I wish to congratulate and commend Great Neck Record for printing the first in what will be a series of articles on the work of the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee and the Water Quality Improvement Plan that the committee has developed. In coming together, local municipal officials have displayed leadership and vision in confronting difficult water quality problems plaguing the bay. They realize that no single entity can protect the bay and that only by working cooperatively and collectively can the integrity of this regionally important asset be restored.

For the plan to succeed there will have to be widespread public understanding of all of the plan elements. Public education is vital and the article goes a long way in achieving this objective. There will also have to be widespread acceptance and agreement on the plan's recommendations and strategies to improve the bay's water quality, many of which will require individual lifestyle changes. These needed lifestyle changes underscore the vital role that each and every citizen must play for the plan to succeed and Manhasset Bay to be restored.

It is important to remember that this is just the beginning. The plan provides a blueprint for guiding future actions to restore and protect the bay. As we move forward I know your newspaper will continue to inform the public on the progress that is being made to achieve the vision detailed in the Manhasset Bay Water Quality Improvement Plan.

Thomas P. DiNapoli

Member of Assembly, 16th District

Co-Chair, Legislative Commission on Water Resource Needs of New York State and Long Island

Concern has arisen regarding the tests being donee by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the propeerty: 110 Cutter Mill Road. The contamination at the site occurred prior to 1983 caused by a previous occupant.

Since our inception of operations at the New Stanton Cleaners, we have installed the latest equipment so as to protect the environment, and have received full Nassau Health Department certification.

Never has there been any question of the safety of our cleaning methods. In addition, a purifying water tower has been installed in the rear of the premises; whereby, any levels of perc are well below hazardous levels.

Following the tests, a clean-up plan will be formulated so that whatever ground contamination there is will be eliminated.

Our policy is, and always will be, not only to give you the finest cleaning in Great Neck, but also environmentally safe.

The New Stanton Cleaners, Inc.

Tony Maidiotis, Owner

Bruce Nyman's response to the county exectuve's State of the County Address was a disgrace to all Democrats in the county. Channel 12 News saw him chopping at the bit with his props to respond to the county executive address even before he heard what he had to say. If Nyman didn't agree with the county executive then by all means state your objections and make your own recommendations, but to come in to the address with a card trick prop made fools of the Democratic Party. It was clear that Nyman was interested in theatrics rather than substance; maybe Regina Gil has a position for him at the Great Neck Acts Center.

Henry Famularo

Too often people who are in positions of authority, and have no common sense, make decisions based on ambiance and not on functional.

A good example of this is the "new" men's bathroom installed at Great Neck House.

The lighting consists of eight large vanity bulbs which the replacement of just one bulb would equal the cost of an entire fluorescent light fixture.

The hand towel dispenser consits of the same paper as the toilet paper dispenser.

Good luck on getting paper out of the dispensers.

Whatever money "is saved" by making it difficult to get paper out of the dispensers is "given back" on the cost of elecvtricity on the above mentioned bulbs.

And the toilet is a work of art. Here we have the only bidet in the United States.

So come one, come all to Great Neck House. Showering is unnecessary if your use the men's bathroom.

Life is fun, fun, fun,

Louis Schneck

Oveer the past several weeks, I have been askeed many questions regarding the use of library cards in the election process. I hope this letter will provide some answers. There is a law, §4509 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules, 1998 regarding the use of library records, which states, "library records which contain names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of public, free association, school, college and univeersity libraries are confidential." This means that library card numbers must not appear, or be required on ballots, ballot requests, exterior envelopes, petitions, or in voting books. The intent of §4509 is clear, and the Great Neck Library must begin to maintain two sets of record books, one for voting which only utilizes a resident's name and signature, and another as a patron information book. Library President Mischa Schwartz, also chair of the Policy Committee, has not yet initiated a process to reformat library elections to comply with this 11 year-old law. In fact, his committee has not met since June 6. The library board has received numerous written and oral requests for election reform and inexplicably, all have been ignored. The board's behavior could only be explained by an illogical and erroneous belief that library by-laws take precedent over the law, and the library is accountable only unto itself. In reality, the true purpose of by-laws is to provide standards and regulations; they are the organization's rules of conduct they do not supersede local governance. I urge this board to end its resistance to constructive change and have future elections comply with the requirements of law.

Ralene Adler

As a 43-year resident and president of the North Lakeville Civic Association, I remember library service prior to Marietta DiCamillo's presence on the Great Neck Library Board. Broken bathrooms, outdated, torn books and limited hours of service were the hallmarks of the Parkville library.

Former Trustees Renee Zarin, Muriel Kane, Jack Eber, Manny Kline and current Trustee Elayne Bernstein consistently neglected the Parkville and Lakeville branches in favor of a new facility at the northern end of the peninsula.

New Hyde Park remembeers the unpleasant but verifiable facts of the past. As Mr. Romaine continues his attack on Ms. DiCamillo, the community happily looks forward to our long sought-after Parkville renovation. In her January mailing, Ms. DiCamillo rightfully and truthfully reminded New Hyde Park residents of past inequities so that they would not be repeated.

Alma Jost