6 THE VOORHEES SUN — AUGUST 11-17, 2010


EDITORIAL


DAN McDONOUGH, JR. Publisher


ALAN BAUER


STEVE MILLER ED LYNES


General Manager & Editor Executive Vice President Vice President of Sales


in our opinion Give up now Christie’s next target: the DRPA


lars, that’s not something you want to do. Christie attacks government spending like Fat Elvis went after a peanut butter and banana sandwich –just ask local mu- nicipalities and school districts. However, unlike the governor’s slashing of local state aid, where reasonable people disagreed with his approach, we’re guessing that folks are lined up at the torch and pitchfork store to join this crusade. That’s because the DRPA is really, really easy to dislike. Sup-


N


posedly, it exists to oversee bridges, trains and ferries. However, look at its history and you’ll see your toll and fare dollars being spent on everything short of posting Lindsay Lohan’s bail (maybe we should actually check on that). Plus, if you’re a DRPA employee/retiree/someone the DRPA just likes a lot, you get a boatload of perks. So Gov. Christie, late last month, fired off a letter outlining some 19 reforms he wants and wants now. Such novel concepts as open government meetings and the ending of the aforemen- tioned perks were on the list, along with oversight regarding political contributions, outside employment, gifts and conflicts of interest. Geez, talk about your extreme makeovers. These reforms are long overdue. As is a return to what the


DRPA is really supposed to be doing: watching those bridges, trains and ferries. Maybe we’re just naive, but, if you cough up $4 to leave New Jersey over the Ben Franklin Bridge, that $4 ought to be spent keeping the bridge upright. And it’s our guess that, if that were the case, that $4 might turn into $3. A little unsolicited advice for the DRPA: Do what Christie


says. Yes, he will follow through on his threat to veto DRPA stuff that doesn’t follow his lead. And he still has more than three years in office to make your lives miserable. Christie has been a target of some for his actions regarding


local budgets. With the DRPA, we get the feeling that the gover- nor’s bandwagon just tripled in size.


DAN McDONOUGH, JR. Co-Chairman & Chief Executive RUSSELL CANN Co-Chairman & Chief Financial Officer MICHAEL LaCOUNT, Ph.D. Vice Chairman


www.elauwit.com


ow they’ve gone and done it. The Delaware River Port Authority managed to attract the attention of Gov. Christie. If you have anything to do with public dol-


letters to the editor


No better place to be a model ADA community I recently contacted the mayor


of Voorhees and the township manager relative to the commu- nity input that was solicited for the new playground. I have a granddaughter with special needs. Ironically, as Ava celebrates her 5th birthday, the Americans with Disabilities Act celebrates its 20th. The ADA has done much to


improve the lives of people with disabilities. Somehow children’s playgrounds have been almost completely neglected. A playground for a child is not a luxury but a developmental ne- cessity and even more so for chil-


dren with special needs. It is one place where all chil-


dren can come together to enjoy each other and learn from each other. Statistically, one out of 10 children cannot play on even an ADA approved playground. This statistic translates


to more than 4,000 children in Camden County alone (and that is from the 2000 census). My granddaughter Ava, like


many children with gross motor delays, can’t walk or run on the surfaces in most playgrounds. Are there any playgrounds in


Voorhees that have a surface other than some type of chip? Just improving the play-


grounds to specialized rubber surfaces would allow Ava to run and a child in a wheelchair to


Your thoughts? Respond to letters to the editor – right now. Visit the Forum section at www.voorheessun.com. Festival for animal lovers


Woofstock, the Voorhees Ani- mal Orphanage’s biggest fundraising event of the year, is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 21, at Connolly Park on Centennial Blvd.


Rain date is


Aug. 22. Woofstock will feature festivi-


ties for animal lovers of all ages and for their leashed pets, in- cluding pet contests and prizes for hippest pet costume, best kisser and cutest canine couple. Other activities will include


visits by pets for adoption, res- cue groups, the county animal response team and police K-9 unit.


Holistic items, toys, treats,


food and beverages will be avail- able. Michael Lazar of DJ Enter- tainment will provide music.


Michael Mignogna MAYOR’S MESSAGE


Animal communicator Liz Severino will be in attendance.


To schedule an appointment, call Christine Todd at (609) 743-6444. Admission is a $1 donation,


but senior citizens and children younger than 12 enter for free. The Animal Orphanage is


dedicated to enhance the quality of life for animals and people through compassion, respect and education. A nurturing environment of caring and commitment is evi- dent in everything they do. Since 1988, the Animal Or-


phanage has been dedicated to providing shelter, food and med- ical care to stray and unwanted animals until permanent homes can be found. Each year the Animal Or-


please see MAYOR, page 12


roll. It is time to advocate for children with special needs. My friends Lynn and Jim Cum- mings are working to raise money to build a Boundless Playground at Challenge Grove called Jake’s Place, in memory of their grandson. One playground that will accommodate all chil- dren is not enough; all play- grounds must accommodate all children. This is not just our eth- ical duty, it is the law I am a life long resident of


Voorhees. I grew up in Kirkwood and my husband and I raised our children here. I can’t think of a better town to become a model for meeting the needs of Special Children on its playgrounds than Voorhees.


Jacquelin Agostini


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