(Ed. Note: This letter was sent to Town of North Hempstead Supervisor May Newburger and is printed here with the writer's consent.)

Have you walked down Plandome Road in Manhasset lately? I have, and I am appalled at the mess. As a longtime resident of Manhasset, I frequently visit the stores and offices along Plandome Road, often with my children. For the last several weeks, the road from one end to the other has been a complete mess of litter.

I can feel my property value shrinking as the appearance of our ''Main Street'' begins to look more and more like a neglected urban center, with newspapers blowing along past over-stuffed trash bins in front of vacant store fronts. You boast about the adoption of a property maintenance law that gives the Town the right to make property owners clean their homes or pay a price to have government employees do the work. ''This law allows us to improve the quality of our neighborhoods and enhance our property values.'' When it comes to property values, I think my neighbors are doing a great job. I would suggest that the Town take an equally aggressive stance when it comes to the trash on the Town's property.

I grew up in Manhasset. I used to ride my bicycle up Plandome Road to Wright's Hardware, the A&P, the pet store, Nassau Stores. It was clean then, and there is no reason on earth that it should not be clean now - even if nothing can be done to retain the businesses that have endowed our community. Not long ago there were street sweepers pushing their wheeled bins along Plandome Road, keeping it tidy. Where have they gone?

I hate to think of the message we are sending to my children and the visitors in our town. Please address this problem as one of your highest priorities.

Patrick Quinn