From the June 21 edition
Resident backs efforts to change township name
To the editor:
I would like to praise Lew Koushel on his hard work and perseverance in obtaining the many signatures needed on his petition to change our community’s name from Washington Township to Robbinsville. As a resident since 1987, I want Mr. Koushel to know that reading about his success with his petition is like déjà vu, or something akin to "been there, done it."
When I moved into the Foxmoor community in 1987, my community’s address was Robbinsville, not Washington. Robbinsville even had it’s own post office on Route 526 nestled between Routes 130 and 33, with it’s own zip code of 08691. The behemoth Trenton Post Office located on 130 in Hamilton had not yet opened. It was a sad day for Robbinsville when it did. Our friendly, quaint post office was closed after the Route 130 facility opened up for business.
Sometime in the 1990s, local politicians thought changing the name from Robbinsville to Washington Township would be a good thing. The exit signs from Route 195 read "Allentown and Robbinsville." Not "Washington." Now we have a beautiful high school that has the name of Robbinsville, but the school is left without a community to stand behind it.
Mr. Koushel, I am so tired of getting my mail with Trenton listed as part of my address. I hope your petition succeeds. I urge our elected officials to hear the resident’s dissatisfaction with the status quo.
Loraine Immesberger,
Robbinsville
Name change advocate thanks supporters, council
To the editor:
At last, the name-change petition was delivered and, after a review of the names and addresses, it was accepted by the Township of Washington and approved. It must go to the Township Council, which must approve of it and get it on the ballot in the November general election.
I want to thank my petition committee members Dorothy Bartram, Gloria McGowan, Jean Brunone and my wife, Gloria, for all the help they have given me. Now it is up to the Township Council to do the right thing.
Our next project is to reclaim ZIP Code 08691. The residents of this Township want it for Robbinsville area only, not Trenton. Too many problems have occurred because of this.
Lewis Koushel,
Washington
Resident: Fleischacker is no preservationist
To the editor:
The aftermath of Upper Freehold’s June 5 primary election would be comedic if it wasn’t such a blatant insult to our intelligence.
The primary actor in this election farce is Mayor Stephen Fleischacker, who is perhaps the most intellectually dishonest politician I have ever seen in action.
In three dizzying days, Republican Mayor Fleischacker went from not running for re-election; to independent write-in candidate; to filing a petition to run as an independent simultaneously with Jen Coffey; to running without Ms. Coffey; to endorsing, but "not running with," Republican nominee Stan Moslowski; to denouncing the other Republican nominee Lori Horsnall-Mount.
This spinmeister extraordinare, who will say anything and use anyone to get elected, was just warming up.
Mr. Fleischacker then announced he is running as a "preservationist." He appears oblivious to the contradiction that he is also the chief proponent of a Smart Growth township Master Plan based on bringing a high-density Town Center to open space that just might turn out to be owned by some large landowners who support him.
Mr. Fleischacker is not bothered by the fact that Washington Township Mayor Dave Fried has said Smart Growth has devastated his community or that Millstone wants nothing to do with the stupidity of Smart Growth. He is not troubled that Barry Wright is but the latest highly respected member of the Planning Board to quit while denouncing Fleischacker’s Smart Growth plan to destroy what remains of the rural character of Upper Freehold.
Mr. Fleischacker, the faux-preservationist, reached the absurd pinnacle of his spin-campaign when he attacked fellow Republican Committeemen Bob Faber and Steve Alexander as pro-development. Mr. Faber was one of the first farmers to place his 180 acres into the state farmland preservation program at significant personal financial sacrifice. He ran for office and has governed on a consistently preservationist basis. Mr. Alexander has sponsored ordinances to control rampant development and has been sued and vilified by many of Mr. Fleischacker’s supporters for his efforts.
Mr. Fleischacker is no preservationist. In my opinion, he is a pro-development con artist who thinks he can bamboozle the voters. Those of us who are tired of his unprincipled personal agenda have a responsibility to speak out and make sure he suffers a resounding defeat this November.
Chris Berzinski,
Upper Freehold
Garden Club thanks tour supporters
To the editor:
The Allentown Garden Club would like to thank all of those who supported the fifth "Hidden Gardens of Allentown" tour on June 2. The success of this event was a result of the hard work of those who generously invited the public into their yards, and the enthusiastic turn out of both residents and out-of-towners. Comments and reactions of visitors that day reflected their appreciation of the diversity and creativity of the gardens and the charm of our town. Many thanks also to the businesses that supported the tour with discounts and donations of door prizes.
The Garden Club is proud to have been able to showcase the beauty of Allentown and invites any one who would like to participate in the next tour to visit our Web site, AllentownGardenClub.org, or call Lisa Stravinsky at (609) 259-1886.
Kathy Fidler,
Publicity Chair,
Allentown Garden Club

