From The Publisher

Hurricane Sandy has taken a toll on the lives of many in the areas that Anton Community Newspapers serves and well beyond. Our heartfelt wishes go out to all, hoping that life returns to normal, or somewhere close to that, for residents as soon as possible. Community spirit - neighbors helping neighbors - has been evident in so many situations. For those who need additional services, below is a list of contacts that we hope will be helpful.

- Angela Susan Anton
Anton Community Newspapers

Editorial: Sealed Fate

The New York Islanders’ departure to Brooklyn in 2015 represents a significant loss for Nassau County but a tremendous gain for the franchise moving forward.

While county officials will work toward filling the void before the boys in blue and orange head west, local fans ought to rejoice knowing their team is moving to a brand new arena only 23 miles away, considering that just last year the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers not only moved more than 1,500 miles away (to a different country to boot) but changed their team name and logo altogether.

Editorial: Happy Halloween

Halloween can turn into a nightmare if parents don’t make their children fully aware of the risks involved the tradition of trick-or-treating each year.

For a happy and healthy Halloween, consider speaking with your child regarding his or her safety on Oct. 31. Here are a few tips to pass along:

- Remember to accompany a small child and have older kids travel in groups. - Remind your kids that homemade treats might look appetizing but they should politely refuse the offer and stick to traditionally packaged and well-known candy.

Editorial: Think Locally

As campaign managers across the country head in to the home stretch, we can expect the usual onslaught of street signs and television ads popping up in the area.

But are a few colorful slabs of cardboard or fleeting bumper stickers enough to influence an election? Probably not, but with this upcoming vote election being a presidential election year traditionally means that more voters will take to the polls, and in turn, more votes will be cast for local elections than in years when a president isn’t being decided.

Editorial: New Deadlines

As noted on the second page of last week’s issue, the new deadline going forward for The Westbury Times will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. for the following week’s paper. This deadline is for all submissions: articles, photos, announcements, letters to the editor, obituaries and calendar items. As always, please consider the deadline on Wednesday morning to be the last-minute deadline, as we prefer to receive submissions earlier rather than later.

Letter: Heroin Prevention Task Force

(Police Chief Charles Gennario of the Rockville Centre Police Department, is a member of the Nassau County Heroin Prevention Task Force and submitted this letter on behalf of the Task Force.)

Prescription drug abuse in the nation is at an unparalleled height and it’s having a detrimental impact on our society.  Nassau County is no different than the rest of the country and we are seeing ever-increasing abuse in our communities.  It is affecting people of all ages, but is having the greatest impact on our youth.

Editorial: Officially Replaced

What will forever be remembered as the symbol of the replacement official saga in the National Football League is the image of two referees standing in the end zone over a crowd of Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks – and both men in stripes are signaling different calls.

The real loser wasn’t Green Bay – who were given a raw deal following a series of questionable calls and non-calls on Seattle’s final drive – but the replacement officials themselves. The abuse directed toward these men, who are likely just middle-class workers and diehard football fans just like the rest of us, was, pun intended, uncalled for.

Letter: Nassau and Suffolk Need An Ombudsman

Nassau and Suffolk Counties are in deep trouble. Political corruption is rampant. It’s all about money – campaign contributions, tax refunds and settlements that should never be.

You read about it every day – a police lab that has to be closed with 9,000 tests that have to be redone out of state, wrongful convictions brought about by a failure to disclose exculpatory evidence, illegal arrests and the improper taking of confessions. Prosecutors cover up and elected officials look the other way. Taxpayers are forced to pay the bills for these monumental screw-ups that should never have occurred if all elected officials were honest and properly trained. This nation desperately needs legislation that will stop the flow of slush money to political campaigns. We can never hope to have honest government if all of our elected officials are bought and paid for. Doing the right thing has been overrun by doing the politically correct thing. In the end, the taxpayers lose because our elected officials act in favor of those who have given them the most money. This is an inherently corrupt system at all levels of government. If you take money from special interests, you have to give back to them or not be re-elected.

Military Family Tennis Play Day Is Free At Eisenhower Park

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano has announced that the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the world’s largest tennis teaching association, will provide tennis lessons on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 1 – 3 p.m.  The event is free, and open to all veterans, active military and their families.

Held on the tennis courts at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, the event dubbed “Military Family Tennis Play Day,” will provide veterans, active military and their families the opportunity to learn the game of tennis or improve upon already acquired skills.

Editorial: Remembering Our Bravest

Susan Diane Murphree once said, “Firemen never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved.”

With the passing of Westbury Fire Department ex-Chief Richard Dellacona, we lose another selfless volunteer and friend in the community.