Letters

I still can’t figure out why some people are against The Village at Manalapan planned for Route 33. I have lived in southern Manalapan for 27 years and have been hoping for a project just as this.

The Village at Manalapan is something this town sorely needs. There is really no local place for people to go, other than to spend their days in strip malls on Route 9.

People are spending a lot of money to live in Manalapan. I think we all need to have a place to go that has a small-town character and gives us the ability to shop locally.

I think such a project is a financial benefit for Manalapan. Besides the revenue the town would get in property taxes and for road improvements, I think that people would be willing to pay a premium to live near that village. That means higher home values.

I urge people to learn more about this project as I have done and to consider the many benefits it can create for Manalapan.

Mary Richman

Manalapan

June 6 discussion at county library will focus on eating disorders

Eating disorders are characterized by disturbing eating behaviors and are generally accompanied by a preoccupation with food and body image or shape. One of the most common eating disorders is anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is an emotional “weight loss” disorder characterized by physical, social and psychological symptoms. Weight loss is achieved by a variety of obsessive behaviors.

Most individuals with this disorder strongly deny it. A feeling of control is gained by severely restricting the amount of food eaten, and the ability to do without food is viewed as success in attempting to cope with life’s stresses.

Bulimia is an emotional “weight control” disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by some form of purging or restriction. Binges are the secretive periods of rapid consumption of high-caloric food over a discrete period of time.

Most bulimics follow bingeing with self-induced vomiting. However, the purging may take the form of laxative, emetic or diuretic abuse, excessive exercising or fasting.

The binge-purge cycle is normally accompanied by self-deprecating thought, depression and an awareness that the eating disorder is abnormal and out of control. Because most bulimics are within a normal weight range, the illness may go undetected by others for years.

Binge eating is a disorder characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating. Most binge eaters are obese and have a history of weight fluctuations. Co-occurring psychiatric illness is also common, especially depression. Binge eating disorders involve compulsive, uncontrolled eating and bingeing.

Every eating disorder can result in death; therefore, it should not be taken lightly.

If you know or even suspect that a relative or friend has an eating disorder, you can help them overcome it. For a better understanding of the different types of eating disorders and how harmful they can be, I will be discussing what to look for and how you can help someone with an eating disorder.

The discussion will take place on June 6 from 6-7:15 p.m. at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Symmes Drive, Manalapan. Please call the Alliance at (732) 446-1417 to reserve a seat.

Lisa Harmon

Coordinator

Manalapan-Englishtown

Alliance for the Prevention

of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Manalapan

Best spot for project is in developer’s neighborhood

I am a resident of Freehold Township who lives approximately 5 miles from the site of the proposed Village at Manalapan. In Richard Brunelli’s letter to the News Transcript that was published on May 4, he states, “The Village will be a true benefit to Manalapan.” Mr. Brunelli makes it seem as if The Village will enrich the lives of the people of Manalapan. I’m wondering how.

I don’t think Mr Brunelli cares about the people of Manalapan. All he cares about is building his mega shopping center and making lots of money. If Mr. Brunelli truly cares about the people of Manalapan, why not let them vote on whether or not The Village should be built?

Mr. Brunelli also talks about a much needed grocery store. Less than 5 miles away there are three large supermarkets and one currently under construction. There is a ShopRite, a Foodtown and an Acme. Acme is brand new. It just had its grand opening a couple of months ago. There is also a Wal-Mart currently being built on Route 537, across from the Freehold Raceway Mall. How many more supermarkets do we need?

I see The Village as one thing: a mega shopping center that will bring so many more people into the area. This will result in an increase in air pollution and congestion on the roads. Let’s not forget what needs to be done to build The Village. Plants, trees and animals will be destroyed.

In reality, how much more shopping do we need? We have the Freehold Raceway Mall and hundreds of stores on Route 9. If the developers could have their way, they would turn Route 33 into another Route 9. Building The Village is taking one giant step in that direction. If Mr. Brunelli thinks The Village is such a wonderful idea, maybe he should build The Village in his neighborhood.

Karen Browne-Psaltis

Freehold Township

Writer asks for public’s support of wildlife rehabilitators

New Jersey’s wildlife is in big trouble. Until recently, many volunteers cared for distressed and disabled wildlife. Townships, veterinarians and homeowners had relied on wildlife rehabilitators to deal with animals that typically a taxpayer-paid-for official would be called upon to remove.

Wildlife rehabilitators numbered over 100 to cover the entire state. Due to recently implemented and ambiguous controls set by the State Division of Fish and Wildlife (F&W), there are only an estimated 30 rehabbers left. Wildlife rehabilitators provide at no cost to taxpayers a service/humane alternative for residents concerned with an animal on their property.

As a wildlife rehabilitator, I answer your calls, rescue injured animals, treat and release into safe habitats all recovered “creatures great and small.” I receive no monetary subsidies from the state and charge nothing to the public. I ask only that you help me help animals. Since abandoned young animals are prevalent during the spring, I now receive and cannot handle the 30 to 100 calls per week that come in for help with injured and/or suffering animals. The newly initiated F&W process for licensing rehabbers has drastically eliminated those who were able and qualified to help me.

Please help me to help New Jersey’s wildlife. State Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-Monmouth and Mercer) and state Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone (D-Hudson County) are sponsoring legislation that would standardize and simplify the method to be licensed as a wildlife rehabilitator. Petitions are being circulated and calls are being made to elected officials to move these stalled bills out of committees in order to secure affirmative votes from the Senate and Assembly.

Please contact your state, county and municipal elected officials. Please tell them that you want them to support and endorse legislation to preserve New Jersey wildlife rehabilitators. Rehabilita-tors need your help in order to keep on helping you.

Melissa Jacobs

N.J. state licensed

wildlife rehabilitator

Neptune City

School budget vote proves residents know it is a sham

In the May 4 edition of the News Transcript, James Wasser, super-intendent of schools for the Freehold Regional High School District, wrote: “The passing of the Freehold Regional High School District budget reflects a continuing support and approval for the direction of our educational programs.”

It reflects no such thing! If the minuscule percentage of our eligible voters that showed up to vote represents to him support and approval, then he is living in Neverland.

That so few actually showed up to vote points up the fact that the voters have come to realize that there is no point in voting because the process has been exposed as a sham.

The budget vote is simply a nonbinding referendum and the voters have finally come to realize it.

As was reported in the Asbury Park Press recently, “here in the Soviet Social-ist Republic of New Jersey, the people’s vote means nothing. If the budget is defeated, the municipal government can reinstate it. If the local government accepts the people’s will, the state government can overrule both.”

And if the government does accept the people’s will, they can simply amend the budget by a small amount, leaving the bulk of the monies still to be collected.

It would be more productive and financially prudent to put an end to this farce and instead put the money expended for polling locations and propaganda newsletters back into the school budgets, thus saving the taxpayer from having to finance this unnecessary and useless expense.

Joel Drobes

Freehold