Letters to the editor

Resident says Mironov unfair

To the editor:
   
This is in response to the town hall meeting held Sept. 6. I felt very upset at the way it was conducted by the mayor.
   Without any presentation of pros and cons of the project, she came out very strongly and denounced BAPS, one of the most caring Indian humanitarian organizations in the world. She should have called representatives from BAPS to come and answer people’s questions.
   When advertised, we thought this was a forum to discuss township issues, but we came to find that it was nothing but a chance for political posturing. As one speaker said "You just can’t crush the proposal under your feet without giving it a second chance." High school and college students pleaded to the mayor. One high school teacher, a longtime resident and humanitarian worker of this town, also pleaded tearfully to the mayor to bring both sides together and create a dialogue for considering the project.
   But it seems as if the mayor was totally blinded by her political ambition. I guess she feels threatened. So in the end, she aborted a noble proposal from going through. The mayor may achieve her political ambition, but those many high school students will remember the way she threw out the BAPS proposal without even looking at it!
Jaymin Patel
East Windsor
Indian community has misperception

To the editor:
   
I attended the Twin Rivers meeting to discuss the BAPS proposal and came away sadder but wiser.
   There seems to be a misimpression developing in the Indian-American community that the issue is about opposition to ethnicity or religion: It is not. A cultural center of reasonable size, adhering to the township’s Master Plan would be welcomed in this already diverse community.
   It is the magnitude of the project and BAPS’ disavowal of the originally promised openness to compromise that concerns most people.
   The BAPS Web site cited an impact of an additional 1.2 million people per year visiting the center. That is an addition of an average of 23,000-plus people per week coming into this area, and 5,000-plus additional cars. That is roughly the equivalent of all of East Windsor visiting the center each week, coming through East Windsor and Twin Rivers. It is more than twice the number of people living and parking in Twin Rivers.
   Is there a road infrastructure plan to greatly expand Exit 8, the N. J. Turnpike bottleneck (exit 8A to 6 ), Routes 33 and 133? Twin Rivers already has a chronic parking-shortage problem. Imagine a road blocked due to repair; estimated increase in traffic accidents on Route 33; a need to increase the police force for additional traffic control; increases in the Fire Department needed to service a 17-building complex and a 12-story building.
   What are the tax implications in the highest taxed state in the U.S.? What have been the impacts on other U.S. communities that allowed similarly sized complexes to be built?
   In the end, it is the answers to these kinds of questions that will create community support … or not. These are not trivial issues, nor are they a cover for presumed ethnic or religious bias. The business, social and economic success of Indian-Americans in New Jersey attest to that lack of bias.
   The public deserves answers, and BAPS needs to consider solutions and a willingness to compromise.
Alan Hoffman
East Windsor
Mironov acted in autocratic manner

To the editor:
   
I have a few words to say about how the mayor conducted the Town Hall Forum on Sept. 6. I was present there with my family and was very surprised to see the mayor behave so authoritarian. I thought in a democratic process, people have a chance to speak and then the mayor decides. Especially when it is a Town Hall Forum, the residents have to speak first; they should be given chance to present their opinions first before the mayor gives her decision.
   Here, the mayor was least concerned about people’s opinions. To quote reporter Dick Brinster’s words: she "killed" the IACC proposal. That was just what everyone present felt – an angered mayor killing something drastically. It sounded like she was blinded by ambition; there was no logic to her points. She kept on repeating the same thing that BAPS was not open to public concerns. The question is how open is she? Shouldn’t she have given BAPS another chance to answer public questions?
   In your newspapers, preceding this forum, she kept on repeating that she had not made up her mind, that she was still open to public input. And she gave a Nov. 30 date for review from her committee. Then how come she made up her mind drastically and without proper public input? It would have been a wise mayor’s ideal duty to bring the supporters and opponents to one forum and let each other address concerns. As your reporter wrote before, she is a "mighty" mayor. God bless East Windsor from her autocratic rule.
Fortunato Dibella
East Windsor
Parent upset over handling of ‘fight’

To the editor:
   
On Sept. 11,I received a phone call from the assistant principal of Hightstown High School stating that my 14-year-old son was involved in a "fight" and I needed to pick him up because it was unsafe for him to remain in school. My husband went to pick up my son and learned that this so called "fight" involved my son being thrown to the ground and being repeatedly stomped on in his legs, back and torso; kicked in his face, head and neck; and punched over and over.
   These actions were done by four boys. This was not a fight; this was an attack. My son endured this beating for several minutes before a teacher rushed through the crowd of onlookers to help my son, only to be thrown to the ground himself. The teacher eventually was able to pull these boys off my son and take him to the nurse.
   My son was approached at lunch by one of the boys who asked him to fight. When he declined, the boy hit him anyway from behind (and with three other boys standing behind him). My son defended himself and hit the boy back and that’s when he was attacked by the other three boys. My son was suspended from school for five days; the boys who attacked him received a nine-day suspension. I do not understand how a boy who was attacked is serving suspension along with the boys who brutally beat him.
   The new principal told me that if I wasn’t happy with her decision for suspension I could appeal to our superintendent and until such time, my son could return to school. On the following day, my son returned to school where he was almost attacked again, this time by a boy who was involved in the first attack but was never punished for it. I demanded the principal call the police and reluctantly she did.
   The superintendent told me that teachers are not "expected" to break up fights. I cannot understand how something like this could take place inside our school. Why did only one teacher respond to the incident? Where were the security guards? Due to this incident there have been comments circulating on the Internet and e-mails that reference students holding teachers back so that these boys could beat my son.
   I keep hearing the words zero tolerance but I see a lot being tolerated here. I am appalled by the lack of leadership in our administration and cannot trust them to set the rules. I believe as parents we need to set the standards for our schools. Where exactly are our tax dollars going if there isn’t enough staff to keep our children safe? If this incident goes unnoticed, we won’t be dealing with beatings, we will be dealing with guns and knives and gang warfare. Is this a way for children to learn? Is this what we want for our community? Is this what we want for our school system? I know I don’t.
Mary Scirocco
Hightstown
CASC gala inspiring success

To the editor:
   
Once again, we at Community Action Service center are overwhelmed by the good fortune of working and living in a community that truly cares about its own.
   Last Friday night, we had the privilege of recognizing some of its finest contributors at our sixth annual Community Activist Awards. We were pleased to recognize Roger Cook, the East Windsor Regional Board of Education and Shiseido as this year’s award recipients. The turnout in support of these community heroes was truly amazing.
   Thanks again to our honorees for setting an inspiring example of volunteerism and community service for other residents, parents and business owners who make their homes here. We would also like to thank our consistently generous sponsors for contributing their vital support to the gala as CASC’s key fundraising event for the year. These partners include Shiseido, Mathematica Policy Research, Customized Benefit Solutions Inc., the First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown, O’Connor Gordon Pratt Architects and Barbara Sheerin.
   Many local residents and businesses registered their support through donations of cash or items for our silent auction. CASC raised nearly $18,000 with the help of these community friends: David and Celia Abalos, A Bit of NYC, All Class Detailing, American Rhododendron Society-Princeton Chapter, Americana Diner, Robert and Cheryl Barlow, Barnes & Noble, Laurie Bilyeu, Brian Bovasso, Brooktree Swim Club, Pete and Kerrie Peterson Bussone, CAPPS, CD Candy, Charmed by Claire, Anne Ciemnecki, Classic Creations Consultants, Coleman Chrysler Jeep, Roger and Fran Cook, Eileen and Ron Couturier, Cracker Barrel, Creative Signcrafters, Suzann Fallon, Bonnie and Jeff Fayer, First Washington State Bank, Nancy Foss-Taste of Home, Bill Gilmore, Golf Etc., DeLois Greenwood, Gymboree, JEM Stables, John’s Auto Repair, Bill and Lynda Harrington, Hispanic American Medical Association, Luz Horta, Christian Kirkpatrick, Latina Women’s Council of Mercer County, Bob and Carmen Laverty, McCarter Theater, Miry Run Golf Club, Papp’s Bowling, Ken and Michele Paul, Robert and Kathy Patten, Peddie Aquatics, Perrenial Home, Precision Handyman Service, Pretty Nails, Robert Wood Johnson Hamilton Center for Health & Fitness, Vladimir and Rachelle St. Phard, Savoy’s Restaurant, Schnurman Voice Studios, Simon Monahan Simon Law Office, Nisha Singh, Slim and Tone, Slow Down Café, Somerset Patriots, State Theatre New Brunswick, The Bicycle Rack, The Pool and Spa Place, Theo’s Lakeside Tavern, Town & Country Diner, Trenton Thunder, Turp Coates Essl & Driggers, VC Day Spa & Salon, Villa Mannino, Wachovia Bank, Torry and Judy Watkins, Felicia Williams and Bettie Witherspoon.
   We would also like to thank the local business owners who contributed to the success of this event. Sign-A-Rama donated a colorful banner to publicize the event. Triangle Repro came through with perfectly printed materials and lightning-fast service. Mark Phillips kindly provided musical entertainment and Flowers by Jackie provided beautiful ambiance to complete the evening.
   As CASC expands to become a full-service family resource center, we deeply appreciate the commitment of our ever-growing network of community partners and friends.
   For more information about CASC, call us at 443-4464 or visit our Web site at www.CASCmercer.org.
Amanda Porter
vice president
board of directors
Community Action
Service Center Inc.
Hightstown
Sikorski talks about his record

To the editor:
   
The other day one of my closest supporters asked me when I would begin my campaign. I was taken aback by the comment.
   In my own mind my record of service and accomplishment on the Borough Council and its various subcommittees during the past three years are my campaign. I try to apply the lessons that I learned in my 35 years of teaching. They are: study the issues, consult when necessary, listen to others and take a position. The other dimension is learning the mechanics of government. During the past three years, I have served on the Planning Board, the Greystone subcommittee for development of the Mill, liaison to the Board of Health, Historic Preservation Commission and the Construction Office.
   I am fortunate to have two experienced council members as my running mates. They are David Schneider, council president, and Larry Quattrone, the senior member of the council. Both of them bring a wealth of business experience to the council’s deliberations. All three of us are committed to the goal of making good decisions for the people of Hightstown.
Walter L. Sikorski
borough councilman
Cook offers his gratitude

To the editor:
   
I want to thank the Community Action Service Center for selecting me for this year’s Civic Activist Award.
   My deepest thanks, also, to all who attended the gala last Friday evening.
   It was humbling and overwhelming at the same time. I feel truly blessed to have family, friends, and colleagues express their support and appreciation for my activities. I hope I have inspired and will continue to inspire others to adopt volunteerism and my philosophy of the four P’s: patience, persuasion, perseverance, purpose.
   A special thanks to those who contributed in any way or worked so hard to make the evening the success it was. It is a wonderful memory to cherish.
Roger Cook
Hightstown