I had a coveted seat at the Feb. 28 Upper Freehold Planning Board meeting and I looked forward to finally getting information about the future of the township. Interestingly, the standing-room-only meeting only became an issue of concern for the board when the time came for discussion of the Smart Growth plan. Then, the board sought to reschedule the meeting due to overcrowding. Many of our neighbors volunteered to leave or stand outside in order to prevent the meeting from being postponed. For those of us who stayed, we appreciate your sacrifice. However, you should know that what you missed was not very substantive. There was no real dialogue, only a one-way exercise of frustration.

Residents of all ages and types had turned out to get the facts of what Upper Freehold's master plan would propose in terms of a village center. We are concerned that the township might someday pursue eminent domain to take White Birch Farm in order to achieve its planning and economic development goals. Why is White Birch seen as a site for development? Is this rumor? Is this fact? We want to understand what the potential village center determination is based on and why the board believes that it is in the township's best interest.

On Thursday night, the Planning Board had a golden opportunity to have an open and honest dialogue with residents. One in which they could explain their thinking and could have put fears to rest. One in which they could have shown residents that the master plan is being designed to preserve our agricultural way of life while providing a means for economic and environmental sustainability. Unfortunately, these opportunities were lost.

Instead, the township planner presented a vision of our future based on a survey of township officials. Visionary, yes, but not based on fact, data, or public input. The issue that the public was there to discuss was not even mentioned.

When after two hours, the meeting opened for public comment, comments were limited to three-minute sound bites. Residents were even admonished if our commentary was something they weren't prepared to hear.

At the very conclusion of the public comments, we were told the village center had already been discussed at a previous meeting. How misleading for our officials to state that they wanted residents to come out and learn the facts, yet no facts were offered. There seems to be a closely held process going on, and it is evident that the public is welcome to fundamentally do one thing: observe, not participate.

What a wasted opportunity! Perhaps it is time for all the residents to come together, develop an inclusionary vision for Upper Freehold, and work to ensure that our township officials begin to reflect the public will, rather than the views of a few.

Carol Tomson

Imlaystown section

Upper Freehold Township

Center makes plea for blood donations

In recent years, New Jersey has had to "import" more than 50,000 units of whole blood annually because our population does not donate enough blood to cover the needs of New Jersey hospitals.

We need to build a new generation of blood donors, for the ultimate goal of all New Jersey-based blood services is to create a self-sufficient and self-sustaining blood supply for New Jersey.

Readers can donate through New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS). Interested readers and donors can call (800) 933-2566 or go on-line at www.nybloodcenter.org to locate blood drives convenient to their homes and workplaces. Donors must be 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health. Healthy donors can actually donate whole blood every 56 days, while residents age 76 and older can donate if they have a physician's permission.

We also seek companies and organizations that want to hold blood drives in support of their community's health. Interested parties can call (732) 220-7184 or (732) 220-7096. Help address our state's blood supply shortage - donate today.

Maggie O'Shea

executive director

New Jersey Blood Services

New Brunswick

Reader agrees with attorney on mansion fire

I cannot believe I am going to say this, but I agree with the gadfly that is Larry Loigman - only on the subject of the recent fire at Thompson Park. To spend $3.7 million - taxpayers' dollars - and not protect the entire building is utterly ridiculous and deserves a complete and thorough investigation, and officials, employees or professionals need to be held accountable.

While I will be the first in line to say Monmouth County has the finest park system in the state, that pride is now diminished by the fire-ravaged building at Thompson Park. That building could have been easily saved with the installation of a fire suppression system, simply installed in every room of the building. I find it insulting to have it said that any criticism would be "kicking people when they are down." Equally insulting was to say the criticism of county officials who "are in mourning over the fire" would be unjust.

In truth, the people who need to be consoled and who are in mourning are the Monmouth County taxpayers who spent $3.7 million on a historic building that every county resident should have been able to say would be protected from within and without, for the next 100 years, and beyond.

But some supposed and yet unnamed licensed professional(s) made recommendations that only allowed for the basement of the building to have fire suppression systems installed to safeguard the entire building. That is like having a generator in the basement of your home when the area is prone to flooding. Obviously the basement floods first.

I have watched as Monmouth County has spent tens of millions of dollars on golf courses, costs which rival the monies spent on world-renowned courses. I find no comfort in the statement that a "licensed professional" made a building code decision to install fire suppression only in the basement. I will be willing to bet the buildings at these overpriced golf courses have fire suppression systems throughout.

Selfishly, I hope that steps are taken to immediately rebuild this landmark. My hope is that someday in the future my wife and I would be able to take our grandchildren - the grandchildren we hope to have around us someday - to the building where grandma and grandpa met. I can assure you that building meant a lot to the two of us and "we, too, are in mourning" having met each other in that very same, now fire-damaged building, 28 years ago.

Joseph McAleer

Aberdeen