Major / Sandhill Road at Route 1

Perhaps the geniuses that saddled us with this intersection could put some restraining lights at the top of their respective hills?

Or at least on across half way down to the intersection.

At least give the turner from Route 1 a fighting chance to get across.

Seems obvious to me.

Anyone notice?

Did anyone notice ... ... that Best Buy is closed due to an "emergency".

Maybe the roof collapsed due to all the rain? Just guessing.

School Budget

Our children need education.

But at what cost?

Clearly the taxpaying voters of South Brunswick are rethinking how much they want to pay for public education.

Perhaps the School Board needs to rethink as well.

What do our students acutally need to have a good basic education? Classroom space? Teachers? Books and other essential supplies?

It may be painful to say, but in an era of economic crisis, government needs to look at tax revenue in a new way. Taxes are not a "bottomless pit" of money to spend. Like those of us with ever thinning wallets, governments need to really think about what it can "afford" to spend instead of looking at what it "wants" to spend.

While it's nice to offer students dozens of extra curricular activities, sports, and other amenities it might be time to reconsider as to whether or not the school district can actually afford such things. It would be a painful decision to make, but it might well be time to separate the essential services from the "extras."

Years ago, the New Jersey Department of Education intiated a "Back to Basics" movement. While that concept has fallen by the wayside on the State Level, replaced by "No Child Left Behind" and all its regulations, it wasn't such a bad idea.

But, if we expect our schools to go back to basics, then the rest of the government agencies who spend our tax dollars really need to join in.

The backs of New Jersey taxpayers are breaking. The weight of public education is only a part of the problem, but is certainly is a place to start lightening the load.

SCHOOL BUDGET FAILS

The tough financial times are here. The school budget failed by 50 votes. With over 9,000 kids in school only 2,400 people voted !

Department of Agriculture Needs to Stay

Keeping New Jersey Green

Governor Corzine's budget cuts include a proposal to eliminate the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

What a shame that would be for The Garden State to no longer have its government supporting its farms, its waters, its food supply, its forests, and its homeowners.

If you visit the Agriculture Department's website, you will see that more than just farmers benefit from the agency. We all do.

Food programs in the schools, assurance of safe foods for us all, control of insects such as the Gypsy Moth that destroy our forests, the horse industry, and many other beneficial programs supporting the greening of New Jersey are all administered through the Department.

Other States, like Connecticutt, have tried to cut Agricultural services only to find the need to undo the cuts. The land needed a steward, and a Department of Agriculture with all its expertise and services was the highest and best answer.

Search the website and find out that our land and water are linked. Soil conservation and the protection of our water supplies are an important function of the Department.

And besides, just how much money will be saved? The jobs the Department does will still have to be done and I've been told most of the current workers will still have jobs with the State. So, the ultimate savings will amount to, perhaps the cost of administrative salaries. Not much, actually, compared to the budget deficit.

We need to preserve and protect our remaining farmland. We need to protect our forests. We need to protect our forests.

The South Brunswick Township Council has proposed a resolution calling upon the Governor to keep the Department of Agriculture intact. It will come before the Council on Tuesday night, March 25. We need to support the Council on this resolution and take the time to write our own resolutions and letters to the Governor.

New Jersey needs to protect its remaining green lands.

County Makes Offer on Van Dyke Farm

Good News and Hope

Middlesex County has made an offer to purchase the Van Dyke Farm on Davidson's Mill Road.

The Eastern Villages Association has been working on trying to preserve this valuable historic and natural resource for a number of years, so this news as music to our ears.

The County had several appraisals made of the land, so the offer is fair according to the current market. What remains to be seen is whether the current property owner will entertain the offer.

We are ever hopeful. The farm house dates back to the 1700's and there is a cemetery on the property with gravestones dating back to the American Revolution. As well there is documentation of slaves who worked on the farm and testimony that there is also a slave cemetery on the land. Add to all of this the fact that the farm lies on the northeastern border of the Pigeon Swamp State Park, which holds the only Category 1 water in Middlesex County, and you have a perfect piece of land for such preservation.

EVA, the Township Council, and the County Freeholders have worked long and hard to reach this point. Parntnering with the State of New Jersey in hopes to acquire the property so it may be preserved and protected forever, we all hope the owner and developer will realize how important this purchase is. Here is a chance to treasure and protect both our heritage and the environment.

Route 1 and Major / Sand Hill Road suggestion

Here's a modest suggestion since the state totally mucked up the intersection.

How about rush hour traffic lights at the top of each hill? They could go red a few seconds before the light cycles on Route 1 and thus allow a few cars to release from the Route 1 exit. Then they could after a short interval go flashing yellow, or red.

By the way, do you think anyone in State gooferment was ever fired for poor planning and execution of this intersection. Yeah, I just thought I'd give you a good laugh. Remember the Titanic was designed by experts.

Corzine: No MOM in Middlesex

The Home News Tribune is reporting that the governor has killed the MOM line -- or at least the portion running through Jamesburg, Monroe and South Brunswick. A victory for common sense and New Jersey taxpayers.

"It will be the MO line, not the MOM line,'' he said to applause from to an audience of Middlesex County residents.

Check the South Brunswick Post and The Cranbury Press pages on Packetonline for updates on Monday.

South Brunswick Post