A tribute to Friends of Lake Neepaulin

The people of Wantage who were against the Friends of Lake Neepaulin have won. They have officially took away one of Wantage's major assets by disrespecting their fellow townspeople, and at the same time tearing apart township officials wanting to sponsor an organization that stands for what good people in Wantage really are: caring, appreciative, and supportive. To all of those who tore apart Friends of Lake Neepaulin, this is what I have to say to you:

There will be no more happy summers,

There will be no more children laughing at the beaches and swimming in the lake. There will be no more reports of happy summer fishermen who catch big fish at Lake Neepaulin. There will be no more people who truly have cared for Lake Neepaulin. There will be no more townspeople working with community. People whose lives that have revolved around this lake are no longer going to have fun this summer. Their hopes of being a part of Fourth of July bashes, ice-cream Socials, Halloween parades, Bingo Nights, Easter festivals, teen nights, book signings, readings by many known authors, arts/crafts, and Christmas with songs around the Christmas tree with hot cocoa and two llamas pretending to be reindeer are dashed. When talking about what F.O.L.N. did during Christmas time, let's not forget the sweet Santa on the firetrucks handing out candy canes to all of our little ones.

You all should be ashamed of your actions.

Friends of Lake Neepaulin have truly been a caring, appreciative, and supportive organization. These loving people have not only cared for many Wantage families for many years, but have touched my heart with how kind they are to young children as well as the township by saving the lake to preserve the area's real estate values, and the Lake Neepaulin's water supply. By the way, due to the efforts put in by F.O.L.N., Lake Neepaulin was made one of the cleanest lakes by the state of New Jersey. Lastly, F.O.L.N. made sure they worked with Wantage Township to sponsor the community around them by advocating for Wantage families and Wantage Organizations in need of patronizing and understanding.

These certain people have taken away the joy and goodness of a community. I have seen Friends of Lake Neepaulin work on their hands and knees to make sure that children and Wantage families had a beach to come to, fresh water to drink, and a township that appreciates where it lives.

Let's all remember the good times we've had at this beautiful lake with beautiful people who have cared about all of Wantage's many families since we grew up in Wantage Township. Let's thank F.O.L.N. for not collapsing before the dam was built. Let's praise God that he worked hard to bring the community together through showing Wantage that after a hard couple of year's work, we got an asset we all have enjoyed. I would personally like to say thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Jable for making F.O.L.N. happen, and to other F.O.L.N. members and township officials that stuck up for all those in favor of wanting our lake.

Daniel J. Raggi
Wantage