Town Topics

Many thanks to the Good Samaritan who witnessed a truck that hit my parked car in the Borough Hall parking lot and reported the license plate number to the police. This information enabled the police to identify the driver and paved the way for me to proceed with having the damage repaired.

Looking Back, Snowden Lane Decision Was Probably "Best for All Involved"

After nine months of machination between residents and Township officials, the controversies that affected us now seem to have dissipated. The reconstruction of Snowden Lane will begin after Memorial Day with both sides feeling that their views were respected. Compromise was the order of the day.

Most Township residents are unaware of the high degree of professionalism and expertise which exists in each department of our local government. Kudos to Bob Kiser, Greg O'Neil, and Officer Geoff Maurer for making the extra effort necessary to address the concerns of the Snowden Lane residents. We are fortunate to have people of such high caliber in service to our community.

In a similar vein, we can all look to our Township Committee as a governmental body which strives to make Princeton a great place to live. Bill Hearon and Bernie Miller were there to hear our side of the argument and present it to their colleagues on the Committee. The entire Committee is to be commended for their fair-mindedness and their desire to explore every avenue before making their decision.

I'm sure each participant is not 100 percent in agreement with the final decision. However, one comes away from this with the feeling that the final decision was best for all involved.

If Necessary, Taxes Should Be Raised To Increase Benefits for Immigrants

During the past six weeks, I have driven down Witherspoon Street daily on my way to the University Medical Center at Princeton. I am impressed by the number of immigrants on Witherspoon Street. I never realized that we have so many in our local area.

In the Emergency Room of the Medical Center there is a sign in Spanish and English advising that patients who are unable to pay will not be refused medical attention. This compassionate expression of American generosity is clearly appreciated by the Witherspoon newcomers. You can tell by the number we see coming and going from the hospital.

I think this typifies America's willingness to help others, even as New Jersey slips into third place among America's most indebted states. The soaring costs of medical care speak for themselves, yet we provide free care to those who have come here illegally seeking a better life. We should not let facts undermine our generosity.

Likewise, we extend to them free attendance in our schools, police and fire protection, and driving privileges. Furthermore, we have elected not to enforce residency laws once they are here. These, too, are examples of how tolerant, compassionate, and mindful we are of the needs of others, even at our own expense.

Yet, I believe we do not go far enough. I say immigrants should be entitled to food stamps, free school supplies, a monthly monetary stipend, child care, and other publicly funded welfare benefits.

There are some state politicians seeking to lower property taxes. I reject their efforts. Property taxes should remain where they are, or even be raised, in order to provide increased benefits to our guests. We cannot let them down.

Expired Borough Meter Sends Warning: Beware of "Ungraceful" Parking Policy

I want to make Princeton residents aware of an anomaly which exists with Princeton Borough parking meters. I recently parked at a two-hour meter on Prospect Avenue and paid for two hours. I am aware that Princeton Borough claims to give a ten minute grace period for parking meters, and indeed, the meters do not click over to red until ten minutes after the allotted time. Imagine my surprise when, at two minutes after the two hours, I went to move my car and discovered a parking ticket, even though the meter still showed green. It turns out that the so-called grace period is not a grace period at all. It doesn't matter that the meter shows green. You can still get a parking ticket.

I have been assured by the Violations Bureau that this is covered by an ordinance. But this letter is to let other Princeton residents know that you can still get a parking ticket even though your meter shows green. One of the definitions of grace given in the Oxford dictionary is "delay granted as a favor." I'm not sure how the Borough defines "grace," but this is certainly an ungraceful way to administer parking policy.

Time to Slow Down, Sniff the Roses, Admire the Wildlife, Adopt a Kitten

It used to be, on Drakes Corner Road, that people slowed down for the children on their bikes, or for the joggers.

We have been feeding the animals on our land for ten years now ‹ the red tailed hawks, the pileated woodpeckers, great horned owls, eastern box turtles, and currently a feral cat that has two kittens somewhere in Woodfield Reservation.

My son and I spent three hours on Saturday trying to track her; we plan to adopt her and her kittens. A thunderstorm broke out, but we kept on going. We called neighbors and asked for permission to trespass, and were granted it. We are still pursuing the adoption.

We ask that people obey the speed limit, and that when they see people walking, jogging, or riding a bike, they slow down. Nothing could be so important that hitting another person or animal with a vehicle could be worth it.

Perhaps people need to adjust their schedules. Perhaps the Mayor and the Princeton Township Police Department need to adopt the policies of the Pennington Police: No speeding, period.

No TV, Computer, or Hand-Held Videos For the Summer? Will the Kids Survive?

Imagine the horror on my children's faces when I announced that all screens would be removed from the house this summer. No TV. No computers. No hand-held videos.

I was responding to a complaint from my 21-year old, a junior at Drew, who called a few weeks ago to complain to me that he doesn't know how to do anything. "I can't build anything. I don't know how to grow food. I have no practical skills. I wish they would dis-invent television."

Dis-inventing television was a bit out of reach, but I could reduce the toxic effects on my two remaining kids, ages 17 and 12. These machines, however wonderful, have drug-like effects on children's brains. They are getting in the way of teaching my children what I know, my primary responsibility as a parent.

I told my neighbor about my summer plans. Envious, but fearing her daughter's wrath if she banished instant messenger, she said "You're the bravest person I know."

My 17-year old got it. He has assured me that once he's gotten through withdrawal he will look back on a summer learning practical skills at "Camp Mom" with gratitude. He gave me 20 hours of community service at the Riverside School gardens for Mother's Day.

The 21-year old plans to strand himself in Hawaii on an organic farm where he will have no choice but to learn some practical skills.

The 12-year old, whose life I have ruined, said, "Oh fine. I'll just ride my bicycle to the library and use the computers there!"

To Accommodate Expanding Families, Relax FAR Rules on Expanding Homes

As residents of the Borough we ask that the Regional Planning Board reco nsider the application of a floor area ratio (FAR) restriction on the R3 and R4 zones in the Borough. We believe that the adoption of these limits will place too heavy a restriction on the ability of homeowners to improve their homes to meet current standards of livability. It will make it difficult in many cases to add a bedroom or bathroom, modestly expand downstairs living space, or finish a garage or walk-out basement.

The belief that these small renovations or additions would be easily granted variances does not give any weight to the fact that any variance application is time consuming, costs money, and opens up the possibility of negative interactions between neighbors. If these types of renovations are in fact supported by the Planning Board, the regulations should reflect that stance.

While it is true that no one likes a "McMansion," with the exception of those who are buying them, the issue of preventing them from springing up on Borough streets seems to be somewhat of a red herring. It would appear that many of the over-sized homes that have recently been built in the Borough were completed not as-of-right but after a zoning variance was granted. Additionally, a significant objection with regard to these homes seems to be to their aesthetics as much as to their mass.

A large number of lots in these two zones are already non-conforming because they are too narrow or shallow. This means that a variance would be needed before a developer or homeowner could tear down a quaint old ranch for replacement by a "Bigfoot House." The application of a FAR restriction hurts those who wish to stay in downtown Princeton and reasonably increase their living space to accommodate growing families.

No Quark Park? Town and University Have Dropped the Ball on Art Project

Pardon me for being presumptuous, but how is it that a community as industrious and wealthy as this does not have the wherewithal to make the Quark Park project happen? Last summer the Follies exhibit represented what should have been a beginning of a tradition, a real geographic place where talent met other talent and built artful, forward-thinking structures that made this town into an event. But the civic pride we enjoyed was not to last. With plans in place for the 2005 construction, the project failed for lack of funds.

How did this happen? Compared to monies spent on other endeavors, we as a community received outstanding value for the relatively small cost of the Follies. Why didn't the University, the town, or some benefactor step up to the plate? Somewhere and somehow the ball was dropped, and we can only shake our heads.

"Learning is for Everyone" Program Enriches Lives of Prison Population

As coordinators of the ABC Prison Literacy Program, we want to thank the Princeton Public Library for including in its Human Rights Film Festival How Do You Spell Murder, Alan and Susan Raymond's documentary about "Learning is for Everyone" (L.I.F.E.), the literacy program run by inmates at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.

The otherwise fine article about the film in the May 18 issue of Town Topics suggests, incorrectly, that outside volunteers, rather than inmates, are the tutors. Since prisoners are so rarely seen as persons who are capable of growth and are so rarely credited with positive work, we think it important to give credit where credit is due.

L.I.F.E. was started 18 years ago as a result of the persistent efforts of Bill Burke, a Pennington resident and juvenile justice specialist who had heard of a similar program in Pennsylvania and worked with administrators in Trenton to set up one here. Through it, inmates who are literate teach others who are functionally illiterate how to read. Although the help and support of outside volunteers is critical, the program is entirely managed by inmates; both its tutors and its students are inmates.

The L.I.F.E. program meets an enormous need. There is a well-understood link between illiteracy and crime and between education and reduced recidivism rates. Over 75 percent of those imprisoned at New Jersey State Prison read at or below a fifth grade level. And over a quarter of these have learning differences. Yet, New Jersey's budget for prison education programs is minuscule. Thus, the L.I.F.E. program responds in a cost-effective way to a glaring need that may reduce crime in the long run and is likely to enrich the lives of prisoners and their families in the short run. It also provides inmate tutors and managers with socially productive skills. The merits of the program won it recognition as a "point of light" under the administration of the first President Bush.

ABC Literacy is a non-profit volunteer project with special expertise in learning disabilities and the mission to support literacy efforts in the New Jersey prison system. At the request of L.I.F.E.'s inmate managers, we have helped train inmate tutors in techniques for recognizing and overcoming learning disabilities that interfere with reading. In recent years, ABC Literacy has also provided writing, poetry, and other enrichment courses to L.I.F.E. participants as well as over 1000 books. Volunteers who would like more information about our work may check our website at www.abcliteracy.com or e-mail us at abcddd@earthlink.net.

Owner of Damaged Parked Car Thanks Good Samaritan Who Reported Accident