We are hopeful that the playground at Mary Jane Davies Green will be operational on Monday, July 26. That will be the night of a town concert and the Manhasset Park District's annual evening of complimentary ice cream, soda, hot dogs, etc. (Iron Butterfly was not available but there will be big band music.).

Manhasset residents, at a town board meeting on Feb. 10, proposed the playground. It will become a reality because of the efforts of many people and because the Manhasset community got involved and did not simply standby to see another good idea turn to dust.

A thank you is in order to Supervisor Newburger, Councilwoman Banks, Councilmen D'Urso, Ferrara and O'Connor. In addition, a thank you is in order to Director of Operations Art Gianelli, the Manhasset Park District (Chairman Adams was an earlier supporter), and the Town of North Hempstead Parks Department.

The members of this committee, busy people who gave their time and energy, deserve a big pat on the back: Sheila Morrissey, Paul Whalen, Doris Murray (extra honorable mention), Dennis and Lillian Sears (extra honorable mention - petition drive coordinators), Susan Cannatella, Betsy Chesebrough, Whitey Henrickson, Dana and Dennis Klainberg, Suzanne O'Leary Mills, Nancy Morris and Cheryl Schwab.

Thanks go to those who took the time and effort to write a letter to the Manhasset Press and to those who "made a sacrifice and took one for the cause" by putting a bumper sticker on their car. These people should take pride in knowing that they truly made a difference!

There are some special merchants who are a big part of this community, even though they live elsewhere. Thanks to the Plandome Road merchants who displayed a sticker in their window!

Thanks to those who helped collect some of the 1,500 signatures in favor of the playground. They, too, should realize that children will experience thousands of hours of fun because they gave up some of their time for the community.

Thanks to those who called with suggestions or to offer help and encouragement. Thanks to those who called the supervisor's office to voice support for the sprinkler that should be installed later in the summer. Thanks to the Manhasset Press, Eileen Brennan and various columnists for their support. Thanks to the groups that offered support including: The Munsey Park Women's Club, The Bayview Civic Association, The Mother's Group, The Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations, The Chamber of Commerce, The Newcomers Club, etc. Thanks to the groups that offered financial assistance, if necessary, including: The Munsey Park Women's Club, The Manhasset Park District, The Bayview Civic Association, etc. Thanks to those who signed a petition, as it might have been easier to simply walk by. Thanks, also, to those I might have mistakenly forgotten to mention in this letter.

It is my hope that the next time a worthwhile cause comes along there will be even more people in Manhasset willing to help and not just go along for the free ride.

This committee, having done its job successfully, is now disbanded.