Giving Equal Time To Viewpoint Of A Trinity Hall Supporter
I received the following correspondence from Lisa Calandrino, a 40 year Middletown resident who reached out to me via Facebook. She read Jennifer Valencia's "No Vacancy For Trinity Hall! Proposed Development Not A Fit For Historic Chapel Hill Neighborhood" blog post yesterday and wanted to tell her story as to why she supports Trinity Hall. Seeing how I really don't have a "dog in this fight", I have no problem giving a little equal time to an opposing viewpoint :
I write this letter as a nearly life-long resident of Middletown; as a working mom actively involved in my children’s public and private education. I have served as a class mother, as a PTA Treasurer and multiple time director of my children’s school’s annual fundraiser. I am also a fervent supporter of the new Trinity Hall High School for girls here in Middletown, both at their interim location at Croydon Hall and their proposed future permanent campus on Chapel Hill Road.
I grew up in the Chapel Hill area and I am a graduate of St. Mary’s grammar school, Mater Dei High School and Rosemont College. A Catholic education isn’t for everyone, but in retrospect it was important for me. An all-girls college education was equally important to me and an opportunity I wish was available as a Middletown resident in high school.
When it came time to send my daughter to high school it was her decision where to go. She probably wouldn’t admit it, but she saw first-hand how well a single-sex Catholic high school education was working out for her older brother at CBA and I believe it is why she chose Trinity Hall. It wasn’t without its risks, being part of the inaugural freshmen class of only 30 girls in an entire school, but she was up for the challenge and I am proud of her for it. The thing I’m most proud of is that she’s thriving, as much as her brother, and I can’t imagine what more I can ask for as a parent.
I can’t fathom why something as innocuous and positive as a relatively small faith-based all girls’ high school moving into someone else’s backyard or neighborhood would cause them distress. I live within steps of Thompson Middle School and it doesn’t make me feel any less safe. I also live within steps of Nut Swamp Elementary and I do not believe the new athletic field has had an adverse impact on the environment. I am less than a minute drive to Oak Hill Academy but don’t see where it’s location has had an adverse impact on my taxes or property value and I live less than a two minute drive to Middletown South High School and don’t see where the traffic it generates has had a negative impact on my quality of life.
Fellow residents of Middletown, don’t be fooled by the misinformation the opposition is sharing. Trinity Hall is good for girls, good for parents and good for the community. Even if you will never send your daughter there, it deserves your support. Why shouldn’t girls have the same educational opportunities as boys? I wish you can see it first hand, when you look into the eyes of these eager young women you can see the history they are about to write. Let us join together and give them the ink to make it happen.
Lisa Calandrino
Middletown Resident
19 comments:
There are environmental concerns on the property of the proposed school. When is was rezoned for single fasmily housing, the township told the developer that there had to be storm water retention basins allocated on the bottom lots. This was in place of the proposed homes on those lots.
There are streams that feed into the Navesink River that originate on this property. We have all seen what silt as a result of development can do to bodies of water like Shadow Lake. This is not misinformation that has been acknowledged by our elected officials.
It is very clear by Lisa's letter that her focus is only on the school and her perception that we, the neighborhood do not want girls to have the same chance as boys with ascertaining a private education and becoming productive members of society. It is also clear that she must not have attended any of the Planning Board meetings because if she had she would realize this. We are focused on the safety for all of us with the increased traffic and the preservation of the Wetlands and the endangered species that reside on that property which is Zoned R90. She has succeeded in relaying her personal opinion about education, which most of us share, but has failed to relay anything other than that. I have called the Mayor and Chief of Police on various occasions due to the dangerous road conditions in front of my house which resulted in a speed sign being placed across the street from my home where I witnessed it flashing speed limits of up to 60 mph. There have been several fatalities on Chapel Hill and I am not sure how parents could or would feel safe permitting their young and new drivers on the road hurrying to get to school or a school activity on time. The traffic is unbearable as it is during rush hour. With that said, I welcome anyone to try to get either in or out of my driveway during the suggested times or any other time of day or night.
I am a graduate of Marymount Manhattan which was an all girl Catholic College which I attended by choice and am an advocate of this type of education and am not anti-school. I am a proponent of evaluating all of the facts not just speaking from personal opinion. There are deeper issues that make Chapel Hill Rd. a dangerous place for this school. Inathe, a concerned resident of Chapel Hill Road and Middletown resident.
Hello Lisa, First, I would like to make it clear that I am not opposed to the school itself. I am opposed to the proposed location. I respect your decision to send your daughter to this school and I hope that she does really well. As I previously stated, I am against building the school on Chapel Hill Rd. I live in Chapel Hill very close to the proposed permanent location. With that being said, I would like to clarify that Trinity Hall is not a Catholic School! It has not been recognized by the Bishop of Trenton. There are several real Catholic Schools in the area. However, that is not my real issue. Chapel Hill Rd. is nothing like Middletown-Lincroft Rd, which is where both Thompson Middle School and Nut Swamp elementary are located. Middletown-Lincroft Rd. is a County Road with several lights. Both Thompson Middle School and Nut Swamp school are on the corner of a major intersection that has traffic lights. In addition, neither of those schools has a driveway a few feet away from a development on a narrow road. Chapel Hill Rd. is a windy, narrow, dangerous country road that cannot and should not support the traffic that this school will generate. This will become a dangerous situation for the children that live in my area. Also, I have been on Middletwon-Lincroft Road in the vicinity of Thompson and Nut Swamp The traffic at the beginning of the school day and at dismissal. The traffic is a nightmare during these times! It takes an extra 10 minutes to get down that road at those times since you must wait for cars, buses and children crossing the road by crossing guards ! In addition, Middletown South causes traffic issues and quality of life issues. As an example, The North vs. South Thanksgiving Day football game was held at South this year and the parking and traffic were an absolute nightmare for the people living in the Brasch Farms development. This is just one example. The same thing happens for the weekly football games, track meets, etc. Everyone uses the back/ emergency vehicle entrance and parks all over the local streets in the Brasch Farms development! This is what would happen on Stavola Rd. and to Mohican Drive, Iroquois Drive and Comanche Drive during the athletic and theater performance events at Trinity Hall. The track and indoor pool that Trinity is proposing will have significant impacts on the quality of life of those living in the surrounding developments. This will cause noise and dangerous traffic and traffic jams. Neither Nut Swamp nor Thompson have a track or indoor pool, so you can not provide any insight on this! The influx of hundreds of families attending,competing and observing these meets will cause tremendous traffic on Chapel Hill Rd. and will hinder the local residents from entering or exiting their neighborhood. In addition, when the theater is buillt, that will bring additional traffic for practices and performances. Athletic events and theater performances will not be contained to the 400 -500 girls attending the school but this will include traffic from all competing teams, and theater goers from public and private schools, as is stated on the Trinity website.You may not be aware of this, but there was a fatality of a recent high school graduate during the summer a few years ago, about 50 feet away from the proposed driveway and right outside of the proposed track. Finally, I would like to say that as a life- long Middletown resident, I would implore you to urge the Trinity Hall founders to re-purpose an abandoned business site or closed school for their permanent location rather than permanently wipe out one of the few remaining, beautiful, open spaces that Middletown has left. I ask you to think of the beauty of the Chapel Hill area and to think of an alternate (existing) location to place this school. We need to work together to preserve all of our open space.
Ms. Calandrino,
The basic primary issue here is the construction of a private school campus, which will have multiple buildings, on virgin property within a preexisting residential community -- the issue is not about the educational opportunities for young women. Not being able to "fathom" why some people would suffer "distress" over a school being built where one did not exist when they purchased their home may indicate a lack of sensitivity towards those directly affected by the construction process and the subsequent occupation of the school and ALL the activities that are associated with it for the generations that it will remain open.
Right now the proposed property is zoned for homes (about 20) that will contribute to the tax base in Middletown; a school as non-profit institution will not contribute to the tax base and may actually cost the taxpayer more to subsidize student transportation: Lakewood is a good documented example of the busing costs associated with private schools that all Lakewood taxpayers are legally required to pay.
If you or someone else made a decision to purchase a home in an area where a school(s) already existed, then it was a decision and a choice made with full knowledge and acceptance of ALL the circumstances that were associated with the purchase.
Lisa
You, like all other Trinity Hall supporters, argue in favor of this school via half-truths and empty arguments.
(1) You moved to your home while the schools already existed. This is VERY different from building a school where homes already exists.
(2) Middletown-Lincroft road cannot be compared to Chapel Hill Road. Period. It is ridiculous to do so.
(3) You do not live "steps" from any school. You live 0.4 miles from the Middle School.
(4) Middle school students DO NOT DRIVE.
(5) This is not about whether or not the girls get this type of education...they are MORE than welcome to build this school elsewhere.
I really want at least one person to give me one good reason why anyone should support Trinity Hall being built there! Please.
I am going to love having this option in town.
Two simple questions;
1. Who owns this property??
2. Are the owners the same people that rented out a house next to river plaza school to be used as a
halfway house for junkies??
Anon 8:16 AM -
Are the answers to both those questions "Stavola"? Sounds like by trying to rid themselves of some of their land they're actually dragging their township down down down. How sad for us all.
I read both Lisa’s letter and Ms. Valencia's. Both are from opinionated and selfish viewpoints as is my response. I also read many of the responses which are not really accurate and ,while emotionally stirring, are just not correct.
I have a daughter now at Trinity myself. I too am selfishly concerned for her well being and want her to be in a good educational environment. I also attended a single sex high school and I taught for a number of years as well. I can speak from my experience that I learned better in a single sex school and, in my teaching days, many students would have been better served without the distractions caused by the opposite gender. Those are my opinions. That being said, I want to address some of the arguments, which are based on opinion, of the other side.
As to this letter, Ms. Valencia's list of "claims" and "truths" which are merely her opinionated perceptions, are the notes from many anonymous people on this letter, it is clear that both sides present passionate arguments for each's beliefs. Trinity Hall has put a good amount of time and research into the information on which their 'claims' ( a Valencia chosen word) were based.
There are many holes in the opposition arguments though. If your side's sole concern is safety, then why does Ms. Valencia list out numerous 'truths' that have nothing to do with safety?
If safety is your primary concern, they what have you done to reduce the number of accidents on clearly such a perilous road?
If your true concern is safety then why do you get in deep discussion about zoning, or Catholic tradition?
Do you think a wider road and more signage on said road (as a proposed result of the school driveway) might create a safer road leading to a safer environment? If safety is your cause, then clearly if this increased the safety of such a road, you would be compelled to be for it, unless you are not really concerned with safety….hmmmm.
Don’t you think a school zone creates a safer road environment because of increase enforcement and signage?
What does the picture of the endangered bird on your Facebook page have to do with safety? ( Clearly this is your play to add in environmental safety for this bird, but it really is a departure from your primary argument of road safety. Clearly your plan is to play both cards and hope one will stick?
What does safety and a busing formula have to do with one another? (Mind you that your busing formula is just flat out wrong.) 75% of students being bused is consistent with most high schools. See, it is common for seniors and students of driving age to drive, and since a majority of then girls will not be of driving age, it is safe to assume the others will require busing. While some may be driven in by parents, obviously, it is only prudent to plan on 75% needing busing. That is just simple and responsible math, unlike your crazed, interpretive formula for busing and its costs. I do not think you really could not have botched an interpretation of this more, but I do not want to underestimate you. CONTINUED>>>>
Your information and math on busing is inaccurate and misleading at best. While your numbers are correct, the FACT is that money comes from the towns where the girls live, it does not all come from Middletown. Middletown would reimburse a tax paying family if they lived in the district and sent their daughter to school there, if they did not offer busing. However, being in Middletown, I would bet that busing would be offered to residents of Middletown, and that would mean, no reimbursement from Middletown. What you have tried to spew is a bold faced lie, or you are just ignorant of this FACT. Middletown does not pick up the entire busing tab for the entire school. I do not live in Middletown, and my busing reimbursement did not come from Middletown. You got that one very wrong, but nice try.
Also, your formula is flawed in your attempt to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt. I will actually correct you here. Even if 25% of the student body drove when they become driving age, and their parents paid school taxes in a town where those girls could have gone to school, they would still be eligible to get their busing reimbursed to the family. WOW, Blows my mind you couldn’t figure this out!!! Not really, but It totally would have made your argument look that much more scary to the insanely uninformed, and you wouldn't have been much more wrong than you already were!
To set the record straight, the Bishop is merely protecting his schools in the area by not supporting a new school in the area. His move is not one of educational indifference, but one merely of political nature in which he too is protecting his own interests. And it is easily understood. Do you think the heads of his schools WANT competition? If the Church has a monopoly on the term “Catholic School” then so be it. It should have nothing to do with your argument. A school in the Catholic tradition, is simply a school with leanings towards that of the Catholic faith ( and I am not Catholic, for the record). What relevance does this have in your argument unless you have some bigoted issue with the Catholic tradition at all?
Also, of course Trinity Hall has no track record. Neither did any of us before we became parents, but that didn’t stop us did it? It is a new school. C’mon, really? I am willing to bet, the majority of girls will graduate and attend schools equal or greater to the caliber of say The University of Maryland, which is a fine institution. Just guessing, just like you are.
To your last Truth, about ‘intended use’. Your house probably sits on what was once a farm, and I am sure years ago, no one intended on putting a house there, unless it is an original farmhouse, I’ll give you that. But then it was zoned for residential buildings. But think of land used for hospitals, churches, retail environments…….. Point is, who is to say what was ever intended to go anywhere? Are you a person who can be the great decider as to what goes where? Your statement is illogical. That is why a planning board is elected of a number of people, to take in the accounts of many, not just an isolated few with a specific goal and voice.
A fact is Trinity Hall will impact hundreds, then thousands of people over time in a very positive way when built, but your plan for 19 homes will only positively impact a small number of people and the asset value of the homes in the area. Which one really serves for the greater good of all of Middletown? We obviously will disagree on this point….
Also, I think a refresher course on what is a claim, what is a fact, and what is truth, is needed. The Fact is that your 'truths' are merely your claims. Trinity's 'facts' as you put it are merely their claims.
The FACT is that you do not agree with Trinity's claims and you try to state that your opinions are truths. Truths are statements of fact, very few of your answers even remotely reflect truth.
Example, how can a 'Truth' start out with "possibly?" or, even better, end in a question mark? Those are QUESTIONS not TRUTHS. I do not want to get into a philosophical discussion on truth or semantics here, but clearly your efforts to spread 'your truth', are easily seen for what they are, opinions.
The real issue here at hand that no one wants to discuss is this selfishness mentioned previously. Trinity parents , now and future, have selfish concerns because we want what is best for daughters and future girls who will attend the school that we want to build that will hopefully last as long as Middletown itself does. Trinity Hall's selfishness will positively impact the girls who choose attend and their families for years to come.
Ms. Valencia and the opposing residents are selfish because they feel they have a right to an area beyond their property boundaries that they want to keep from being developed in any way that does not serve their selfish desires of being an exclusionary neighborhood. Their selfishness is a desire to isolate and insulate themselves from outsiders. Simply put, they would rather fill this lot 19, 2 acre parcels with million dollar homes, to help reduce their tax burden (which it will not do) all while increasing your property values in the area. This is the real issue, isn’t it? Why should the Chapel Hill area be deemed special, but this project could go to any other part of Middletown?
You can try to bury it under the guise of safety or the environment but that is clearly not truth, just your claim. If you were so concerned with safety, you would not casually reference the number of accidents on the road to support your hollow argument that the area is unsafe and destined to become even less safe with the arrival of a school; nor would you list the other, weak argument points you highlight in your position statement from the other day.
Like you, I live in a house, but that does not make me a building or housing development expert. I live on a street, but that does not make me a traffic expert, I am an advocate for the environment as well, but not an environmental expert by any means. We have a lot in common, but we also disagree on issues.
I see both sides of this situation clearly. I understand that in change, there is always discomfort to some and they are most likely going to become the most vocal. And it is natural to look for any rationale and reasoning that could be plausible to create a defensive position. In the end there is no interest like self interest. My interest lies with seeing a new school and legacy built. I am sorry you disagree with me.
For the record, I will not visit this site again, mostly because I do not care to read the uninformed rants that I am sure this will inspire and I am not supplying my name merely for the reason I am selfishly protecting my family and my daughter from any unnecessary and unwarranted reactions. Save the vitriol unless you feel you will gain some satisfaction by negatively replying to this post. If you are so bothered, then, by all means, vent and let it out. Peace be with you all.
I think Trinity Hall should prove itself before building a campus of this magnitude.
If they care about the environment as they say in their Impact Statement on their website, then why not try to utilize resources like other vacant buildings instead of destroying farm land? There are plenty of other locations to choose from. Please keep looking. As you can see by the numerous signs (although some have been stolen) Chapel Hill does NOT support this school at this location.
There has been so much back and forth that I think some of the big points may be lost. We have been accused of all sorts of things such as being anti schools, anti women etc etc.. Please understand that this is not the case at all. We are all educated people and of course would want the same for our families and our children and all the families in this great area and thus are in no way anti schools, anti education, anti women or anything else that we have been called. Please understand that we are a group from the chapel hill neighborhood that chose to live in this area because of its beauty, serenity and safety. We love the idea of improving education and having great schools, that is not what we are saying, we just feel that the school should be in an area where it would be a better fit. Chapel Hill road is a narrow country type road and if 500 students start school there, the traffic would increase greatly and affect not just our neighborhood but many of the surrounding neighborhoods. I know there is also an issue of safety and I saw the previous comments that people would drive slower in school zones. I can understand that and appreciate that comment, however the school zone is only right around the school and not the whole road which is very narrow towards the bottom.
Many of us bought our properties because it was near the beautiful open space and love looking at the beautiful scenery and would love to preserve the residential farm like setting of our neighborhood. A school is a wonderful thing, we are just asking to please not put it here and find a location where the roads and neighborhood would better support its infrastructure.
Well said--
Interesting comment--Trinity did throw the Crossroads rehab center out of Croyden Hall in June of 2013 and the MIddletown electorate let them.
Facts are truths and the fact is chapel hill road and the roads in and out can not support the traffic. From this project put it in rumson where. Where the ego, i mean idea was conceived anonymous vg
I like this quote:
"Many of us bought our properties because it was near the beautiful open space and love looking at the beautiful scenery and would love to preserve the residential farm like setting of our neighborhood."
I have a question. When you bought your property near the "beautiful open space" you did realize that the "open space" was privately owned and not a park, right?
That means that the property owner gets to -- within the law -- do whatever they want to do on the property. Most of us would love to live near "beautiful open space" but guess what? We don't.
Should I ask the town to buy my nearby neighbor's homes and tear them down and make a park for my viewing?
Of course not, and neither should you.
If the neighbors want to keep the land "open," they need to outbid Trinity for the land, period.
If not you are going to lose this, no matter how much stuff you make up and whether or not you hold your breath and stamp your feet.
Try saying this "eminent domain"-do you know what that is, fool? That IS when the town buys up your house and puts up whatever the F they want-do you walk Pier Village in Long Branch? Do you ask yourself what was there first, and what lies under your feet as you walk? Homes that were taken because the town thought they should be. Asbury Park, same thing. Houses the town took because it could. Period.
Tell you what, move to Lakewood. I think you belong there. Then you can help all the private schools drain your wallet because, after all, we should just accept whatever crap someone hands us and roll over and show our bellies because what good is fighting back? Go gentle into that good night, sir, because that's about all milkquetoasts like you are good for.
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