Guest Column: The Audacity To Hope

If the multi-colored Skittles were a clever planted prop, I’d have to say the all natural Snapple was a masterful addition. And even if the hooded sweatshirt was pure white and angelic like snow, it would have done very little to mask those eyes; yes, those deep menancing eyes, which were only a shade lighter than his dark intimidating skin. The eyes peering from that oversized hood betrayed any facade of innocence, possibly afforded by youth.

Letter: Schmitt: No Tax Hike on the Agenda

I read your recent article covering Nassau County Executive Edward I. Mangano’s State of the County address with great interest (“Mangano Warns of 13 Percent Tax Jump,” Anton Newspapers, March 22 and 23), but I fear your story missed the point – by a longshot.

The county executive did not threaten a 13 percent property tax increase; in fact, he never even uttered the words. Further, setting the legislative agenda is among my many duties as presiding officer, and I assure you, there will not be a tax increase on the agenda this year, just as there was no tax increase on the agenda in the past two years. Where did you even get your information?

What Every Long Islander Should Know: April 4, 2012

Screen-Free Week for Kids Is April 30 – May 6

What does a $4.4 billion software company have in common with a not-for-profit dedicated to early childhood? They’re both concerned about the time children are spending watching TV. And, they’re doing something about it.

CA Technologies, the Islandia-based software giant, and the Early Years Institute in Plainview are joining thousands of businesses, schools, cultural and community organizations nationwide in sponsoring the second annual Screen-Free Week, running April 30 to May 6.

Parenthood Plus: March 28, 2012

Occupy the Boys’ Bathroom

The Occupy Movement has been greeted with mixed sentiment ranging from admiration to revulsion. On the plus side, the movement shows young people that folks of any age can come together around their own vision of the world they want. However, one does not have to attain revolutionary goals to work toward social change, as I learned some years ago when I was working with a group of troubled boys.

At the time, I was involved in developing an innovative school-based mental health program. I was filling in at the school for a few weeks, for one of the social workers who had taken a leave. I agreed to work with her boys’ group. The boys in the group were teenagers with significant emotional difficulties, ranging from depression to explosive behavior.

Letter: Police Commissioner Responds to Critics of the Community Policing Plan

Over the past several months, there has been much speculation and criticism about the future of Nassau’s eight police precinct buildings. Though critics of this plan have expressed skepticism on realigning the current eight precincts into four, it is important to remember that all eight buildings will remain open and accessible to the public. The realignment of the precincts only affects the boundary lines of administrative paperwork and criminal processing, not the locations in which officers are located on the streets as some critics have stated.

From the LI Water Conference: March 21, 2012

The Growing Need for Reinvestment In Drinking Water Infrastructure

A recent report from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) stated that the nation’s buried water infrastructure is approaching the end of its useful life and is in dire need of replacement. Long Island’s water suppliers can confidently assure our residents that we will have the same access to high quality, affordable drinking water for generations to come. That said, it is of the utmost importance that we continue to invest in our drinking water supply systems over the next few decades if we wish to avoid future infrastructure concerns.

Much of the country’s drinking water infrastructure, the more than one million miles of pipes beneath America’s streets, is nearing the end of its useful life and approaching the age at which it needs to be replaced. Moreover, our shifting population brings significant growth to some areas of the nation, requiring larger pipe networks to provide water service.

From the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce: March 21, 2012

We definitely cannot complain about the mild winter of 2012.

The preparations for our Annual Community Festival are well under way. It will take place Memorial Day weekend starting, Friday, May 25 through Sunday, May 27. The festival will be held at the Massapequa Railroad parking lot M5 located at Sunrise Highway and Broadway. Sponsors, craft food vendor and volunteers are needed. Call the office at 541-1443 for details.

Letter: First-Class Entertainment at Molloy’s Madison Theatre

It is my opinion that the quality of life in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and surrounding areas has greatly improved, culturally, with the construction and opening of Molloy College’s $28 million state-of-the-art Madison Theatre, where Broadway-quality performances are being presented on a regular basis, closer to our homes and at a great savings, compared to The Great White Way’s ticket prices.

Parenthood Plus: February 21, 2012

Today’s Work at Yesterday’s Prices

One of the oldest, largest and most well-respected community-based human service agencies closed on Jan. 27. Some 300 employees at Chicago’s Jane Addams Hull House Association were handed layoff notices and final paychecks and were notified of the immediate discontinuation of their health care benefits. This is a tragedy and an ominous sign.

Hull House was founded in 1889 by social worker and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams and her lifetime friend and community-activist Ellen Gates Starr. Hull House began as a home for disenfranchised citizens. The organization’s mission was “neighbors helping neighbors.” In its early years Hull House was organized to help immigrants to learn English and the principles of democratic citizenship and to improve the lives and working conditions of many of those living on the west side of Chicago. In recent years Hull House’s focus was on foster care, child care, domestic violence counseling and job training.

News From Massapequa Chamber of Commerce

I hope everyone is enjoying our mild winter. I’ll keep my fingers crossed it lasts into spring since I’ve delayed buying a snow blower this season. The groundhogs can’t even agree on the forecast. I’m glad they’re not weathermen.

February is a quiet month for us, but we are hard at work planning our Community Festival scheduled for Memorial Day weekend starting on Friday, May 25 through Sunday, May 27. The festival will be held at the Massapequa railroad parking lot M5 located at Sunrise Highway and Broadway. If anyone is interested in being a sponsor, craft vendor or volunteer, please call the office at 541-1443 for details.