Letter: Supports Zuckerman, Pomerantz for Re-Election

To his re-election campaign, we believe Manny Zuckerman brings with him over 12 years of valuable experience, serving both as an East Hills Village trustee and as our deputy mayor. His involvement in our community also includes posts as security commissioner, chairman of the Village Planning Board and important roles in the Unified Civic Association.  Among his many accomplishments, Manny was and is the driving force in creating and maintaining our village’s 24 hour/7 days per week security patrols. He has just announced a new emergency shelter facility equipped with power generators to be located in the East Hills Park for the safety, ease and comfort of East Hills’ residents in the event of an East Hills power outage. During his tenure, Manny has been instrumental, alongside Mayor Koblenz, in creating and maintaining the wonderful village life that we all enjoy. We believe he has been an indispensable part of the Unity Party team that has expanded beneficial programs for our residents. He has done so while maintaining financial stability despite the bleak economic condition of our country. Please join our family in supporting Manny’s re-election as we feel that he has the requisite skills and experience to keep our village moving in the innovative direction along the trusted path it is on today.

Letter: Why Good Things Happen in East Hills

It is a truism that good things just don’t happen on their own; they’re made to happen.

Good things are happening in our community day in and day out and it’s not by mere coincidence. It’s because of the hard work and dedication of our board members, including Deputy Mayor Manny Zuckerman and Trustee Clara Pomerantz. They are running for re-election and we hope you will join us in supporting them.

Letter: Donations to Fight Hunger on LI

I am CEO and President of E Joy Community Resource Center (E Joy CRC), a not-for-profit 501c (3) organization located in Roslyn Heights with a satellite in Holbrook. The purpose of this letter is to introduce our organization and to request your support as we carry out our mission to fight hunger.    

E Joy CRC was established in memory of my late mother in-law, Edwinor Joye, a missionary who dedicated her life towards helping others.  E Joy’s mission is to promote self-sufficiency and empowerment to economically disadvantaged individuals and families living on Long Island. Our mission is to relieve immediate hunger and address the long-term health and safety needs of low income individuals and families through our food pantries, senior advocacy program, community outreach, adult literacy class and job skills training program.

Letter: Vote for ‘Hard Working’ Trustees

In 2011 the East Hills community experienced two severe storms — each of which resulted in rather lengthy power outages for many of our residents.  As a result, many of us, both young families and older folks alike, found ourselves in very difficult circumstances without electricity — no hot water to wash, no cooling, no refrigeration and no reliable cooking sources. In other words, our village experienced an almost inconceivable, unlivable and unacceptable condition in these modern times.

Letter: More Tree-Cutting In East Hills

Several weeks ago I wrote about the pending demolition of 37 Laurel Lane and its negative aspects. Now there is surprising good news and bad news about this story.

The bad news is that the builder is now proposing to cut down nearly every healthy, towering old tree on the property, a total of five. This request will be reviewed soon by the village Architectural Review Board (ARB).

Letter: Complications from Tax Cap

Unfortunately, in the business of schools, the news is not all happy.

Recently, Governor Andrew Cuomo presented his State of the State address and his Executive Budget and Reform Plan. We commend Governor Cuomo’s willingness to take on what has always been perceived as sacred cows, such as pension reform, tenure issues, teacher and principal evaluations, as well as the ever-increasing high taxes across the state; but the increasing costs to districts to implement these proposals, without mandate relief, just further burdens school districts with new additional costs.

The Tax Cap, which in actuality is not a cap on taxes but rather is a cap on the tax levy, does not cap an individual’s school tax bill. The law applies solely to the school tax levy. Increases in individual tax bills are set by formulas created by the County and this will continue to be true. This is significantly different than what taxpayers have been led to believe.

Parenthood Plus: February 21, 2012

Today’s Work at Yesterday’s Prices

One of the oldest, largest and most well-respected community-based human service agencies closed on Jan. 27. Some 300 employees at Chicago’s Jane Addams Hull House Association were handed layoff notices and final paychecks and were notified of the immediate discontinuation of their health care benefits. This is a tragedy and an ominous sign.

Hull House was founded in 1889 by social worker and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams and her lifetime friend and community-activist Ellen Gates Starr. Hull House began as a home for disenfranchised citizens. The organization’s mission was “neighbors helping neighbors.” In its early years Hull House was organized to help immigrants to learn English and the principles of democratic citizenship and to improve the lives and working conditions of many of those living on the west side of Chicago. In recent years Hull House’s focus was on foster care, child care, domestic violence counseling and job training.

From Long Island Wins: February 15, 2012

Make Your Vote Count: Push for Fair Redistricting

Let’s flash forward to November 2012: The leaves are in full bloom, you’re getting ready for the holidays, and the Yankees have just won the World Series again (sorry Mets fans).

It’s also time to vote. You’re registered and ready to have a say in who represents your community. Democracy is about you, right?

But it’s too late. State politicians in Albany have already decided who will represent you when they drew district lines back in the beginning of the year. You’re stuck with Assemblyman X and Senator Y, whether you like it or not.

This isn’t a dystopian fantasy: In 2006, no incumbent lost a race for the New York State Senate or Assembly. That either means that New Yorkers think all state politicians are doing a fantastic job, or the system is rigged.

NYPA Internship Deadline Approaching

The New York Press Association (NYPA, an association of weekly newspapers in NY State) funds paid summer internships for college journalism students to work at their community papers. Anton Community Newspapers is a member of the association.

To apply, students in the Anton Newspapers coverage area should go to www.newyorkpressassociation.com and click on “The NYPA Foundation” in the menu bar, where an application can be downloaded. Send the application to: News Internship, Anton Community Newspapers, 132 East Second St., Mineola, NY 11501.

Letter: More Preservation Efforts Needed

One of the prettiest homes in Norgate will soon be demolished (and may have been by this printing), a quaint and modest yellow-and-brown home on Laurel Lane. One extraordinary, towering old tree next to it is also marked for destruction.

For the next months, our street will be a construction zone, not a peaceful residential neighborhood. I don’t think anyone is happy about this kind of activity. I would like to help organize an effective movement to change it.

The aesthetics of Norgate, like other circa 1940 upper-income developments like nearby Plandome, were serene, modest, and semi-classical in an English country and New England style. Homes were surrounded by greenery and were set off from their neighbors for privacy and quiet. (I grew up here in the 1960s, when this was unquestioned.)