Letters to the Editor, Aug. 24

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, Aug. 24

Developer’s proposal a troubling precedent
To the editor: 
   I would like to respond to Julie Fox’s letter last week regarding Greenview Avenue, the lovely little street east of the Princeton Cemetery.
   I agree that it is disturbing that a developer such as (architect) Hillier thinks that it is in the best interest of our neighborhood to build a shopping center-like condo complex in a quiet little street.
   His project manager stated at a meeting that we are going to see a lot more of these McModern housing developments in the future. Is this the vision that we as a community have for Princeton? I think not.
   If the borough allows this outrageous increase in zoning to occur (a floor area ratio increase from 45 to 90) this will set a troubling precedent. These zoning rules are in place to stop the whole of Princeton from being torn down and turned into a condoland horror story; we need to make sure they stay that way.
   This is pure greed dressed up as something “beneficial” to the community. We need to be forward thinking and realize that we can prevent this from occurring, whilst still encouraging sensitive development in what is a unique and beautiful town.
Tara de la Garza
Humbert Street
Princeton Borough
Read with your kids and watch scores rise
To the editor: 
    Parents can help raise reading scores so that our schools don’t fall short on test reports by simply making sure their children are reading every day.
   Support your community to increase school reading scores by trying some of these suggestions with your own children, or cutting out the suggestions and passing them along to someone with a child. Providing reading time and having books available are keys to a child’s reading success.
   Parents can support a child by providing opportunities to read alone and with others. Reading at home should be a positive experience for both the adult and child. One of the most challenging aspects of reading at home is choosing books that appropriately support a child as they move toward being an independent reader, allowing them to gain confidence as a reader and encounter more difficult texts.
   Help your child choose appropriate books, not too hard, not too easy, but just right. Read with your child by taking turns reading aloud — even with older children. Talk to your child about the books they are reading. Students should read daily at home, at least 20 minutes for elementary aged children and 40 minutes for middle school students and above. Talking about books and reading is an important part of any child’s learning. These conversations enable children to become lifelong readers and build our reading community.
   Try some of these conversation starters next time you read with your child.
   Why did you choose this book? What do you think will happen next? What part of the text makes you think that? Does this book remind you of anything that has ever happened to you? What have you been wondering as you read this? Does this book make you think of anything else you have read? Were there any words or phrases in your reading that you really liked? Which ones? What has been your favorite part of the book so far? Why? Would you like to read another book by the same author? Why or why not? Was there a part of the book that surprised you? Why? Can you think of someone else you know who would like this book?
   Do this daily, and watch our reading scores increase.
Kari McGann
Lannigan Drive
Lawrence
Lovers Lane needs no left turn sign
 To the editor: 
    I commute from the Princeton side of Montgomery to Lawrenceville every day.
   While there is really nothing anyone can do about typical rush-hour traffic, one thing Princeton Township could rethink is a no left-turn sign from Lovers Lane onto Stockton Street (southbound Route 206) from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
   The one individual who stops the flow of traffic on Lovers Lane just to make a left makes peoples’ commutes even worse.
   There once was a no turn on left sign there, or at least I thought, and if there was one, why was it removed?
   A serious accident is waiting to happen at that intersection.
   Please reconsider this suggestion for every commuter trying to get home at night.
Lucy Proctor
Cherry Brook Drive
Montgomery