Letters
Upset by audience comments at council meeting

After watching the Milltown Borough Council meeting on March 15, I was appalled at the audience comments that were directed at the council. Most had to do with the vote on the vacant seat for which John Collins was nominated.

There were several people with very opinionated comments, but the one who stands out in my mind most is Mary Ann Mangarella, who displayed her shock at the council's decision. She was quoted as saying, "Everybody stated how great Randy Farkas was, [saying] 'If we had an extra seat, we would love to put him right there on that dais.'"

I would like to remind Mrs. Mangarella that it was the mayor, not the council members, who made that offer. Furthermore, the statement was made after the recount when Mr. Farkas had lost by one vote. I find it quite amusing that there was no such offer made on Joseph Cruz's behalf when he initially lost the election by two votes.

Comments were made regarding the decision, that Mr. Collins was chosen without regard for the "residents' opinion," and that "they denied Milltown residents their choice of a volunteer." If that is the truth, wouldn't Mr. Farkas have won the election from the start, and by the comments being made, by a landslide? That, however, did not happen. It is unfortunate that the winner (even if only by one vote) must sit back and take in the opinions and accusations put forth.

I applaud Mr. Cruz for his genuine care and concern and timeless efforts for a town he loves.

Lisa Cavezza

Milltown

Celebrate NJ! School Program fosters students' pride

Two men have organized a "think tank" in Trenton called the Hall Institute, which is designed to describe New Jersey and its people in terms of the problems faced here. They say they want ideas discussed and debated fairly with the hope of finding solutions.

It's so easy to take for granted what works. Yet behavior theory indicates that people are more creative in solving problems when they feel positive. That's why a coalition of 20 statewide groups support a movement called Celebrate New Jersey! (www.celebratenj.org), a grassroots campaign that builds awareness and pride in all that New Jersey has to offer.

Our Celebrate NJ! School Program for New Jersey fourth-graders already has 8,000 students from every county creating articles for the first "NJ Kids Newspaper." The best of the best will soon be published in special supplements to leading New Jersey papers later this spring. As they research their columns, our children are learning about the state's proud history, people, places and events.

The Celebrate NJ! School Program fosters pride in our youngsters and gives them a sense of place. Every state has problems, but New Jersey needs to build on her strengths.

Marguerite Chandler

Cape May Point

founder

Celebrate NJ!

a joint venture with the Crossroads of the American Revolution Association

Resident dismayed by amount of paperwork

Hearing about the difficulty in renewing a driver's license, before I went for mine I checked on what I would need.

To prepare, I went to Bayonne and got my original birth certificate and marriage license. Then I got together the other necessary documents.

Because I needed a commercial license, I had to get fingerprinted. The fingerprint room is on Route 18 in the building north of Route 18 Lumber. When I had my documents, I received my license at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, East Brunswick, without a fuss. Case closed. Not so, not so.

A few weeks later I received a letter from Trenton saying that they had not received a copy of my fingerprints in my papers, and that if I did not send them a copy of the fingerprint receipt by April 5, my license would be suspended. After much panic and gnashing of teeth, I found my fingerprint receipt, which I mailed to Trenton. But I have not received a reply, and I don't know if they are even going to reply. So I am sending Trenton another copy of my receipt, this time by registered mail, and asking if I'm going to get a reply.

And they wonder why there is so much paperwork.

James Carney

Parlin section of Sayreville

Appleby play director gets rave review for dedication

On April 6, 7 and 8 the fifth-graders of Appleby School, Spotswood, will put on the Disney production of "Aladdin, Junior Version."

I would like to bring special attention to Chris Slavicek, aka Mr. Chris, as that is what everyone calls him. He is the play director, among other things such as a high school teacher. He also works with the after-school-care program and summer camp at Appleby. I have never worked with or even encountered someone so young, dedicated and enthusiastic about life itself.

Mr. Chris has basically put his life on hold since the start of this production. He gets the youngsters motivated and interested in the arts. My granddaughter has learned so much from him, as have the other children.

I think the children's lives have been touched by Mr. Chris, and they will remember him always. His family and friends should be very proud of his accomplishments.

If you can, see the play.

Sharon Simon

Spotswood

How can residents head off Golden Triangle project?

I want to commend Jim Mihopulos on his "Your Turn" guest column about the Toll Brothers Golden Triangle scam and the apparent duping of the East Brunswick government ("Golden Triangle Looks Like a Bait-and-Switch Scam," Sentinel, March 23).

I'm sad to say that it appears that Mayor Bill Neary and the Township Council have been suckered, fallen asleep, or have just completely sold out the citizens of East Brunswick. Our schools are already bulging, and the traffic situation on Route 18 is getting progressively worse.

I am eager to learn what I and other citizens of East Brunswick can do to head off this bait-and-switch scam. Please advise.

Kevin Faulcon

East Brunswick

Public school system a 'giant behemoth'

Gov. Jon Corzine is going around the state in town meetings telling us there will be no more state aid coming to our towns to offset funding to our schools. This will eventually lead to higher property taxes.

Let me introduce you to a giant behemoth - the New Jersey public school system. Roughly 60 percent of your property taxes go toward educating the future generation. This way of doing business as usual imposes an oppressive burden on seniors living on a fixed income. Also, it forces thousands of ordinary, hard-working people to leave New Jersey.

One change is to get rid of home rule. School superintendents making more than $200,000 a year are part of the problem. Also, the practice of deferred taxes - where towns start collecting school taxes six months before they are needed - leads to a surplus that should be turned back to the homeowner. The school construction corporation must be looked at for abuses and fraud to stop. Unfortunately, bloated school budgets have not been about doing the right thing for our children for some time.

In New Jersey, when a school budget passes without examination by the taxpayers, it's like hitting the lottery for those who will benefit the most - overpaid principals who get their job due to nepotism. People of New Jersey, wake up. Ask Jon Corzine or your assemblymen or state senators where all this tax money goes. We won't be fooled again.

Andrew Butzko

Middletown