Letters to the Editor: East Rockaway and Lynbrook

More about Cook’s ship

To the Editor:
The article about John J. Cook, “Senate OK’s renaming of East Rockaway post office” May 24-30), didn’t include some important information.
If memory serves, your piece on the occasion of his retirement in 2005 identified him as surviving the sinking of the 1,200 manned USS Indianapolis by a Japanese submarine two weeks before the end of the war. The ship had returned to the States for repair after being damaged by kamikaze aircraft in April 1945. Upon completion of repairs, it picked up a secret cargo and delivered it to Tinian Island. The cargo turned out to be components of the atomic bomb. The Indianapolis was sunk on July 30, 1945, and Cook and the 300 survivors out of the 800 who initially went into the water were rescued after four harrowing days in the shark infested waters.

A sign of the times

To the Editor:
I recently received an email from Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray’s office entitled “Murray and Hudes Pass ‘Sign of the Times’ Legislation — Utility Pole Ads Outlawed.” It indicates that any kind of advertising is now prohibited from all utility poles, fences and trees.
I emailed Murray’s Helpline and asked if this ban includes resident garage/lawn sale signs, which are occasional and seasonal. I received a phone call confirming that all sorts of advertising, including these sales, are now prohibited.
I am certainly not advocating for the rampant blight mentioned in Murray’s email as a reason for the legislation, but such a comprehensive ban penalizes (there’s a fine of $250) non-commercial residents unfairly. Wouldn’t it make more sense to stipulate that garage sale signs must state the location and duration (no more than three days) of the sale, and that if the signs are not removed at the end date, then the offender receives the fine?
If residents must abide this “one ban fits all,” then it should also apply to political signs, which create a much more frequent and longer blight on our communities than do the occasional garage sale signs.
John Rowe
Oceanside