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Displaying 1 through 10 of 59 records found.
Civic pride
To the editor:
I would like to send my thanks to Mr. Jack Keller. You have probably seen him walking the streets of Rocky Point doing a great service for our community. Each day he walks, picking up the litter that others discard on the side of the road, making Rocky Point a bit better for all of us. After every parade and event in town, he is there doing what most others won't. He has been doing this for many years. I, for one, sincerely appreciate his efforts, and send my thanks and kudos for a job well done.
Pat Gansle
Rocky Point
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March 05, 2010
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Improve Rocky Pt without sewers
Yes I agree, we do need improvement for our downtown area like many other towns throughout the country. But sewers are a two-edge sword and are not the answer to our problems. If sewers were the answer, and it was that simple, our economy would be in great shape. If you look at the Town of Brookhaven 2030 study, in that town study it states that whenever sewers are installed in an area it will bring in and attract more projects by developers which Rocky Point and the surrounding areas could not sustain. Taxes will go up with sewers and more housing no matter what type of housing is built. When you build more housing you just don't collect more taxes for the town as people believe but you end up spending more for services that must be provided in the long term. Outside developers are scrambling to develop this area with the help of Steve Levy and other people that are supporting his plan with big unions. Today we are being led by a government-imposed mantra, if sewers are installed along 25A in Rocky Point. And government assumes that adding more dense projects and calling them Smart Growth Solutions or the 90/10 Solution, that this is going to solve all the problems, which is false. We are not against housing, but when and how this is being done is wrong. Not considering the economic impact on the already existing struggling businesses is wrong. Not evaluating the long-term consequences for the temporary short-term gain is wrong. Without massive subsidies by the federal, state and local governments, these projects would never be undertaken. Too often governments at every level try to force noneconomic, intrusive and unwanted solutions; to force an outcome that all too often has horrible, unintended consequences. Politicians do not want to look at the true long-term cost of these dense projects on the taxpaying citizen but look at only the short term. We should start with a clean slate without sewers and I am sure we can achieve a better outcome to our problems in downtown Rocky Point that would benefit the business community and the taxpayer. We must all work together; sewers are not the answer.
Sincerely yours,
Michael Armando
Rocky Point
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March 05, 2010
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Christmas colors
All the Avenue of America Committee wants for Christmas is not two front teeth but another 24 state flags for Heritage Park.
Volunteers of the Heritage Trust's Avenue of America Committee thought it would be easy to get donations of state flags from the governors of the 50 states. We called all states, found out the proper contact person and requested the donation of flags. We received 12 donations and 38 regrets. Then we asked friends and relatives for a donation of the flag of their home state. We've even written to Tom Brokaw asking to donate a South Dakota flag. More flags have been donated, a few are "in the works" but there are others we still need.
We are expressing this wish for donations of state flags (average cost: $23.50) to be displayed on the Avenue of America in the Heritage Park. If you or someone you know would like to donate the flag or money then we could take it off our "wish list." Here are the states still needed: Alabama, Arizona, California, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Arrangements to order flags online can be made by contacting me at ave.america2010@verizon.net. If you care to make a donation of money, send a check made out to "Heritage Trust America Fund" and indicate the state you wish to donate. Email your donation information to ave.america2010@verizon.net. Mail your tax-deductible donation to Heritage Trust America Fund, PO Box 369, Mt. Sinai, NY 11766. Of course after we get all the flags then we will have to arrange to buy the poles and attachments for the flags.
Our wish list also has 26 "Old Glory" flags on it. Anyone care to donate funds for their purchase and addition to the Avenue of America?
Thank you and a very happy, healthy New Year.
Fred Drewes
Co-chair, Avenue of America
Heritage Trust
Mount Sinai
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December 17, 2009
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Reform health care — now, America
I am proud to be an American: I fly my flag every day, I vote in each election, I go the speed limit, or close to it, I willingly pay my sales tax and I support our military personnel before, during and after their service for all they may need.
But there are things about my country of which I am not proud. I want my country to be the best that it can be, to live up to its ideals and its values and in order to do that it must make some changes. I want all the citizens of my country to have health care. I do not want people to live in fear of getting sick. I do not want people to die every day not because of their illness but because of our health care system. I do not want people to stifle their ingenuity and creativity because of fear of not having a job that provides health care.
Just for one moment think what our American world would be like if we could all take a sigh of relief knowing that we do not need to worry about ourselves or our families becoming sick and not being able to care for them or losing everything else in our world in order to provide for them. Really, think about it. It is nice, isn't it? A weight gets lifted from our shoulders. Maybe that weight is why Americans do not live as long as our counterparts in the developed world. What kind of values do we have? Where are our family values now? Is this the kind of nation we are, that lets people — young, middle class, poor, black, white, blue collar, white collar, etc. — get sick and die for lack of accessible health care? I want health care reform now and I want it to include a public option now.
Deirdre M. Hensen, VMD
Miller Place
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December 17, 2009
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County exec blackmails cops
I write in response to County Exec Steve Levy's letter to my criticism of Levy's mismanagement of the SCPD. Levy does not believe he was in violation of the Suffolk County Charter by taking SCPD patrols off patrol duties on the LIE and Sunrise Highway and turning the patrol function over to the county sheriff. In 1957 the voters of Suffolk County five Western Towns voted to form the SCPD and turn over all police patrol functions to the voter approved County PD. The Suffolk County Charter Law states in Section 13.5 "elected to transfer its police functions to the county and to become part of the County Police District. The election of any Town or Village shall be irrevocable." Levy violated that part of the County Charter by turning over part of the County Police patrol function over to the Sheriff's Department. That is very clear. Levy says the police union intimidated weak officials in getting favorable contract settlements. Wrong, for the better part of the past 30 years, police contracts were resolved by arbitration as per NY State Law. It was Levy who threatened layoffs of police, took patrol duties away from the police instead of hiring more police, had police personnel transferred to other precincts far from their residence as a form of punishment, and would not negotiate in good faith with the police union. Levy took 55 sheriffs off their assignments to replace county police on the LIE and Route 27. Who then did those sheriffs' duties? No one? So I guess Levy might as well save millions of taxpayer dollars by laying off 55 members of the sheriff's department which has been able to function without those 55 sheriffs, now that SCPD will be returned to patrolling the LIE and Route 27 next year. That change was a result of the Levy intimidation of the police to get concessions he wanted in a police contract, kind of like blackmail.
Robert O'Kane
Retired, SCPD Sgt.
Shoreham
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December 17, 2009
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Global hoax
Everyone should pay more attention to what's going on in Washington. The media is doing us a disservice by playing favoritism with this administration. They are not giving us fair and balanced journalism. Therefore, it is up to you to be
informed.
Research some of the bills coming out of Washington, such as the stimulus package, health care reform, cap and trade, the Copenhagen Treaty, The Aspire Act, etc. The information is at your fingertips via the Internet. These new bills will cause your taxes to sky rocket! They will cause higher unemployment and possibly bankrupt the country. Our deficit is at $12 trillion and rising.
Even though Glenn Beck has been demoralized constantly for his TV and radio antics, he is just the scapegoat in all of this. What we fail to see is that he is among the few who has brought to light the unethical behavior going on in Washington. He has exposed the special interest groups being funded by your tax dollars, such as Acorn. He has also exposed various individuals working in the government with unscrupulous agendas.
For years we have been hearing all the noise about global warming and the devastating effects it will have. It's hard to believe, but all the hype and fear about global warming is just that.
Recently various emails were discovered at the University of East Anglia proving that the global warming phenomenon has been prefabricated by some scientists who realized that this scare tactic could provide billions of dollars for a few at the
expense of many. Mr. Al Gore and others will generate billions of dollars at our expense!
According to scientific data, water vapor contributes just as much to global warming as CO2 emissions. But you haven't heard any of this
because the media is not reporting on it.
This month the president is going to Copenhagen to discuss a global warming treaty. The Copenhagen Treaty is just a ploy to put pressure on the United States to provide billions of dollars to underdeveloped countries. It will impact our economy by instituting an energy tax on everything we use: electricity, fuel, all goods and services, etc.
Contact your congressman and your senators. Tell them we can't afford another bill to be passed. Don't take my word for it, do your own research and come to your own conclusions. For starters, Google the video by Lord Monckton on the global warming warning.
Louise Brock
Patchogue
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December 04, 2009
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Hard times for Coastal Steward
The Coastal Steward, a non-profit environmental organization based on Long Island, is having a tough time surviving in this economy.
Over the past two years the Coastal Steward has cleaned 35 beaches on Long Island, removing more than 60 tons of garbage with the help of over a thousand volunteers. Students earn community service credit by helping out. School groups, Scout troops, families and seniors all agree that beach cleaning provides a remarkable educational and community building experience and helps preserve the marine environment that surrounds us as well.
The economy has hit the Coastal Steward hard. Operating expenses, insurance costs and permit prices are going up while donations have been going down. In spite of working with many government agencies, grants are increasingly hard to get. Dave Johnson, the founder of the Coastal Steward, diligently works to see that almost every dime received goes to running the Adopt-A-Beach, Sponsor-A-Beach and Shellfish Restoration programs, and yet continually has to reach into his own pocket to the tune of thousands of dollars to keep the program going. It is discouraging to say the least.
Coastal Steward's existence is in jeopardy. Those of us who have worked with Dave for 20 years would find it a shame and a big loss to the community and the environment if it folds. The Coastal Steward does so much to restore and preserve our local beaches and waters. If you can help in any way, please do. All contributions and ideas are valuable at this time.
Tax-deductible donations can be sent to the Coastal Steward, 6 Audrey St., Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776. For information check out www.coastalsteward.org or contact us at coastalsteward@optonline.net.
Kathy O'Sullivan
Port Jefferson
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December 04, 2009
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Proud of the criticism
I write in response to retired Sergeant Robert O'Kane, who provided the typical police union talking points as to why we should not implement any reforms in the police department.
Mr. O'Kane claims I have reduced police services and morale through "intimidation of the police unions." He claims further that my move to place sheriffs on the highways and redeploy police officers was somehow a violation of our County Charter.
I am quite proud to have received such criticism from Mr. O'Kane because it proves I must be doing something right. It is not I who has been intimidating the police unions, rather it is the police union, which over the last 30 years has had its way with weak-kneed elected officials to such a degree that they have given in to some of the highest salaries in the entire nation. Because it now costs us an average of $180,000 in salaries and benefits to put a police officer on the street, I felt it essential to reform the department to enhance public safety in a way that did not bankrupt our taxpayers.
Some have claimed that the only way to provide for public safety is to keep raising the salaries, hiring more and more individuals and maintaining the status quo. Yes, we had more officers on the payroll in previous years, but 50 percent of all these highly paid officers were on nonpatrol functions, such as vehicle repair and issuing permits. We have hired $40,000-a-year civilians to do this work and placed more officers on the street than we ever saw before.
Yes, I took sheriffs and put them on the highways because they make $42,000 less than a police officer. I was then able to redirect those 55 officers into our local neighborhoods. This alleviated the need to hire a police class last year, saving us $8 million in the first year and $12 million a year thereafter.
Mr. O'Kane and his other self-serving friends gave doom and gloom predictions that the transfer of the sheriffs would lead to carnage on our roads. Not only did we save a great deal of money, but we also found, a year later, that accidents actually went down on the roads the sheriffs were patrolling.
The easy thing to do would have been to keep the status quo and raise people's taxes. I made reforms, made our roads safer and produced a tax-freeze budget for the second year in a row.
Steve Levy
County Executive
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November 27, 2009
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We all have much to give thanks for on Thanksgiving!
During 73 years of life I have lived 40 in Mt. Sinai and I am thankful for that. I lived and taught in Tanzania, East Africa for two years and am thankful for that wonderful experience. It renewed my appreciation for the good fortune, potential and promise of being a citizen of the United States. During 1964-65 I backpacked through the near, middle and far east and in 2000 bicycled 15,700 miles in 44 countries. These journeys heightened my thankfulness for my country! My travels around the United States make me appreciate the wonder of our country along with the complexity of governing it locally and nationally.
I believe it important to be a good-spirited, objective and constructive citizen. All too often I have been disappointed by attitudes of fellow citizens and the representatives we have elected. Even though this is the case, I am thankful for the foundation that was established by the Declaration of Independence, our Constitution and Bill of Rights. We all should remember these words as we give thanks for our nation: "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." The volunteers of the Heritage Trust and other community organizations are expressions of "what you can do for your country." My and other volunteers' effort for the Avenue of America in Heritage Park is our expression for what we can do for our country. The contributions of creativity, time and money that I have made to the Avenue of America is a symbol of my thankfulness for being a citizen who values living in the United States of America.
Imagine 86 national, state, territory and local flags along a path planted with state and historic trees. This beautification and educational project will promote local and national pride, symbolize our freedom and nourish minds and spirits for generations to come. If you would like to find out more then write to me at ave.america2010@verizon.net.
Fred Drewes
Mount Sinai
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November 27, 2009
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How, when to ‘draw the line’
The North Shore Youth Council Board of Directors and staff invite all parents to connect with your local neighborhood youth and family agency and learn about prevention before your kids get into drugs.
The North Shore Youth Council and our consortium of service providers invite parents this Friday, Nov. 20, at noon to the grounds of the Joseph A. Edgar School in Rocky Point for a drug awareness meeting. Our children need your help. We have the support of the Rocky Point PTA and the Miller Place school district, Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Hope House Ministries, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, Suffolk County Health Services, the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County Youth Services, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, and our local VFW Post 6249 in our shared effort of "Communities in Action."
Please, won't you take action! Click on to our website at www.nsyc.com to read more about our "Safe Homes Contract" and evidence-based prevention services. If you are a parent or caregiver looking for help or advice please contact us. All calls will be held in the strictest confidence.
Let us stop the availability. Availability is the prime reason why our kids do drugs. God bless.
Janene Gentile
NSYC Executive Director
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November 19, 2009
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| 1854: Emil von Behring, first recipient of the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1901. |
| 1916: Harry James, American band leader and trumpet player. |
| 1933: Ruth Bader Ginsberg, U.S. Supreme Court Justice. |
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