Clinton Township Newsletter

2 J u l y 2 0 1 7 www.ClintonTwpNewsletter.com www.RetireStrategically.com Don't Just Retire... Retire Strategically. Mark Chioda Managing Director/CEO • Income Planning • Insurance • Social Security Planning • Annuities • LTC ...and more! Call 908.797.3881 We'll Make Your Money Work For You! retirement planning services Shirley (Sherry) Havens CRS, GRI, SRES ® Sales Associate Because the Right Realtor Really Makes the Difference. Questions About Real Estate? Ask Sherry Over 30 Years Serving Huntercon, Somerset, Warren and Morris Counties cell: 908.507.4927 office: 908.735.8080, ext. 145 shirleyhavens@gmail.com sherryhavens.com Dear Sleep Deprived, I am writing after reading your letter in the latest Clinton Township Newsletter. I have been a resident of Clinton Township for the past 55 years. I have listened to the train whistle since I was 12 years old and can honestly say, it has never bothered me to the point of being "sleep deprived." In fact, these days , it is always a source of comfort and nostalgia when I hear it. It is a remnant from the past that is still here to remind us that we are in the country and our way of life is not changed that much. Yes, there are more people here than 55 years ago and a lot has changed. But compared to other areas in Jersey, we are still" small town USA". Thank goodness! I can't help but think of the people who move here from the city and complain about the " smell of the farms" or the "cock-a-doodle-doo" of the roosters at dawn. Those farms and those roosters were here long before they moved out to the country to get away from the noise and smell of the city or congested suburbs. And to the people who complain about not having any street lights on their roads or in their developments – we live out in the country! If you miss the streetlights and the traffic noise, as compared to a freight train, then perhaps you should not have moved here in the first place. I would much rather hear the train, than the noise of a truck down-shifting and braking at 4 a.m. ( Yes I live close to Rt. 31 and hear traffic noise when the windows are open. But thankfully, we don't have streetlights on our road yet!) I choose to live here and can put up with it. It is a trade-off that I am willing to accept. In short, I think if you just give it time, you won't even notice the train whistle anymore or you will come to welcome the melodious, and sometimes forlorn, sound of the train as it winds its way through sleepy little areas like Stanton Station and Hamden, toward some far off destination carrying fruit , vegetables, goods and things that we all use everyday. So, the next time you hear the train whistle at 4 a.m., please think, as I do, " Aww, all is right in my little corner of the world." – Best Regards, Therese Maretta Good Morning: I would like to respond to the letter that Deb Ross wrote in your newsletter. Let me first say that I never respond to someone's letter for the fact that they are entitled to their opinion and I am not of a confrontational nature, but this seemed to hit a bit of a nerve for me. I would like to say, to Deb Ross, I do not know you, nor do I know how long you have lived in this area, but, I have lived here my entire life... all 63 years of it. To hear that train whistle go off it's like a sound of nature. I'm sure that when you moved into your residence, you had to have known the area just a bit... did you look around and not see the train tracks? I'm sure the people that live by the overpass of Route 78 would like to have the traffic stop going down the highway so that they too could have some "peace and quiet". I am sorry that you have your sleep disturbed, and it causes you to be awake and and tired for your long commute to work. If your ride to work is over an hour, well perhaps you should have moved closer to work. My wife and I are both up going to work and putting in a full day, so we too hear the whistle. To us, it's meaning that things are right with the area, products are moving and work will get done. I am of the schooling that when you move into an area... the area does not change to suit you, you must change to suit the area, and if you can't then perhaps that is not the place for you to live. Clinton/Annandale is a beautiful area with lots of benefits, so I'm sure that must have been one of the reasons that you moved here. But are you of the mind set, that if you moved to an area and all of a sudden realized you moved next to a farm... would you make the farmer than have to stop farming? Again, I do not like confrontation, but really, your biggest issue in life is that a train blows it's whistle and wakes you up? Count your blessings then, because I'm sure others who are fighting a "life battle" would welcome the idea of just to worry about a whistle. There are so many other things that I'm sure you could be more productive about, like how about the speeders going down Allerton/Wellington/ Lilac drive, speeding, get behind that so we can save those that ride their bike or walk that area. How about being productive on getting drivers to not talk or text on their phone, helping to save other drivers from being in an accident. How about a little courtesy while driving on the road? We are all entitled to fight for a cause, but I'm sure there are others worth fighting for that you could really do some good. Just saying... – Kerry Smith HOW DO YOU LIKE US NOW? 185 Center St., Clinton 735.4499 Proudly Serving Hunterdon County Since 1988 Our Restaurant Redesign Is Better Than Ever, And Our Menu Is More Delicious Than Ever – Visit Us Soon! – Phil & Diane Koury

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