Letters-Nov. 4, 2004

Realtor Designation

Awareness Month
To the editor:
   The Bucks County Association of Realtors is pleased to announce the arrival of Realtor Designation Awareness Month for November.
   This month is dedicated to encouraging our members to pursue continuing education through the National Association of Realtors in order to stay on top of evolving technology, changing legalities and other components central to our profession.
   BCAR members take pride in advancing our industry knowledge through specialized Realtor institutes, societies and councils and 18 advanced education designation and certification programs through the National Association of Realtors.
   Participation in continuing education heightens our proficiency and directly benefits our clients. Those members who pursue professional designations have a distinct skill set, which enhances the quality of our service and our commitment to our client base in Bucks County and surrounding regions.
   BCAR encourages members to join us in pursuing continuing education in honor of Realtor Designation Awareness Month. In addition, BCAR encourages buyers and sellers to inquire about Realtor designations when choosing an agent or broker. These designations ensure agents and brokers are exceeding the industry standard and are often prerequisites for informed buyers and sellers seeking the best in professional Realtor assistance.

House Tour 2004

has lots of help
To the editor:
   The Lambertville Historical Society’s 2004 House Tour held October 24 was attended by about 1,000 people on a very pleasant Sunday afternoon.
   Paid attendance was up 5 percent over last year.
   Thanks to all of you who supported the tour by buying tickets, the proceeds of which will be spent on the maintenance and operation of the James W. Marshall Museum, preservation of our collection of historic documents, photographs and artifacts and allowing us to offer programs and information of historic interest to the public and researchers.
   We had many repeat and new ticket buyers from New York, Pennsylvania and central and north Jersey who "love coming to Lambertville."
   Of course, the house tour just doesn’t happen. I want to thank all the homeowners, Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum and the First Presbyterian Church for allowing us the opportunity to place their historic places on the tour.
   Also, the LHS board of trustees thanks Terry Anderson and her staff at Chimney Hill Farm Inn for hosting a special dinner and preview of homes Saturday night for homeowners on the tour.
   I cannot thank all the committee chairs and tour volunteers enough for their dedicated service, many of whom started in March. More than 100 people volunteered their talents and time because they care about our society, the James Marshall House and preserving our city’s history.
   In particular, committee chairs and volunteer managers deserve special thanks: Co-Chairperson Mila Montemayer, Mary Jane Aklonis, Bob Aschermann, Sharon Bisaha, Kate Bruening, Jim Bruening, Michael Bruening, Don Colombo, Karen Cummins, Petie Dorman, Polly Dorman, Roy Ewing, Mary Freedman, Rich Freedman, George Golia, Jan Holmes, Richard McDonough, Roger Morrison, Nati Rivera, Lou Toboz, Karen Todd, Ron Todd, Ron Walker, Deborah Wean, Barry Wiseman and the LHS staff Tammy Barnes, Victoria Rudd and Carol Donahue.
   In addition, my thanks to Mayor David Del Vecchio for opening City Hall, Bruce Cocuzza, police director, and our police department for reserving parking for our Link tour shuttle bus and our volunteer Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad for being on call if needed.
   We are grateful to our Tour Book advertisers — local retailers, restaurants and service companies. Thank you for your continued support, and we encourage our volunteers and ticket buyers to seek out your services.
   Without the cooperation of your paper and New Jersey television stations who helped publicize our event, we would not have enjoyed such a wide audience and successful tour.
   Not only was the tour successful but also the process of conducting it was gratifying and fun. It was a pleasure working with a great house tour committee. According to many on the tour, the event was a pleasant diversion from Iraq and the elections.
   Please become a member of LHS by calling the society at 397-0770 or respond via www.lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org and ask about volunteering to work on House Tour 2005.
   Mark your new LHS Historic Calendar (LHS has some on sale now) for Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005.

Let truth

be known
To the editor:
   Although it’s been 27 years since I became an Eagle Scout in this township I grew up in, I still remember the oath and laws that we use to recite every week.
   As I look back, the Scout law (a Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent) became more than just a list of attributes for me to attain or recite; it became a part of me and who I try to be.
   That is why I can’t believe how many times the truth is continuously bent. I also can’t believe the lengths people will go to bend the truth and even disseminate fiction over fact.
   Last week, Carina Sayles wrote a letter to the editor regarding my letter from the previous week. She stated her opinion on my letter, but it was far from the facts.
   Fact: I received five separate mailers from Mr. Daul’s campaign. None listed his employer.
   Fact: At the candidate forum, his employer was not on his biography.
   Fact: I directly asked him to state his employer, an appropriate question.
   That is the reason for the forum, to find out facts directly from the candidates. There is nothing more and nothing less to this fact.
   But the most fictitious statement made by Carina Sayles is, "This is quite disingenuous since Mr. Novak himself who has subdivided and developed his land in Delaware Township."
   Fact: I own Lot 23 Block 25 on the township tax map. Anyone can look and see that I have not subdivided the property that my wife and I purchased from my grandmother’s estate in 2000.
   It is public information.
   Fact: My wife and I did build our farmhouse on this property so I could continue to be close to the farming operation that has existed on this farm for the last 70 years and run my farm business even more effectively and efficiently than in the past.
   The most important fact, which Carina would like you to overlook, is that I have not told people who to vote for. I have just stated facts that can be proven.
   Finding out the facts is the point of all my letters, including this one.
   It was up to the voters to make their own decisions based on the facts, not to be distracted by letters like Carina’s that do a disservice by disseminating fiction.

Honor veterans

Nov. 11
To the editor:
   Nov. 11 Americans will pause to observe Veterans Day as they have done since 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation on the first anniversary of the signing of the armistice ending World War I.
   During the intervening years America has undergone many changes, and the armed forces have experienced change as well.
   We have gone from a draft to an all-volunteer military. We’ve gone from fighting a well-defined enemy to fighting an enemy who is difficult to identify.
   We have employed the advances in technology by making our soldiers more effective in the performance of their duties. But make no mistake: wars are fought by men and women who are willing to make great sacrifices for the cause of liberty, democracy and the security of their fellow citizens.
   The politics of war are frequently debated by those of us fortunate enough to be here in the greatest country in the world. Soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen don’t enjoy that privilege for they are trained to carry out their missions based upon lawful orders issued by their commanders. They deserve our unwavering support.
   As our troops carry out the duties assigned them by our leaders, we should all take time Veterans Day to thank them for what they do and to recognize all of America’s veterans for what they did in the past. The risks and dangers they have been exposed to and the sacrifices many have made deserve our deepest gratitude.
   On behalf of the 76,000 men and women of the American Legion in New Jersey, I extend our sincere thanks to all current and former members of the United States Armed Forces for their service to America.