Letter: Response To Overcrowded Classroom Concerns
Friday, 12 October 2012 00:00
I read your headline front page of the Hicksville Illustrated and thought I would add some other perspective. My wife and I moved to Hicksville August 1972 with two young children from Ridgewood, Queens living in a six-room flat on the third floor for $69 a month. We chose to move to Long Island because we wanted our children to have a better start than we had emigrating from Europe.
We had our youngest daughter in 1978 and all three are married with children of their own. I started to track real estate taxes since 2001 and let me tell you that my school taxes alone went up by 51 percent. We are paying these taxes not having any children in the Hicksville School District for at least 18 years. My wife and I are both on Social Security and our income is low. So for the sake of those folks (parents Chris Connors, Janet O’Connell or others) that are dismayed at the class size of first grade, let them take their kids to private school.
Our community is populated with seniors and school-aged children are not abundant. Long Island is expensive and seniors are moving away for more reasonable living. Hopefully when this population, leaves and/or dies off, you can have your smaller class sizes but at a price.
Take a look at jobs. Take a look at home sales and prices. Take a look at foreclosures. We are not living in an entitlement environment in Hicksville. You want it, pay for it!
Peter G. Kraeker
Hicksville resident
News
Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00
Hicksville School District Superintendent Maureen Bright gave an overall picture of the district profile at the school board meeting last Wednesday night. The meeting was the final one before the upcoming budget vote, which will take place on Tuesday, May 21 at Hicksville High School from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The total number for the 2013-14 proposed budget is $124,595,008. This is a 3.29 percent increase or $3,963,375 from the 2012-13 school year. In 2012-13 the total budget was $120,631,633.
Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00
On Saturday, May 11 the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of Nassau County held their Annual POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony at St. Frances de Chantal Parish in Wantagh. This is the 15th year for the ceremony, originally started by the late Tom Benet and the late Vincent Esposito as a way to honor those military brethren who are still listed as prisoners of war (POW), or missing in action (MIA).
Rick Gales, Town of Hempstead Veteran Affairs liaison, quartermaster of the Elmont VFW, and Nassau County Chairman of the POW/MIA Committee continues the tradition and told Anton Newspapers that the POW/MIA ceremonies are usually held in April or May, coinciding with the fall of Vietnam and the end of a war era.
In 2010, the Department of Defense reported more than 1,700 Vietnam era soldiers as POW/MIA status.
Sports
Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00
James Russo, 11, of Hicksville, came in sixth place in the States Competition at 120lbs. Ryan Schecht, 11, of Hicksville, placed third in the States at 105lbs, and is on his way to the Nationals Championship.
Thursday, 09 May 2013 00:00
Begins Saturday, May 11
Seasonal beach stickers may be purchased beginning on Saturday, May 11, so that residents may get their beach stickers ahead of time and avoid the rush during the Memorial Day weekend, when some town beaches will open for weekends.
“So many residents enjoy the beautiful beaches that we have here in the Town of Oyster Bay and eagerly look forward to the first opportunity to enjoy those beaches during the Memorial Day weekend,” Councilman Joseph Pinto said. “Town residents, who purchase a town beach sticker in advance of the beaches opening, will avoid the possibility of waiting in line during opening weekend.”
Calendar
Pride Day, Cleanup Hicksville
Saturday, May 18
Blood Drive
Monday, May 20
Parade Announcement
Monday, May 27
Columns
Building Better Legislators
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
Quietly Vindicated
Written by Mike Barry, MFBarry@optonline.net
Health Insurance Crisis Still Here
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
