Letters to the Editor, Jan. 20, 2005

Lorenzetti resignation
To the editor:
   
After serving less than two years, Superintendent Nick Lorenzetti has tendered his resignation from the Hopewell Valley Regional School District. It is disappointing that his promise, as the chief school administrator, has not been realized.
   Superintendents of schools in New Jersey are well paid, some would argue overpaid. Mr. Lorenzetti is among the highest paid, $147,000 plus an excellent benefits package. Mr. Lorenzetti has set his resignation date effective June 30, 2005 and the school board has unanimously agreed to pay him a consultant fee while he is on leave from Jan. 31, 2005 until the date of his retirement. This exit arrangement is wrong, outrageous.
   Most of us get paid for honest, full day’s work. Undoubtedly, Mr. Lorenzetti has good reasons to depart from the school district. I certainly wish him well in resolving his personal and family problems. But he asks too much of the taxpayer in footing the bill of his resignation. Therefore, I am petitioning the school board to reconsider the conditions for Mr. Lorenzetti’s separation.
   First, not one penny of taxpayer money should be given to Mr. Lorenzetti effective Jan. 31, 2005 when he goes off duty as superintendent. Moreover, the school district does not need another expensive consultant.
   Second, neither do we need an acting superintendent while we search for yet another superintendent. Again, just too costly and unnecessary. I am sure the assistant superintendent and other school administrators can satisfactorily perform the short-term duties of a superintendent.
   If the board acts on these recommendations it would not only allow Mr. Lorenzetti the time to address his immediate personal and family problems, but also save the school district a large sum of money, even contribute toward reduced property taxes.
Stan Vitello, Hopewell Borough
Mel, the woman behind ‘Chiefy’
To the editor:
   
The recent tribute to James "Chiefy" DelleMonache was heart-felt. John Tredrea captured the essence of Chiefy. Having been one of his "town kids," I can attest to the love and compassion he shared for us. I remember a time when I was in middle school and we were protesting something with the staging of a "walk-out." Those of use who "walked-out" needed to be picked up by our parents. Since my mom was behind the counter at Dyke’s – Chiefy came to claim me. You can imagine my horror when I was hauled home in a police car. Needless to say I never did that again! Chiefy was our gentle giant, he was a fixture at our counter and in our hearts.
   I was, however, disappointed that Mr. Tredrea did not mention Chiefy’s bride, Carmella. Carmella (Mel) is the woman behind the gentle giant. During a recent visit, Mel shared with me the story of how she and Chiefy met, their romantic courting and later marriage. Chiefy and Mel would have been married 50 years this summer. They did not have children of their own. I would like to encourage all of "Chiefy’s kids" to write Mel (119 Lanning). I know she would enjoy hearing their fond memories of her late husband.
Emily (VanDyke) Schwab , Pennington
Kemp controversy
To the editor:
   
I am not comfortable with a mayor, Arlene Kemp, who took the planner of another committee person from the dais and did not turn it in to police for several days. I was shocked by the conduct of the current mayor as I read John Tredrea’s news story last week and later horrified when I watched the tape. Every voter in Hopewell Township should watch the tape, which is available at the police station for $5, or see John’s story at www.hopewellvalleynews.com. The events of the May 2003 committee meeting really should be known to everyone.
June Montanari, Hopewell Township
What’s right with high school sports
To the editor:
   
Over this past couple of weeks, I’ve been fortunate to witness something pretty special within our communities (Lawrence and Hopewell), when the boy’s high school basketball teams played each other twice. The first game was during school break, often a time when games get low attendance. However, this game was at the first annual John Molinelli Invitational Tournament and the 1000 seat Hopewell gym was packed. Hopewell won this tightly contested game. Then, on Jan. 14, the two teams met at Lawrence, again, to a capacity crowd. This time Lawrence got the win.
   What was special about these two games is that the players on both teams are very close friends with their opponents, so while they played very hard to win, after each of the games, all of the boys from both teams got together for a huge pizza party at one of the senior’s parent’s homes (the Molinellis in Hopewell and the Steins in Lawrence).
   These boys were all playing against each other at the game when John Molinelli suffered his fatal heart attack, and in the months since then, many of them have played on the same AAU team, traveling around the US, representing our area, while improving their games and becoming even closer friends. These two high school teams really form one large "basketball family" and it was truly unique to see how after such a hard-fought game, they could sit together and talk about what had happened on the court that night.
   Too often, familiar rivals can generate a bitter competition when the idea of "winning" pushes aside "sportsmanship"- but then nobody really wins. So when the Lawrence kids started to chant "He’s from Lawrence!" at current Hopewell leader Jeff Molinelli, it brought more laughter than anger from the teams and the spectators.
   It’s a good reminder that, no matter how tough the rivalry may be on the court, the more important thing is how sports can be positive community events, where playing hard and participating is its own reward, for the players, their families and their friends. My friend John Molinelli would have been proud of both teams for their efforts on the court and off, in the tournament which will continue to honor his involvement for many years to come.
Michael Slom, Lawrenceville
Southern Neighborhoods meeting tonight
To the editor:
   
The next meeting of Southern Neighborhoods will be tonight, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building auditorium. Paul Schneier, of Beazer Homes, will talk through some of the options we might have given the neighborhood goals tabulated on Jan. 13.
   At the last meeting we decided (19-1 with two abstentions) to hire Tamara Lee as a consultant for the neighborhood group.
   Our goal tabulation provided the following priorities:
   Public open space, 180 points;
   Community amenities, 178;
   Site design features, 130;
   Traffic control, 117;
   Sewers, 115; and
   Fiscal issues, 112.
   We look forward to seeing you all. If you have any questions, please call Bill Piper at 737-2402, or e-mail: [email protected].
Bill Piper, Hopewell Township
Betty Gantz says thanks
Dear friends:
   
I’m overwhelmed with all the ways you’ve remembered me since my husband Robert A. Gantz died on Jan 2, 2005. You’ve sent cards, made phone calls, sent food, etc. Thank you again.
Betty Gantz, Hopewell Borough
Amen!
To the editor:
   
Thank you God, the Almighty, for giving Managing Editor Ruth Luse the courage to say what she did in last week’s Editor’s Notebook. It’s too bad that there aren’t many more editors who would do the same. I have nothing else to say other than Amen, Amen, Amen.
Sevy Di Cocco, Hopewell Township
Shouldn’t have to go away
To the editor:
   
After reading your Jan. 13 Town Forum piece: "It’s time for this nation’s majority to defend itself," I am worried that the managing editor of our local newspaper has lost the ability to discuss differences of opinion without calling for a national referendum on the issue. You state that you wish people like Michael Newdow — the atheist who brought a suit to remove the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and who now wants there to be no Bible at the swearing in of the president — would just "go away." Mr. Newdow is an atheist. You are not. Just because you disagree with him is no reason for him to go away.
   Another issue in your column is that we don’t have prayer in public school. As a public school teacher, I am grateful we don’t have Bible readings or prayer in school because in my classes I have Jewish, Christian, Hindu and Muslim children: I would be very uncomfortable reading the Christian Bible to my students. I believe that learning to coexist with other belief systems is possible. But I suppose closing your mind and telling others to "go away" is easier.
Mary Schmidt, Hopewell