Sound Off

"I think the Press And Journal should run segments about the history of different parts of the town. I’m interested in the history of the land between Pine and Race (streets) from Conewago to Emaus streets. For instance, when I was a little girl, I used to visit a little market on the corner of Spruce and Columbia. Was it Kane's? What else ever happened on that land? Was it part of an Indian Reservation?"

"I would like to thank the couple who found my brother almost unconscious in his car parked down the street from Kuppy's Diner over July 4th weekend. You saved his life! He is a diabetic and had unusually low blood sugar and may not be with us today if it hadn't been for you contacting the police to investigate his vehicle."

"I would just like to say how proud I am of the community of Middletown for coming together to help raise money for the Sweigart/Van Boskirk family. Middletown Ice Hockey and Seven Sorrows Athletic Association held a car wash yesterday and we had a great turn out. Thank you to everyone who helped out washing cars; thank you to the local business who donated pizzas and wings to feed the volunteers. It was nice to see two organizations work together as one for this family. Despite what some Sound Off callers say about Middletown, there are good people out there and they are in this town."

"Is there a minimum rate you must pay for electric? For example, If I were trying to sell my house and didn't live there, I heard the minimum bill would be $100, regardless of the amount of electric used. Is there any truth to this?"

"John McCain doesn't know how many houses he owns. I don't know about y'all, but I know how many houses I own. I guess maybe it's harder to lose track when you can't afford to buy one home as compared to owning seven with money your weird wife inherited. This guy's out of touch and doesn't live in reality."

"This message is for the administrators at Middletown Area High School. I am deeply disturbed to find out that many students received an improper schedule. It is pathetic that a school with not even a thousand students can (not) provide kids with a correct schedule. The guidance department at Middletown is failing at the jobs that they are being paid for. I think that they should get rid of the useless position of dean of students and put that money toward more guidance help."

"In response to the person who stated ‘local school teachers … don’t teach well enough’ and is concerned that the list of honor roll students is shrinking, I say, ‘Shame on you!’ School teachers are educators; they are there to provide instruction. They are not babysitters, nor are they parents. If you are concerned that your child may not achieve honor roll status, why aren’t you working with them? Most school teachers assign homework. If your child does not put in the effort necessary to earn honor roll status, why is that the teachers’ fault? And with regard to colleges not offering extra credit, why should they? A college degree is something to be earned through study and discipline, not slacking off during the semester and being allowed to pass a course because you did some … extra credit assignment. What pride or achievement would there be in graduating with a college degree if every Johnny and Jane with a whiney parent got one through extra credit? Rather than blaming the college or local school teachers, why not put the blame where it is due: on the parents who have neither the time nor the ability to help their children learn the value of hard work and the important lesson that life is not always fair and that sometimes you lose."

"Does the Press And Journal ever print the criteria they follow to censure 'Sound Off' submissions?” Editor’s Note: No Sound Off is guaranteed to be published simply because it is submitted. Those not published, which are few, usually contain profanity or are libelous. There is also the simple fact of space. We have a limited amount of space in the newspaper, though we post all printable Sound Offs on our Web site. "

"I just heard about the young boy who was killed by a vehicle while he was skateboarding and it made me want to speak up about all the young kids I see skateboarding on the streets around town. It's really important for parents to stress how unsafe this is. Many times I have had to move out of the way of kids doing tricks in the street and although I would never want to harm any of them, I don't feel it's my responsibility to ensure their safety either. After all, they are somewhere they shouldn't be. To make matters worse, more oftentimes than not, the kids I've encountered are rude and act as if my vehicle on the road is imposing on them! I don't have an issue with kids skateboarding, but parents need to care where their children are and what they're doing to prevent future accidents."

"Why is the old Feaser playground so big? I thought we were going to get more parking!"

"To the person that says the Middletown Volunteer Fire Department bingo is really expensive: I agree with you. I would like to add to that, as well, by saying that they need someone else in there to run the bingo. You do not set a payout and then when someone wins you decide to only pay them half of what was promised. That is what turned me off from going to anymore of their bingos."

"Why do we have all these school buses parking on the streets in Middletown? If they can do it why not tractor-trailers, or campers or boats? Are these people who drive them mostly women, too lazy to go to school and get them?"

"Ladies, why marry a man and have kids with him if you don't know him, and that he is a dead beat or drunk? Get real, ladies. It's just as much your fault as his. So whine all you want."

"To all you people who want to get rid of junk mail: Just write return to sender on it and drop it back in the mailbox."

"Hey, if the man is a drunken jerk the women know ahead of time that he is. That’s a poor excuse."

"Coach O here. I will be at the first football game with a recruiter from the Armed Services. My message to the senior players: Be ready. This is your time to show that you can play a high school football game. I have it on good information that when you win the division that Richard Weinstein and Barbara Layne will dance the Tango at Homecoming."

"There is a possibility that the dirt pile at the Jamesway Plaza has not been touched because the CIA has intelligence reports indicating that Osama bin Laden is hiding in a cave above the pile."

"Under the category of Things I Wonder About: If oil is so expensive, shouldn’t the garages be paying us for the used motor oil we give them when we get the oil changed?"

"Editor: Why don’t you get off Piccola’s back? Just because he’s a Republican you shouldn’t be hard on him. Let him do what he wants to do. We gotta protect society against sex offenders. Do you want them to move next door to you?"

"Piccola is trying to change legislation. Legislation can be changed. Child molesters are not a class of citizens, Feigley shoulda been given a life sentence. Feigley doesn’t even have to register under Megan’s Law. That came into being after his crimes. So laws can be changed. Piccola’s trying to do whatever he can to protect us against child molesters and he’s trying to do it lawfully. Don’t protect child molesters, Press And Journal. Please don’t protect child molesters."

"Isn’t there something in the Constitution about the pursuit of happiness? So let’s get this straight, it’s OK for a child molester to take that away from children? But then you’re upset about Piccola trying to change the provisions by which a child molester can be released? Laws’ provisions are changed because they need to be.” (audio) Editor’s Note: We believe the public can be protected against child molesters without tromping the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. No, child molesters do not deserve these protections, but they must be upheld. Piccola’s proposal would not change provisions for release; it would allow offenders to be locked up again at the word of one judge, without being charged with a crime or tried in a court of law. That’s not how America works. Child molesters are the worst criminals on the planet. They steal a child’s innocence. Let’s not let them steal one of your guarantees of freedom, as well. "

"I was looking in the college directory section of the most recent Press And Journal edition, Aug. 20, and it looks really good, except there are not mention of any of the local churches. So, I thought that might be a nice addition for the next time we run that. I do know that most of the churches in town are very happy to see Penn State Harrisburg students."

"This is to thank the older gentleman who avoided another old man’s car on 230 between Steelton and Highspire at the Texaco station. I say thank you again."

"I want to give a huge thank you to Paul Bear and the borough employees for an awesome Coyote Run concert. You guys did a great job and the night couldn’t have turned out better. Thank you, and Coyote Run rocks."

"Frank Linn and the Lower Swatara council: Just what we need, another Jamesway Plaza and another dump in the city. I think you people are getting senile. Get another job."

"Anybody who witnessed the outpouring of care and concern at the car wash sponsored by Dailey’s on Sunday, Aug. 24, to benefit the Sweigart family would have to know that Middletown is a community that cares. That’s a great thing and I’m proud of this town."

"I’d like to comment on the person who wrote ‘Listen up, lazy welfare people.’ What most people do not know about the public welfare system is that you need to have a job to receive welfare unless you had a newborn in the last 12 months. What I’d also like that person to know is that on top of everything, some people do have situations where they absolutely must have it because of medical problems with their children and so forth."

"This message is for Rendell. When are we gonna get a property tax relief? Now the casino’s been out there for a while, it’s been paying off. We still didn’t see no property tax relief. What is going on? Let’s automatically have it deducted off our real estate tax slips we get sent out. Have it taken off there instead of sending in rebate details, because that’s too much work to figure that out when we can automatically have it deducted off our real estate tax forms."

"I hear they’re going to be building a shopping mall back there off of 441. That’s great news, we need one around here bad. So, my main objective is that Jamesway Plaza, you can forget about building down there. I’m not gonna be hounding you about the dirt piles any more ’cause we’re getting a mall put in. So just fence that in and do what you want to do with it, stockpile your dirt, your metal, anything you want to have stockpile do it because were getting a mall in the township anyhow."

"The Republicans probably will have a McCain-Piccola ticket."

"I think the guards at TMI should take over for the cops in Middletown. They are a lot more professional."

"Tom Sawyer on Second street is good and should stay."

"Has Middletown considered putting the Council agenda on the Web site before the meetings? I work during the day and cannot get a copy of the agenda prior to the meetings, therefore, I cannot express my opinion to my councilwoman."

"What do you mean if you have an Access card how can you buy lottery tickets? Well, I see you didn’t graduate from MAHS. It’s easy; the Access card is for food and the lottery tickets are purchased with cash. I sure hope you don’t credit your mother for your stupidity."

"I don’t give Stonehill a thumbs up for nothing, standing up and facing the town is his job and if he cannot do that then leave!"

"If you are on welfare then when that child tax credit of $4,000 comes the welfare office should get that from you as your donation. I am so sick of seeing all the welfare recipients at Wal-Mart in January buying the big screen TVs and Surround Sound with the nails and the hair done – which is not cheap. I’m spending the child tax credit money that I have to use just to buy groceries for the month."

"Kudos to the person who said that Coach X reveal him/herself. Coach X, what are you afraid of? Are you everything that you’re claiming to be?"

"Good job, Det. Sweitzer. It is very much deserved."

"Coach X should stop hiding behind Sound Off. If he is ‘the positive’ and ‘the hope,’ then he should stop prattling on in this column and do something. For starters, he could apply to coach. At least then we would have something other than unsupported comments by which to evaluate him."

"If you can't afford kids, don't have them. If you can't watch your kids, don't have them. If you can't provide for kids, don't have them. There are too many dirtballs in this world sucking up welfare and sponging off my tax dollars. It doesn't matter what race you are. If you can't contribute to society in some way, then go to Mexico or Haiti."

"I wish I could get welfare. We need help and my kids are grown. What is the world coming to? God bless the people who accept the help of welfare. At least you’re helping your family. People are so mad because they are afraid to ask for help."

"Rock on, Sis."

"How about people who need help on welfare and don’t get it? I have a relative who has cancer and don’t get anything. This is so wrong, when someone needs it and cant get it."

"Sound Off is so comical. I love it! You brighten my Wednesday. For the people in the fire, do you have sizes for anyone? I have clothing to contribute."

"Sound Off rocks. You make my day!"

"Wow, Sam’s is having sales on Christmas stuff. I still got to get my kids school stuff. Help."

"Thank you to the nice older man who gave me a butterscotch disc while we were waiting around at football practice. It reminded me of when I was a child and an older fellow at church would sneak us a piece of gum after the service. It's too bad we have to be afraid of that kind of thing nowadays."

"Is there a time limit as to how long you can collect food stamps?"

"They tell you domestics is there to help collect support but yet they charge you to get it, what’s the deal? Then they pick and choose whom to enforce this on; my children's ‘father,’ missed 19 payments. Did they threaten him with a purge or jail? No, my husband missed two day’s worth of payment. He got a letter stating he had X amount of days to pay."

"I am not sure why everyone is complaining about people who have an Access card. I have one and love it! I use it all of the time – to get free food and free medical care. I want to experience, so this great American benefit is perfect for me."

"I think a huge Thank You needs to go to the Middletown Fire Department for the fantastic job they did at the Water Street fire. Let's not forget that all these volunteers got up in the middle of the night, when most of them have to be at work in a couple of hours, to help that family get out of the house and put out the fire. I think it's wonderful what the community is doing to raise money for this family but let's not forget the fundraisers that the fire department has to do to raise money to keep them going. They do this job out of the goodness of their heart and they don't get enough kudos. So please, the next chicken barbecue or any other fundraiser the fire department has, come and show them that you appreciate what they do.” Editor’s Note: Thanks, MVFD! "

"Keep doing what you all are doing, Press And Journal. I love reading the Sound Off. I look forward to reading it every Wednesday."

"It is what it is. Middletown could be a lot worse. Be thankful!"

"Most driveways in Oak Hills fit two cars. All houses have at least two spaces at the curb to park. It will not kill the people who park on the sidewalks either, to park on the street and walk an extra 10 steps. However, the way people drive sometimes, I’m not too inclined to walk with my dog or my baby stroller out into the street just because these people are lazy. Regardless of the situation, it is illegal to block the sidewalk."

"They're called sidewalks, not sideparks."

"I am so sick of these skateboarders. I’m driving down Spruce Street, after a stressful day at work, and now I have to deal with these kids on skateboards who will not get out of the way. Then they have the nerve to stare me down, and yell obscenities when I beep at them to move. One of these days, I will stop my car around the block, and call the police. I hope the parents of these brats read this. Of course, they are probably the type of parents who think their precious little angels can do no wrong."

"Why would anyone ever consider using tax payers dollars to build a skateboard park or whatever you call them? So the kids buy skateboards, and there’s no where to ride them. Wah wah wah! I’m gonna go buy myself some skis, and then complain I don’t have anywhere to use them. Maybe they will build me a big snow pile up in the Jamesway parking lot right beside the big dirt pile."

"It doesn’t surprise me that Barack Obama picked Sen. (Joe) Biden as his running mate. He is just another elitist, a Mr. Know-it-all, and he has managed to insult every race in the United States at least once, or maybe even 10 times. This man is nothing but another tax-and-spend liberal. Basically now you have two socialists running in the Democrat Party, the future president and the future vice president. Basically all their plans are socialist plans. They think the federal government should run everything. Wouldn’t it be just nice for us to live in a country just like China, where the people are told what to do and they are just like robots. I think we saw that in the Olympics. People had to wear diapers or Depends because they were performing and weren’t allowed to stop rehearsing. People got injured; they kept it quiet. They also had lip-syncing because the girl wasn’t pretty enough to be shown on camera. This is socialism. And this is what Barack Obama and Biden will give you. Oh, right, they’re gonna take all the money from the oil companies and give it to the poor, just like Robin Hood. Well, guess what the oil companies will do? They’ll either raise the price, or they’ll move their assets overseas and they won’t pay any taxes anyway. We need a president who is gonna jump on this energy, drill in the United States, build nuclear power plants, build our refineries, and let’s get off this foreign oil and foreign energy. We need a president that has enough guts to take on the foreign countries. And tell countries like Russia you just can’t run over a country that did nothing to you. I think the people of the United States better wake up, or we’ll be in a socialist country where people in big government can do no wrong."