Restore funding
for cancer research
To the editor:
As someone who has been touched by cancer and as an American Cancer Society volunteer, I believe investing in cancer research and programs should be a top national priority.
That’s why I was so disappointed to learn Congress could cut cancer research funding by as much as $100 million this year.
A cut in cancer funding could lead to delays in the development of new cancer-fighting drugs and treatments, screenings that detect cancer at its earliest stages and programs that improve the quality of life of cancer patients. A funding cut would mark the first time in more than a decade the federal government has reduced support for cancer research.
In September, 92 Senators and 280 members of the House signed a letter supporting the Bush administration’s goal to eliminate suffering and death due to cancer by the year 2015. With adequate funding, we can make cancer a disease people live with rather than die from.
Thirty years ago, a cancer diagnosis left many without hope. Today, 10 million Americans are survivors of the disease. Now Congress has the chance to ensure there is enough money invested in research and programs to allow for far more progress in the future.
I urge my Congressional delegation to oppose any cuts in cancer research and programs. Rather than reverse our progress in the war against cancer, Congress should give the gift of hope to cancer patients and their families this holiday season.
New Hope
Volunteers make
dinner a success
To the editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many volunteers, businesses and friends that made the Delaware Valley Council of Churches 2005 community Thanksgiving dinner a success.
It would be impossible to mention every volunteer by name, but may I salute a few of the many dedicated people that made it possible "for me."
First I would like to thank the pastor and the parish family of the St. John the Evangelist Church for hosting the dinner in their parish hall and for their generous sharing of the parish facilities.
Thank you to Monsignor Leon Kasprzyk for the blessing of the food and Pastor Judy Gehrig of the Centenary United Methodist Church and the Rev. Catron of the St. Phillips Chapel for their special prayers.
May I also thank the following businesses for their donations of money, food and volunteer hours Jeanne Blair; suppliers and customers of C.A. Niece Co Inc.; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brusca of the Lambertville Gallery of Fine Arts; Richard T. McDonough of Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home; Marie and Al Varga of Blue Ribbon Flowers in Hamilton; Jerry Bach and Son Masoners, New Hope; Major Victor D. Lance Landscaping Inc., New Hope; Pat and Win Buchanan, general contractors; Judy and Jim Rudderow and Karen at Ennis; the Youth Ministry of St. John’s Church; Nora Marley; New Hope Baptist Church, Metuchen; Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Perri; Mr. Webb; Meals on Wheels; Joanne Steffanelli; the John Franyakis family; Don Kintzel and Son of Titusville; the West Amwell Girl Scout Troop; the dining room and kitchen helpers and cookers; Don Griffin; Jim Conover; Tom Wilson; the Coleman family; and Little Joe Aiello.
In addition, Dottie and Michael Welsh; Debbie Young and daughter; Mrs. West; Mrs. Harris; Lynn Nicklen; Chris Colt; Lou Taylor; Laura Brokman; Susan (9619); Alice, Richard Warwinsky; Kurt Coleman’s wife; Susan King; Betty McCoy; Josephine Nalence; Connie Frangakis; Michelle Claus; Rick Buscavage; Pat Molnar; Sumcera; Dr. Jerry Harford and family; Karen; and our hostess, Barbara Stires; the Washington’s Crossing United Methodist Church; and Mr. Williams, Chicken Dog Cafe, Route 29.
I know I have not mentioned everyone by name, but please know all your help was most appreciated.
May God bless you and your families in this new year.
Lambertville
‘War and Peace’
show had much help
To the editor:
On behalf of the Lambertville Coalition for Peace, I would like to thank everyone involved in putting together the juried art exhibition "War and Peace 2005."
The work was not chosen based on a particular political viewpoint, but rather for providing a strong message, thought or idea about the concepts of war and/or peace. We were ultimately successful in achieving our goal of creating a public dialogue through the powerful vocabulary of visual art.
We extend our gratitude to the jurors of the show Betsy Bowen, registrar and assistant curator of Grounds for Sculpture; Donna Gustafson, former director of exhibitions, Hunterdon Museum of Art; and Susan Roseman, proprietor of Riverbank Gallery in Stockton and Harrison Street Gallery in Frenchtown for their time and efforts in choosing a show of high-quality works that challenge our notions of the concepts of war and peace.
We would also like to thank the Prallsville Mills staff Edie and Carla for their assistance and support of the show. The Prallsville Mills are a great local resource, and we appreciate the dedication of the staff.
Thanks are due for the help we received in making a great opening reception. Capa Pizza of Lambertville not only provided their delicious, world-class pies, they even delivered!
Basil Bandwagon of Flemington also generously donated delicious and organic edibles from their fine market of natural foods.
Justin Pope and the High Hearts Shaun Ellis and Matt Pillischer provided quality musical entertainment for the evening.
I’d like to thank all the volunteers from our organization and beyond whose vision and hard work helped make this show possible. These include Claire Adas, Tom Larkin, Sam Hoyt, Jen Elia, Shaun Ellis, Rose King, Barbara Cole-Kiernan, Sue Dumas, Sam and Shirley Conti, Matt Pillischer and Todd Baldwin.
A virtual exhibition of the show can be viewed on Lambertville Coalition for Peace’s Web site www.lambertvillepeace.org. On the Web site, you will also find information about the group’s events and activities.
Lambertville
Plant sale gets
competitive
To the editor:
The annual holiday plant and wreath sale sponsored by the South County Municipal Alliance members from Lambertville, Stockton and West Amwell is now in full bloom.
The Justice Center housed in the historic former Acme building on South Union Street will be open Friday, Dec. 9, from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m. until sellout.
Co-chairs Barbara and John Hencheck will neither confirm nor deny that the presale results have fostered a competitive aura among members who are trying to each sell the most in dollar value of the Jersey Fresh, Hunterdon County grower provided plants and wreaths.
A high placed source speaking on conditions of anonymity confirmed that Allonia K. Thompson of Heritage Village has used her 15 years of selling for the alliance to be the out-ahead front runner. She faces drastically increased competition from school administrators, police officers, teachers and other volunteers to best her results.
In a private conversation, it is alleged Miss Allonia has confided she expects a strong wave of her buyers both Friday and Saturday for her to maintain her sales lead and leave the others in the dust.
She has been heard to say, "My buyers will come into the Acme in such numbers asking for me, well, my success will be just history."
No matter who wins, the programs sponsored by the alliance will continue to benefit all ages young and old in our communities.
Lambertville
Deed Days full
of memories
To the editor:
It was a weekend full of smiles and chuckles and "Hey, I remember that."
Deed Days in Lambertville was a huge success due to the hard work and enthusiasm of the best group of people I have had the pleasure to work with.
I would like to offer my thanks to the members of the committee: Sharon Bisaha, Warren Benson, Kathy Buscavage, Cindy Ege, Jim Hamilton, John and Barbara Hencheck, John Holly, Jeff Kline, Jeff McVey, Suzanne Perrault, Tish and Dennis Secula, Elizabeth Shufflebotham, Steve Stegman, Lou Toboz and Mary Louise Vennetone.
I would also like to offer a special thank you to Mayor Dave Del Vecchio, Public Works Director Paul Cronce and City Clerk Lori Buckelew for their assistance and Suzanne Perrault and Michael Ingham of David Rago Auctions, Lisa Stevens of Lambertville Trading Company, The Sneaky Caterer, Miss Doria of Annie B’s Confections and the South Hunterdon High School band for their generous donations.
I’d like to thank all those people who walked through the memorabilia exhibit, who marveled at a document older than the Declaration of Independence, watched the wonderful old and new films about the people and places in Lambertville, reminisced about how that place used to look in the slide presentation and sang along with the patriotic music the high school band played during the commemorative ceremony.
I would also like to thank our panel of cupcake judges who tasted each and every entry and those celebrants who helped us cut and eat the grand cupcake to end the event.
Thank you all for celebrating our diverse yet inclusive history. Despite our occasional differences, it is very apparent that we are all proud to say we are resi dents of Lambertville.
Deed Days
chairman
Lambertville

