For historic preservation

By: centraljersey.com
Recently some letters have been circulating in the press and in the community concerning the ordinance proposed for Pennington’s historic preservation.
I take issue with arguments by George Ackerman recently published in this paper. There is not a shred of evidence to prove that maintenance costs will "skyrocket" or that property values will decrease if the ordinance is passed. Nor is there the slightest proof that this proposal will be used for "randomly" selected properties elsewhere in the borough.
This is the language of fear-mongering by a property owner who does not live in Pennington, with little interest in the old houses that many of us cherish deeply. Had past generations thought along similar lines without a thought to posterity, there would be no Savannah, no Washington, no Charleston, no Boston to admire in this great country. Instead of the beauty of American architecture and its lovely vernaculars, there would be only the dreary banality of self-interest, which is what such strategies propose.
No doubt some of my neighbors agree in opposing preservation on the erroneous assumption that it limits their freedom. I would like, however, to speak for those other homeowners who hold this town dear and came to live here because of its historic district, not in spite of it.
Historic houses are garrulous things and talk incessantly of their owners. Here an old home speaks of the loving care of those who struggled to maintain it; another tells of proprietors who vandalized it, unwilling to think of future generations. Some buildings speak of the single-minded pursuit of business people who drag the vulgarity of the strip mall into the quiet civility of a leafy historic district; and there are owners who knowingly sell their historic houses to those who would destroy them in order to build higher and bigger: a tale of greed.
Long after we are gone, our houses will pass an implacable judgment on our attitudes toward our community. The urban fabric is one of our most fragile and precious legacies, and, as its trustees, we must make every effort to preserve its beauty and dignity. Architecture tells us who we are and where we are coming from: we want to bequeath to future generations the best of our past rather than the worst of our present.
Esther da Costa Meyer Pennington
Mystical pizza
To the editor:
There it sits above the thoroughfare decorated on high with garden and trellis – our Hopewell Borough mystical pizzeria.
How did it come to be this mystical pizzeria? Some believe its application for approval was "fast-tracked" by the borough Planning Board. How could so many contractual conditions not be considered (impact of chimney smoke), others not complied with by the owners (lighting, parking) and other conditions added after approval (that garden and trellis)? Sounds like a Planning Board bungle from which it now tries to extradite itself.
While a proposal is aired for a different form of borough governance, little will change if our governing body lacks transparency, smart commercial development and equal treatment of all applications for commercial use.
It was said of Hopewell Borough – "not another antique shop"; now "not another pizzeria."
But our Nomad is mystical – an edifice whose ascension transcends human understanding.
Stanley J. Vitello Hopewell Borough
Senior picnic thanks
To the editor:
Over 275 older adults from Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, and Pennington Borough attended the annual senior citizen picnic in Washington Crossing State Park on Sept. 7. Residents were able to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and talk to local officials while enjoying a picnic lunch on a beautiful day.
There were over 25 volunteers who made the day possible with all their hard work.
In addition, we would like to extend a special thanks to Acorn Glen Assisted Living, the boroughs of Hopewell and Pennington, Hopewell Valley Emergency Services, the Hopewell Township Committee, the Hopewell Township Public Works Department, the Hopewell Valley Lions Club, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the Pennington Quality Market, Princeton HealthCare System, Fred Van Liew, and the 30 local businesses that donated door prizes.
Abigail Waugh, Valley Senior Services coordinator Judy Niederer, Township Parks and Recreation director
Explorations
To the editor:
In its second year of offering stimulating daytime learning experiences for seniors, Explorations offers five varied courses this fall.
They are as follows: "Amazing Women Characters in American History," six sessions starting Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Wellington Manor clubhouse; "Genealogy, Researching and Preserving Your Family History," six sessions, beginning that afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Pennington Presbyterian Church; "Enjoying Shakespeare," six sessions, starting Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Pennington Presbyterian Church; "Archaeology, the Search for Our Past," four sessions, later that afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at the Hopewell Railroad Station; "The Civil War", eight sessions, starting Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. at the Pennington Presbyterian Church.. A more detailed description of each course is available at hvseniors.org.
By now most seniors in Hopewell Valley have received a registration form for the upcoming semester. It accompanied the last edition of Senior Spirit. However, if you have not received the form or have mislaid it, simply write the name of the course(s) on a piece of paper and include your name and address and a check to cover the fee and send it to Joel May, treasurer, Hopewell Valley Senior Foundation, 230 Jacobs Creek Road, Titusville, 08560. Make the check out to the Hopewell Valley Senior Foundation. Fee for one course is $30 and $20 for each additional course. Registration ends Sept. 27.
Explorations is a volunteer organization underwritten by the Hopewell Valley Senior Foundation and sponsored by Hopewell Valley Senior Services. Courses are open to all older adults. All course fees go the Hopewell Valley Senior Foundation to pay for administrative costs, class materials and classroom space. Any funds remaining will be used to finance programs and projects benefiting Hopewell Valley seniors.
Anne Bolick, Larry Mansier and Virginia Silliphant