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Asharoken Avenue open to two lanes
I am pleased to announce that Asharoken Avenue is now open to two lanes of traffic, one in each direction, its full length. Two lanes of traffic was reopened at the seawall at 4:45 pm today, Wednesday, March 17.
It should remain open in this manner, except during ongoing repairs from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is also subject to closure or one way restrictions during high tides or storm conditions.
Please keep in mind that these repairs are only temporary and many of the measures we have undertaken in the past few days are subject to wash out or debris on the roadway. We are unable to make lasting repairs to the roadway until the seawall is repaired by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
In the days ahead we will continue repairs to the roadway and its shoulders. We will also continue repairing the numerous breaches in the dunes along the beach lots on Asharoken Avenue. Crews have already begun removing the debris left by the storm that has been temporarily placed on the right of way.
Please continue to use Asharoken Avenue only for essential travel and drive safely. Thank you to all of you for your patience.
Patricia Irving, Mayor
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March 17, 2010
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Asharoken Avenue open to two lanes
I am pleased to announce that Asharoken Avenue is now open to two lanes of traffic, one in each direction, its full length. Two lanes of traffic was reopened at the seawall at 4:45 pm today, Wednesday, March 17.
It should remain open in this manner, except during ongoing repairs from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is also subject to closure or one way restrictions during high tides or storm conditions.
Please keep in mind that these repairs are only temporary and many of the measures we have undertaken in the past few days are subject to wash out or debris on the roadway. We are unable to make lasting repairs to the roadway until the seawall is repaired by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
In the days ahead we will continue repairs to the roadway and its shoulders. We will also continue repairing the numerous breaches in the dunes along the beach lots on Asharoken Avenue. Crews have already begun removing the debris left by the storm that has been temporarily placed on the right of way.
Please continue to use Asharoken Avenue only for essential travel and drive safely. Thank you to all of you for your patience.
Patricia Irving, Mayor
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March 17, 2010
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The tax squeeze
My wife and I have lived in the Three Village school district since 1991. It has always been understood that the district has been recognized for being an outstanding school system for our children. There was never a doubt in our minds that the raises each tax year were necessary to carry on with the great education our children were getting. So we always voted yes to the school budget increases.
It has to be recognized there is a major problem for many people today to keep up with these unrelenting tax increases. The economy is still in a recession. It is a fact that 10 percent of our people who live on Long Island require help buying food with food stamps.
Another fact: our young people are having a hard time buying houses and being able to afford living in them, causing young people to move away. We are failing to keep the young generation who were educated here to stay here.
My wife and I now fall into the senior retired lifestyle. We have been retired for about a decade. Social Security is a great thing in this country. It affords us some medical coverage and helps with some income. Of course, one needs other income to afford a middle-class way of life these days. The Social Security system has given cost of living raises each year, but in 2010 there was no increase. All the seniors on Social Security have to make do with what was good enough last year. It is obvious that the cost of living really has gone up.
The reason for writing this letter was spurred by the recent article, "Jobs cuts coming to schools?" (March 11). There is a major problem with school finances, and we are overtaxed as it is right now. We are all being squeezed by constant taxing. We love our neighborhood and would like to spend the rest of our lives here. We have to make do with last year's income levels. We have to cut costs so people can stay on Long Island and afford a good lifestyle. When we know the storm is heading our way, we must prepare for it!
We raised and educated two children on Long Island right up through higher education. They are trying to keep up with the economy and want to stay here. There are thousands of families on Long Island with the same stories. Let's keep the costs down!
Joseph and Stephanie Pagliaro
Port Jefferson
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March 17, 2010
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Teacher concessions
The tax base in New York State is shrinking alarmingly, as the more affluent and knowledgeable of the residents not tied to the area by family ties are leaving the state in droves. We have become the highest taxed state in the union. Why?
In my view, at the risk of inviting harsh criticism, there is a direct relationship to the fact that powerful and wealthy unions are in control of the institutions that are the root of the problem. A case in point is public education. In the March 11 issue of The Village Times Herald, there is a feature article about the school budget ("Job cuts coming to schools?") in which a host of ideas are discussed, some noteworthy, but by and large all suggesting cutbacks including the layoff of a number of certified teachers, music programs and things that are painful to consider. I find it hard to believe that unionized teachers will sit back and allow some of their colleagues to lose their jobs, without volunteering for substantial cuts in their own more than ample salaries and benefits to prevent the drastic step of laying off fellow teachers?
As far as I know, union teachers remain silent and have not volunteered to take even the slightest cut in pay to prevent some of the drastic measures proposed by the Board of Education. I hold out some hope that our local teachers will address this problem in a way that will be helpful, even though union leaders will no doubt be adamantly opposed to the idea.
I believe that I am not alone in recognizing the fact that union influence has had a very negative effect on the economy of the U.S. as there is ample proof that major industries have been severely damaged by over-priced union demands in wages and benefits, causing them to lose the ability to be competitive with foreign products and labor. It has been said that "unions are the lifeblood of the Democratic party." Whether or not you will subscribe to this is an open question, but it must be admitted that the current president is very friendly to union goals and has received very powerful political support and campaign contributions from unions that were very helpful in his winning the presidential election of 2009. I am bothered by the admittedly negative tone of my comment, but honestly believe my words to be true.
Paul Groben
Stony Brook
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March 17, 2010
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An ounce of prevention
With the continuing freezing, thawing and snowy weather and the resulting potholes that creep up everywhere, I have more than once thought how fortunate we are to have had our roads resurfaced last fall. This time last year, as the ground thawed and froze and thawed, the asphalt crumbled in many places exposing ditches of gooey clay. Were it not for the needed attention from the Highway Department I'm sure we'd be walking and driving over dangerously deep craters again. Thanks to Superintendent Rouse and the Highway Department!
Gregory Haegele
Stony Brook
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March 17, 2010
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Stimulus is local
The good news is the economy is showing signs of recovery, and the effects of President Obama's stimulus is being felt in our backyards. One example of the president's stimulus initiative is the tax credit for home improvements. Thanks to this tax credit, my husband and I were able to install new windows in our house in 2009. By making our home more energy efficient, we will reduce future oil consumption. But there are more immediate benefits for our community. We employed a local contractor, who in turn provided work for his crew. Likewise, they provided business for Brookhaven window and building supply stores. Especially encouraging about this type of stimulus is the long-term effect. President Obama is encouraging Americans to spend money wisely to reduce oil dependency and create a green planet.
Like us, a number of our neighbors have replaced windows or installed solar panels in their homes. Some may be surprised come April 15 with a lower tax bill or even a refund. I hope they credit President Obama for this smart initiative.
Kathleen C. Kern
East Setauket
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March 17, 2010
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Scare tactics
The people who oppose health insurance reform know nothing about the Senate and House bills being considered. The health insurance reform proposed by Congress is a far cry from the Federal government "taking over" health care. It is not like they are setting up a DMV or Social Security office to process your claims. What the legislation does is provide access to health care insurance to 33 million people who are currently uninsured. This is not free health care from the government. This is the right to buy insurance, competitively priced under group rates, in a free market. If you currently have coverage you can keep whatever insurance coverage you have. Insurance companies would not be able to deny coverage to people with pre-exisiting conditions or drop you from your policy if you get sick. Why are people so against this? It's so sad that this debate has been fueled by so much misinformation from the conservatives and insurance companies. It's all scare tactics.
To do nothing is to allow health insurance costs to spiral way out of control and require hospitals to extend more free care to the uninsured. As someone who is self-employed and whose husband is self-employed, we pay $15,000 per year for basic health insurance through an HMO. That's $15,000 a year – and we still pay $50 copays for specialists and $30 copays for primary care. As Obama has said, this is not health insurance for basic medical care, this is house insurance — just so we don't lose our house in case of some major catastrophe.
The Republicans want to start over. We've been debating this for years now and the American people are sick of delays. When the conservatives controlled the White House and Congress, nothing was done with health care reform, so why would they do something now? Let's bring this to a vote now so we can provide all Americans with the basic right to good health.
Randee Silberfeld
Mount Sinai
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March 11, 2010
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Humbled, healing
On behalf of our entire family, we would like to thank you for the honor of being named People of the Year in Civics. It was humbling for us to read the wonderful comments made by our family and friends. We could not accept this recognition, however, without expressing our sincere gratitude to the people of this town for their generosity and support. While our family has suffered a terrible loss, it has been healing for us to pay forward to others all that we have received.
Our goal is to make sure the men and women who risk their lives to protect our freedom know they are supported and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten. We appreciate this community's help in not only keeping Christopher's memory alive, but also supporting the men and women of the armed services who are still defending our freedom and the veterans that have done so in the past.
Thank you, again, for this wonderful honor. Semper Fidelis.
Tim and Janet Scherer
East Northport
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March 11, 2010
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Blood donations appreciated
A special thank you to each and every donor who came out to donate blood at the Ocean Ave. Spring Blood Drive on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. Thanks to your generosity and compassion, 53 units of blood were collected by New York Blood Services. We would like to send a very special thank you out as well, to all the Ocean Ave. parents who donated a baked good, to Copenhagen bakery for supplying the delicious pies, and to all of our callers, Sabra Schell, Julie Magnusen, Suzanne Fox, Joanne Pitfick, Nora Nolan, Chris O'Shea, Michele Curcio, Adina Valliere, Barbara Andersen, Ann Marie Miles, Jenine Cook, Dawn and Dave Figlo, Lynn Leonard, Ann Gardner, Joanne Lanzilotta, Cathy Madden and Jen Thompson. We would also like to thank the people who donated their time to help make the drive run so smoothly and efficiently. Thank you to Chris Walsh, Mariel Clark, Joanne Pitfick, Krista Boland, Chris O'Shea, and to our baby sitters Ben Schnell and Olivia Newman. All of you have played a pivotal role in the success of our blood drive and we thank you!
Deana Atherton and Maribeth Gruhn
Chairpersons
Ocean Ave. School Blood Drive
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March 11, 2010
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Support the incumbents
Northport Village Board has been working together very well. Policy disagreements are handled maturely and with civility. It wasn't always like that! Bitter contention does not make for good government. Even in these hard times Main Street has been very lively because of innovations by this creative board; dining out and the farmers market, for example.
Henry Tobin and Tom Kehoe brought over a million dollars in infrastructure funds to the village. I've known Henry for many years. He has worked diligently for the village, because he loves it as we do. It is important that he be re-elected.
Vote for Henry Tobin!
Dorothy Walker
Northport
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March 11, 2010
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| 1858: Rudolf Diesel, German engineer who designed the compression-ignition engine. |
| 1869: Neville Chamberlin, British Prime Minister (1937-40). |
| 1893: Wilfred Owen, World War I poet. |
| 1932: John Updike, American poet and novelist. |
| 1936: Frederik W. deKlerk, President of the Republic of South Africa. |
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