Letters to the Editor, June 7, 2007

Crowells get thank-you
To the editor:
   
I moved to Hopewell in 1987 because I loved how peaceful and beautiful it was. Obviously, there have been a lot of changes in those 20 years. Two of them stick out for how greatly they improved the quality of life here in town.
   First came Hopewell Park and, since it opened, I have walked in it practically every day, but I’m not writing to praise the park, it needs no further accolades. The second change was the opening of Failte Coffeehouse. In a funny way the two have a common ground (no pun intended), in so far as they both gave Hopewellians chances to meet and interact with each other that weren’t so readily available before. I would guess that many friendships have been born in one or the other. That is a great testimony to the civic focal points these two have become for Hopewell.
   The reason I’m writing this letter now is that Jean and Chris Crowell recently decided to sell Failte. While the coffee shop will continue, under the capable guidance of Doreen and Lewis Kassel (good luck, neighbors), I want to express my thanks to Jean and Chris for having the vision and taking the risk — not to mention all the hard work and long hours — in opening Failte. You both have given Hopewell a great gift, and Failte is probably the best-known landmark in town.
   On a more personal note, I would also extend my deepest, most heartfelt thanks to the Crowells for giving me the chance, in Failte, to show my paintings publicly for the first time.
   I will always remember coming to Failte during a snowstorm, when it wasn’t officially open, and being greeted by Jean’s broad smile and a cup of hot chocolate. Thanks, you guys!
Reid Taylor
Hopewell
Congratulations!
To the editor:
   
We would like to congratulate some of our volunteers for recent achievements. Congratulations go to Bill Haines for recently completing Firefighter 1; Jason Machusak for receiving his EMT certification; and to Yvonne Kunz for recently receiving her BSN and passing the NJ State Nursing Boards.
Hopewell Fire Department
and Emergency Medical Unit
Looking for classmates!
To the editor:
   
The HVCHS Class of 1987 has begun preparations for our upcoming 20th year reunion on Nov. 24. There are just a few things missing – some of our fellow classmates. If you can provide any info on the following people (e-mails preferred), the Class of ’87 will be greatly appreciative. Brian Boucher, Andy Brown, Sarah Burkman, Collette Caddell, Jeff Combs, Kristin Costic, Kara Crawford, Kristi Curtis, Chris Durham, Jeff Ellis, Tammy Fiel, Wendy Finnegan, Gordon Franklin, Scott Fuelhart, Luke Gasior, Doreen Giordanno, Maureen Glembocki, Laura Goodwin, Will Harkness, Mark Harrison, Kim Irwin, Irv Kelly, Wendy Kelly, Jane Kirby, Karen Kleiber, Brian Koczan, Anthony Lipot, Catherine Martin, Kara Massimilla, Rob McGuire, Charlene Min, Tina Mustra, Tamar Natanzon, Tom Olswfski, Daniela Pala, Justine Park, Gregory Peck, James Pickins, Lynn Pinelli, Cyndi Serban, Joe Smith, Linda Stamat, Jay Steiner, Penelope Strong, Aric Taylor, Michael Tirnen, Tisha Troike, Frank Vitellaro, Sage Wagner, Erik Wichert, Rick Wilson and Kimberly Woodward.
Alden Thorndike
[email protected]
Vail, Colo.
CHS band:

Is it falling apart?
To the editor:
   
I wanted to discuss something that I know has been bothering many people in Hopewell Valley — the Hopewell Valley Central High School Band. Most of us have seen the band all dressed up and marching in parades. I myself was one of them for each of the four years I attended high school. As a recent graduate, Class of 2005, it was barely yesterday that our band director, Gary Suabedissen — or Mr. Suab, as we all called him — had us performing multiple parades in uniform. He was constantly reminding us that our parades and public appearances outside our concerts were the publicity not just for our music department but indeed our entire high school.
   Not everyone comes to see a soccer game or and play, but a whole lot of people come out to see the parades (or are at least unable to avoid hearing us through their bedroom windows). He always told us we were the reason high school budgets got passed. The community, he claimed, was impressed by a large group of high school students marching together, breaking that stereotype that all high school students are unruly and troublesome. It gave the band a sense of pride and no matter how much we hated those heavy, wool uniforms that were hot and ridiculously uncomfortable at times, it gave us a sense of leadership in the community and band members today admit they wish they were wearing uniforms now.
   Now that our beloved Mr. Suab has retired, a new director has taken over and the uniforms have disappeared. So where are the uniforms? No one seems to know. Band students from previous years still have them as the new director didn’t even bother to collect them. The rest may still be locked up in a closet somewhere. Rather than buy new uniforms (although rumors have surfaced they will be getting new ones soon), the band is clad in matching T-shirts, which not only look unprofessional, but are a complete waste of the perfectly good uniforms left unused in the closet. It’s clear that the band is beginning to fall apart.
   This past year the band did not even attend the Hopewell Harvest Fair. For many years, it was the band’s job to open the day’s festivities with a few songs and the national anthem. What happened to that? Similarly the band used to march in the Hopewell Halloween parade. Indeed you might say they were the parade, as the band led a mob of parents and their costumed toddlers along with a fire truck or two. This year the band merely stood around, played songs and let the parade go on without them. Why is no one telling the new band director what to do? Or are people telling him, and he just isn’t listening? I do understand he is new and needs some time to adjust, but I think he should be held accountable for some of the seriously bad decisions he has been making.
   If you are wondering about these choices the band director is making outside of the classroom, don’t you wonder what is going on inside it? Having spoken to several of the current band students it had become clear they aren’t doing a whole lot. I was told that before the concerts this past year the band did not play through a single one of its songs the entire way through prior to the actual performance. Instead, they learned the song in pieces and never put it all together until that night. Now I’m no music teacher, but there is something very wrong about that. How can you paint a picture if you don’t know what it’s supposed to look like in the end? How can you rehearse a song and not rehearse it in its entirety prior to putting that song on display before the public? It’s just not a good method of rehearsing. I also was informed that entire class periods are wasted on teaching things like balancing on the heel of one foot and the toe of another. Apparently this is supposed to aid in marching. I marched in many parades with my band quite successfully and never once did Mr. Suab have us waste time learning to balance. This isn’t field show marching band.
   I realize that is something being worked on for the future, and part of the reason this new director was chosen above others, but I beg of the school district to see to it that field show marching band doesn’t take away from concert band. And don’t let me hear from anyone that it isn’t interfering. I can see it with my own eyes. Or should I say hear it with my own ears? The band concerts show that the concert band is suffering greatly. They don’t sound like a high school band any more than the sixth grade band does. At the end of the Hopewell Memorial Day Parade the band played the "Star Spangled Banner," and several people near me at the time turned to me and asked: "What the heck was that?" They also asked what happened to the band since I left. They sounded terrible!
   We are supposed to be getting better and better over the course of our years in music at Hopewell — not progressively worse and unfortunately that is what appears to be occurring now. Without change students will simply stop taking band as an elective and that is, in my opinion, an unacceptable consequence. There needs to be a serious change in the way things are being run regarding the band at the high school. I ask everyone reading this to help make sure that next year starts off considerably better than this one. I ask that the music department be pushed harder on the issues of rehearsals, uniforms and public appearances. The students are worth it.
Nicole Lorenzetti
Hopewell Township
Thank you, veterans
To the editor:
   
I would like to express our appreciation to all the veterans who came out to participate in the Pennington Memorial Day parade on May 28. We had a total of 14 and they came from Hopewell, Pennington, Hopewell Township, Titusville and Ewing. We had nine who marched, three who rode, one who rode a tricycle and another in a wheel chair. How’s that for motivation? We also had the Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339 Color Guard, for which we are very thankful.
   Color Guard members are Sal Torre, Legion Post commander; Mickey Toth, Legion vice commander; Joe Kamrad and Robert Witkowski. Those marching were: Tom Blair, Pete O’Hara, George Pearson, Joe Logan, Bob Peeck, VFW Post Comander Jack Pierpont, Tom Pearce-Drance, Sonny Panebianco and yours truly.
   Riding were: Charles Rutledge, former POW Korea (Chosin Reservoir); Morgan Van Hise and Ken Blackwell. Dr. Milton Marion rode his tricycle and Al Phillip’s granddaughter helped her grandfather ride in his wheel chair.
   We thank Michelle Needham for providing the wreath and the small trailer for the veterans who needed to ride. We also had a surprise group, not scheduled, which was standing along the side of South Main Street. It was First Sgt. Fredric L. Minus and 16 members of the 6th U.S. Colored Troop from Trenton. They were dressed in Civil War uniforms and had come to Pennington to honor those who are buried in the African American Cemetery near the school administration building. I immediately invited them to join us. They accepted, and "fell in" behind us.
   We all felt honored by the spectators who showed their appreciation for those veterans we humbly tried to represent — those who have given their lives for all of us. Thank you everyone! Do you have freedom? It is NOT free! Thank a veteran!
Sevy Di Cocco,
veterans coordinator
Parade accolades
To the editor:
   
The Pennington Day Memorial Parade proceeded down Main Street again this year as neighbors, friends and families lined the streets to honor our nation’s fallen heroes. The parade would not be possible if it weren’t for the many volunteers and borough employees who join together each year to make it a memorable day for all. With that said, we would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their time and commitment to this year’s parade.
   First and foremost to our Valley Veteran’s, organized by Sevi Di Cocco, and to Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339 color guard and gun salute led by Michael Toth of Legion Rifle Squad. Special thanks to the mayor, past and present elected officials, Bill Meytrott and the entire Police Department, the Public Works Department, the borough administrative office, Trenton Cyrus Lodge No. 5 and DeMolay youth chapter, and Grand Marshal Bill Reuter.
   We also are grateful to Pennington Market, Pennington Sales & Service, The Pennington School, Dahlia’s Floral Concepts, Jann’s Sweet Shoppe, Hopewell Valley Board of Education, Hopewell Valley Parks & Recreation — which support the parade each year: Thanks to volunteers, Peter Dawson, John Witty, Chip Grundy, Greg Butler, Lee White, David Haines, Albert Texeria, and others who gave of their time and energy to make it a great day. To Emily Schwab and Kurt Pedersen, past parade coordinators, who advised us and answered our endless questions along the way.
   And lastly thanks to the members of the Pennington Parks & Recreation Commission who spend months planning and organizing this event. They are Elizabeth Haines, Kit Chandler, Steve Cusma, Lee Dickstein, Diana Butcavage and Ed Livernoche . Thank you one and all. See you next year!
Michelle Needham,
Ned Fletcher, Pennington
Parks & Recreation co-chairs