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84-Year-Old Suggests That People Of a Certain Age Take Driving Tests

Sara Davies Gillespie
College Road

Princeton Township School Graduate Says Building Should Be Preserved

Elizabeth M. Biscotto
Former Township Resident

Militant Mammals? Borough Partisans? Can Wolves and Alligators Be Far Behind?

Bill Moran
Wiggins Street

Nassau Presbyterian Sing-a-Long Was Organized by Youth Choirs

Randall Kirkpatrick
Director of Community Development, CASA of Mercer County

Doing Some Simple Math to Illustrate Bigger Borough Loss in Consolidation

Henry J. Frank
Valley Road

84-Year-Old Suggests That People Of a Certain Age Take Driving Tests

To the Editor

At the age of 84 I find it doesn’t hurt to have a driving test — in a car with a professional instructor — every few years. I think that at a certain age anyone who drives should have such a test regularly.

Let’s just do it!

Sara Davies Gillespie
College Road

Princeton Township School Graduate Says Building Should Be Preserved

To the Editor:

My roots are in Princeton Township. I was born in the house on the corner of Leigh Avenue and Bayard Lane in 1932. Our family lived on the R. W. Johnson estate on Rosedale Road from mid-summer 1934 to early January 1946. I attended the Princeton Township School from kindergarten through eighth grade and graduated in June 1946. 

In October of 1950, I replaced my sister Julia Meszar Nemeth, as school secretary in the Princeton Township School. Bertha McKenzie Eisenmann was the school principal at that time. She, along with seven of my former teachers, welcomed me back. At the end of June 1959, I relocated to the Franklin Township School system in Somerset County, as the executive secretary to the Superintendent of Schools. 

I deeply cherish my school years as a student in Princeton Township. Its quality teachers had a profound impact on each student; they instilled in us a love of learning; they maintained complete control of the classroom, students respected teachers, the principal, and all other employees. I loved everything about school and my classmates. My eighth grade class had three reunions, one in 1994, the 50th year reunion in 1996, and the 54th in 2000. Irene Updike hosted each one. Everyone who attended had a wonderful time reminiscing about our school days. I still continue special friendships with nine of my fellow classmates.

Please know that the school building is a landmark and needs to be preserved, not demolished. It should be part of all the other historic structures/landmarks in the area. This building should remain intact, renovated, and continue to provide the community with valuable space. Don’t destroy it!

My sister Julia and I met with Jim Firestone in May 2008, regarding his involvement in saving the Princeton Township School. In July of 2008, I personally wrote each classmate about getting involved in writing letters to preserve the School.

Elizabeth M. Biscotto
Former Township Resident

Militant Mammals? Borough Partisans? Can Wolves and Alligators Be Far Behind?

To the Editor:

As I peruse the local press, I am struck by the ominous headlines of recent weeks. Bad beavers, rabid raccoons, boorish bears, and the ubiquitous deer (up to their usual devastation of SUVs and pricey shrubbery). Rumors and alarms abound, citing the appearance of coyotes, panthers, and fisher cats. Can wolves and alligators be far behind?

The authorities have responded to the situation with their usual alacrity, replete with roundups and warnings; and in the case of the misguided beaver dam development project, the miscreants were stopped cold with hot lead. If only the tear-down McMansion developers, with their callous disregard for existing neighborhoods, could also be stopped. What are we to make of this apparent insurrection by our formerly furry friends? Are the apocalyptic prophecies of the fifties sci-fi novel Rule of the Pagbeasts finally coming true? Is it just one more calamity to be added to the list of scourges currently plaguing our nation? Is it a harsh judgment by nature against the human race?

Maybe my overwrought imagination is getting the best of me. Perhaps it is only a local phenomenon with political overtones. Could it be something as simple as an agent provocateur stirring up trouble? Possibly an over zealous borough partisan attempting to fan the flames of opposition to consolidation. It could well be that someone overcome with an irrational feeling of ‘Boroughness’ is trying to conjure up the specter of a terroristic Township takeover, spearheaded by a cadre of militant mammals. Should this individual be apprehended and treated with the appropriate therapy and re-education, I’m sure that all will be well, the peaceable kingdom restored, our Princeton paradise regained.

Bill Moran
Wiggins Street

Nassau Presbyterian Sing-a-Long Was Organized by Youth Choirs

To the Editor:

Regarding the article in the August 3 issue of Town Topics on the Sing-a-Long held at Nassau Presbyterian Church, we wanted to clarify that this fundraiser, which raised $2176 for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mercer Advocates, was solely organized and planned by the youth choirs involved. Those choristers and their leaders — from The Trenton Children’s Chorus, Princeton Girls Choir, Princeton Homeschool Choir, and the Nassau Presbyterian Girls Choir — wanted the proceeds to benefit the abused and neglected children of Mercer County who are served by the community volunteers of CASA.

We were the happy beneficiaries of their efforts and the help of the Nassau Presbyterian Church, a continued supporter of our organization. On behalf of our organization and the abused and neglected children in Mercer County that we are privileged to serve, we extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. We also hope that the public will join us in song and spirit at the next Sing-a-Long, planned for June 2012 at Nassau Presbyterian Church.

Randall Kirkpatrick
Director of Community Development, CASA of Mercer County

Doing Some Simple Math to Illustrate Bigger Borough Loss in Consolidation

To the Editor:

Consolidating Princeton Borough and Township into one municipality means that the average voter loses voice in municipal affairs. According to the Board of Elections, there are currently 6,491 voters in the Borough and 11,357 in the Township. As the following inequality demonstrates that:

The number 1 divided by 6,491 is greater than 1 divided by 11,357, which is greater than 1 divided by 17,848.

Both the Borough voter and the Township voter lose in a consolidated municipality, but the Borough’s voter’s loss is greater.

Henry J. Frank
Valley Road

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