(The following letter was sent to Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi and is printed here at the writer's request.)

I am writing you this letter to let you know how impressed I am with the Youth Bureau program that the city runs. [I write this on] the last day of their camp and my daughter Kathryn is going to miss it terribly. She actually woke up every morning looking forward to going to camp even though the day was long, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. At the parent meeting after I enrolled Kathryn for the summer camp I was a little hesitant to send her when I was told that there was no medical staff on site, since she has asthma and allergies to food. Being 10 years of age, she decided she could be a big girl and carry her inhaler and an Epipen (which she knew how to use). This made her feel independent and grown up. Kathryn not only had fun, but they also had workshops where she learned how to protect herself if someone should try to grab her and Internet safety. During these workshops, she didn't mind sitting and listening and not play or do the wonderful crafts. Everyday she came home with something that she made that was beautiful and she was always looking forward to tomorrow. The counselors were very nice. The program was run very smoothly; hats off to Sandra and her staff. I am not by any means saying that the regular city camp is not any good, it's just that Kathryn outgrew it. This camp has advantages because it does not have many participants and is not as big as the regular camp, which was a little overwhelming for her. I am almost afraid to tell people about this camp because Kathryn loved it so much and is looking forward to going to it next year. and the more I tell people the more people will want to take advantage of it. Glen Cove has so much to offer the people of the community, but sometimes we have to go find it. Hats off again to Sandra and the Youth Bureau. Thank you, Glen Cove.

Carol A. Paolillo