So much to be thankful for in our towns

EDITORIAL

By Ruth Luse
   While many in this country, and certainly throughout the rest of the world, are in turmoil — whether it be the result of war, poverty, severe weather and other circumstances too numerous to mention — most of us who live and work in Hopewell Valley live prosperous, relatively peaceful, safe lives. And because of that, we have much for which to be very thankful.
   We live in a community that boasts of many volunteers who spend much of their leisure time in the service of others. In both Pennington and Hopewell boroughs, we have council members and mayors who work for their towns — and take the heat from citizens — without pay.
   We have countless members of municipal boards and commissions who also serve without pay and try to make the best decisions they can for their towns. Often they spend long hours doing so. Take for example the recent four-hour Hopewell Township Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting at which the Hopewell Valley Vineyards’ variance application was discussed, discussed and discussed.
   We have a school board whose members also labor without remuneration. Needless to say, they take heat all the time, and yet are willing to do so. Surely, their hearts must be in the right place, for theirs is no easy task!
   We have elected officials who still can manage to look beyond party allegiances and recognize the worth of those who were their opponents in very recent political wars. Take the Nov. 13 appointment of Republican Mike Chipowsky to the Mayors’ Task Force on Nonmandated School Busing. Less than a week before, he — a retired police chief and officer — was hoping to unseat one of the men, David Sandahl, who voted to appoint him to the task force Nov. 13.
   We have firefighters and first-aiders who are on call when emergencies occur. Take for example the EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) class that just graduated Saturday in Pennington. Over 20 people took classes that began in early September and spent 110-plus hours learning how to do their jobs. Most of these people have become members of the three Valley squads and are ready to help when needed.
   These people are of immeasurable assistance quite often to our two local police departments. Take for example the Nov. 8 flooding rescue on Old Mill Road. That day a rescue boat from Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad came to the aid of township Officer Chris Kascik, whose laudable efforts helped save a township boy from possible drowning.
   We have people like Sheryl Stone, who was honored recently by Mercer County, for her decade or so of work leading the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance, and Heidi Kahme, who is her successor.
   We could not begin to list the multitude of people who lead and work with children in the Valley’s recreation leagues, do good work through groups like the Hopewell Valley Lions Club, Pennington Business & Professional Association, Hopewell Business Association, Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339 and Auxiliary and the VFW Post 829.
   We have people who brought Thanksgiving baskets to this office for delivery to HomeFront. We have families and children in the Toll Gate Grammar School and Pennington area who baked pies and took goodies to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) for Thanksgiving.
   We have so many fine people who work together to make this a very wonderful place to be. And for that, we at the HVN are thankful, as always, this Thanksgiving!