From the Sept. 1 edition
Explaining process
for IACC project
To the editor:
I am replying to Mr. Pohl’s letter in the Aug. 18 edition of your paper, which seems to reveal his confusion surrounding the procedures pertaining to the land use process in New Jersey.
At present, the BAPS property is located in the industrial office zone. In order for BAPS to proceed with development of the proposed Indian American Cultural Center, a rezoning must occur. The rezoning would involve an ordinance to permit BAPS to develop the property. BAPS has not yet requested a zone change nor has BAPS filed an application for township approval of the IACC.
The zone change process requires the introduction of a zoning ordinance amendment by the Township Council. The introduced zoning ordinance amendment is referred to the Planning Board for determination as to the consistency of the proposed ordinance with the Master Plan. If the Planning Board finds the ordinance consistent, it’s referred back to the Township Council for action on the rezoning ordinance. If the Planning Board finds the ordinance inconsistent with the Master Plan, any action by the council to adopt the ordinance must be accompanied by a resolution setting forth the reasons for adopting the ordinance, not withstanding the inconsistency with the Master Plan.
An alternative option is for the Planning Board to evaluate the IACC proposal as part of the Master Plan. The Planning Board may then make a recommendation to the Township Council for the introduction of a zoning ordinance amendment based on a modification to the Master Plan.
The process is an open and public procedure to allow residents’ concerns and comments to be heard by the Township Council. At all times, the process will be conducted pursuant to New Jersey’s Sunshine Law and the public notice requirements pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law. Therefore, there will be ample opportunity for public comment throughout the entire process.
If the rezoning ordinance is adopted, BAPS will be required to submit a site plan application to the Planning Board. The site plan application will contain detailed information regarding the proposed development to demonstrate that the site plan is in conformity with the township’s ordinances. The site plan review process will provide the for public comment.
Mr. Pohl seems to suggest that BAPS has modified its proposal to develop the Milford Road property. At all times, BAPS has submitted the same concept plan for public review, whether it was at the August 2005 Planning Board meeting or the two public comment meetings held recently. If Mr. Pohl had attended the August 2005 Planning Board meeting, he would have seen the exact same development proposal that was discussed with the public in May and July of this year.
There has been no development proposal or formal request to rezone the BAPS property filed with the township. There is no application to review on file with the township. The IACC proposal is conceptual. At the request of the mayor, BAPS has shared the IACC concept and proposal with the community, in order to secure community comment at the earliest time possible. We have found this township to be completely open with regard to the process for consideration of the IACC and believe the township will continue to be open with its citizens with regards to the proposal moving forward.
Henry Kent-Smith, Esq.
Saul Ewing, LLP.
attorney for BAPS
IACC numbers
‘ridiculous’
To the editor:
I attended the July BAPS meeting and concluded that the meeting raised more questions than it answered. I also felt that BAPS representatives were not being truthful when they addressed attendance and traffic questions raised by the audience. The numbers that they threw out were clearly ridiculous.
I was also disturbed by the BAPS threats which emphasized that since they own the land we have no choice but to accept the BAPS project or we will get warehouses and dangerous truck traffic instead.
As a 30-year resident of Twin Rivers, I support Scott Pohl’s position. As the president of the Twin Rivers board of directors, Scott has the responsibility to aggressively question the BAPS project. While Scott is a bit overly aggressive in his attacks on Mayor Mironov, we must realize that as "de facto" mayor of more than one-third of East Windsor’s population, Scott has the responsibility to insure that the BAPS project is in the best interest of Twin Rivers. To a certain extend Scott’s rhetoric has worked because the mayor is now calling for bimonthly meetings with Twin Rivers residents.
I think Mayor Mironov is a terrific mayor. She is a focused, hard-working and dedicated public servant. She has served the residents of East Windsor extremely well. However, I also think that the mayor has been taking the Twin Rivers vote for granted. It is vital that Scott and Janice work together to make sure that the right decisions are made. Egos and politics have no place in the decision-making process regarding the BAPS project.
Finally, a few words about traffic: In this week’s Letter to the Editor, Dinesh Patel criticized Scott Pohl for stating that 1.2 million people attended one of the BAPS festivals in Edison. Ms Patel stated that the religious festival was held at Middlesex County College because the 6.5-acre temple property could not possibly hold 1.2 million people. Obviously since BAPS now has 156 acres next door to Twin Rivers, future festivals could be held over here if the project is approved.
It is also interesting to note that in this week’s Time Off magazine there is an article on page 8 about this year’s India-American Fair (Mela 2006) to be held at Mercer County Park on Sept. 2. The writer explained that in 2003 only 10,000 people attended the fair. Last year 25,000 people attended the fair and this year they expect 50,000 people to attend the fair. I think this may be a good opportunity for our elected officials and interested residents of Hightstown and Twin Rivers to visit the fair and see what this is all about and how it could impact on all of us.
The future of our community is at stake. This is the time for us to keep an open mind, ask as many questions as possible and demand honest answers not only from BAPS but also from our political leaders.
Bill and Lita Jackstat
East Windsor
Mr. Jackstat serves as the municipal chairman of the East Windsor Green Party and sits on the town ship Environmental Commission.
Pohl’s motives
called to question
To the editor:
Scott Pohl’s comments about our township officials are completely inappropriate.
It seems as though he’s fighting to maintain his position as president of Twin Rivers Trust. From the association’s many legal battles, especially the nationally publicized one, it’s obvious many homeowners do not agree with him. His eagerness to maintain control and authority of this association is driving him to use the Indian project as a platform to fight against the mayor.
Residents need to see through his biased remarks and understand that the Indian project is following the township’s correct protocol in regard to the development process. Trust your mayor and council to do their jobs. They will determine what’s right for the residents of East Windsor.
Anwar Abuobaid
Twin Rivers
East Windsor
Money at root
of Pohl’s comments?
To the editor:
Many statements made by Scott Pohl and published in the Herald as well as Twin Rivers Today must be addressed because they are misleading, malicious, hypocritical, divisive and unrealistic.
Mr. Pohl is entitled to his opinion; however, he does not have the right to be, I believe, deliberately wrong in a lot of statements he made.
One thing Scott stated in his column in the August issue of Twin Rivers Today, that sticks out like a sore thumb and could be the very heart of this issue, is that the "…BAPS representatives… have disclosed they would give East Windsor a sum of money equal to what would be generated by a commercial entity on the property (approximately $500,000) and a $2 million trust fund to be used for recreation, open space and farmland preservation. However, it is highly unlikely that Twin Rivers would see any of it."
I am just wondering if that is what this whole issue is really about and I think Mr. Pohl should clarify his stand on this issue. If BAPS gave Twin Rivers $1 million for a trust fund to be used for recreation, open spaces, etc. for the public’s enjoyment, what would Twin Rivers do with the money?
Additionally, if BAPS gave Twin Rivers $1 million would Scott Pohl show up with a shovel to dig the first shovel full of dirt for their groundbreaking? If BAPS gave Twin Rivers $1 million with no restrictions for Scott Pohl to spend any way he thinks the money should be spent, would Scott insist that the rest of the board members show up with their shovels at the groundbreaking?
I believe that Mr. Pohl stated that the BAPS project would destroy Twin Rivers. Mr. Pohl should share with us his logic as to how he arrived at this conclusion.
The original builder of Twin Rivers, I believe, could not develop the rear part of Quad III because there are wetlands there. Concomitantly, because of the location of the proposed BAPS center, near Etra Lake, I believe there will have to be studies done before Mayor Mironov can arrive at any conclusions. The studies must be done by such agencies such as Mercer County Planning Board, Delaware Raritan Commission, DEP, DOT, a soil study commission, the township fire and police departments as well as the planning and zoning boards.
Just because the Twin Rivers Board of Directors makes a lot of decisions without knowing a lot of the facts does not mean that Mayor Mironov can say what will be allowed until all the studies are complete, which will take a while.
My question is, why is Scott Pohl running around like Chicken Little claiming that the sky is falling?
Al Wally
East Windsor
Twin Rivers board
backs its president
To the editor:
As members of the board of directors of the Twin Rivers Homeowners Association, we support the recent actions of our president, Scott Pohl.
Mr. Pohl’s attempts to obtain information and shine a light on the proposed construction of BAPS’ Indian American Cultural Center next to the Twin Rivers Community are of interest to our residents. The president and the board of directors will continue to make every effort to obtain information that will address the questions and concerns of our residents regarding this proposed project.
Herb Felzer, vice president
Joseph Molinari, vice president
John Pagliarulo, secretary/ treasurer
Becky Anthony, member
Rodger Frey, member
Rob Moore, member
Aaron Sears, member
Lori Vono, member
Number of visitors
was the point
To the editor:
In last week’s letter-to-the-editor section of this paper a letter appeared from Sangita Patel stating "I find his facts are totally wrong" and one by Dinesh Patel accusing me of "misleading the citizens by twisting the facts."
These comments were made because I previously stated that there was a festival in 1991 at BAPS’ Edison facility that ran for 31 days, and attracted 1.2 million people. I have since learned this festival was in fact held on the campus of Middlesex College.
The only information we can obtain regarding BAPS is from the Internet as no one from the organization has ever spoken to the Twin Rivers Homeowners Association and this led to the mistake. It is worth noting the information came from the BAPS Web site, which only stated it was held in Edison.
The location, however, was not the point I was making. It wouldn’t have mattered if the festival was held at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands or Yankee Stadium. The point I was making is that in over 31 days it attracted 1.2 million visitors a fact both Sangita and Dinesh Patel confirm in their letters. To put this number in perspective, it is over 120 times the population of Twin Rivers and over 48 times the entire population of East Windsor.
Sangita Patel went on to write, "Mr. Pohl is saying such outrageous things. He seems prejudiced." Mr. Patel, I am stating the truth, which is more than has been presented to the public by BAPS. This does not make me "prejudiced;" it makes me honest. Your accusation shows what we can expect going forward: anyone opposing this project will be called prejudiced. Is this a sign of the cultural harmony that is supposed to be at the core of this proposal?
In a separate article in last week’s paper the mayor disputed my commentary that she doesn’t care about the residents of Twin Rivers by pointing out "five of the seven members of the Township Council live in the community." In all fairness I’ve also stated this, but it doesn’t answer the question of what the mayor has ever done for Twin Rivers? I’ve served on the board of directors for 10 years and can’t recall anything.
I also cannot recall in the 20 years I have lived in Twin Rivers the township having a Town Hall Forum here. Yet on the Aug. 23 airing of the mayor’s show "Spotlight East Windsor," there was the mayor touting how she does them on a regular basis in other parts of the township. Does she think the residents of Twin Rivers are so gullible that they don’t realize her purpose in coming here now? The mayor stated on the show it was to provide factual information and correct any misunderstandings from anywhere. In other words, the gospel according to Janice.
Scott Pohl
East Windsor
president
Twin Rivers
Homeowners Association
Mayor responds
to taxpayers
To the editor:
This letter was written in response to a young couple’s communication to me regarding their concern over their property tax bill. I am sharing it because I believe it speaks to the feelings of most of us right now:
You are not alone in your anger about your property taxes; everyone, including myself, feels they are outrageously high and need to be lowered. They are high because of the way public education is funded in New Jersey. Fifty-eight percent of your bill goes to our public schools, which are in a consolidated regional school district comprised of Hightstown and East Windsor Township. Our municipal budget is 23 percent of your total tax figure.
The reality is that despite the borough’s efforts to create the leanest budget possible, the increases were beyond our control. They are a result of dramatic cost increases in employee health benefits, pension contributions and the need to contract for first aid emergency services. Over the past two years, the borough has reduced its controllable operating cost by 6 percent while the ones cited above have increased 39 percent.
This is a similar picture of most towns in New Jersey, which is why a special session of the Legislature is being held this month in Trenton.
Real property tax reform is desperately needed and we are all pushing hard for that. Since my term on council (1999 to 2001), I have actively supported property tax reform either through a state constitutional convention or through special legislative action. I have testified at the Governor’s Task Force and the General Assembly’s Appropriation’s Committee. I also have spoken at many forums throughout the state on the need to change public education funding. This has taken seven years and finally the legislators and governor are addressing this statewide issue.
In the meantime, we are working continuously to increase our town’s ratables, which would lower our property taxes. We look forward to new land use development and property tax revenues from the mill on Bank Street, the former Minute Maid property and the Enchantment age-restricted community, as well as any other redevelopment of vacant and underutilized properties left in town.
I hope you will remain in Hightstown. It is a beautiful small town with a great sense of pride in its history and strong community values. People love this town, myself included, and they are committed to helping it through these difficult times.
As for the schools, I am a graduate of Hightstown High School, as are my children. My wife and I are former teachers in this school district and we are very supportive of it. You may have read the recent reports on how well the schools are doing under the leadership of our new superintendent. It seems that everyone is working hard to make the community the best it can be.
I am happy to meet with you and your neighbors and friends anytime to discuss this further. I really do not want to lose you. We need young people like yourselves to help us stay the course.
Mayor Bob Patten
Hightstown
Talk with kids
about new school
To the editor:
As the new school year approaches, there is a special excitement in the air for parents, staff and students associated with the McKnight School: the long awaited opening of our new school. There’s no question that many good things lay ahead for us.
I would, however, encourage parents and staff to be aware that for many of our children, the thrill of going to the new school may overshadow a sense of loss of what has, until now, been the only school they’ve ever known. Their young minds may not be able to analyze the mixed feelings (joy and sadness), leaving them with a sense of anxiety above and beyond the normal first-day jitters.
A conversation or two before school starts may help. Parents should explain to their children, if they don’t already know, that the old school will, in fact, be gone. Knowing that they will be in a new school does not necessarily mean to a youngster that the old school will no longer be there. After all, both buildings have coexisted in some manner for a while now.
If your child seems especially sad about the old school being gone, give him/her a hug and say, "I’m going to miss it too." Ask them to share what they liked most about the old school, validate those things, and then point out the good things that the new school will have to offer. Invite your children to talk about what the new school means to them. Your child will feel less alone and know that talking about it with you is OK. A simple conversation ahead of time may make the first couple of days easier.
The best to all as the new school year begins.
Marianne Nicklaus
East Windsor
Township news
comes via e-mail
To the editor:
East Windsor is launching a new E-News Updates system. This new service will provide e-mail notification of municipal news and special events to residents or other interested persons who sign up to receive them.
The E-News Updates, which are anticipated to be sent monthly and on special occasions, will disseminate information on new businesses and stores, roadway projects, grants and special events, among other subjects of public interest.
To sign up for the E-News service, Internet users should visit www.east-windsor.nj.us and look for the E-News registration section of the Township’s Web site home page. A valid e-mail address is all that is needed to register for this new service.
The Township hopes that this will become another important avenue for keeping residents informed about what is happening in East Windsor. The mayor and council place great importance on communications with our residents, and encourage people to register.
Mayor Janice Mironov
East Windsor
Tough stand
on organ donations
To the editor:
Regarding your story, "From frightful fate to freshman (8/25/2006):
The generosity of live organ donors like Anthony and Wendi Lee is remarkable. But we wouldn’t need many live organ donors if Americans weren’t burying or cremating 20,000 transplantable organs every year.
There is a better solution to the organ shortage if you don’t agree to donate your organs when you die, then you go to the back of the waiting list if you ever need an organ to live.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. About 60 percent of the organs transplanted in the United States go to people who haven’t agreed to donate their own organs when they die.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a nonprofit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. They do this through a form of directed donation that is legal in all 50 states and under federal law. Anyone can join for free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88.
LifeSharers has 5,842 members, including 133 members in New Jersey. Over 500 of our members are minor children enrolled by their parents.
David J. Undis
executive director
LifeSharers
Nashville, Tenn.
Babe Ruth champs,
supporters lauded
To the editor:
This summer, 12 boys from East Windsor, Hightstown and Washington Township experienced a thrill they will never forget. The HEWYBL All Star baseball team won the Babe Ruth 13-Year-Old District Championship, which was played in Trenton. They then went on to win the state tournament, which was held in Montgomery.
For the first time in its history, a HEWYBL team went to the Babe Ruth World Series. At Switlik Park in Hamilton, they played teams from Australia, Florida, California and Maine.
These boys have shown remarkable teamwork, having only played together as a team since tryouts in June. Throughout the tournaments, they have displayed sportsmanship, respect. and camaraderie. They were complimented by other players and coaches for their positive attitudes.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of manager Chuck Petty, coaches John Von Ahnen and Chris Pacifico and scorekeeper Fred Petak. These men gave up so much of their time for practices and games all summer. Their determination, patience and skill enabled this team to accomplish so much. The boys are grateful for all they have done.
The loyalty and dedication of Kenny Connaughton and his family is also greatly appreciated.
Several local sponsors provided monetary contributions for which the team is grateful.Special thanks to the Washington Township Fire Department for their sign showing support. The players felt pride and team spirit as they passed the sign to and from the games. Many community members showed their support by coming to games throughout the tournaments. It meant so much for the team to have so many people cheer for them.
This has truly been a remarkable experience. Many heartfelt thanks to all who made this such an exciting and memorable experience for these boys.
Gartner family, Indrikovic family, Karagjozi family, Kowalski family, Monahan family, Murphy family, Pacifico family, Petak family, Schickner family, Strano family, Von Ahnen fami ly, Vono family
Families of the
Southern New Jersey
State Champions
Trip to Gulf
very rewarding
To the editor:
On the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina I am personally reminded of the work I did as an AmeriCorps*NCCC member, a team-based service organization for 18-24 year olds.
During my 10 months of service with NCCC, I spent one month taking part in hurricane recovery efforts in Bay St. Louis and Poplarville, Miss. My team had the opportunity to work on the first house to be rebuilt in Bay St. Louis and almost saw the exterior to completion before having to leave. We also had the opportunity to help many more people with removing debris from their yard, most of whom were elderly or disabled.
Despite the hardships, I was privileged to be among the hundreds of thousands of Americans who traveled to hurricane-ravaged areas as part of the recovery effort. I met people who had lost everything, yet still were able to offer a warm welcome to those who had come to help.
There is much work left to be done. The work is not easy, and at times, it’s heartbreaking, but I wouldn’t trade my time in the Gulf for anything in the world.
For information on AmeriCorps*NCCC go to www.americorps.gov/nccc. If interested in volunteer opportunities in the Gulf, go to www.volunteer.gov, which has a section dedicated solely to the Gulf Coast.
Tara M. Mennitt
AmeriCorps*NCCC alum
East Windsor

