On Nov. 2, 1998, the new owner of the Dean property (Plandome Manor House) demolished all of the structures on the property and began taking down a huge number of trees. All of this was done in the absence of any permits from Plandome Manor. The deforestation continued until some time in December when the workmen left the site which was, at that point, almost completely bare (in the rear).

The Village of Plandome Manor went to the Village Court and summonses were issued. A hearing will be held on March 1 in the Plandome Village Hall where the new owner of the Dean property (Plandome Manor House) will be asked to answer these summonses. I'm sure there is a large number of people in the area who would be interested in making their opinions known that evening and in seeing how justice is served on the village level.

Jacqueline M. Bendick

I feel it is needed I respond to a letter from Feb. 18 issue by Jerome Lipton in regard to what is not a conflict of interest with a Metricom wireless contract. I will be very blunt. Mr. Lipton needs to get a life. He is constantly accusing the mayor and board of trustees of wrongdoing. He has sent me and the other board members letters basically accusing us of being òquot;puppetsòquot; or dummies of the previous administrations. At a Flower Hill Civic Association party last year he wore a handmade sandwich sign complaining about things that not one other person in Flower Hill complained about.

The Metricom wireless remote modem system for computers is a new way of getting connected. It puts out less power than cell phones and tells the residents in Flower Hill that we are welcoming good safe technology. Mr. Lipton needs to get a life and stop his accusations of the trustees and mayor of taking any kind of graft, gifts or presents for awarding such contracts. The mayor did not answer his request on whether any of us hard working trustees took a gift in return for the contract because it is beneath the dignity of his office to answer a question like that from such a source. The mayor puts in at least three full days of his time to be mayor at zero pay. The trustees, including myself, also put in significant time because we like helping our village run smoothly. (For the record, Flower Hill is one of the villages that does not pay its elected officials. Two years ago the trustees refused to vote themselves any kind of salary.)

Every village has to have an annoying thorn. I guess we have to live with ours. Our mayor, over the last one-and-a-half years of my being a trustee, has given Mr. Lipton the time he requested to speak out of courtesy. He has on more than one occasion had to cut him off. I would like to say that if Mr. Lipton is so concerned with taxpayers dollars' of Flower Hill, save us some money and move.

Trustee Tab Hauser

The recent stirrings that a group of Manhasset High School parents are requesting that policy be changed so that athletic teams will no longer be required to practice during February vacation has me very concerned. Apparently, these parents wish their children to be free to travel with them during school breaks.

As a former SCA president and mother of three Manhasset high school graduates, two of whom went on to play a Varsity sport in college, I think this is a huge mistake. As a family, we do not have one regret over the "family time" we spent, for years, attending our son's and daughter's basketball games during February vacation, having burgers afterwards and nurturing friendships that are still special to us today. Family time does not have to be spent in Puerto Rico or the Cayman Islands!

Think, also, about our excellent Manhasset coaches who are respected by college athletic departments across the nation. A college varsity program means sacrifice, dedication and commitment. College athletes òquot;give up" their breaks year-in and year-out for the sake of their sport's schedule, which is oftentimes grueling. The athletes handle these schedules successfully because of the excellent preparation they received in high school.

There is also a safety issue to consider if our athletes are not practicing as much as other teams in Section 8.

I've always respected my friends who ski who made the decision to drop out of basketball because they preferred skiing as a family activity. It was a personal family decision. If traveling is so important to this group of families, they must sacrifice playing a winter sport. However, I feel they do not have the right by changing the policy, to take the opportunity away from those willing to make the commitment and who may have aspirations of participating in a college athletic program.

How do we expect our children to respect rules, when we are so willing to change the rules to fit a certain lifestyle? Think about the request and the message being sent to our children. Good luck with the decision.

Marilyn R. Sheerin