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Vol. LXIII, No. 10
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
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Vol. LXIII, No. 10
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
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JO BAKER
Hibben Road
PAUL E. SIGMUND
Evelyn Place
PETER WOLANIN
Spruce Street
WENDY KACZERSKI
Sustainable Princeton Steering Committee
Chestnut Street
WAYNE COOKE
Beech Hill Circle
ROGER NELSON
Valley Road
JUDY HUTTON
CEO, YWCA Princeton
To the Editor:
We are writing in support of Jenny Crumiller, who is running for the Princeton Borough Council in the Democratic primary election on June 2 and the Princeton Community Democratic Organization endorsement vote for the local Democratic nomination that takes place on March 29.
We believe the current problems with Borough finances, the police department, troubled relationship with Princeton Township, and resistance to the idea of studying consolidation are serious problems that call for a serious reckoning. That is why we are supporting Jenny.
We encourage Princetonians to take an active role in this year’s election process. The endorsement vote by the PCDO is significant because it impacts the all-too-important Democratic Party column placement of the candidates on the ballot in June.
Many residents may not realize that no current Borough Council member has been elected without being appointed to fill a vacancy first. The practice has been for Council members to resign before their term ends so that the remaining members can choose their successor. Especially in a town that is dominated by one party, this does not bode well for the idea of democratic representation, nor for the purpose of democratic competition, which is to test the qualifications and mettle of the candidates.
Democrats who want to meet Jenny, hear her ideas, and discuss campaign plans with us are invited to our “Open House for Change” on Thursday, March 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jenny’s house, 187 Library Place.
Any Princeton Democrat can join the PCDO and vote at the endorsement meeting, where the all candidates will speak and take questions. The deadline for joining is March 14. For more information contact jo.butler@verizon.net or visit www.jennycrumiller.com.
JO BAKER
Hibben Road
PAUL E. SIGMUND
Evelyn Place
PETER WOLANIN
Spruce Street
To the Editor
This is a call to action for homeowners, renters, students, teachers, parents, business owners, and local government officials to get involved in making Princeton greener. On Wednesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at the Suzanne Patterson Center, come and give your input on the draft Sustainable Princeton Community Plan, and sign up to help carry it out. The plan puts Princeton alongside thousands of communities throughout the world that recognize their power to collectively address climate change, strengthen their local economies, and advance social equity.
The plan has six broad goals, and four action plans for four sectors of the community: residents, schools, businesses, and local government. Each of those sectors has a working group that one may join to work on a wide range of actions, from changing light bulbs to greening municipal building codes, from creating green purchasing cooperatives to creating safe bicycle paths, from composting leaves and food waste to providing for those in need, from buying local to integrating sustainability into the school curriculum.
There is a place in the plan for everyone. The plan is available at the Princeton Public Library, Township and Borough Halls, and online at www.princetontwp.org/Sustainable-Princeton-Draft2-5.pdf. Those who don’t have time to review it before March 11 are still welcome.
WENDY KACZERSKI
Sustainable Princeton Steering Committee
Chestnut Street
To the Editor:
March is designated as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states, “Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If everyone aged 50 years or older were screened regularly, up to 60 percent of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.”
I am living proof that this cancer does not have to be the threat to our lives that it once was, since I have been a stage IV colon cancer survivor for over five years. I am now told to consider my cancer as a chronic disease to be treated but not cured. And new treatments and chemotherapies continue to be developed. The earlier the disease is detected, the better the chance of a favorable outcome. I would encourage everyone to take the advice regarding cancer screening.
WAYNE COOKE
Beech Hill Circle
To the Editor,
I was informed and moved by Celia Tazelaar’s letter (Town Topics, February 18) about apparent plans to destroy the Valley Road School building. My family and I came to Princeton in 1980 when my son was 10. He went to John Witherspoon, so we did not have any experience of school at Valley Road. But I did go there for meetings, to pay taxes, and do other Township business, so I had the pleasure of finding my way in the interesting architecture. And we live on Valley Road, so we walk or drive by with some frequency.
This is a handsome building. It has character and is, as Ms. Tazelaar said, an important anchor for Witherspoon Street that helps preserve a little of the character we found when we moved to Princeton. But the Valley Road building is not just good looking, it has great potential to serve social and cultural needs. Princeton was a small, closely knit community in 1980 and in large measure still is. But this is a time to consider how important it is to have community centers where people can meet. In the economic climate now and for years to come, we probably will see much more being done by unofficial civic groups. Local NGOs can be very efficient and effective in serving community needs. The Valley Road School building could provide space for us to gather and work with each other.
It is often said, when the question of fixing up vs. building new arises, that the latter is cheaper. I have never found that claim to be reasonable. I think in the case of Valley Road School building it can be demonstrated to be incorrect. Even if restoration and repair might entail considerable cost, it should be fairly considered before a tear-down decision is given a go-ahead.
I grew up in North Platte, Nebraska, where a famous Canteen was created in the train station by local people who greeted and gave cookies, coffee, and love to servicemen traveling to their World War II destinies. That train station was a beautiful old brick building and a memorial to community spirit. But it was torn down when the railroads cut back passenger service. Now there is a little mall, with a few stores and a couple of restaurants, no different from little malls everywhere. And whenever the topic comes up, which is not rare, people regret the loss of that handsome and important place.
ROGER NELSON
Valley Road
To the Editor:
The YWCA’s 26th Annual Tribute to Women 2009 Awards Dinner was an inspiring acknowledgment of the accomplishments of 12 women who have enriched their workplaces and their communities, while reflecting the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Recognized also were the companies that have stood behind these women, enabling them to succeed.
We salute our honorary chair, Bridgette Heller, of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company, and honorees Harriet Bryan, community volunteer; Mia Cahill, Dennigan Cahill, P.C.; Janet Smith Dickerson and Melissa Harris-Lacewell of Princeton University; Elizabeth Johnson, Isles; Meredith C. Moore, NRG Energy, Inc.; Susan Nettesheim, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company; Deborah T. Poritz, Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP; Cynthia Ricker, PNC Bank; Judith Scheide, philanthropist; and Denise E. Wood, Princeton BMW/MINI-Crown Automotive Group.
In addition, we proudly awarded the first Fannie E. Floyd Racial Justice Award to James Floyd, on behalf of his late wife. This award will continue to be given to women who, over the course of a lifetime, have made a truly distinguished contribution to racial justice.
Proceeds of approximately $40,000 will benefit such YWCA Princeton programs as child care and summer day camps, aquatics, the Breast Cancer Resource Center, English as a Second Language and ESL Literacy, women’s health initiatives, dance, arts and crafts, adult education, massage, and martial arts — and help keep them affordable.
Thank you to event chair Karen Jezierny, to committee members, and to our generous sponsors: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company, NRG Energy Inc., The Scheide Fund, Bracco Diagnostics, Covance, Janssen Pharmaceutica, PNC, and the Times of Trenton.
JUDY HUTTON
CEO, YWCA Princeton