Letters
Commuter train is not fitting memorial for lives lost in battle

I just discovered Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan, not too long ago. When seeing it for the first time, I actually thought it was one of the nicest places I’d seen in New Jersey.

In this time of growth, it was such a pleasure not to see a corporate complex, housing or any building machinery and materials for as far as the eye could see — to just see nature as it should be. It made me happy to live in an area supporting this type of place. Add to this the fact that it is a historic battle site to help remind our children and us why we should love it here, and why this place in which we live was so important that men and women gave their lives for us.

Now I am angered to hear that they may put a commuter rail line going through the park. The freeholders say they are thinking of commuters. People don’t move to this area for an easy commute — they already had that in New York. They move here for peace and quiet.

Experience has shown me that trains do not relieve traffic on local roads. Trains make traffic. Metro Park, Edison — the entire area was farms until the train station came. Now it takes 20 minutes to go two lights. Trains only attract out-of-area people to your town to use the train and to use the local roads to get to the train and to its parking garages.

If you must build rail lines, at all costs avoid the park, existing lines or not. If you need more of a reason, go to a battle re-enactment, and see if a commuter train is an appropriate memorial for the lives given there.

Elizabeth Fagan

Monroe

Mother remembers lessons learned from a special child

On July 29, my son Michael would have turned 5 years old. My husband, Adam, and I would be preparing for kindergarten, saving our pennies for college, and dreaming about our future astronaut, army general or president-in-waiting. But Michael was born with a chromosome disorder called trisomy 13, and he lost his fight for life only four short days later.

Now, instead of his birthday, we are celebrating the fifth anniversary of Michael’s Feat, the charity named in his memory and dedicated to helping local families of seriously ill newborns. I approach this anniversary filled with sadness in his absence, and pride in his legacy. But what have I learned from these past five years?

I’ve learned to be grateful. I am grateful for a supportive family and parents who held me up when I no longer could. I am grateful for the three healthy children who followed Michael, and who continue to reflect his beauty and courage in their smiles.

I am grateful for the best set of friends that any person was ever worthy enough to have. The board of directors of Michael’s Feat continues with undiminished enthusiasm, the passion of a parent, and the heart of a heavyweight champion. I am grateful for the businessmen and businesswomen who gave of their money and time to help realize the dream of a shattered family.

I’ve learned to be grateful for the stranger who reads about this small cause, drops an e-mail of encouragement, and keeps my spirits up when the children are crying and the bills are mounting.

I’m grateful for the public officials who recognize the cause in proclamations and by their presence. I’m grateful for local journalists who report on our successes and spend many hours with us helping to retell Michael’s story and the reason behind this cause.

But most of all, I am grateful for Michael. In four short days, he taught a lifetime’s worth. Never give in — not for anything, great or small, large or petty. Life is worth fighting for. Hope is not defined by how long you are here, but rather by what you leave behind. On July 30 from 1-5 p.m., at the picnic grounds behind St. Clement’s Church in Matawan, Michael’s Feat will host the fifth anniversary family barbecue.

Adam and Dana Puharic

Michael’s Feat

www.michaelsfeat.org

Board of Ed. counsel seeks to clarify record

On June 3 the Suburban printed an article regarding a lawsuit filed by Jeanne Cook against the Old Bridge Township Board of Education. The board would like to correct some misperceptions from the article.

First, the verdict was against the board, not against Dr. Joan George, former assistant superintendent of schools. Dr. George was not a defendant in the lawsuit at the time the jury delivered its verdict because the trial judge had previously dismissed all charges against Dr. George.

Secondly, the article did not highlight the fact that the jury specifically exonerated Dr. George regarding accusations of handicap harassment in the case. The verdict reads as follows: “Was Jeanne Cook subject to handicap harassment by Joan George, Daniel Rodriquez, Chris Traficante or Ken Popovich while working for the Old Bridge Board of Education?” The jury’s verdict was “No.”

The article also failed to mention the fact that the jury exonerated Dr. George from the charge that she intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon Ms. Cook. The verdict reads as follows: “Did Joan George, with an intent to cause Jeanne Cook emotional distress, act with a deliberate disregard for a high degree of probability that emotional distress would follow her actions?” The jury’s verdict was “No.”

The Old Bridge Township Board of Education appreciates this opportunity to clarify the record in this case concerning one of its valued former employees and members.

Philip E. Stern, Esq.

Sills Cummis Epstein & Gross

Newark

counsel to the Old Bridge Township Board of Education

Beware of funding education through state income tax

I have read several letters to the editor suggesting the use of a state dedicated 5-percent income tax to fund education, instead of funding education via real estate taxes. While the theory sounds quite good, I would caution against such a method.

Once the funds go to Trenton, I’m afraid we would not get back our pro-rata share for our school budget in each of our respective municipalities. I truly believe that the thought process at the state level would be to redistribute the funds so that the school districts that don’t perform so well in certain areas of the state would receive a higher level of funding, with well-intentioned hopes that the quality of education would improve in those areas. If this were to occur, we could still end up supplementing the school budget with property taxes.

Redistribution of funds is already occurring with state education funds, and more money spent per student does not guarantee better results. Just look at the average SAT scores, the percentage of graduates and the percentage of students going on to higher education — all figures that are published annually, listing each township within each county. Some low-performing school districts actually have among the highest levels of per-student funding.

Students will do well as a result of a combination of factors that include not just a sound school budget (which will enable the hiring of excellent teachers and the highest maintenance and upgrades to school classrooms and facilities), but most importantly include encouragement and oversight in the home. Without the encouragement with schoolwork and projects as well as the reinforcement of good study habits in the home, in most cases children will not do as well as those who do have this support.

My other concern about funding education via a state income tax is that the state may allocate the money with “strings attached” and impose certain requirements on the individual school districts. The local school districts have a better understanding of how education funds should be spent than a distant state bureaucracy would have.

In conclusion, although escalating property taxes are a growing burden to most of us, I believe that education should continue to be funded locally. If there is a way to give a discount to senior citizens who demonstrate need, I believe most residents would support this.

I live in East Brunswick, and my children have been in this school system since kindergarten. As they have progressed through elementary school, middle school and junior high school, I have to say that I am truly impressed with the quality of education they are receiving, and I would never want to jeopardize it by funding it via a state income tax.

Tina Hungrige

East Brunswick

No public accountability if state roads are privatized

With regard to Assemblyman John Wisniewski’s “Your Turn” guest column (“Privatizing Road Won’t Benefit Taxpayers,” Suburban, July 8), I agree with his assessment of the proposed privatization of one or more of the state’s toll roads.

My wife, Betty, and I have seen a similar proposal for a stretch of I-81 in Virginia, where her family lives. In both cases, we believe the proposals to be terrible ideas. However, if I understand the Assemblyman’s position on bond financing of road improvements correctly, I think that his position is wrong. Issuing bonds to finance long-term capital improvements has been a legitimate means of raising money for upfront costs to be retired from tax dollars or tolls.

Certainly, as unpopular as tolls and gasoline taxes are to the payer, they are, nonetheless, the necessary costs associated with public improvements. To turn the highways over to private vendors would be a terrible alternative.

I recommend that the state Legislature bite the bullet on this one and increase taxes and tolls as needed to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund. One way or another, the public will pay for these improvements.

They (we) may complain about it, but with the state government doing the charging, at least we know who it is. With a private vendor, there is no public accountability.

David Dax

Sayreville

Grad extends thanks to staff, students at school

This past Wednesday, June 15, I graduated from the Charles E. Gregory School of Nursing in Old Bridge at the age of 44. I just want to extend my deepest thanks and gratitude to all those who helped me along the way. From my family and friends who helped me with my kids to those who offered a word of encouragement. It was greatly appreciated. I would also like to commend the faculty and staff of Charles E. Gregory. They are an exceptional group of women and I applaud them for teaching me to be the best I can be. I am very proud to say I am a graduate of the Charles E. Gregory School of Nursing and recommend the school to all those considering a career in nursing.

Michele Archer

Aberdeen

Many worked together to make celebration a success

I would like to thank everyone for their assistance with our Fourth of July celebration.

A special thank you to our parks department, police, fire and rescue squad, and our advisory board members.

The event was a huge success due to the efforts of everyone.

Michael Sedlak

municipal department head

Sayreville Recreation Department