We are writing this letter on behalf of PEACE – People for Excellence, Affordability, and Commitment to Education. PEACE is comprised of a number of community members from throughout the Mineola School District.

We support the 2011/2012 budget adopted by the majority of the Board of Education on Thursday, April 7.

The proposed budget delivers a fair and reasonable tax levy of just under 2.4 percent. This will be the fourth year in a row that the district has maintained a tax levy at or under 2.5 district. The educational and extra curricular programs our students receive are both maintained and enhanced in this Educational Plan and Budget for next year.

This budget also ensures that Meadow and Hampton will be the Pre-K – two buildings – and will be equal in terms of learning environment and green space. In addition, this budget is the beginning of the reorganization of the district which will result in savings of approximately $3,000,000 a year over the next 10 years.

Although the road has been long, and we each arrived here at our own pace, we commend the proactive steps taken by the superintendent, central office, and Board President Hale, Vice President Napolitano, and Trustee Hornberger over the past two years.

Signed,

PEACE

Mary Desiderio

John Napolitano,

Patricia Cregan Navarra

I am writing to ask you to vote for Jonai Sigh for Herricks School Board.  

I met Jonai for the first time right before our two 14 year olds began kindergarten many years ago. I didn’t know her very well, but it was hard to miss her dedication to Herricks schools.  I noticed that she was always fair with all the kids and didn’t push her kids forward.  

A few times, we both happened to be serving on the site-based teams for Herricks schools – the advisory committees between parents and teachers and administration, I was amazed at her energy and her good ideas!  

In Searingtown, Nancy Lindenauer was looking for a reading project that would also help kids contribute to other kids – Jonai was there with useful research.  

Then at the middle school we were looking for a project where the kids could interface with the community.  We were considering different possibilities; perhaps the kids could meet with senior citizens in the area?  

Jonai went out and found people nobody else knew – and she found projects kids could do, and chances for the two groups to get to know each other.  And then she continued to volunteer with the seniors.

Now Jonai and I are co-presidents of Herricks Council of PTAs.

I knew she could get things done, but I had no idea how many people she knew and how she took the part of others in so many issues – from parents with kids in elementary bands, to concerns with illegal occupancy.  And then there was the traffic at the back entrance to Herricks High School.  

Most of the winter when school opens, traffic is backed up on I.U. Willets for half a mile. This has been a problem for many years and the PTA council traffic committee has been working on it.

Jonai was the one who was able to get the politicians to notice, and to come over to the high school to see it.  Some positive strides have been made with regard to this issue, since January. And she will be able to get them to help us with whatever we need, including recruiting funds to accomplish the project.  We need her contacts both within the community and with those who make the laws and rules that affect us.   

But another part of being PTA council co-president with Jonai – I had no idea how kind and easy to work with she is.  She is always willing to work out our schedules together, and she comes at the job expecting to do the lion’s share.  She is genuinely interested in what I am doing, and happy to follow my lead as well.

I feel that Herricks needs Jonai, for her intelligence, for her contacts and ability to work with everyone, and for her sincere interest in our kids and our community.  

I hope that you will vote for her on May 17.   

Judy Olson

Albertson

The beauty and the beast. All you kiddies out there, listen up! Here’s a real monster story.

The Taylor Law – the Beauty.

This legislation has been much lauded and numerous states have adopted a similar version. It prohibits strikes and disruptions, it requires collective bargaining in good faith; if an impasse is reached it goes to arbitration and decision of which each side must accept.

A new contract is in place when the old one expires. It is a democratic process.

The Triborough Amendment – The Beast.

The Beast widely considered to be very, unjust. No other state is known to have anything like it. It is considered to be a dirty little secret in collective bargaining. The result is that if a new agreement can’t be reached, the old contract remains in place that already has the undesirable elements such as automatic pay raises. The results in a school board being helpless to negotiate on behalf of the people of the school district (the actual employer) and the People are actually defrauded of a democratic process as had been the case for many years.

It is widely recommended that the Triborough Amendment be abolished. Gov. Cuomo and others want it eliminated. The president of the New York State United Teachers Union, Richard Ianizzi and the teachers have vowed “to raise hell” to keep this from happening. Bully, bully.

I say bah humbug school teachers. Anyone who watches the news knows that nine out of 10 times a teacher is in the news it is either criminal, weird or pervy. Then there is the misconception that offering more money will recruit better teachers. This only attracts bad elements to profit from a situation where they can become entrenched and have automatic pay raises, whether they can teach or not. The fact is that the untouchable salaries are the cause of today’s problems – consolidation, tax caps and wrecking of communities.

Those who love to each see money as secondary. They are the good teachers and they know they will be sufficiently cared for in civil service. The others could well find that their actual skills would leave them wanting in the private sector.

It is the duty of government to protect the citizens from enemies foreign and domestic and bullies. If this Triborough Amendment is abolished there would be light at the end of the tunnel and sunshine too. It would bring the end of this tax cap crap, school consolidation and the destruction of communities.

There would be plenty of money and lower taxes or as Walmart puts it, a price roll back. Best of all after so long, The People would again have democracy and the freedom to work with the school boards as employers oppose to administration and teaches – employees.

It is somewhat of a trek up to Glen Cove and back under ideal circumstances. Imagine 36 buses. The would stretch from Willis Avenue to well across the Long Island Rail Road crossing. Add in the normal traffic and it would be chaos, really something to hate.

This has for so long been like a bad dream that just goes in circles with no way out. Best of all, it would be nice to live in a democracy again.

Charles Samek

Mineola

We met Jim and his family in 1999 when we both moved to the Herricks community and have come to know the Gounaris family quite well over the years.

Jim is deeply passionate about the community and always willing to lend his time to better our children’s lives – educationally or otherwise.

His work ethic is truly inspirational as he not only runs a prospering business but manages to participate in his kids’ athletics, the PTA and Jim teaches Sunday religious school all while being a great father/husband.

We strongly feel that the Herricks School Board needs a fresh voice like Jim’s to steer Herricks to great heights in the years ahead.

Marc and Etoile Zisselman

Manhasset Hills

James Gounaris has been a trusted friend for the past six years since I moved into our Manhasset Hills community.

We collaborated very closely in the running of the Boy Scout Cub Pack that meets at our local elementary school (Denton Avenue Elementary).

Jim served as the charter representative for the pack for the initial years when the pack was first created and was very instrumental in getting it started. He was also an active den leader who provided the positive and wholesome leadership throughout the years that his kids were members of the Pack.

From my interaction with the Denton Avenue PTA, I observed that Jim always made meaningful contributions in various capacities in the running of our children’s elementary school. We both share the same passion that our children are nurtured in the very best way and that they receive superior teaching and benefits from the community that we call home.

Jim is articulate, focused and reliable.

I recommend him highly as he pursues this new responsible position on the Herricks School Board.

If there are any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Tamesh N. Bhagrattee

Manhasset Hills

Regarding complaints about rising property taxes and calls for limiting our municipality’s ability to raise them through a legislative “cap,” I think we need to step back and ask ourselves, why do we live in Great Neck? Or more specifically, what it is about Great Neck that you love?

For me and my family, we moved to Great Neck (or back to Great Neck in my wife’s case) from Forest Hills primarily because of the school district. I’m sure we are not alone: the Great Neck public schools (GNPS) are consistently rated as one of the best in the nation, and its graduates attend our elite colleges and universities, and win innumerable academic and artistic awards.

In our years here, we have also learned to appreciate our beautiful parks, where our children play on clean, safe playground equipment and neatly manicured lawns. The newly renovated Parkwood Pool Complex is a fantastic place to spend our summers on the days that our girls are not in camp. (Our older one goes to Camp Parkwood, which offers swimming, sailing, tennis, arts & crafts, trips, shows, etc., amidst the beautiful scenery of Steppingstone Park.)

What else can I mention?

The Great Neck Library features excellent holdings, (print, digital, multi-lingual) events, and activities for the entire community. The Great Neck Vigilant Fire Co. offers our community state-of-the-art emergency medical care without the additional worry of a bill arriving in the mailbox. Great Neck House provides the community with live performances, cultural events, art exhibitions, lectures, etc. What else? Surely there are a dozen things I can’t even think of right now.

Here in Great Neck we have all these wonderful things, but here’s the rub: they cost money! We, as citizens, contribute to the costs of these services through our taxes: property tax, school tax, etc. While no one enjoys paying taxes, they are, as Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “the price we pay for civilization.” If we want a top-flight public school district, (experienced quality teachers, proper class sizes, arts and music programs, technology) we have to pay for it. If we want our parks clean and safe, we have to pay people to clean them. If we want to maintain a library worthy of our community, we have to pay for it. If we want the Vigilants to help us in an emergency, we have to pay for it. Etc., etc.

We as citizens must decide who we are and what kind of community we wish to live in. As costs rise, so does our collective responsibility to maintain this wonderful town, and all that makes it great.

Should we shirk that responsibility by arbitrarily freezing, or “capping” our financial contributions? Should we allow our schools to get just a little bit poorer? Our parks get a little bit dirtier? Our EMT response time a little bit slower? Our family, for one, is not willing to let that happen. We want our children to receive the best education possible; to play in clean and safe parks; to grow up in a town that values it community services.

Are we willing to pay for those privileges? Certainly. Who wouldn’t?

Some have argued that our property taxes here in New York, have forced people to leave the state. While that may or may not be true, I am certain that people would leave Great Neck as the school district declines, services suffer, and real estate values plummet. Besides, how much money, year after year, are we discussing? As we learned earlier this month, the additional costs for maintaining the Vigilants emergency care service (as opposed to a plan to begin billing patrons) would cost pennies a day. So, for the per household costs of a few nights out per year, we can keep Great Neck great.

Matthew Moshen

Great Neck

I noted in your column, “Reader’s Write”, that reader Alan Gelbard of East Williston made a statement that I would like to challenge here: He said, “Although no federal funds are used for abortions (as this is already prohibited by the Hyde Bill)…” – in reality this is not the case. Planned Parenthood receives $350 million per year in federal funding (a/k/a from the taxpayers).

According to Abby Johnson- a former Planned Parenthood staffer and clinic director for eight years, as well as Planned Parenthood’s 2008 Employee of the Year — all the money Planned Parenthood receives is lumped into one pot.

It isn’t separated or “set aside” in different accounts for specific services.

We, the taxpayers, have every right to be outraged by the insidious claims that federal funding does not pay for abortions.

Rosanne Spinner

New Hyde Park

The New York City Police Department making possession of marijuana number one for arrest of over 50,000 people in 2010 was nothing to be proud of. Contrast that with our local village and Nassau County police departments who thankfully worry more about other priorities.

The crusade against marijuana along with tobacco, pornography, adult entertainment and unhealthy food still continues by both government and those who believe they know best what is good for you is a waste of taxpayers monies.

Consumption of marijuana for both medical and recreational use has been part of mainstream America, transcending generations. Despite the best efforts of both government and the Moral Majority social police to outlaw marijuana consumption, just like alcohol prohibition in the 1920s – both have been total failures.

Creative entrepreneurs will always provide the citizens desire, regardless of government approval. Consumers have voted with their dollars, making marijuana consumption a multibillion dollar enterprise today. Legalize it and add a sales tax. Revenues will more than cover the costs of any abuse. Our tax dollars would be better used if police and judges spend more time prosecuting those who commit real crimes against individuals or property than going after those who consume or distribute marijuana.

Citizens have more to fear from murder, arson, rape, muggings, robberies, auto and identity theft or home break-ins along with ever increasing levels of confiscatory taxation and debt by government than individuals who get high in the privacy of their own home. Law enforcement authorities should be free to pursue those who commit real crimes against citizens and property.

At 18, you are old enough to vote, be a parent, pay taxes, own a car, take out a bank loan, serve in the military and die for your country – but not consume marijuana in

New York City makes no sense.

What consenting adults consume, inhale, perform, read or view in the privacy of their own home or private social club isn’t the concern of government. Individual economic and civil liberties prosper best when government stays out of both the bedroom and marketplace.

Let us hope that we have finally learned from the obvious failures of Prohibition.

It is time to permit consenting adults to access any so-called illegal products or substances such as pot without fear from government harassment.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

Two weeks ago Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano decided to merge the Nassau County Homeless Housing and the Office of Community Development.

In these difficult times, the decision makes sense. Making sure that families have a decent and safe place to live is an important function of county government.

But the county executive is right to look for ways to provide these services at lower cost to the taxpayer.

What remains a mystery is why Mangano replaced Connie Lassandro, the director of homeless services, a qualified professional with years of experience someone who is still in training.

In fact he replaced 11 employees of homeless services.

Mangano’s spokesman, Brian Nevin, offered the following explanation: “After a thorough review and evaluating the services, we felt a change was needed. We believe it’s important to consolidate whenever we can in tough economic times.”

Nevin did not explain what led to the “feeling” that a change was needed or what it is that Lassandro and her crew could have done better.

If there was indeed a thorough review, there should be a written report that explains the reasoning for putting 11 people out of work.

Democratic legislators say the move could cause the county to lose federal funds.

Both Homeless Housing and office of Community Development are funded by $50 million in state and federal grants. To remain eligible for the grants, Democratic legislations say the office must be run by someone with at least eight to 10 years of experience.

Nevin said the hatchet job (our words, not his) will not affect state funding.

But even if it doesn’t, the move doesn’t pass the smell test. This looks and smells like a political purge.

We agree with Nassau County legislator Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury), who said, “To dismiss 11 qualified professionals without cause is shameful.”

What Mangano did may be legal. It may also be the way things have always been done in Nassau County by both parties.

But, barring a better explanation from Mangano, what happened is not fair and it is definitely not good government.

A Blank Slate Editorial

For very different reasons, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and Democratic county legislators expressed regret Wednesday over the unanimous MTA vote on April 27 to sever ties with Nassau County for bus service.

“It’s a sad day in American when a government agency such as the MTA chooses to maintain its bloated bureaucracy over the services it is charged to provide its residents,” Mangano said in a statement. “Because the MTA has failed taxpayers time and time again, Nassau County will move forward with a public-private partnership that maintains bus service without demanding an additional $26 million from taxpayers. My actions stop the MTA from further subsidizing NYC’s transportation system with Nassau tax dollars. MTA’s monopoly over transportation in Nassau County ends now.”

In announcing the vote, MTA officials said they could no longer afford $26 million in subsidies for Long Island Bus.

“Today’s vote ratifies Nassau County’s desire to terminate the service agreement with the MTA and privatize the operations of Long Island Bus,” said MTA Spokesman Aaron Donovan.

Nassau County had been paying the MTA $9.1 million to operate Long Island Bus. But the financially troubled transit agency said the county would needed to increase its contribution, but the county declined.

A deal announced on April 1 funds the system until January 2012 with a $8.2 million subsidy from the state Senate, in addition to $52.4 million in the 2011-2012 state budget.

The system would be privatized after the MTA contract ends on Dec. 31, according to a plan by Mangano.

Mangano has said a private vendor could run Long Island Bus for less money and put out a request for proposal.

Nassau County officials received three bids from private vendors to run Long Island Bus by the March 21. Bids are being evaluated by a committee of unnamed county employees whose members will meet in private to render a recommendation to Mangano, who will make a decision during the first week in May. The move will require approval from the county Legislature.

Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) said he hopes that the MTA will come back to the negotiating table before the end of the year, or a real alternative can be found for mass transit.

“Its very disheartening for the 100,000 people who rely on Long Island bus to get to home, work, and every other major place,” he said. “It’s very unfortunate for them, but quite frankly I feel it was inevitable given the very hostile tone the county executive took when negotiating with the MTA.”

Privatization could result in loss of service, said Nassau County Legislator Judi Bosworth (D-Great Neck).

“They can promise something that seems great the first year, and then its not profitable so they can’t do that,” she said. “There was privatization many years ago, which is why the MTA took over Long Island bus [in 1973]. This didn’t just happen in a vacuum. It didn’t work.”

Privatization will cost more money for less service, said TWU Local 252 President Patricia Bowden in a statement.

“Privatization is going to sock Nassau taxpayers with higher costs, clog our roads, and cut our bus service,” she said. “Our members are proud to join the fight for quality mass transportation, clean air, and responsible spending in Nassau County.”

After appearing on an episode of Food Networks’ “Diners, Drive-ins, and Drives,” Hildebrandt’s restaurant of Williston Park, is getting plenty of positive responses, according to co-owner Bryan Acosta.

Hildebrandt’s appeared on the Food Network program on March 28, hosted by Guy Fieri, in a segment entitled “Mozzarella to Motzah Balls.”

“We’ve had residents who have lived here in Williston Park for 30 years and are coming in for the first time,” Acosta said. “They said they didn’t even know we were here until they saw the segment on Food Network. We’ve also been getting people in from Queens.”

Acosta said since the show they have also been receiving calls asking to use the Hildebrandt’s location for scenes on TV shows.

“In the past we’ve usually let college kids film projects in here,” Acosta said. “I believe one of the shows interested was called “Royal Pains.”

One of the dishes featured on the show was Hildebrandts’s Chicken Dakota dish, after Acosta’s daughter suggested it. Originally the director of the show shot the idea down, but Acosta reasoned it was a good choice because it’s a particularly colorful dish – and ultimately the director agreed.

The show spent a total of 34 hours shooting material for be a 15-minute segment on the show, including two 14 hour shoots on consecutive days last fall.

Acosta and his wife, Susan, have been co-owners of Hildebrandt’s for the past five years, after taking over from Susan’s father, who had run the business for 36 years. The restaurant has been in Williston Park since 1927.

The Hildebrandt’s segment will air again on Food Network in June.

It’s Monday afternoon and a group of elderly gentlemen are trading hospital-billing horror stories over sandwiches in the conference room of the Town of North Hempstead Department of Services for the Aging building in Roslyn Heights.

“You know what? Needle them. Get on them,” one man advised another.

The conversation turned to medical insurance fraud as it kept up a frenetic pace.

“People are coming up with new ways to scam the government,” one man said.

Then the conversation spun to presidential politics, and someone said he liked Donald Trump.

“If he’s such a good businessman, why did he go bankrupt two or three times?” another countered.

“Oliver North was my hero,” said someone else.

“What I want to do is decaffeinate the Tea Party,” another one quipped.

The eight men gathered in the room represented about half the number who have been attending the get-togethers of these ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) as part of the town’s Project Independence program. Project Independence aims at assisting older residents to remain in their own households, and includes social interaction programs such as the ROMEOs.

Many of the elderly men in the group are widowers and enjoy the interaction with their peers.

“You hear a lot of different points of view. I think it opens up a lot of people’s minds,” said 89-year-old Lou Pasternak, who claims to be among the oldest member of the elderly men’s group.

“Everybody’s over 60. Some have wives, some don’t,” said 73-year-old Paul Glicksman. “It’s having a good conversation. It’s the camaraderie.”

Dave Linden, 82, saw a newspaper article about ROMEOs in another area of Long Island and approached the town about starting a similar group and several months ago.

A short time later, the Town of North Hempstead ROMEOs held their first meeting.

“Men do not congregate socially as women do. I thought it would be great for socializing,” Linden said.

The men have had two meetings at diners, but didn’t find it to be the right environment for a group discussion. So they’ve been convening at 12:30 p.m. with their brown lunch bags at the Department of Services for the Aging headquarters to the delight of department Commissioner Evelyn Roth.

Roth said things have worked out so well that the group is threatening to out-grow the building’s conference room.

“I think we’re going to have to. I’m sure that we’re going to have another ROMEOs group,” said Evelyn Roth. “They enjoy getting out and just having someone to argue with.”

And she said some elderly women in the community have been asking why a Juliets group can’t be established.

Meanwhile, the North Hempstead ROMEOs reached a consensus on Monday to scout out some area diners so they could live up to the group’s acronym. But there wasn’t a consensus on much else at the two-hour luncheon.

“If we don’t raise the debt ceiling, there is no way the American government can do business,” Linden said.

Another man who’d already identified himself as a Ronald Reagan fan turned the discussion to the very long-term risk of Muslims taking over the U.S.

“They have a plan. They take 300 years,” he said.

“They’re not taking over. Where are they taking over?” another countered.

“Every mosque in the U.S. is loaded with ammunition and bombs,” the Reagan man replied.

“You have to be very careful about what you see on TV and what you read in the newspapers,” someone else chimed in.

No one disagreed with him and for just a moment, there was a pause in the conversation.