Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus…
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And for those non-believers and skeptics out there, I have proof that he is alive and well living right in our midst. Here readers, is how I know:##M:[more]##
The other night I went out shopping to Bed Bath and Beyond to purchase items for a gift basket I was putting together for an ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) charity event. I had put three gift cards totaling $150 in a small bag along with my extra 20 percent off coupons. I was so happy that I found all the items I wanted to include in this “Relaxation” themed basket. Alas, when I went to check out I couldn’t find my bag with the gift cards, so I left the items in the store and ran to my car to get the bag. To my dismay, it wasn’t there. I begrudgingly went back into the store set on the task of scouring the store to find where I might have dropped the bag. To say I was upset is an understatement.
Just then my cell phone rang and it was my husband asking me if I was still out shopping. I started on my tirade about how angry I was that I lost the gift cards and he told me to calm down, that they weren’t lost in the store, but in fact, were at home. I was so sure I had remembered to bring them with me, that I was quite confused.
He proceeded to tell me that just moments before calling me there had been a knock on the front door. When he answered the door, a man and a young boy about 7 or 8 years old were standing there. The man asked my husband if someone in the family had been shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond that evening. My husband told him that I had been shopping there and was probably still there.
This modern day Good Samaritan then handed my husband the small bag filled with the gift cards and coupons and said that I must have inadvertently left them in a shopping cart outside the store. He had looked inside the bag and saw that our address was on the coupons. My husband thanked him for going out of his way to drop the bag off and the man just shrugged it off, saying that it was on his way home anyway.
Now as my husband was telling me what happened over the phone, I was overcome with tears. One of the young girls working at the store came over to me to ask what was wrong and I shared the story with her. She remarked that you just don’t hear that kind of stuff in this world anymore. Sadly, I had to agree with her.
I drove home still misty-eyed and with such a warm feeling in my heart. Immediately upon seeing my husband I asked him what the man’s name was and where he lived, but my husband was so surprised and it happened so fast, that he had not even thought to get that information.
Well, I am writing this letter so that hopefully this fine man who performed this random act of kindness will read it and know how much he reaffirmed my convictions in the inherent goodness in mankind. With this economy as bad as it is, he could have easily used those gift cards for himself and thought of it as his lucky day. Instead, I was the lucky one, thanks to him. I also think that young boy was taught a powerful lesson about being a good person. What a role model that man was to this young boy (most likely his son)!
So readers, with a world that seems filled with negativity and cynicism may this story I share uplift you and fill you with the spirit of the holidays!
“But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, ‘Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!’” Thank you, fine sir, for keeping the magic alive in all of us!
Joanne DeGoria
Douglas Drive, Princeton Junction
. . . & Extra Parking
At the Junction Station
The West Windsor Parking Authority recognizes that many of its customers take time off around the holidays which frees up some additional parking. We also know that many people take day trips to New York this time of year. In an effort to help ease the holiday parking concerns at the train station, the WWPA will make a limited number of extra daily spaces available now until Friday, January 9. The cost for these spots is $4 per day.
To utilize one of these extra parking spots, the Vaughan Lot will have an attendant until 11:30 a.m. Travelers can drive to the Vaughan Lot and pay the attendant. After 11:30 a.m., travelers should stop by the WWPA offices (14 Washington Park, Building 6) and pay. They will be given a daily permit and instructions on where to park.
As a reminder, West Windsor residents can park for free in the Wallace Permit Lot (which is the lot on Wallace Road closer to the new bridge) on Saturdays and Sundays.
If you have any questions, please call 609-799-3130, E-mail us at info@westwinsorpa.com or visit our website www.westwindsorpa.com. Happy Holidays.
Andy Lupo, Chairman
West Windsor Parking Authority
Uncanny Holidays
This joyous occasion affects all of us in strange ways. The shapely tree in the lot appears skinny in our living room. We wish “so and so” would not send us a card — the current list is too long now. Traffic lights have an uncanny way of greeting us with a red beam. Kids manage to behave in a civilized manner, and strangers become friends.
Mom’s shopping instinct is sharpened and Pop’s pocketbook is riddled with holes. Yes, the budget is stretched to greet the new year with a deficit. Despite the tribulations, a sense of satisfaction is fathomed as we relax on Christmas Eve, awaiting the greatest day of the year — Christmas, our Savior’s birthday!
May your Christmas be merry, joyful, and peaceful.
Victor Opalski
Symphony in WW:
I would like to bring something wonderful to the attention of our community. There is a brand new symphony orchestra based in West Windsor! This orchestra is made up of graduates of the WW-P school district who are professional musicians and teachers and other local musicians.
The conductor Gail Lee, a West Windsor resident, should be recognized and congratulated on the amazing first performance of Sinfonietta Nova. Through her patient work she rehearsed and led the performance of two symphonies by Beethoven at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Her resolve in getting this orchestra off the ground and her skill as a conductor are to be praised.
The next concert will be held on Saturday, January 3, at 7 p.m. and will include many college students who are home for the winter break. Please mark your calendar to hear some beautiful live orchestral music by Sinfonietta Nova. Please contact Gail Lee, infoj@sinfoniettanova.org, for more information or if you are a musician interested in performing at the next concert. Rehearsals will be held the week leading up to the concert.
Suzanne Dicker
West Windsor
New Hillier Plan
Is Same Old Thing
In June 2007 the West Windsor Township Council rejected a draft redevelopment plan from Hillier, calling for 1,”000 housing units near the Princeton Junction station. The voters had apparently also rejected that concept in the spring of 2007. Recently, after many meetings and consultations, Hillier submitted a revised plan to the council. It looked much like the 2007 plan, except with fewer public amenities and more detailed zoning. It actually called for more than 1,”000 units. It seems Hillier and the consultants were not listening to the wishes of the residents.
Township planner John Madden suggested that the draft plan would create an area similar to Metropark. I don’t think that is what the majority of residents want. He also spoke of a need to have enough housing to ensure “vibrancy.” We have 28,”000 residents in West Windsor already. If that isn’t enough for vibrancy and the economic success of new retail, than I doubt that an additional 500 to 1,”000 housing units will do so.
The council revised this document and, in my view, improved many details. It recently voted for a draft calling for 350 housing units, and will apparently vote to accept that version sometime this month, unless the 3-2 split changes. One member advocated 660 units, another suggested more were needed for “viability.”
One of the major problems with the June, 2007, draft was the financial analysis, which contained numerous incorrect assumptions and unsupported conclusions. Correcting the obvious errors made it appear that redevelopment would be tax-negative but the analysis could not be relied upon. The council said when it rejected that draft that independent, reliable financial analysis would be done, overseen by the council. No analysis has been published.
Some say housing is needed to pay for a promenade, farmer’s market site, etc. Those would be nice, but are they worth the cost in lifestyle? A dense, urbanized development seems too high a price.
Approving plans without financial analysis is like buying cars without checking prices. Once a plan is approved, developers may claim rights. Without an analysis, we can’t know that the primary goal – tax-positive redevelopment – is being achieved. One council member advised letting developers provide/pay for financial analyses. Of course their analyses will be positive, or they wouldn’t submit plans. We need independent data. There’s no rush, funding for development probably isn’t available now. Let’s get this right before we adopt a plan.
David Siegel
West Windsor
Recalling David Crabiel
With the passing of David Crabiel, we have lost an outstanding and truly unique public official. As Middlesex County’s long-time Freeholder Director, his contributions to the county and its municipalities cannot be overstated.
While providing strong leadership in all areas of county government, his accomplishments in the areas of transportation and open space preservation, all while controlling county taxes are truly legendary.
On a personal note, Dave was a friend of mine and my community for over 30 yeras. He was a public official who was always accessible, direct and honest in his dealings, and was dedicated to the interests of the county and its municipalities.
Many of Plainsboro’s accomplishments in the area of land preservation, transportation, and others, could not have been accomplished without Dave’s support and the county’s participation. I’m sure that this is a story that is not unique to my community but could be repeated throughout Middlesex County. Dave will be missed both as a public officials and a friend.
Peter A. Cantu
Mayor, Plainsboro Township
Flu Demands Precaution,
Even for Kids 5 to 18
With nearly 250 million people now recommended to receive a yearly influenza vaccine, the American Lung Association warns that most people don’t realize they need to be vaccinated. Influenza immunization rates among adults and children fall short of public health goals every year despite government recommendations. On average, 36,”000 Americans die and 226,”000 are hospitalized yearly due to influenza.
Influenza is not the common cold. Many parents think if their child gets a runny nose or has a cough, they can recover from that, and many times, they can. But contracting influenza is much more serious than just a cold and it can sometimes be fatal for children. That’s why having your children vaccinated for the flu is critical.
Getting the shot before the flu season is in full force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to, or protection from, the virus. This year, health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are encouraging all school age children (5-18) to be vaccinated.
This 5 to 18-year-old age group is among the main transmitters of flu, so it is critically important that they are vaccinated in an effort to protect those in higher risk groups such as people with lung disease.
To make receiving the flu shot as convenient as possible, the `Flu Clinic Locator’ is available to the public via a website link of the American Lung Association’s at: www.flucliniclocator.org/. The Flu Clinic Locator is the largest online directory of public influenza vaccination clinic. It’s an easy-to-use online resource, enabling individuals to find the most convenient place to get their flu shot.
The locator includes more than 40,”000 clinic locations across the country, searchable by ZIP code. It also provides the option to set up an appointment e-mail reminder, along with the option to sign up for influenza-specific updates throughout the season.
The CDC recommends that several high-risk populations receive the flu shot annually. Those groups include:
Kids 6 months to 5 years old, pregnant women, any adult or child with a chronic medical condition, anyone who lives or works with children under age 5 – especially with babies under 6 months old, who can’t get the flu vaccine.
Deborah P. Brown
VP, Community Outreach and Advocacy,
American Lung Association
of the Mid-Atlantic
