Letters
Motivation is a desire for small-town life

I have lived in Roosevelt for almost 30 years because of its live-and-let-live atmosphere. However, to maintain this environment, many of us have been fiercely anti-development.

The goal of maintaining Roosevelt as a small town has led some of us to be strongly opposed to any increase in population of any group. Many of us opposed a senior housing development some years ago - not out of hostility to seniors but because of our desire to keep the town small. Intolerance and bigotry have not been the motives of anyone I know.

The increase in the number of residents has been the concern, not the religion or background of any resident. Roosevelt is a town with a fair amount of diversity and allows for a great deal of individuality and creativity, which is central to its strength. It is very livable because of our land preservation, support for the arts, and the small scale of our community.

Naomi Brahinsky

Roosevelt

Residents urged to vote in school elections on April 18

By now, New Jerseyans know about Gov. Jon Corzine's proposed austerity budget for 2006-07. The governor's budget resulted from hard choices at the state level. At the local level, boards of education also faced difficult financial decisions as they prepared school budgets for the April 18 annual school election.

Like it or not, the state of New Jersey's financial picture - and, in particular, state aid to public education - is a major part of the dynamic that determines what a community spends on its schools and the amount of money it must raise in property taxes.

The academic year 2006-07 will mark the fifth consecutive year that the state's budget has either flat-funded, or provided negligible increases in, aid to education. In fact, this year more than one-quarter of New Jersey's school districts will experience actual decreases in state dollars. The five-year funding freeze has occurred at the same time that school districts must serve an increasing number of students statewide and pay sharply escalating prices for necessities such as motor fuels, utilities and insurance coverage, the costs of which are outside their control.

In this climate, school boards have directed limited resources to the classroom through increased efficiencies and shared-service arrangements. Today, more than 70 percent of New Jersey public school expenditures go toward classroom instruction and instructional support services, according to the U.S. Department of Education. In fact, since 1989-90, the number of administrators employed in our schools has decreased by 0.14 percent, while the numbers of students and teachers have grown by 29 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

In his budget message, Gov. Corzine acknowledged the predicament facing local school boards this year when he said, "I appreciate that flat-funding in an inflating environment is a real cut."

Creating a school budget in this financial environment is no easy task. It involves balancing the community's education goals with the resources available from the state and from local property taxpayers.

As citizens go the polls on April 18, I urge them to keep in mind the challenges facing their local board of education in determining the financial resources necessary for the education of their community's children.

Patti J. Pawling

president

New Jersey School Boards Association

Millstone seniors enjoyed Girl Scouts' Thinking Day

On behalf of the members of the Millstone Senior Citizens Organization, I would like to thank the Millstone Girl Scouts and their leaders for inviting us to the Girl Scout World Thinking Day, which was held at the Millstone Township Elementary School. It was evident that a great deal of effort was involved in this presentation. There were 26 booths set up to represent different countries, which the seniors visited and also spoke with the Girl Scouts about the customs of those countries.

The seniors who attended had an enjoyable time partaking in the games with the Girl Scouts.

There were many Millstone residents who attended and generously donated packages of food for the Girl Scout leaders to present to the Millstone Senior Citizens Organization. Our thanks go to them also. It was a very nice gesture on their part.

Margaret Patterson

president

Millstone Senior Citizens Organization

Resident gives his support to Gansberg

If you know Wendy Gansberg, you know that she is an intelligent, caring and hard-working person. If you don't know Wendy, before voting in the upcoming Upper Freehold Regionals School District Board of Education election, you would be best served to find out who she is.

If you are one of the few area residents who actually attends school board meetings, you probably have met her. She has attended Board of Education meetings and has worked hard to make sure she knows all the issues that will help our children have the best fiscally responsible education.

A former educator, Wendy has a masters in finance. She is a "no nonsense" person who will work hard for all the residents of Upper Freehold and she will have no problem asking the hard, intelligent questions.

Over 70 percent of our real estate taxes goes to the Board of Education. Upper Freehold needs Wendy Gansberg on the school board. Please take the time to learn who she is. I'm sure that once you know her, you will vote for her.

John Nanni

Upper Freehold

U.F. resident wants voters to put 'education first'

It's time for the voters to reject the Board of Education's arrogant "public be damned," "politics as usual" attitude, made abundantly clear after the last board election, in which then-candidate Lisa Herzer was soundly defeated and yet was almost immediately reappointed to the board to fill a vacancy, despite the availability of other well-qualified individuals seeking the position.

This outrage was, in my view, a slap in the face to those folks who took the time to go to the polls and vote, and not an example of the democratic process we wish our kids to emulate.

A golden opportunity presents itself for the voters in the April 18 Board of Education election, to send a clear message, "Education first and no back-door politics on our school board."

I hope the voters consider the candidacy of Wendy Gansberg, a talented, experienced educator and an independent thinker who will doubtlessly stand against the cozy group of good ol' girls and boys who are presently in control of our Board of Education.

Raymond Murray

Upper Freehold Township

CPR training saves lives

Learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can mean the difference between life and death for your child, your parent, your sister or brother, your golfing buddy, your neighbor, your coworker, or even your teacher.

As a New Jersey resident and chairman of the New Jersey American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee, I urge New Jersey family members and residents to get hands-on and learn CPR during the sixth annual American Heart Association CPR Week taking place April 1-9 at more than 60 locations around the state. American Heart Association CPR Week is absolutely free.

In a story covered by media around the state, on March 21 a 17-year-old Hopatcong High School junior saved the life of his 36-year-old French teacher by administering CPR to her after she collapsed in the classroom. The student, who learned CPR for the first time the prior Friday and who had practiced his CPR in a health class one hour earlier, immediately started CPR on the unconscious teacher. After about 30 seconds, she regained consciousness. The simple and safe skill of early CPR arguably saved her life.

The week prior, a teacher at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville was saved by two fellow teachers, thanks to early CPR and the immediate availability of an automated external defibrillator (AED).

As the American Heart Association says, heroes aren't born, they're trained. Learn CPR!

For nearly a decade, the American Heart Association has been on a crusade in the Garden State encouraging the widespread and immediate availability of AEDs and that lay people, such as family members and friends, be trained in CPR. CPR is a critical skill that will enhance safety and better prepare you for personal, home, medical and cardiac emergencies. Know CPR and you may save the life of someone you love.

American Heart Association CPR Week is a massive statewide free community CPR training event specifically geared to the lay person, family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Call (877) AHA-4CPR to learn more, find a training site near you, or to register.

Scott Hansen

chairman

N.J. American Heart Association

Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee

North Brunswick