By Eileen Brennan

The board of directors of the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC (Economic Opportunity Commission) held a rally on Wednesday, Feb. 18, to demand that the Nassau County EOC return title of the building at 65 High Street to the local group. In December the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC filed a lawsuit against EOC of Nassau County charging that in July 1992, A. Jean Love, "purportedly acting on behalf of the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC, signed a deed conveying the property at 65 High Street to the Nassau County EOC." The suit alleges that Ms. Love had neither the authority nor ability to act for the M/G EOC or to transfer the property and the M/G EOC received no fair consideration for the property.

As a result, the Nassau County EOC voted "to terminate contractual and programmatic relationships between the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC and the EOC of Nassau County." On Feb.10 the deputy director of Head Start of Nassau County attended a meeting of the parents of Head Start children and community members and indicated that Head Start would be looking for another location for the program. She also said that until another location was found the program would remain at 65 High Street. The following week Nassau County EOC had the heat, electricity and telephones cut off at the building, despite the fact that the local group had obtained an injunction against such a move.

Jerome Blocker, president of the board of directors of the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC, began the meeting with a story, something for which he is noted. He spoke of an African man who had a desire for great wealth so he sold his farm with its rocky soil and traveled the world seeking his fortune, without success. When he returned to Africa and visited his former farm, he found that a diamond mine had been discovered. What he thought were just rocks were diamonds in the rough. "This building is our rough diamond," he said, to cheers from the audience.

The rally on Feb. 18 was run by Mr. Blocker. The Town of North Hempstead clearly showed its support because it loaned the group a portable stage which was erected outside the front doors of 65 High Street.

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor May Newburger told the audience, "I am confident that you will win this suit. The most important thing is that it has come from you and the young people." Mr. Blocker replied that this was a fight for children. There are 65 children in Head Start, 35 in Adventures in Learning and an expected 80 for next summer's program. Maggie Grundman, founder and director of Adventures in Learning, said that her program had been located at 65 High Street for 26 years and it would be a "sad day if we have to move."

Finally Douglas Irby, director of youth programs, said: "This building has been here since 1929. No entity, no person, no agency can take it away from us. It's ours." Then, pointing to the assembled children, he said, "this is the face of our future."

Community leader Joanne Belt echoed his words and said, "It's time to take back our house."

Legislator Lisanne Altman, who represents Great Neck and has been working with Mr. Blocker, said: "It's a privilege to be here. I've never met a guy like Jerome. He must be exhausted but he keeps on going."

Also in attendance at the rally were County Legislator Barbara Johnson, representing Manhasset, and North Hempstead Town Councilman Tony D'Urso. In support of Maggie Grundman were Congregational Church of Manhasset Senior Minister Maurice Fetty and Youth Minister Jimmy Only. The Congregational Church is the major supporter of Mrs. Grundman's program. Jane Hone and Brian Vincent were present, both as members of the board of the MG EOC and as representatives of the Manhasset Community Fund, of which the EOC is a member agency.

The chief executive officer of the Nassau County EOC is John Kearse. EOC is a federal program and funds are channeled through the county. Last year, after the Nassau County Legislature had been established, the legislators told Mr. Kearse that before they released $500,000 to him, they would have to see his books. According to Legislator Barbara Johnson, Mr. Kearse refused to open his books and, as a result, the federal funds were turned over by the legislature to the Minority Affairs Committee, whose chairperson is Legislator Darlene Harris. Ms. Johnson said that Ms. Harris, who represents Uniondale, Roosevelt, a portion of Freeport and a portion of Baldwin, used the money in her own and other southern Nassau districts. No money was distributed to minority programs in North Hempstead.