Letters-Dec. 14, 2006

Holiday Shoppe

great success
To the editor:
   We are really excited about the Lambertville Public School Holiday Shoppe; our best year ever, and we had Santa visit!
   A big thank you to Cathie Giambalvo, Ed Giambalvo and Paula Coll who did a terrific job organizing Santa’s visit. With the help of Weidel Realtors, Santa in his sleigh — complete with reindeer — was busy with our children and our pets. For a $5 sitting fee, instant photos were taken, and parents took lots more. Kids got to decorate their card frames.
   Kids also enjoyed a candy cane courtesy of the Lambertville Chamber of Commerce. Great photos were taken. Look for some in The Beacon! And thank you to Kate Grow and Ann Osborne for assisting with the children and pet flow.
   And we had our second annual "Gifts from the Kitchen," organized by Holly McAndrew. It was a huge success. Holly did a great job organizing our terrific parent bakers. There were fruit cakes, beautifully decorated holiday cookies in tins, pumpkin cakes, a wonderful pineapple cake, coconut breads and lots of gorgeous packaged snacks for stocking stuffers!
   A huge thanks to Holly for organizing and to Alantha Carter for assisting and to all our fabulous bakers!
   Most fun of all — watching our kids shop! The lists were endless; Grandmom, Pop, Nana, Gramps, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, Mom and Dad, and, of course, teachers and friends. Our fabulous sixth-graders guided the kids in their shopping adventure and then wrapped their gifts up for none the wiser.
   This would not have happened without the generous donations from everyone.
   First, all of our parents, but also our community — Weidel Realtors, Lambertville Chamber of Commerce, Van Heusen — Kathy Flynn, Mercer Insurance — Shiryl Godown and so many more who we missed in the drop-off piece.
   There were books, great kids’ toys, candles, brand new games, beautiful brand new purses, scarves, and clothing (with tags still on), perfumes, etc.
   Thank you to all.
   Thank you to Karen Conlon, Maire Vieth and Homestead Farm Market for collecting.
   The Lambertville Chamber of Commerce and Weidel Realtors did so much. It’s great to be part of a small town.
   And thank you to Jessica Conner, Christine Miller, Jacquie Middleton, Erica Rubine, Beth Asaro, Alantha Carter, Marcia O’Connell, Andrew Clifford and Karen Kominsky for all of the help assisting. Without you, we couldn’t have done it.
   And last but certainly not least, our sixth-graders. They were fabulous in everything from setup to cleanup — Patrick Ferry, Grant Jensen, Ashley Bentham, Emma Carpenter, Adeline Donnelly, Kyle Campbell, Kyle Tillett, Michael Failla, Heidi Culbertson and Lloyd Seiter.
   We had a very successful day, raising $1,271 for our kids’ enrichment program.

Debbie Closson
Kathleen Ferry
Lambertville PTA
co-presidents
Lambertville

Tree lighting

had much support
To the editor:
   I’d like to thank the following who worked together to make the Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce’s 23rd annual tree lighting ceremony Dec. 5 such a great success:
   Princeton Fuel Oil for donating the toys for the children; McGregor and his driver from Bucks Country Carriages, who conveyed Santa in style; Art Banker, who knows if we’ve been naughty or nice; Tara Banker and Barry Wiseman for doing the sound and music.
   Also, Monsignor Leon Kaspryk and St. John’s and Baker’s Treat for providing the hot cocoa and delicious cookies.
   Thanks as well to Mayor David Del Vecchio for taking time from his busy schedule to perform the traditional countdown for the lighting of the tree.
   A big thank you goes out to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, who, once again, donated the bucket truck and staff who spent two days in the windy cold making sure all the holiday street lights went up as well as installing the tree decorations, which were generously provided by Monkey Hill.
   I’d also like to thank Jim Smith and his instrumental group from South Hunterdon Regional High School, who braved the cold weather and contributed their musical talents and enthusiasm to the event.
   Happy Holidays to everyone.

Wendy Warren
president
Lambertville Area
Chamber of Commerce
Lambertville

Mayor thanks

city voters
To the editor:
   I write to thank the voters of Lambertville for supporting my reelection as mayor and for participating in such high numbers in all of the races on the ballot this November.
   I will continue to take the proactive steps required to tackle today’s problems and to better position Lambertville for tomorrow’s challenges. For example, we are working hard to address our serious flooding problem by upgrading drainage, adopting a hazardous mitigation plan to increase our opportunities to obtain grant funding and working on engineering solutions to limit future flooding.
   I look forward to continue to work with so many of you and our governing body to keep building a bright future for the city we call home.
   Please feel free to call me if I can ever be of help on any city issue.

David M. Del Vecchio
mayor
Lambertville

PIP keeps holiday

spirit alive
To the editor:
   I want to congratulate Earl Bierman, chairman of the New Hope Park and Recreation Board and its members for continuing to light the evergreen tree located at the foot of the Lambertville-New Hope bridge.
   The tree lighting had been initiated by New Hope Partners in Progress seven years ago. It is great to see the spirit of the holiday season in New Hope lives in the hearts of PIP’s former members as they continue to maintain an active interest in the Borough of New Hope throughout the year.

Charles F. Tarr
PIP past president
chairman
New Hope Garden Club
New Hope

Former clerk

had much support
To the editor:
   I want to thank everyone who came to visit me in Doylestown Hospital and St. Lawrence Rehabilitation during the past two months.
   It was those visits, flowers, cards and telephone calls that kept me going.
   Diabetes and herniated disks are debilitating and have forced me to find a new normal life. Without your prayers and good wishes, I would not have been able to come back to Lambertville to live.
   Words cannot express my thanks for those who have assisted me in so many ways.
   The members of the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad are very compassionate and professional. So many have volunteered their time and assisted me.
   I can only repeat thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Mary Elizabeth Sheppard
Lambertville