Ed, I have a response to that temporary worker who was complaining about not being able to go out to get lunch and get back in the building again without her supervisor escorting her in. You are paid by the hour, and it takes you 20 minutes to go out and get a lunch and get back. That means you are going to be paid for 20 minutes you did not work, and you will not stay late to make up those 20 minutes. So shut up, make a lunch and bring it.

Tempted

Ed, about “Temporary Blues” in BackTalk. That person is complaining that she can’t go out to get lunch and get back in the building. She is only a temporary worker. Tell her to give the job up. There are so many people who are willing to work that they are holding up signs on the street. They will do anything for pay. Tell her to stop complaining.

Tempted 2

So that temp thought she could get some sympathy after a long day of work and turned to BackTalk for support. Then BAM! — the BackTalk smackdown.—Ed. Note

Ed, I need help in locating any surviving family members of Joseph McNerney. He was the first veteran of Hamilton Township killed in World War II. I would like any family members to contact you and I will contact you back.

Soldier Search

Well that’s a new one. I’d be more comfortable if I knew your purpose. I assume it’s for some kind of history project or publication, or do you have a score to settle?—Ed. Note

Ed, well, Colonial Fire Co. in Hamilton has done it again. Once again, I went to the fire prevention night at the firehouse ... and once again, I have seen that almost every child/grandchild of a member there won an award for the school’s poster contest. I find it hard to believe that this is just a coincidence. For the past five years, I have seen this over and over again. The first two years I didn’t think anything of it, but then as the next few went on, and more and more of the kids and grandkids of the members went to school, the more and more I noticed that this was starting to become a trend. I don’t want the commissioners to think it is going unnoticed, because many parents have noticed it. It’s just this year, I do believe that more and more parents are starting to get very aggravated by the situation.

Burning Mad

Have you contacted the feds?—Ed. Note

Ed, this is Louise, please listen to me. I am an older lady and I live about three blocks from this church they are trying to debate upon, the Ewing Presbyterian Church. The members of that church are mostly gone. They have moved out someplace else or they have died out. They are still debating on what to do with this church. If they build it back up they have no members to keep it going and maintain it. If they decide to tear it down I don’t know what to say about that. I want to know what you have to say about it, Ed. I love reading your articles.

Church Lady

It’s a beautiful, historic building, and I would love to see it survive as a landmark. But I don’t have to take care of it or fix it or pay for taking care of it and fixing it. I’m rooting for a solution that saves the church, but if it has to go, I would like to see a dramatic, explosive demolition. We don’t get enough of those.—Ed. Note

Ed, I want to thank all of those who vote for Chris Daggett for re-electing Jon Corzine.

Dagnabbit

This message brought to you by Jon Corzine for Governor.—Ed. Note

Ed, I had a sign out in front of my house to re-elect Buddy Tyler for mayor of Fieldsboro. This is for the person that stole that sign. It doesn’t matter about the sign. Buddy Tyler has been mayor for 27 years and he will continue to be mayor. You may have stolen the sign, but you didn’t win the election.

Buddy’s Buddy

Maybe it wasn’t stolen by an enemy; Buddy Taylor is such a cool name —I’d want a Buddy Taylor sign for my wall. But I didn’t steal the sign, just to be clear.—Ed. Note

Ed, I had to rub my eyes to read this story correctly. We have an illegal immigrant who attacked an innocent 13-year-old girl in a dark ally, and the judge lowers his bail. How is that possible? This is what is wrong with our country. You got a dangerous person on the street. The judge should be held accountable for anything this man does on the street while he is out on bail.

Bailed

But then judges would need malpractice insurance, and that would drive up the cost of justice.—Ed. Note

Ed, a few weeks ago there was a big accident on Miry Brook Road. I am a resident of Miry Brook Road. I guess it is going to take for someone’s child to get hit rather than a parked car to get some police presence out here. It is just like the Indy 500 on that road. I would just like to express my opinion and tell everyone to slow down.

Alert

It’s a wise suggestion, and you phrased it in such civilized fashion. Allow me to chime in with a more-forceful SLOW DOWN!—Ed. Note

Ed, I hope that this message will be an eye opener for voters in November. Our governor has made a lot of mistakes, he has lied, and the taxes are horrible. But I want you to think when you are about ready to push the button or pull the lever. Just remember that Chris Christie thought he was above the U.S. Senate when he walked out on them. It looks like he thinks he has power over everything. Bad move, bad move.

I. Opener

Daggett, anyone?—Ed. Note

Ed, candidate Chris Christie was on a New Jersey radio station live recently. Someone called in about her mother who was 90 years old and was paying $9,000 in property taxes for a small home. She didn’t say what area it was in. That tells us senior citizens that the older we get the more taxes we are going to pay under the present administration. We have to do something and get this Corzine out of office. This tax-and-spend business has got to stop. I am voting for Chris Christie based on what I heard him say recently, and I hope everyone else does too.

Senior

He said something?—Ed. Note

Ed, Obama wants people to vote for Corzine for governor for another four years. The reason, Obama says, is that Corzine is lowering New Jersey taxes. I would like to meet one person who has had his property taxes lowered. This is a fallacy. Since Corzine has been in office he has raised the sales tax, not to mention raising taxes on lottery winnings over $10,000, and he has raised the motor vehicle taxes too. Four more years? Let’s put somebody else in there.

Hope for Change

Good luck.—Ed. Note

Ed, I could understand President Obama coming to New Jersey and campaigning for Gov. Corzine. I want to know who is picking up the tab for this? Is it the Democratic Party or the taxpayers?

Payer

The Dems might pay for the hors d’oeuvres. The Secret Service bill? That’s on you.—Ed. Note

Ed, this is a longtime parishioner of Holy Angels Church, South Broad Street, Hamilton. We have a painter who is currently painting our church windows frames but he can only reach up to the second-story windows. We have a four-story building and are in need of a bucket truck for the painter to use. If you can help us out contact Father Jeff at the church (609) 585-7049.

Up There

Whose got a bucket? —Ed. Note

Ed, I was shocked to see that there was 75 registered sex offenders within a 5-mile radius of that little girl’s home in Florida. Just imagine. You don’t think something is going to happen? Look it up, people; be afraid for your children. The country has to stop pacifying these molesters. They have to start castrating them. They would have no more reason to molest kids then. Let’s stop being the bleeding hearts of America. “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” It is about time we got back to the basics.

Basic Plan

Parents should be afraid. And they should research the sex offender registry and find out who’s in their neighborhood. Castration seems more barbaric than “basic,” but you’re right — it would be effective. —Ed. Note

Ed, since your readers are always so helpful with their opinions and advice I was wondering if they can tell me where I can get rid of one of these 20-pound propane tanks for the gas grill. Wherever I call to take them they are charging money to do it. The township dump does not take them for free anymore. I want to know where I can get rid of them for free like we did in the past. Multiply my problem by a whole township of people and you are going to find propane tanks all over the township.

Tanked

I think the idea is to refill them. —Ed. Note

Ed, I read the BackTalk article about Kostas Petris, the independent candidate for governor. He is a wonderful guy, but he has no plan, and no law degree. It would be like putting him in a shark tank; they would chew him up in a matter of seconds. The Republicans are dishonest. Kostas is honest to the core. He would never ever last in politics. Kostas, go get a law degree and have somebody on your independent ticket party that can run with you. Good thing you are running a restaurant because I don’t think you could run this state. Like I said, you would be eaten up alive.

Day Job

Just so we’re clear, only dishonest lawyers can be in power. —Ed. Note

Ed, someone stole a parrot from my home in Bordentown last Thursday night (Oct. 15). I am offering a reward of $1,500 for her safe return. You can call (609) 298-9283. If you have her, please return her to me. Leave her on my front porch, there is a cage there. Please, please, please return her to me.

D. Feathered

There’s a special place in hell for parrotnappers. Give it back or suffer eternal damnation.—Ed. Note

Ed, this weekend I went to the mall to a few men’s stores to look for some new clothes. I was in the men’s dressing room trying things on. First of all, Mommie, your 17-year-old son does not need you to come into the dressing room area and stand outside your door to see what you are wearing. Real men do not need their mothers or their wives to come into the dressing room and watch you pose in the hallway or the entryway. You women are taking up room and getting in the way. Stay out of where you don’t belong.

Behind the Curtain

Depends on the man. I happen to have an impeccable sense of style, but many men are clueless when it comes to dressing for success. Besides, it’s exhilarating to have women milling around the men’s dressing room.—Ed. Note

Ed, Hi this is Mary of Tender Hearts. Just wanted to let your readers know we are going to be part of the Fall Harvest Festival sponsored by the Hamilton Recreation Department this Sunday from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. at Kuser Park. Please bring canned goods with you to donate so we can use them in gift baskets for the upcoming holidays.

Mary

Your heard her, people. Do the right thing. Get your cans to the festival.—Ed. Note

Ed, I am calling in regards to the the insufficient people who work for DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services). DYFS should be dismantled and reconstructed with intelligent people who have feelings for children. They hurt more kids than they help. One top person in DYFS called trying to get information on a child that was fostered a year and a half ago. She did not know who had the child, or where the child lived, or the name of the foster mom. She kept on asking questions. I would not give her any information. I said, don’t you have a file on this child? Then I said, give me your name and number. God help our kids.

Rearing

Hmmm. Intelligent people. With feelings. You’re asking for a lot there. —Ed. Note

Ed, I just wanted to comment on Jeff’s column in Sunday’s paper, Oct. 18. Yes, the political scene in New Jersey is in a very sad state. It does not matter who wins the election; it will still take a long time to clean up this corrupt and taxed state. However, I really liked what you guys did with the people running for South Ward. Everyone stated who they were, and the plans they would like to enact, with some general idea of how they were going to get there. Maybe you guys can get all three gubernatorial candidates to do that without any smear tactics and then maybe we would have a clearer picture of all the candidates. Well, here’s hoping, anyway.

Maybe

The South Ward: an exemplar of civility.—Ed. Note

Ed, when leadership is described, one believes it is the trait of an individual who can analyze the issues, look at various viewpoints and develop a consensus with which all considered can live. However, when we think of Gov. Corzine there is a man who is a dedicated liberal who cannot abide the opinions of others and is determined to have his way. That is not true leadership. In the debate about state spending our governor is guilty of budgetary malpractice. The voters can do better.

Not Led Properly

According to opinion and election polls, the voters agreed with you — they thought they could do better! — until they watched Christie campaign. Now voters who feel pretty much the same way you do are willing to hold their noses and reluctantly go for Corzine. —Ed. Note

Ed, analysts who are neutral and have no ax to grind have been telling us that the proposed government takeover of the nation’s health care system is unpopular and politically perilous and that the plan is not only hugely expensive but also unattractive and fraught with risk. President Obama’s self-imposed criteria is that the plan be deficit-neutral. However, the nonpartisan congressional budget office has told him that it will cost many billions of dollars, which this country simply does not have. The only alternative would be massive government borrowing.

Debt Ridden

If you haven’t noticed, the administration has no qualms with “massive government borrowing.” —Ed. Note

Ed, I am calling about the unemployment benefit extension. Before they do this they need to take time to see who the people are that are receiving unemployment benefits. I can personally name three people off the top of my head who are receiving benefits unlawfully. I can’t receive benefits myself and my disability is running out. I am sure that almost everyone out there can name a person who is receiving benefits, and they should not be. I know people who are sitting back and getting benefits every two weeks. It absolutely enrages me.

Doubting Benefits

This calls for a tipster hotline. —Ed. Note

Ed, I am totally disgusted with the current administration. I believe President Obama has put a slap in the face of senior citizens by offering them $250 extra when he just signed a bill to give $7.5 million to Pakistan. If they have this kind of money to give to Pakistan, why can’t they give the money to senior citizens who are striving every day with health benefits in this country and having a tough time now?

D. Sgusted

First of all, you mean $7.5 billion, so you should be 1,000 times more upset than you are. But it’s all China’s money anyway; does that make you feel better? —Ed. Note

Ed, In response to Mayor Bencivengo taking down political signs on public property. I have to apologize; me and a group of my friends have been putting signs all over town. We have been so excited to have been able to vote for people who are not little clones of Bencivengo we can’t wait to run him out of town.

Benci Basher No. 32

Well, try to contain yourselves. But thanks for the visual; “little clones” ... I’m picturing a team of miniature identical Bencivengos running around Hamilton — like elves. They could probably get a lot done. —Ed. Note

Ed, I am calling about the front page of your paper with that photo of John Holliday, former Playgirl Magazine Man of the Year. You should tell that guy not to worry because he is way too good looking to be in Robbinsville.

Eye Candy

Be nice. There are plenty of attractive people in Robbinsville. —Ed. Note

Ed, I would like to say kudos to Annette Lartigue and Manny Segura for finally standing up to the administration at the last council meeting. It is about time somebody started paying attention because this city is a mess and needs improvement.

Take A. Stand

So the council is growing a backbone? Perhaps still in the cartilage stage, but evidence of an evolving vertebrate.—Ed. Note

Ed, I would also like to wish veterinarian Dr. Smith a happy retirement. When I would take my dog there I would worry that I might be getting a big old bill, but no, Dr. Smith would just come out and tell me to give the dog two Bufferin or he would bring out what I called a magic tonic and reassure me that the dog would be OK. I wish him all the best of luck. We are really going to miss him We have been taking out pets to him for probably 30 years. Dr. Smith if you read this, good luck to you.

Lucky Dog

“Dr. Smith’s Magic Tonic.” I could use a swig of that right now. —Ed. Note

Ed, if Chris Christie is seriously interested in becoming governor of New Jersey, he should make Chris Daggett his lieutenant governor and running mate. Granted, they would make strange bedfellows, but the two of them together can easily win the election. Sign me.

“Dump Corzine”

Well, it’s a little late for that. But if we’re talking hindsight, what about a Daggett ticket with Christie as No. 2? As for bedfellows, something tells me Christie would hog the covers.—Ed. Note

Ed, I am a longtime Ewing Township resident. I can’t understand why they are planning to build a new animal shelter when they don’t use all of the shelter they have now. I have been in that building a few times. They could use parts of that building they haven’t touched. It is a waste of taxpayers’ money. My neighborhood has 15 houses up for sale or under foreclosure. But they are wasting our tax money like that for a new building. The only reason I had to use their services recently was when I called them to get a dead racoon out of a tree at my house.

Sheltered

Don’t you know that cats are people, too? Sure, they don’t pay taxes, but animal activists have evidence that cats are two times smarter, and four times more important, than human people. You are obviously an ignorant cat hater. —Ed. Note

Ed, I would like to comment on “Landlord Blues” about the landlord on Lalor Street. I used to rent a room in that place about nine or 10 years ago. It was a slum back them. Those rooms were already divided up. It was horrible. I wasn’t working then. Thank God I got a job and I own my own house now. That landlord is full of it.

Moving on Up

You were lucky enough to move on. How about becoming a landlord yourself? Set a proper example.—Ed. Note

President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and Americans are not only pleased but also surprised because our president is still getting his feet wet when it comes to foreign affairs and our place on the global stage. When our enemies applaud us, however, it gives us pause because Cuba’s communist dictator, Fidel Castro, has said some nice things about our president and he has never before said anything positive about any American or America.

Hmmmm

You’re wise to be wary of praise from a suspicious source. You might also question whether the agenda of the Nobel committee is perfectly aligned with that of America.—Ed. Note

Ed, on Sunday, Oct. 11, page 10, you had a photo you identified as the rapper Ice-T. It was not Ice-T it was Ice Cube. Get it right, Trentonian. You’re beautiful, we love ya.

Iced ID

Just testin’ ya.—Ed. Note

Ed, the Democratic candidates for Hamilton Council are always playing dirty. They have their signs on the right-of-way like Hamilton Avenue going up to I-95 north and then on Olden Avenue where the old Buckstone’s is. They know the signs are not to be displayed on a right-of-way. I believe in fairness. Fight clean, get those signs removed or I am going to call the department of transportation.

Driving By

That’s some juicy dirt you’ve got there. —Ed. Note

Ed, I would like to express my opinion on a notice that I received in the mail. It was about the election and it came from Linda Greenstein and Wayne DeAngelo. It said that they want corrupt politicians to lose their jobs. I don’t know how you can hold an election this fall. No Democrat or Republican can run for office; they are all corrupt.

Total Recall

What do you want them to say? That corruption is rampant and that’s just the way it is? Get used to it and have a nice day. —Ed. Note

Ed, I am calling to express my opinion about the board of elections. I called the board of elections and asked if I could register to take a training class for the poll workers for the coming election. The woman who answered the phone asked where I lived at and I said Ewing Township. She immediately said there were no openings for Democrats, and the class is full. I told her I had not even said whether I was a Democrat or Republican and she hung up the phone.

Dissed in Ewing

Now that’s just rude. But funny. —Ed. Note

Ed, stop the violence that plagues this generation of children. It is not where or how children are born; there are situations that children are exposed to. Stop blaming the schools, government, or lack of money. The responsibility starts with you, the people who chose to become caretakers. There are some who cannot be classified as parents. Parents instill in their children morals, a good strong work ethic, constructive discipline, respect of self and others. Please let me know how I can become a mentor to children. I do not drive.

Would B. Mentor

Call Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Mercer County at (609) 656-1000. —Ed. Note

Ed, I was just reading that GM will be selling Hummer to China. Just what the heck do we make in America that’s a good product? It seems like we import everything in America except paperwork.

Ho Hum

We’re still a leader in pop music. —Ed. Note

Ed, this is in response to “Rebate Racket.” She is complaining about getting a $966 Homestead Rebate check. I would be happy to switch with her. I would be floating on cloud nine if I got a $966 homestead rebate check. I own my own home, I pay my taxes, I live alone and I pay everything myself. I don’t have kids or a spouse so I can’t claim “head of household.” So tell her she should be glad. My rebate check amounted to $313.

That’s Rebatable

Would it be worth it to you to deal with a husband and kids for a year in exchange for $653? Didn’t think so. —Ed. Note

Ed, who were the morons in Hamilton Township who decided to make the kids go to school for half of the day on Monday, Columbus Day? During a national holiday it might be nice to have the kids home with us parents while we have a day off from work. I hope the Hamilton people get their act together for next year.

Poorly Planned

Speak for yourself. Some people will be delighted to have that half day with no work or kids!—Ed. Note

Ed, how did Hamilton Township have their Septemberfest and Trenton not have their jazz fest? Makes me wonder.

Jazzy

Unrelated events with different circumstances in dissimilar municipalities that happen to share a border. I know you have a point here, but I’m not going to make it for you.—Ed. Note

Ed, when Solomon Dwek bounced a $25 million check and was arrested on federal bank fraud charges, he became an FBI informant. It was just another horrible example of the dirty politics in our state. An entire array of pols, mostly Democrats, have been implicated. Dwek offered bribes and made campaign contributions. We should not be surprised that it is more or less accepted that giving money and influencing politicians is pretty much one and the same thing.

“Just Asking”

Who said they were surprised?—Ed. Note

Ed, after JoeBo’s merry men blew the trooper case I have to question their competence. Now that they have blown the Lawrence Township case I have to question their intensions. They really shouldn’t be in business. They are a disgrace to every honest cop in this world. They deserve to be reprimanded for this. It is a sad day in Lawrence Township.

Sad

Don’t hang the whole Lawrence fiasco on the prosecutors. Something’s curious with the defendant withholding for 10 months the evidence that would clear him.—Ed. Note

Ed, about the fire official who got in trouble because his tenant changed the inside of the building and there was a fire. I have been trying to get this point across to the local fire inspectors for 15 years: If the tenant causes the problem the tenant has to be cited, not the landlord. For example, if a tenant removes the battery from a smoke alarm the landlord gets the warning. I think that the tenant should be cited and fined. As landlords we can’t enter the tenant’s apartment any time we want to inspect things. We must give 24 hours notice to see if the tenant has destroyed any property inside the apartment.

Good ’Lord

Something tells me all the problems at that squalid chicken shack building didn’t arise within 24 hours.—Ed. Note

Ed, everyone who has Verizon for their telephone service should check their bill for a charge of $14.95 for ESBI. It showed up on mine. I called ESBI on their 800 line and they tried to convince me that I had ordered this on the Internet. I had never heard of this company and still do not know what they really do. After a few minutes of hassle, they agreed to remove this charge. Why is Verizon accepting charges from them and passing them on to me and others as part of the Verizon bill? Check your phone bills before paying them.

Sharp Eyes

It’s good advice in genera. Check all your bills carefully. People are getting shafted all the time. Regardless of whether it’s “deliberate,” big companies are making big money every day off lax customers. —Ed. Note

Ed, Have you noticed that there are rarely any Chinese, Japanese or Indian names listed in the obituary column. Ever think about why that is? And have you noticed that the only people you see doing dangerous things like swimming with alligators or handling poisonous snakes are white people? Nobody else does that. Ever think about that?

Andy Rooney

Nope. I never think about that. I just think about how fun it is to say “Dag.” —Ed. Note

Ed, I think independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett is 110 percent right about one thing: Only an independent can really fix all the problems in the state of New Jersey. Maybe it is time that we do get an independent elected as governor. We really do need a big change. You know what? Mr. Daggett is starting to look pretty good to me.

Indie

I kind of like him, too. And I like to call him “Dag.” And I like to say, “Dag is Rad.” Rad as in cool, not rad as in radical. I guess in that case you might as well go with “Dag is Bad.” Bad as in good, not bad as in crappy. That should be his slogan. Dag is bad. And his supporters could be like, “Dag is my dog.” Dog as in good friend, not dog as in dog. This is really working. “I dig Dag, my dog, because Dag is bad and rad.” I think I remember that from a kindergarten learn-to-read textbook. Right after “See Dag run” and “Dag likes Jill.” Yep, losin’ it a little. Moving on ....—Ed. Note

Ed, I was just calling in reference to Jeff Edelstein’s comments about the post office. I am sure he has other options. If he wants to pay a little more he can use UPS if he wants no questions asked. This is not the clerks who work at the post office who are causing him problems; our policies come from management.

Postal

You know how they say that people aren’t happy unless they’re complaining? Well that goes triply so for columnists. Don’t take it personally. —Ed. Note

Ed, this is for the crazy people who want to tear down Trenton High and then rebuild it for $150 million dollars. Trenton is a dilapidated town. You have a lot of low-income people and a lot of people aren’t working at all. There ain’t much money coming into town. You can fix that school and clean it up. Use the money for programs for the kids instead. Do what you got to do.

Don’t Build It

It’s not that simple. You might be able to secure funding for a new school. But if you don’t build it, it doesn’t mean that $150 million will magically be kicking around for other uses. —Ed. Note

Ed, can anyone help me? My mom who is 80 suffered a massive stroke. I need to bring her from a nursing home to my apartment to live with me. I am in need of a few things: a clean electric-powered hospital bed with a good mattress. I would need delivery, too, as I am a single lady. We are living on Social Security and unemployment so I can’t afford to buy it. If I had left mom in the nursing home, Medicare would step in and take her monthly Social Security check, in which case, would leave me unable to continue to rent this apartment that her and I shared.

Asking

Anybody got an extra electric bed? Give BackTalk a call and we’ll connect you to this caller. —Ed. Note

Ed, I was at the Italian Festival this past weekend. I went with friends and a relative who comes down every year just to go to the festival. It was so great. Tell Jeff Edelstein to stop at Pete’s stand next year to get one of the roast pork with broccoli rabe. I know he will be the happiest man in the world if he does.

Lip Smacking

We don’t want Jeff to be that happy. Gotta keep his edge. —Ed. Note

Ed, about the people who wrote in to BackTalk blasting the parents of the college student who died in the drinking incident. Let’s remember that someone in the fraternity provided him with the alcohol; they are responsible as well. When you send your kid off to college, they are living under college rules and regulations, so the college is also partly responsible.

Faulty

There’s enough blame to go around. —Ed. Note

Ed, I read about the doctor who was carjacked in the parking lot at St. Francis Medical Center. I am glad he is OK. I was amazed that the police were able to track down the thief because the car was equipped with OnStar; what a lucky break. Too bad the chase ended when the thief crashed the doctor’s Buick into a tree on Nassau Street.

What A. Story

Tell me you’re not an OnStar salesperson.—Ed. Note

Ed, I just received a note at my front door from Mayor Bencivengo in Hamilton telling me I need to clean up the weeds in my yard and fix up the potholes. I pay $6,300 a year in taxes. We need a new mayor and council desperately.

Overgrown

So you’d like your taxes to pay for your lawn care?—Ed. Note

Ed, I saw on TV the other day that flotilla of sailing ships from the Netherlands that were sailing up the Hudson River to dock in Albany to celebrate the 400th anniversary of that first exploratory sail by Henry Hudson. We had the tall ship A.J. Meerwald here recently for a sail on the Delaware River. Easy boat access to Trenton’s waterfront would be a big plus for the city. If you take a walk and look at the river from the Calhoun Street bridge you can see more and more kayaks and canoes out there.

Seaman

I don’t know about encouraging a bunch of kayakers to visit. Rough lot, those kayakers.—Ed. Note

Ed, I took the Cadwalader Heights self-guided house tour the other day. It is reassuring to know that those owners are keeping those homes in such wonderful condition. When you can get a chance to go inside and see the detailed work up close like that it makes you wonder how many families have lived in those homes and walked those halls in the past.

Guide

I love old houses. Except for the ghosts. Even friendly ghosts freak me out.—Ed. Note

Ed, I read the article “NJ taxes horrible,” in which they said that “New Jersey has lost more than $9 billion in net household income in the last five years as residents leave the state.” You really didn’t need to take a survey; just ask a CPA from Pennsylvania, they will tell you that their Jersey counterparts are leaving like lemmings rushing into the sea, or in this case, the river.

Accounted For

New Jersey Lemmings. Great name for an expansion team.—Ed. Note

Ed, with today’s economy it is frequently necessary for both parents to work in order to survive. Therefore the grandparents frequently pick up the children at dismissal time from school. Many older people have disabilities. Morgan Elementary School blocks the entrance to the parking lot at dismissal time. There is only one handicapped parking space on the property and this is already taken up by a school employee. This is the only school in the district that blocks parking lot access.

Let Me In

Dear people in charge of parking at Morgan, Please do something about the access. Thank you. —Ed. Note

Ed, regarding L.A. Paker’s recent article. I am a white baby boomer who considers L.A. Parker to be the best columnist in the Trenton area. Some of his columns about personal and parental responsibility in the African-American community have been classic, right out of the Bill Cosby playbook. I agree with him that a sense of growing racism apparently presents a very real threat to our society. The problem is ignorance spawned by a deteriorating educational system that is far inferior to other first world nations, particularly European. I read recently that 46 percent of Americans believe the Earth is less than 10,000 years old. There is a growing lunatic fringe of right-wing extremists in this country. I fear daily that some Southern redneck with a deer rifle will actually consider he is doing his nation a service by eliminating this wonderful man who he considers to be an illegitimate socialist president. If this occurs the race riots of the ’60s will seem like a minor urban dust-up.

Watch Out

I contend that of those 46 percent who believe the Earth is younger than 10,000, only half feel that way based on religious teachings. That half I can respect. The other half of the 46 don’t know that Toronto is in Canada or that the Pacific is an ocean, and they probably had a 50/50 or chance of picking the “10,000 years” option on the multiple choice phone survey came up with that statistic. —Ed. Note

Ed, I saw the BackTalk item on how Mr. Capadanno was dressed at a recent meeting. I really don’t think that has anything to do with his performance on the council. As long as he can do the job it really doesn’t matter how a person is dressed. It’s the job performance that counts.

As U.R.

To a point. What if he’s wearing a mesh shirt, a Speedo and platform clogs? —Ed. Note

Ed, I am a Bordentown resident. We were talked into allowing low-income housing in what is called the “Point.” All that area is involved in crime now. It is severely bad over there. We had to hire more teachers, and special needs teachers, for the new kids coming into our schools. It is killing our community.

Dying

Well now it IS your community, so y’all need to find a way to life each other up. —Ed. Note

Ed, Manny Segura was up in the pulpit the other day trying to convince New Brunswick voters that they could adopt the same system in New Brunswick that Trenton has. He referred to Trenton’s “successful” schools and neighborhoods. He can keep that kind of “improvement” for New Brunswick. Why don’t you tell Manny to stay down in Trenton and worry about his neighborhoods and the gangs that he should be dealing with?

Manny Happy Returns

Let’s let Manny be Manny.—Ed. Note

Ed, Italian fest has raised its prices to $3 as the entrance fee. It is held at a public park, I don’t know what they think they are doing. I have four kids that like to go every night. I am going to be broke by the end of this fest.

Fested

You can probably work out some kind of scholarship.—Ed. Note

Ed, I want to comment on the article about the guards finding all the cell phones in the prison. How did the cell phones get in the prisons? Did they walk in there by themselves? The guards and the employees are bringing in the phones and then they are finding them themselves. I wonder how many phones are in there that they refuse to find? Internal affairs better step it up.

Ringaling

Some of the phones apparently were smuggled deep inside of prisoners, hence the need for the new BOSS, the Bodily Orifice Security Scanner. That’s not my joke. That’s a real machine.—Ed. Note

Ed, hey, L.A., don’t worry about those crackheads who stole your basil plant; they probably thought it was pot. Wait until they try to smoke that!

Bone Appetite

I like to roll me up a fat pesto blunt. Serve it with linguini, gin and juice.—Ed. Note

Ed, about the BackTalk item “Basketball Breeds Gangs.” It is attitudes like this that continue the perpetuation of gangs and violence. You take down basketball courts rather than take care of the issue at hand, whether it be more communication and interaction with individuals at a younger age or calling the police if need be. You should not take down basketball courts. That’s why society is the way it is. This is a problem of all of us not just individuals and the problem isn’t basketball.

Reverse Jam

Amen. You remove opportunities for recreation and wonder why kids turn to mischief. —Ed. Note

Ed, yes, there is an entire set of anti-Obama Americans who are against him because he is black, and another whole group against him because they think he has a socialist agenda. But, he is our president. Thank goodness for electronic voting.

Check Mark

Thank goodness for electronic music. Love techno. —Ed. Note

Ed, I have to comment on what I just saw on CNN. There were 30,000 people protesting against Obama’s health care plan. I wonder how many of those people who were protesting had no health insurance, or were on Medicare or Medicaid. You would probably be really stunned at the answer you get. They have so much anger in their hearts that they don’t even know they are racist. They have no idea why they are protesting other than someone told them that it would be a good idea to protest against Obama. We have to stop being stupid and start really caring about each other whether we are rich or poor, black or white. We have to come together.

Togetherness

You’re probably right about some percentage of those protesters. But you don’t know them. You don’t know who’s done what research or read which analyses. And calling everyone who disagrees with you “stupid” is not starting a dialogue. —Ed. Note

Ed, I give five stars to Jeff Edelstein’s article in last Friday’s paper that talked about the positive aspects of President Obama’s health care plan. I totally agree with everything he said. People are just being totally ridiculous. There are many many issues among those who are protesting the plan that are aside from true issues. There are racist issues in there. The Republicans are just an angry group that can’t get over the fact that Barak Obama is President of the United States.

Jeffer

I’m glad that liberal Jeff crap made someone happy. LOL. —Ed. Note

Ed, on Sept. 10 L.A. Parker made some sweeping generalizations that are almost unbelieveable in 2009. Parker said that every Obama opinion is met with derision and disrespect. I guess he wasn’t paying attention for the last eight years when everything Bush did was met with derision and disrespect. Then he says that it was because a large segment of the population could never imagine following a black man. That is a sweeping generalization that L.A. Parker would never accept if it were pointed at him. He has set Mr. Obama up to never to be challenged on anything. This constant playing of the race card needs to be challenged, this needs to go away. I would like to see some evidence of people who reject Obama just because he is black.

Generalized

I can’t tell you exactly what percentage of Obama’s critics have a problem with the color of his skin. But there are indeed many people, millions, in this country who do have a problem with a black man in the White House. It’s naive of you to think otherwise. Even in 2009. —Ed. Note

Ed, after Obama’s speech on education I went on the computer and there was a little article about Obama giving the kids going to school $2,500. When I tried to get more information about it there was no information to be had. I have a child in school and I could use the help if I can get it. I am a parent who is trying to find out a Web site or phone number that I could call. Please respond to BackTalk. I buy the newspaper every day so I will be able to see it.

Parent

Has anyone out there had luck getting this free money? —Ed. Note

Ed, on Saturday I was at a local liquor store in Hamilton Township. When I came outside there was a father and his kid out there collecting for the local township Little League. I would really like to know why they are collecting now since the season has been over for more than three weeks. When my kid was involved in Little League we collected well before the start of the season started and there were usually a bunch of dads and kids out there. I ain’t trying to be smart, I just really want to know. I gave them a dollar. I don’t mind them collecting; the Little League does good work. I just really want to know, are they going to be collecting up until Christmas or what?

Donor

Don’t think of it as postseason collection. They’re starting early for next year. Or they’re scamming you and that kid doesn’t even play Little League. —Ed. Note

A BackTalker asked for suggestions on the area’s best cheesecake. Following are some of your responses.—Ed. Note

A great place to go for cheesecakes is Angelo’s Cheesecakes in Hamilton Township on White Horse Mercerville Road. Great cakes, great Italian cookies, and a small cafe so you can come in and have a cup of coffee and a slice of cheesecake.

Looking for a good cheesecake? Pat’s Diner has the best cheesecake and food in Trenton. Come on down. This is from a waitress at Pat’s.

I wanted to tell you that Mother’s Cheesecake is a really nice cheesecake factory, and they have have an outlet store to the left just before you go over the Burlington Bristol Bridge. You can also get some cheesecakes there at very reasonable prices because of a small imperfection; I have seen some for as low as $3.

Ed, this is M. from Hamilton in regard to the adult bookstore on Route 33. What the mayor did was wrong. The mayor trampled on all the Constitutional rights of the people inside that store. Does he want to go back to the 18th- century way of living?

Rights

Hmmm. The “M” wouldn’t stand for “masturbator”? —Ed. Note

Ed, recently I was driving down Brunswick Avenue and I saw this kid in front of a house with his pants hanging down. Tears came down from my eyes. He has no idea how pathetic that looks. Some of these young boys have the mentality of an infant. One could conclude just from seeing him with his pants hanging down that if someone doesn’t intervene in his house there are only going to be two people willing to employ him, prison and the graveyard.

Pull Ups

Why is it that most fashions have their day and move on, but this freaking droopy-pants show-me-your-butt thing just won’t go away? I saw a kid the other day trying to put his wallet in his back pocket, and he couldn’t reach! —Ed. Note

Ed, I hate to disappoint “Granny,” but it is illegal to drive five to 15 mph below the speed limit, particularly on I-95. I know people who have gotten tickets for doing it.

Quicker

Going slow on a fast highway is indeed dangerous. It’s like dropping a couch in the road.—Ed. Note

Ed, I want to thank the Trentonian for keeping up to date on stories about Ewing Township. I have lived here since 1986. I have a question that maybe you can answer. The new Capital Health hospital that is being built off of I- 95, is that located in the township of Ewing or is that in Hopewell?

Location

Hopewell.—Ed. Note

Ed, this is for Mayor Bencivengo. I live in Hamilton Township and I work out in Veterans Park four or five times a week. It’s a beautiful park. I am just curious as to why they don’t have basketball courts out there. Is it because they don’t want the inner city people to come out there and play sports?

Free Throw

I’m sure that’s not the answer. We’ll wait to hear from Benci on this one.—Ed. Note

Ed, this is an urgent plea to Julie of K & R Hair Design. I see your place of business is closed; so where are you now? Please call Helen and let me know. Please call soon; I really need you.

Uncut

Sounds like someone loves the way you snip, Julie. Sharpen those scissors and show yourself!—Ed. Note

Ed, I just completed my master’s degree. Do you want to know what I got for it? A handshake from my employer. Tell me why it is that these teachers go online and get these “fake” master’s degrees and all of a sudden they get these $5,000 raises handed to them. Things like that have got to stop. The taxpayers are broke.

Mastered

Well, it’s easier to set up a pay scale based on degree of education than it is to actually figure out which teachers are any good — which, if they did, would still be easier than battling the union to pay according to that assessment.—Ed. Note

Ed, about the recent BackTalk item on the wisdom of teaching underage kids to drink. I was taught at a young age to drink moderately and turned out to be a full-blown alcoholic. Whether it was my fault, I don’t know. But I don’t think it is a good idea to teach young kids to drink.

Drying Out

Is there a right answer in this debate? Teach kids alcohol is forbidden, and they’ll sneak it and binge drink. But allow them a taste of it, and they’ll develop a taste for it. Damned if you do ...—Ed. Note

Ed, cash for clunkers was a farce. A lot of the clunkers people turned in were really not clunkers. The good reliable cars should have been resold to the public and not junked.

Junked

May those cars rest in peace. They sacrificed themselves in the name of artificially stimulating the economy. Brings a tear to the eye.—Ed. Note

Ed, I am a Trenton taxpayer living on Deklan Avenue. There is this woman from Hamilton Township who owns a Jetta and parks it right out in front of my door every day. I have to park all the way around the corner when I could have parked in front of my own home. I have left a note on her car window saying “you pay taxes in Hamilton, why don’t you park your car in Hamilton?” Isn’t there a law of some kind in New Jersey against this?

My Spot

As much as this is a pain in the butt for you, I hope there is not a law against parking in the next town. However, lawmakers are always looking for ways to amend liberty, so you’ll probably have luck if you pitch your plight to the right one.—Ed. Note

Ed, This is for the “Wild America” doubter in New Jersey. I have hunted and hiked from the Pine Barrens to the Delaware Water Gap. I have seen very large, long, thick copperheads and water moccasins reaching six to eight feet. Through the years in the Pinelands I have seen pine snakes reaching eight feet long, easy. I am not an expert myself, but I know what I have seen in the wilds of New Jersey. By the way, there are timber rattlers and scorpions in the Pines. People don’t even believe it. Tell the doubter to check the Internet.

Slither

Or we could just send “the doubter” into the wilds of New Jersey with a machete and a bag of trail mix. Come back in a week and tell us if you believe in snakes.—Ed. Note

Ed, Ever since Michelle Lorie Cheesecakes left town I haven’t been able to find a good piece of cheesecake. Please ask your readers to let me know where I can go to find good cheesecake.

Cheesy

Cairo Cakes in Ewing is a great bet for all things cake, including cheesecake. If you’re looking more for a diner or someplace to order a slice, I’m sure our BackTalkers can help you out. BackTalkers?—Ed. Note

Ed, I am calling about the Public Service “Worry Free” contract. They had me take off two days of work so far in the last three weeks to wait at home for them. They never showed up and never called. Finally they came out and put used parts in my appliances that broke down one day later. I have been without an oven for 21 days, and without a dryer for two weeks.

Raw and wet

Good thing you don’t have anything to worry about.—Ed. Note

Ed, why does everybody feel the need to be armed in order to visit Trenton? Sure, it has its share of crime, but so does every other city! Especially, the well-known ones like New York or Los Angeles. We need to open our eyes to a great city and start appreciating Trenton’s culture, communities and attractions. After all, it’s the most important one in New Jersey!

Proud Trentonian

Trenton gets a bad rap. Most of the people bad-mouthing the city haven’t taken the time to appreciate the attributes you mention. And the city is an easy target for classist criticism because it’s surrounded by affluent suburbs like Princeton and Lawrence. —Ed. Note

Ed, I am an alcoholic. I know that alcohol kills in many ways. I drank two fifths of vodka and a water chaser every day for four years. I belong to a fellowship of men and women whose primary purpose is to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. Keep coming back. It works if you work it.

Recovering

Good for you. Stay strong.—Ed. Note

Ed, you said, “Don’t give kids booze. That’s pretty straightforward.” However, in regards to the issue of the firehouse party, it is not nearly that straightforward. In New Jersey it is legal for a parent to furnish alcohol to his or her child. And to consider a 17-year-old a “kid” is questionable. If the father believed his son was mature enough to drink, then it is actually a responsible decision for him to allow his child to become accustomed to alcohol in a supervised, responsible setting. Perhaps if young people learned their limits at their parents’ parties instead of frat parties, there wouldn’t be 1,500 college students dying from alcohol-related incidents every year.

Young Buzz

Well, that sounds sensible. But this isn’t Europe. —Ed. note

Ed, here is the difference between a civil union and a marriage: A civil union is a legal union performed by a judge. A marriage is performed in the eyes of God as well as being legal. I believe that gays should be allowed to have civil unions and all their legal rights, but for them to get married in the sight of God is like slapping God in the face. I just don’t think that is a good thing to do.

Affront

Why not let God deal with it if he feels he’s being slapped in the face?—Ed. Note

Ed, I am so glad that money was given to Womanspace in Lawrenceville. It is a shame that it has taken so long to get this money to that organization. I hope that women and men who need help will come forward and use the services offered by Womanspace. Somewhere the violence has to stop, and not just at the grave site. The 24-hour hotline for Womanspace is (609) 394-9000.

Help

If you’re in an abusive situation, call this number. Do it.—Ed. Note

Ed, this is for Waterworld. The drains in Trenton have been cleaned out twice and they were working pretty well. You can’t dump three inches of rain on one town and expect it to go away in 10 minutes. As for people driving fast through the flood water and splashing waves of water into her basement, there is no cure for stupid people, and Trenton has not cornered the market on that.

Ripple

You sound like a man with inside knowledge of drains. Thanks for the insight.—Ed. Note

Ed, since when did the Hamilton mayor become a police officer? I wonder. I was riding down Lalor Street the other day and I saw him and his press aide getting out of a dark-colored undercover Ford with all its emergency lights flashing. On top of that the car was on the wrong side of the street. If he can tool around town like that with flashing lights, I want to also.

Flashy

First of all, the mayor in Hamilton is also the public safety director, and he is outfitted with a vehicle that has emergency lights. Gilmore had the same thing. As for the case in question, Mayor Bencivengo was not “tooling around” with the emergency lights activated. He arrived at the scene of a housing code violation and only activated the lights upon arrival, for safety, because of the location where he had to park. —Ed. Note

Ed, wow, what a surprise, Robbinsville schools are short on space. When you keep building houses, condos and places to live in a small town like Robbinsville, where do you expect all the students are going to end up? Everybody who moves in has got kids. Quit building. You are ruining what used to be a nice little rural township. It is not Hamilton Township, this is Robbinsville. You guys in charge in Robbinsville, wake up and smell the coffee.

Breakfast Blend

Before it was a “nice little rural township,” it was a nicer, littler, more rural township. But you got your piece of heaven; now if you can just keep everyone else out ....—Ed. Note

Ed, I am calling to comment on Mr. Norman Molis the Mercerville Fire Company volunteer. I don’t know what I find more disturbing. The fact that Mr. Molis, as an adult and a father, pouring a drink for his son, a minor, didn’t seem to think he was breaking the law; or his fellow firefighters egging him on and begging his teenage son to drink. What is the fire company doing hosting an afterhours party? Who is minding the store? Mr. Molis has broken the law; his fellow firefighters should also be investigated.

Firing Squad

Don’t give kids booze. That’s pretty straightforward. But don’t get down on firefighters for holding a party “afterhours.” Would it be better in the middle of the day? Fires don’t care what time it is. These are volunteers who deserve to let loose once in a while. —Ed. Note

What kind of twisted logic is Ms. Rossi using in trying to make the First Amendment support her position of imposing her religious beliefs on others? The First Amendment not only allows freedom of religion, but freedom from religion also. No one is forcing her to marry someone of the same sex, so I fail to see how such a law would prohibit her from practicing whatever religion she wishes, in whatever way she wishes, as long as no harm comes to others. Please, save us from the zealots who think that their way is the only right way and wants to enforce that belief on those who think differently.

Free to Be

Live and let live, right? Some people will never grasp that one. —Ed. Note

Ed, I was driving on I-295 south. Will someone tell me why they have closed down the rest areas on this highway and many other highways in New Jersey? For safety? You go to any other state and you can pull off the road, have a snack or take a nap. Are they too cheap to pay someone to clean up the bathrooms?

Unrested

The rest stops were out of control. Too much sex in the bathrooms and parking lots. Now everyone else has to suffer. —Ed. Note

Ed, the Hoboken mayor stepped down after serving one month in office because he was arrested. Why did the mayor get paid $4,200 for 12 vacation days? He should have been reimbursed only one day’s vacation pay after serving only a month. I am glad he is now on permanent vacation.

Bad Math

Ah, the efficiency of government.—Ed. Note

Ed, hi, I would like you to put something in the paper to say thanks to the two gentlemen on Hutchinson Avenue who pulled me out of the flood recently. We don’t have enough people in this world like that.

Pat

We need more everyday heroes and Good Samaritans. But, as BackTalk often reminds us, there are still many of them out there.—Ed. Note