Letters
Distribution of events tickets needs work

As one of the nearly 100 people who were unable to obtain seats in the Brick Township High School auditorium for the April 13 performance of Bobby Byrne, I am writing to protest your [Brick Township’s] policy of distributing more tickets than there are seats in the hall. I contacted your special events coordinator as soon as this show was announced, and when the tickets arrived, I believed my wife and I were assured of seating.

How wrong I was. We had not even left the far reaches of the parking lot before we were met by about a dozen disgruntled ticket holders telling us that all seats were taken and dozens of people were standing in the aisles.

If the township plans to sponsor similar events in the future, it may be wise to follow the example set by the former New Jersey Highway Authority in planning free concerts for the seniors and disabled at the PNC Arts Center. Tickets are limited to the number of seats, and only ticket holders are admitted until 15 minutes before the show time. Then the gates are opened to anyone who wishes to attend.

In the meantime the person responsible for your policy should be reassigned to a position more suitable for a person with his or her limited intellectual capacity.

George W. Brown

Brick

Resident thanks Scarpelli for contributions

(Open letter to Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli)

As a resident of Brick Township, I would just like to thank you for all you have done to make my town the best in Ocean County.

Thanks to you, I have Summerfest. I am able to sit on the beach on a Thursday night and listen to live music and see a fantastic fireworks display.

Thanks to you, and your efforts to seek alternatives to nuclear power, I know that I can look forward to living on a cleaner, healthier planet.

Thanks to you, I know that my town has more open space than most cities in the country. My future kids and grandkids thank you for that also.

Thanks to you, I have access to world-class musical and dramatic performances at the Cultural Arts Center and Civic Center.

Thanks to you, the children of Brick Township were given the opportunity to learn and create through recreational and artistic programs.

Thanks to you, and the dedicated police force that you helped build, my town is one of the safest in the United States.

Thanks to you, and your work with the environment, I can sleep well at night knowing that the morning holds another breath of fresh air.

Thanks to you, your television show keeps me informed about what’s happening in Brick Township. I’m never left in the dark.

After everything you have done for my town, it breaks my heart to see you leave. Brick loves you Joe. No amount of petty mudslinging or character attacks can change that. You are the soul of Brick Township, and it will truly be a sad day when you leave.

While my wish would be for you to reconsider running in November, I know that you deserve better. I wish you the best of luck in retirement. Enjoy yourself. I hope that life is as good to you as you were to Brick.

So, with one final and eternal thanks, I say farewell to my mayor, my friend, Joe Scarpelli. God bless you.

Keith Leonard

Brick

Emma Havens Young PTA thanks community for donations

The Emma Havens Young School PTA recently hosted a Family Dinner Night fund-raiser March 10. This night was a huge success and raised over $2,000.00 due largely to Carrabbas Italian Grill of Brick. They donated and served their delicious food with precision and grace to over 325 adults and children. We received so many compliments from those who attended. The children can be quoted as saying, “The food was yummy!” We think this speaks for us all.

We had many other contributors who helped make our night a successful, fun and profitable one. Joe Cimino Photography made family photos fun for all. Music by Michael of Sound Environments Inc. gave us fabulous tunes. Mr. Alan, The Original Florist, along with the Rag Shop of Brick, gave us beautiful centerpieces for our tables. Target of Brick, along with Modell’s of Lakewood, donated children’s prizes. Rayge Candy Co. of Brick, along with 7-Eleven of Chambers Bridge Road and Mantoloking Road, Brick, donated candy prizes for the children.

The service to the community and the generosity of these businesses are outstanding. They helped make our Family Dinner Night a fun and memorable one for all who attended. On behalf of the Emma Havens Young School PTA, we thank Carrabbas Italian Grill and all of the contributors; we could not have done this without you.

Karen Sullivan

Family Dinner Night coordinator

Tracy Rankel

President

Emma Havens Young

School PTA

Resident upset with councilman’s comments on education

I am appalled at the response of one of our elected officials to the funding of special needs children. Upon learning that the federal government mandates certain protocols for special needs children, yet does not necessarily fund those protocols, Brick Councilman Michael Thulen thinks he has the answer to the problem. Councilman Thulen would have the school district pick 50 special needs children and choose not to educate them!

Mr. Thulen actually thinks this would prove a point on funding to the federal government. What stupidity. What arrogance. I suppose Mr. Thulen would like to walk through the Primary Learning Center or the Educational Enrichment Center and hand pick the students we should not educate, much like the slave owner who chose which slave to whip or Saddam Hussein who chose which political enemies to torture.

Mr. Thulen, children are not pawns to be used against the government. A good education costs money. Granted the state and federal governments have cut funding, leaving the onus on the local tax levy, but you, as an elected official, should be lobbying the state and federal governments for more money. But to use children — special or typical — as a bargaining chip is reprehensible.

Thank God for people like our superintendent, Dr. Thomas Seidenberger, and our central administration, people of intelligence and compassion.

John Bendokas

Brick