Letters

New Jersey always in need of blood donors

Our state’s need for all blood types is becoming critical. While the New Jersey media often have stories about the need to donate blood, sadly too few of our region’s residents are blood donors. While the vast majority of New Jersey residents are generally in good health and eligible to donate blood, only a precious few choose to donate. As a result, each year New Jersey blood services must “import” thousands of units of blood from neighboring states to meet our hospitals’ and patients’ needs.

If a member of New Jersey family needs a blood transfusion, the family just expects the blood to be available. Yet that expectation can only be met if our region has an ample and stable blood supply. For our state to have all blood types available, more New Jersey family members need to become regular blood donors.

Presently, there are no substitutes for human blood. Blood products hospitals continually need include red blood cells, platelets and plasma. These products generally have short shelf life and inventories constantly need to be replenished. A healthy blood donor between the ages of 17 and 75 can donate every 56 days or about five to six times a years.

Educating the general public about the need to donate blood is a never-ending task. For more information about donating blood, scheduling oneself to donate blood, or arranging for a group blood drive, go to www.nybloodcenter.org or call 1-800-933-2566. Please donate blood today — a family member just may need it tomorrow.

Maggie O’Shea

executive director

New Jersey Blood Services

New Brunswick

9/11 photos enough to ‘bring the war home’

I have just read the article describing Grace Graupe-Pillard’s “frightening reminder of the human cost of war.” Ms. Graupe-Pillard could have saved herself a lot of time by just looking at the photos of the two planes crashing into the twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001. To quote Ms. Graupe-Pillard, “I want to bring the war home.” Well, the photos of Sept. 11 certainly do bring the war home.

Kathleen Kenny

Middletown

Hazlet residents should attend meeting, voice opinions on town hall project

The concept is easy — the hard part is getting Hazlet’s Township Council to open their ears and minds to the voice of the people. During the past five weeks I have spent more hours than I care to count collecting signatures of people who agree with me in that constructing Hazlet’s new municipal complex in Veterans Park is an unacceptable answer to our town’s need for a town hall. So far I have collected — with the help of a few other concerned citizens — more than 1,000 signatures.

Two main questions are voiced with almost every signature: 1) Why in the park? 2) Why $5.5 million? So on the night of the June 9 council meeting, I posed these two questions to our mayor and the other council members. Their answers — they had none. However, there were several points that were heard loud and clear by the 40-50 people that attended that night’s meeting. Mayor Michael Sachs stated, “I don’t care how many signatures you get, we are going to build the town hall in the park.” When asked why this issue wasn’t place on the November ballot he replied he didn’t want to “fool around” with the issue any longer and that he “knows what the best thing” is for Hazlet.

He went on to state, “I am pulling the trigger on this building.” As the night wore on other residents with the desire to speak out against the proposed site were bullied by the mayor into not speaking by his bellowing in an ominous tone something to the effect of “If you are just going to come up here to speak against building in the park, don’t bother, just sign Joe’s petition.”

Correct me if I am wrong, but it was “we the people” who elected him and it’s the will of “we the people” whom he is to represent. We should never be treated as if our opinions don’t count.

Personally, I have asked dozens of questions pertaining to the location. Was there a traffic study? What are the impacts on the surrounding Green Acre property? Where will our children be dropped off for summer day camp? I have yet to receive a straight answer. Consideration should have been given to these questions and so many more prior to committing to a location. None has.

Perhaps to some, what I have written here may seem like I am someone with an ax to grind or I have some political agenda. The truth is I am just an average resident, one of many, who has grown tired of the less than truthful behavior by our elected officials. My only agenda is to set a good example for my children, and in my mind that means I need to speak out and try to save our park from a man who is “pulling the trigger” on our park, shooting, wilding, hurting all those around him, but never truly hitting his mark.

So it is with the greatest urgency I implore all the concerned residents of Hazlet to attend the upcoming Town Council meeting June 28 at 8 p.m. in the municipal courtroom on Middle Road. Come to get involved, come to simply observe, voice your opinion, listen to the opinion of your neighbors, but please come. For or against this effort, Hazlet is your town and Veterans Park is your park.

Joe Marques

Hazlet

Thanks to those who made ‘Project Prom’ a success

I would like to take this opportunity to thanks to Joan Minnuies for the wonderful job she did in organizing and running “Project Prom” for the seniors of Middletown High School North. This is an all-night party which is held for the seniors following their prom.

Four bus loads of students were taken to Woodbridge Recreation Center, where they participated in swimming, ice skating and in-line skating. They were entertained by Improv and had plenty to eat. At no cost to our seniors, this party was paid for through student fundraisers and the generosity of the community.

Special thanks go to the many community sponsors. Due to your generosity, each student took home a prize, ranging from beach chairs to gift certificates to DVD players. Special thanks also go to the administrators and parents who chaperoned. My daughter and her friends had a great time. It is wonderful to live in a community where so many work hard to make sure our children have a safe, fun-filled experience. Thanks to Mrs. Minnuies and to all who had a part in making this such a special night.

Barbara Whyte

Middletown