From the issue of Nov. 10, 2005
New senior zone raises questions
To the editor:
Several questions come to mind regarding a developer’s proposal to create an age-restricted housing zone on Route 1 behind the Burger King and R.P.M. Auto Parts.
Since the specifics of this zoning change were originated by the Baker Company (the developer), it is clear that the applicant is the only beneficiary. If there was ever an example of spot zoning in the purist sense, this is it. What was the township planner thinking when he recommended this zoning change? It is the job of the Planning Board to set the direction of our zoning not the developers.
It is unwise to consider this Route 1 parcel for a senior housing complex. The tract is a huge hole in the ground and unsuitable for such a residential use. It was mined for sand for decades and left abandoned. It has no access to any needed facilities or service except a Burger King, an auto parts store, and a busy four-lane highway. Is this where we want our senior citizens to live? In an unsightly hole-in-the-ground? Surely, the township could do better.
As to the subject of affordability, the developer’s proposal is far from affordable. Units selling at more that $250,000, on seven units per acre with 55-foot high buildings are cetainly not a bargain. This proposal, as designed, will yield 190 units on 12.5 buildable acres (after open space is removed from the 27.5 acre tract). Do the members of the Planning Board and Township Council realize the consequence of such a plan? If approved, it will be the most undesirable living environment for seniors in the township. The Township Council should reject this recommendation for a zoning change.
The township planner should have questioned the wisdom of the proposal instead of assisting the developer. By what authority should a township-paid planner assist a developer with a zoning change? Has anyone thought of the hardships which would be imposed on senior citizens living in high-rise elevator-less buildings? Highway frontage is no the place to locate a development for seniors. There are no amenities that would benefit their life style. This is a clear case of bad planning, spot zoning and a financial windfall for the developer.
Frank J. Chrinko
Kendall Park
Ice cream shop a great addition
To the editor:
Cold Stone Creamery has embraced our community and has reached out to South Brunswick PAL to sponsor its youth programs.
At times in a community our size, the small town feeling of belonging goes by the wayside. The owners have gone out of their way to ensure that this isn’t the case.
Walk into the doors of this quaint ice cream shop, and you will be greeted by energetic, singing youngsters, many of whom were former athletes of PAL and now attend our high school.
Not only have the owners, Joyce and Don Hatter, shown initiative in establishing a close relationship with our organization, they have also provided our young people with an additional opportunity for employment in a town where positions have been limited until recently.
The owners were gracious enough to engage PAL in a partnership for their grand opening and have donated a large portion of those proceeds to our program. They continue to support our efforts and were more than happy to assist us at a Pop Warner home football game.
If you haven’t had the chance to experience this unique ice cream product, you are in for a treat. Stop by their store on Route 27 and see what all the buzz is about. The PAL and the South Brunswick community welcome Joyce and Don, and wish them continued success in their future endeavors.
Audrey Bonfiglio
South Brunswick PAL
Kendall Park
Event was real treat
To the editor:
On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 29, Tailgate Trick or Treat was held for South Brunswick residents at Woodlot park. This is the fourth year for this annual event, and it was a tremendous success. Over 350 participants enjoyed the car decorating contest, roving entertainer and magician Ben Lipman, goody bags, pumpkin painting and most of all "Tailgate Trick or Treating."
On behalf of the South Brunswick Department of Recreation and Community Affairs, I would like to acknowledge the businesses and organizations that made contributions and the volunteers who contributed their time, enthusiasm and skills to the program. Their dedication to our community made this event possible.
Thank you to the following businesses and organizations for their generous donations, assistance and support: South Brunswick PBA and DARE and Cushia Rullo, event coordinator for The Girl Scout Troops of South Brunswick; Guiseppe’s, Frankie’s Café, Kendall Park Pizzeria, Dusal’s, Capriccio’s Pizza, Burger King, McDonald’s, Cold Stone Creamery, Confectionately Yours, Dunkin Donuts, Princeton Sports Center, Kendall Park Roller Rink, Grand Slam, Ausome Candies Inc., Pleasant Hill Farm, Stop and Shop of Dayton, Vonthun’s Country Market, Amato’s Garden Center Nursery & Landscaping.
Also, I would like to thank the following individual volunteers: Deputy mayor Carol Barrett, Joe Camerota and Charlie Carley for helping with the judging of the cars and the pumpkin painting; CCD students of St. Cecilia’s and St. Augustine’s; Rutger’s Prep High School students for helping with the food table.
Finally, I would like to thank the Department of Parks & Recreation Staff: Jennifer Petri, Nancy Messina, Marybeth Miele, Ricky Luca, Rex Mangrum, Stephen Dahl, and Greg Aaron all of whom went far beyond the call of duty to make this event an unqualified success.
Pat Papenberg
Program Coordinator
Department of Recreation and Community Affairs
South Brunswick
Aghast at former board member
To the editor:
In his letter to the editor in the Nov. 3 edition of the Post, Paul Prodomo talks of how he tried to "limit excessive raises" for teachers during contract negotiations a few years back. His beef teachers got a 5 percent raise rather than the national average of 3 percent and thus raised our taxes.
I’m appalled. I really am. Our teachers are professionals. They all received bachelors’ degrees, many have masters’ degrees, and some have doctorates, and they go into teaching, most of the time, as a "calling." They (hopefully) know they will never be rich, but they do deserve a reasonable standard of living.
Over the past few years, some of our most talented and dedicated teachers have either left to teach in other districts or to give up teaching altogether. Do you know why? Money. They can’t afford to live on so little money. When they leave, we have to train new teachers, at a huge cost to our district and to our kids, who will be practiced on by first-year teachers with exactly one semester of experience in a classroom. Does Dr. Prodromo think this is preferable to simply paying teachers a little more money?
I am all for reasonable taxes, and yes, in the last few years my taxes have increased quite a bit. I believe just about everyone in New Jersey has experienced a huge increase in their rate because it’s expensive to run this state, and the towns within it. But I would like to point out that we still pay some of the lowest property taxes in Middlesex County and people keep moving here because of the excellent quality of the schools. So even if we are paying more than we were a few years ago, we are still getting a lot of bang for our buck.
Please remember that our teachers are one of the keys to a bright future for South Brunswick.
Judy Walters
Kendall Park
Thanks from Project Graduation
To the editor:
Project Graduation would like to thank everyone who made the Haunted Hayride a success. Thanks to Tom Morris and the Recreation Department for all their help and allowing us to run the hayride for a much needed fundraiser and to the Dardanis for their help and guidance in our first endeavor into this event. Thanks to Murphy’s Funeral Home for loaning us a casket for one of our scenes. Thanks to South Brunswick Board of Education, the township, the Kishes and the Gramatas for loaning us the generators needed for electricity.
Thanks to all of the Project Graduation parents who helped with the hayride, especially to Dawn Chromey for all of her behind-the-scenes work, my husband Bob, for doing everything, Rick Kish, and a huge thanks to Amy and Mark Kaczowski for putting in a great deal of time before, during and after the event.
The hayride never would have come together without their hard work and ideas.
Thanks to our senior students who worked the trail especially Brittany Kaczowski, Tyler Chromey, Joe Merritt and Bobby Long for working both nights and putting on great scenes. Thanks to our sophomores and juniors who came to our rescue when help was needed on Saturday night.
The money made from this event is a great start to the $45,000 needed to be raised for our Project Graduation night for our 586 graduating seniors. Our next big fundraiser will be our Craft Show on Saturday, Nov. 26, at SBHS from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 80 tables have been sold and it is sure to be a not-to-be missed event.
Mariann Long
Chairwoman
Project Graduation
South Brunswick

