Letters
North Brunswick mayor should get to know taxpayers

I’m 86 years old, I moved from New Brunswick to North Brunswick Knolls, I bought a lot and house, and moved in in 1958. Let me set my values first — 15 men in the Knolls area formed North Brunswick Engine Fire Company No. 3 and for 47 years, I gave community service as a volunteer. I gave 47 years to the school system — my two children went to St. Peter’s School system.

Now we voted and the budget was defeated. They restored some for air conditioning. I graduated from the New Brunswick School in 1936. We had three shifts — 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. We had 40 to a class. We opened windows for air.

Coming from a family of 12, six boys and six girls, and my poor father working Mack Motors so we all had to go to work to support our family. I got in the union as a plumber and steamfitter. I made good money. I’ll debate the mayor, his record and mine. In 1958, I was the first company chief and served in a branch of the fire department and am still active. The hours and days I gave — I can’t count that high. I put the plumbing and heating in the Company No. 3 firehouse with my own material and labor. Count all the hours I gave the township free.

I’m a World War II veteran, U.S. Navy, and received the Distinguished Medal of Honor for Combat in the South Pacific against the Japanese, and various other medals. I am on a union pension $720, and Social Security $1,040. I had to go out at 62 and had four-part bypass surgery.

Mr. Mayor, I’ll put my record up to yours. Knolls has more “For sale” signs — you restored money to what we cut. A few years ago teachers got an 8 percent raise. I got a Social Security raise of 2 percent. John Secatur, now deceased, got all the illegals out of our school system.

I think of 47 years of service to North Brunswick and the school system and always paid my taxes ahead of time. The mayor can’t stand up to my hours I gave free for 47 years.

I would like to see a plaque on the wall at the township building, putting the names of the veterans living in North Brunswick and what service they were in, Navy, Army, etc. That’s the least the mayor can do; the mayor doesn’t care about we veterans.

Maybe before I die, I’ll see a plaque. Mayor, do a walk around in the neighborhood to know your taxpayers.

Joseph J. Brill Sr.

North Brunswick

Restaurant a good sign for local economy

The opening party for the new Bandito’s Margarita Factory in the South Brunswick Mall was great. It is good to see the former Ground Round bustling again with business.

The restaurant is needed, as is the future Home Depot, to make that struggling shopping plaza vibrant again. The Stop & Shop, which opened last year, is also helping the businesses there thrive.

This is a very good thing for our township. New businesses will help the local economy and hopefully help ease the tax burden on residents.

This year, we saw a lower than anticipated ratable base drive the school tax rate up some 16 cents per $100 of assessed value. Hopefully, more business may lighten that load as we move forward.

There is also the fact that the partners in the new restaurant venture are very invested in the township. One of the partners even served as Planning Board chairman. I wish the new business great success.

The festivities for the grand opening on Monday are a reminder of South Brunswick’s sense of community.

The one disappointment, however, was the lack of elected officials. Council members were invited to the event, and should have attended. A new venture like this deserves their support.

It is a shame that no one from the governing body took a few minutes to wish these home-grown businessmen well.

Charles Kim

Monmouth Junction section

of South Brunswick

Friends extend thanks to supporters of ‘Eat Out’

I want to express a special thanks to the group of North Brunswick residents who chose to “Eat Out” at one of seven restaurants in our town as part of a fund-raiser to benefit the work of the Friends of the North Brunswick Library in February. For two weeks, waiters at The Omega Diner, La Bella Donna, Pizza Hut, Longwood Steakhouse, Mei Lei, Tanjore and Yummy welcomed diners with coupons and at the end of the month their managers tabulated the percentage to be donated.

The monies raised will be used to underwrite summer programs for our children and to purchase essential equipment at the library. In general, we are delighted with the results of the program as it showed a willingness of our residents and these businesses to support the Friends. In particular, we want to acknowledge the proprietors of La Bella Donna and Pizza Hut whose contributions went above and beyond their initial agreement.

The Friends are grateful to each and every one that satisfied their hunger at these restaurants so we could satisfy another. We appreciate the ability of this particular group of merchants to honor our objectives and to help us to achieve them.

Stay in touch. We plan on conducting an “Eat Out” program next year and it would be so nice to see more of your readers next year.

Marcy Feldheim

president, Friends of the

North Brunswick Library

Resident asks that shuttle bus service be expanded

I am the mother of an 8-month-old. Recently, after learning of “ABC Sign With Me,” a program for infants, I wanted to participate in it. My problem is I do not drive as of yet.

So I called the South Brunswick Library to know more of the shuttle service to the library. It was disappointing to me that the bus driver turned down my request for a drop to the library, saying it “was just for seniors” — even though I was willing to be at the bus stop anyway.

Can we relook at this service? Maybe we can offer it to other groups on second priority — i.e., if the bus is not full, then they can accommodate other residents from the town.

I am sorry I missed a workshop for my son for this reason.

Poonam Abbi

North Brunswick