LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 08/16

From the Aug. 16 edition of the Register-News

By:
Thanks for

a great season

To the editor:
   
As a former player and current coach of Post 26, no one could have been more enthused with this past season than I was.
   This year, the program took six districts and molded them into one successful team. The end result was a second-place finish in our league and a trip to the New Jersey State Districts.
   To compete, and win, in the Mercer County American Legion League, much help was needed along the way. I would like to take the time to thank as many as I can: To former coaches Rich Bender and Ken Tucci who took a laughable Post 26 program and restructured it to make it what it is today, thank you.
   To the City of Bordentown Public Works for doing its best to keep Gilder Park pristine and playable, thank you.
   To the members of The Post who supported us throughout the year, thank you.
   To all the former players, my teammates, of Post 26 for showing interest in the evolution of the program, thank you.
   And to all the friends, families, players, and rest of the coaching staff, thank you.
   We had an unbelievable season that we can only build on. What we did this year is something that has been in the making for quite some time. No one can take it away from us.
   To those of you who will not be with us next year, I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose to do in life. I look forward to next year and having an even more productive season.
   We showed a lot of people what we can do against the best teams in the state. Next season, we take it one step forward.
   I hope that the great support we had this year will continue for many years to come.
Bob Campbell

Post 26 Coach

Bordentown

Teens disgusted

by ‘Big Tobacco’

To the editor:
   
Philip Morris’ report released in the Czech Republic exposes the way that Big Tobacco tries to manipulate and lie to us.
   We are the editorial committee representing New Jersey REBEL. R.E.B.E.L. (Reaching Every one by Exposing Lies) is a grassroots movement developed by and for New Jersey teens to prevent and reduce the spread of tobacco use among our peers and other members of the community.
   Our goal is to help our peers make informed decisions about tobacco use.
   This Czech report demonstrates the importance, for teens and adults alike, to be informed of the effects of tobacco use, and to not believe the lies perpetuated by Big Tobacco.
   The report by Philip Morris, which manufactures 80 percent of cigarettes sold in the Czech Republic, says that smoking has a "positive" effect on the Czech economy.
   This positive effect, according to Philip Morris, is that premature death from smoking saved the Czech government between $23.8 million to $30.1 million U.S. dollars in 1999.
   In our opinion, there is nothing positive about a product that is expected to be the single biggest cause of death worldwide by 2030, accounting for about 10 million deaths per year.
   This grand report also has shown the two contrasting faces of Philip Morris. The company, which has denied for years that cigarettes kill people, is not only now admitting that to be true, but also is trying to claim that as a benefit.
   Oddly enough, this report has given groups like REBEL some hope. It has confirmed the dangers of cigarettes and the shameful practices of Big Tobacco.
   Tobacco is the second most advertised product in America after cars. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the tobacco industry spends $157 million in advertising every year in New Jersey alone. How responsible is it for Big Tobacco to knowingly sell a product that kills people? One out of every three New Jersey residents will die prematurely, (with an average 12-15 years lost from a normal life expectancy) contributing to the 13,000 smoking-related deaths a year, making it the single most preventable cause of death in our state.
   Unfortunately, Big Tobacco has many people hooked on smoking, most of whom started as teenagers and now want to quit. Big Tobacco is well aware that quitting is hard.
   Of current teen smokers, 41 percent think about quitting, but don’t know where to go for help. REBEL wants them to know we’re behind them. There are several free smoking cessation service programs (New Jersey Quitline, 1-866-NJ-STOPS and New Jersey Quitnet (www.nj.quitnet.com) that can help them quit. These services are open to New Jersey smokers of all ages.
R.E.B.E.L. Youth

Advisory Board

www.njrebel.com