LETTERS

From the issue of Dec. 1, 2005.

A community coming together
To the editor:
   St. Barnabas Episcopal Church would like to thank the many members of the community that crowded our church on Sunday evening, Nov. 21, for the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, sponsored by the South Brunswick Area Clergy Association.
   South Brunswick Police Department Detective Jim Ryan’s presentation of the post-Katrina travails of South Brunswick’s partner town of D’Ibeville, Miss., was gripping and the people present responded with an offering of $781 for "South Brunswick Rallies for Relief."
   The readings and musical offerings by the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian congregations represented reminded us all that we can come together for worship, fellowship, and a common cause while respecting and even celebrating our differences.
   This annual service, which has recently been hosted by the Islamic Society of Central Jersey, the Six Mile Run Reformed Church of Franklin Park and Congregation B’nai Tikvah, has been a vital part of the life of our community for over a generation.
   There are not many places in the world, sadly, where this kind of service takes place (or is even conceivable). In America it can happen; in the South Brunswick/North Brunswick/Franklin community, it does happen.
The Rev. Francis A. Hubbard

Rector, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

Monmouth Junction

Volunteers made craft show success
To the editor:
   The first South Brunswick High School Project Graduation Craft Show happened this past Saturday and was attended by more than 950 patrons. More than $4,000 was raised to fund an all-night, drug- and alcohol-free party for our graduating senior class. About one-third of the vendors have already signed up for next year’s show and so many were very impressed with how nicely they were treated by all the volunteers, especially the student helpers.
   The success of this event is attributed to the hard work and dedication of so many in this community. Thank you to the following committee chairpersons who put in so much time and dedication behind the scenes for many months to insure it’s success. Mariann Long, Dawn Chromey, Christine Rinaldi, Debbie Katcher, Rose Greco and Laura Graziano, this event wouldn’t have happened without you.
   To the entire Project Graduation Committee who helped with distributing fliers, assembling vendor packets, preparing volunteer badges, installing lawn signs, calling for donations, coloring table numbers, making personal donations of gifts and prizes and baking, I thank you all for your unending willingness to help.
   To Anthony Sudnick, Mike Murphy and their custodian staff at the high school, thank you for all your hard work and cooperation. How many tables did you set up and take down?
   Thank you to Karen Bertucci, you were always eager to help and very supportive to our cause.
   To the following businesses who donated food for our Craft show Cafe: Pierre’s Bakery, My Favorite Muffin, North Brunswick, Dayton Dunkin Donuts, Mendokers Bakery and Bagel Basket, your generosity is very much appreciated.
   Matt Gramata and the "Saxaholics," you guys were great and added so much to the atmosphere of the show.
   To Danielle Chirico, thank you for all your hours of help and for organizing the Concert Choir members to sing, to you and the other singers, I thank you. We received so many compliments on how great you sounded.
   To each and every crafter and vendor, thank you for taking a chance with us and participating in our first craft show. It was a pleasure to work with you and of course there would be no craft show without you.
   To each and every one of the more than 85 student and parent volunteers who helped out on Saturday, whether you worked the bake sale tables, Project Graduation tables, Craft Show Cafe, kitchen, Chinese Auction, front door or hall monitor, collected donations or helped the vendors unload, you were all an integral contributor to the success of the day.
   To all the community members who attended, thank you for participating in this event and helping to keep our kids safe on graduation night. It is always a pleasure to work with and meet such great people, I can hardly wait till next year.
Judy Chirico

Chairwoman

Project Graduation Craft Show

Dayton

Great work on food drive
To the editor:
   I want to thank all of you in our community who helped to make this year’s Thanksgiving food drive a success. We helped 117 families with food baskets and either a turkey or a gift card to purchase one.
   Numbers are up from last year by 18 families. With the aid of the Boy Scouts as well as all of the schools who participated and the many individuals, we would like to thank you on behalf of those families. They were able to have a Thanksgiving filled with all the goodies both you and I had. They even had fresh breads made by the youth group at St. Cecilia’s R.C. Church.
   We need to always remember that there are those living among us who are less fortunate and need a little helping hand.
   We are looking forward to helping even more families during the Christmas/Hanukkah holidays.
LouAnne Wolf

Jeanne Wert

South Brunswick

Social Services