Letters To The Editor

Making a Difference in RB
To The Editor:
It is so heartwarming to hear of a local celebrity giving back to his community. I’m writing about Jon and Dorothea Bon Jovi’s Soul Kitchen. I had heard about it previously on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, on his segment, “Making a Difference.”
Hats off to the Bon Jovis – I think this new venture is wonderful and much needed in the Borough of Red Bank. I look forward to visiting Soul Kitchen when I return to visit my home town of Red Bank.

Maggie Ring Bacigalupo
Hyannis, Ma.

My Half Pint Hero
 
To The Editor:

My son Cameron Taylor is a ten (10) year old student in the 5^th grade attending Saint James School in Red Bank. Cameron has aspirations of becoming a meteorologist and vigorously tracked Hurricane Irene warning his family along the Eastern Coast Line to be alert and to stay safe.
Even at Cameron’s young age, he is a big hearted and affectionate child. He always thinks how he can help others in need. When Hurricane Irene hit New Jersey, it devastated many areas, one of these areas that suffered from Irene was Paterson, NJ. Cameron saw that Irene’s destruction was huge and he sought responsibility to take a step in helping ease the pain of many people affected.
On Saturday September 3, 2011, he sat down and wrote several letters requesting donations of food to help the victims of the mass flooding in Paterson. Without permission, he set out on his scooter armed with his letters and a plastic bag collecting canned foods so he can give them to a Charity Group in Paterson. Cameron returned about a half an hour later with a bag full of canned food. He was reprimanded and reminded about his own personal safety. After thinking of his good deed, I commended him with a big hug. Cameron then said he also wanted to bake cookies and sell lemonade to raise money to buy food to help. He was able to deliver his canned food he collected.
Cameron has such an awareness to help and is very creative in finding different ways to engage with the general public in his mission including seeking kids to volunteer in his dynamic charity campaign to help the community.
As his father, I am so proud of my son, because he commits a lot of his time helping those who are in need. At such a young age, Cameron knows the value of charity work and its effect on others. He has the courage to actually do something to help in a major way.

Lieutenant Eric Taylor
Hudson County Corrections Department

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
To The Editor:
Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky has been accused of indecent assault on a 15-year-old boy over a four year period, along with several other counts of sex crimes. According to statements in the indictment, an assistant coach witnessed one these events and internal staff reports escalated into what can only be described as appalling, head-in-the-sand decisions at the University that allowed the crimes to continue.
Unfortunately, this case of child sexual abuse underscores the failure of our society and its leaders to confront this horrific crime and take strong steps to prevent any child from being a victim in the future. Protecting our children from harm is an adult responsibility, and perhaps the single most important job – not just for parents but for all adults in our society. In this case, many adults at Penn State failed horribly in that most fundamental responsibility. Tragically, their fear and inability to act resulted in more children being abused.
Child sexual abuse can be prevented – by educating parents and other adults in the community about the true facts and giving them the tools they need to protect our children. At Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, we are working in partnership with leaders from every part of the State to develop stronger strategies to prevent child sexual abuse before it ever happens. We are working with broad coalitions from three New Jersey communities to spread the word about effective prevention policies and practices and engage as many citizens as possible in the cause of prevention. We have seen ENOUGH ABUSE and it is time we take the steps NOW to stop it.
Find out what you can do to prevent child sexual abuse by contacting us at 1-800-CHILDREN, or visit us online at www.preventchildabusenj.org.

New Brunswick

Honoring RB Veterans

To The Editor:

On November 11, 2011 at 11:00 am. The Borough of Red Bank in conjunction with the Red Bank Elks Lodge #233 will host a Veterans Day Ceremony located at 51 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ. Councilwoman Juanita Lewis, liaison to the Parks and Recreation Committee invites Red Bank residents to attend and often speaks of the importance of honoring our military.  “Because of their bravery and selfless sacrifices, we are free.   I take my hat off and give honor to soldiers and veterans every chance I get.” This year’s speakers will be Master Gunnery Sergeant James Batty of the 6^th Motor Transport Battalion of Red Bank and Gulf War Veteran, Mason Smoot, currently Vice President & General Manager of McDonalds Corporation, New York Metro Region. A public reception will be held immediately following the services at The Elks Lodge, 40 W. Front Street. For more information please contact, Memone Paden Crystian, Director, Red Bank Parks and Recreation at 732 530 2782 or at recreation@redbanknj.org.

Memone P. Crystian
Director
Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Borough of Red Bank

Turkey Talk 2011
To The Editor:
The holiday season this year will see a continuation of an unsettled economy fraught with job loss and a higher cost of living.  Many families who never before needed to ask for help, are now accessing food pantries in their neighborhoods.  Last year, the FoodBank distributed over 10,000 turkeys which showed an increase of 4.5 percent.  This year, over 11,000 turkeys have been requested, to date.  In order to meet this increasing need for food, the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties is encouraging the community-at-large to sponsor and support local food drives, donate turkeys or food items at area drop-off sites, or make monetary donations by mail or on www.foodbankmoc.org.
Thanks to so many area businesses, there are numerous drop-offs in the area: Non-perishable food can be dropped in Eatontown at Circle BMW on Route 36 and Pine Belt Chevrolet on Route 36; in Holmdel at Wine Sellers on Highway 35; in West Long Branch at Schneider+Nelson Audi and Schneider+Nelson Porche on Highway 36; and in Shrewsbury at Quikie Print on Route 35.  Turkeys, perishables and non-perishables can be dropped at The WindMill Restaurants in Freehold and Long Branch; the ShopRite of Long Branch and Grainger Industrial Supply on Industrial Way in Eatontown.  Food donations are picked up regularly by FoodBank trucks.
Donations may also be dropped off at the FoodBank facility located at 3300 Route 66 in Neptune on weekdays from 8am to 7pm from 11/14 through 11/22 and the FoodBank will remain open on 11-23 until 4:30pm.  On the weekends of 11/12-11/13 and 11/19-11/20 the FoodBank will remain open from 9am to 2pm as well.  In addition to the above mentioned sites, food can also be left at drop-off points in both counties where donations are picked up regularly by FoodBank trucks. These drop-off locations can be found on www.foodbankmoc.org or by calling 732-918-2600.
The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, a member of Feeding America, secures and distributes 7 million pounds of donated food annually to a network of approximately 260 hunger relief organizations in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The FoodBank is not a food pantry and those needing emergency food or shelter are encouraged to contact the emergency food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in their communities.  This information can be obtained by calling the FoodBank at 732-918-2600. The FoodBank is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit whose mission is to alleviate hunger in Monmouth and Ocean Counties by acquiring and distributing food through our member charities and by other programs which build food security.

Ellen Koment
Media Coordinator
FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
Neptune

Seniors Could Lower Health Care Costs

The Medicare Open Enrollment period has begun and Family & Children’s Service (FCS), Monmouth County’s oldest non-profit social service agency, offers a number of free programs to qualified individuals who have questions about their Medicare coverage or who may need assistance meeting their health care costs.
The Open Enrollment period, which runs through December 7th this year, is the time when current or newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries can review their current health or prescription drug plans, compare plans to other options and choose plans that best meet their current needs. FCS administers three programs designed to help people find answers to their Medicare questions and, in some cases, lower their out-of-pocket health and prescription drug costs.
For low-income Medicare beneficiaries, FCS screens eligibility two federal programs: the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) and the Low Income Subsidy (LIS) program. These programs help eligible individuals pay some or all of their Medicare Parts B and D premium, deductible, coinsurance and/or co-pay costs. According to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, a person on MSP can save at least $1,000 a year, while individuals on LIS can save an average of $3,900 annually. FCS can help individuals determine if they qualify for any of these programs and assist with filling out the necessary paperwork.
In these difficult economic times, many seniors are cutting back or simply doing without, in order to stay afloat. We encourage qualified individuals to take advantage of these programs, because no senior should have to do without when it comes to health care coverage.
Another operated by FCS is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. This program provides free help to New Jersey Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of income, who have problems with, or questions about, their health insurance coverage. SHIP’s volunteer counselors are trained in areas of Medicare health insurance coverage and benefits. They provide information and assistance in dealing with claims and evaluating health insurance needs. They do not provide legal advice or sell, recommend or endorse any specific insurance product, agent or insurance provider. Currently, FCS has 18 volunteer counselors serving at 16 different locations throughout Monmouth County.  To learn more about any of these programs, or if you’re interested in becoming a SHIP volunteer, please call FCS at 732-728-1331.

Vincent L. D’Elia,
President & CEO
Family & Children’s Service
Long Branch