From the Desk of Assemblyman Charles Lavine: November 20, 2009

Green Jobs, Green New York Law Will Stimulate Economy

New York State Assemblyman Charles D. Lavine (D-Glen Cove) has announced that legislation the Assembly approved with unanimous, bipartisan support earlier this year authorizing the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to create and administer the Green Jobs/Green New York program has been signed into law (A.8901).

The program provides financing to communities, homes, small businesses and not-for-profits to help revitalize the economy in an energy-independent and environmentally responsible way.

Over 60…And Getting Younger: November 20, 2009

Point of View

It was a red-hot discussion (battle) in the classroom and I was in the center of it!

The course was “Politics and the Media” and the SUNY Old Westbury students were a cross-section of the New York urban  area. The professor was John Friedman and he loves a good argument. The class was about 50 percent African-American, 20 percent Latino and the rest were an assorted group of Irish, Italian, Swedish and I was the only Hebrew (other than the professor).

Over 60…And Getting Younger

 Serendipity

Saturday night! Nothing scheduled. A rarity. Let me check the movies! Not one film that looks interesting! How about the plays on the Island? Is Jackie Mason at Tilles Center? I like him but we saw him recently. Nothing else looks appealing. Let’s look at the smaller, less costly shows. A last minute show on a Saturday night, in a local theater, would be ideal. Let’s see now. A mystery thriller in Lindenhurst; an A.C. Gurney in East Hampton, a musical in East Islip, Neil Simon in Freeport, a comedy in Bohemia, Chinese acrobats in Patchogue. Isn’t there anything closer to Jericho?

A Bird’s Eye View

During the fall migration season, observers stand on a hawk watch platform at Fire Island each day, September through the first week in November, counting and identifying raptors coming through on their annual flight south. Migrating raptors don’t always come through fast and furiously. On three consecutive Thursdays, starting with the last one in August, there were zero, eight and six migrating raptors, respectively. However, on those days, local birds, deer and Mother Nature offered moments of drama, beauty and mystery.

Letter: Protect Yourself

The Nassau County Police Department’s advising residents to protect themselves from burglaries by telling them  “If you are unsure of a person’s credentials ask for an office call-back number” seems to suggest that they ask the (possible) burglar himself for that phone number to call in order to confirm his identity. That’s a bad idea because a burglar would only give them  the number of an accomplice who would  verify his (false) legitimacy.  The suspicious homeowner should only call a number he knows to be legitimate from its presence in a phone book—-whether it be to his/her county or town office, the police,  LIPA, Verizon, Cablevision, etc.

Richard Siegelman

Over 60…And Getting Younger

Knock, Knock!

“Oh, my God!”

As I opened the front door, there in the doorway was a short black-robed figure with the face of “The Scream” by Edvard Munch. When the cadaver-like body spoke, it said in a high-pitched juvenile voice, “trick or treat.”

It was Halloween and the neighborhood was flooded with bands of oddly dressed children each carrying a loot bag. As the kids came to the door their parents waited protectively in the street. The costumes of the day included skeletons, Superman, Elvis, Spiderman, Batman, fairy princesses, Cinderellas, weird scary masks, Casper the Ghost, pirates, Big Bird, Elmo, Barney, baseball and football players and other weird and wonderfully imaginative outfits.

Over 60…And Getting Younger: October 30, 2009

75!

Stan, you are 75 years old!

You have lived through five wars, served in the United States Army, have three children and six grandchildren. I would have to say you are a lucky guy!

It hasn’t been a bed of roses and you have lost a lot of family and good friends along the way, but you are still vertical and moving around. Your tennis game leaves a lot to be desired but occasionally you get the ball back over the net.

Letter: Regardless of Political Party, Support John Venditto

As a longtime resident and civic leader in the Town of Oyster Bay, I believe we have been fortunate to have a Town Supervisor who has done a superb job over the last 12 years with his determination and resolve in making the Town of Oyster Bay one of the leading towns in NYS to live.

Election Time Policies

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Over 60…And Getting Younger: October 16, 2009

‘I Was Scammed!’

“Do not – I repeat, do not” open an email from me asking you to be my friend! It is a scam!

You are all my friends, my readers.

I received an email about 10 days ago from a lovely lady in my writing group. She is a kind and wonderful person and she asked me to be her friend. Not wanting to insult her, I followed all the questions until the end. Suddenly, at the end, I saw my entire address book printed out in a long column. I suspected nothing, and then it struck.