(The following letter was sent to Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi and is being printed here at the writer's request.)

[On] April 30, I attended the annual meeting of the German-American Committee of Greater New York and heard some very disturbing news concerning Nassau County.

It seems as though all the Ethnic/International Nights have been canceled by Nassau County for the summer of 2002. I had written you on Jan. 20, 2002 concerning these events and you left me with the impression that the nights would continue. Apparently this was the wrong impression. I have heard all the previously designated nights (German night was always the second Monday in July) have been reassigned to other groups.

I guess Nassau County is no longer interested in giving our senior citizens and residents the opportunity of hearing the music and entertainment of the "old country" and a chance to introduce their grandchildren to a part of their heritage that they knew as citizens in our country.

I know there is a budget crunch in Nassau County, but do you have to start with the Ethnic/International Night that so many citizens enjoyed?