Support is appreciated
To the editor:
On behalf of the school board, staff and faculty I’d like to thank the community for its support of the 2002-2003 school budget. Community support of this budget will keep us focused on providing strong academic programs and well-trained staff as we open a new elementary school and meet the increasing needs of our special education students. Your support also shows your understanding of how hard our district works to ensure responsible tax impact to the community.
Support for the second ballot question will help us provide much-needed staff in areas such as guidance, technology, World Languages, Reading Recovery and basic skills.
As a result of the election, we welcome new School Board Member Lisa Marin Main and welcome back incumbents Ed Gainsborg, Bill Hills and Carl Swanson who were sworn in at the April 23 reorganization meeting.
During this board meeting, we also recognized Kat D’Ambra, Central High School; Jennifer Dutka, Hopewell Elementary School; Elizabeth Ferrer, Toll Gate Grammar School; Connie McCann, Bear Tavern School; and Raquel Rivera, Timberlane Middle School, for 2001-2002 Teacher Recognition Awards. They are fine examples of the many dedicated staff members and programs this school budget allows us to retain and develop.
Thank you again for your continued support.
Dr. Robert J. Sopko, superintendent of schools
‘Rewards will be unmeasurable’
To the editor and Pennington Borough residents:
It was six years ago that Rick Voliva, then president of the Pennington Republican Committee, stopped by to ask me if I would be willing to serve as a committeewoman. Little did I know then that I would soon find myself on council, and also, successfully running in three elections.
It is hard to believe that so much time has passed since then, but as time never stops, I need to inform council and the public, that my husband and I will be leaving Pennington early this summer, as Ted has just recently decided to retire as director of college counseling at The Pennington School, effective June 30.
In order to prepare for our departure, I will need to wrap up my 35-year career in education as a teacher and as a speech and language pathologist, pack up an untold number of boxes in preparation for our move to Punta Gorda, Fla., in addition to our son’s wedding in New Jersey in May. Hence, I must resign my position as a Pennington Borough councilwoman effective at the close of the council meeting, April 29.
My small legacy for Pennington has been woven through the many areas of planning and zoning of which I was connected while serving on council for five years: our ordinances were codified, many new homes and renovations were approved, the Master Plan was revised and approved, COAH is soon to be certified, the newsrack ordinance was passed, the town center ordinance also was passed, and now, the Pennington Streetscape Task Force Committee appears ready to be launched. I have also served as the liaison to two groups, the Economic Development Commission and the Pennington Business and Professional Association; served on the safety committee for several years with Susan Porcella; and chaired the finance committee for one year. I have seen numerous changes that have come to Pennington, in only a few short years, some of them of great magnitude, while others are small, but significant. One can now see a sign that will direct you to the local police station on North Main Street, an effort that took Bill Meytrott and I almost a year to achieve; one can also walk along West Delaware, and look through a fence that is not broken, an effort that took Al Kettell and I several months to achieve. By working together, a lot can be accomplished.
It is hard to have to say good-bye to all of those who have supported me as councilwoman the hundreds of people who voted for me in each election and the many men and women who are involved in community work in this wonderful town people like the late Bud Gopel, who was my mentor in 1997; Sue Riley and other members of the Republican Committee who were available when I had questions; members of the Planning Board, like Winn Thompson, Jeanne Donlon and Kate O’Neill, who were always appreciative of council’s efforts; and our trustworthy borough employees, like the construction code official, who would always take time to inform me about the status of the building approvals; our zoning official who kept the zoning ordinances in effect; and our planner, who helped give the Planning Board a vision of what Pennington could become; and all of the other numerous employees who always greeted me with smiles and hellos, from the women in the office, to the police and public works employees. The list goes on and on, for I have met so many wonderful caring individuals who work hard every day to keep Pennington a safe and special place to live and to bring up children.
A special thank you to Mayor Jim Loper, who supported me when I regretfully told him that I needed to devote more time to reorganizing my life now, and to prepare for my future life to come.
I want to especially thank my husband Ted for his unending support and for accepting the position at The Pennington School, making all of this possible. A thank you is given, also, to my children, David and Michelle, for their interest in my efforts to continue to make Pennington a kind of town that we all love.
Most importantly, thank you Pennington residents for allowing me to serve you. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Someday, when I am again in Pennington, I hope to see a new vision of Pennington on Main Street, maybe two-tone sidewalks and perhaps, even attractive new vintage street lights. But even if the downtown streetscape doesn’t change, I know I will still see the same warm and friendly faces and hearts of residents who make the borough of Pennington that very special place in which to live.
To my fellow councilmen and women, I respect your opinions, and your ability to express them so well. I wish you well on council, as you continue to make decisions that will affect the lives of those who live in our Pennington.
I urge you all to get involved in your community, if you aren’t already, and discover, like I did, that one person can make a difference. All you need is time, and a commitment to something that you love. Your rewards will be unmeasurable.
Diane Naffziger, Pennington
Airport concerns addressed
To the editor:
I am surprised that the recently-released environmental study on the expansion of Trenton Mercer Airport is based on the assumption that the proposed two-gate terminal will not attract a low fare, high frequency airline.
The county administration has indicated on several occasions that they would like to attract Southwest Airlines to Trenton Mercer Airport. Southwest Airlines is a low fare, high frequency airline. Why is the county interested in Southwest Airlines if the proposed terminal would not accommodate them?
Also of concern is the fact that the proposed 44,000-square-foot two-gate terminal is nearly the same size as the original 45,000-square-foot four-gate terminal (proposed in the 1998 Terminal Enhancement Program).
Does the county want to build two gates now and two more gates soon after, and therefore not require as thorough a study of the environmental issues than if a four-gate terminal were constructed from the start?
Residents of Mercer County have a right to know.
Julie Kennedy, Pennington
Nursery closing concerns
To the editor:
As members of the Hopewell Presbyterian Nursery School Board and as parents, we do not support the church Session’s decision to close the school, and remain deeply saddened and confused by their actions. We cannot find merit in their statement explaining the decision, that is "significantly lower registration for next year’s program would not have allowed the school to operate at a fiscally responsible level."
It is true that enrollment has dropped in recent years as the number of area nursery schools increased and as more parents sought preschools that offered longer hours. Nevertheless, next year we would have ministered to over 40 families in the Hopewell community; families in which one of the parents is home primarily full-time and who desire a preschool that supports this choice. There is no other nursery school in the Borough of Hopewell that offers small classes, loving, experienced teachers, and most importantly, a Christian-based curriculum.
For 2002-2003 we had full enrollment for our 3-year old morning and afternoon program, and combined the 4 year-old classes into a well received, extended day program. The budget for the 2002-2003 school year, which reflected these programs and was approved at our April 2, 2002 board meeting, forecast a $3,300 surplus for the year. Further, recent projections for the 2001-2002 school year forecast a surplus in excess of $4,000, which surpasses our previous three years’ financial performance. The board was not asked for financial projections or budgets of the Nursery School by the Christian Education Ministry or Session to aid them in their deliberations. Thus, we cannot understand how the decision to close the school could has been made on financial grounds.
Further, we do not understand why this decision was made without the knowledge or input of the board. As parents we were in the classrooms every day as witnesses to this ministry. We invested our hearts, our minds, and many hours of service on behalf of the school, its teachers, and its students, and it is deeply disheartening to feel these efforts were for naught.
In closing, we wish to thank the members of the church and the parents who have supported and loved this school over the years; we thank Assistant Pastor Chris Kile for the joy he brought to our children each week over this past year; and most importantly, we thank our teachers for their warmth, dedication, and commitment to the school and its students. We believe that the school’s closure has left a hole in the heart of the Hopewell community we pray that God will heal this wound and will wash away the sadness, anger, and confusion that so many people feel right now.
Respectfully submitted by the following members of the Hopewell Presbyterian Nursery School Board of Directors:
Cathy Batterman, Kim Ensminger, Dawn Gordon, Wendy Heiser, Mary Kolb, Megan Miller
Still committed to fields project
To the editor:
In the few weeks following the referendum on the athletic fields at Timberlane, the Recreation Foundation has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from individuals and local businesses offering to help fund the fields.
The young athletes of the Valley still need and deserve the athletic fields. In spite of the results of the referendum, we remain committed to the project and to our many community partners who have worked tirelessly to make the fields a reality.
The project was unanimously approved by the Planning Board after years of work by the three municipalities, the regional school district, the recreation foundation and countless volunteers. This is to thank all of these partners, collectively and individually, and to assure you that we are committed to pursuing alternate funding sources and in-kind contributions as we move forward.
It is the leadership of the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education and administration that brought the project successfully through the Planning Board. We know that all involved are creatively exploring new options to address the undisputed need.
We applaud the Township Committee’s intent to accelerate the timetable on the Open Space and Recreation component of the Master Plan. We also look forward to the Planning Board commissioning a professional recreation needs assessment which will provide national standards for recreational resources that a community of our size should expect and incorporate into its planning. We hope the expressed wish to include the boroughs in this effort will be realized, facilitated by the interlocal agreement. Our recreation director, hired as a result of interlocal cooperation, will be an invaluable resource throughout this process.
Finally, we thank all of you who supported the referendum and expressed your disappointment at its outcome. Keep watching for news of an upcoming event that will bring us all together for "friend-raising," fund-raising and fun.
Brad Brewster, Lew Pepperman, Bob Prewitt, Mark Reading, Sheryl Stone, trustees, Hopewell Valley Recreation, Foundation
No means yes?
To the editor:
Since when does no mean yes? A recent news account said: "In their effort to start a football program .. the members of HIKE … may have made the district an offer it can’t refuse." Well they have no choice but to refuse the offer. The community voted against football in the high school by a 2 to 1 margin and it does not matter why they did.
HIKE is "proposing" to fully fund a football program for two years and to let the team have use of the Pop Warner fields. How is the team going to get there? Where is the money for the funding? For the third and fourth year they are "proposing" a 75 percent and 50 percent funding. Who is going to provide the additional needed money? We voted no, so it cannot come from our school taxes. Board member Ari Gabinet is 100 percent correct when he, "questioned whether the board should go ahead with the program after the voters rejected the referendum … "Will people say the school board can be bought?"
Yes, we will. Will your integrity be questioned? Yes, it will. Why bother to hold a vote if you are going to ignore the results. Is this how a democracy is run? The school board and Robert Sopko should not waste any more time on this issue. It was voted on and the vote was no to football. If HIKE wants football they need to provide 100 percent of the money 100 percent of the time.
Finally, the arrogance of Carl Swanson is not to be believed. He is reported to have said: "The board is not elected to put their fingers in the air and see which way the wind blows … If it is good for the children and we can do it financially, we’ll vote for it, even if there is some flak from the community as a result."
Mr. Swanson, you are an elected official and therefore represent the community. Football is good for a tiny percentage of the male school population. The community voted no What part of no do you not understand? Is it the N or the O?
Karen Facompre, Hopewell Township
HIKE plan won’t work
To the editor:
After reading the HVN’s coverage of the school board meeting, we came to the conclusion your staff writer came off as very pro football, involving the HIKE proposal.
We say this because he failed to report two important statements that were made by board members Ari Gabinet and Carl Swanson. Board member Ari Gabinet made the following statement: "Is football something our community is ready for?" Mr. Gabinet asked. "Why was it voted down last year? Was it the money or was it something else? If the community is broadly against it, should it be forced through just because a small group is willing to pay for it? Will people say our school board can be bought?"
Mr. Gabinet made a very important point but your reporter, for whatever reason, did not include it in his article. Could it be that it was just too anti-football?
The second statement was made by board member Carl Swanson: "The board is not elected to put their fingers in the air and see which way the wind blows" he said. "If it’s good for the children and we can do it financially, we’ll vote for it, even if there is some flak from the community as a result." Mr. Swanson should be reminded that the last referendum on the football matter, showed a two to one vote against the program! Has Mr. Swanson lost sight of what our treasured democracy is all about? Come on! The voters have turned down the idea, as they have the last 50 years that we have resided in Hopewell Township for the best of reasons.
Mr. Swanson seems to suggest that our votes do not count when it is put up against the power of the school board to do as they darn well please. When election time comes around, everyone is encouraged to vote because "every vote counts," but some folks seem to feel that the minority of voters should have their way to satisfy their children’s passion for playing football. Please give us a break!
We as a nation pride ourselves in the democratic way of doing things. It we allow groups to buy their way by casting aside the will of the voters our system is in deep trouble. The school board should guard against such attempts by not giving any consideration to the HIKE proposal it just won’t work!
Dorothy K. Dutko, Joseph J. Dutko, Hopewell Township
Sad about closing
To the editor:
I am deeply saddened and frustrated by the closing of the Hopewell Pres. Nursery School. I feel our community and our children have suffered a great loss. My son was enrolled to start in the fall. I wanted him to get the same benefits as my daughter did when she attended. To be part of a community who embraced our children. Who supports a positive and nurturing environment for a child to learn and grow. Is this not the need of the church as well? To protect our children and teach them at a young age about the golden rule. "Do unto others as you would do to yourself." I just wonder if Pastor Smith has taken into consideration the needs and feelings of our children. Not to mention the church is apart of Hopewell’s community. The church is a place for the community to gather and have a fellowship with each other. I feel like I was robbed the opportunity for my son to start his preschool years in his community were he lives.
Did my daughter learn addition and subtraction? Did she learn to write in complete sentences? Some schools in the area our proud that the children can learn a foreign language by the time the kids enter kindergarten. My answer is no. What did she learn?? She learned compassion and respect for others. She developed social and emotional skills to help with kindergarten. She also got to be "just a kid," to learn through play. She also learned about her community. About the post office and our local firehouse, our Library and local restaurants.
Now my son is forced to attend a school outside of our community. He won’t have the same opportunities that my daughter was able to have had . Probably, the most important thing my daughter received was friendship. She made friends with the children in our community. The mothers made a bond with each other. We went to the coffee house or we would all go out for pizza after school. The friends she made, helped make the transition to kindergarten a success. Her preschool friends and their families are still the same people we have play dates with and look too, for comfort.
I thank Mrs. Thackary and Mrs. Behkne, and Mrs. Kerr and Mrs. Pugh for the wonderful nurturing and learning experience they provided for my daughter. My only hope is we can do whatever is necessary to provide a pre-school experience here, in our town.
Pamela Christensen, Hopewell Township
Football defended
To the editor:
I am writing in support of the effort to establish a football program at the Hopewell Valley Regional High School for the upcoming football season. The growth of the high school age population has far exceeded growth in sports-related opportunities at the high school, leaving many students without the opportunities to participate and compete in athletics that prior generations of Hopewell students have enjoyed. There are many girls and boys who are currently in the high school who have participated in the blossoming Pop Warner program in recent years. They want to continue to enjoy the football experience, so now is the time to act for the benefit of these dedicated scholar athletes.
As high school student Jonathan Bershad so eloquently put it, young people do not want to go through high school "doing nothing." I hasten to add that it is not in the interest of this community to have our students do nothing. High school is a time when teenagers need to have the chance to build their minds and their bodies to prepare them for the rigors of adult life. A football and cheer leading program would provide this opportunity for many teenage boys and girls. Football offers a second chance for kids who have not been able to crack the varsity teams in soccer, hockey, baseball, softball and basketball, for example.
Since members of the community are willing to fund this program privately and the Pop Warner program is willing to provide field facilities, a football initiative at this time will not stress the school budget nor tax the resources available to the school system. This is a win-win situation for the Hopewell Valley community. Football has sprouted in the Hopewell Valley as a grass roots movement of boys, girls and adults who love the game of football and the opportunities that it provides for the youth of this community. It is time to make the football program a reality for kids like Jonathan Bershad and the thousands who will follow in his footsteps.
Football has become an integral part of the Hopewell Community for younger children in a very short period of time. It is also growing fast, and will continue to grow in the years ahead. This is a reality that reflects both the area demographics and the widespread appeal of the game. Hence, the pressure to establish a football program at the high school will grow, not dissipate with time. This need not be and should not be a divisive issue for the community. It is in the interest of the youth of the Hopewell Valley.
F.W. McCarthy, Pennington
