In our neighborhood, in Mercerville, we are fighting a Popeye’s trying to renovate and add a drive-thru window to their business. We do not wish this to become part of our neighborhood; it offers nothing for us. It will create more traffic that we do not need. We are a walking community and the extra traffic would only make our streets dangerous for our children and the rest of us. It will cause more air pollution, which will cause us to close our windows and use more electricity to keep the air in our homes so that we can breathe more easily.

There are many laws in place to protect us from this, but the board in Hamilton seems much more interested in listening to Popeye’s than to its citizens. I am not sure why we should be made to hire professional people for the board to hear us. But we do not have the same rights as the professionals from Popeye’s so we have had to put our monies together to pay professionals to speak for us (to the tune of thousands of dollars), when there are many of us ready to state our case ourselves in a professional manner. We have not been allowed the same time to give our defense of our needs and desires to see our community grow and prosper in the way we see it should. Popeye’s is always given the floor first, the right to rebuttal and ask us questions and we are not given the same rights or courtesies. It seems that we are second class citizens and Popeye’s is the townships first consideration.

So it seems to me, that the township is telling us to put our homes up for sale and move on. They do not seem to care what we have said, in our short time allotment. They seem to think that Popeye’s is the best thing since sliced bread and we are not intelligent enough to know it, a board member said that to us!! As Popeye professionals have said to us, our information and reasons why we do not want the drive thru does not count because we are not professionals. Are we living in a professional area OR is this area residential/commercial? Who says because we are only residents that we are not professionals? Who says that professionals are the ones to run our neighborhood? Is Hamilton Township telling us they want us to move and the only ones allowed in this township are professionals? Sorry to remind you that this is OUR neighborhood and you gave us the laws to protect it. So now it is your civic duty to make sure our voices are heard and the laws that you have put in place to protect us are upheld.

I think that the township should put its citizens first and hear what we have to say. If they wish to hear only from professionals, then they should have lawyers available for us at the cost of the township.

We are the citizens, Popeye’s is a business, who should have a say as to what will be in our neighborhood? I think it should be the citizens.

To the family and friends of the Wargo Family;

Dennis Wargo is a lifelong member of the Hopewell Valley community. He's a Vietnam Veteran who was recently inducted into the Hopewell Valley Central High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He's worked hard his whole like to take care of his family.

Dennis was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He's endured months of chemotherapy and radiation, and recently underwent surgery. The surgeons removed his pancreas, part of his stomach, part of his intestine, and his gall bladder. Due to the extensive surgery, his respiratory system was compromised, and he has a big struggle ahead for full recovery. They do feel they got all the cancer and his prognosis is good.

The problem is he and his wife, Marilyn, have some overwhelming medical expenses resulting from his illness.

Dennis and Marilyn live in Hopewell. Over the years, he has primarily worked for Shop-Rite, most recently as Dairy Clerk for the Rocky Hill Shop Rite. Marilyn works part time. Dennis had health insurance through his work, but because he is now unable to work, he has the added cost of paying his own monthly insurance.

Due to his serious condition, he had to go "out of network" for an oncologist with the expertise to handle his case. With combined "out of network" costs, deductibles and co-pays, the family is facing insurmountable expenses. And with Dennis not working he has other expenses adding up. He intends to work again when he heals, but in the meantime medical expenses are increasing with no end in sight, and a long healing process ahead.

As a friend or family member, if you'd like to help Dennis and Marilyn get through their struggle with cancer, donations are being collected. Let's help Dennis concentrate on a full recovery by helping with the financial side of his illness. Checks should be made payable to "Friends of the Wargo Family" and mailed to: Friends of the Wargo Family c/o Jim Morrison (HVCHS Class of '66) 118 W. Welling Ave., Pennington, NJ 08534.

An account for the fund drive has been established at Hopewell Valley Community Bank. The bank will keep a record of all contributions. The family will be notified of all those who contribute, but not the amounts. Even the smallest contributions will add up to help Dennis and Marilyn through this difficult time. Let's come together as a community to help this wonderful family.

Sincerely,

Terry R. Silvester, Colonel, US Air Force (retired); HVCHS Class of '66

Healthcare reform certainly isn't easy. But failing to pass a comprehensive overhaul shouldn't be an option.

Right now, more than 45 million Americans don't have health insurance. Given the current recession, that number is likely on the rise. And national healthcare spending continues to escalate at an alarming rate.

Congress's healthcare bills certainly have some flaws. But Americans of all political stripes recognize that we need reform. Republicans and Democrats alike can rally behind initiatives to expand coverage, remove waste and fraud from our system, accelerate the adoption of health information technology, prohibit insurers from denying coverage to patients with pre-existing medical conditions, and reduce the deficit.

Whether lawmakers decide to work with the existing proposals or start from scratch, it's important that they seize this opportunity. New Jersey Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg have worked hard to fight for responsible healthcare legislation that works for all Americans. It's crucial that they keep up the good work.

Upon their death, would you be willing to assume the responsibility for repaying your parents and grandparents debt? You might say ... yes, no, or it depends on how much it is. Suppose it was the law that you had to repay. Let's further suppose that your parents were maxing out numerous credit cards and double-mortgaging their home. But, they used those funds for good works - buying internet connections and computers for schools, new bathrooms in national parks and needles for heroin users to lessen their chance of getting Aids.

You'd probably beg, plead and argue with them to stop accumulating debt - you might even take legal action to stop them.

If you wouldn't let your parents or grandparents do this to you, then why are you letting your politicians do this to you, your kids and your grandkids?

The government debt that has already been accumulated and will continue to pile up from spending on programs that are either unnecessary or could be cut or delayed is going to stifle your kid's life. The debt load will cause taxes to skyrocket because the government is obligated to repay the debt and taxes are the government's only source of income.

More government debt = higher payments = higher taxes = less income for citizens = less opportunity for your kids to live the life they want. Your kids will have less opportunity than you did to buy a house, start a business, support their favorite charity, send their kids to college or care for an elder parent because the government will be taking over 70% of their hard earned income.

Don't let the fancy jargon, politicians or talking heads fool you, this issue as is as simple as the example outlined above. If you wouldn't let Dad or Gran spend needlessly, don't let your politician do it.

I wrote back early this year regarding the road condition at the intersection of Kuser and Yardville Hamilton Square Road. I got a response and also saw the publication in the newspaper stating that repairs would begin "on or about June" (can't remember if it stated the 1st or the 30th). Either way, June, July, August and 3/4 of September have come and gone and NOTHING has been done to that intersection!

The current sign says "On or about September 14". Today is September 24 and STILL NOTHING has been done!

Why can't someone specifically state the reason for the delay? First, you're waiting for Public Service, then you're waiting for Verizon. It seems that all existing poles have been removed for quite some time.

The unnecessary "roundabout" was completed, Klockner Road near the school was resurfaced. I don't know why, there didn't seem to be any problem with it-a section of Kuser Road was resurfaced!

CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT IS THE PROBLEM-THE HOLDUP-with the intersection of Kuser Road and Yardville Hamilton Square Road?????

When can we expect to see the Township do something about all the stray cats in Sunnybrae area? Every day there are more cats and kittens turning up.

If you call Animal Control, they say they are full and cannot take anymore. Something needs to be done because it's out of control.

Licensing cats, just like dogs, may help, but I doubt it.

Mayor, do something.

I write in reference to the preservation of St. Michael’s Tract farmland. I am filled with joy that the land has been preserved, that the land will not fall into the hands of developers, that the community will be able to enjoy such an amazing piece of property. My family has a very deep, personal connection to this property.

After reading Ms. Farmer's article on St. Michael’s farmland, however, I feel the need to correct some misinformation. The land was indeed NOT unused since 1973 when the orphanage was destroyed. My father & family worked tirelessly 7 days a week, 365 days each year on the farm. It was a very productive dairy farm, with approximately 100 cows (80 of them being milked twice daily). That did not include in the earlier years the chickens and pigs that were also a part of the farm. Fields and fields of crops such as soybeans, hay, corn, wheat, etc. were grown annually as well.

My father and uncle were business partners, hard workers, and raised hard working children and grandchildren that all participated in the farm work. After my uncle retired, my father kept right on going, never missing a beat. When he became ill about 10 years ago, he finally gave the farm back to the Catholic Diocese. Sadly, he passed away 2 years ago, but each and every one of his children, including myself have personal, fond memories of "our farm" and the sweat we poured into it. I guess you can say we feel a little protective of it.

If you are a person who has lived in Hopewell for any length of time, you know our family, you know our story. My mother and her siblings lived in the house that once stood on the property, growing up there during the depression. My grandparents were actually orphans that met at St. Michael's, so very long ago. As you can see, we are DEEPLY rooted.

Thank you for allowing me to set the record straight. I know that so many people will benefit from this wonderful preservation.

Kathy DiGaetano, daughter of Frank Klevze, niece of John Eichinger

Just wanted to let you know how much I love Hamilton Space.com! Keep up the great work. Thank you!

I’d like to take this moment to thank several of my local representatives for doing absolutely nothing when help was requested with a couple of issues.

I would like to thank Hamilton Councilwoman Kelly Yaede for completely ignoring my email about getting information about a job opportunity. I emailed her from the address on the Hamilton website on July 17 at 8:12 a.m. and I’m still waiting for any kind of a reply. Thanks, Ms. Yaede. If this is how you respond to continuant's questions, then I won’t be voting for you again.

I would like to thank State Senator Bill Baroni, and Assemblypersons Wayne DeAngelo and Linda Greenstein for showing their true colors. Baroni wants to pass a bill that would give a tax credit for those who buy energy efficient appliances because he says he wants to save energy and help New Jerseyans keep more money in their pockets. Obviously he doesn’t really believe that.

I moved to the apartment complex I’m in now, as did most of the lower income and the elderly on fixed-incomes, because heat, hot water, and cooking gas were included in the rent. The complex was sold and the new owners changed the policy. Now we pay for our own gas. It is no longer included in the rent; however, the rent did not go down. My PSE&G bills in the winter jumped from $35-$40 a month to $175-$185 a month, as did everyone else’s in the complex.

I can understand paying for my own PSE&G gas, however, the heating and air conditioning units in these apartments are 40 years old, noisy, and very inefficient, and the landlord didn’t have to upgrade them and we have no say in their maintenance. So, not only are these hundreds of old units sucking and wasting natural gas, but the tenants are shelling out 360% more in energy costs, many in the complex, myself included, are now behind in payments to PSE&G.

I wrote to the three representatives several times about the issue. Greenstein never even responded and Watson gave me some number to call, that when called, the people who answered had no idea why I was given their number. Baroni also ignored my request for help, but did send a letter several months later soliciting any ideas on how New Jersey could save energy.

The tenants in my complex are bracing for another miserable winter with a noisy, gas guzzling, energy inefficient 40-year-old heating unit and a spring deeper into debt to PSE&G. Thanks guys for nothing, keep up the good work.

With the heartbreaking loss of precious Tamrah Leonard, we in the city of Trenton are deeply outraged. On June 7th, 13 year old Tamrah was the tragic recipient of a stray bullet during a drive by shooting at a stop-the-violence block party held on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

According to prosecutors, numerous gunmen sprayed at least 20 bullets into a crowd of 100 people at this stop-the-violence block rally. As of today, seven young men are now held in custody awaiting trial for this cowardly deed. Let us hope and pray that the bereaved Leonard family receive justice for this ignoble act.

In the wake of this tragedy, we must not take the easy way out and drink from the cup of bitterness and hatred that demonizes the individuals that committed this reprehensible act. We must hold these individuals accountable, but never lose sight of their humanity. To engage in black and white thinking that pits citizens against gang members is to oversimplify the problem because these gang members are the sons and daughters of citizens. We have a moral obligation to do the much harder job of actually trying to understand why these young men and women are susceptible to gangs. We must take real steps to help at risk youth look at the allure of gang membership and say ‘no that is not the way for me’.

In the past, young people have looked to their family, church, and school for guidance, leadership, and something constructive to do in their communities. These institutions have traditionally equipped individuals with the necessary tools to combat feelings of meaninglessness and hopelessness that make ordinary people vulnerable to gangs and extremist groups. Quite frankly, families are much weaker than they used to be. Far too many churches are becoming materialistic, and all too many schools are more concerned about their budget than the well-being of their students. These organizations are trying their best. However, more needs to be done. These institutions, like all other human institutions, sometimes need renewal and improvement.

The question becomes: Where do we go from here? I suggest that we can all help out in unique ways. In the home, instead of having your children watch countless hours of television, we should communicate more effectively with them. Understanding their fears, anxieties as well as their aims and aspirations, can help our children pursue their dreams. If you don’t have children, you can volunteer to mentor a child that needs direction. Local churches and schools should do their part by offering job training and computer skills. Moreover, they ought to extend their outreach programs and after school activities to more at risk youth and make their visibility more prominent in the community with unrelenting advertising. These programs need to make explicit all the benefits of joining to counteract the appeal of gang membership.

If we fail to act now, the forces of darkness will have the last word. More innocent lives will be lost to prison, insane asylums, or ultimately death if we don’t do the right thing. Ironically, the street where precious Tamrah was gunned down is named after America’s towering figure, Dr. Martin Luther King. He eloquently said, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals”. If you’re sick and tired of the carnage and violence of the status quo, you must act now. It won’t be easy nor will change occur overnight, but if we stay committed, progress is possible. The choice is ours to make.