Editorial: You Get What You Pay For

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Editorial: You Get What You Pay For

Friday, 20 January 2012 00:00

At the Jan. 12 budget chat of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District, mention was made that Christopher Van Cott, assistant superintendent for business and grounds talked to students in the Economics class about school taxes.

We thought that was a great idea. The school is teaching other classes about how the school tax system works.

Many pages of this newspaper have been devoted to doing just that same thing. The school taxes are probably the only time residents get to look close up and personal at a budget document for an entity as large as the school district.

Over the years the OB-EN budget document has evolved to the point it is at now. It is a line by line budget – the Town of Oyster Bay uses a similar system of line items with descriptions.

But added to that are Fund Balance, Tax Levy, Reserve Funds, Bond Anticipation Notes... words that need some explaining.

There is a lot to learn and the more people who are familiar with the terms the better. Actually the more conversant you become with the system, the better you can understand it.

Now don’t tell us about Bill Gates and the people who jump over the hurdles and don’t get or need a college degree. He put in the needed 10,000 hours of work in computer programming on his own, including working from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. at programming when he was still in high school. Just read Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell. It was recommended to us by Town Councilwoman Rebecca Alesia. [Thank you Ms. Alesia.]

In fact it turns out motivated parents are one of the best indicators of success for a student. That is why it really is good to attend school board meetings. You will have a chance to see what happens at the next grade as your student progresses as opposed to daily surprises. You will learn from other parents’ experiences.

We have learned a great deal more about the workings of the schools by attending the meetings. They open up the educational process as it happens in our schools.

Do take a look at obenschools.org and see what your tax money is doing to create great citizens for the future of our country, and take pride in what you are doing by paying those taxes. Who knows where the next, or next, or next President of the United States will come from.

And don’t forget to read. It is the path to enlightenment.

– DFK

News

Slam Dunk On Budget Vote: A Landslide Oyster Bay-East Norwich Voters Say ‘Yes’

Thursday, 17 May 2012 12:08

Budget passes with 63 percent ‘yes’ votes to 37 percent ‘no’

The Oyster Bay-East Norwich school budget vote on May 15 passed by a wide margin, with 1,158 Yes votes to 680 No votes; the capital expenditure referendum passed 1,106 to 581; the OB-EN Library budget passed 1,185 to 448. Running for the school board, Robin Dando, received 1,222 votes. Scott Tepper garnered 1,249 votes for a seat on the library board. The numbers include about 20 absentee ballots.

Before a vote was counted, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Phyllis Harrington said, “We are going to do fabulously.” Resident Bob Santos commented, “You know I’m very positive. The vote is going to pass easily.”

Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00

Members and guests show their compassion for those challenged

The purpose of the Lions Club of Oyster Bay’s spring benefit is always to raise funds for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind (GDF) and their America’s VetDogs (AVD) as well as other worthy causes. This year’s benefit event, held at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club (SCYC) on April 29, allowed people to get a better idea of the GDF and the people they serve.

In 2003, the GDF recognized the need for an overall assistance dog program for veterans that would incorporate guide dogs, service dogs and state-of-the-art mobility devices – especially as our nation’s veterans age and as our country’s wounded warriors return home from active conflicts abroad.

Sports

Fitting Your Dog For A Life Jacket

Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00

Boating safety tips for boat-happy dogs from the U.S. Coast Guard

Dogs can be seen taking in the sun and spray on all manner of sail and powerboats these days, and adapting just fine. But boaters shouldn’t assume that because dogs can swim that their particular dog is an adequate swimmer, or that it has the good sense not to chase that sea gull over the side.

Dogs are hard-wired to chase and swimming ability varies from breed to breed. Many with low body fat, like Greyhounds, may have trouble staying afloat. Breeds with short legs and long bodies can swim, but may tire quickly. Overboard, a dog can become disoriented and suffer the same hazards from coldwater immersion as humans.

Friday, 18 May 2012 00:00

On Memorial Day weekend, Bethpage Federal Credit Union and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, will honor the United States Navy and its 100th anniversary during this year’s Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, now in its eighth year.

Fans will be treated to performances from the world’s most elite military and civilian pilots including the T-6 and T-34 U.S. Navy aircrafts. There will also be a rare performance from the U.S. Air Force F22 Raptor Stealth jet fighter, known as by far the best and most expensive fighter jet in the world, with its advanced combination of stealth, speed, agility and unparalleled precision.