Thanks for support
in fire elections
To the editor:
A resounding thank you to the residents of the Washington Township community for supporting the fire and EMS budget on Feb. 18. We welcome two new commissioners to the Board of Fire Commissioners who bring a myriad of experience, Joanne Lasky and Chuck Lynch.
There have been many conflicting messages regarding how business has been conducted at the Fire Department. Please be assured that the Board of Fire Commissioners will conduct a review of the policies of the department to address concerns expressed by some residents, and we will persist in ensuring the prudent use of taxpayer dollars.
The mission of the Washington Township Fire Department is to provide the highest level of emergency services to the residents of our community. Please be assured we will continue that commitment to our community.
Gregory Zalenski
Peter Marsch
Fire Commissioners
Washington Township
Good cooperation
does yield results
To the editor:
The Washington Township Senior Center on Dec. 31 was given $145,000 by Mercer County to be used to improve the center. I want everyone to know that without the help of Joyce Golden, district director of the office of Congressman Chris Smith in Hamilton, this could never have happened. When the project was assigned to me by the Senior Advisory Council in Washington Township, I wrote to Ms. Golden and set up a meeting.
We agreed to her contacting HUD and I would work with Mercer County. We had the documents to prove our claim was valid and that the money was approved. We just had to get the people involved to start the ball rolling.
Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes released the money to Washington Township prior to having the money transferred to the county from HUD. This was to be done by an electronic bank transfer. We talked weekly on the progress and continued to go to others for assistance. Sen. John Corzine was asked by me to assist. Ms. Golden devoted many hours on the telephone to HUD and to Congressman Smith’s office in Washington, DC. I wish to take this opportunity to say thank you, Ms. Golden, for your cooperation.
When Mary Cafferty was made township administrator I told her what was happening and she immediately starting making calls and contacted people in the county. I thank her for a job well done.
I have a couple of more projects that I have asked Ms. Golden to help us on and that they are a small U.S. Postal Service substation in Washington Township and a ZIP code for Robbinsville itself.
This is not going to be easy as the U.S. Postal Service has its own way of doing things and seldom listens to others. I hope when Congressman Smith comes to Washington Township he will meet with the parties involved and help us again. No one person can get things done. People have to work together.
Lewis Koushel
Robbinsville
Support cancer relay,
and make a difference
To the editor:
When you hear the phrase "one person can make a difference," whom do you think about? Benjamin Franklin for his inventions, Leonardo DaVinci for his wonderful paintings, Franklin Delano Roosevelt for his tremendous public programs, Mother Theresa for her work amongst the poor, or Gordy Klatt?
Yes, they all made a difference and a tremendous impact on society. But who the heck is Gordy?
In 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, decided to raise money for his local American Cancer Society by doing something he enjoyed, running. By himself, he spent 24 hours circling a stadium track and raised $27,000 for the fight against cancer. From the unselfish efforts of one man has evolved thousands of local celebrations known as Relay for Life.
I’m sure Gordy could have never imagined how Relay for Life has touched the emotions of the millions of volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to raising funds for one goal, the cure for cancer. Funding 38 Nobel Prize-winning researchers plus studies leading to discoveries like the Pap test, bone marrow transplants, Tamoxifen and Gleevec, the work of the America Cancer Society could not have been funded without the dedication of volunteers.
For the fifth year, volunteers in our local relay covering Millstone, Allentown, Upper Freehold, New Egypt, Jackson and surrounding sister communities will come together in June at the New Egypt High school track to celebrate cancer survivorship.
Relay for Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.
So how can you become involved? It all starts with this year’s Relay for Life kickoff event, which is being held in the reception center at Indian Rock Resort (920 West Veterans Highway) in Jackson on Sunday March 5, 2006 at 2 p.m. Call New Egypt Relay for Life chairperson Anita Pfefferkorn at (732) 928-0034 or (732) 786-1881 or e-mail her at [email protected] for more information or directions.
Everyone is welcome to the kickoff to learn more how you can become involved in the cure for cancer. Like Gordy, you too can be the "one person who can make a difference."
John Pfefferkorn
Public Relations Chairman
2006 New Egypt Relay for Life
