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Vol. LXIV, No. 52
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Happy Holidays!
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Wednesday, December 29, 2010
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Vol. LXIV, No. 52
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Happy Holidays!
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Wednesday, December 29, 2010
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Teri McIntire
Dempsey Avenue
Joan Bartl and Ingrid Reed
Womanspace Board Members.
Co-coordinators, Princeton Lighting
Yeou-Shiuh Hsu
Hornor Lane
Lou Valente
Hunter Road
Caroline Tompkins
Bullock Drive
To the Editor:
As the mother of an eight-year-old, I seek out “teachable moments” every chance I get. One of those opportunities presented itself as we sat watching the Princeton Borough Council meeting this week on the local TV channel. We made a point to watch in hopes that the Borough Council would follow Township Committee and finally have the long-awaited promised vote on the bond issue associated with the community pool. But that did not happen. When Council President Andrew Koontz did put a motion up for vote, not one of the Council members seconded it. As they all sat silently, you could see the collective disappointment and frustration among the many supporters who attended the meeting.
The “teachable moment” came as we watched Mr. Koontz — who was attending his last meeting as a Councilman, having just been elected a County Freeholder — address this issue with the same conviction that he has had from the beginning. He could easily have let the issue fall silent, and resign himself to the fact that he could do no more. But he didn’t. He took his last hour on Borough Council to fight diligently on behalf of the community with prepared handouts and a PowerPoint presentation as he pleaded passionately on behalf of Borough and Township residents who felt they had lost their voice again that night.
Mr. Koontz showed great leadership, and he did so at the risk of making others disappointed by his actions. It was a “teachable moment” at its best. I want to thank Mr. Koontz for his leadership, not just on this issue, but on the countless others over the years. My daughter told me that she is going to vote for him one day — an opportunity that will elude her for 10 years. However, if we are lucky, Andrew Koontz will still be in public service and she will get her chance.
Teri McIntire
Dempsey Avenue
To the Editor:
Monday, December 13, marked the ninth year of the lighting of the Womanspace Communities of Light luminaries. Over 3,000 candles were lit throughout our community from Township Hall, through Witherspoon Street, Borough Hall through Nassau Street and this year, Washington Road and Prospect Street and the Princeton Shopping Center.
The purpose of the event is to bring attention to the services offered by Womanspace and to help focus attention on the plight of victims and the community’s good work in providing aid to victims recovering from the trauma of domestic and sexual violence. The problems of domestic violence are not confined to any group of people, but cut across all economic, racial and societal barriers, and are supported by societal indifference. The lighting of candles, especially this time of year, allows us to pay homage to the bravery of the women who seek the help of Womanspace and serve to remind women who are living with violence that there is help available. Even though the wind did not allow for the luminaries to stay lit for very long, we know the event made a difference.
On behalf of the clients, staff and volunteers, we thank the many volunteers including Cynthia Mendez, Department of Human Services, and Mayors Bernie Miller and Mildred Trotman for their support of the work of Womanspace all year. A special thanks also to the Princeton University SHARE Group whose volunteers from the Athletic Departments extended the lighting to Washington Road and Prospect Street. Thanks to McCaffrey’s for hosting our reception and also for being a steady supporter of Womanspace.
Last year Womanspace served over 10,000 adults and children; for over 32 years, Womanspace has provided quality services to women and their children who have had to flee their homes to avoid the horrors of domestic abuse. Through a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing programs, domestic violence and sexual assault response teams, counseling services, chaplaincy, legal clinic and advocacy, and professional training and community education, coupled with the help of over 300 community volunteers, Womanspace has provided services and support to over 269,700 people since we first opened our doors. Thank you to our corporate sponsors, the 29 retail sponsor stores, and the 70 neighborhood volunteer coordinators who sold luminary kits and to everyone who lights their candles during this wonderful holiday season. Many Happy Returns to All, Peace Begins at Home.
Joan Bartl and Ingrid Reed
Womanspace Board Members.
Co-coordinators, Princeton Lighting
To the Editor:
I was saddened by news that Adam’s Sandwiches Plus, located at Blawenburg Village Square in Skillman, will be serving its last sandwiches on this Friday, December 31. The funny brown Kong gorilla beating its chest, beckoning all patrons to sample its large Kong hoagies, introduced me to the shop. The same brown gorilla plushie, perched on a pillar that interrupts Adam’s spacious white interior, watches over patrons with satisfaction, as if it were some Japanese Shinto deity. I still remember my first order: Crispy Dogs and Boat of Fries. Ever since my first visit, only vacations kept me away from returning each week. As a cooking hobbyist, I deeply appreciated the great care and dedication that went into each of Adam’s artisan creations, most memorable among them The Fat Fryer. I wish Adam the best of luck in his future endeavors.
Yeou-Shiuh Hsu
Hornor Lane
To the Editor:
In regard to your front page story (“Board Discusses Future of Valley Road Building; Missed Blue Ribbon,” Town Topics, Dec. 22) and the joint proposal that suggests “expanding the existing firehouse that adjoins the building to accommodate the consolidation of all community fire services” — It’s interesting that we’re talking about expanding buildings for the consolidation. Hmmm….
Lou Valente
Hunter Road
To the Editor:
Recently, upon my return to Princeton after a five-month absence, I discovered that the Township of Princeton had taken over policing the roads in the Washington Oaks development. To my dismay and disbelief, the parking rules had changed drastically, with fewer parking stalls allotted to the homeowners as well as the adding of strict rules governing the resident parking. The way I found out was through the ticketing of a friend’s car parked behind my car on Thanksgiving Eve. When asked where my friend should have parked, the officer indicated along Wilkinson Drive. However, when I walked along this route, there was no available spot. In the event of any future gatherings at either my home or the homes of my neighbors, perhaps the Township could consider alternative parking suggestions such as valet service or the building of a new garage in order to increase Township revenue. It is inconceivable to think that we, the residents of Washington Oaks, must pay Township taxes, on top of a homeowner’s fee, and not have sufficient parking!
As a resident of Princeton for more than 26 years and of Washington Oaks for 12 of those years, I am concerned that this type of action took place with seemingly little, if any, input from the residents.
Caroline Tompkins
Bullock Drive