EDITORIAL

In Support of the Allenwood Moratorium

We would like to take this opportunity to express our full support for the 90-day residential building and demolition moratorium the Town of North Hempstead just imposed on the Allenwood section of Great Neck.

We wholeheartedly support Supervisor May Newburger and her board---Doreen Banks, Anthony D'Urso, John Fabio, and Fred Pollack---in their efforts to develop a new zoning code that will better serve the town at this time.

Not too many months ago we used this space to offer support for another, similar moratorium, in the Village of Great Neck. That village's mayor and board of trustees have made good use of the time provided by the moratorium, right now working toward new zoning laws that are intended to ameliorate the very same problems of massive houses on small pieces of property, houses that offend neighbors by blocking light and air, and changing the character of the neighborhood.

Town officials have made clear their intent to put their moratorium time to just such good use. And, as was the case with the Village of Great Neck, if more time is needed to ensure a legal, workable code that will satisfy one and all, well then, we would be equally supportive of a moratorium extension.

Surely, we all recognize that this is not an easy task. Rather, it is a long, painstakingly complex task that is not made any easier by the volatile emotions surrounding the issue. Residents are angry, very angry, at what has happened to their neighborhood. Builders, on the other hand, who are indeed working within the current building code, seem to find it difficult to understand why someone would not welcome a huge new house that over-shadows their lovely old home.

More than any other such meeting that we have ever attended, the Oct. 21 public hearing at Town Hall was fraught with raw emotions--deep-seated anger, resentment, and a real fear of losing a beloved neighborhood coupled with a fear of financial loss in seeing property values plummet. These emotions erupted over and over again during the town meeting, with bursts of both applause and jeering shouts.

Several times the noise level and cross conversations reached such a magnitude that Supervisor Newburger threatened to close the hearing. However, each and every time she did skillfully manage to bring order and sense to a highly charged, often chaotic, meeting.

It's now time, as the supervisor stated, to focus on the merits of the issue. Several times during the meeting, Supervisor Newburger commented that the issues, the essential problems, were becoming crystal clear as the evening wore on. She and her board now know exactly what is wrong---it is now their job to right that wrong, and come up with the zoning codes to fit these times.

If developing a code is handled as intelligently, as skillfully, as May Newburger handled that delicate meeting, we know we are in good hands.

It is the time for this change and we will welcome a new zoning code.

-- Wendy K. Kreitzman

LETTER

A Letter From the Rev. Gary E. Maier

Dear Friends,

For 32 years, I have been the rector of All Saints Church in Great Neck. I have decided to retire from the church on Jan. 1, 1998.

I am very proud of the people of All Saints. They have a deep and sincere faith in God. They minister to each other and to many within the Great Neck community. They have raised over one million dollars to restore this unique and beautiful church. If you have never been inside All Saints, I invite you to come any day Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You will see four glorious Tiffany windows, hand-carved statues depicting saints of the Anglican tradition, a classic Aeolian-Skinner organ and a wonderfully decorated church building.

My goal as rector has been to bring my talents to all the people of our Great Neck community. The parish has allowed me to serve on many boards, ranging from President of the Ministers, Priests and Rabbis Association, The Pride of Judea Mental Health Center, the Holocaust Resource Center at Queensborough College and The Long Island Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence. For years I served the Diocese of Long Island as the chair of the Jewish/Christian Relations Committee. Through this group and the generosity of my parish, I have traveled to Israel and met with many outstanding leaders, both religious and secular.

Each day, I thank God for the wonderful people of Great Neck. In good times and sad times, you have shown confidence in my ability to lead and manage the works of the Great Neck Park District. In 1968, Supervisor Robert Meade appointed me park commissioner. Thanks to the majority of voters in the district, I won 10 elections or 30 years as commissioner. Early in 1998, I will also retire as park commissioner.

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve my church and Great Neck for all these years. I wish each of you health, joy and continued strength to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

God loves you and so do I!

Gary Maier
All Saints Rectory