Letters to the Editor
It's Your Turn
Are We Not Obligated?
To the Editor:
James Fitzmaurice concludes his Letter to the Editor in The Two River Times (August 27-Sept. 3rd issue) with the sentence, "There is no suicide clause in the Constitution", implying that at least metaphorically, if not literally, Americans would be aiding and abetting the demise of our democracy were we to allow an Islamic Community Center-proposed as a 15 story building containing a theater, a swimming pool, a restaurant, a mosque, a 9/11 memorial, and space for educational programs-to be built two blocks from Ground Zero.
It is a fact that practicing Moslems organized and carried out a terrorist attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. But would we want all Christians to be judged on the basis of the most hateful and violent crimes committed by Christians-for example, the Catholics who terrorized the Protestants of Northern Ireland not long ago, apparently with the support of some clergy?
According to a recent article in The New York Times (8/27/10) the owner and developer of the site for the Islamic Community Center, now a parking lot, is the son of an Egyptian Moslem and a Polish Catholic. A practicing Moslem who spent part of his youth in the U.S. and part in Egypt, he and his family belong to the Jewish Community Center on the Upper West Side, where his daughters have learned to swim. His plan for an Islamic Community Center would seem to be based on a similar model for its financing, management, and programs.
Mr. Fitzmaurice asks, "Are we obligated in the name of tolerance to evade all of the tenets of Islam that are ... incompatible with ...the Constitution?" In response, I would ask Mr. Fitzmaurice, "Are we not obligated in the name of the Constitution to welcome Moslems into our neighborhoods, to build community centers and mosques wherever the followers of any other religious tradition would be welcome to do so?"
Has Mr. Fitzmaurice read the Parable of the Good Samaritan?
Jim McCorkel
Holmdel
No Questions Asked
To The Editor:
Stolen street name signs, safety signs and traffic signs are costly to the taxpayers of Middletown Township. These missing signs total thousands of dollars each year.
The signs are usually taken by high school and college students to decorate their rooms. When signs are stolen, taxes are increased and the hazards of property safety are heightened.
If any parents are aware of these signs being brought home by their children and wish to turn them in, they may do so by bringing them to the Chief's office with no questions asked.
The township and the police department appreciate all and any cooperation given regarding this matter.
We have a great township and by working together we can keep it that way!
Robert Oches
Chief of Police
Middletown Township
Happy School Year, Mom!
To The Editor:
Memo to Mom: Is it me, or is this the longest summer on record?
I know it's one of the hottest & one of the driest; so, maybe that's why it feels like one of the longest.
Well, I say get those pencil cases, backpacks, and school clothes ready-or uniforms...if that's your preference.
And, if that's your preference, I'm sure your husband's mad at you for insisting on private or Catholic school, when you pay such outrageous school taxes around these parts. (But, that's a subject for another article).
When's that school bus coming 'round the corner. I stand curbside, and stick my head out reallly far, I think I can see it.
Now, don't go getting all sweet and gooey on me, saying you don't want the kids to leave.
No one is listening, you can admit it (at least to yourself) that you're cooked, roasted, done. Put a fork in it.
It's time for a new schedule; and, that's the beauty of the seasons.
You get to move on, shake it up, trade in all that sand for falling leaves and then some snow.
Boots instead of flip-flops, scarves instead of coverups, fireplaces crackling instead of barbecue grills burning.
And, I can't drink one more iced coffee. Bring on the hot chocolate with fresh whipped cream on top!
So, here's to all you mothers out there. Welcome to another school year.
And enjoy that first full week when the kids are back in the classroom.
Fill you favorite mug, plop on a chair in the kitchen, look out the window, and exhale.
Because, you and I both know that in no time at all, the winter schedule will kick in.
Dance classes, ice skating, drama club, gymnastics, singing and music lessons; not, to mention sports, sports, and more sports-namely, football, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, etc., etc.
They're all just around the corner, right behind the school bus that's coming.
So the beat goes on. And, on that note, did you get all the registration papers filled out, and the deposits in, and the uniforms and sweatshirts ordered, so the kids don't miss a thing? Hope so, or you're in trouble. Oh, yeah, I hear there's a shortage of class moms this year. You can fit it in, can't you?
Happy 2010-2011 School Year, Mom. You are truly a Mom for all Seasons.
Mickey Palmeri
Navesink
Avoid Thinking Too Much
To The Editor:
Thanksgiving is coming up soon. It has always been one of my favorite holidays. There is no pressure to buy presents, and mostly everyone celebrates it no matter what religion they are. But this year I'm going to focus all my attention on turkey and stuffing, football games, and huge inflatable cartoon characters in the NYC parade. I think I'll avoid thinking too much about the Pilgrims getting the dogs set on them back in Merry Olde England, and King James saying, "I shall make them conform or I will harry them out of the land, or else do worse." I don't want my appetite spoiled at Thanksgiving.
George Severini
Fair Haven
Reflections on Katrina
To The Editor:
Five years ago, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma changed the lives of millions of people and prompted a response by the American Red Cross that was unprecedented in both size and scope. Who could forget the vivid media images of these destructive hurricanes? These images resonated not only in the areas affected by the hurricanes - but also throughout the nation and the entire New Jersey coastline. Residents of Monmouth and Ocean County turned to their Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross, ready to extend a helping hand to those affected by the trio of hurricanes.In any disaster, the American Red Cross quickly mobilizes workers and supplies to address urgent needs of disaster victims, which includes providing shelter, food, water, counseling and other assistance.
The Jersey Coast Chapter helped in the distribution of supplies to affected areas of the 2005 hurricanes and also directly assisted many displaced families from the affected areas with immediate disaster assistance. The facility located in Tinton Falls is the home to a 70,000 square foot warehouse in which supplies can be distributed in bulk and sent to places where disasters are occurring.
Nearly 8,000 generous donors from Monmouth and Ocean County donated 1.5 million dollars to the hurricane relief effort, which was sent directly to those needing assistance.
As with any large-scale disaster, there was an immediate outpouring of community support. Nearly 900 people from Monmouth and Ocean County felt an overwhelming desire to help with the relief efforts and became trained volunteers. Carol Cohen of Brick Township was one of the people who walked into the Jersey Coast Chapter after seeing the devastation of Katrina on television. "I wanted to go to Katrina, but I didn't realize all of the training you need to be sent out," said Cohen. In order to be deployed to a Red Cross Disaster Operation, the volunteer must first go through a series of training. During the storms, 117 previously trained disaster volunteers from our community were deployed to the affected areas. The first lesson involves one of the biggest messages of the Red Cross: you must be prepared. "The more I learned, the more I wanted to volunteer locally. The lesson here is, don't wait for the next great tragedy. Get trained now," said Cohen. After the hurricanes, Cohen continued to be an avid disaster volunteer, responding to local disasters. She continues to be active with the disaster department at the Jersey Coast Chapter. She is now a member of the staff, serving as the Director of Health and Safety Services, prompted by her desire to become involved during the hurricanes of 2005.
Since the storms, the Jersey Coast Chapter has grown into a regional chapter, now encompassing Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester and Cape May Counties. In turn, this has expanded the number of active disaster volunteers who are available to provide assistance in the event of a large disaster nationally and/or locally and increased responsibility of those responding to disasters.
The fifth anniversary of the hurricanes of 2005 is a reminder and lesson that the unthinkable can happen and that everyone must do their part to prepare. The investments made in preparedness today can save lives and livelihoods tomorrow.
For more information on how you can support the Jersey Coast Chapter, please call (732) 493-9100 or visit our website jerseycoast-redcross.org.
Melissa DeGennaro
Director of Public Relations & Marketing
American Red Cross
Be A Hospice Volunteer
To The Editor:
Beginning September 30, Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Hospice program will offer a FREE 3-session course entitled "Discover the Joy of Being a Hospice Volunteer." The course is open to individuals interested in becoming hospice volunteers who would like to learn more about the hospice philosophy of caring for the terminally ill. Sessions are scheduled on Thursday evenings, September 30, October 7, and October 14 from 9:30 am to 2:00pm at Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Hospice headquarters at 1100 Wayside Road, Tinton Falls, NJ. Participants will learn about the grief process, family dynamics, communication and listening, spirituality, medical aspects of the terminally ill, and pain management. In addition, members of the VNACJ hospice team will provide information on the many rewards and opportunities available to hospice volunteers.
There is no charge for the course but advance registration is requested. To register, call Pauline DePalma, manager of volunteers, at 732-224-6933 or email pdeplama@vnacj.org. The VNACJ Hospice Program is now in its 29th year. Members of the hospice team work collaboratively to provide comfort and support for the patient as well as support for the family throughout their loved one's illness and during the time of bereavement.
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, now in its 98th year of service, is a nonprofit provider of in-home health care and hospice services. The organization also offers extensive community-based health and wellness services throughout New Jersey.
Kathy McKeever
Director of Marketing
VNA of Central Jersey
Shadow Lake Memories
To the Editor:
I read with sadness the article written by John Burton about the decline and very possibly demise of one of Middletown Township's treasures, Shadow Lake.
I grew up on that beautiful lake. My parents built our house in 1938, when Edgar Alexander sold parcels of his farmland in one acre lots all around the lake. Our house on Sunrise Place was the first one built in the area, when Alexander Drive was a dirt road, the River Plaza School had only four classrooms for eight grades and Mary Brasch was the principal. The lake was such a source of pleasurable activities. We fished with poles made by my father; long tree limbs fitted with string, a hook and a worm. True, we usually caught only sunfish, and once an eel, but that was pre-stocking, and we fished for the fun of it. You could always find a fisherman or two on the dam on Hubbard Ave. In winter came ice skating; everyone from around the lake would meet on the ice when it was declared safe (four inches thick) and if covered with snow, would shovel! We had a row boat, and spent many summer afternoons rowing up and down the lake, exploring the coves and watching the turtles, herons and frogs on the lily pads. We would picnic on Pig's Point, which was then part of the Stevenson estate, and before that was said to house a pig farm. We swam, but were not allowed to dive into the lake because even then there were branches and weeds on the bottom. Shadow Lake Village now sits on what were once woods and a part of Hammer's Black Angus cattle farm. We carved our initials on a few of the trees and even a few hearts with special initials within the hearts. I wonder if any of those trees still survive.
Years ago Poricy Pond on Navesink River Road was almost lost to pollution, algae, etc. but was revived. Does anyone remember what was done back then to accomplish this?
I hope with all my heart that the township, the DEP and anyone else with innovative ideas can come up with a solution to this complex problem. Kudos to Jim Gilbert and the Save the Lake committee for their efforts! Shadow Lake is much too precious to lose.
Catherine Ring Saliba
East Brunswick
