LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From the issue of Nov. 16, 2006.

No offense intended with Halloween costumes
To the editor:
   This letter is in response to the writer who expressed her disapproval of the boys dressed up as Jewish men for Halloween (Hillsborough Beacon, Nov. 9).
   In answer to your question, two of the boys were Jewish and two of the boys were not. They chose these costumes because they are 13-year-old boys who thought it would be fun. Simple as that. We can assure you they meant no disrespect. We did not notice in your letter any concern for another non-Jewish boy who was with them dressed as a priest and whether you thought he was mocking the Catholic Church by wearing a cross around his neck.
   Is it disrespectful to homeless people when the kids get dressed as bums? Is it disrespectful to the elderly when the kids get dressed up as old men and women? While we certainly feel that we need to teach our kids to respect all human kind, is it so bad that once a year we let our kids express themselves as they want without worrying about offending anyone?
   By the way, collectively, this particular group of boys are honor roll students, have taken part in social action through organizations such as Interfaith Hospitality Network and the Fresh Air Fund and have done community work through the Boy Scouts. These are good kids with a good sense of humor.
   We would urge you as a member of our community to be more concerned with the kids in our town that are not dressed in costume, but are out breaking laws, causing trouble or doing drugs. We think that is a far more serious concern than a Halloween costume you found so offensive.
Nancy Tillman

Case Drive

Jody Berkowitz

Teneyck Court

Thanks for support on Election Day
To the editor:
   We want to thank the people of Hillsborough for your support in re-electing us to Township Committee on Nov. 7.
   It was an honor to be the leading vote-getters in Hillsborough this year, and we take it as a literal vote of confidence in the job we have done. The vote is also reflective of the hard work and the dedicated volunteers who serve on our boards and commissions, and in addition to the township employees for their diligence in their daily tasks. We want you to know that we are committed to continuing to serve you honestly and to the best of our abilities, and fulfilling our promises to continue to provide a responsive and fiscally responsible government that operates in the best interests of all township residents.
   This past year we put reasonable limits on activities at the former VA Depot, while acquiring revenue from that federal property for the first time; we acquired the Belle Mead GSA Depot; we pushed hard on Washington until the federal government announced the removal of the mercury from the DLA Depot; and we worked with state and county officials to bring in grants for open space/farmland preservation, and for other worthy projects to benefit our township. And, most importantly, we kept our promise to bring you in 2006 a no-tax-increase municipal budget for the second time in three years.
   So, we hope you will have confidence in us when we say that we will continue to work with our colleagues to interact with interested nonprofit organizations and sponsors to establish a Teen Center for our youth, to address the needs of our seniors, make further progress toward bringing sewers to neighborhoods with failing septic systems, establish quiet zones along our railroads, promote business growth under the new Master Plan, and keep pushing Trenton to get the Route 206 Bypass built as scheduled.
   To do all this we need your help. So, again this year, we ask all the people of Hillsborough to come together for the good of our township, and to follow up your vote with constructive interest and participation in public affairs, to help us make Hillsborough a better place for us all.
Carl Suraci

Mayor

Bob Wagner

Township Committeeman