Cheryl Leonard weighs in about the loss of a boat launch in Elsinboro Township.
To the Editor:
I read Robert Lanard's excellent letter, "Wrong to shut down Salem Co. boat ramp," and would like to echo my neighbor's sentiments.
I moved to Elsinboro Township 10 years ago and the biggest attraction for me was the Salem River and easy access to it from my home. It has been very convenient to simply pull my boat out of the garage, cross the road, launch it, and have a wonderful day of boating.
Now (because the ramp has been shut down in the wake of a court ruling on another neighbor's nuisance claim) this ability has been taken away.
It's not all about launching boats. People stop here to admire the river, bird watch or enjoy a sunset. I participate in the New Jersey Bald Eagle Project and use this location for my observations.
Now, ugly barriers and "no trespassing" signs adorn the ramp property. This is unsightly and, in my opinion, lowers the value of the homes here. Maybe the judge needs to come here and see what is being denied to the residents and other users.
It is incredible one that single individual who prevailed in court gets to be the voice of the community. Our local officials have been very supportive, but no one who lives here or uses the ramp was solicited for an opinion to support the ramp as a valuable asset for our township.
As a neighbor with the same exposure as the complainant, I have had no issues with the ramp or its users. My opinion is that he is the problem, not the ramp and its users.
Having this ramp closed on the July 4 weekend was a hardship for many, as they had to find another launching spot, and there was essentially no notice that this would happen. Some folks who came to launch their boats gave up and went home. That is indeed sad. Not a happy Independence Day.
Cheryl A. Leonard
Elsinboro Township
Pick your shots when defying authority
To the Editor:
Regarding the article "Group: Teach children their rights in wake of police call" in the June 7 Times:
A group calling itself Decarcerate the Garden State wants "personal rights awareness" added to required curricula in our schools as a result of incidents in Collingswood schools involving repeated 911 calls to police.
These people have been watching too much "South Park."
When I was in the 5th grade, Jimmy Mitchell and I had to report to Miss Haupt, our principal, for playing marbles for keeps. You could play for fun, but not for keeps.
Haupt was a square, stern woman who wore floor-length dresses, never smiled,and could twist ears and whack knuckles with the best of them. She had voice control that would have been the envy of any Nazi SS officer.
"Come in. You will be seated" she said, without looking up from what she was writing. When she was finished, she folded her hands, looked at Jimmy and asked, "Why are you here?"
Jimmy started explaining that we weren't really playing for keeps when the principal said, "Not another word!"
She then looked at me and asked, "Why are you here?"
We were playing marbles for keeps," I said.
"Playing marbles for keeps leads straight to jail!," she said.
I started to cry. I thought we were going to jail. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had said I had the right to remain silent and wanted to call my lawyer. It wouldn't have been pretty.
Harry Walker
Pitman
Sweeny school aid plan fairest of them all
To the Editor:
Once again we are witnessing just how different the Democrats and Republicans really are.
On one hand, you have Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who has proposed a school state aid plan that devastates low-income districts and their students (because it calls for districts, whether wealthy, middl-class or poor, to receive the exactly the same amount of per-student funding.)
On the other hand, you have Democrat state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who has offered a plan to fix current inequities (by funding the existing 2008 formula at 100 percent of intended levels.) His plan is fair to every student in every district.
Unlike Christie, Sweeney actually spends his time in New Jersey and recognizes the challenges facing our poor and middle-class residents.
The divide between rich and poor is getting wider, and to impose that divide upon children's education is disgraceful.
Children should not lose the opportunity to reach their full potential because they weren't born wealthy. Sweeney's plan levels the playing field and provides fairness for everyone.
Harry W. Elton Jr.
Woodbury Heights
Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com