Pet, other events
‘rousing success’
To the editor:
The Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank everyone who made the second annual "A Pet Masquerade" and October’s "Second Saturday" a rousing success.
In only its second year, this fantastic event attracted over 200 entrants.
Lambertville’s streets were teeming with proud pet parents and visitors. Most importantly, over $2,100 was raised for the Animal Alliance, which provides foster care and homes for "death row" cats and dogs.
There are numerous people to thank for their help. Margo Orland of Picky Paws was instrumental in organizing this year’s pet masquerade and a doggie obedience class, which included "Jersey Girl" earlier in the week that attracted media coverage.
Our emcees, David Waldman from Rojo’s and Anne Marie Somers, did a great job of making things entertaining and keeping the participants moving.
Many thanks to Bruce Imber and Jobert Abueva, owners of Monkey Hill, who originated the concept of "A Pet Masquerade" last year. Heather Edwards and her group of volunteers from the Animal Alliance were a great help in the masquerade’s success.
Mayor David Del Vecchio and the Lambertville Police Department were instrumental in providing the logistical support that made "A Pet Masquerade" and "Second Saturday" a big success.
Special thanks to Max and Anita Crandall along with "Benny The King" for creating the event’s wonderful poster and certificates for the winners.
Many visitors undoubtedly noticed the animal-themed dog bowls and scarecrows displayed throughout the city. The dog bowls were made by Brownie Troop 122 led by Kathy Ferry, and the scarecrows were the work of Junior Girl Scout Troop 800, led by Charlie Groth.
The bake sale, which many visitors stopped by at, was the work of Cadet Girl Scout Troop 400 led by Dana Kurtbek. A special thanks goes out to Debbie Closen of the Homestead Market for making the Brownie and Girl Scout troops a part of "Second Saturday."
vice president
Lambertville Area
Chamber of Commerce
Corboy has
town’s respect
To the editor:
I am glad Bill Corboy is running for Township Committee in West Amwell.
Bill has been our neighbor for many years, and knowing of the respect that he receives and shows to others throughout the township qualifies him as a valued community leader.
His reputation and many years of service to the township in many capacities need no more elaboration than that.
There could be no better candidate than Bill for Township Committee.
West Amwell
Corboy would
protect township
To the editor:
I believe Bill Corboy should be elected to the West Amwell Township Committee, and I’ll tell you why.
He has volunteered his time and given his effort to our township. He was appointed to the Planning Board and served for three years. He was elected to the West Amwell Elementary School Board and served for nine years.
He serves this community as a member of the Kiwanis, VFW and American Legion. He continues to donate to West Amwell by providing for a yearly South Hunterdon scholarship in the name of Gwen Corboy, his late wife and a longtime teacher at the high school.
Bill has also been attending local municipal meetings, including those of the Township Committee, Open Space Committee and Board of Health. He stands for those of us in West Amwell who hold dear the need to keep our lives free from the blight, which unplanned development would bring.
He wants to ensure our children will be able to enjoy the unspoiled environment, which we now enjoy. He wants to keep our taxes at a comfortable level. Bill Corboy wants to protect that which we love most about our township.
His opponent, Mr. Rich, has never contributed any of his time or effort to our township. He has never volunteered to serve our community in any way. He does not attend our municipal meetings.
For the sake of West Amwell and all of its present and future residents, I encourage you to join with me and cast your vote Nov. 7 for Bill Corboy for Township Committee.
West Amwell
More than ‘handshakes’
in construction
To the editor:
I am responding to Toby Rich’s public comments of Oct. 19 where he stated most deals in the construction industry are "sealed with a handshake," and "there are no contracts."
Those who have worked in the contract part of construction know deals are not just closed with a handshake as Mr. Rich suggests. Deals are closed with a handshake, a contract, a bid bond, a performance bond and, sometimes, those of questionable ethics may even resort to a bribe or two.
Following an FBI probe, two of the Silvis were convicted of conspiracy to bribe an official involved with one of their development projects. Eventually, they received highly controversial last-minute presidential pardons.
But don’t take my word for it. Do a search for Silvi on the Department of Justice Web page www.usdoj.gov/pardon/clintonpardon_grants.htm.
You can also read a 2001 Boyertown Times article about this, which has been reprinted at www.banthequarry.org/1-News/Silviarticle1.htm.
A key admission by Mr. Rich is the Silvis unsuccessfully sued West Amwell to change the zoning. The Township Committee is the ultimate authority in enacting zoning ordinances. As a vice president for the Silvi Group, Mr. Rich is part of the Silvi family’s inner circle. He is beholden to them for both his employment and his residence.
When the Silvis or their customers in the development industry ask for something, how can Mr. Rich possibly say no?
West Amwell
Williamson farm
not sold to Orleans
To the editor:
This is an open letter to Toby Rich.
I am not a candidate for Township Committee in West Amwell. This election is not about me. It is about the choice of candidates and the issues they support.
I am a resident and Democrat who chooses to express my opinion to other township voters as to my choice. I trust Bill Corboy to keep our township from being overdeveloped.
Bill has been active in local government for more than 30 years. He has also served on the West Amwell School Board and continues to care about education. That is why I encourage others to vote for him.
Interesting what you consider criticism. You have not chosen to do anything for this township. What is there to criticize?
Sorry, Mr. Rich, you got it wrong again. To set the record straight, there was no "sale" of the Williamson farm to Orleans or to any of the other previous developers by anyone in my family nor did anyone in my family profit from it.
Your information was wrong.
West Amwell
Wants Rich to
answer questions
To the editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to express some comments in regard to the upcoming election for committee in West Amwell Township.
Particularly, I would like to address some recent mailings from the Republican candidate Toby Rich.
Toward the end of his second brochure, he stated he would come around to answer any questions we might have about him and what he stands for in his campaign. Since he hasn’t been around my house, I’ll throw these questions out to you so if he comes to your house, you can ask these questions of him to see if you can get some answers that make sense.
He started his most recent brochure with a paragraph referring to efficiently spending our tax dollars in our schools. Ask Mr. Rich if he realizes the position he is running for has nothing to do with the school board budget, and he would have no control or influence over it.
He put four pictures in the center of his brochure. The top picture is of South Hunterdon Regional High School. Ask Mr. Rich what the reference to a picture of the regional high school, which represents three districts, has to do with the West Amwell Committee position.
The third picture in the brochure is of a produce stand in Hopewell Township in Mercer County. Ask Mr. Rich if he knows the boundaries of West Amwell.
In his brochure, he said his campaign started in April. Ask Mr. Rich if he has ever been on a board or volunteered for any special services for West Amwell or even been to a Township Committee meeting up to now.
He states, "Preserving West Amwell is indeed job one."
Ask Mr. Rich how his current employer, who owns and has been trying to develop the 220-acre property they let him live on, will allow him to keep his job and his residence were he to follow through on his promise of preservation.
His campaign slogan is, "A fresh start for West Amwell Township."
Ask Mr. Rich if that fresh start is the sound of bulldozers and concrete trucks staring their way towards West Amwell? Or if it will mean a fresh start for those of us residents who wind up getting taxed off our property to pay for the improvements to infrastructures and schools that it will take to support the development your supporters are planning on doing?
If you would like to know who I am referring to as his supporters, just look to where his political signs are placed. They are placed on large open lots and farm land with for sale signs.
Referencing this first brochure, he makes mention of having, "no baggage, no agenda and no preconceived ideas."
Ask Mr. Rich if he would consider an investigation by the New Jersey State Election Board on he and Betty Jane Hunt’s activities during the primary election campaign baggage.
I would personally like to make this statement to my neighbors of West Amwell. I have no problem, in fact, wish well anyone who has invested in land in this township or has had it handed down to them for generations in turning that property over and making a profit.
Unfortunately, the reason you got the land at the price you did was because clay and shale, which our land in West Amwell is made up of, can’t be developed without the taxpayers footing the bill for sewer systems; sewer systems that could never come close to reaching all the residents.
Although I hope you can do well if you can sell your property, myself and the rest of the residents will not pay out of our taxes so you can make a killing and leave us in debt and with a mess to live with.
One last request of my neighbors vote on Nov. 7. Voting is not just a privilege; it’s our duty and our right rights that were paid for in American blood may times over.
West Amwell

