Hi, Ed, I just read the story about the children doing all that destruction at the Monument Elementary school. What’s an 11-year-old doing out at 10:30 p.m.? What about the parents? No one seems to care. I think the parents should be punished along with the boy for letting him out unsupervised.

Grounded parent

Parents are the number one reason our kids are the way they are today. Most parents are afraid to discipline their kids, first and foremost because parents don’t want their kids to feel like they’re friends. Parents need to parent, not be friendly. And I agree, parents of trouble kids should be punished, too.

- Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, Mayor Gilmore always complained about not having ratables in Hamilton and that was the reason for our high taxes. I see more stores out there along Route 130 in Hamilton, the new hotel being built, car washes, and everything else. Where’s all the money going from these new tax ratables? Why doesn’t Mayor Gilmore give it back to the people?

Tapped out taxpayer

In New Jersey (Hamilton included), businesses only build if they get a TAX ABATEMENT. Just in case you don’t understand that: It means there are no ratables paid. So my guess is that the ratables were all given away to big-box retailers and businesses.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, can you tell me if and when the South Trenton Marine terminal will open up again? I’ve been fishing there over 40 years, and it has been closed for over five years now. I think the crumbled dock structure has been repaired. This is a historic landmark and should be opened up again. It’s one of the best fishing areas on the Delaware River. Let’s get all the boats out of there and open it up again.

Catfish George

The best advice I can give you is to start a protest — get as many people out as possible. It’s an election year. I’m sure state, county and local politicians won’t want to be embarrassed. Get the pressure on them with protests like it was a labor strike. Make their lives miserable. You’ll get that place opened soon enough.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I was reading, “From Nanny to Slave.” It really gets me sick to see an immigrant come into our country through all the legal channels and get treated like she did. This Angelita Reyes should be forced to do some jail time, so she can really see what it’s like to be a slave.

Legally yours

I say we reverse the roles for this chick. Let’s see how much Angelita likes being locked up and forced to work on somebody else’s schedule. She’s a dog.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about about the nanny. How can you bring her, or anyone, here to this country and turn them into slaves? I am so angry I want to go out there to West Windsor and just march by myself. Do something so this cannot happen again! It’s happening and we don’t know about it. How can you take someone’s passport and turn them into slaves? I am one angry senior citizen and a descendant of slavery. I cannot understand this. Something should be done with that family in West Windsor. I have a feeling there’s a lot of this going on with immigrants who are trapped in a private home and afraid of being deported if they speak up.

Angry senior citizen

I like the protest idea. Let’s organize a protest against illegal aliens and slavery of illegal aliens. As for the family in question, I think we need to build an old-fashioned Gulag for these people.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’d like to thank Joe O’Gorman and The Trentonian for the excellent coverage they gave the Nottingham Babe Ruth 14-year-olds down in Virginia and here in Hamilton. The coaches and kids are great. Thanks again.

Noting fan

That’s our Joe ... covering the area like wall-to-wall carpet. Or is that white on rice? Or maybe he’s like an all-seeing eye that can write a great story? Umm, well thanks for reading and keep an eye out for our complete local sports coverage every day.

— Ed. Note

Ed, it’s funny how all the papers, all the writers, when they talk about gangs they always talk about the Bloods and Crips. They let all the other gangs off, even the Mafia, as if they are not terrorizing our society. Even crime in this country discriminates. We need to get all of them off the streets, make them change their lives, but not lock them up for the rest of their lives because one stupid mistake made by this society is to put criminals all together. That’s the biggest mistake you can make. If you want to make any changes, you need to change their lives. They need time, direction and discipline, and they need it now. There’s a way to do it, and I have a plan.

Save Your

Don’t tell me. Does your plan include building rec centers and other places where they can find “constructive” ways to spend their time? If so, you’re way off base, because to fix the gang problem you need to start with the parents. Case closed.

— Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I see how quick President Bush is taking care of Texas as the hurricane approaches. He hurried up and started doing things before anything even happened. He didn’t do that for Louisiana.

Democrat@heart.numb

And if the president wasn’t so quick to send aid to Texas you would be complaining that he didn’t learn anything from the Katrina response and was dragging his feet again. There’s no winning for him with whiners like you.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I don’t know how, but I lost my wallet on Aug. 17 at the Aldi supermarket. The manager asked everyone in the store if they saw a black wallet. One lady in particular, I didn’t get her name, came to my aid. She was a tremendous help (I won’t go into details) but I just want to praise her for helping me. I wanted her to know they found my wallet in a box but the money was gone. Even if I didn’t retrieve my wallet, the way she helped me meant more to me than losing the wallet. God bless her. Thanks, Ed.

Grateful

There is plenty of goodness in the world. Sometimes you have to look closer, but the goodness is out there. This lady sounds like a real class act. Obviously one of the good guys.

— Ed. Note

Ed, isn’t there a law against using city equipment for personal use? I don’t see how these Trenton detectives get away with using city cars and city gas for personal use. I’m not making six figures, like most of these Trenton detectives, plus I’ve got to pay for my own car, gas and taxes. This is ridiculous. It all starts at the top with Santiago trying to protect his two pensions and Palmer, who is nothing but a self-promoter and doesn’t care about the city. It’s time to stop government waste in Trenton. Let’s get rid of these politicians, every one of them; we’ll vote them out.

Chronic

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Get rid of all these politicians, BUT yours. Right? Your idea is wonderful in the fantasy world, but in the real world, people vote for the same people over and over again.

— Ed. Note

Ed, this is for the person from Bordentown who rides the River Line every day. I don’t know why you have to buy tickets because when I’m on it, half the people don’t have tickets, they just walk on and off, and even brag about how they don’t buy tickets and nobody checks. The River Line would make so much more money if they had someone checking for tickets.

Commuter scooter

Just because people are dishonest doesn’t give you or anybody else a license to be dishonest. So the RiverLine would make more money if everybody would just buy a ticket. Be an example and others just might follow. Besides, the creeps aren’t just ripping off the RiverLine, they’re ripping off every taxpayer in this state who gets stuck footing the bill. Save yourself and you’ll save an entire population.

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, this is Mill House Nursing Home. We just got our delivery of stuffed animals from Kathy. Our seniors are going to think it’s Christmas Day. The animals are beautiful, in mint condition, and Kathy is such a sweetheart. From your article, I even had Mary come to donate some of her stuffed animals. Thank you. Mill House is so grateful. You did a wonderful job.

Joan, admissions director

Happy to have helped, but I did very little here. Kathy did all the hard work, and you’ll have to make sure nobody gets left out. Enjoy, and have a very Merry early Christmas. But read below because it looks like we’ve started a mini-movement.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I have a very large quantity of beanie babies that I’d be willing to give to some of the senior citizens and VA people who contacted you.

Karen

I’ll gladly share those numbers with you. But I’d love to hear from a couple of veterans organizations, too. Oh, and as for that mom that wanted the stuffed animals for her kids: You are barred from calling about these Beanie Babies, baby.

— Ed. Note

Coming over the bridge from Pennsylvania, I spotted a brand new sign welcoming people to New Jersey. Gee, I thought you’d want to conceal that from the rest of the nation.

Who says you can't go home?

You haven’t been here long, have you? You can’t hide New Jersey from anybody as long as north Jersey continues to smell the way it does. Don’t you ever drive the turnpike?

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, I am shocked and appalled at the recent headline in The Trentonian, “Study: Seniors screwing.” I can’t believe you would run such a headline. My young child reads the paper and he says, “Mom, what’s screwing?” How am I supposed to explain that to a 9-year-old?

Mommy dearest

I suggest a field trip to the Tools department at your local Sears. Those Craftsman screwdrivers are the perfect prop for this lesson.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed. As citizens of this lovely planet, we must start to conserve energy. We can do that by shutting off our clothes dryers and hanging clothes to dry. It would also save money. So what if your shirt is a little wrinkled, it doesn’t matter. We must do out part to conserve. It’s our responsibility.

Wrinkle Krinkle

You could also probably conserve energy if you just stopped talking right now, because nobody is going to go out with a wrinkled shirt in this day and age. Don’t you read Glamour or GQ? Get with it already. Conserving energy is so old school.

— Ed. Note

Ed, if the U.S. is still the richest country in the world, why is everyone so broke? Communities aross the country are complaining they don’t have enough money, they can’t afford to hire more policemen, or do this or that. If we are so rich, why are we so poor?

Taxed poorly

Home rule. It’s just that simple. We don’t need all these mayors, councils, administrators, directors, assistant directors, clerks, secretaries and on and on and on. But everybody seems to think that they need all that and lower taxes. That is not going to happen. The sooner we understand we only need about 20-25 regional councils in this state that oversees everything from trash pick-up to dog licenses, we’re going to continue to feed a very corrupt system of parasitic public officials.

— Ed. Note

Ed, is there a curfew in Trenton for children? If there isn’t, there ought to be. Seems like there’s a lot of 14- and 15-year-olds shooting people after midnight.

Clock watcher

Do you really think a curfew matters to these kids or their parents. If their parents were really concerned, or involved, these kids would be out on the streets at that hour with or without a curfew.

— Ed. Note

Ed, in the old days, if you stole a man’s horse, you were hanged. Well, if they steal a man’s car they should be hanged, too.

Billy the Kid

So you want to hang anybody that steals a Mustang, Pinto, Charger, Bronco, any Ferrari, and I guess we could include anything with horsepower — including my John Deere.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m reading the Aug. 22 story on page 4, “Four charged in Hopewell marijuana bust.” This shows you why they don’t want to legalize weed: It’s a money-maker in fines. They confiscated their vehicle and money. For larger amounts of weed, they confiscate everything you have. I wish they would do this to the crooked politicians. Maybe that would stop the nonsense in this state. And the drug companies do not want weed legalized because they make $300-$700 off a pill version of marijuana. You’ve just gotta love it. Only in New Jersey! They oughta call this The Soprano State.

Winston Salem

Are you kidding? Could you imagine the tax cash cow that weed would be for the state bank accounts if they legalized it and put a tobacco tax on it? My guess is that they would probably triple the current cash grab from cigarettes.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I have a message for people who are in gangs and their parents. I think they should be able to sue the rappers, producers, whoever put that stuff out here on the street for these kids to copy. I think every parent who lost a child should be able to sue and get paid for the loss of their child, even though it won’t bring that child back. It should teach these people a lesson that they cannot bring this stuff out here and expect it to be serve as a role model for these young people.

Reason to sue

Awwww, yeah! It’s the rappers fault. Just like it’s McDonald’s fault that kids are fat. It’s the actors in soap operas’ fault that our kids are overly dramatic. And it’s the school systems’ fault that our kids can’t add 2+2 ... oh, wait, that is the school systems’ fault. Maybe you have a point, or maybe you’re way off base.

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, I’m from the Pure Refuge Church of Christ, a newly established organization in East Trenton, and I’m looking at “Stuffed Animals” in BackTalk. Our members have gone around the area to introduce ourselves and welcome individuals to our church. We are interested in having some of the stuffed animals.

Doin’ God’s work

I’ve passed on your request to Kathy, and all I can say is that it’s now in God’s hands.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I read about Kathy who wants to give away some stuffed animals. I belong to the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary and we give stuffed animals to patients in the hospitals, both state-run facilities and the VA. If Kathy sees fit to give us her stuffed animals, we’ll gladly take them.

DAV Angel

Vets have a really special place in my heart, and in the hearts of many citizens. Cuddly little stuffed animals can brighten up somebody’s day for sure.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about Kathy and her stuffed animals. I have grandchildren and a 3-year-old son, and I’d like to have these animals to decorate their bedrooms. I’d like to reach Kathy.

Hands out

I had suggested Kathy look into giving them to the cops who use these stuffed animals to comfort kids in traumatic situations, or to donate them to a local hospital’s children’s ward. But you want them for your kids? How about NO! Think beyond your kids’ bedrooms.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m the admissions director at Mill House Nursing Home, calling about Kathy who is offering stuffed animals. If no one has claimed them, I’d love to have them for the 125 residents at our nursing home. They love stuffed animals and love putting them on their beds and around the room. It just brightens their day. I’d love to have someone to think of my seniors at Mill House.

Smile Mill

125 senior citizens? You don’t let them watch “Cocoon,” do you? I wouldn’t want to see them getting any funky ideas about swimming next door or going on a boat ride. We all know how wild seniors are these days. I read the story yesterday.

— Ed. Note

Hello, Ed, I’m calling from Royal Health Gate Nursing Home about the stuffed animals one or your readers wants to give away. We would like to have those stuffed animals at the nursing home.

Royal request

How many seniors do you have over there? You’ve confiscated all those VHS and DVD copies of “Cocoon,” right? I’m warning you, that movie is a bad influence on the older crowd. Don’t let ’em watch it! I’m warning you.

—Ed. Note

Ed, who is Dennis Gonzalez to threaten a citizen for asking questions about accountability? It makes no sense. These city politicians are just out of control.

Local observer

Oh, these politicians are far from out of control. They are very much “in control.” And they know all too well how to handle citizens who dare ask a question. Now sit down and be quiet before I sue you, too. With my apologies to Weird Al Yankovic: “I‘m gonna sue, sue, yes, I’m gonna sue. Sue, sue, yeah, that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna sue, sue, yes, I’m gonna sue. Sue, sue, yeah, I might even sue you...”

— Ed. Note

Ed, Michael Vick pleaded guilty because he was afraid of going to jail for five years, not because he wanted to get his life back on track. And a mistake in judgment? Are you kidding? A mistake in judgment would be hanging or drowing one dog, not EIGHT. He’s a pig and he deserves never to play football again.

Soo-ey

But wait! If he’s a pig wouldn’t it be a better idea to send him off to the pen where he can be part of the pig-fighting routine there? Or would you rather see Vick squeal like a Deliverance pig?

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, it’s very easy for police to find out if a person is legal or illegal. All they do is call the Social Security Office, give the name and number, and they will tell you. Sometimes they may ask for a birth date. The government also sends employers a list of Social Security numbers and asks if any are incorrect. My employer found he had lists and lists of illegals.

Alien landing

So there really is an “easy” button for these guys. There is a simple concept in play here: Don’t ask, don’t tell. If we don’t know they’re illegals we don’t have to deal with them as illegals. Unless of course the illegal sticks a gun in the back of somebody’s head and pulls the trigger.

— Ed. Note

Ed, does anyone know a baseball player named Art Mahaffey. My huband passed away three years and I found a baseball signed by this man in his drawer. If anyone knows, please tell me.

Widow’s ball

Art Mahaffey was picked up by the Phillies in 1956, and made his debut on the mound on July 30, 1960. The Phils traded him to the Cards along with Pat Corrales and Alex Johnson. The Phils got Bill White, Dick Groat and Bob Uecker. In 1967, the Cards traded him off to the Mets along with Jerry Buchek and Tony Martinez. Mahaffey was a three-time All-Star. As far as I can tell, Mahaffey is alive and well, but I don’t know where he is living.

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, Police Director Santiago said Reyes was transferred because of the crime rising in the South Ward. Was it that or was it because Reyes was reporting the crime accurately, and not the way Santigao wanted him to do for appearances?

Crime citer

Now there you go trying to start trouble. Why not just realize that both things you cite are reason? Can’t having rising crime just be because somebody wants to report it?

— Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’m a Bordentown resident, I take the River Line to work and buy my tickets each day. Yesterday the machines were broken. When an NJ Transit cop pulled up, I told him about the machines and asked for his badge number, so if something happens, he could confirm what happened. I got no assistance; this guy was really rude. Today the machine was still broken but thank God there was a lady on the platform with an extra ticket and she sold it to me. The point is, if these machines are not working and we can’t get tickets, we get issued a $71 ticket which has already happened to me. That’s not fair. We are busting our humps to make ends meet, and then we get a ticket because of their negligence? What kind of answer can we get from NJ Transit?

Paying Commuter

I would say the only response that NJ Transit would have is to put more cops on the platform now so they can catch that woman who was scalping a ticket to you. But don’t expect them to fix the machines as long as they can stick you with a $71 fine.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, do you know of an organization that would be interested in taking a lot of beautiful stuffed animals in mint condition? We just cleaned out our older kids’ rooms and we’ve been saving these animals for years. They are very clean and new looking. I’m giving you my number so they can call me.

Cathy

A few things come to mind. I know that the police have been using stuffed animals in traumatic situations with children to help calm them and feel secure. I’m also certain that any hospital with a children’s ward would probably be interested in these stuffed animals. And, of course, my darling sweetheart at TenderHearts would probably be able to find a good home for a lot of those cute and cuddly stuffed animals. There’s three ideas, but I’m sure our wonderful BackTalk audience will have other ideas.

— Ed. Note

Hello, Ed, I am not a resident of Trenton although I have resided in Trenton and owned property there previously. I doubt very seriously that Mr. Gonzalez will find an attorney to take such an unsubstantiated case that lacks merit. Mr. Chester is allowed to ask questions and raise concerns. To deny him this is to deny him his first amendment rights. It has been my experience that when one asks legitimate questions officials become outraged as though no one can or should dare question them. Mr. Chester should, if he desires, seek legal counsel to ascertain if this proposed suit is groundless. I am sure that he will find that his actions do not rise to the level of slander. I have read the letter from Gonzalez and reviewed the city council tapes and can only conclude from a lay person’s prospective that Gonzalez is off base with his desire to sue Mr. Chester. Then again anyone can sue.

Concerned Citizen of NJ

Oh, ye of little faith. There is a lawyer out there for every case. There was a judge willing sue for $50 million because his pants got damaged. There’s a lawyer for every case. It’s the nature of the beast. So fear not, Mr. Gonzalez will find legal counsel.

— Ed. Note

Ed, my sympathy goes out to the parents of the boy who lost his life drinking at Rider University in March. But do they think it will make it better if the blame is put on someone else? The dean of students cannot babysit all the kids in his college. If a student can pass a college exam, shouldn’t he be smart enough to know that excessive drinking can lead to death? I think this might be about money. If the dean and director are found guilty, then the parents will sue the school.

Responsibility sensibility

Isn’t that the American way? Hey, if you can’t inherit a fortune why not sue the living bank account out of someone or something.

— Ed. Note

Ed, with oil prices so high, why is the government cutting back on tax credits for solar-powered equipment and electric cars? Doesn’t make sense.

Oiled out

The answer is contained in your question: government is involved. With oil company profits hovering around $10 BILLION per quarter just how much of that money do you think is seeping into the re-election accounts of politicians? Government is involved, so you can forget about finding alternatives to the cash cow.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I read in The Trentonian that all three of Hamilton’s junior high middle schools plus Nottingham High and Langtree Elementary have failed the No Child Left Behind Act. I think Mayor Gilmore should look into what’s going on with our schools instead of posing for pictures with the baseball team and doing ribbon cuttings. Why should anyone be paying our high taxes if the schools are no good?

Taxing reaxing

Some critics of the No Child Left Behind Act argue that the standards are too high, unreasonable and unrealistic. Mind you, these are the same critics of school vouchers, school reforms and school accountability. But, hey, they say more money will fix the problem. So keep paying those taxes. Your money will be put to good use.

— Ed. Note

Ed, with three people executed in cold blood, isn’t it about time to support and use our now existing death penalty to it’s fullest extent? It’s our only alternative to this kind of perverted behavior where there’s no respect for human life. Don’t give me this nonsense about “cruel and unusual punishment,” either. And to heck with our “sanctuary” state status and illegal aliens, immigrants or not. They don’t belong here and I don’t want to enable them with my tax dollars.

Headsman

You’re kidding, right? This is New Jersey, they are going to put these murderers up in a swanky New Jersey state prison with three squares a day and an education system where they will learn how to kill and not get caught next time. New Jersey has proven it will never use the death penalty, or that pathetic creature that goes by the name Jesse Timmendequas would already be done and gone.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I have a question about major league baseball, Barry Bonds, and everybody concerned about records, broken or not broken. What about Josh Gibson and all the records from the Negro Leagues that nobody wants to talk about. Josh Gibson had over 800 home runs. Can anybody top that without using steroids? Even on steroids, you can’t break that record. Let’s be fair and look at Josh Gibson’s record and the Negro Leagues.

Best All-around Fan

I would agree with you, if they could prove the claim of “over 800 home runs.” Nobody seems to be able to prove it. The Baseball Hall of Fame’s Special Committee on the Negro Leagues says he hit 224 homers in 2,375 at-bats against top black teams, 2 in 56 at-bats against white major-league pitchers and 44 in 450 at-bats in the Mexican League. The Negro League did not keep records. There are no statistics. The 224 homers were culled from old newspaper reports. But I get your point. So let’s take this conversation over to the BackTalk Blog at trentonian.com. I’d like to get to the bottom of this issue.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m retired and worked 40 years to support the kind of lifestyle I want and intend to keep. I live within my means and expect the state of New Jersey to do the same. $420,000,000 for stem cell research? (Who’s the idiot who said if we saved “one life,” it’s worth it. You gotta be kidding!) We don’t have the money, it’s as simple as that ... period. Don’t spend what we don’t have. Leave it to private industry. Just wait until the next elections.

Thoroughly Disgusted

What’s going to happen in the next election? Oh, wait, I remember, because it’s the same thing year after year: We send the same people who create the problems back to make more problems because they keep promising to fix the problems whenever there is an Election Day nearby. Whew! I almost forgot.

— Ed. Note

Ed, contaminated school sites? I thought it was the responsibility of the contractor to control the dirt that comes out and goes into the construction site. How did the contractor dodge that bullet? And who’s going to watch the city? For $57 million, you could buy a lot of square footage. We’re talking about three old schools. Maybe it’s time for them to come down and one new school to go up.

Dirt devil

You know how that finger-pointing deal works. And how dare you call into question the reputation of a contractor and government! Why contractors and government have worked together for years on creating and building and...

— Ed. Note

Ed, New York Mayor Bloomberg is a hypocrite. He complains about all the guns in New York, yet his city is a sanctuary city that harbors gangs and thugs. By the way, looks like Mayor Palmer is heading for the same designation.

Axl Rose again

With my apologies to Guns & Roses: Take me down to the sancutary city. Where the grass is mean, and the girls ain’t pretty. Take me home (Oh, won’t you please take me home). Just an urchin livin’ under the street. I’m a hard case that’s tough to beat. I’m your charity case, so buy me somethin’ to eat. I’ll pay you at another time. Take it to the end of the line. Rags to riches, or so they say. You gotta keep pushin’ for the fortune and fame. You know it’s, it’s all a gamble. When it’s just a game you treat it like a capital crime. Everybody’ doin’ their time. Take me down to the sanctuary city. Where the grass is mean, and the girls ain’t pretty. Take me home. (Oh, won’t you please take me home).

— Ed. Note

Hello Ed, I support Bill Baroni’s idea that politicians who are charged with improper actions or indicted for crimes while in office should not receive any pay while their trials are going on. Politicans very seldom get charged with something, so when they are, there’s got to be some substance to it. If they are found not guilty, they will get their back pay when the trial’s over.

Hangman

Normally I would disagree with punishing someone before they are found guilty — you know, the whole innocent until proven guilty thing. But we are talking about New Jersey politicians here. So I agree in this case: Any indicted politician gets his/her pay yanked... and the pension goes, too. All of it!

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, I’m so happy to read that our state government has finally passed a law that makes sense — convicted politicians are going to be stripped of their pensions. That’s the best thing they’ve ever done and it’s about time.

Law and disorder

You failed civics class, huh? Unless the Goobernor signs the bill into law, it is just a piece of paper with a good idea on it. And we’re talking about the New Jersey State Legislature here. The first question needs to be about just how much bite does this law have on its intended victims? Or does it have its teeth ripped out?

— Ed. Note

Ed. Note, I’m the guy who complained about the mail delivery. I just want to let Cliff know my remarks were mostly directed at management. I know how the delivery guys are overworked and underpaid, and the faster you deliver the mail, the more work they give you to do. So, if I offended you, Cliff, I sincerely apologize. As for the idiot who told me to get a job, I did 12 years in the Armed Forces serving my country and 35 years at United States Steel. I was forced to retire because of health problems, heart condition and arthritis in my knees so bad I can hardly walk. I had planned to work forever, as I am a workaholic, and in spite of my current condition, I could probably outwork him with my hands tied behind my back. We retirees have direct deposit, but then there are those big dividend checks, IRA checks, and 401(k) checks. This is the greatest country in the world, Ed, and I have the right to complain when I feel it’s necessary. And, Ed, your explanation about the mail situation was completely satisfactory.

Waiting

That’s why you called me: I’m always right! But you should read some of the stuff they say about me on the BackTalk Blog on trentonian.com. Check it out. I’m just as always right there as I am here.

— Ed. Note

Ed. Note, I have a question for all your thousands of readers. Is there anyone in the Mercer-Trenton-Bucks area who buys men’s and women’s clothing in excellent condition? If so, please print the phone number so we can call them.

Thanks.

Can you say e-Bay? No? Type in ebay.com and you can do the rest. But there must be a few consignment shop that would be interested in your wears, but not your wares.

— Ed. Note

Ed, on Aug. 16, my car broke down on Route 295 south, and a wonderful state trooper stopped and helped me. I wanted to thank him in Backtalk. He’s Trooper K. Saganowski. He stopped when he saw my car was smoking, jumped right out and allowed me to get to the shoulder. He made sure I was okay, called AAA for me, put flares behind my car, and waited a while. He was patrolling up and down 295 and said he had to check on a few things, but would come back to see if I was still there. Well, AAA came within 15 to 20 minutes and took care of me. I want to thank him and to say there are lots of good things about our state troopers and the State Police as well.

Damsel in Distress

You mean “K-Sag” helped you out? I know “K-Sag.” He’s good people. He’s a great trooper. He’s got a real future as a trooper/rapper, if he ever gets around to cutting the CD. In fact he once gave me a ticket for going under the speed limit. He’s a wonderful guy... I think. Actually, I don’t know the guy at all, but I just wanted to give him a nickname. Now I’m really going to get a ticket.

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, New Jersey is not putting needed emphasis on protecting people who inform on gang activities to the police. Unlike other mobs, gangs do not operate in secrecy. Everyone knows who they are. They operate from an ability to instill fear in the people around them to ensure their silence. The state needs to protect anyone who informs on gangs and also reward them with relocation, job training, new lives. All the state needs is a few victories in that area and I’m sure the people who are very tired of these gangs will start coming forward and gangs will have no place to operate.

Conditional surrender

If law enforcement is dropping the ball when it comes to informants, they need to step up and do it right. But at the same time, people can’t expect to get whisked off into some informant protection program because they decide to point out the bad guys. Stand up for where you live. A few victories in the neighborhood would send a really strong message to these gang thugs. If you keep quiet you are aiding and abetting the gangs. Think about it.

— Ed. Note

Ed, another bogus poll. I have not talked to one person who is in favor of gay marriages. Where do they get this information from? And I will not support any candidate who’s in favor of gay marriage.

Poll man

Well that settles it! You haven’t talked to anyone who is in favor of gay marriage, so no one must be in favor of it. At least nobody that matters... to you.

— Ed. Note

Ed, you take a survey of 803 persons and say their answers make it okay for gay people to get married in New Jersey? What kind of vote is that? Why not put it on the ballot in the next election, and then see how far this issues gets. I don’t think this survey is a true feeling of people in New Jersey.

Poll stop

First, let’s get this straight: I did not take a survey of anybody about anything. Well, unless you count the surveying I do down at the boardwalk.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I read the story about the “feces-filled mansion,” and the comment by an attorney who said the couple who owned the house were true animal lovers. Any true animal lover would not live in such deplorable conditions. Ah, attorneys! You’ve got to love them. They’ve got a great way of distorting the truth.

Feces watch

So you’re upset because some lawyer defended his/her client? I’m just happy I can finally use the headline “Feces-filled attorney.”

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, I’m calling about the item on canceling Hamilton’s SeptemberFest. The caller says the Italian-American Festival is free, but it is not free. For the last couple of years they’ve been charging admission. That organization has no accountability for the money they collect and they don’t have open elections for officers. If they cancel anything, they should cancel the Italian-American Festival.

Festival of whines

Oh, who knew this would open a can of worms containing Pandora’s Box. How about canceling both events and giving you all nothing to do on those weekends.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m a Hamilton resident and I say we should keep the Hamilton SeptemberFest going, don’t cancel it. It’s something everyone looks forward to every year. It’s a great community event.

Positive vote

OK, so, to recount: That’s one vote for SeptemberFest and four votes again... I think.

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, you can find stick-on tile at the Dollar Store in Independence Mall.

Sticky fingers

They still sell those self-stick vinyl tiles, wow! I remember them in my grandmother’s kitchen.

— Ed. Note

Ed, she can get stick-on tile at the Family Dollar Store on Route 33. We did our whole hair salon two years ago and it’s held up very well. We did it ourselves and it was very easy to work with. She’s welcome to come in and see for herself.

Cutter’s way

Is this a salon for the blue-haired ladies? Have you heard about this new fangled sheet vinyl? It’s one piece, less work and super duper shiny.

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, the guy who’s looking for self-stick tile can find it at the Dollar Store on State Street between Broad and Warren.

Sticky advice

Alright already! I think we got it! There is hordes of sticky vinyl tile out there. I guess I just don’t get out enough.

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, listen, we have tile right here in Trenton. It’s called Congoleum. It’s a big corporation. We need some help.

Tile title

I’m well aware of Congoleum, but the last I knew they were in the 21st century and producing sheet vinyl floor covering, not tiles. But I could be wrong. It’s never happened before, but I guess it’s possible...I think. No, I checked and I have never been wrong before. At least I don’t remember ever being wrong. No phone calls please.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I saw someone was looking for a lost bracelet in BackTalk. I found a bracelet around the first of the month in Hamilton. It’s gold but not a charm bracelet. They can call me and describe it.

Golden finder

Ummm, let’s see... I take a stab at describing it. It’s gold and it’s a bracelet. Am I right? Do I get it? What do I win?

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m thinking about New Jersey’s debt and wondering, wouldn’t it make sense to charge a “wage tax” on people who work in New Jersey but live out of state, like in Pennsylvania? Like they do in Philadelphia? It only makes sense; if they’re good enough to work for Jersey, they’re good enough to pay our tax.

Debt servicer

I love this idea! I have been saying this for years... long before Philly was doing it. And I say that anybody who works for the state and lives outside the state should be taxed even more — double it! It should work the other way too. If someone lives in the state, but works outside of the state, they should be taxed more too.

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, this is Feathered Friend calling. I just want you to know that thanks to your help the little lost bird from Robbinsville was reunited with his mommy. His name is Felipe and all is right with the world. She’s very happy. Thank you so much for your help.

Feathered Friend

Gotta love it when two love birds can get reunited. Oh, wait, it was one love bird and its owner. Whatever. I’m glad we could help.

— Ed. Note

Ed, here’s my solution for getting rid of the gangs in Ewing and everywhere else. Send them all to an island with a fishing pole and let them fend for themselves. Forget about wasting taxpayers’ dollars. They’re out here terrorizing innocent, hard-working people who are living in fear and paying enough taxes. Send them to an island and leave them there, no trials, no court dates, no nothing. Just leave them on that island and forget about them.

Fishermen’s friend

You really think you can teach a gang slug to fish? And I’m not spending a dime on these slugs, so they need to buy their own fishing poles. They could pick it up at the new Wal-Mart they’re going to build over on Spruce Street.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about solving the gang problem. Has anyone ever stopped to think, and look deeper, that there are folks who are profiting from this gang problem? Why is it that we can spend $30 million a month in Iraq but we cannot straighten out the inner city of Trenton, an area of just 7.5-square miles. This is something for you to think about, Ed.

Bean counter

I’m not thinking about it at all. I have enough to think about... do I want a bagel with cream cheese or butter? Should I get a decaf coffee or an orange juice? Do I drink enough milk? Am I getting enough fiber in my diet? What happens if I die tomorrow? Who will answer all these calls? Should I wait for Spider-Man 3 to come out on DVD or just buy the bootleg copy I saw at that store? Do these pants make me look fat? My life is plagued with things to think about.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I read that Mayor Palmer wants to extend the school day and year, and it’s going to require more teachers and significant financial support. Well that’s all fine and good, if he wants to make the teachers make some concessions, like paying for their health care, which they don’t do now. The state pays their insurance, which means the taxpayers pay. Palmer’s plan sounds good but the teachers have to start paying for their own health care.

Teacher’s lament

When pigs fly. If the school year gets extended you can bet the teachers weill get a big fat raise and few more freebies. I ain’t seen any airborne swine in a long time. Oink, oink!

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, does anybody know where I can buy a good quality self-stick vinyl tile? It’s going the way of the horse and buggy. I’ve tried Home Depot and they don’t carry it anymore. Other stores carry it in huge sizes with rough surfaces that are impossible to clean. Manufacturers are crazy to eliminate 12-inch self-stick vinyl tile.

Floored

Try a catalog, or ask if the store can special order it for you. Or Google “retro vinyl tile.” If that fails, I suggest you go out to Lancaster, Pa., and see if one of those Amish merchants can order it for you. They should be just about ready to use that stuff on their floors.

— Ed. Note

Ed, my wife lost a gold charm bracelet around Aug. 1 in Hamilton Township. It has much sentimental value because her mother gave it to her. We are offering a reward for its return. Please pass this on to your readers. I’m giving you my phone number in case someone calls you.

In search of...

OK, BackTalkers, can we find this bracelet? I have faith in the power of you all. And I am happy to report that the missing bird was reunited with its owner. You guys are the best, and you gals ... well, I’d like to give each and every one of you BackTalk gals a great big kiss, but the Brunette keeps telling me “No.”

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I just called about my homestead rebate check and and I was told it was being held pending an alleged debt from a New York company. I’m 80 years old, living on a fixed income, and I certainly could use that money. They won’t give me an explanation until I get a letter. Why couldn’t they send the letter before the checks went out?

Tight Budget

I’m sure you could use that money, but the politicians have decided that your needs are much less important than the needs of the bill collectors and credit companies that need to show a profit for their investors. Oh, and when they finally figure out that they got the wrong person, they’re never going to give you the check plus interest. It’s not your money, it’s their money and they‘ll spend it as they see fit.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m a 60-year resident of Hamilton Township and I totally agree with the reader who suggests doing away with Hamilton Township’s SeptemberFest. Hamilton has high property taxes and people losing property. We have the free Italian-American Festival at Mercer County Park right after the planned SeptemberFest. So, Mayor Gilmore and council, let’s do away with the festival.

HappyFest

That is two (2) votes to cancel SeptemberFest and still no votes to keep it going. Looks like we may have a consensus.

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, most of our New Jersey cities have serious gang problems. I saw on NJN news that Atlantic City is building, expanding and turning into a very beautiful city. How are they keeping the gangs out? The casinos don’t want them around ruining business. Maybe we can learn something from them to keep the gangs out of Trenton, chase them out and keep them out.

NJN viewer

So you want to build some casinos in Trenton? I like this idea. Get Donald Trump on the phone, I want to talk to him. Maybe he’ll call it the Trump Barracks or the Trump House. Let it ride!

— Ed. Note

Ed, I lost $50 last Thursday at the Downtown Festival near the peanut stand between 12:30 and 4 p.m. I need that money for my medication. It’s all I had. I hope one of your honest readers will come forward. I am leaving my phone number with you.

Broke

Please give this guy his cash.

— Ed. Note

Ed, BackTalk had an item Thursday about the rib fest in Princeton. It was not in Princeton, but in Plainsboro, so please give Plainsboro the credit. Princeton is not smart enough to have something that nice.

Juicy Ribs

Nothing goes with barbecued meat like a little mean-spirited town bashing. But I must point out that most of your neighbors up there in Plainsboro tell everybody they live in Princeton, so what’s the difference? It would appear that Princeton’s boundaries stretch from Nassau Street to Hollywood Boulevard.

—Ed. Note

Ed, this is for the person who complained about not getting his check on time from his mail carrier. I have a solution. He should get direct deposit and maybe trust banks, and then he can cash his check any time after they make that deposit. That will save a lot of aggravation and he won’t have to worry.

I-Dear

That ain’t gonna work cuz that mail waiter might be one of those scary serial complainers and I’m not about to shove a whiner off on some of those cute bank tellers I see when I go the bank.

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, Jose Carranza is not a man, he’s a dog. He must have some connection with the FBI because no way can someone get away with this crap. If they let him out there’s something wrong with this picture and with our justice system. He is doing something for them.

Dreamweaver

And so tell us your theories on the Kennedy assassination, crop circles and Roswell.

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, I’m calling about Jose Carranza. I see they are going to put him in a special place away from other inmates. I don’t think he should get special protection. What kind of protection did his four victims get?

Gaoler

It would appear the we need to find a way to copy the old Soviet gulags for just these types of people. Could you imagine this punk up in Northern Alaska in the middle of January washing the warden’s car outside just for kicks?

— Ed. Note

Ed, I want to comment on illegal immigrants and the Newark murders. It looks like the meaner the criminal, the more lenient the punishment. There’s no way people should be let loose to do more violent crime, but they do it. When they brought all these illegal immigrants and granted them asylum don’t you think we’re going to get a lot of bad apples?

Skoler

Would you please stop calling them illegal immigrants? They’re illegal aliens! Immigrants come into this country by legal means. Illegal aliens sneak in under the cover of darkness or stowaway in the back of a truck to hide among the population. Get it right.

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, you guys forgot to report that Newark is a sanctuary city, and the feds only encourage, not force, municipalities to report activities of illegal aliens to the federal government. So, that’s probably why this guy fell through the cracks.

Law skool

They more than fell through the cracks. But the fact remains that the local authorities chose to ignore the feds’ “encouragement” to turn in illegals.

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, this is Mayor Jack Ball from Ewing Township responding to comments in Friday’s BackTalk related to job opportunities that would be created by Wal-Mart. There is no one answer to solving our problems with gangs which exist across the entire country. I do believe that young people need alternatives, and one of those alternatives is to provide them an opportunity to become gainfully employed. Steering young people in the right direction and giving them an opportunity to succeed is just one concept in reducing gang membership. The more jobs that become available, and the more that we as adults, educators, and mentors can direct our young people to accept as a positive challenge, is just one means of reducing the number of young people opting for gang lifestyle. I never intended it to be the one surefire answer to the elimination of gangs. I think everyone would agree that employment, responsibility, challenge, and an opportunity to achieve and succeed, are objectives that are beneficial to every member of society. And all of the above need to be instilled in our young people. I thank you for this opportunity.

Mayor Jack Ball

Mr. Mayor, I understand what you’re saying, but these gang slugs need to understand, need to learn how respect work, and it’s not at the barrel of a gun. They need to respect themselves, their families and human life before we can ask them to straighten out with a job or anything else for that matter. Thanks for calling.

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, I think I have a problem-solver for all the gangs in Trenton. We need to bring in the National Guard and put them on Stuyvesant Avenue and Walnut Avenue, all the bad places where they’ve been having these problems. This would be a good training experience for when they go to Iraq. What do you think, Mayor Palmer, think that will work? I think so, and it’s about time?

An Army of None

Let’s see ... Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Manuel Noriega, Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, and on and on and on have all tried that experiment ... it doesn’t work. You don’t put an army on the ground to do police work. Give the cops the tools and support they need, with judges and prosecutors willing to back them up. Get parents involved and interested in parenting. That will solve the problem, eventually. But for now, we’re stuck with it.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I got a laugh reading about Wal-Mart and the gangs, Jack Ball and Greg Polliti. Ignorance is bliss, and they’re the happiest people on the block. Actually, the area’s gangs need a Wal-Mart for supplies — nail guns, duct tape and zip ties to tie people up, spray cans, all that good stuff. Thanks for the snicker.

The cynic

Oh, just what we need, another cynical commentator concerning the gang slugs. Look, mister, cynicism is my territory — back off!

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, I lost my wallet at Halo Farms and some sweet young woman found it and drove it all the way over to my house to return it to me. I didn’t get a chance to say thank you. Could you do it for me?

Lost and founded

Not a chance! I’m not telling her a thing! ... Just kidding. You already told her. I don’t have to tell her anything. See that! Every time I start to feel a little more cynical somebody like this young woman goes and ruins everything by giving me hope that there is hope out there. Well, I guess there really is hope. Now let’s get it moving in the direction of kicking all these slugs out around here.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I found some keys on Liberty Street at Harrell Street. Actually, it was two keys, a CVS card and Super Plus card. Perhaps you can help return them to their owner. I’m leaving my name and phone number with BackTalk in case someone contacts you.

Key keeper

You could also probably take the keys over to CVS or wherever the Super Plus card is used and have the store manager track down the owner for you. But if somebody is missing some keys with a cuople of tags on them, these might be them.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m calling to tell your readers that my son found a bird in the parking lot of the Commerce Bank in Robbinsville. If anyone is missing a bird, they can call me. I am leaving my phone number with you.

Zoo Keeper

OK, what kind of bird? And is it dead or alive? (Call BackTalk if you need the number)

—Ed. Note

Ed, Ninety-nine percent of the time I disagree with all these stupid laws, but I agree with the free needle exchange. The whole idea is to try to stop the spread of AIDS, which is enormously expensive. These people are on public assistance medical coverage, which means we taxpayers have to pay for their expensive treatments when they get AIDS and spread it to others. I know someone who died from AIDS after contracting it from a person who used needles. I understand the diabetics’ frustrations. I wish there was some way to help them. But people have to see the real issue involving the AIDS crisis in human and financial terms. Free needles are a step in the right direction.

Needles 2 Say

Or maybe there’s a way to get them to stop shooting illegal drugs into their veins?

—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the trouble at Rider University. I was the cook there at Phi Kappa Tau from September to May. All these boys were like my sons. I’m 75 years old and they treated me with the utmost respect. It’s sad about what happened, and I don’t think Rider is being treated fairly. And to all my “sons,” the shirt you gave me when school ended, you made me number 1. And you are number 1. Thank you from your cook, Buddy.

Chef

The alcohol-poisoning death at Rider is a tragic story, and it’s hard to tell whom to blame. Prosecutors, however, are spreading blame like it’s going out of style.

—Ed. Note

Dear No Patience, I am so sorry you didn’t get your mail by 4 p.m You see, in an effort to control overtime costs, we mail carriers are required to finish our routes and then cover the routes of carriers who have the day off. Be assured that I will make every attempt to stave off heat exhaustion to make sure you have your mail in time to go to the bank. I only ask that if you see me passed out on your neighbor’s lawn, please call for help. By the way, summer is one of the lightest times of the year for mail volume. It is not uncommon on a daily basis for several of my customers to have no mail!

Cliff Clavin

Dude, I think you need a day off, very soon.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I just read the fine article about Shannon McCray and her work in Mozambique. What a wonderful, lovely child she is. How proud her family must be of her. She gets my vote for All-American girl. God bless her and thank you, The Trentonian, and writer Joe D’Aquila for telling her story.

Warmed heart

Someone as bright as this gal could be pulling down big bucks on Wall Street. Yet she chooses to give her life over to serving others. It’s a great story.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I just want to comment on the state’s gang problem. Most of the law enforcement personnel in areas plagued by gangs have moved out to work for higher pay or because being a cop in those areas is a rough way to live. But New Jersey has a resource that has not been tapped, a large community of state correction officers who are peace officers. A lot of them live in gang-plagued areas, they know who is who, and they are willing to help stop this problem, but they can’t because they are prohibited by department policy. ... One of the things we could do immediately is add another 8,000 police officers on the ground just by changing this departmental policy. Correction officers could be be the eyes and ears for gang surveillance and it wouldn’t cost New Jersey a dime more, since they are already on the state payroll. I think some innovative thinking by our governor could help.

Insider

Outside law enforcement not accepting help from corrections officers? That’s ridiculous, but typical. Today’s inmate is tomorrow’s street gang thug, and vice versa.

— Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, enough is enough about Barry Bonds. If you have something on the man and you can prove it, then take him to task, I’m all for that. But if you don’t have anything on the man, we need to leave this alone. We already have kids that don’t want to go into baseball, especially African-Americans. It ought to be illegal to do this to Bonds. If he did something wrong, get him. If he didn’t, then leave him alone.

Drinking the juice

Which do you think is a worse message? Talking about the steroid problem vis a vis Bonds, and turning some African-American kids off to baseball, or sending the message that taking steroids is OK, and having a new generation of young athlete destroying their bodies with these substances?

— Ed. Note

Ed, this is for the person who complained his mail didn’t get to his house by 4:30 p.m. If you are that broken-down poor that you’ve got to wait for that check to come in, and you can’t cash it the following morning, go get a job. You’re making a statement that between 4:30 and 5, the work day is done, and you are still waiting for your check. That means you are not working. And if you are retired and waiting for a check you can still get a part-time job. I don’t sit by my mailbox waiting for the mail. Grow up.

Patience

Not everyone, for whatever reason, is as fortunate as you are. And it’s not always their own fault. Even if it is their fault, no one should go without food on their table and medicine in their cabinet when they need it.

— Ed. Note

Hi, BackTalk, I haven’t always agreed with L.A. Parker, but I have to be honest, his editorial on Newark is one of the best pieces of writing I’ve seen in The Trentonian in years. I wish to thank him for it.

Convert

L.A.’s won numerous awards for his column writing, and we’re proud that he’s part of the team here at The Trentonian.

— Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, thanks to everyone who made National Night Out a success on Third and Landing Street, especially our South Ward Councilman Page, the police and fire department for their persence, and the kids and neighbors who made this a special night. Looking forward to next year. From a Third Street police aide.

Good time

Here’s to hoping “Night Out” can be every night in Trenton.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m responding to your recent item, “We’re all immigrants.” That is true. But when my family came here they were not given anything. They were ridiculed, lived in poverty and shame, and were pushed into the gutters. Today, people who come here are given everything courtesy of the taxpayers. They get free education, free health care, free everything. But they are not here for the American Dream, they come here to take advantage of our system and take all the money back to their countries to live like kings. Some people are missing this point. I’m not missing the spirit of being a true immigrant, but I’ve seen the reality. They are taking advantage of all of us.

Suffer like me

Brilliant. Let’s go back to “pushing people into gutters.” And they should have to walk 10 miles to school, in 6-foot snowdrifts, uphill in both directions.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, Catherine Galasco, whose column appears in The Trentonian, has a beautiful way of writing that inspires the heart. She mentions that we are God’s masterpieces and his temple. Too bad a lot of people destroy that temple with a lot of punishment to the body, like drugs, alcohol, even tattoos. What a waste!

Born-again Christian

Catherine’s a classy lady who adds a lot to our Sunday paper. Thanks for reading.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, consolations to Henry Aaron. He got jobbed by BALCO Barry. When home runs per at-bat were the true measure of home-run hitting prowess, Babe Ruth was, and still is, THE home-run king. If anyone cares to include the steroid era, the only one to top Ruth was Mark McGwire, not Bonds. Aug. 7 changed nothing. All that’s left is the indictment.

Old school fan

Hank himself congratulated the steroid wonder via video. If Bonds weren’t such a jerk to boot, more would overlook the steroid issue.

— Ed. Note

Ed, we need to get back into the 1950s, when I was young. If I did something wrong at age 15, they would tell me to go home, and then they would tell my parents. And if I were 6 to 10, they would walk me home and tell my parents. We need that time back when parents were informed of wrong-doing by their kids, and those kids got what they deserved. They didn’t get in trouble like today. They weren’t running around at night hurting other people. They were sitting on the porch.

Father Knows Best

Am I catching a theme here? Let’s get in a time machine, and return baseball, neighborhoods, public schools to the 1950s?
— Ed. Note

Ed, here’s another thing about Hamilton’s dog park. People leave their dogs unattended while they jog around the park or attend a ball game. The dogs are left without water, and if something happens, there’s no one there to help the dog. That happens frequently. Just thought you’d like to know.

Dog days

Let’s take a few tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money and build watering troughs for all the dogs of Hamilton, like they had for horses in the Old West. What do you think, Mayor Gilmore?

— Ed. Note

Ed, this is about the New Hope couple charged with using company cash to expand their home. I hope Pennsylvania does what New Jersey does not do and throws the book at them because this is stealing. They should get the maximum sentence as a deterrent so that other people know Pennsy, unlike Jersey, is serious about crimes by their citizenry.

Stickler

Hey, maybe it was a “home office.” And that laminating machine was needed for reviewing paperwork in the new office hot tub.

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, I am not in any way surprised by the failing grades in the Trenton Public Schools. How much more of middle-class property tax dollars needs to be squandered by this Abbott district?

Pocket dipped

For as long as the state supreme court decides to legislate from the bench and play favorites with select school districts. What’s the matter, you don’t want to pay your share for this special treatment? Welcome to New Jersey: Come See for Yourself, or what we have come to know as Pay-to-Stay.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I find it amazing that you can’t even pass through customs with a nail file yet they can smuggle stolen cars through the Port Authority. Where have they been for years?

X. Ray

Who cares about stolen cars when you can hold up a nail file or water bottle in victory? I’m starting to think that we should return to the days of old and travel by steam ship. It would appear that it would be very difficult to slam a steam ship into a building. But you would have to worry about falling off a balcony.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I know how Hamilton can save a million tax dollars. Cancel SeptemberFest. It is terribly lame anyway, and you don’t need 300 cops there when you don’t even sell alcohol. Mayor Gilmore should take it on the chin and cancel SeptemberFest, it is so boring. The Rib Festival in Princeton is way better. It’s beer and food, just great, and it didn’t cost the taxpayers a nickel. Why can’t Gilmore get some more privately sponsored festivals, instead of this corny township thing with all the replicas of the buildings? It’s silly and boring.

Prince Ribton

You read it here first, er, I think, ladies and gentlemen! Something happening in Princeton is better than something happening in Hamilton!! Write down. Note it in your diaries and journals: We have a bid to cancel SeptemberFest, do I hear any takers on just renaming the whole county Princeton? Any takers?

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, every morning on Route 130 there’s a police officer driving his personal motorcycle. I don’t know if he’s going to work or coming from work, but he drives up 130 and shakes his head at people who are talking on cell phones in their cars. Well, I was behind him one morning recently and he was doing 10 miles over the speed limit. So, when he starts doing the speed limit, then we’ll hang up our cell phones. I think it’s only fair.

Can you hear me now?

Let’s just call it a draw and say that he can drive a whole 10 mph over the speed limit and you can talk on your cell phone. Deal? Nobody ever wins these silly arguments.

— Ed. Note

Ed, it’s 4 p.m. and our mail has not been delivered. The work day ends between 4:30 and 5 o’clock, and we don’t have the mail. If I have a check in the mail, I have to wait until tomorrow to cash it because the banks close at 3 p.m. Why don’t they deliver the mail? Holy moly, they just raised the price of stamps!! Can you check into why we can’t get our mail at a reasonable hour? Thanks, Ed.

No patience

Would you cut the mailman a break already. Look, they have a delivery route. Each mailman, or mailwoman, delivers the route differently. Some people are at the beginning of the route and get their mail early in the morning, and some people are at the end of the route and get their mail at the end of the day (you). What are you gonna do, go postal on the guy?

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I see Captain Sleepy's cruiser was reclaimed by the city. What I don't get is why did they hire all these people from outside the city to run the police department and then they continued to live outside the city. Do you think they have any interest in seeing it get safer? I don't. What do you think?

Live here

The premise behind requiring cops and other public servants to live in the community is great — and would work. If we could recruit enough qualified Trenton residents to fill the ranks.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, the other day I took the River Line from Bordentown to Camden. I was standing on the platform thinking what a pretty little area, what a nice convenience, when some kids came riding through the parking lot ... asking for money, and after boarding the train, the language out of the kids‘ mouths was disgusting. They should hire someone to deal with this. If they start the foul language, they should be kicked off at the next station.

Wielding soap

Gosh, darn it. These young whippersnappers always stirring up trouble. They need a good spanking.

— Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I see where New Jersey needs billions of dollars to fix our bridges. I don‘t see a problem. Just raise everyone‘s property tax.

Tax and spend

What was the over-under on how long Corzine‘s ”property tax cut“ would last? They‘ll always find a way to spend more.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m a senior citizen and I’d like to thank a nice young man who came to my aid on a July afternoon when I had a flat tire on Cedar Lane. He was kind enough to stop and asked if I needed help, and then called AAA and waited with me until they arrived. I didn‘t get his name but I want to thank him.

Grateful

Don’t believe all the bad stuff you hear about the youth of this area.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, how many illegal immigrants would volunteer to serve in the U.S. military for our country, the ones who say this is their country? How many came here thinking it was the best place in the world to enjoy all the freebies? They‘re taking a lot from us. How many would fight for our country? I bet you zero. So these illegals immigrants, I‘m sick of them saying ”want, want, want.“ It‘s a lot of bull. Lots of immigrants from the past fought for this country and made it was is is today. These new illegals came with drugs and guns and hatred in their hearts. If you give me a sarcastic answer, I‘ll stop calling.

Final Call

Oooh, you'll stop calling. I'm really scared.

— Ed. Note

Ed, the laws of New Jersey have really gone nuts, indicting all those people for the drinking death of that Rider student who drank himself to death. The only one responsible is the kid. He was 18 and in college.

Ghost Rider

It‘s not the laws that have gone nuts, it‘s the law enforcers.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, about your Page 6 picture, can‘t the large white bar with the writing in it across the bottom be placed vertically so it does not to block the view?

Seymour Butts

OK, as long as we‘re still getting the information about Brandi‘s hobbies.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m concerned about photos of Trenton’s police published in The Trentonian. I thought they had to have regular health exams to protect themselves health-wise, but I guess I’m wrong. The officer who was shown sleeping was truly overweight. I’ve seen other officers also with the same problem. How can they protect the public when they can’t protect themselves because of their own health conditions? I think they should take serious action.

What a waist

You mean you wouldn’t want that officer to be the guy entrusted with chasing down your attacker on foot?

— Ed. Note

Ed, it’s just more semantics in New Jersey. I read about this woman (Aug. 3 edition) who lives in the wrong Pemberton. What difference does it make where you live? If you need help, you need help. If you were drowning and they were out there, would they say, oh, you’re in the wrong area? What kind of lunatics do we have running things? Like they say, not all the criminals and nuts are locked up, they’re running things.

Flabbergasted

Welcome to the world of government. If one of these bureaucrats broke the rules to help this woman, chances are they’d get in trouble. Meanwhile, no one’s accountable for solving real problems.

— Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, about that bridge that fell in Minnesota, they say all the bridges are in need of repair. I can’t understand with all the taxes, license plates, license and registration fees and tolls, where does that money go? It’s not like they are fixing bridges every day. They should always have money available to make continuous repairs on the roads and bridges. Somebody is taking the money.

Lloyd Bridges

Someone’s taking taxpayers’ money? In New Jersey? Not here, of all places. No way.

— Ed. Note

Ed, this is about Americans who do not want illegals here. At some point down the generational lines, someone in their families had to migrate to the states. Everyone deserves the opportunity of progress: Italian, Polish, Chinese, Latino.

Non-Native

You know what the response is going to be to that statement. Our grandparents did everything the legal way, learned English immediately, etc. But they miss the spirit of your statement.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I am a concerned citizen and I wish someone would explain to me how (Sylvester) Jones ... can get off. Please explain that to me, because predators go to jail. This man should go to jail. How can he ever teach again? I thought a high school teacher and predator lost his license forever. Why shouldn’t he? He is indecent and he should never teach ever again.

Seeking justice

Any adult, especially a teacher, who has a sexual relationship with a child belongs in jail. It’s too bad our prosecutors don’t have that basic standard down yet.

— Ed. Note

Ed, this is Mary from Tender Hearts. I just wanted to let your readers know that we just sent all the boxes of foods and supplies we gathered for the troops and their families. We sent 110 food boxes to needy military families in the McGuire-Fort Dix area, and the residents in Hamilton collected 77 boxes of supplies for our soliders in Iraq. We want to thank everyone for your response. It was a great drive. I know we made a difference and reassured the troops and their families that we are still thinking of them.

Tender Hearts

Something positive in Back Talk. Hooray!

— Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I’m a mailman with a pet peeve in Trenton. It’s the people who ask for their mail on the street and can’t wait for the mailman to reach their mailbox. They get mad and cuss out the mailman, saying “I’m expecting a check and have to get to the bank.” How would they like if I gave their mail and check to any crackhead on the street who claimed to be someone else? It’s really bad. People can’t recognize there are bad people out there who would steal their mail, and the mailman is just trying to protect their mail.

Newman

Hold your horses, all you desperate-to-cash-that-welfare-check mailman stalkers. You don’t want to get these guys too angry.

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, I think it’s a disgrace what I saw on The Trentonian’s front page about distributing free needles to junkies. We citizens have to pay for our medicines at full price and they are giving away needles? When you have retired people that cannot even afford to buy their own medications, and they are under Medicare, this is a total disgrace.

Disgusted

Is this what the Founding Fathers meant by creating a “free country?”

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m replying to The Trentonian’s front page story about the state OK’ing free needles for junkies. It’s business as usual in New Jersey that junkies get free needles while my wife who is diabetic has to pay for her needles and medicine to survive. I don’t think it’s right.

Oh, boy

But the governor echoed former Gov. Jim “I teach ethics” McGreevey in his declaration to change the way business is done in Trenton. I guess that is business as usual.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the story, “State OKs needles for junkies.” Forty years ago I spent four years on probation for having possession of drug paraphernalia. That’s needles! I don’t understand what’s happened in this country, what’s going on in this state. We’re just helping them die a slow death. Boy, I can see the lawyers are going to have a field day with this. I can’t believe they did it.

BOHICA

I’ll bet you’re right. I’d bet that within a year some lawyer sues the state for aiding in the death of some junkie who ODs using one of the state’s free needles.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I’m tired about people complaining about that dog park. It’s a nice place. The only thing it needs is a windstop so people don’t freeze to death in the winter and they need a hose and hose attachment to get water because you can’t use the water fountain for the dogs. This lady complaining the dogs not being licensed and little kids, how the heck does she know who has a license? I’m not even a resident but I would chip in to help with renovations on that park because I use it. It’s a nice dog park. As far as the kids go, who cares? If I was a four-year-old kid and had a bunch of hundred-pound dogs running around, I’d be in heaven. What are her kids doing? Yeah, one of them could get knocked over, but you cross that bridge when you come to it. Put up a sign that says you’re on your own in the park.

Park user

So let’s see... is there anything else you’d like to see at the dog park? Maybe you’d like to see it enclosed and heated in the winter, and maybe they could put a big air conditioning unit on top to keep the little dogs cool in the summer? You don’t live in Hamilton, so you don’t have to pay the taxes, but get to enjoy its benefits. Anything else the township can do to accommodate you?

— Ed. Note

Ed, about people of a certain age, I agree with her 100 percent. I believe a person who is receiving Social Security and is between 62 and 65 years of age should not be called for jury duty.

Time spanner

But once they hit 66 they get a stab at jury duty again?

— Ed. Note

Hello, Ed, I’d like to reply to “Checking for Czechs.” If he means girls of Czechoslovakian descent, yes, all my granddaughters are beautiful and they live in Hamilton. They are part Italian, but it looks like the Czech side stands out.

Czech

Are you implying that a Czech can cancel an Italian, but an Italian can’t cancel a Czech?

— Ed. Note

Ed, I just read BackTalk about ”blood drive credit.“ I thought the comments were interesting. I‘d like to add that I‘ve found over the years that a little bit of recognition and ego-stroking along with a ”thank you“ can go an awfully long way when it comes to saving lives. I want to thank the law enforcement officers and the New Jersey Department of Corrections, and all of the folks who donated at the blood drive for Sheriff‘s Officer Hahn. They did a wonderful job. You can‘t do anything more than donate the gift of life, which is blood.

CBC Jim

I would agree with you. But for people to do something charitable just for the recognition or praise seems just a bit hollow. We should give because we want to give. If we get the praise all the better, but we should just feel good inside.

— Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, about The Trentonian‘s Aug. 1 front page, I don‘t understand why these heroin addicts are getting needles for free when there are plenty of diabetics who can probably use free needles. It‘s more important they get them for free. I think somebody who is doing drugs, which are illegal, shouldn‘t get anything for free. They are going to die from heroin before AIDS kills them, anyway, so it‘s a waste.

Waste watcher

You‘re trying to make sense out of something that goes beyond our usual sensibilities. Most people would say that the only thing a law-breaker should get for free is a ride to jail. I‘d say they should be charged for the ride, too.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I just read that they decided to take the malt liquor ads off the sides of buses in Philadelphia. Yes, I guess that‘s what‘s causing the huge spike in the murder rate. Why doesn‘t the mayor take the drugs and guns off the street? What‘s wrong with malt liquor? Unbelievable!

Dry gulp

Maybe the mayor prefers cognac or a wine-spritzer. But at this rate I expect to see G.I. Joe ads disappear soon. But I‘ll bet those stupid Hennessey ads stay up.

— Ed. Note

Doug Palmer gave his very first speech at Cadawalder Park at a block party when he was running for mayor for the first time. Last Sunday I went to this park, expecting to find sliding boards, a see-saw and swings, but there was nothing there for little kids. I remember when my father took me there when I was a child. There was the balloon man, and we fed the animals and played on the tall slides. It‘s a shame that Palmer lied that he would fix up the city‘s park. Trenton has only one big city park but there‘s nothing there. And where are the centers? There used to be a center for every section of Trenton. This is why you have gangs. There‘s nothing for these kids to get into and no summer jobs. And you wonder why the death toll goes up and there‘s nothing but babies. I‘m ashamed I voted for Doug Palmer because I believed in him. If he reads this, he‘ll know who I am.

Historic view

You can‘t live in the past. I miss the Balloon man, too, but he‘s gone. I remember fondly visits to the Monkey House, the bears and pony rides, but that Cadwalader Park is gone — killed by ”progress.“ As for the neighborhood centers, they got moved to the mall. There are loads of jobs at the mall. It‘s great to think about Trenton of yesterday, but we have to start focusing on the Trenton of today and tomorrow.

— Ed. Note

Ed, to the person who stole my ducks out of my yard in Hamilton Township, please return them. I am very hurt over the loss of my ducks and I still have the $50 reward for their return, no questions asked. I am leaving my phone number with you, Ed.

Looking

Has anybody seen these ducks? She didn‘t leave a detailed description, but I would assume they have bills and webbed feet.

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, I’m a little confused. What does drinking beer have to do with an unsafe deck? Apples, oranges.

Decked out

It has a lot to do with it if you are the top fundraiser, a.k.a. top cop, in Ship Bottom. If these kids all get tickets for under-age drinking the cops in Ship Bottom better order more ticket books because they’ll writing tickets 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week for the next 2,000 years in that town.

— Ed. Note

Ed, it’s ridiculous that the police are charging all these kids at the house where that deck collapsed. The cops didn’t go there for noise, so they were not bothering anybody, and they would not have known the kids had beer in the house until the damn deck collapsed. A bunch of them got hurt. These kids didn’t deserve it, and now they’re going to hit them all for under-age drinking and probably screw with their driver’s licenses. For what? They were behind closed doors. I’m not saying under-age drinking is right but these kids got hurt and nobody wants to give them a break.

The Excuser

What’s ridiculous is that we’ll cry and moan about under-age drinking if they get loud or rowdy, but ‘they were not bothering anybody’ is the clarion call for a bunch of spoiled little brats when the cops come calling for some other reason. Let’s get real here. Either its bad or its not, but you can’t have it both ways.

— Ed. Note

Ed, with Americans getting fatter day-by-day, why has Gov. Corzine chosen to tax health clubs and gyms? Is he trying to discourage people from getting healthy? Maybe he’s got some great health-care benefits that he’s going to pass along to New Jersey residents from the taxes he raises from these gyms. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Healthy mind

He also added to that by saying that if state workers joined a gym they could pass on the 1.5 percent premium they’re supposed to be paying. I guess that’s his way of getting the taxes from the gym memberships instead of the insurance companies getting their premiums. He’ll want your money one way or the other, won’t he?

— Ed. Note

Ed, I see where the state has okayed needles for junkies. I think it’s a good idea, but I was disappointed that Trenton is not included, when they have just as bad a drug problem here as they have in the other four major cities, if not worse. They seem to do everything to provoke more violence and problems here. They have a curfew for 18-year-olds that they don’t enforce. If they enforced the curfew, they would pick up a lot of boys getting ready to do some harm. But it looks like they add to the violence and do everything they can to worsen the problem. It should not be that way.

Anti-anarchist

Giving away needles to law-breaking junkies. Giving away amnesty to law-breaking illegal aliens. I’m starting to see a pattern here. Can anarchy be far behind?

— Ed. Note

Hi Ed, I’d like to know where this so-called poll about the illegals was taken. I haven’t talked to one person who wants illegals in this country let alone pardoned. It sounds like typical propaganda from the left. Send all the illegals back today.

Pollster holster

The poll was conducted between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday while you were at work and the illegals were at home waiting for their pardons. Or it could have been a street poll taken on the street corners of Freehold, Hightstown, Lakewood, Newark and Trenton. It's real. Somebody gave those answers. But it might have been the same somebody 693 times.

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, if a city homeowner upgrades the interior of his home and puts the trash out on the curb, the sanitation department will not pick it up this trash because it is building materials. Ask Palmer what you‘re supposed to do with it? Dump it in an alley or bring it to City Hall‘s steps? I thought the city sanitation department is supposed to pick up all the trash from homeowners. Please hurry and find out for me. Thanks.

Repairman

The short answer is to rent a dumpster and pay for the disposal of the construction debris. The city trash pick-up is for your everyday trash — leftover food, used tissues, paper plates, styrofoam cups, etc.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I‘d like to comment on Sheriff‘s Officer Hahn and the recent blood drive for him by all the law enforcement officers. He forgot to mention the officers in the N.J. Department of Corrections who also participated in that blood drive. Let‘s give everybody credit that is due.

Corrections correction

While I would certainly want to recognize the participation of the guys/gals of Corrections, the point is that the blood drive is for charity, not to stroke the egos of those who are aiding the charity.

— Ed. Note

Ed, this if for that crazy guy who wants to go to Brazil. You don‘t have to go that far, there are lots of beautiful girls right here in Hamilton.

Eye-full

Don‘t forget all the beautiful girls in Trenton, Lawrence, Ewing, the Hopewells, Pennington, the Princetons, Windsors, Hightstown, Allentown, over in Bucks Co., and pretty much everywhere between here and the shore.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I just returned from Prague in the Czech Republic. Beautiful town, beautiful women. Are there any Czech women in Trenton?

Letcher

I don‘t know but let me Czech. I couldn‘t resist.

— Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I‘m so glad the NAACP leaders are urging public retreat in their judgment of Michael Vick as to if, or when, he will be found guilty. It‘s too bad Don Imus was not afforded that same restraint by the NAACP. which was among the first to hang him out to dry.

Double standard

But there is a big difference in the two cases: One guy had the Rev. Al in his corner, the other guy had the Rev. against him.

— Ed. Note

Hello Ed, I‘d like to get your take on jury duty. I feel it‘s unfair to put older people over 70 on jury duty. If they retire judges at 70, why do they have to keep calling people over 70 for jury duty? And I don‘t think the defendant is geting a fair shake either because many older people cannot hear or walk or whatever. I think it‘s disgraceful, our justice system. That‘s my take, but I want yours and maybe others will call in with their ideas.

Youngster

Huh? What did you say? I was sleeping, did you say something?

— Ed. Note

Hey Ed, I cannot believe that state Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who is a Ewing resident, is not aware that Ewing Township needed money. She’s a fake, a phony, a fraud, and over-rated. Thank God her father was John Watson. This is the woman that does not have a clue. I wonder if Jack Ball were a Democrat instead of a Republican, maybe then she would have been aware that the township needed this money.

Clyde

Well, you know, those lines of communication between the Dems and GOP aren’t really solid ... more like dashed and
spliced.

— Ed. Note

Ed, I see in BackTalk that an individual is complaining about New Jersey borrowing money for stem cell research. This research is probably the most important thing the state will do this year in order to improve health and jobs and so forth. This person is really bad. I would gladly give extra money through my income tax to help stem cell research and find a cure for lots of diseases. People need to stop thinking about the all-mighty dollar and start thinking about those poor people who have diseases that can be helped.

14th disciple

So you’re willing to pay extra taxes for stem cell research? How about cancer research? Juvenile diabetes? Historic preservation? Property tax relief? Corruption relief? Wouldn’t you think all those people thinking about the all-mighty dollar would be pouring money into stem cell research if they thought there was an all-mighty buck to be made? But instead we have government spending the money. You do the math.

— Ed. Note

Hi, BackTalk, this is a combined opinion-question about the notoriety of stars who are drug-addicted, DUI’s, or get arrested for crimes. How come background checks are not done on these actors when they come to Hollywood or before they become stars and do this real-life stuff? After they are known, all the notoriety brings all this stuff out. I think background checks are needed.

Meathead

You’re right we should start doing background check on anybody that could potentially get famous. We’ll start with you, now that you might get famous for this phone call to BackTalk. So may I have a DNA sample, urine sample, a saliva swab, your driver’s license and the 6-point ID requirements before we proceed with my answer.

— Ed. Note