This is in response to writer Chris Bischof’s recent letter about why Wal-Mart is not in the New York Metro area. Comment.

In your most recent issue, Shavana Abruzzo describes Muslins and members of the democratically-elected Hamas citizens of Gaza as “idiots,” “terrorists,” “ultra-militants,” “assassins,” “thugs,” “gangsters,” “trouble makers,” “suicide bombers,” “baby killers,” “demented and radical extremists,” “predators,” “murderers,” “monsters,” “savage beasts,” and “fanatics” [“Islam’s idiots a Comment.

I’m an entertainer, pursuing my dream in the big city. Comment.

Working people should not have to fund the MTA’s mismanagement. Comment.

Re: “Senior center backoff,” 12-12-08 issue. Comment.

Public School 771 on East 63rd Street in Mill Basin want to thank Frank and Connie, the owners of Pinocchio’s Restaurant, 5811 Avenue N, for hosting a Christmas party for at least 60 Special Education students and their teachers on December 17, which was funded by the Lions Club. Comment.

Re: The declaration by Professor Muhammad Sven Kalisch, who teaches Muslim theology at the University of Munster, that the Prophet Mohammed never existed, “at least not in the way that the received version of Islamic tradition claims he did.” Comment.

I had the occasion to be in Downtown Brooklyn, recently, for the first time in a while, and noticed that traffic on Joralemon Street was at an absolute halt for at least 10 minutes with about seven buses on the block. Comment.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s agreement to allow a small NYPD academy class next year is a step in the right direction, but not enough to protect this city adequately, city legislators said this week. Comment.

The holidays may be over but the fun has just begun at the Brooklyn Public Library, which has exciting new programs across the borough for the brand new year. All programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Comment.

Things will be much quieter the next time the Bishop Kearney girls’ basketball team works on its free throw shooting. Comment.

While state lawmakers from Brooklyn are unanimously upset about the severe service cuts and fare increase announced by the MTA last week in its 2009 budget, they remain, to various degrees, deeply uncomfortable with the prospect of implementing tolls on East River bridges to lessen the severity of the budget. Comment.

Mirth and merriment reigned supreme when the 70th Precinct Community Council feted disadvantaged children with a holiday party in Flatbush. Comment.

Count out Sunday as your day to check out the library. Comment.

Here comes Santa Claus. Comment.

The Seniors in Shape Program is kicking off its winter session beginning January 5 and running to March 21 for anyone 55 years of age and older. Comment.

Ho, ho, ho… Comment.

Here’s a rundown of all the special and ongoing events this month at Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s favorite greenspace. Comment.

The Lafayette girls’ basketball players come into gyms with all the usual equipment: jerseys, sneakers, kneepads and headbands. But they’re also wearing something else — a huge chip on their shoulders. Comment.

Old Man Winter isn’t about to faze tunnel trailblazer Bob Diamond. Comment.

Apparently no one can speed away from the city’s fiscal crunch — no matter how fast their sleek new two-wheeler is. Comment.

During the month of January, Edward R. Murrow High School’s Music Department and Music Institute, with the support of the Murrow Music Sponsors, will present a series of musical concerts for the Brooklyn community. Comment.

Interventional radiology is a minimally invasive technique that uses advanced body image scanning to guide wires, tubes or other instruments inside a patient in order to diagnose or treat a variety of conditions. The technique is being used successfully by Dr. Berkowitz’s team at Beth Israel to remove blockages, shrink fibroids, and deliver treatment directly to malignant tumors. Comment.

“Santa” – Chip Cafiero – protests a parking ticket he received last month while delivering toys in Bay Ridge as State Senator Martin Golden presides. Last month, Cafiero was making his way south on Third Avenue with a horse-drawn carriage and an SUV full of elves behind him. With the convoy stopped, a traffic enforcement agent emerged and slapped the SUV with a $115 ticket for double parking. Comment.

Talented Public School 361 students polished up on their vocal chords and ushered in the holidays with a concert of show-stopping tunes, which had shoppers at Kings Plaza Mall smiling and toe-tapping along. Comment.

The property tax rebate checks will soon be on their way, as will higher property tax bills. Comment.

“Mr. Brooklyn” wished observers a happy holiday by boarding a cherry picker to illuminate a 29-foot-tall menorah as part of Chanukah festivities in Downtown Brooklyn. Comment.

Homeowners behind in their mortgage or facing foreclosure can get free counseling and legal assistance from Greater Sheepshead Bay Development Corp. (GSBDC), Midwood Development Corporation (MDC), and Legal Services NYC (LSNY-BB). Comment.

Kids from Sunset Park, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Sheepshead Bay and others from Harlem to the Bronx who sent their wish lists to Santa at Manhattan’s main post office on 34th Street this year will have their dreams come true, thanks to Cedric D. Raymond, Captain and Executive Officer at the 72nd Precinct in Brooklyn. Comment.

WOR Radio and Calvary Hospital announced a first for both companies: a joint on-air public service initiative in which they will encourage WOR listeners to support non-profit organizations at the critical end-of-year holiday season. Comment.

A community activist wants to unite Brooklynites with skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. Comment.

There are lots of new and exciting programs at Brooklyn Children’s Museum just in time for the New Year. Here’s what BCM has on tap for January. Comment.