Immediate law
enforcement needed
To the editor:
I read today in the May 4 paper about the tragic pedestrian car accident that took place on Highway 165, Friday April 28.
And I think to myself, "How this could happen and why? Who is to blame for this tragedy?"
The conclusion I come up with is it is all our faults. It is my fault for not bringing attention to this problem sooner. It is the fault of all the drivers on this road who speed with total disregard for the law.
It is the fault of the police for not enforcing the speed limit. It is the fault of the mayor for not demanding the police enforce the speed limit.
It is the fault of the state police who think they can speed through our town on a daily basis with the total disregard for the speed limit and the safety of our pedestrians.
It is the fault of the mini school bus that drag-race to and from the ESC School.
Unfortunately it is the fault of that poor young girl who was not being responsible for her own safety, and what is the answer?
Well, the mayor wants yet another traffic study. Please, this highway has been studied over and over again. The cost of these studies has to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
We all know it is a very dangerous intersection. DOT’s answer is roundabouts. If that is, in fact, the answer, it will take three to five years at least to complete.
What do we do in the meantime? Everybody wants to do something, but nothing but talk is getting done.
Well, I have an answer that can start tomorrow! It is called "a police presence." We need a police officer at this intersection from 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m., five days a week.
I am not talking about a patrol car sitting in some corner watching, I am talking about an officer standing in the street with a whistle and a ticket book.
If the police in the past had given out 50 tickets a month, we need to hand out 500. If in the past, they have handed out 200 tickets a month, we need to hand out 2,000.
We need to put ads in the newspapers that this is not a fly by zone. We need two electric signs at each end of town, warning drivers the speed limit will be strictly enforced to the letter of the law. Everybody gets a ticket mayors, judges, congressmen, state police officers and the common man no exceptions.
Believe me, it will only take a month or two to take back our road. If the tickets in the past used to be $100, they now need to be $500. Let’s hit the speeders in the wallet where it counts.
The alternative is roundabouts for six-plus million dollars of the taxpayers’ money that will force everybody to travel these roads at 15 miles per hour. The traffic will be unbearable.
We already have laws on the books to solve this problem. We need immediate law enforcement!
Stefan’s Automotive Repairs
Route 165
Lambertville
Sees festival
through new eyes
To the editor:
For the first time in 18 years, I have been able to experience the Shad Fest.
I loved showing off our beautiful city to my friends and was able to see the scope of the event through their eyes.
Blessed with two beautiful days, the city looked as magical as it did the first time I visited Lambertville on a spring day in 1986. How lucky I was to find this city on the river.
As a volunteer with the Chamber of Commerce, I learned how difficult the production of this award-winning event was. Although I received most of the publicity, I had a lot of immeasurable help.
Dave and Cheryl Greaves, who were involved with the first year of the festival in 1983, taught me well. I would like to thank them for their support of the event over the many years they were involved.
A special thanks to Charlie Garefino for years of dedication to the event.
And without the dedication of the Lewis family, we would hardly have been able to reach the silver anniversary.
The chamber office managers, Edith Mosig and Ellen Pineno, were right by my side during every minute of planning and execution, and, of course, MaryAnn Strebinsky, who is back on the with the new team.
I am grateful Tom Martin and the chamber board put their faith into the ability of my successor, Debbie Monigan. Debbie jumped in "fins" first and was able to get the massive job accomplished and accomplished well.
The Shad Festival could not have netted a better person to run the event. I would like to thank Debbie, the volunteers and members of our artistic community for the generosity of their talent and time to continuously support the poster auction.
The scholarship auction was the underlying reason for my many years of dedication to the Shad Fest.
I thank Mayor Del Vecchio and the City Council for the ongoing support of this great event and look forward to many more festivals as our closely-knit community carries on a tradition began over a quarter of a century ago.
Lambertville
25th Shad Fest
huge success
To the editor:
The 2006 Shad Festival was a huge success!
The weather was wonderful, and an estimated 30,000 people enjoyed the great art, crafts, food, music and the beautiful Delaware River.
April 28, 2006, was declared Lewis Family Day by the City Council, and the weekend began with a reception at the Justice Center for the Lewis family, who provided memorabilia from their personal archives.
It cannot be said enough. Thank you to the Lewis family for your dedication to the river and your contributions to our community. If not for your dedication to the health of the Delaware, Lambertville would not be the beautiful city it is today. We join you in helping to protect its health for future generations of all of its inhabitants.
Thank you, Gov. Corzine, for seeing, first-hand, the importance of a clean environment. To Mayor Del Vecchio and the City Council for their strong support of the Shad Festival; Bruce Cocuzza, Sgt. O’Rourke and the Lambertville Police Department for keeping the crowds safe and the traffic moving; and Paul Cronce and the Public Works Department for their dedication to the beauty of our city.
Thank you to the fire departments and rescue squad as well as the Hunterdon County Office of Emergency Management; Lori Buckelew and the city clerk’s office; and Ron DiSalvi and the South Hunterdon Regional High School bus drivers.
The poster auction raised nearly $24,000 for the scholarship fund! Thank you to all the artists who donated their time and talent and to all the collectors who generously opened their hearts and wallets.
Thank you to the Presbyterian Church for allowing us to use their gymnasium for the auction. Without volunteers, the auction would not be possible.
Special thanks to David Rago and Suzanne Perrault, the entertaining auctioneers; David Weed, who designed the poster blanks, Cindy Ege, Nadine Lopez, Barb Glackin, Justin Ege, Samantha Van Dyck, Melissa Parsons, Maura McManimon, Jen Wiley, Wendy Warren, Lisa Worden, Marcia Taylor, Susan Wydick, Marsha Zelley, and last but not least, the Shad Queen, Amy Coss.
Thank you to all the merchants and businesses around town who helped make the event a huge success, especially Dan Whitaker, Jim Hamilton, Wachovia Bank, the Sojourner, the Coryell Gallery, the Riverrun Gallery, Niece Lumber, Joseph Finkle & Son, River Graphics, Oxford Communications, Heath’s Exxon and Ennis Market.
Thank you to St. John’s, George Michael, the ESC School, Allied Village Square, Breen Color Concentrate, Verizon and David Rago Auctions for the use of their parking lots.
Many fun, energetic and willing people make this festival happen, including Don Hart and his family, friends and the women’s softball team he sponsors; Al Komjathy, John Holly, Connor Fennessy, Derek Roseman, Tim Corzon; Dave, Sharon and Julie Burd; Tim Korzun, Chris and Katie Monigan, Bob Dahl, Ed Berchtold; Marie Toohey, Judy Levinson, Mark and Steven Weinstein, Charles Mento, Stewart and Alex Palilonis, Pam Baker, Delores Dragon, Merle Citron, Tom Wilson, Marilyn Grover and Joe McGrath and all those who helped out at the chamber table.
No festival is complete without music. Our thanks to the talented musicians who donated their time and talent: Nati Rivera, Chris Chadwick Band, JazzMen, Lifters, Third Rail, Mojo Mystics, Lambertville Volunteers Drum & Bugle Corps, Lindsay Rush, Blue Money and David Berger & Friends.
Thank you to the planning committee of the Shad Fest: Dana Cormier, Sue Flynn, Mary Freedman, Don Hart, Janet Hunt, Donna Herman, Tom Martin, Tish Secula and Laurie Weinstein.
The Shad Fest couldn’t happen without the generous support of our sponsors: Bear Apothecary Shoppe, Comcast, Coryell Gallery, David Learner Associates, David Rago Auctions, George Evans Antiques, Hamilton’s Grill Room, Hrefna Jonsdottir Gallery, Inn of the Hawke, Jim’s Antiques Ltd., Joseph Finkle & Son, Kalmia Club, Lambertville Station, Lambertville Sewerage Authority, Lambertville Trading Company, Marriott, The Martin Coryell House, Michael Burns Architects, N.T. Callaway Real Estate, New Jersey Lottery, Orleans Homebuilders, People’s Store Merchants, Princeton Fuel Oil, Riverwalk, Sojourner, Stockton Family Practice, Stonyfield Farm, The Boat House, The Swan Hotel, Wachovia Bank and Weidel Realtors.
And finally, to Steve Stegman, for your sage advice, wise counsel and excellent sense of humor: thank you.
2006 Shad Festival
manager
Lambertville
Never forget
their sacrifices
To the editor:
Each and every day, the men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces make sacrifices.
Unfortunately, some die in the line of duty, making the ultimate sacrifice.
The liberties and freedom we enjoy as Americans has been preserved only by the blood, sweat, tears and, yes, the very lives of our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen. Too many take our rights for granted and do not stop to consider the price of democracy can not be calculated in monetary terms alone.
Human life is so precious it is priceless. Yet, for centuries, men and women have been willing to die for the rights guaranteed by our Constitution.
As Memorial Day approaches, I wish to remind everyone they can show their gratitude and respect for those who have died for freedom and democracy by attending one of the many Memorial Day ceremonies and activities that will take place throughout our state.
We shall never forget.
state commander
The American Legion
Department of New Jersey
Trenton

