Letters-Jan. 27, 2005

Streets becoming

highway shortcuts
To the editor:
   I disagree with Mr. Kozik’s assessment in last week’s Beacon, concerning the city’s planned installation of traffic calming devices — "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."
   One of the big reasons I moved here 18 years ago was the desire to live in a small city where my family and I could walk everywhere on our daily errands — to the bank, post office and school. In those 18 years, we have seen a huge rise in the volume of daily traffic and in the average size of the vehicle, especially from rush-hour commuters, who are increasingly using our residential streets as highway shortcuts.
   I attended many of the city’s presentations for these upcoming traffic calming changes, and while I do not know if these actions will accomplish all of what they promise, I do know that in this charming 19th-century village, we have some serious 21st-century traffic-pedestrian-neighborhood issues that need addressing.
   First, what is the purpose of these traffic-calming devices?
   The major purpose of these devices is to better distinguish neighborhood streets from major roads. This is accomplished by adding speed bumps, raised intersections, bulb-outs and mini-circles to those areas where enhanced safety, reduced speed and increased visibility for the users (pedestrian, motorist or cyclist) are concerns.
   Some people seem to be misinformed as to the types and size of these changes and think the mini-circles will be like those huge monsters in Flemington — they won’t.
   Others fear the increased danger and times required by heavy emergency vehicles to negotiate these devices. As far as I know, input from the local fire departments and rescue squad was welcome and incorporated into these designs.
   Second, everyone who walks in our city is aware of the many dangerous and ugly traffic situations we have.
   Can I mention the woman who, only a few months ago, wrote in this very "Letters to the Editor" spot about the repeated failure of drivers to yield to her in crosswalks while she was pushing a baby stroller?
   Could anyone stand for a few minutes at the residential corner of York Street and North Franklin at 8:30 a.m. on a weekday, watching the volume of speeding, non-signaling traffic and not feel like this was a major highway shortcut?
   And I cannot safely recommend you try using the pedestrian crossing at Route 165 and New Brunswick Pike at any time of the day or night.
   Third, New Jersey Department of Transportation policy states one has to consider the needs of all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and neighbors, such as residents and businesses, as well as motorists.
   Tests in cities after installation of these bumps, bulbs and islands show marked increases in pedestrian activity with improved health benefits to those walkers and increased driver attentiveness, which translates into fewer accidents.
   Finally, I wish The Beacon and the City of Lambertville could do a better job of informing and educating the community as to what these traffic-calming plans entail, what they hope to accomplish and who is paying the bill.
   I would also hope somebody is planning to make some changes to the pedestrian signal at the corner of Bridge and Union streets. The huge length of the time between red/green changes and the necessity to activate the pedestrian crossing signal with a button to walk across Bridge Street has led to disregarding the non-activated crossing signal and increased jaywalking at this highly traveled spot.

Scott MacNeill
Lambertville

South FBLA

grateful for support
To the editor:
   The South Hunterdon Future Business Leaders of America and advisor, JoAnne Bruno, wanted to take the opportunity to thank the administration, faculty, staff, students, parents, members of the Key Club of South Hunterdon and all of the other members of the community for their support of our recent holiday projects.
   The "Giving Tree" was a huge success and accomplishment. Fisherman’s Mark provided us with ornaments for the less fortunate members of our community, and we were able to collect all 103 gifts for the children who made a wish list.
   Also on the tree were ornaments for local soldiers who are serving our country in Iraq. We are still in the process of gathering those items, boxing them and will soon be sending them to the addresses given to us by their families.
   The coat drive was a thriving collection of useable coats that were delivered to Fisherman’s Mark for distribution. We were able to collect over 120 coats and still have the box by the main office for anyone who didn’t get here before the holidays. We plan to leave it there until the end of January.
   The toy drive ran along with the Giving Tree so we could give local children things other than they may have asked for on their list. Students brought in toys and competed for the most toys by homeroom in order to win a pizza lunch that was provided by Donald Woodring.
   An anonymous donor had a huge collection of toys delivered to the school as well.
   We would also like to thank the business leaders in the community who donated items to our recent FBLA Family Bingo Night as well as our thanks to those who played bingo, making the event a successful fund-raiser.
   We would like to say a big thank you to the following businesses who donated items as prizes — Anton’s at the Swan, Charles Rose Masonry, Ennis’ Deli, Finkle’s Hardware, the Nixons, Homestead Market, Inn of the Hawk, Kelly McDowell Antiques, Lambertville Station, the Medicine Shoppe, Mike Cifelli’s Sunoco, Fancee Plants, Pine Creek Miniature Golf, Poco’s Restaurant in Doylestown, Siam Restaurant, Stanley Cleaners and the York Street Bed and Breakfast.
   The South Hunterdon FBLA would like to say thank you again to all of the people in the community who helped make this December our most successful month ever.
   We trust the community will continue their generous support for our future projects.

JoAnne Bruno
on behalf of
the Future Business
Leaders of America
South Hunterdon
West Amwell

Board actions

must be publicized
To the editor:
   In the last couple of weeks, the public relations committee of South Hunterdon High School has been reactivated, and several releases of information were published in The Beacon.
   Even the editorial board of the newspaper endorsed an action at South.
   This is greatly appreciated and recommendable. It is hoped the Board of Education at South continues to tell more about its actions in order to improve the transparency of its doings.
   The residents of West Amwell, Lambertville and Stockton have a certain right to know more about their regional high school.
   For instance, the public in those three towns would like to know the goals and objectives agreed upon between the board and the recently hired new superintendent plus her salary and benefits and the goals and objectives of the less-recently hired principal of the high school.
   The exit interview with the previous superintendent would be of interest. Members of the board meet in different committees. The time and place of these meetings should be publicly announced just like the monthly general meeting. The minutes of the general meeting as well as these committee meeting should be available at the general meeting.
   The note "attachment 1 and 2" and so on is insufficient. Even the minutes of the executive session represent eventually public domain after a timely review. To do those things otherwise violates the New Jersey Sunshine Law.
   More transparency of the actions of the board would in the long run benefit the board itself more than anybody else.

Gisbert Manskopf
West Amwell

Chamber changes

Shad Fest dates
To the editor:
   As the Chamber of Commerce gears up for the 24th annual Shad Festival, it has become necessary to move the date of this award-winning event.
   The 2005 Shad Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22.
   Reasons for the change are several fold.
   First, the weather is more stable in May. It has rained one day during the festival over the past three years.
   Second, several key volunteers have retired from the chamber board and from the Shad Festival staff, and more time is needed to produce the event.
   Third, the chamber office is in the midst of a major relocation. There was not enough time to properly produce the event.
   After speaking with several of our longtime supporters, including the Lewis family and the Boat Club and our major sponsors, the board of directors changed the date to Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22.
   The decision was not made lightly. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to another great year celebrating the Delaware River and the beautiful place we call home.
   Please look for upcoming information at www.lambertville.org.
   Contact us on our new Shad Fest hotline — (609) 397-SHAD or e-mail [email protected].

Steven Stegman
chairman
Shad Festival 2005
Lambertville