Help us save Charles Fuschillo Park in Carle Place, the only park in our town. Please take note of these tax dollar figures, your tax dollars, that were made available for parks in the Town of North Hempstead: July 2006 - $500,000 for roof reconstruction and $300,000 for fence repairs; February 2007 - $1,070,500 for various park improvements; July 2008 - $250,000 for fence repairs. Not $1 went to our park in Carle Place.

As president of the Carle Place Seniors, I have been writing letters since June 2005 to Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Councilman Robert Troiano to get some of this money put into our park.

The seniors meet at the Charles Fuschillo Park weekly, AARP meets there monthly and the park house is rented for parties on weekends.

The roof leaks every time it rains, the fence between the park and the homes on the north side of Winnie Court (installed years ago by the Town of North Hempstead) is falling down, the residents' yards are washing down into the park because a retainer wall is needed, the walkway between the yards and the park house has washed away. It is now a mud hole.

The sidewalk in front of the park on Carle Road has lifted up 3" high. On Oct. 11, photos were sent to the Town of North Hempstead's Commissioner of Parks and Recreation but to no avail. The light poles are rusted and in dire need of repair.

I believe the available funds for parks are being sunk into Harbor Links and other luxury locations. Is Harbor Links going to be this administration's legacy? Did you know that there is a proposal to change the health club into a hotel on that property?

If something is not done now, we will soon be hearing that the repairs are too costly and our town's park will be closed. Perhaps to make way for condos?

Please write to Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Town of North Hempstead, 220 Plandome Road, PO Box 3000, Manhasset, NY 11030 insisting that at least some of our tax dollars be brought home to Carle Place.

We pay taxes and we vote.

John T. Heslin
President
Carle Place Seniors