Letter: ‘Road Tests Should Be Administered Periodically’

True story. I’m sitting in one of those defensive driving refresher courses and the instructor asks, “Should road tests be administered periodically?” And this guy on the other side of 70 wakes up from his nap and says, “No, I don’t have the reflexes.” Seriously. And the instructor continues by rote to canvass the class saying, “OK, any other answers?”

What’s wrong with this picture is obvious, but here’s what’s really scary: a driver with a few drinks knows he’s been drinking, and may be trying to drive more safely. A driver talking on a cell phone may be a little more cautious. But this guy is probably driving down residential streets during the hours when kids are playing, and doesn’t have a clue. And because he can’t figure it out himself, what’s the only way he’ll learn? It’s scary.

Steve Handelman

Letter: Traffic Agencies Should Also Consider Cyclists, Runners and Walkers

I am a 16-year-old resident of Port Washington and I love to ride my bicycle around town. In connection with the issue of traffic problems in the Port Washington area and the steps the towns and villages are taking to improve the flow of traffic and the safety involved, the planning boards that are trying to resolve this problem should also take into account cyclists, runners, and walkers who also use the roads every day. Since Port Washington is a very beautiful town to walk, run and ride through, the board should make sure of the availability of safe places for these people to use. Thank you for reading this.

Daniel R. Michel

Boy Scouts of America

Troop 241, Port Washington

Letter: Remembering Holocaust Survivors

(Ed.’s note: Last June Stan Ronell spoke to a group of high school students at Floral Park High School as part of the “Adopt a Survivor” program with which he is involved. Ms. Downes sent the following note and poem to him and it is printed here at his request.)

Dear Mr. Ronell:

Thank you for coming to Floral Park Memorial High School to share your experiences with my history class. I admire your efforts to preserve the memory of all those murdered in the Holocaust. I cannot truly imagine the horrors you endured, but I promise that I will not let the world forget your story.

Letter: Remembering Anthony J. ‘Tony’ Picardi

There were a lot of nice things said about Anthony J. “Tony” Picardi in the Port News – Sept. 10, obit section. Tony left us July 20 at the age of 85.

Just about everybody in town knew Tony (also known as “Bonesy”) because he served as a window clerk at the Port Post Office for a lengthy 35 years. He joined the post office shortly after his discharge from the U.S. Air Force after World War II in late 1945.

Letter: McMillan Column a Compilation of Distortion and Innuendo

I generally enjoy reading Robert McMillan’s column, although I occasionally disagree with him. The column in the Aug. 21 issue of the Farmingdale Observer, however, was such a compilation of distortion and innuendo that I find that I must comment. I am not a health care expert, but, I listen to experts and I read the papers. I would encourage everyone to do the same and form their own opinions based on facts and not on prejudices. One of my sources is The New York Times which in an Aug. 23 editorial refutes or corrects much of what Mr. McMillan has written.

Letter: Takes Issue With Language Used in School Calendar

Port Washington educators running the local Port Washington schools need a lesson in logic.

In a country with Christians accounting for 83.3 percent of the U.S. population (Time Magazine ‘09 Almanac), our local wizards running the schools think it is proper to identify the Dec. 24 - Jan. 1 Christmas Holiday period as “recess” in their school calendar for 2009-2010.

Letter: Calories in Restaurant Food

I’m like many people in our county who pours over nutrition labels on all the food I buy. I want to know exactly what it is I’m eating, and more importantly, how many calories I’m consuming. As the American Heart Association will tell you, calories “in” should equal calories “out” if you want to maintain your current weight. Our diet should be equivalent to our physical activity. But if we don’t know what we’re eating, how are we to know how many laps to walk around the neighborhood?

When Suffolk County passed the law to allow us to see how many calories we’re consuming at restaurants, I was shocked at what I found out! So many items at these chain restaurants were overflowing with calories – and I had no idea that certain foods I firmly thought of as treats had actually fewer calories than other items I would purchase regularly. In one popular coffee chain, the walnut bran muffin was actually higher in calories than the rainbow cookie with baked-in chocolate candies.

I hope that Nassau County Legislators are listening to us when they vote on this policy in September! Nassau County needs this law – we deserve to know what we’re eating!

Nick Racanelli

Long Island resident

American Heart Associations Founders Board Member

Chair-Elect

Letter: Mayor Meehan Extends Olive Branch

Recently, Trustee John Dileo and I have been engaged in a spirited discussion (some of it is in the letters-to-the-editor in this paper) regarding tree preservation in the Village of Manorhaven. As the “Environment Party” mayor, I remain seriously committed to improving our village environment in every way possible, including saving mature trees whenever and wherever we can. As our Village’s “Tree Commissioner,” Trustee Dileo and I agree on this important issue. I look forward to continuing our work together for the benefit of both our Manorhaven neighbors and our local environment.

Michael T. Meehan

Mayor-Village of Manorhaven

Letter: LWV Supports Major Health Care Reform

While it is encouraging that Senate and House committees are beginning to seriously consider health care reform legislation, it is critical that the U.S. Congress takes action and passes real health care reform in the next few months.

Letter: Here’s to You, Mr. A!

Lee Aschenbrenner was principal of Flower Hill School when it closed in 1979, and I was PTA President. We worked closely that year - with all the turmoil you might expect going on around us - and we got to know the man we affectionately called “Mr. A.”