On Monday, October 14 th , the country celebrates Columbus Day, a Federal and New York
State recognized public holiday. Many businesses in town, including the United States Post
Office, have posted notices that they will be closed on Columbus Day. However, the Port
Washington Public Library, taxpayer funded and serving all Port Washington residents, posted on
their website, front door, and throughout the library, that the library will be open for limited
hours on “The Holiday.” “The Holiday” is Columbus Day and is celebrated by thousands of
Italian-Americans who live and work in the community. Muting the celebration of a man who is
credited with discovering the Americas is an insult to the generations of Italian Americans who
have lived and live in Port Washington and who were instrumental in the development of our
wonderful community. I wonder if George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther
King will receive the same silent treatment.
Mario Salvio
Port Washington
The Great neck Public Library was also open on Columbus Day. It’s interesting that you write (truthfully) the library is “tax payer funded and serving all Port Washington residents”. Perhaps many of those residents would like to get their money’s worth and have their library open. No one’s “celebration is being muted” by that, nor is there any insult to anyone by promoting knowledge and enlightenment. Perhaps some library-goers were reading up on the history of Columbus and Columbus Day.