LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, April 29
Event owes success to many sponsors
To the editor:
We wish to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the Women’s College Club of Princeton’s Scholarship Bridge Benefit held at the Present Day Club on April 11.
The event was a great success, raising over $2,000 for scholarships for young women entering college this fall. The benefit lunch is one of many club programs throughout the year. We also sponsor trips and a fashion show, all to raise money for our scholarship goal. We are always eager to welcome potential members and other guests to our programs.
We particularly thank the following merchants who donated so generously to our benefit: Chevy’s Fresh Mex, Lawrence; Hot Locks Hair and Nail Salon, Franklin Park; La Principessa, Kingston; McCaffrey’s, Princeton; NJ Perfect Nails, Montgomery; Off-Broadstreet Theatre, Hopewell; Pennington Quality Market, Pennington; Peppi’s Hair Design, Rocky Hill; Princeton Fitness & Wellness Center, Princeton; Robinson’s Fine Candies, Montgomery; Thomas Sweet, Princeton; Zorba’s Brothers Restaurant, Princeton; Just Because Florist, Kingston; Macy’s Department Store, Lawrence; Metropolis Salon, Princeton; and Bernard’s Salon and Day Sapa, West Windsor.
Kathleen Hutchins
Benefit Chair
Women’s College Club of Princeton
Princeton
Quieter life has its drawbacks
To the editor:
I moved here with my family from Williamsburg in Brooklyn last July for a quieter life.
Yesterday, I had my $1,000 mountain bike stolen from my closed garage at the back of my house by someone who must have known it was in there to steal. Nothing else was taken. Coincidentally, for the last three weeks, local kids have been cutting through my elderly neighbors’ garden something local police say they can do nothing about.
Contrasting this, I left my cell phone in the back of a Manhattan cab yesterday and the cab driver made a special trip back to my office building to drop the phone off with the concierge when he could have easily stolen it.
Adrian Wilson
Jefferson Road
Princeton
Case proves need for advance directives
To the editor:
I’ve been thinking about matters of death and dying on a regular basis for the past 13 years. I do this not because of any morbid preoccupation with death, but because it’s a big part of the work that I do as a hospice social worker, later life planning consultant and grief counselor.
Based on my experience, I can say with confidence that most people, were they to find themselves in the same situation as Terri Schiavo, would choose to refuse all forms of life-sustaining medical treatment and be kept as comfortable as possible as nature takes its course. They realize, as we all should, that this is a highly personal decision and one that our courts have ruled belongs to the individual or one authorized to act on her behalf.
Contrary to what’s been said about it, the Schiavo case was not about the right to die. It was about the right of the individual to control her medical treatment, a right that seemed to have been settled 15 years ago, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Nancy Cruzan case that every person has the right to refuse any and all forms of unwanted medical treatment; that a surrogate can make those decisions for an incapacitated loved one; and that there is no difference between feeding tubes and other forms of medical treatment.
While the Cruzan family was united in carrying out what they and the probate court believed was what Nancy would have wanted, the Schiavo family was divided. Unfortunately, Terri left no written record of her desire. Had she taken the little time required to complete an advance directive, either a living will or health care power of attorney, her loved ones and the nation would have been spared an ordeal. Sadly, Terri was no different from the great majority of Americans, only 15 to 25 percent of whom have such documents. Among young people (Terri was only 25 when she became incapacitated), the figure is even lower.
If the Schiavo case taught us anything, it should be the importance of sharing our feelings about this type of situation with our loved ones, and then putting our wishes in writing. Do you have an advance directive? For a free copy of a simple advance directive that does not require the services of an attorney or a notary, please call us at (609) 430-7250.
Laurie Powsner
Executive Director
Funeral Consumers Alliance of Princeton
Cherry Hill Road
Princeton
NPDC agreement collaborative effort
To the editor:
The good news is out. Montgomery Township and the State of New Jersey have reached a deal on the North Princeton Developmental Center and we are overjoyed. The mission of the Citizens’ Committee from the very beginning was to help our township secure NPDC at a fair price. We worked very hard to understand everything we could about the site and the parties involved. We made the decision to keep an open line of communication with the township and the state, and that both parties would be treated fairly and with respect. We believed this approach was the best way to make sure citizens’ voices would be heard and, at the same time, keep the door open for a deal to be made at any time.
The Citizens’ Committee did not work alone in trying to help Montgomery Township secure this site. We are proud to have been a part of the efforts of many people who worked hard on this issue.
We appreciated the support and dedication of our township officials including Mayor Louise Wilson, Committeeman John Warms, Committeeman Mark Caliguire, Township Attorney Kristina Hadinger and Township Administrator Donato Nieman.
We would also like to thank state Treasurer John McCormac for keeping his word and getting this done. We appreciate the efforts of his staff, including Ed Jenkins and Tom Miller, and the hard work from the Department of Environmental Protection.
Dr. Stuart Schnur, superintendent of schools, Laure Scasserra, director of Montgomery Kid Connection, school administrators, their staff and the PTA were instrumental in distributing our letter through backpacks and e-mail and enabling hundreds of letters to be sent to the governor. Thank you.
We appreciated the support of Brad Fay, president of Van Harlingen Historical Society, and his organization. They worked hard to bring awareness of the historical significance of the NPDC property to Montgomery residents and to the state. We would also like to thank Montgomery resident George Zoffinger for his support and encouragement along the way. The Citizens’ Committee also acknowledges the hard work of Sue Repko and many others that brought attention to this issue.
Finally, we thank you, the residents of Montgomery Township, for pulling together for a common goal. Your calls, letters and e-mails made a difference. We also appreciated your support to our committee these past eight months as well.
We must remember, there is still a lot of work to be done to make the transition from what NPDC looks like today to the vision we all have of what it can become for our community. We encourage all Montgomery residents to get involved in its transformation and be a part of NPDC’s future.
The Citizens’ Committee for NPDC
Valerie Smith
Kemper Lakes Court
Sandra Arnold
Yale Terrace
Patrick Bradley
Wild Azalea
Frank Derby
Greenbriar Court
Michael Fedun
Oxford Circle
Hugh Hurley
Normandy Court
Kevin Lynch
Westminster Court
Wade Martin
Red Oak Way
Debbie Meola
Burnt Hill
Richard Smith
Kemper Lakes Court
Charlie Waltz
Silverethorn
Montgomery
Smith, Warms merit special recognition
To the editor:
As a member of the Montgomery Township Citizens’ Committee for the transfer of North Princeton Developmental Center, I join with them in thanking all of the individuals who had a hand in bringing about the agreement with the state Treasury Department to sell the property to Montgomery Township. While all those involved certainly deserve recognition, I know I speak on behalf of all of our members in adding a particular thank you to our leader, Valerie Smith, and to Township Committeeman John Warms.
The committee is a diverse group of talented individuals who would not have had any impact without the energy and leadership of Ms. Smith. Ms. Smith saw the need for action, took action and kept the rest of us in action during the many months we endeavored to draw attention to the issue. She did so tirelessly and without any need to draw attention to herself, and she encouraged us to keep focused and resolved as the process played itself out. In her gentle yet persuasive manner, she pushed until the deal was done.
Finally, the people of Montgomery should know of and be thankful for the talent and work of John Warms. Mr. Warms lent his efforts particularly when they were needed most, and he tied up the deal with his unique personal touch. He had as much, and more, to do with our success as anyone.
Simply put, Montgomery Township is a better place today because of Valerie Smith and John Warms.
Michael Fedun
Oxford Circle
Montgomery
School budget defeat presents an opportunity
To the editor:
Many concerned citizens in Montgomery see the recent defeat of the school budget as a victory. Others see it as a slap in the face. I see this as an opportunity for school leadership and residents to reflect on their responsibilities and take steps to enhance our educational community.
I believe that insufficient community involvement in school district decision-making, especially in the development of the laptop initiative and transportation plan, ultimately led to the largest turnout in recent history by Montgomery residents and to the defeat of the school budget. This outcome and the accompanying hard feelings could have been avoided if our educational community had been guided by the Education Leadership Constituent Council Standards for Educational Leadership.
I first came into contact with the ELCC standards as I began to pursue my master’s degree in educational administration/school leadership at Rider University. The school leadership program at Rider is based upon these standards, which have become the benchmark for advanced educational leadership programs at many colleges and universities as well as being adopted by many state boards of education.
While the ELCC standards deal with the responsibilities and expectations that are set for school leaders such as principals and superintendents, members of the community and the board of education have a shared responsibility along with school leadership because the standards are unachievable without the participation of all three.
The ELCC standards discuss the development and stewardship of an educational vision that is shared and supported by the school community. Standard No. 4 is of special importance. It calls for school leaders to collaborate with families and other community members, respond to community needs and interests, and mobilize community resources. We have the opportunity as one educational community guided by the ELCC standards to cooperate and resolve community concerns and improve conditions within our district’s schools. This opportunity can be secured through the formation of a community and parent representative body guided by the standards to deal with school leadership on issues of community concern.
Montgomery faces many future challenges in regard to educational funding. We must be even more inventive and industrious in pursuing funding than other districts that do not share our predominantly residential composition or financial circumstances. Fortunately, Montgomery is a community with tremendous professional and technical assets that have gone largely untapped. These assets can be utilized in many ways, such as through the creation of a community asset guide. This guide would provide school leadership with the names and professions of community members who volunteer their expertise. From this guide, community action groups can be formed to work with school officials in exploring educationally related learning initiatives, grants and corporate partnerships to compensate for a lack of state funding while decreasing the need for consulting expenses and lessening the burden on taxpayers. Additionally, these focus groups can lobby Trenton for changes.
The bell of opportunity has been rung.
Robert M. Church
Elm Drive
Montgomery
Administrators, board must adjust image of community
To the editor:
On April 19, months of bitter controversy in Montgomery Township culminated in voters’ overwhelming rejection of the school district budget. Although parents and taxpayers had voiced strong objections to the new school schedule and budget for weeks, administrators and school board members were still surprised by the resounding defeat of the budget.
To avoid repetition of this unpleasant and damaging episode in the future, there need to be major changes in the processes of communication and consultation, some of which are in the works.
The superintendent has announced that a systematic survey of parent views on transportation and schedule issues will be designed during the summer, with substantial parental involvement, and conducted by October. It is essential that the preferences of parents guide future decisions about transportation plans and school schedules.
The Board of Education is considering hiring a public information officer. This officer should not only ensure the timely dissemination of accurate information but also spearhead a commitment to community involvement.
A third needed step is development of a clear public understanding of the role of the PTA. If the PTA is not going to vigorously represent parents’ views in meaningful consultations with administrators, other mechanisms need to be found to ensure that parents’ views are carefully considered early in the decision-making process.
Beyond these specific steps, there need to be changes in attitudes and assumptions.
Some administrators have assumed that they could "put the kids first" and disregard the impact of decisions on parents. That outlook fails to understand how placing greater financial stress and time pressures on parents will affect families as a whole. Parents do not simply propagate children and then pay school districts to educate them; they are intimately involved in the whole process of their children’s learning. School schedules that make it impossible for parents who work late to spend quality time with their children will have negative effects on the kids.
Some administrators appeared to believe that the great majority of Montgomery families have one breadwinner and one non-working spouse who could easily accommodate a dramatic schedule change. This may be an obsolete image of the community, in which there are many families with two working parents or at least two parents who would like to work if the school schedule permitted it.
One of the striking aspects of the April 19 election results is that residents of District 1 voted by more than a 3-1 margin against the budget (628-206), while other districts voted by 3-2 or 2-1 margins against the budget. Since the many townhouses in District 1 have valuations far below the average Montgomery assessment, it seems likely that many voted not only against a tax increase but also in protest against a school schedule that would have very negative effects on their families. Administrators and board members should consider adjusting their images of the Montgomery community, which has changed significantly in recent years.
David Foglesong
Chicopee Drive
Montgomery
Put rumors to rest near Canal Pointe
To the editor:
West Windsor Township has received several calls regarding the construction of a new office building at 902 Carnegie Center. There is apparently a misunderstanding that this project is in some way associated with or related to the potential relocation of the University Medical Center at Princeton. This is untrue and it should be noted that the hospital board has not made any decision to relocate to West Windsor or any other neighboring municipality in the region.
The property being cleared for 902 Carnegie extends from Carnegie Center Boulevard to the Marriott Residence Inn. There is some additional access work that is being done near the Marriott and a detention basin on the north side of Carnegie Center Boulevard is being enlarged. This development will provide a number of pedestrian improvements including a linkage from the office space to the restaurants and the MarketFair.
If a request is made by Princeton HealthCare System to relocate the facility to the township, all residents will have every opportunity to express their opinions and participate in the public process associated with such relocation. Any decision to relocate would require a Master Plan revision and a zoning change.
Christopher R. Marion
Business Administrator
West Windsor Township
Clarksville Road
West Windsor
Interviewers respond to ‘yes man’ charge
To the editor:
In a recent letter, George Borek, a candidate for the West Windsor Township Council, discussed his unsuccessful effort to secure the endorsement of Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh and his campaign team, thereby enabling him to run as part of the mayor’s slate of candidates.
Mr. Borek asserts that during the interview process, he was asked if he could be a "yes man" for the mayor. The notion that a candidate interviewing committee would pose such a question is so absurd as to be almost laughable. This complete falsehood and concocted story by Mr. Borek raises serious questions about his integrity and the unprincipled measures he would take to achieve victory.
Mr. Borek was one of 10 possible candidates interviewed. Interestingly, not one of the other nine possible candidates ever suggested that such a question Mr. Borek alleges was posed to him was asked of them.
Mr. Borek was not selected to run on the mayor’s slate because, to the amazement of the interviewing committee, he could not identify and discuss the major issues and problems in the township. Hopefully, he has been tutored since and has become more knowledgeable. In addition, he had no prior involvement in any of our township’s volunteer activities that would enable us to judge his abilities.
Candidates should be judged on their records, their command of the issues and what they hope to accomplish if elected. Mr. Borek should not be poisoning the political environment by mudslinging and uttering untruths. Ugly gutter politics will not be tolerated by the electorate.
We will continue to take the high ground and not stoop to Mr. Borek’s level and will continue to work to restore civility in local politics.
Be forewarned, Mr. Borek. The voters will see through any last-minute dirty campaign tactics and will send a clear message on Election Day. They will vote for the Community Vision Team composed of Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, Heidi Kleinman and Linda Geevers, who, in contrast to Mr. Borek, have a combined 20-plus years’ record of township service and have made positive and substantial contributions inuring to the benefit of the township and its residents.
Marvin Gardner
Coneflower Lane
Franc Gambatese
Lanark Drive
Fu-Grand Lin
Brookfield Way
West Windsor
Miller, Siegel, Borek best for West Windsor
To the editor:
West Windsor has a choice in the municipal election on May 10 for a new mayor and two new council members. That choice will set the tone and direction for the next four years.
The choice for my husband, John, my mother, Ann Clauser, and myself goes to Alison Miller for mayor and David Siegel and George Borek for Township Council. Alison Miller is unafraid to make decisions and willing to take action on long overdue promises and projects. Alison has generously given countless hours to serve this town and as mayor she will be involving the whole community in decisions.
David Siegel regularly attends West Windsor Council meetings and recommends many thoughtful approaches and solutions to community issues. George Borek is a decorated firefighter who is "not a yes man" and is willing to speak up on issues, and to voice much-needed opposition.
It is for these reasons that I encourage all West Windsor voters to lend their support to Alison Miller for mayor and David Siegel and George Borek for West Windsor Council.
Rae Roeder
Former member
West Windsor Township Council
Washington Road
West Windsor
Pleased that Hsueh is seeking re-election
To the editor:
We are pleased that Mayor Shing-Fu Hseuh has agreed to run for another term in office.
We moved to West Windsor in 1968. Since that time, we have seen the demands of the office of mayor greatly increase.
Now we are fortunate to have a mayor with the education, the work experience and the ability to deal with other government agencies for the benefit of our community. Mayor Hseuh has been tireless in his pursuit of what is best for West Windsor.
We urge all West Windsor voters to cast their votes for Mayor Hseuh and his running mates, Heidi Heinman and Linda Geevers, on May 10.
Paul and Ruth Finkelstein
Springwood Drive
West Windsor
Geevers is committed to working with public
To the editor:
As a school board member, Linda Geevers worked tirelessly to help maintain high standards of education in the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District, even in the face of rising enrollment and dwindling state funding. She gained broad experience in leading and working within committees to prioritize and plan for the future of the district. Linda’s service record, her professionalism and her knowledge of community issues make her an outstanding candidate for West Windsor Township Council, but she earned my vote through her accessibility as a public servant. Linda Geevers proved to me that she will listen to voters and encourage their input in the decision-making process.
While serving on the school board, Linda addressed my many questions and helped me navigate the procedures of policy-making on the school board. She was generous with her time in helping me understand the budget process and the district’s efforts to tackle safety and facilities issues. On several occasions she notified me of upcoming meetings that might be of interest to me. She repeatedly encouraged me and others in the community to attend school board meetings to make our opinions count. Linda empowered me with the information and the support I needed to speak out. Linda Geevers is a woman committed to working with taxpayers as partners in solving difficult problems within the community.
Linda has experience working on logistical issues such as prioritizing capital improvements to school facilities. She has also worked on the loftier task of creating a strategic plan guiding the district’s future. Her experience in these areas, coupled with her commitment to making local government accessible to all, make her an ideal candidate to help West Windsor move forward at this critical point in time.
I hope you will join me in voting on May 10 for Linda Geevers and fellow Community Vision Team members, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh and Heidi Kleinman.
Catherine Foley
Hawthorne Drive
West Windsor
Mayor’s team willing to work with others
To the editor:
I have known the mayor of West Windsor for the past several years, having worked with him during my time as part of the West Windsor Arts Council. I trust the mayor and his Community Vision Team of Heidi Klienman and Linda Geevers.
Heidi, whom I also met at the WWAC, has worked hard on the Planning Board, while Linda, a recent member of our school board, has worked diligently on behalf of our children.
Take a look at all the things the mayor has accomplished in the last four years. Projects that were laying idle for decades have been brought to life and work has started resulting in grants and other contributions of over $20 million. We need a team that is willing to work with others and get things done, rather than engage in endless discussions on the complexity of issues leading to no action at all.
Your vote can make a difference. Vote May 10 for the Community Vision Team Heidi Kleinman, Linda Geevers and Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh.
Dan Zibman
Arnold Drive
West Windsor