Today's letters: an endorsement for Councilman Pete Mendonez Jr. & Adult Literacy Awareness Month is upon us
Nineteen years. That's how long Reed Gusciora has been in Trenton. Gusciora left the constituents of Mercer and Hunterdon counties a long time ago. Now, he's just another big spending career politician in Trenton.
But there's an alternative.
Pete Mendonez strives with a passion and a focus. His passion is for the greater community. His focus is for a brighter future for Mercer and Hunterdon counties.
While on West Windsor Council, Pete showed the leadership the township needed. He cut waste and inefficiency, and ensured the township did not raise taxes. His sticks to his word, and he will vote to keep taxes flat while in the Assembly. As a neighboring Councilman in Hightstown, I enjoy working with Peter to better our communities.
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to become a co-founder of a clean energy company in Princeton. In state government, this same spirit will lead him as he steps up to solve complex engineering and energy issues. We need energy and environmental experts like Pete in office. He's the fresh face and new blood we need to represent Mercer and Hunterdon counties in the 15th District.
I'm proud to endorse this community leader, and my friend, Peter Mendonez, for Assembly in New Jersey's 15th Legislative District.
Connor F. Montferrat
Hightstown councilman
Do you remember learning to read and write? I have fuzzy recollections of haltingly deciphering Aesop's fables and printing sentences about my family on notebook paper with inch-high divided lines. Now that I spend most of my day reading and writing, I barely give these abilities a second thought.
Since I began volunteering as a literacy tutor three months ago, I've been thinking about what it would be like to learn basic literacy skills as an adult--without the advantages of youth and full-time schooling.
This is the reality faced by thousands of adults here in Mercer County. Some are native English speakers born in the United States who need help boosting their reading and writing abilities, while others are immigrants eager to expand their opportunities by mastering English.
Literacy New Jersey, Mercer County Programs is a nonprofit organization devoted to helping adults improve their English literacy skills--primarily through one-on-one tutoring sessions with trained volunteers at local libraries.
But there is a long waiting list for tutoring. This September, in honor of Adult Literacy Awareness Month, please consider becoming a literacy volunteer. And please support Literacy New Jersey at one of our Readathons:
Hamilton Public Library, Saturday, September 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hickory Corner Public Library, Saturday, September 26, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Lawrence Public Library, Wednesday, September 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, call Literacy New Jersey's Mercer County office at 609-587-6027.
Molly Sharlach
Pennington
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