Letters to the editor

Mironov unfair to community

To the editor:
   
This is in reference to the story on the mayor’s reaction from the Indian community. Well, many of my friends in the community are upset the way the mayor handled the IACC project. We were optimistic in the beginning that she had initiated a proper process of dialogue and made BAPS do presentations to the residents.
   It is fair and square for residents to ask about details. The issues that people wanted to know about were namely traffic height, attendance and taxes. I was also eager to know the details and hoped to discuss about it at the town hall forum. But I was shocked. It was not a forum for discussion; it was just a platform set up to announce the mayor’s decision.
   The mayor disregarded the noble American system of "innocent until proven guilty" and defamed BAPS for not addressing people’s concerns. Well, as far as I remember, everyone from Scott Pohl to my colleagues had questions about tax, traffic, open space. But the mayor did not have anything to say about those issues. She kept on repeating the same stuff about BAPS not addressing issues.
   From what I gather, in your previous week’s newspaper, BAPS lawyer Kent Smith publicly said that all questions would be answered in upcoming meetings and during the application process. As the mayor admitted, she had this IACC proposal process going on for over one year, and when it was high time for the public to participate in the dialogue, she radically terminated the process.
   I think that whatever the mayor thinks, we as residents should give a chance to BAPS and let them answer our questions. I don’t mind if Scott Pohl goes first to ask. At least it won’t be a knife stab in the back!
Jignesh Patel
East Windsor
Sikorski to pursue interlocal agreements

To the editor:
   
When I ran for my second term on council, I endorsed the concept of a constitutional convention to address the property tax issue. This issue appears stalled in Trenton. There are now four major legislative committees investigating all aspects of state government. Unfortunately, their reports are not due until mid-November.
   Gov. Corzine has challenged the state Legislature to address the regionalization and consolidation of services. The article in last week’s Windsor-Hights Herald regarding emergency medical services points out the crying need for Hightstown to pursue interlocal agreements.
   I love Hightstown and have lived here my entire life but in order to save our identity, we need to do our share. I intend to pursue this goal as part of my platform.
Walter L. Sikorski
Hightstown Borough Councilman
   Mr. Sikorski is the Democratic candidate for mayor of Hightstown.

Disabled resident sends thanks

To the editor:
   
I am a resident of the Twin Rivers community in East Windsor. I am physically disabled and often use an electric wheelchair to get from my home to the shopping center, the bank, the library and to the convenience stores located around Twin Rivers. There are paths and curb cuts that make this possible for me and other "wheelers" to do safely without going out into traffic. One such place is on Bennington Drive.
   On a number of occasions there were cars blocking that curb cut. This was more than just a minor irritation. It literally stopped me in my tracks. A blocked curb cut is just as insurmountable as none at all. After this happened one time too many I brought it to the attention of Police Chief Spain of the East Windsor Police Department.
   Chief Spain immediately got back to me, expressing his concern and promised to have Sgt. Harry Marshall, the sergeant in charge of traffic, contact me to see what can be done to resolve the situation. The day Sgt. Marshall returned from vacation he came to my home to discuss the matter and promised to see what can be done. He contacted the Trust and within days there were stripes painted at that crosswalk signifying a no parking area.
   This turned out to be a community affair which says good things about our community. Chief Spain and Sgt. Marshall were courteous and understanding and followed through promptly. I also want to thank Linda at the Twin Rivers library for researching the law for me. And, of course I want to thank the Trust for painting those stripes so quickly.
   I also hope that this letter will help people understand that things like parking at a curb cut or in a handicapped parking spot may seem like no big deal unless you are the one who needs it. Another point I would like to make is that some situations can be resolved just by letting the right people know that there is a problem. There is no need to moan and groan about "fighting city hall" when all it may take is a phone call or e-mail to rectify the problem. As I mentioned above, there are people in our communities that are more than willing to help when they are made aware that a problem exists.
Gail Nahmias
East Windsor
Softball league thanks Mironov

To the editor:
   
The Twin Rivers East Windsor Men’s Softball League has enjoyed a Sunday morning recreational league for the past 30 years, playing at the McKnight School fields. Because of ongoing construction, we had great difficulty finding other appropriate fields that would accommodate our needs in the township.
   Mayor Janice Mironov was instrumental in helping us secure two privately owned locations, which allowed our league to continue to function.
   On behalf of the Twin Rivers East Windsor Men’s Softball League, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the mayor for all of her assistance.
Ira Cutler
Twin Rivers
Hutchinson keeps focus on Pledge

To the editor:
   
Mr. Hamilton’s response to me regarding the freeholder board’s failure to say the Pledge at their agenda meetings completely misses the mark.
   Board meetings are subject to all of the formal requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act. Doing the work of the public and spending taxpayer dollars is not a "casual" undertaking. Is an agenda created? Are minutes taken? Are we the taxpayers footing the bill for the clerk to the board, board counsel, the freeholders and other officials to be there? Yes, yes and yes.
   The excuse that the Pledge was never said in the past is weak. Perhaps Mr. Hamilton and the rest of the board need to be reminded that they are and always have been separate from the administration and are not there to do the administration’s bidding.
   On Sept. 12, Mr. Hamilton’s responded to a request by a veteran to say the Pledge by stating that the board would take the request "under advisement." This response is ridiculous.
   Why aren’t my opponents Mr. Colavita, Ms. Cannon and Ms. Muoio responding? Do they not care? Are they afraid to speak?
   Take some initiative. Take action. Do what is right. Say the Pledge.
Ashley Hutchinson
Hightstown
   Ms. Hutchinson is a Mercer County freeholder candidate.

Hanging baskets wonderful addition

To the editor:
   
Many thanks are in order for the wonderful contributions for the Hanging Basket Project in downtown Hightstown.
   The baskets have been beautiful all summer and one basket became home to a mallard duck family. We are grateful for all local businesses, organizations and private citizens who supported the beautification project by contributing to the project this year. We would also like to thank The Rocky Brook Garden Club for watching over the baskets as well as Larry Blake and the Public Works Department for all their hard work putting up the baskets and caring for them.
   With extreme gratitude, we thank the following contributors: A Bit of NYC; Allen & Stults Co.; Jeff Bond; CCL Label; Cook’s MSP Co. Art Station; Cranbury Design Center; Customized Benefit Solutions, Inc.; Dorli Bridal & Taylor; Glackin/Saul Funeral Home, Inc.; Dale and Gary Grubb; Hair By Sharon; Hights Electric Motor Service Inc.; Hightstown Apollo Lodge No. 41 F AM; Hightstown Fuel Inc.; Hightstown Housing Authority; Hightstown Woman’s Club; Howell and Bogdan; Live Wire Society First Baptist Church; Joseph Locke; Manninos; Carole Nelson; O’Connor Gordon Pratt Architects; Perennial Home of Windsor; Perritt Laboratories, Inc.; Prepaid Solutions; Rocky Brook Garden Club; Slow Down Café; Society Cleaners; State Farm Carlos Duran; Stuphen Memorials, Inc.; The Friday Club of Hightstown; The Peddie School; The Shoe Buckle; Vaughan Urstadt; Van Hise Agency; Wachovia Corporation; and The YMCA of Western Monmouth County.
   Many thanks from The Greater Highstown/East Windsor Improvement Project to all who have participated.
John Green, Gary Grubb, Carole Nelson and Charlie Theokas
GHEWIP Hanging Basket Committee