Hi, Ed, I want to respond to “mouth off” about the Hamilton police. Tell him to move to New Egypt because if you make the right donation, the police will look the other way. You can ride around with one plate, no sticker, speeding, or anything you want as long as you eat at the local restaurant. Please put this in because they read BackTalk.

Designated Driver

So it’s all a big conspiracy to force business to a restaurant that’s in bed with the police? Can I just get coffee or is there a minimum order size?—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I live in Burlington City and we have a serious drug problem down here, but the police are doing nothing. Chief Lazzarotti issued a press release this week about putting up stop signs in a school zone instead of arresting drug dealers. Can the new City Council get us a new police chief that knows how to fight crime?

Cop Critic No. 72

The “STOP” on those signs covers drug use, too.—Ed. Note

Ed, I recently lost a 14-karat money clip. If anyone found it, I’d be happy to give a $100 reward for its return. It has very sentimental value. I’ve had it for 15 years. I’m leaving my phone number with you, Ed.

Money Man

Who couldn’t use $100? Give up the clip! Call here if you have it.—Ed. Note

Ed, this is to area landlords. I have lived on Nottingham Way for about 39 years and raised two kids, now grown and college educated. The landlords are renting out homes without screening the tenants, and that is not fair to us homeowners. As you know, Hamilton’s taxes are higher and it’s a shame we have to pay more and have to live next to loud noise and partying. It’s not fair. Who do you call? The police don’t know what’s going on unless someone calls them. The people next door moved in last fall. They have kids and parties every weekend with loud music, car music. It’s just terrible. I need your help.

Screener

If those darn kids next door are making sufficient noise to disturb the peace, then the police can step in. But I can’t regulate their landlord’s rental policy. Sorry. —Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I just want to know, what does it mean when the Princeton police say a child was sexually assaulted but she wasn’t physically injured? What the heck does that mean?

Decoder

I think it means she doesn’t have any cuts or bruises. The mental scars are another story.—Ed. Note

Ed, I need your help. I picked up a photo of the Klockner School’s Class of 1954 at a flea market and I’d like to donate it to the Hamilton Township Library for the historical section by Tom Glover. I’d like to find out who these people are in the photo. They probably graduated in 1958, probably from Steinert. They can contact me so we can get some names. This is Bill Opferman at (609) 586-6443.

Names and Faces

Anyone out there who can remember back that far and still has sharp enough eyesight to make out the faces?—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about “mean cop.” I too had a very unpleasant experience with a Hamilton Township officer some time ago when a simple question about a road closing was answered by abusive shouts while the partner looked on smirking. These boys with badges do more damage to public relations in 10 seconds than can probably ever be repaired. And they also make the work of the good guys so much more difficult when the public sees the police as the enemy. Officer Friendly they are not. They need a course in public relations. I was also bullied.

Cop Critic

The majority of officers are good people doing their best. A few give the rest a bad name, but try to keep it in perspective.—Ed. Note

Ed, somehow I have no problem in believing the story about the “mean cop.” Since when do we have a charge of administrative interference? Since when can’t we ask a cop why they have to be so nasty to someone without getting charged? I’ve run into the same thing with Hamilton cops; they don’t seem to know their own and they don’t respect anybody whether they are in trouble or not. Hats off to mean cop.

Question Authority

Maybe the cops get a little gruff, but at the same time, they’re under a lot of pressure — every motor vehicle stop is a potentially dangerous situation — and if you just shut up they can do their job and send you on your way.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’d like to leave a message for the person who stole my purse from a shopping cart at Wal-Mart in Lawrenceville last Monday night. Thank you very much for putting my purse in a post box and sending it to me. Everything was returned except the money, my medication, prescription sunglasses, checkbook and everything else in that bag. Thanks for just taking the money and giving me my pocketbook back.

Tongue-in-Cheek

Well, they couldn’t steal your sense of humor. Thanks for sharing.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m responding to the story about the nursing home patient who was restrained with duct tape. If someone did that to my mom, I’d personally hunt them down and kill them like a dog.

Gunslinger

I’m glad you love your mom so much, but vengeful murder is never a good idea. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the headlines today about the Millhouse nursing home patient who was bound with duct tape. I have a family member residing at Millhouse for the past two years, and they can’t be treated any nicer than they are. The staff treats them like family. I know for fact that the man who was taken out with restraints, they did not put the duct tape around him, the two ambulance drivers did so for his own protection. Whatever the law is, it is. But I don’t think it was right, the headline made it look like the nursing home was at fault, and they are not. They couldn’t care more about the residents. Just wanted to tell you.

Happy Child

I’m glad you’ve had a good experience and I hope you’re right, but the state did launch an investigation, and that’s what the headline said.—Ed. Note

Ed, I agree with the firefighter’s comments about the 4-year-old boy who died in a fire the other day. Trenton is so screwed up. They want to pay for this wanna-be police director who does nothing for the city; they pay to drive him back and forth to his home when residency rules require him to live in the city. On top of that you’ve got a mayor who’s a gangster, just doesn’t want to admit it. He’ll cut back the fire department while adding more cops. Makes real sense when little kids die in a fire and you can’t get a fire truck there.

Firefighter 2

You can question Palmer’s decisions, actions and priorities, but where do you get off calling him a gangster?—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I don’t want to sound like a hard head, but I’m calling about these two fires this past week — the first where the baby was killed and the second where the woman had to jump off the roof. These people never take responsibility for themselves. They’re blaming the landlord and they’re blaming Santiago for moving the fire company, when actually the blame lies with the residents. They can get fire alarms installed for free, for crying out loud! And when are they going to do that? This happens all the time. I can’t believe how stupid these people are.

Hard Head

You’re not just being a hard head, you’re being cruel and insensitive. And the landlords should take care of the fire alarms. —Ed. Note

Ed, If New Jersey would legalize sports book gambling, possibly we wouldn’t have to raise the tolls. Use your brain! They keep busting private citizens with gambling rings, but they don’t legalize sports book gambling. Where do you think people are going to go? They’re going to make the bets anyway, and the state is losing the tax revenue.

You Bet

That would tap a gigantic revenue stream. But why would the under-the-table bookmakers declare their activities only to be taxed when they could continue on their current path?—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I live in Trenton on Roebling Avenue near Anderson. This is for the man in the black car that did a hit-and-run on my parked white pickup on Sunday around 2 p.m. My neighbor saw your face. One way or another you will get what’s coming to you. When you do something bad, something bad will happen to you. Why don’t you do the right thing? Go to the police, admit your guilt and pay for the substantial damage you did to my vehicle while it was parked. If you don’t, God will punish you threefold, so you are not getting away with anything! I’m tired of having my parked vehicle smashed up on Roebling Avenue. This is the fourth time in 14 years.

Smashed In

And then there’s bad karma ...—Ed. Note

Ed, I just want to thank the gentleman who came to my rescue last Sunday morning at Risoldi’s on Sloan Road. I was shopping for my sick daughter and I lost $20. I panicked because I didn’t have $20 to replace it and my daughter needed the purchase. The gentleman in the next aisle gave the cashier a twenty. When I asked the cashier where she got the money, she glanced at the gentleman in the next aisle. So I thanked him, and he said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” When I got outside in the parking lot I thanked him again, and said if I find the money, I will give it back to the cashier. I just want to you know, there are still some good people out there.

Grateful

There are a lot of good people out there. And if you believe in karma, what goes around comes around.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I have a favor to ask. I want to thank a county dispatcher and three wonderful officers from the Trenton Police Department who located and caught my newly adopted dog within 30 minutes of my distress call. Their teamwork saved her, and I renamed her Rabbit. This is Pat.

Pat

Why Rabbit? Was that the name of the dispatcher?—Ed. Note

Ed, none of the Trenton City Council people showed up at the Martin Luther King celebration at Trenton High School, where students from two high schools participated, over 500 people, but no City Council people. Where are the leaders when these kids put on a great event? One day they are going to need those same people to vote for them. All City Council members should be ashamed of themselves.

Shame Shame

They were busy getting an explanation ready for K. Hovnanian bailing on a project that forced residents from their homes.—Ed. Note

Ed, this is for Hamilton Township PBA President Patrolman Matt Bagley. You are requesting more police officers for Hamilton at this time. We don’t have the money, buddy, and I ain’t paying more taxes because we’re going to have a tax jump as it is. Sorry! No deal.

Strapped

If only you could control how much you pay in taxes.—Ed. Note

Hello, Ed, I do believe that 4-year-old boy would be alive today if they hadn’t closed Engine 5 on Pennington Avenue due to cutbacks. Yet each and every day they pay for Santiago to commute back and forth to his home in Stirling. You’re telling me the city is saving money? Remember, that boy could have been alive today.

Firefighter

If you’re right, it makes the child’s death that much more tragic. —Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m a faithful listener of 920 AM ESPN radio. Two weeks ago I tuned in to listen to the bickering of Mike & Mike and the ranting of Colin Cowherd and instead I heard the preaching of another religious station. I wonder if any of your readers could help me find where they moved on the radio dial, especially this time of year with all the big games coming up. I really miss them. Thanks.

Loyal Listener

The Lord is working in mysterious ways here. Isn’t the salvation of your soul more important than the latest sports analysis? (Keeping a straight face here.)—Ed. Note

Ed, in Ewing, they have developed, destroyed or condemned almost 99 percent of our farmland and locations of historical value. So, it’s even more shameful that they are allowing the destruction of the ancient brick silo on Bear Tavern Road. This beloved landmark has stood for a century for this rich farming community, and it will be brought down for a restaurant’s storage area that could just as easily be built on the other side of the building. The residents voiced their opinion and our wishes have been ignored. One would think before allowing new construction in Ewing, they would make certain the slew of abandoned properties and buildings that continue to attract crime would be used.

Farm Hand

Good plan. Ban all growth and force any prospective businesses into crappy old buildings. Ewing will be an economic mecca.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m shocked and upset. My bank just charged me $30 for putting a stop payment on a $620.11 check for heating oil. I stopped payment because the check still hadn’t cleared a month after I sent it, and I was afraid it was lost. Since I don’t bounce checks, I didn’t know the bank would automatically charge me $30. Just wanted other readers to know, too.

Deposit Slip

Gotta love banks. Put your money under a mattress. Or buy gold. —Ed. Note

This is George “The Animal” Steel. Steinert High School’s wrestling coach set back Mercer County wrestling, so way, way back, it’s unbelievable. Instead of the Steinert Spartans they should be called the Steinert Duckers. He deprived two very good Steinert wrestlers the opportunity to face two state-caliber Trenton High wrestlers, all for the purpose of advancing his team through meaningless state rankings, which they have no chance of doing anything anyway. It’s an embarrassment. The guy should have his head re-examined.

The Animal

Re-examined? When was the first examination? How ’bout he just drops and gives you 20, spits in a cup for a while and we call it good?—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, So, the Trenton City Council is enforcing the residency requirement on Police Director Joe Santiago! Now a court battle at taxpayers’ expense will be realized by all. Here’s a suggestion: buy Santiago a F.E.M.A. trailer from Hurricane Katrina, park it in police headquarters’ parking lot and hook it up to the electricity. Then City Council can go there every night and tuck Joe in bed to make sure he’s residing in Trenton. How’s that?

Sweet Dreams

Santiago’s trailer can double as the Nap Wagon for Capt. Sleepy. —Ed. Note

Ed, I also work at Fisher Middle School, and those kids are disgusting. I don’t know why the principal and all the help that should be in the cafeteria don’t lay down the law on these kids because they are slobs. Something needs to be done. That school and the kids need to straighten up.

Adult

It’s a lot to ask of teachers to undo the utter lack of respect these kids bring with them from home. But they’ve got to try.—Ed. Note

Hey, Corzine, I’m a 79-year-old woman and I do not use your toll roads, so why penalize me with my property taxes? And I’m sure a lot of senior citizens feel that way. So why don’t you think about what you’re trying to do?! You get me?!

Taxed Out

No, he doesn’t “get” you. I’m not sure I follow you, either. But I feel your pain. —Ed. Note

Ed, tell the person who had to clean the student’s feces off the school wall to tell the supervisor over him to put his hands in there, if he’s such a big man. Find out what kind of germs he can get from that mess. That’s the worst kind of disease you can pick up from the human body. Don’t put your hands in there again.

Sanitary Engineer

You’d think such advice would go without saying, but in this case it definitely can’t hurt to state the obvious.—Ed. Note

Ed, would you kindly ask the mayor (Palmer) who is involved in homeland security to do a little city security and have the four street lights on East State Street, on the Route 1 overpass, fixed. I’ve called the mayor’s office at least a dozen times over the last six months and the lights are still out. Maybe if he sees it in print, he’ll take action. Thanks.

Good Manners

OK, here goes ... Mr. Mayor, would you please consider this polite request from this civilized BackTalker? Thanks.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m concerned about the condition of Martin Luther King Park off Southard Street. It looks more like a city dump than a city park. It’s a disgrace with Martin Luther King Day coming up. Children can’t even play there, it looks so bad. Doug Palmer really needs to fix this. I don’t know where our tax dollars are going — to take care of his house, for his family? Because they are not taking care of our city parks or city streets.

Park King

Maybe cities across the nation can honor Dr. King tomorrow with un-dedication ceremonies to remove his name from all the parks and boulevards that represent the opposite of his legacy. —Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m calling about the father who held a gun on an intruder in his house and it later turned out to be his daughter’s boyfriend. Isn’t it amazing how fast Joe Bocchini decided to prosecute this man? He was arrested and booked in what, a matter of an hour, yet we have these seven state troopers accused of sexual assault against one woman, and they have not been arrested or charged. Bocchini even made remarks that he shouldn’t have made so the troopers case was taken away from him. I’ll tell you why Bocchini didn’t arrest those troopers. This man will now have these charges on his record for the rest of his life, whether they are dropped or he is found innocent. Once you are charged, those charges don’t go away, and that’s the only reason why they have not arrested these seven troopers: They don’t want the charges on their records. I think it’s disgraceful, this double standard that we have in all phases of our justice system.

Bocchini Wax

Meanwhile, your tax dollars are paying the salaries of seven men with no current duties other than to sit around and get their stories straight. —Ed. Note

Good morning Ed, this little note is for the daddy who pulled a fake Magnum on his daughter’s naked stud. Wouldn’t it have been more sportsmanlike to have sent him home on his bicycle in the condition that you found him, and donated his unneeded clothes to charity? I can just picture this.

Tour de France

I’m not sure I want to picture that. Those bike seats aren’t designed for naked riding. —Ed. Note

Ed, this is Carl, commenting on “Dad’s magnum force.” How could Bocchini prosecute a man that’s protecting his home and family from an intruder? There’s no way this man should be charged with anything. The intruder should be charged.

On Dad’s Side

The “intruder” should be charged with defiling Dad’s daughter. —Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I wonder what law the East Windsor police cited to charge a homeowner for confronting an intruder hiding in his home and holding him at bay with a replica gun until the police arrive. There’s nothing illegal about that. East Windsor cops should stick to traffic enforcement. That’s what they do best.

Legal Opinion

Back in the day, an angry gun-wielding dad scaring the you-know-what out of his daughter’s cocky boyfriend was just the American way. Now it’s a crime.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m reading with interest about the debate going on: Should they replace Trenton High or renovate it? That has nothing to do with the quality of education; that’s not going to change until there’s some more accountability in the community from the parents, the family. The only way (the kids) might have a chance is if they build apartments in that school, and keep the kids there all day and all night, so they don’t have to go back to that mess they face every night at home. I feel for those kids. But renovating or knocking down that building will not change things.

Guidance Counselor

Your bleak outlook is based in a truth. But just because the situation seems to be a lost cause doesn’t mean you can continue to house students in an inadequate facility.—Ed. Note

Ed, I have been a teacher with Trenton Public Schools for 28 years. Back in 1997 there was a major reduction and many teachers were fired, including 10 music teachers. All band, orchestra, and instrument lessons were eliminated in the elementary and middle schools. Harrison School hasn’t even had a vocal music teacher in over 10 years. The art staff was also reduced. Two other important programs for students were completely eliminated about eight years ago: There’s no industrial arts or no home economics in Trenton’s public schools. If this had happened in the suburbs, the parents there would be up in arms. Where are the Trenton parents, and by that I mean the mothers and fathers? Do they care about their child’s education? The way I see it, the gang problem has escalated over the past 10 years or so, and there is a direct correlation to the cutting of these vital programs from our schools. People are blaming the mayor and police for the gang problem. This is hogwash! A lot of parents need to look in the mirror.

PTO

Parents need to get involved, but would their outrage have created money to fund these programs?—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I just read that Capt. Sleepy got suspended for a whole month, but it didn’t say that he was suspended without pay. I betcha he’ll just wind up with a paid vacation. You know how the cops work.

Lullaby

A month of nap time is just what the doctor ordered. He’s chugging the NyQuil right now.—Ed. Note

Ed, it sickens me to think that people will vote for Hillary Clinton just because she’s a woman the way that people will vote for Barack Obama just because he’s black. We should look into the other issues and not worry what their race is or what kind of underwear they wear. This is absolutely insane.

Voice of Reason

Race and gender should not be deciding factors. Underwear, on the other hand, says a lot about a candidate. Hillary’s Wonder Woman Underoos, for example.—Ed. Note

Ed, I work at Fisher Middle School and they don’t have any policy on health care. As a custodian I had to put my hands in human feces that a student left on the wall. When I asked for gloves, the head custodian told me why don’t I be a man and work without gloves? They could care less about health.

Dirty Hands

OK. That’s pretty disgusting. I hope you realize that even when your boss challenges your manhood, you should go ahead and find a pair of gloves next time.—Ed. Note

Ed, since we seem to be in an apologetic mood, let’s have the nation, maybe starting with New Jersey, apologize to the Native Americans for taking over their land, killing their animals and putting them on reservations. If anybody needs an apology, I believe it’s them.

Native Voice

Sadly, the history of this fine nation is partially built on a series of unspeakably atrocities and injustices.—Ed. Note

Ed, This is the commander of American Legion Post 313 in Hamilton. I’m calling to tell you I saw the item in BackTalk about Mary from Tender Hearts, and the American Legion is going to make a donation to her drive for Valentine’s Day candy for the troops. I just wanted to let you know.

Sweet Tooth

Great news! Mary will take good care of your donation. It’s nice to know there are vehicles of charity like Mary out there to make it easy for the rest of us to perform good deeds.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I read an article in National Geographic that had a terrific quote: “When people are powerless, they are easily manipulated.” Gov. Corzine must know this better than anyone.

Notable Quotables

That quote is painfully obvious, but so true. —Ed. Note

Ed, I never worked for Goldman Sachs, and I only have a high school diploma, but I think I’m smart enough to figure out that if the tolls go up, so will the products that are being transported on those roads. So this is more than just a toll hike.

The Economist

Now I hear the sound of economics trickling down. Or is it trickling up?—Ed. Note

Ed, Gov. Corzine says his proposal for increasing tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike is being applauded. By whom, his mother? The buffoon! What an idiot he is.

E.Z. Pass

I think I hear the sound of one hand clapping ...—Ed. Note

Mr. President Bush, with all the problems we have with Mexico, with drugs, illegal aliens and gangs, don’t send U.S. troops to Afghanistan and Iraq, keep them here to protect the U.S. from invasion, not other countries that have been fighting for hundreds of years. Look at Afghanistan; Russia was there for 10 years and didn’t accomplish anything except the loss of Russian military men. Please keep our military at home to protect our home. You don’t have to be a president or politician to see that. So, please, wise up, forget the other countries.

Military Analyst

Of all the somewhat legitimate arguments against U.S. action in Afghanistan and Iraq, comparing it to Russia’s brutal, failed effort to subdue Afghanistan is perhaps the least likely to bend the ear of any good American, let alone our commander-in-chief. While we’re on the subject of Russia and Afghanistan, did everyone see “Charlie Wilson’s War”? BackTalk gives it two thumbs up. —Ed. Note

Ed, This is for the Bible thumper who thanked Gov. Corzine for abolishing the death penalty, saying only God can take a life. Well, tell him we do have a right to take a life, for the Bible also tells us “an eye for an eye.”

Good Read

Ahh, the old thou-shalt-not-kill-versus-an-eye-for-an-eye argument. Is it like rock-paper-scissors — does one verse trump another?—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, this is Mary from Tender Hearts calling on your readers again for some help. We have a couple moving into an unfurnished apartment and they need some items, starting with a bed, mattress and boxspring. If anyone has anything to donate, please ask them to call me at (609) 890-3517. I’d also like to remind all your readers that we’re doing a Valentine candy drive for the troops. Thanks.

Tender Heart

BackTalkers, you never let Mary down. It’s time again to show her the power of BackTalk to bring joy to the world.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, Corzine is an idiot. If he wants to balance the budget, all he has to do is hire 10,000 traffic police. They will pay for themselves in a week. And we’ll have a surplus. Or we could take down all the street signs, which are made out of aluminum. We could sell them for scrap because nobody pays attention to them.

Scrap Heap

Right — who needs new tolls or taxes when we can just maximize fees and penalties? Let the good times roll. Meanwhile, let’s melt everything that can be melted and sell all of it. It’s amazing no one thought of this sooner.— Ed. Note

Boy, the state’s in trouble now with the appointment of Doug Palmer to the state and local senior advisory committee to the Homeland Security Council. You’re talking about a mayor that closed fire houses, has run a police department into the ground, has a city ridden with crime, and violates city ordinances. That’s really the kind of person we “need” at this time for homeland security advisors. What a phony and a fake! New Jersey’s in for a world of trouble. I can see it coming!

Insecure

Ahh, but think how great it is for Trenton to have our mayor in yet another high-profile role at the national level! What’s good for Doug is good for Trenton, right? You can just feel the city’s self-esteem boosted with every photo-op. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about L.A. Parker’s Jan. 10 column, the real truth about Barack Obama. All our black people are pumping their chests thinking that we got a president, he’s going to somehow make it. L.A. Parker is absolutely right. We’re not going nowhere. With all this unemployment, all this crime and poverty we’re facing, we cannot restore our faith in the United States and think all of a sudden, yes, they are going to vote a black man for president and everything is going to be all right. Please, you’ve got to get yourself together and worry about what the real issues are.

Reality Check

L.A. also resents that predictions have blacks voting for Obama based on race alone, with whites voting based on qualifications. —Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, Please tell L.A, Parker that the majority of Americans vote for candidates regardless of race or religion, contrary to what he’s writing. Four-plus decades ago we elected the first Roman Catholic, JFK, to the White House. I’m sure any of the current presidential candidates, including Mr. Obama, would do a better job than Mr. Bush. So, L.A., stop stirring the racial pot with your venomous thoughts.

Shaken, Not Stirred

L.A.’s not trying to spit venom. He’s speaking from his heart. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’d like to ask Hamilton Mayor Bencivengo to answer why chief animal control officer Gary Hill, who drives a township vehicle, finds it necessary to speed up and down the street where he lives and where my family lives. It’s very dangerous and I’m getting frightened for my young children. Every time I turn around there’s a police car outside his house socializing for quite a long time at any time during the week.

Down on Hill

He’s practicing in case he has to chase a rabid cheetah. —Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the State Assembly’s approval recently, OK’ing the slavery apology. More than 100 years after slavery was abolished, the state decides to apologize for a now-meaningless action in which the state took little part. New Jersey was in the North and slavery was in the South.

Short Memory

Slavery played a major part in the history of New Jersey. Check out this link: http://www.slavenorth.com/newjersey.htm.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I thought there was the law that you had to tell parents and teachers and the district if there was a MRSA infection. I am a concerned parent who understands there is a MRSA infection involving a teacher at Ewing’s Fisher Middle School, but no one has been notified yet. Other parents are also concerned. What’s going on in Ewing Township that Fisher Middle School cannot respond or give information that is vital to the parents and staff?
Disinfected
Maybe airing out this infection in BackTalk will clear it up.—Ed. Note

Ed, please print this message for me. Dear Sue, thank you so much for assisting me in the Ortley Beach A&P shopping center. I know you’re from Yardley, but I only have your name as Sue. I want to thank you so much.

Your friend forever, Lavalette

I don’t know what you did, Sue, but it made an impact.—Ed. Note

Ed, this message is for the gang of young punks, six-on-one, who jumped a kid that wasn’t doing anything wrong Sunday night in the parking lot of Hamilton Lanes Bowling Alley. You think you got away with it? You didn’t get away with anything! You better be looking over your shoulder every minute of every day, ’cause we know who you are and where you live, and that includes school, too. You just better watch your backs, cowards!

P.O.’d Mom

The last thing we need is parents taking violence to the schools. And it’s the worst example to set for your kids.—Ed. Note

Ed, I say good luck to the Trenton residents who are suing the city, Mayor Palmer, and mafia boss-Police Director Joseph Santiago. Maybe those citizens can become the City Council so that this spineless, gutless City Council can step down now.

Chiropractor

Council is afflicted with a condition exhibited by local public bodies everywhere — a propensity to discuss everything ad nauseam in an all-but-deliberate effort to avoid action. —Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, regarding the death penalty, I think instead of using laboratory animals, they should use inmates and kill two birds with one stone.

Mad Scientist

Which two birds are we killing? Murderers and cosmetic testing? I think you’re only killing the second bird with this plan. —Ed. Note

Thank you, Gov. Corzine, for signing the bill to end the death penalty in New Jersey. The Bible clearly says, “thou shalt not kill,” which means one does not have the right to decide who shall live and who shall die. On Judgment Day, those formerly on death row will have to stand before God and give an account of their actions. God bless you, Mr. Corzine.

Faith

If only these murderers had read that part of the Bible before they committed the deeds that put them on death row.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, you know everything! How come we only see advertisements at Christmastime for the “clap-on” and the “Chia pets?” Where are they hiding the other 11 months?

Planter

The Chia pet is such an absurd product that the government charges its makers a penalty to offset the detrimental effect to the collective intelligence of society and limits Chia sales to one month a year.—Ed. Note

Ed, I have boxes of children’s books that I would like to donate now that my sons are in college. Could you let me know who takes book donations? I’d really appreciate your help.

Bookworm

OK, BackTalkers, who wants books?—Ed. Note

Ed, what kind of scam is the State of New Jersey trying to pull with the million dollar lottery? It says on my ticket 25 people are supposed to win $10,000. I looked on the computer and found only 10. Where are the other 15 winners? Would somebody please get back to me on that?

Cheated

D’oh! You weren’t supposed to notice that.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the hawk sighting in Ewing. I’ve seen it before; it was here last year or the year before near the train station. It’s quite large, not one of the normal hawks in the area. During the winter, hawks zero in on bird feeders because they live on songbirds. I know because I’ve watched them do it at my own bird feeders and I saw a hawk attack a full-grown squirrel, which managed to get away. A hawk could take off with a young kitten, so I would be careful with unattended kittens.

Feathered Friend

Do you think a hawk could take off with a Yorkshire terrier?—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, well, I was shocked to read in your paper that the gangs are still threatening to kill witnesses. Jeeze, I thought with Shirley Turner’s bill abolishing the death penalty in New Jersey, these gangs would follow suit, like soaping up car windows, or maybe toilet-papering trees, or sticking toothpicks in the doorbells of potential witnesses. Go figure! I guess the threat of life in prison isn’t such a deterrent after all.

Skeptic

At least abolishing the death penalty removes the badass mystique of “death row.” What kind of sissy wants to kill somebody if it will only grant him the not-nearly-as-tattooable status of “imprisoned for life.”—Ed. Note

Good morning, Ed, I read your smart remark to the 88-year-old person who said that at the moment Bruno Hauptmann was executed, the lights in Trenton went dim. Well, you go right ahead and make all the smart remarks you want to because it’s your privilege. But guess what, pal, I read two books on the Lindburgh baby kidnapping and talked to a man in Mount Holly who was a reporter at the time and covered the trial. He said there was never enough evidence to convict Hauptmann but they executed the man anyway. The state of New Jersey would never admit they made a mistake, the governor of New Jersey (Harold Hoffman) went to Hauptmann’s cell and said he would commute the death sentence to life “if you admit you did it,” and Bruno said, “I didn’t do it.” How about that, pal? I bet you won’t print it.

Research Assistant

I don’t see how my “smart” remark about the lights going dim is at odds with your historical handle on the Lindburgh baby case, but thanks for the the background, pal. —Ed. Note

Ed, this question is for Mayor John Bencivengo and his crew in Hamilton Township. Will you cut your salaries by 25 percent? I feel that we taxpayers deserve an answer. I hope he calls you back, Ed.

Inquiring Mind

Mr. Mayor, care to respond?—Ed. Note

Ed, this is former Councilman Vinnie Capodanno. I think there are a couple of questions the citizens of Hamilton Township would like to ask Mr. John Bencivengo, who’s saying the township is close to bankruptcy. If Hamilton is close to bankruptcy, (why) Mr. Bencivengo is going around saying he would like to be the highest paid employee in town. The previous mayor took $97,500 a year; Bencivengo wants about $150,000. Are all his new directors going to take a pay cut? Are we going to have a hiring freeze? What are we going to do, Mr. Bencivengo, other than raise taxes? If we’re in such bad shape, close to bankruptcy, why do you want to take $150,000 as a salary and pay your new incoming directors at the top of the pay range. Not only that, how come we’re not going to have a hiring freeze and how come you’re going to hire a lot of your buddies? I’d also like to remind him that former Mayor Gilmore, when he got in, cut his salary to $97,500 and froze it there for eight years. Also, when I was a councilman for four years, I never took a pay increase for four years. I never raised taxes. I voted against every tax increase. In fact, I cut taxes. Is Mr. Bencivengo going to follow that same route? Thank you.

Vinnie

Since before the election, the new administration has been preparing the taxpayers for an increase while blaming it on past mismanagement. A political masterpiece. —Ed. Note

Ed, how come St. Francis Medical Center is the only area hospital that still charges for telephone and TV service? They charge $6 a day, which is a lot of money for people with low incomes or living on Social Security. They don’t have to have TV, but they need a phone to contact family and friends. I think it’s ridiculous and price gouging. I’d like your opinion.

Patient

Maybe they’re just the only hospital that puts phone and TV as a line item on your bill instead of burying hidden costs. Think of it as a chance for savings.—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, I feel no need to apologize for slavery in New Jersey or the U.S. My great-grandparents left Eastern Europe in the 1890s for a better life in America, along with millions of other 19th century European immigrants and those who came later. They had no hand in enslaving Africans. The slaves were freed decades before my ancestors stepped ashore on Ellis Island.

Knott M.I. Fault

It’s true. It’s not your “fault,” but it was terrible and should never be forgotten. No one deserves suffering. Anyway, apologies would be in order if they somehow could take away any of the suffering of anyone who’s ever been persecuted. But they can’t.—Ed. Note

Hi, Ed, I’m calling about Assemblyman William Payne’s idea that New Jersey should apologize for slavery. Is he out of his mind? If we’re going to do that, we might as well apologize for the Holocaust and the crucifixion of Christ. They ought to throw him out of office and make sure he never comes back.

Ouster

Legislate to help the descendants of slavery. Feel bad about the past. But affect the future. —Ed. Note

Good morning, Ed. Since Assemblyman William Payne is on a rampage about the state of New Jersey apologizing for the slaves, I wonder if you can ask him for an apology for the Irish slaves that were here way before the blacks and built the city of Trenton for everyone to enjoy. I want an apology, too. My ancestors were also slaves.

Irish Eyes

Apologize for everything. So many people have been wronged. … How about legislating to help the downtrodden of the present? How about making a difference?—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m calling about the Jan. 2 story, the state may apologize for slavery. Slavery started way back with the Chinese people, not the black people, so why don’t the state get its crap together? The state is a joke.

Old News

Apologies can become a legislative theme. There are so many things for which to apologize. Maybe they can apologize for gang activity. That should help.—Ed. Note

Well, Ed, on Dec. 26, I called the senior citizen hotline and it was busy, all day and all night. I called Dec. 27 and got the same thing. On Dec. 28, I reached a girl who told me to call another number. But when I dialed, a man named Joe told me to call the original number. I sure would like to work for the State of New Jersey. They get away with everything.

Waiting for Help

Seniors up all night. Where’s this party at?—Ed. Note

Hey, Ed, what happened to the new sign the Trenton Makes bridge got like two years ago with lights that were never supposed to burn out? If that’s true, then they spelled “makes” wrong; there should be an “E” in it.

Ogre Under the Bridge

Trenton “made” an illuminated “E,” and someone “took” the lights out.—Ed. Note

Ed, I’m a pastor calling in and I once was one of the people, as a Christian, who used to say Jesus was the reason for the season, until last year when the Lord started to reveal to me that this wasn’t true. He’s the reason for every day in eternal life; there was never one holiday put aside. If Christians would read their Bible they would realize that nowhere in the New Testament or Old Testament did Jesus command us to celebrate his birthday — or his resurrection at Easter. They’re both pagan holidays that were cut off by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the early days of the early church and committed to the Catholic church, and they worshiped idols. Christians have no business ... God is pulling a remnant out and he’s extracting one more time just like what happened with the reformation and Martin Luther because we’re getting ready for the return of the Lord.

The Reverend

Yeah, but it’s difficult for retailers to boost December sales with the return of the Lord. —Ed. Note

Ed, regarding the state troopers and this rape that supposedly occurred, I’m very disappointed that it is taking this long and the troopers are suspended with pay. How long will it take? Now Middlesex County is handling the investigation. It appears they are trying to sweep this under the rug and find some way out of this situation for the State Police. If a murder took place, would it take three or four weeks? I feel this is a high-priority case for the taxpayers of New Jersey. Please do something. Justice must be served. The code of silence must be broken, and the truth must prevail.

Seeker of Justice

We’ll see if the prosecutors in Middlesex have the mettle to do more than tread water with this thing.—Ed. Note

I’m calling about the appellate court in the state of New Jersey. They have 35 judges. The Web site says the decide between 7,000 and 7,500 motions each year. All these judges have assistants and clerical staff, so it’s really not that difficult a job. Basically, they say yes and no if a case is gonna be returned to the court or not returned to the court. It’s amazing how long their decisions take. It could take up a year. These are decisions affecting people’s lives. Somebody needs to look into the system, because it’s just not right.

Courtside

Maybe they can start paying the justices piecemeal.—Ed. Note

I thought ticket scalping was against the law. Tickets for the Giants-Patriots game were going for $1,600. I thought the New Jersey State Police have a unit that investigate that. But as I go to the stadium and see the State Police walking around performing security, I guess they’re on the Giants’ payroll so they don’t want to rock any boats. I’d feel much safer if the police were out on the road than standing there at a football game. Is scalping illegal or not?

Ticket Master

Did you notice if any off-duty troopers had good seats for the game?—Ed. Note

Dear Ed, I understand that another airline is pulling out of the Trenton Mercer Airport and County Executive Brian Hughes is blaming them for not advertising enough. Mr. Hughes, with all due respect, get your head out of your rear end. Who the hell in their right mind from Trenton or Mercer County would want to travel to Boston, Vermont or Maine in the winter time, when it is 20 degrees here and 10 degrees there with mountains of snow? I am not a travel agent, but I think there is a simple solution. Start getting airlines in the Trenton Mercer Airport that travel to warm places in the winter time and vacation spots in the spring and summer time. Expand to better destinations. It’s a no-brainer!

Beach Bum

“Trenton to Tahiti, flight 117 now boarding at Gate One ...”—Ed. Note

Christmas isn’t just one day, it’s 12 days, and it should be celebrated like that, the same way that Hanukkah is eight days. I would appreciated if people continued to express Merry Christmas until the 12th day, the epiphany, Jan.5.

Good Cheer

Does that mean the whole office is going back on vacation?—Ed. Note