Letters

You may have heard that the Freehold Regional High School District has revised some attendance areas for the next school year in order to balance school enrollments and eliminate overcrowding.

Unfortunately, we are feeling the effects of the spiraling development that occurred over the past decade. We have almost 12,000 students and all of our high schools are nearing functional capacity (defined as 85 percent).

If the Board of Education made no changes to the current boundaries, Colts Neck and Freehold Township high schools would be over capacity next year.

Our options are limited. We can propose to build a new high school now or we can tweak existing attendance lines. Due to the current economy, I cannot in good conscience ask our taxpayers to support the construction of a new high school until it becomes absolutely essential.

With respect to public opinion, the board and I would prefer to tighten our belts and use existing building space until overall district enrollment dictates absolute need.

In order to alleviate overcapacity at the Colts Neck and Freehold Township high schools, the board approved attendance line adjustments to move the four incoming ninth-graders from Farmingdale to Howell High School and about 120 incoming Howell ninth-graders from Colts Neck High School to Howell High School.

Additionally, the adjusted plan calls for all incoming Englishtown ninth-graders and about 80 incoming Manalapan ninth-graders to move from Freehold Township High School to Manalapan High School.

It is important to note that no students currently enrolled in high school will be moved to another school.

Boundary changes will only impact incoming ninth grade students. Also, a large number of incoming students are eligible for a sibling waiver which allows them to remain in the same school as an older sibling.

The adjusted attendance plan was based on the projections of a thorough demographic study compiled by an experienced demographer consultant, and the current enrollments at our six high schools.

Howell High School currently has the largest number of unused student seats in the district; double those at other schools.

Also considered was the often heard request of Howell residents to limit the spread of Howell students to two schools; a board practice applied to all other regional municipalities. The board empathized with community requests, made since the last attendance boundary changes, regarding the impact of splitting its students between three schools.

Will the changes last for 10 years or even five years? No. Unfortunately, as our enrollments continue to creep upward, we will be seeing more adjustments to attendance boundaries in the future. We feel confident, however, that there will not be another boundary adjustment until 2009.

All six of our high schools offer an outstanding educational experience. The FRHSD is recognized throughout the state for its exemplary academic and extra-curricular programs. We have an outstanding staff who works diligently to meet all expectations and continue to raise the bar of academic excellence for all students.

I thank you for your understanding and continued support of our students and educational programs.

James Wasser

superintendent of schools

Freehold Regional

High School District

Englishtown

Samaritan Center appreciates donations

In this season of Thanks-giving, Samaritan Center would like to thank all the wonderful people who donated food, gift baskets, turkeys and baked goods, and made financial contributions to our ministry. We could not help those in need without all of you. Thank you and God bless.

Carol Puorro

director

Samaritan Center

Englishtown

It’s time for New Jersey Legislature to pass Smoke-Free Air Act

That sound we all hear is the collective coughing and wheezing of New Jersey waiting for the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act to be passed.

The American Heart Assoc-iation and New Jersey Breathes, a statewide New Jersey tobacco control coalition comprised of more than 45 leading state, health, nonprofit and civic organizations, have urged the New Jersey Legislature to pass a statewide policy effectively banning smoking in public places for too many years.

During that time, as we’ve waited nearly 11 years for smoke-free air legislation to be passed, close to 19,000 New Jersey citizens have died due to the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), also commonly referred to as secondhand smoke.

How many more of our neighbors, friends or family members need to die? Enough is enough.

As a New Jersey cardiologist, husband, father and American Heart Association board member, I urge New Jersey to finally pass the Smoke-Free Air Act replicating the smoke-free in-door air legislation already enacted by our neighbors in New York, Delaware, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, Massa-chusetts and Vermont – legislation protecting all workers, including those in restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, casinos, bingo halls, nightclubs and other businesses, from the health dangers of secondhand smoke.

Being in a smoke-filled room is worse than smoking a cigarette. The smoke from the tip of a cigarette is 20 times more dangerous than what a smoker inhales.

Even 30 minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke reduces blood circulation and increases your risk for a heart attack.

As a physician, I see firsthand the devastating effects of secondhand smoke. No one should have to risk his or her health or life to hold a job. All New Jersey employees deserve a healthy, smoke-free work environment.

New Jersey has waited long enough. It’s time. Our family members, friends and neighbors should not have to risk their health or lives simply to earn a living.

The American Heart Assoc-iation joins with New Jersey Breathes to urge passage of the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act. Now is the time.

Dr. Charles Dennis

New Jersey cardiologist

board member

American Heart Association

founding president

American Heart Association

Heritage Affiliate

Writer supports Narozanick for freeholder director

We have just come through a horrible election campaign in which every member of the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, like it or not, justified or not, was tainted by their accidental association with several corrupt political cronies. It is imperative that the freeholders go about mending the very unappealing image that may have been ingrained in the minds of the press and all too many of our fellow residents.

On Reorganization Day 2006 I believe the freeholders can take a giant leap in the right direction by appointing as the director of the board the one and only man who can restore the confidence of the public in their county government. That man is Ted Narozanick.

After heroic service to his country in World War II, Ted served Monmouth County for more than 40 years with honor and distinction. Never in his long and illustrious career has his name been blemished with even the slightest tinge of improper behavior.

As the one truly full-time freeholder, he has always tried his best to assist everyone who came to him for help, even though many times the matter had nothing to do with county government.

When the previous director became ill, and others faltered, Ted stepped in as deputy director and brought leadership, integrity and direction to the board.

Ted treats everyone with the utmost kindness and respect.

Next year, 2006, will be Freeholder Narozanick’s last year on the board. What a fitting way to end a brilliant lifetime of public service.

I urge the other four freeholders to do the right thing: select Freeholder Ted Narozanick to be director of the board for the year 2006.

Romeo Cascaes

Freehold Township

Officials and residents need to stand up to lawsuits

The News Transcript reported that several people are suing Marlboro and its mayor and Township Council members over the rezoning of their property. I encourage Mayor Robert Kleinberg and the council members to have the courage to stand up to these lawsuits and protect us from the massive development which the lawsuits clearly envision. I also encourage township residents to raise their voices and support our elected officials who are trying to save what is left of our open space.

The article reported that 232 acres of undeveloped land are at stake. At least one of the plaintiffs says they want to build low- and middle-income housing on their property. Simple math shows that we could be talking about more than 1,000 new homes if the owners get their wish.

In previous years, and with previous administrations, the mere mention of a lawsuit made the government officials roll over and die, giving developers whatever they wanted. I hope the present administration will have the strength to work for all the township residents, not just for a few landowners.

The article also said that courts have ruled against townships where most of the land has been developed, saying it is unfair to “discriminate” against those whose land remains undeveloped. Surely our officials can argue that past criminal acts by our elected officials in collusion with developers should not doom our township to losing every square inch of open space. Can anyone truly believe that, since we have so little open space left, we should build on and pave over the 232 acres that remain?

Marlboro residents, it is time to speak up. Defending against lawsuits will cost the township money, but the cost of giving in is much, much higher, and we cannot afford it.

Rabbi Donald A. Weber

Marlboro

Writer commends recent editorial on Freehold politics

By far, the recent editorial concerning the past Borough Council meeting in Freehold Borough (“There’s Room to Grow on Both Sides in Town,” News Transcript, Nov. 16) is a tremendous piece of work and a tribute to the author. To the point, absolutely concise, right on the money. Thank you.

I have infrequently been inspired to recognize publicly such a well-written editorial, which speaks volumes for those of us who feel that entitlement is not the prominent attitude which should prevail; hard work is.

Only when you have demonstrated a relentless desire to participate in the political machine, at any level, should there be a platform for you to be recognized as a legitimate candidate for government service. Although I do not always agree with the politics of our mayor and council, it is clear to me that they are involved.

The piece was detailed and factual, accurately providing information and observations rather than overly critical of any actions or lack thereof. I applaud this objective and informative effort by the author.

It would be a pleasure to observe results of hard campaigning individuals, challenging themselves to gain the inroads of recognition and representation [and] deserving such, not by simply having it handed to them, but by doing the work which may gain them the respect which they seem to be seeking throughout this fine, although recognizably diverse community.

John J. Filipek

Freehold