What Do You Know About Herricks? - November 6, 2009

The Bloody Hollow Mystery, Part II:

Europeans made homes in the Herricks area 365 years ago. Over that long a period of time, some unpleasant things are bound to happen anywhere. Over the generations, notorious incidents and acts mount up. Herricks was the site of quite a few hangings on and near the grounds of the Queens County Courthouse. William Valentine was murdered in his barn during a 1785 robbery attempt, and his killer was never found. But while these and other bloody events occurred near the little valley on the south side of the High School, they didn’t happen in it. There is also strong evidence that the name “Bloody Hollow” was not in common use until the 20th century. So why did it get that colorful name?

What Every Long Islander Should Know

Hard Truths About Our Schools

Two studies were released this past month that should give Long Islanders a reality check on how we are educating our children. One provides data on student achievement, the other a close-up of five Long Island school districts.

The close-up study, conducted for The Long Island Index by Columbia University’s Teachers College, examined one wealthy, almost all-white district; one poor, minority district; and three districts with greater diversity. What the researchers found was vast inequity in education systems: in terms of teachers, academic programs, student support, and more.

From Sustainable Long Island - October 30, 2009

Housing Alternatives Would Benefit All

Housing on Long Island represents a microcosm of all the problems Long Island needs to address – from economic and social equity, smart growth, zoning challenges, and how to make fragmented government work better, inspire community action, and ensure that opportunity is more fairly distributed and readily accessible.

Long Island is made up of two highly distinguishable sets of communities. Among the dissimilarities, communities that have thriving, walkable downtowns with built-in economic opportunities, transportation options, financial services, medical care and pharmacies and a high quality of life, and communities that instead have vacant storefronts, safety challenges, or nothing at all; communities whose children learn and grow at highly reputable schools and those whose children attend schools that regularly receive negative media attention and require state intervention; communities with parks and beaches and communities with an overabundance of brownfields; communities with supermarkets and farmers markets and communities with nothing but junk-food delis; and communities with few housing options and communities with excessive designated affordable housing.

Out & About

Trata is finally open and it looks like it will be a hit! With locations in the city and the Hamptons, this fresh fish eatery promises to have a hopping bar scene as well. The beautifully redone space in the old Buonogusto has a great bar lounge and a casually chic dining area. The Village of Roslyn could use a great nightspot in the center of town. Greek Mediterranean is increasingly popular for good reason: It’s fresh, and low caloric as evidenced by the gorgeously effervescent Limani on Northern Boulevard. It’s a bit more formal: Take a group and share the entrees. During the long gray days of autumn, when the air gets chillier and the nights seem to go on forever, it’s a place that will lift your spirit.

From the Desk of Senator Craig Johnson - October 16, 2009

Hearing on State’s Non-Collection of Indian Cigarette Taxes Set for Oct. 27

The Senate Standing Committee on Investigations & Government Operations will be holding a hearing on the state’s inability to collect taxes from cigarettes sold to Non-native Americans that originate from Indian Reservations Oct. 27 at Manhattan Community College, the committee’s chairman, Senator Craig M. Johnson announced.

The hearing will begin 10:30 a.m. at the college’s Richard Harris Terrace Building, 199 Chambers St., New York.

Superintendent’s Column - October 16, 2009

The Problem with Test Scores

In Roslyn, we are justifiably proud of the performance of our students on a wide range of measures and assessments. As clearly demonstrated in a recent presentation to the board of education by Dr. Frank Banta, our assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Roslyn students continue to achieve at very high levels on state English and math tests in grades 3 through 8, and on Regents and Advanced Placement exams at the secondary level.

Roslyn holds students to a higher standard than the state does, as Dr. Banta’s presentation makes clear; and we do not rely on state tests alone to tell us when students are doing well, or whether they are falling behind. Nonetheless, we remain troubled as educators by the manipulation of test data that we so quickly reference in the news media.

What Do You Know About Herricks?

Camp Willis Lake and Troop C

For seven years, Herricks was the summer base of the New York National Guard’s Troop C, Long Island’s crack cavalry unit and a source of local pride.

Their training center and home away from their Brooklyn headquarters was Willis Lake Stock Farm, well-known for breeding fine horses and for boarding horses from some of New York City’s wealthiest families during the winter months. Since the early 1880s, it had been run by Eugene V. Willis, though his father Valentine Willis was the principal owner until his death in 1898, having taken over the business from his father, Samuel Willis, the founder.

Liver Lines - October 2, 2009

Flu season is fast upon us and this year we are faced with the prospect of two flus and possibly two flu vaccines. We are hearing lots about the H1N1 flu and the concerns about how this flu may manifest in the fall. Let’s not forget that the regular yearly seasonal flu is also on the horizon and needs to be prepared for as well.

How do these flus affect people with liver disease and should people with liver disease get vaccinated? Seasonal flu is common and can cause significant illness. On average, 36,000 Americans die each year from the seasonal flu. The seasonal flu vaccine is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions, such as liver disease. Currently, it is recommended that all people with liver disease get the yearly seasonal flu vaccine in order to lessen the likelihood of catching the seasonal flu. Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January, and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later. People with allergies to eggs or those who have a febrile illness should not take the seasonal flu vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against the H1N1 flu.

Town Topics - October 2, 2009

Tackling a Growing Problem at the Root

Nothing happens in a vacuum.

What I mean by that is this: Most every event or development that unfolds in society is somehow, someway connected.

Take, for instance, the recent news about an initiative Suffolk County law enforcement officials launched to try to rein in the alarming increase in heroin use among Long Island youth. The anti-heroin initiative, part of the county’s Police Department’s PoliceSmart program, includes visits to Suffolk schools. Among other things, it features graphic images depicting the real lives of heroin users.

Letter: HS Rugby Alive and Well on LI

High school rugby is alive and well on Long Island. The LIU19 Colts rugby club is a community-based club open to all students from ninth to 12th grade. Middle school students are welcome to come and learn the skills of the game but we cannot promise playing time as we do not schedule teams in their age bracket at the present time. High school rugby in the U.S. is strictly a spring sport. The Colts winter practice starts after Thanksgiving when the football season ends and consists of one two-hour session on Saturday or Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. depending on weather conditions. Once the season gets under way in March we go to a Tuesday and Thursday 5 p.m. practice at Glen Cove. The Colts play a 10-game schedule and field an A and B side each week. Everyone gets a full game every game day during the season. The Colts draw players from schools in Nassau County, Eastern Queens and Western Suffolk.