Letters

I am disappointed in the Sentinel’s coverage of the Hooters restaurant coming to East Brunswick by representing my argument against the restaurant as rather one-dimensional.

You chose to print only my “saucier” comments, while omitting other points I made at the Township Council meetings, such as the inevitable increase in traffic that it will cause. You then referred to me as “strident” and chose, rather unprofessionally, to print unpleasant personal comments directed toward me made by people who do not know me. Newspaper coverage should be unbiased, a fact the Sentinel chose to ignore in this case. In the future, I will think twice about allowing the Sentinel to quote me.

In response to Frank Fischl’s comments in his letter to the editor (“Hooters Is a Legitimate Restaurant, Not a Strip Club,” Sentinel, May 19), it’s not surprising that a Monroe resident has no problem with a Hooters moving into East Brunswick. Perhaps he would be willing to take it off our hands and into his community instead.

Just as I respect Mr. Fischl’s right to take his children and grandchildren anywhere he wishes, he should respect my right to share, with my community council, information and reservations I may have about Hooters restaurant. It’s called freedom of speech, and although Mr. Fischl may not like it, that right is even extended to women. In addition, I think it’s odd that Mr. Fischl finds reading about issues such as sexual harassment, wrongful deaths and underage drinking, amusing. I don’t think they’re that funny.

Although I don’t need to qualify his final comment about my “passion” with a response, let me state for the record that I have many issues in which I am passionately involved. While Mr. Fischl was busy taking his grandson to Hooters, I was rescuing and adopting a sick, abandoned child, fostering and re-homing numerous homeless and abused animals, while remaining actively involved in autism research and awareness.

This was the first issue about which I’ve spoken before the council, but it will not be the last. I would love to see others in our community speak up about issues that concern them.

Alyson Steinberg

East Brunswick

Editor’s note: The Sentinel erred in stating that Alyson Steinberg was the “most strident” of those people who spoke against Hooters at a recent public meeting. The word strident has a negative connotation, which we did not intend.

Remembering those who fought to keep the nation free

Once again the day set aside to honor our heroic dead is upon us. The tradition of Memorial Day started on May 5, 1866, when residents of Waterloo, N.Y., set aside an entire day to honor the dead from the Civil War in a solemn and patriotic manner. At the time, the observance was known as Decoration Day.

As a tribute to those who defended us and fought to keep our country an independent nation, many veterans organizations observe the day with reverent prayers and patriotic ceremonies. Also, veterans place an American flag over each fallen veteran’s final resting place.

It is important not to forget our comrades who answered the final roll call, those who sacrificed their lives on the altar of liberty and those in our veterans hospitals who must spend their lives on beds of suffering and pain.

At the same time, remembering will instill respect for the day in the youth of today, for the torch to carry on American values and traditions will soon pass to our youth.

The Raritan Valley Veterans Memorial Alliance will sponsor its usual Memorial Day Parade. The service will start and participants will assemble at 11 a.m. at the monument located at Livingston and George streets, New Brunswick. Many veterans, school groups and civic groups will proceed from George Street to French Street and then to Highland Park, where the march will end after brief services at the World War I Monument.

Joseph F. Ziemba

supervisor

Middlesex County Veterans Interment

South River is a little town with a very big heart

The South River Food Bank is run by a small group of volunteers. We are located at Lincoln School, Prospect and Williams streets. Our hours are 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays.

We rely solely on donations. The number of families continues to rise, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the level of supplies necessary to meet the demand.

The people of South River have once again shown their generosity. The response to the recent Letter Carriers Food Drive was overwhelming. The donations will allow us to assist the needy in our community without constantly worrying whether there will be enough.

We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the residents who contributed to this great cause. We would like to thank, from the bottom of our hearts, the mail carriers who collected all the donations and the mail carriers who, on their own time, brought the items from the post office to the food bank. We also wish to thank Boy Scout Troop No. 83 for helping us sort and put away all the items. Everyone selflessly gave of themselves to help their community.

The Letter Carriers Food Drive is a wonderful example of how our town comes together to help those less fortunate.

Dolores Ragucci

Kaye Bongiovi

co-coordinators

South River Food Bank