October 16, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 19 Letters to the Editor (continued from page 18) and responsible. Tony Zolfo has my whole- hearted support. If this message resonates with you, I urge you to vote for him, too. Margaret Raphael Franklin Lakes Requests respectful dialogue Dear Editor: I am deeply saddened by the reappear- ance of anonymous, negative e-mails in Franklin Lakes. Over the past year and a half, our residents have been subjected to inflammatory e-mails from anonymous sources that contain questionable/inaccu- rate information attacking members of our school board, administration, and commu- nity. I had truly hoped that the individuals behind these messages had come to their senses. Clearly they have not. To those associated with these e-mails: STOP! I thought this chapter in our town was behind us. I have seen efforts to elevate conversation and to hold people to a higher standard of conduct. This is what we need. Anonymous, negative e-mails filled with accusations and rumors do nothing to ben- efit our town. These e-mails are clearly tied to the November election. I truly hope that there is no link between board of education candidates, trustees, and these messages. Anyone who feels that blasting a commu- nity with negative, anonymous e-mails is appropriate has no business making deci- sions about our schools, our children, or our town. We teach our children to exercise sound judgment online. We would never tolerate their use of anonymous, slanderous e- mails to harass or intimidate peers. I don’t think we should expect anything less from the adults in our town. Ironically, this is the “Week of Respect” in New Jersey’s schools, a time when schools emphasize the importance of char- acter education by providing age-appro- priate instruction aimed at preventing harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Let’s practice what we preach. If you have something to add to the discussion, stand up and put your name to it. Let’s have real, fact-based, respectful dialogue. Let’s be adults. Rebecca Rund Franklin Lakes Resident responds Dear Editor: In his letter in the Times of Oct. 9, Joel Winton again refers to George White’s “definitive” (previously described as “epic”) review of the science of climate change. A look on the Internet by his name reveals that White’s 2008 paper has its critics. All (emphasis supplied) scientific work should, of course, be viewed criti- cally. White’s theory should be weighed against the consensus of 97 percent of cli- mate scientists as reported on the NASA website. That includes 18 American scien- tific associations, 11 international science academies, 13 U.S. Government depart- ments and agencies, and nearly 200 world- wide scientific organizations. The latest of five reports since the early 1990s from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states with 95 percent certainty that human influence is responsible for over one-half the change that is happening now. Consider the consequences of doing nothing except spewing our waste gases into the great open sewer in the sky in the hope that the laws of nature will not apply. When in doubt, cry “Wolf!” Tom Bugel Wyckoff Cyberbullies have no place in Franklin Lakes Dear Editor: It is election time in Franklin Lakes and my hope of a healthy, open, and transpar- ent season for the K-8 board of education was halted recently when I received a copy of an anonymous angry, attacking e-blast. The URL was purposely set to mirror a valid candidate’s website, but make no mis- take: This is e-blast is from a coward, not a candidate. For those not familiar, similar e-mails were sent before, during, and after the election last year and they are what I consider adult cyberbullying. Franklin Lakes is the community in which I, like many others, chose to raise a family. Many of us chose it because of good schools, an easy commuting location, reasonable taxes, and the beautiful, serene surroundings. I do not want to be part of a community in which it is acceptable to use anonymous, slanderous, cyberbullying type e-mails to toss accusations at our fellow residents. I do not want to question my decision to raise my family here because adults in our community don’t follow the bullying stan- dards we set for our children. As parents, we profess to want anti-bul- lying measures in our schools; what about in our community? I implore whoever is sending the inflammatory, negative, and potentially slanderous e-mails to please stop. Stop hiding behind anonymity. Restore a sense of decency to our community. Focus on the real issues. If the issues you raise in your e-mails are real, you should have no fear to put your name on your broadcasts. Bring the issues forward, and let’s have a fact-based discussion, with a respectful sharing of opinions. Let’s show some maturity, professionalism, and intellect. Mary E Calvano Franklin Lakes We need Kathie Schwartz and Christine Christopoul Dear Editor: Kathie Schwartz and Christine Chris- topoul have my full support in their bids for election to the Franklin Lakes Board of Education. I have known Kathie for over nine years and Christine for six. They both bring a wealth of experience at a time where our district is in dire need of experience and stability. I, along with many others, believe they have no agenda other than the best inter- ests of our children. In their many years of service, Christine and Kathie have always conducted themselves as true professionals and have both demonstrated time and time again that they can see beyond the misin- formation and half truths and do the right thing. The fact is they are concerned about what’s best for our town, for our schools, and most of all, for our children. Kathie Schwartz and Christine Christo- poul are best for our children. Renee Cardaci Franklin Lakes