Letters to the Editor, Feb. 10, 2005

We need a home
To the editor:
   
The seniors in the township eagerly await the results of the Hopewell Valley Senior Center Planning Committee report, and also the response from the Hopewell Township Committee. We will not be surprised by the tally of the number of programs already in existence in the local area even as we ask for more. Churches and other social groups do provide a large number of activities, although many have restricted membership, limited space and insufficient communication tools. Many seniors participate in activities at senior centers in bordering townships, which surely is indicative of the problem here and which partially explains the demand for additional programs in our township.
   The problems recently encountered by the Healthy Bones group illustrates some of these issues. Healthy Bones is a weight-bearing exercise program designed to prevent and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. We have been meeting weekly at the Fitness Center in Pennington since 1997. The success of the program is evident in the improved bone density tests of most of the 15 participants. Fitness Center has offered its space at no charge and we are extremity grateful for that. Until 2005 we were funded by the NJ Dept Health and Senior services. They provided training supplies, program manuals, leader training, and liability insurance. However, the State of New Jersey has cut off all funds for this program. The National Arthritis Foundation may pick up the responsibility later, but at the present time we are without support. The lack of liability insurance has made us less than welcome at some facilities. The township room is not large enough for this group, and short-term arrangements at other sites would likely disrupt the continuity of the program.
   We need a home of our own and the support of our community. The proposed Hopewell Valley Senior Center would provide that for us. We strongly support the efforts of the Hopewell Valley Senior Center Committee.
Helen Lee, Hopewell Township
Evil policies
To the editor:
   
I’m a registered Democrat, but I tend to vote for the person, not the party.
   For a number of years now I’ve felt a growing disconnect between the honorable Republicans I know in Hopewell Valley affairs and the policies enacted on the national scene. To my eye, most local Republicans fall under the umbrella Christie Todd Whitman describes in her latest book, "It’s My Party, Too" — believers in limited government, prudence, and fiscal restraint. It’s certainly not the national Republican Party with its ballooning federal deficit and engagement in ill-planned, military adventurism.
   The last straw for me was the confirmation of Alberto Gonzales as attorney general. Mr. Gonzales’ efforts to justify torture are, in my opinion, not just wrong but Evil with a capital E. I followed the Senate debate on Mr. Gonzales’ confirmation, not a single Republican senator had the courage to oppose him.
   When did the Republican Party become the pro-torture party? It’s hard for me to reconcile this with the good people I know in Hopewell Valley. Until moderate Republicans stand up and say no to these horrendous acts of abuse, I feel that I won’t be able to vote for you, even on the local level. Your silence forces me to assume that you agree with their immoral and evil policies.
   Liberal, conservative, it doesn’t matter. Torture is the line that must not be crossed. New Jersey Republicans, don’t legitimize this with your silence. Take back your party, and your honor. Even if you fail, you will regain my respect. All I ask is that you try.
Mary Ellen Curtin, Hopewell Township
Beazer meeting
To the editor:
   
The next meeting of Southern Neighborhoods will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at the Hopewell Township Municipal Building at 7 p.m. At our last meeting, we began to map out development density/scattering priorities using the modeling kit provided by Karl Kehde. It was agreed that Beazer Homes would present multiple density scenarios at the Feb. 15 meeting, and it is assumed that residents will respond with their preferences.
   Hope to see you there.
Bill Piper, Hopewell Township
About Pennington Day
To the editor:
   
It was very nice to see my mother, Beverly Thurman, mentioned in the Editor’s Notebook last week when remembering the first Pennington Day. I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t set the record straight. Pennington Day came into being because of the imagination and hard work of enthusiastic Pennington School alumnus and good family friend, Trafton Tredick. He was the organizer of that first community day. My mother, as mayor, acted to make sure he had the backing of borough council.
Patti Cifelli, Hopewell Township
About Social Security
To the editor:
   
In a recent letter, Ken Hansen pointed out that my Social Security legislation (H.R. 116, the Social Security and Medicare Lock-box Act of 2005) would not address long-term concerns with Social Security funding ("Social Security: Another Viewpoint," Jan. 27). He’s correct, but his analysis fails to recognize the purpose of the bill: to compel Congress to protect Social Security and Medicare first. Specifically, my legislation would prohibit Congress from making decisions to tax the American public or spend revenues unless and until Social Security and Medicare are declared solvent by their respective boards. My legislation would not fix Social Security by itself, but it would ensure that Congress immediately dedicate its energies to finding the moderate, reasonable changes needed to extend Social Security solvency for several generations, other than running up additional debt through tax cuts and spending increases.
   Allowing the Congress to continue borrowing monies from Social Security (with interest) is not a solution for long-term solvency. The reason I proposed my legislation is to get Congress to discuss how we best fine-tune a program that has served the American public so well over the last 70 years. Such a discussion is important, not only because Social Security enables millions of seniors to live with independence and dignity, but also because the privatization schemes currently under review would destroy the program they purport to save.
   According the most recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, if absolutely nothing is done, Social Security will pay out 100 percent of benefits until 2052, and about 80 percent after that. That means that, rather than radically changing the program to increase risk and decrease monthly benefits, we need to slightly adjust the program to make up for the 20 percent of benefits after 2052 (the scale of this shortfall is about one-fifth of the costs of the most recent tax cut signed by the president). Mr. Hansen is right that Social Security is not facing immediate doom. That is why we can – and should – make it a priority now to consider solutions that strengthen Social Security, not weaken it.
Rush Holt, U.S. congressman
No immediate danger
To the editor:
   
As an employee of a Fortune 500 company, you might think I am in favor of the president’s proposal to privatize Social Security. Not true.
   Social Security as we know it is in no immediate danger of shortfall. This cannot be stated strongly enough. To call the situation a "crisis" is a serious exaggeration.
   And the best way to ensure the prolonged viability of Social Security is to pay down the national debt. Period. In fact the economy as a whole will collapse if we don’t work toward that end.
   It disturbs and angers me that President George W. Bush repeatedly uses these public forums to mislead and misinform us. Two years ago it was WMD, this year it is Social Security. What next?
   We as Americans must resist this campaign of lies.
Evan Machlan, Pennington
The true story
To the editor:
   
I read with great interest in your Jan. 13, issue of the Hopewell Valley News Editor’s Notebook, "It ‘s time for this nation’s majority to defend it self."
   I want you to know I totally and strongly agree on your position on these important divisive issues in this country and, that it’s absolutely necessary for the majority to get its act together and get the message out in the open in this country.
   Further, it’s critically important that the media, in publishing these important issues, "tell the true story" of what the majority of Americans believe is right and consistent with our forefathers’ thinking when they wrote and passed our Bill of Rights and Constitution.
Lester K. Hunt, Sarasota, Fla., formerly of Hopewell Township
Support Safe Homes
To Valley parents
and guardians:
   
Thank you for making a personal commitment to the youth of Hopewell Valley by joining Safe Homes. Safe Homes represents a haven for our children in a world where confusing signals are often sent concerning drugs and alcohol. The program is built on the concept that parents and the community must send a clear, unequivocal message to children regarding the hazards of using drugs and alcohol. This is why the high school and the Municipal Alliance are working so closely together in this effort.
   Safe Homes is one of the primary ways the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance connects parents, community, and schools in a community wide anti-drug/anti-alcohol effort. By becoming a Safe Homes parent, you are personally committing to safeguard the health of our community’s children. SafeHomes parents are open communicators who value community norms and understand the conflict adolescents face from peer pressure.
   We all recognize that we live in a society where drugs and alcohol are freely used and abused by adolescents. As a community we must assume the responsibility to educate young people in the skills required for good decision making and appropriate social behavior. Toward that end we encourage you to communicate an unwavering message that drug and alcohol abuse is not condoned by our community. Know where your children are prior to and after social activities. This direct personal level of commitment will assist students in making appropriate decisions concerning drugs and alcohol. By monitoring your children’s whereabouts you communicate a clear message that you care about what they do and with whom they interact. Your intervention is the single most important factor in eradicating teenager drug and alcohol parties in Hopewell Valley.
   Our ultimate goal is to insure the safety of our children and to assist them in making proper choices. Our desire is that they be happy and spirited, but also that they behave responsibly by rejecting drugs and alcohol as a means of recreation. The enclosed Safe Homes brochure contains information about the Municipal Alliance and the data gathered from our students regarding drug and alcohol use. Safe Homes provides a simple but powerful way for you as a parent to respond to the national scourge of drug and alcohol use by our children. We hope that you will step forward and add your name to the list of Hopewell Valley families who have already made a commitment to Safe Homes. Working together we can build a better, safer environment for all our children.
Joseph C. Mangiaracina, CHS principal; Sheryl Stone, chairwoman, Valley Municipal Alliance
Hopewell Master Plan
To the editor:
   
The Hopewell Borough Planning Board has announced it will commence work to update the Borough Master Plan in 2005, and anticipates completion of the plan via public hearing and final adoption prior to year’s end. In advance of this stage, a subcommittee of the Planning Board dedicated much of 2004 preparing the Master Plan Re-Examination Report, which was adopted following public hearing in December. Interested residents are encouraged to review this document for more information regarding recommendations and suggested amendments to be included in the updated Master Plan later this year. The re-examination report is available for inspection at Borough Hall or accessible via the Borough Web site at www.hopewellboro-nj.us.
   During the first half of 2005, or through June 2005, the Planning Board will discuss elements of the Master Plan targeted for revision and as recommended by the Master Plan subcommittee prior to the final draft being offered for public hearing and adoption later in the year. Resident input is welcome, and may be offered during Planning Board meetings (first Wednesday each month, 7:30 p.m. at Borough Hall), via e-mail to [email protected], or in hard copy delivered to Borough Hall and marked Master Plan Subcommittee, PO Box 128, 4 Columbia Avenue, Hopewell, 08525.
   The Master Plan is a written, defined blueprint of projected community needs and development forecasts that to some degree affects all residents of the Borough. The Hopewell Borough Planning Board values the input of all residents as it works to prepare a final document that accurately reflects a collective present and future vision of the Borough.
   For more information regarding the Master Plan process or for a schedule of meeting dates, please contact the Debi Schulze, Planning Board secretary at 466-2636/[email protected].
Joseph Zito, Brad Lyon, Andrew Lea, Peter Macholdt, Master Plan Subcommittee
Words of thanks
To the editor:
   
It was good to see the letter of appreciation in last week’s paper from two of Hopewell Township’s former mayors for the work of Christine Smelter. Marylou Ferrara and Jon Edwards touched on some of her many accomplishments during the six years she served as Hopewell Township Administrator. Unlike elected officials, the township administrator functions pretty much outside the public eye and one’s deeds can go unnoticed.
   I would like to add that, in my own limited interactions with Ms. Smeltzer, I found her to be a top-notch professional, always knowledgeable, courteous and patient. That last virtue was certainly put to the test as she stoically endured some of the most ridiculous, pugnacious, juvenile behavior ever foisted on a public meeting. There were times I wondered whether she might laugh or cry but, always, she kept her equilibrium. I wish her the best in her new pursuits, and I’m sure she will do very well.
   A note of thanks is due to Mr. Edwards and Ms. Ferrara, who distinguished their own terms as Township Committee persons by seeking out the most highly qualified people to serve our municipality. One of the hallmarks of that era was party-blindness when it came to hiring professionals and filling slots on committees and commissions. Credentials were what counted. It was a progressive time for Hopewell Township, due in no small measure to the commitment of Ms. Ferrara and Mr. Edwards to support weighty decisions with the most assiduous fact-finding they could muster. I will never understand how they found the time and energy to do the tons of homework they did in order to be the best public servants they could be. I am deeply grateful for their service and sincerely hope that, after a very well-deserved respite, they will put their considerable talents to use for the public good once again.
Patricia P. Sziber, Titusville