Play golf for ‘The YAC’

By: centraljersey.com
I would like to invite the community to join us in a Community Mini-Golf Outing at Pine Creek Miniature Golf on Oct. 10 from noon-4 p.m. This event is an excellent way for families and friends to spend time together while raising funds for the much anticipated "The YAC" (Youth Activity Center). The golf outing is being sponsored by the Hopewell Township Youth Advisory Board to help raise funds to equip the new teen center in Pennington.
The event is also a great way for everyone to play one last round of miniature golf at Pine Creek. As was reported in this newspaper, Pine Creek will be closing permanently on Oct. 31 of this year. Relive your family memories of the course; and if you haven’t played before, visit one of "America’s premier" miniature golf courses. It’s the perfect place for grandparents, parents, teens, children and friends to have fun together.
You don’t need to purchase anything in advance, just stop by Pine Creek on Route 31 any time between noon and 4 p.m. You can play the course at your leisure and with your own friends or family. Visit the Youth Advisory’s registration table to purchase tickets. Refreshments, entertainment and door prizes will be available as well.
Kim Bruno, adult mentor, Youth Advisory Board
Hurrah for deer hunt
To the editor:
I was thrilled to read in HVN that the Deer Task Force has, after much thoughtful deliberation, offered a reasonable series of suggestions to mitigate the scourge of white-tailed deer in our town. Clearly, an enhanced hunting approach is the most economical, humane, and beneficial solution to this nasty problem: far less costly than the discredited contraceptive method; as humane as any food animal slaughter; and beneficial by providing high-quality meat to the underprivileged – not to mention the incalculable savings to the property damage and health of Hopewell Valley citizens. The Task Force recommendations will hopefully result in a similar successful outcome as Princeton’s (who hired professional hunters) – at far less cost.
The single negative in this scenario was the inexplicable dissent from a member of the Hopewell Township Committee. How an elected official can ignore the 500 plus traffic accidents per year, the widespread suffering and cost of Lyme’s Disease, and the ubiquitous damage to our forests, farms, and residential landscapes (probably millions per year) -is beyond comprehension. I believe our elected officials should represent the needs of the community, and not simply express narrow, uninformed opinions.
I look forward to the implementation of these recommendations, as soon as possible. The current deer population, many times larger than any time in history, is a danger to humans, the environment, and to the deer themselves.
Bill Baumbach Hopewell Borough
Friends say thanks
To the editor:
Splendid weather and the beautiful rolling landscape of northwestern Hopewell Township provided the perfect setting for the Mountain and Valley Fest Sept. 17-19. Organized by Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space and The Friends of Howell Living History Farm, the weekend’s activities brought many area residents out to help celebrate the rich history and natural beauty of the Baldpate Mountain-Pleasant Valley region.
We wish to express our gratitude to our event sponsors: design and print sponsor Capitol Copy Service; ice cream- tasting sponsor Hopewell Valley Community Bank; and a generous foundation that chooses to remain anonymous. We are also indebted to the many businesses and individuals who donated cash and a wonderful array of silent auction items.
There are many who contributed to the success of the weekend: Bob Koppenhaver, who captivated the audience with his presentation on Baldpate’s lost settlement, Honey Hollow; Pete Garnisch, owner of Knapp’s Cyclery in Lawrence who led a group of mountain bikers over hill and dale; Kim Daly of Howell Living History Farm who coached a group of children in the joys of ice cream making (and tasting!); Jane Rakos-Yates who enlightened the audience with the help of several winged residents of the Mercer County Wildlife Center; Maria Nicolo and David Earling of Gravity Hill Farm for the tomato tasting; Jack and Chester, the trusty Howell Farm horses that drew wagonloads of folks around the farm; and many more.
We want to recognize the small, but very creative and energetic event committee, that pulled the weekend together: Co-chairs Beth Caylor and Martin Rapp; Ray Sziber, Evann Gleeson and Ruth Jourjine. Kudos to our wonderful Summit Celebration vendors: Brothers Moon for delightful hors d’oeuvres; ShopRite Liquors for the bar service; West Trenton Hardware for the tent; A-1 Limousines for the shuttle service up the mountain; and Mountain View Band for providing the musical background.
Finally, thanks to Executive Director Kevin Bannon and the Mercer County Park Commission for allowing this partnership with the Howell Farm programs and General Superintendent of Mercer County Parks, Frank Zabawa, and his crew for helping set up the Summit Celebration atop Baldpate Mountain. And, of course, a big "thank you" to the wonderful folks who hiked, biked, rode, explored the corn maze, listened, made ice cream, bid on auction items, and celebrated with us the gifts of nature and history that we have the good fortune to enjoy.
Patricia Sziber, executive director Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space
Let property owners decide
To the editor:
As a longtime resident of a home in the proposed Pennington Historic District, I am concerned by the emerging trend of editorial submissions on the topic. Of the comments that have been published, a disproportionate number represent commercial investors who own, but do not reside in, properties in the proposed district. Their opinions should not be misinterpreted as the position of the larger body of property owners.
The more vocal of these business owners cite the burden of increased home repair expense as a known outcome of any historic ordinance. In fact, these claims of added expense are not supported by any data nor have the commercial property owners espousing these views offered to provide any.
I support the creation of a historic district and respect the right of my neighbors to intelligently reach their own decisions on the matter.
A recommendation has been offered to create and field a survey of the approximately 150 homes and businesses within the proposed district. If executed, this would provide a vehicle to gauge the sentiment of the full group of property owners impacted. Instead of continuing conjecture driven debate, why not support this commission in creating and fielding such a survey?
Mary Anne Heino Lester B. Golden house Pennington