This past fall, the Plainedge High School football team had a terrific year, advancing all the way to the county finals. They did this despite the fact that the school had no budget for a football team---or any other athletic squad. The team was funded by the contributions of local residents and businesses.

Although it was an inspiring story, Plainedge residents want to make sure the school's athletic teams don't have to go through such a trial again.

Toward that end, they have created the Plainedge Tax Relief Association (PTRA). The association, comprised of residents of the Plainedge School District, will hold a community meeting on Monday, Feb. 13 at the Plainedge High School auditorium.

"The Plainedge School District community has decided that the future of the state aid for the district must be dealt with head on," said Craig S. Heller, co-chairman of PTRA.

"The purpose of the organization is to galvanize the community to write letters, make phone calls and engage in lobbying efforts to obtain our fair share of school aid from Albany and ensure the educational excellence that our students deserve," Heller said.

The group, Heller added, was created at a coffee house meeting held on Jan. 5.

"Since that time, the leaders of this organization have met a number of times and have made efforts to recruit volunteers and prepare letter writing packets to be distributed throughout the community," he said.

The Feb. 13 meeting is the next big event that PTRA will hold.

"We are calling on the entire community to attend this meeting in that we need each and every person in our school district to join this very urgent cause," Heller said.