Letters

New trail must not give way to rail line

June 4 marked the 25th annual National Trails Day. On this day the Monmouth County Park System dedicated the southern extension of the Henry Hudson Trail, from Freehold to Matawan. Only the portion from Freehold to Marlboro will be officially open; work continues on the section north to Matawan.

Ten years ago, Wally Tunison — owner of the Bicycle Hub of Marlboro — and I formed the nonprofit Monmouth Heritage Trail Inc. (MHT). MHT’s mission would be to promote a rail trail along NJ Transit’s long-unused Freehold-to-Matawan branch rail line.

The park system already had this 11-mile corridor on its master trails plan. Then, when MHT discovered that NJ Transit planned to demolish the 450-foot-long trestle over Lake Matawan, we launched a campaign to save the historic structure.

We got support from local mayors, freeholders, the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, and even the governor. And NJ Transit did spare the trestle. Our action encouraged the park system to put the proposed bikeway on the fast track. NJ Transit granted the county a 20-year lease to the railroad right of way, and the woodchips began to fly.

It has been a challenge — and ultimately rewarding — to see how county officials and MHT members have worked to change opinions of homeowners next to or near the old rail line. Yes, some people feared a “crime spree.” Others loudly protested an invasion of their privacy. A few threatened lawsuits to stop the project. Even a cargo container briefly blocked the former rail line.

Not everyone is smiling — yet. But when I rode the bike path recently, I passed several backyards where the homeowners — who had put up protective and privacy fencing — had also installed lockable gates that opened onto the bike path, so they could go for a quiet, relaxing ride or walk along the long, quiet stretches of blacktop.

And yet, there are those who advocate replacing the county estimated $2 million investment in a nonreplaceable recreational resource. And for what?

For a rail line that would send a dozen diesel-engine trains up and down the tracks every morning and every evening, sounding their horns at nearly two dozen road crossings and tying up automobile traffic as they pass, causing air pollution, noise pollution, and traffic tie-ups morning and night as commuters clog station parking lots.

NJ Transit estimates about 11,000 riders would use the line. The Monmouth County Park System estimates annually some 145,000 people visit the Henry Hudson Trail from Aberdeen to Atlantic Highlands, including scores of children who “commute” to school every day.

If the Freehold-to-Matawan route is so desirable for a rail line, why has NJ Transit rejected it three times in the last decade, and now concedes its own ridership projection may be flawed? Yes, everyone wants rail service to help reduce auto traffic, and yes, nobody wants a rail line in their backyard.

If you want to keep the rail line out of our backyards, get on your bike or take a hike along our brand-new bike path, and then tell all your friends how great it is. Do it today.

J. Wandres

co-founder and

past president of

Monmouth Heritage Trail

Aberdeen

Samaritan Center director says thank you

The Samaritan Center staff and board would like to thank the Englishtown-Manalapan post office employees and patrons for their generous donations of groceries.

We now have an abundance of food for clients. Without the help of wonderful people like you, we could not serve those in need. May God bless you.

Carol Puorro

executive director

Samaritan Center Inc.

Englishtown

Letter writer’s attempts at political humor fall flat

Most of the letters to the editor you publish are usually timely and incisive or humorous or biting or informative. Unfortunately, the letter titled “Republicans Need to Come Up With a Good Slogan” had none of these admirable traits.

To put it bluntly, it was downright silly. It is much too early in the campaign season to produce inane literature.

I would like to rebut the writer’s somewhat weak attacks.

• At no time has either Miracle Torregrossa or Peter Hall supported (or opposed) the mega-mall. This is a complex issue that should not be politicized.

• It is true that the Manal-apan Republican candidates have not held political office before, but that was also true of many successful Township Committee members of the last 20 years. On the other hand, former Committeewoman Michelle Roth had experience and lost in a landslide last year.

• Did the writer ask either candidate if he or she wishes to debate? Do the Dems want a debate?

At least let the campaign season start before there are barbs thrown about debates.

• None of the four candidates has put forth a platform nor sent out literature yet. You can’t attack people because of what other people did or did not say in previous years.

• I have been a Manalapan Republican district leader for over 20 years and I never heard of one of the five people listed as possible candidates. But if there were five potential candidates, why would that be a negative factor? Anybody who knows Bill Scherer, Andrew Lucas and Joseph Locriccio also knows that they would not be the pawns of the township attorney. The Manalapan Township Commit-tee governs the town.

• All five Township Commit-tee members or their families pay property tax. The Dems came up with some awful attacks last year; it’s hard to believe that they are going to recycle them again.

There are certainly plenty of differences between the candidates this year. Let us have a clean, honest political battle and not resort to silly one-liners and personal attacks.

Joel Schechter

Manalapan

Tax cut seems to be inconsistent with claim of insolvency

I attended the Manalapan Township Committee meeting on May 25 where the town budget was being discussed. It was not pretty. Michelle Roth, the Democratic candidate, a former township committeewoman, a former chairwoman of the Planning Board, and a resident I have known for years, asked some very simple questions.

She asked if Manalapan was truly on the verge of insolvency, how can one increase spending by 9 percent while at the same time cutting taxes by a half-cent without making matters worse? She also asked that if things were not being made worse, where was the money coming from?

The question was never answered, showing that the entire issue of insolvency last year was used just to get Andrew Lucas and Joseph Locricchio elected. Not only that, Michelle was rudely shouted down, was accused of playing politics and was told she was incapable of understanding a budget, which of course she worked on last year. Further, the Republicans insulted every resident’s intelligence by pointing to five- and 10-year projections showing that the town might be insolvent if the town kept on doing what they were doing.

It should be remembered that Mr. Locricchio and Mr. Lucas insisted that the town was on the verge of bankruptcy immediately during their campaign, not in 10 years.

Secondly, and I address this to Mr. Lucas, if Derek Jeter is batting .150 in April, do you project out to the rest of the year that he will be hitting under .200 until retirement? No, that is ridiculous. He would make different adjustments at the plate just like the Township Commit-tee would have adjusted their strategy accordingly.

At first glance, I was pleased that residents were getting a break, even though it was tiny, on their taxes. But at what cost? The police said they needed two more officers to do their job, and the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad said they desperately needed an ambulance and additional funding. I don’t know any resident who wouldn’t give up the $11 annual tax break (25 cents per week) for the sake of knowing we are safe and secure. Instead, the Republicans get a campaign slogan and the rest of us get screwed. Thanks a lot.

Mickey Elting

Manalapan

Accident shows resident how precious life really is

On the morning of May 10, I was on my way to work at the Applegate Elementary School in Freehold Township. While I was driving along Kozloski Road, just ahead of me I saw two tractor-trailer trucks join in a minor collision.

As a result of that collision, I became part of a horrific automobile accident. A man named David Bloom tragically lost his life, a 21-year-old man is scarred for life, and I am remarkably still here to say thank you, God.

It was only with the prompt and amazing response of the Freehold volunteer fire department, the Freehold Township Police Department and the Freehold volunteer first aid squad that I made it to the Jersey Shore Trauma Center to receive incredible treatment from the trauma team that was awaiting my arrival.

I remember everything that happened, and there are so many people that I need to thank.

First of all, to the stranger who ran to be by my side immediately after impact, and all the people who stopped their cars and tried to assist. The people who called 911 and those who responded as a result.

My husband, Donald, who came to this ungodly sight to be by my side. The staff at the Eisenhower Middle School who nurtured my two sons, Eddie and Richie, who were aware of the fact that their mom was in some kind of auto accident. My family and friends who came to the hospital. All the people who came with open and giving arms. The meals, treats, flowers, balloons, cards and most of all, the prayers all meant so much to me. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

From this, I only wish that we could all realize just how precious life is and that it could be taken from us in a flash of a second. So, hug your loved ones more often, smile all the time, be kind to everyone, laugh a lot more, and slow down; appreciate all that God has given to you.

Jane Ellen O’Brien

Freehold Township

Officials should let residents know what’s happening

It’s a shame [Manalapan Township Committeeman] Andrew Lucas wasn’t born during Watergate and subsequently paid no attention to the lessons learned during that time period. The one undisputable fact to come out of that affair, which both Republicans and Democrats can agree upon, is that you never cover up anything. You will eventually get caught, lose all credibility and the public will never forgive you.

Mr. Lucas’ 45 minutes of evading the simple question, “Did you attend the meeting where the future of the Englishtown Police Department was discussed?” was pathetic but not surprising.

At the May 25 Manalapan Township Committee meeting at which the budget was discussed, it took him an hour to not answer the question of how you can cut taxes, increase spending and not make the insolvency issue worse. Of course the entire insolvency issue was completely fictitious so it is understandable why he needed the extra 15 minutes to answer that one.

As it turned out, Republican committeemen Mr. Lucas and Joseph Loccrichio did attend the meeting and decided not to tell anyone, as the June 1 News Transcript editorial clearly spelled out. For two people who ran on the slogan Honesty, Integrity and Accountability, it now rings a bit hollow.

Our taxes pay these people’s salaries. The least they can do is to let us know what is going on. At a minimum, they can at least let the other committeemen know what they are up to.

Gerard Ward

Democratic Municipal Leader

Manalapan