Letters-March 22, 2007

Fire company

thanks supporters
To the editor:
   March 3, the Stockton Fire Company held its annual banquet.
   This event gives the firemen, rescue squad and auxiliary members a chance to unwind in between calls, drills, classes and fundraisers. We were surrounded by fiends, family, mutual aid companies and distinguished guests.
   We all enjoyed a good meal and awards ceremony followed by good talk, coffee and dessert, but none of this is possible without the help from the community.
   I would like to take this opportunity to thank Joe Colalillo and the ShopRite family for their year-round support; Marty Hadicke, owner of Fabulous Feast in Stockton, who catered this event; and Dawn Macbeth of Stockton for all of her support she gave to the company for this event and through the year.
   Also, the Stockton PTO, who did not hesitate to lend a hand and work this event through the night; Rich and Sue Todd, owners of Todd’s Garage in Stockton, who continually support the fire company; and Richard and Sally Phillips, owners of Phillips Fine Wine in Stockton, who are always there for us.
   All I can say is we are there for you and appreciate everything you all do for us.

Anthony A. Grecco
president
Stockton Fire Company

Prevent tragic fire

through caution
To the editor:
   Fires this winter have been devastating and frequent.
   Recent fires in the news show tragic scenes of personal loss and homelessness.
   Since the start of this year, there have been 35 large, tragic, U.S.-based fires involving multiple deaths and injuries with fatalities on the rise. A total of 134 people, 80 of them children, died from those 35 fires.
   The increase in residential fires every winter can be attributed directly to the increased use of space heaters, fireplaces and candles. Prevent fires by leaving 3 feet of clear space around space heaters at all times. Do not leave them unattended.
   Do not leave open flames unattended, such as gas stoves and candles, and keep them free from debris. Replace batteries in smoke detectors and make sure they are working properly.
   As soon as you come in contact with a fire, immediately call your local fire department. Do not, under any circumstance, attempt to put the fire out on your own.
   Homeowners and building owners rarely believe a fire will happen to them and do not take time to prepare or consider fire safety. Fire rates in New Jersey and across the country are rising steadily, making fire a very real and present issue in all our lives.
   We, as a society, need to be more diligent and act now to protect ourselves from fire, using fire prevention methods and technologies that are easily available, before a fire occurs and before lives are lost.

Vincent Fichera
New Jersey Fire Sprinkler
Advisory Board

Don’t buy rabbits

without thought
To the editor:
   Over the next few weeks, you may be tempted to buy an Easter rabbit for a child.
   And a few months from now, our local animal shelters and rescue groups will be, as they are every year, inundated by a flood of castoff and abandoned bunnies.
   Safe Haven Rabbit Rescue in Clinton, N.J., asks that everyone who is considering buying a rabbit this year stop and think about some important facts.
   Although rabbits can make wonderful pets, they are naturally fragile and timid. An active child who expects a cuddly pet can easily terrify, injure or provoke aggression in a rabbit, and children most often are not content for a period of more than a few days having one for a pet.
   A well-cared for rabbit should live as long as a large dog (10 years or more) and will require just as much love, attention and veterinary care as a dog or cat would.
   They need to be spayed or neutered, will chew and dig and have special dietary needs.
   To keep a rabbit caged or confined to a hutch, especially one outside, is heartless with premature death being certain.
   Please don’t give a live rabbit unless you know it will be loved and cared for throughout its natural life. Educate yourself first before an impulse purchase; there is a wealth of information on the Internet.
   And if there’s any doubt, give a stuffed or chocolate bunny instead.

Linda Guarino
volunteer supporter
Bordentown
Safe Haven
Rabbit Rescue