Our hats are off to the Manhasset Friends and Neighbors Trust and its creators, Amy Barrett, Mary Fran Jeffries and Louise Molloy (in alphabetical order). They saw a need, they figured out what to do about it and they did it.

Setting aside the issue of the Whitney property for the moment, it seems to be apparent that Manhasset could use more playing fields and athletic facilities. We welcome the efforts of our newly activist Park District to provide them. For years most people in Manhasset thought the Park District was the Parking District because there were no parks in Manhasset. The popularity of the little playground behind the gazebo shows clearly that "if you build it they will come." We refer those interested in some of the history of this subject to Ray Rice's letter to the editor in today's Manhasset Press. We were disappointed when the community rejected the opportunity to buy the former Village Bath Club property but that is history. Our neighbor to the west, Great Neck, has a lively ongoing parks program and its residents benefit. If it didn't a young woman named Sarah Hughes would probably not be going to represent the United States as a member of the figure skating team at the Olympics this year.

To turn to the issue of the Whitney property, we wish to make it clear that the open letter to Mr. Robert Purvin of Greentree in last week's Manhasset Press was a paid advertisement, not an editorial position taken by this paper. We have not taken an editorial position yet. We have seen persuasive arguments made by proponents of both sides of this question and we believe that there is a lack of clarity on the topic. Assertions are made by those on one side that are flatly denied by those on the other side. The town board hearing on Jan. 29 should put most of these to rest and we are sure that there will be good attendance. Until then we hope that people will stick to discussing what they know, not what they imagine.

E.F.B.