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A Tribute to Jo Ann Farley and Steve Glaser
The 1998 Great Neck Library elections are over, for better or for worse, and now it is our great hope that the library can really get down to business and work for the good of this community. Yes, this is our hope; but, frankly, we are more than a little worried.
Certainly we extend our very best wishes to re-elected trustee Elayne Bernstein, newly-elected trustee Catherine Moore, and trustee Mischa Schwartz whom the board has just elected president. But we know that the library, and this community, will sorely feel the loss of longtime board member Jo Ann Farley and the strong, wise leadership of Steve Glaser, as he remains on the board but leaves the position of president.
Mrs. Farley has been a trustee on the library board for 12 years, serving in many posts over the years, including that of president during some of the most recent turbulent times. Always, she handled her position with grace and with intelligence, always striving for the best for the library. We can't help wondering if she would still be a trustee if the troubles on the library board had not been blown up into the political mess that now exists. And, most probably, her unceremonious departure at the annual library meeting would have (and should have) been replaced with a public expression of sincere gratitude and a parting gift, if the anger and tension of the day had not overshadowed all else. (In personal interviews, trustees on both sides have since expressed regret and have promised a forthcoming recognition.) Jo Ann Farley will be missed!
Steve Glaser has led the library board through this extremely difficult past year. He has certainly been one member of the board who absolutely cannot be accused of voting by sides. Fair and honest, and very realistic, Mr. Glaser always voted on the issues, sometimes voting with one side, sometimes voting with the other side. Clearly very bright and very strong, a lawyer well acquainted with the business world, Steve Glaser was the perfect choice for president of this troubled library board. Why wasn't he renominated? Why didn't the majority on his board choose to re-elect him president? Yes, we will surely miss the well-seasoned leadership that Steve Glaser has been able to provide!
And while we agree with Mr. Glaser that Mischa Schwartz is surely up to his new position, again, if the atmosphere on the library board were not so emotionally charged, maybe Mr. Glaser would have been allowed to continue his good work, while Dr. Schwartz would have been afforded the opportunity to allow his value to grow, as he spent more time as a trustee, learning the ropes.
Again, we wish success to all of the library trustees, old and new. And we implore each and every one of them to please look at each issue on its own merits and to vote on those merits instead of looking to see how everyone else votes.
Yes, we do have some hope for a brighter future at the library, but only if each trustee finally incorporates the true meaning of the word ''independent'' into each action, into each decision. Otherwise, the bitterness that we had hoped was behind us will rear its ugly head once again, continuing to tarnish this jewel in our community.
Wake up, my friends, and do the right thing for your community!
                                         ---Wendy K. Kreitzman

gnr.feb. 5.edit-5.kreitzman.spellcheck.