Letters to the Editor, Nov. 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, Nov. 7

Young friends remember ‘Ms. Dorothy’
To the editor:
   
Last month, Princeton lost Dorothy Jackson, a wonderful longtime resident of the John-Witherspoon neighborhood, where she had lived for many years. For some time now, she lived a quiet life, in a small house with few visitors and many memories. Her obituary said it well; Ms. Dorothy was known for her alertness, vitality and strength.
   We are very sad about her passing away, but we take comfort in the memories of the times we spent with her through our community service in high school. We are 2003 graduates of Stuart Country Day School, and starting in high school we were required to do at least 25 hours of community service each year. We decided that we wanted to be part of an intergenerational program that links high school students with homebound seniors. This program was run by Sue Tillet of the Princeton Senior Center. We were assigned Ms. Dorothy and visited with her over the span of three years. We loved visiting and spent a lot more time with her than was required out of love for who she was. This experience turned out to be a blessing that far exceeded our expectations. Community service taught us a valuable lesson that we will never forget, connecting us with people in a positive way whom we may never have otherwise met.
   Ms. Dorothy lived in the Princeton community since she was a young girl, when she moved to New Jersey to live with relatives. She experienced Princeton through its greatest transitions in a highly personal way. Ms. Dorothy attended school in the Princeton segregated educational system, witnessed the civil rights movement within Princeton, and watched as the town changed through this historical period. Despite everything she went through, Ms. Dorothy always kept a positive and upbeat attitude that we admired.
   Ms. Dorothy always wanted to help any way she could. She was deeply committed to her faith and enjoyed making sure everyone was happy and healthy. To us, she will be remembered as a caring, happy and loving person who taught us much about kindness and forgiveness. We deeply hope that our community will remember her in this way as well.
   Community service is about giving of oneself. We were there to help Ms. Dorothy but, instead, Ms. Dorothy was the one who gave to us.
Emily Honstein
Newlin Road
Kate Zultner
Wallingford Drive
West Windsor
Suzanne George
Michael Way
Pennington
Community partners join in celebration
To the editor:
   
Over the past two weeks, hundreds of residents of the Princeton area and beyond have joined in the festivities celebrating the 250th anniversary of "Princeton in Princeton." Those who attended the many activities had an opportunity to learn more about the rich, collective history of the Princetons and the university through lectures, walking tours, special exhibits and historic re-enactments.
   We would like to thank the following community partners whose participation made this celebration possible: Borough of Princeton, Princeton Township, the Arts Council of Princeton, Borough Merchants for Princeton, Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Historical Society of Princeton, Morven Museum and Garden, the Nassau Inn, Nassau Presbyterian Church, Old Barracks Museum, Princeton Public Library, Princeton Regional Schools and the Princeton University Store.
Kristin Appelget
Director of Community and Regional Affairs
Karen Woodbridge
Director of Community Relations
Princeton University
Chambers Street
Princeton
Energy, camaraderie contagious at race
To the editor:
   
Once again, I am awed by the generosity and spirit of the residents of our community. And on the part of all Komen staff and board, I extend a heartfelt thanks to Bristol-Myers Squibb, our most generous sponsor, for providing the beautiful venue.
   On Sunday, Oct. 29, we hosted the 13th Annual Komen NJ Race for the Cure at BMS on Route 206 in Lawrence. Despite less than ideal weather conditions, nearly 14,000 participants — including 1,000 breast cancer survivors — braved the winds and the mud, and raced for a cure for breast cancer. The energy and camaraderie was contagious.
   It is because of the dedication and enthusiasm of our sponsors, volunteers, donors and race participants that the Race for the Cure is an enormous success. Funds raised will enable the affiliate to continue to support life-saving education and screening initiatives in our 13-county service area of central and southern New Jersey. Our goal is to raise $2 million and we are hopeful that we will reach, if not surpass, this target.
   We are fortunate to live in a community where the residents and business community respond to a call to action to save lives.
Nancy Healey
Executive Director
Central & South Jersey Affiliate
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Princess Road
Lawrence
Successful fundraiser is heartening to family
To the editor:
   
On Oct. 16, Family and Children’s Services of Central New Jersey celebrated my father, Jim Hughes, with the fifth-annual Jim Hughes Memorial Golf Classic, held at Bedens Brook Club in Skillman, where Dad used to play golf with his friends.
   My father served on the board of directors of FACS for several years and was committed to ensuring the agency’s ability to provide — well into the future — the high-quality counseling, mentoring and social services for which it is so well known. The Hughes family — my mother, Peggy Hughes, my sister, Susan Van Selous, and her husband, John, and my husband, Aiden Redmond, and I, along with several (grand)children — are touched by the annual remembrance of my father.
   In addition to the many corporate and individual sponsors, donors, golfers and other friends who helped to make this a successful memorial fundraiser for the fifth year in a row, several merchants and individuals from this community supported the event and FACS by donating items for the silent auction and raffle give-away. This year, we are indebted to the following for their donations: Marcia and Roger Alig, Arlington Capitol, Ashton Whyte, Cranbury Station Gallery, Creative Gems by Dolores (Ostrow), Davina (FL), Designs by Dollie (Enstrom), Mary Ford, Giselle Dancewear, Go for Baroque, Golf Digest, Jud and Christina Henderson, Hulit’s Shoes, J. McLaughlin, JaZams, Joy Cards Studio, Jules Jurgensen, LaJolie, Landau’s, Lisa Jones, Lucy’s Ravioli Kitchen, Main Street Café, McCarter Theatre, Merrick’s on Moore, Origins, Papier Photographic, Wendy Poulsen, Pawtisserie, Pennington Athletic Club, Perennial Home, Robert Tat Gallery (CA), Running Company, Simon Pearce, Sotto Ristorante and Lounge, Carlos Sagebien, Emily Schwab, Carol Sindone, Sparkle Emporium, Starbucks Coffee Co./Mercer Mall, Susan Tibbetts, Tomorrow’s Heirlooms, Trenton Thunder, Village Silver, Alison Wehringer and David Bornheimer, and Witherspoon Grill.
   On behalf of the Hughes Family and Family and Children’s Services, I would like to express my gratitude to all of these generous individuals and businesses for helping to make this very special event both memorable and profitable. The proceeds will support the provision of services to those in our community who might otherwise go without needed help due to their low incomes or lack of health insurance. Dad would be both proud and deeply appreciative.
Katie Hughes Redmond
Benefit Co-Chair and Board Member
Family and Children’s Services of Central New Jersey
John Street
Princeton
Action needed to ensure safety
To the editor:
   
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance sponsored two organized walks in October in Princeton Junction along Princeton-Hightstown Road (Route 571) to examine the difficulties pedestrian commuters encounter when trying to walk to the Princeton Junction train station during rush hour. Alliance trustees and members were joined by residents and two members of the Township Council.
   A list of specific recommendations was generated from these walks to address the obvious and serious gaps in pedestrian access and safety on the east side of the train station. The recommendations focus on the painting of crosswalks where none currently exist (e.g., on Wallace and Cranbury roads at their intersection with Route 571); improving existing crosswalks by the installation of pedestrian-activated crossing signals (e.g., Sherbrooke Drive and Route 571); adding segments of sidewalks to complete "missing links"; repairing existing sidewalks in disrepair; and improving lighting.
   A complete and detailed list of the recommendations is posted on our Web site http://www.princetononline. org/wwbpa.
   We understand that the mayor, Township Council members and staff have the difficult challenge of trying to balance cost and timelines for many township projects. We also understand that planned improvements to pedestrian access and safety are coming to the Princeton Junction area with the planned improvements to county Route 571 as well as with the proposed redevelopment of the Princeton Junction train station area. However, the timelines for these projects are years away from being realized, which leaves these dangerous conditions unremedied for the present. The suggested improvements we have outlined are practical, not overly burdensome financially and could be implemented in an expedited manner.
   We have thus recommended to the West Windsor Township administration that these proposed improvements be reviewed for inclusion in the 2007 capital budget, and then implemented as soon as possible to ensure the safety of pedestrians in Princeton Junction.
Ken Carlson
President
West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance
Wilson Way South
West Windsor
Arts Council parade draws a big crowd
To the editor:
   
On behalf of the Arts Council of Princeton, I would like to thank everyone who participated in our annual Hometown Halloween Parade. More than 500 people marched from Witherspoon Plaza to Palmer Square.
   I would like to thank the Nassau Inn for its generous support in providing activities and treats, and Small World Coffee for donating hot chocolate coupons. I would also like to thank our town crier, Rip Pelaton, the Princeton University Band, Mercer Engine Company No. 3, Princeton Police Department and Palmer Square Management.
   And a special thank you to all of the families who participated — we will see you next year.
Michael LaRiccia
Program/Public Relations Coordinator
Arts Council of Princeton
North Harrison Street
Princeton
Could Promenade be the next Forrestal?
To the editor:
   
Reading the article concerning the proposed Montgomery Promenade (The Packet, Nov. 3) makes me think of the Forrestal Center in the late 1980s. That was to be an upscale center also. It went from upscale to outlets to a ghost town.
   Residents of Montgomery Township in the early ’70s had two choices to purchase food — Thriftway or Grand Union. If you were really adventurous, you went to the Princeton Shopping Center to Acme or A&P.
   As far as Stop & Shop being described as monotonous and inappropriate for the high-end retail and residential project, that makes me laugh. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Will the ZIP Code for the project be 90210? Maybe with any luck, a few of the restaurants could be The County Line Inn and Black Bart’s.
   I’m looking forward to seeing how the project fares in the next 10 years.
Lynn Collins
Route 27
Franklin Township
Article in Spanish would offend TR
To the editor:
   
Regarding your "Health Matters" article printed entirely in Spanish on Page 19A of the Packet’s Oct. 20 issue, when do you plan to run articles in Italian, Asian and/or Indian? After all, there is, and always has been, a large Italian population in the Princeton area and an ever-growing Asian and Indian population.
   If you keep insisting on running articles in Spanish in our American newspaper, in all fairness you should extend the foreign languages to include the aforementioned, although this is not an acceptable solution.
   Following is a quotation from a speech made by President Theodore Roosevelt regarding his ideas on immigrants and being an American in 1907:
   "In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birthplace or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. … We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language … and we have room for but one sole loyalty, and that is a loyalty to the American people."
   When and why has this become obsolete 100 years later? We are all Americans in America — where the English language is spoken.
Nina Boyden
Old Nassau Road
Monroe