Letter: Superintendent Salaries Are Not the Real Issue

Why is the Governor of New York working so hard to point the finger of blame at the salary of Dr. Carole G. Hankin as if her income alone is responsible for the district’s property tax rate? Why is he treating her with the disrespect one would expect from an Attorney General to an evildoer, instead of the respect due to a valued public servant? Maybe the answer is that he doesn’t want local property owners to ask why he is cutting aid to the Syosset Central School District in spite of the fact that the State of New York leaves 93 percent of the cost of educating children here to property taxpayers.

Over 60... And Getting Younger: March 4, 2011

‘To Be or Not to Be’

“To retire or not to retire?” that is the question?

Start weighing the negatives and positives in your mind. Working in a job for 30 or 40 years, lulls you into an atmosphere of ease and contentment about the future. There are no questions of where you have to be Monday through Friday at nine to five.

Parenthood Plus: February 25, 2011

Brutal Teens on Long Island

The title of this month’s column is likely to evoke associations of murder and mayhem. However, don’t be misled; this is not a tale of teens gone bad. It is about our winter of discontent. And, I am not talking about NIFA taking over Nassau County’s finances.

So why the title, you may be wondering. It all started with a series of annoying television messages scrolling across the bottom of the screen. One of them read “…brutal teens on Long Island.” It was a partial message that required the viewer’s waiting for the next scroll-go-round to get more details.

Over 60... And Getting Younger: February 25, 2011

Three Plays

As a born New Yorker, I have always felt that it is a distinct privilege to be close to the New York cultural scene. The “Great White Way” now sparkles with the three plays I am about to speak of.

Freud’s Last Session was played at the West Side YMCA on 63rd Street at what is called the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater. After 79 years and $2 million, this theater is a charming place to view a play, right off Central Park.

County Executive’s Column

More About NIFA

The Nassau County Interim Finance Authority or “NIFA” recently issued a control period over County finances. NIFA is comprised of non-elected and unaccountable individuals appointed by State politicians.

Over 60... And Getting Younger February 18, 2011

The Calendar

When I was a young man in the 1940s and 1950s, we celebrated Feb. 12 as Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and Feb. 22 as George Washington’s day of birth. Somewhere along the way, we have scrunched (is that a word?) the two together.

Over 60…And Getting Younger: February 11, 2011

Priorities

The Middle East is aflame!

Snow has blanketed the country!

Heating bills are heading for the roof!

What can we do about it?

Let’s have a Super Bowl Party!

A Bird’s Eye View: February 11, 2011

A Sense of Place Enhances Birding

Sometimes birding is memorable not just because of the birds but also because of the place where they were seen. The two can be inseparable in enhancing the experience of birding. Last winter in Florida that happened at three favorite birding haunts.

Whitney Beach

Early in February temperatures are averaging 15-20 degrees below their usual 70s. In the late afternoon I’m walking Whitney Beach on Longboat Key. A man is wearing fleece and a large watch cap. Is this Maine or Florida?

From Sustainable Long Island: February 4, 2011

We Are the Voice of Long Island

It’s 2011 – by now you have had to figure out that when living on Long Island you have to be loud. Sometimes the loudness will come from yelling over the honking horns and traffic on the Long Island Expressway. Sometimes the loudness will come from singing along with the national anthem at a Long Island Ducks or New York Islanders game. Sometimes the loudness will come from shouting your order of fruit and vegetables at a local farmers market that’s bustling with hundreds of Long Islanders.

Over 60... And Getting Younger: February 4, 2011

Heading South

Bulletin: “Snow is coming up the East Coast!”

It’s another Nor’easter!

12 inches of snow!

Will the NYC airports be closed?