function validate_me(formEle) {
  var fieldNames = new Array();
  /* break out our field names here */
  fieldNames['firstname'] = "First Name";
  fieldNames['lastname'] = "Last Name";
  fieldNames['streetaddress1'] = "Street Address 1";
  fieldNames['streetaddress2'] = "Street Address 2";
  fieldNames['email'] = "Email";
  fieldNames['city'] = "City";
  fieldNames['state'] = "State";
  fieldNames['zip'] = "Postal Code";
  /* end field declarations */
  
  Element.observe(formEle, 'submit', function(event) {
    var eles = formEle.getInputs('text');
    eles.each(function(ele) {
		var temp = $(ele).value;
		//temp =  temp.replace(/[^a-zA-Z 0-9]+/g,'');
		if ($(ele).name != "email") {
  		if (temp.match(/[^a-zA-Z 0-9 # .]/)) {
  			alert('Special characters are not allowed!');
  			Event.stop(event);
  		}
		}
      if ($(ele).hasClassName('required') && $(ele).value == '') {
        alert(fieldNames[$(ele).name] + " is required.");
        Event.stop(event);
      }
    });
  });
}