I've been a resident of the village for over 30 years and a member of the planning board for 25 years and I must say it's run like a finely tuned and well cared for instrument.

Mayor Tom Pellegrino, the board of trustees and the village staff work tirelessly on behalf of the taxpayers to give us a first-class community in which to live. We've got great snow removal, street sweeping, leaf pick-up, sidewalk and street maintenance, zoning enforcement and a beautification program second to none. Additionally, our village taxes are among the lowest in Nassau County.

However, this is a board not content to rest on its laurels. In examples drawn from just the past few years, the mayor and trustees hired a master planner to address the development problems potentially awaiting in the Lewis Oil property, the "40 Acres," and all properties west of Shore Road. And, they boldly adopted a moratorium on further building on properties on the westerly side of Shore Road.

This, clearly is a board that is with the times - with new ideas and with a vision for the village's future. The board is well-balanced between Tom Pellegrino, a tried and true leader of countless years' experience, and trustees Ratkoski and Levi, who have each come to the board within the last six years. This is truly a team - a trio who are giving the village with best of both the countless years' experience of Mayor Pellegrino and the breath of fresh air provided by Charlie Ratkoski and Gary Levi.

I urge all village residents to re-elect Tom Pellegrino as Mayor and yrustees Edward "Charlie" Ratkoski and Gary Levi on Election Day, March 20. I enthusiastically endorse their re-election. Their combined experience in village government is priceless.

Dr. Irwin Kellner