baptist Church, and members of the church, wish to thank the friends of Allonia K. Thompson for their generous gifts in beautifying the church.
   A special thank you to Charlie E. Garefino for his generosity in donating plaques, which adorn our new benches.

Upgrades planned

at authority’s plant
To the editor:
   The Lambertville Sewerage Authority announces $3.2 million dollars worth of planned upgrades at the treatment facility and in the sewer collection system.
   The projects include anaerobic digester conversion to covered holding tank with carbon air scrubber, headworks and secondary clarifier improvements, belt filter press replacement and additions and alterations to the pump stations at North Union, Ferry and Swan streets.
   The existing anaerobic digester at the treatment facility will be converted to an airtight sludge holding tank. The sludge will be chemically treated and mixed in the holding tank, utilizing state-of-the-art mixing equipment where it is prepared for further processing and de-watering.
   The odors produced in this process will be removed through a vacuumed air duct and cleansed in an activated carbon air scrubber before being released into the open air. This will improve air quality surrounding the treatment facility and provide a more efficient sludge processing operation.
   The completion date for this project is August.
   The existing equipment used to remove grit and screenings from the wastewater will be removed and replaced with state-of-the-art equipment. This part of the treatment process removes inorganic solids and rags from the waste stream that would damage or hinder downstream equipment and treatment.
   The overflow piping from the secondary settling tanks will be increased in diameter, allowing better separation and compaction of solids in the settling tank. This upgrade will provide the authority with a more efficient treatment of wastewater and enhancement of effluent quality before discharging to the Delaware River.
   The completion date for this project is August.
   The existing belt filter press, used to de-water sludge, will be replaced with a new one. This process takes sludge that has been conditioned in the new sludge holding tank and removes water, thus producing a sludge cake that is taken to an incinerator for disposal. The cake sludge produced will be higher in percent solids and cost less to dispose of. The sludge fed to this process will be less odorous and will further improve the air quality surrounding the treatment facility.
   The completion date for this date is July.
   Various equipment replacements and upgrades will occur at the North Union, Swan and Ferry streets pump stations. These upgrades will ensure the authority can continue to provide dependable sewage collection system services.
   The authority recently has approved an additional $20,000 to the existing budget for odor control through chemical conditioning while the construction takes place. Current odor controls and measures also will continue.
   We ask you to bear with us now and in the near future while the construction projects and improvements are ongoing. We will continue to do everything within our means to maintain the environment and provide a high quality of life for the residents of our service area.
   If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, pleas do not hesitate to call us at 397-1496 or e-mail [email protected].

Lost bird story

had happy ending
To the editor:
   Sue Kramer’s "Missing bird knew who to call!" story last week touched my heart!
   Good for her for being so alert to spot this rare bird and then spend so much time researching, making phone calls, sending e-mails etc to try to find its owner!
   Due to her curiosity, compassion and tenacity, it was a happy ending for a lost pet and its owner, an amazing story we can all learn from!
   Thanks for sharing it!