Clinton Township Newsletter

2 9 A p r i l 2 0 1 6 t h e 1 7 5 9 v o u g h t h o u s e I s s p o n s o r I n g a l e c t u r e a B o u t W a s h I n g t o n ' s s e c o n d I n c o m m a n d , m a J o r g e n e r a l c h a r l e s l e e Saturday April 23, 11:00 am Clinton Township Middle School Charles Lee: Patriot, Scapegoat Or Traitor? b y D o m i n i c k m a z z a g e t t i D o m i n i c k M a z z a g e t t i p r e s e n t s a n e n g a g i n g a c c o u n t o f t h e l i f e o f Charles Lee, the forgotten m a n o f t h e A m e r i c a n Revolution. History has not been kind to Lee – for good reason. In this c o m p e l l i n g b i o g r a p h y , Mazzagetti compares Lee's life and attributes to those of George Washington and offers significant observations omitted from previous Lee b i o g r a p h i e s , i n c l u d i n g extensive correspondence w i t h B r i t i s h o f f i c e r s i n 1 7 7 7 t h a t r e f l e c t s L e e ' s abandonmentof the Patriots' cause. Lee, a British officer, a veteran of the French and Indian War, and a critic of King George III, arrived in New York City in 1773 with an ego that knew no bounds and tolerated no rivals. A highly visible and newsworthy personality, he quickly took up the American cause and encouraged rebellion. As a result of this advocacy and his military skills, Lee was granted a commission as a major general in the Continental Army and soon became second-in-command to George Washington. He helped organize the defense of Boston, designed defenses for New York City, and commanded the force that repelled the British attack on Charleston. Upon his return to New York in 1776, Lee was considered by some leaders of the Revolution to be an alternative to George Washington, who was in full retreat from British forces. Lee's capture by the British in December 1776 put an end to that possibility. Lee's subsequent release in a prisoner exchange in 1778 and return to an American command led to a dramatic confrontation with Washington on the battlefield at Monmouth, New Jersey, in June 1778. Washington chastised Lee publicly for ordering an unnecessary retreat. Lee suffered the ignominy of a court- martial conviction for thisblunder and spent the remaining years to his death in 1782 attacking Washington. Although few doubted Lee's loyalty at the time, his actions at Monmouth fueled speculation that he switched sides during his imprisonment. A discovery years after his death completed Lee's tale. In 1862, a researcher discovered "Mr. Lee's Plan," a detailed strategy for the defeat of the American rebels delivered to British General William Howe while Lee was held in captivity. This discovery sealed Lee's historical record and ended all further discussion of his contributions to the AmericanRevolution. Today, few people even realize that Fort Lee, on the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge, was named in his honor. Dominick Mazzagetti's book ,Charles Lee, Self Before Country, was published by Rivergate Regionals, Rutgers University Press, in 2013. Join the Vought House in learning more at this entertaining and informative presentation. To find out more about the Vought House, visit www.1759VoughtHouse.org s p r I n g c l e a n I n g ? d o n ' t f o r g e t y o u r m e d I c I n e c a B I n e t ! Do you have a ritual you observe at the first hint of spring? I do! I get out my golf clubs and hit the course. Once I finish playing my first eighteen holes, I know spring is here. Other people welcome spring by cleaning. If you do, make sure your medicine cabinet gets cleaned out, too. You could save a life. Prescription medications are safe when used as prescribed by the person they were prescribed for. Too often, however, these drugs are misused. • Four out of five heroin users say their habit started by using prescription pain medicine recreationally. • Nearly half of the young people who inject heroin started out misusing prescription drugs. • Among kids as young as 12 to 13 years old, prescription medications are now the most commonly-abused drugs. Source: http://medicineabuseproject.org/assets/documents/Rx-to-Heroin.pdf Scary statistics, aren't they? Part of the problem is that heroin can be obtained at a fraction of the cost of prescription drugs, so after kids get hooked, they turn to a more easily-available alternative. Even more alarming is that this epidemic is attracting younger and younger kids all the time. Drug abuse is not the only risk posed by expired or unused prescription drugs. We've all heard stories of accidental poisonings by so-called "safe" medications – toddlers who explore their surroundings by putting everything in their mouths; a person who "shares" a prescription with another, ignoring dosage directions; a person who "self-medicates" with disregard for the dangers of mixing drugs. Each scenario can have deadly consequences. One way to prevent disaster is to safely dispose of medications you no longer need. To help with this, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) from time to time organizes collection centers across the country for the anonymous and safe disposal of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medication. This year, April 30 is designated as "National Take Back Prescription Drugs Day." DEA-authorized centers, often operated in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A list of nearby locations is available on the DEA website at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ drug_disposal/takeback/. Be safe and enjoy the weather! – Victor Rotolo Victor A. Rotolo is a long-time resident of Clinton Township and the founder of The Rotolo Law Firm. Call The Rotolo Law Firm today: 908.534.7900 to discuss any legal situation confronting you. Your half-hour consultation is free of charge! Their attorneys and staff are ready to serve your legal needs. The Rotolo Law Firm • 502 US 22 West, Lebanon, NJ 08833. www.RotoloLawFirm.com Charles Lee, Self Before Country by Dominick Mazzagetti s o u t h h I g h l a n d s s I e r r a c l u B p r o g r a m The South Highlands Sierra club presents a program on the United Nations Climate Change Talks held in Paris Wednesday, April 6 at 7:00 pm at the North County Branch Library Halstead Street, Clinton. Meet and Greet starts at 7:00 pm, followed by the program which begins at 7:15 pm. Jerome Wagner, who attended last year's climate conference gives an overview of his personal experience at the conference, the accomplished agreement, what lies ahead and what still needs to be done. FREE and open to the public! Refreshments will be served.

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