As a lifelong citizen of North Hempstead as well as someone who has been civically and politically active here for many years, I have seldom been as excited about a governmental appointment as I am about Leslie Gross' recent appointment as North Hempstead Town Clerk.

For those of us who know Leslie Gross---and most of us do because of her deep, broad and highly effective engagements in so many areas of community life---we know that Supervisor Kaiman and the town board could not have picked a more qualified, exciting, honorable, committed and community-focused public servant than Leslie Gross.

From helping our town's struggling, diverse small business community to promoting and designing ecology programs; from effective program development in town parks to work with state and federal agencies for vital funding programs, Leslie Gross has been at all times a wonderfully innovative and resolute public servant.

North Hempstead got itself a star when Leslie Gross was appointed. More important, this star will radiate competent administration and ethics with capability, compassion and creativity for many years to come.

Jon F. Weinstein