Letters to the Rockville Centre Herald March 31, 2011

Not the time to float a bond

To the Editor:

I am writing regarding the Rockville Centre Fire Department’s plans to renovate two firehouses, “RVCFD will push for $21 million bond” (March 3-9).

The volunteer fire departments on Long Island have a long and noble history of community service. However, the demographics and employment culture of our local communities have changed. We are no longer a community where everyone works locally and is able to respond to local emergencies at a moment’s notice.

When our federal, state and local governments are struggling with debt and laying off workers, it is hardly a time to float a bond issue to restore firehouses.

Instead we should consider rationing services and equipment among the surrounding communities, saving money for all. We would save on expensive equipment, ever-increasing training requirements and, of course, building and maintaining multiple firehouses. I realize this is a politically unpalatable solution, but we need to look to the future and not dwell on the past.

Edward Wilmot

Rockville Centre

RVC Tea Party is not political

To the Editor:

I was disappointed to read the letter “Keep politics out of the parade” (March 24-30) regarding members of the Rockville Centre Tea Party participating in this year’s St. Patrick’s Parade. The writer’s comment that we marched in the parade to promote our political point of view is inaccurate.

I can’t speak for every Tea Party group in the nation, but I would like to set the record straight about ours. The Rockville Centre Tea Party was organized over two years ago as a “patriotic, nonpartisan, civic organization.” Our members are an extremely patriotic group of people who many times have lined the streets holding flags honoring fallen heroes as their funeral processions drove by. We have attended street renaming ceremonies with flags in hand, tearfully honoring soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for us all.

We protested the installation of a garbage incinerator in the Town of Freeport that would have had a negative, ripple effect on the quality of life for residents here in our own village. We protested the construction of a 15-story mosque across the street from the World Trade Center site. All of those activities were civic in nature, and done out of love and deep respect for our country.

Some may consider those activities political, but we see them as civic. Of course, our members are also mad as hell about high taxes, we reject politicians who ignore us, and we don’t want government-run health care. We are an organized group of residents who simply want to improve the quality of life for all of us.

If you’d really like to address politics in the parade, perhaps we should ask Sen. Charles Schumer why he turns it into a political circus. His limo drops him off a few hundred feet away from the reviewing stand, making it appear to the onlookers and press that he just hiked the whole parade. When he reaches the reviewing stand he stops only to shake hands with the officials, smiles and poses for the press. Then his car whisks him away, not to be heard from again until our next parade. That’s what I would call

“political.”

Nevertheless, our contingent of about 50 of your friends and neighbors took the time to honor and march respectfully in a parade that we hold dear. The organizers of the parade selflessly raise money for wonderful charities that we also support.

While I can understand concern for the integrity of the parade, and respect the good intentions of the letter, I felt it was necessary to clear up any misconceptions about our organization.

Bryan Korman

Co-organizer

Rockville Centre Tea Party

Bravo to Leboff!

To the Editor:

If I lived in Rockville Centre, I would vote for Michael Leboff. I have family and friends who live there, which is how I came to read the article in the Rockville Centre Herald. I admire Michael’s initiative and courage to run for mayor. His ideas appear to be on target with what is needed to reshape Rockville Centre into a community focused on what is best for its residents while eliminating the politics that undermine it. I hope he can develop the means and logistics to turn his ideas into action.

Good luck, Michael Leboff!

Inara Angelis

Freeport

Thanks to Karp Automotive

The following is an open letter to Karp Automotive:

Thank you so much for providing two free beautiful convertibles for our American Legion veterans to ride in the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade on March 19. I simply cannot tell you how grateful we are.

Some of our veterans had served in World War II, and it is now difficult for them to make the long walk in the parade. Your shiny new Volvo and Saab convertibles allowed the public to see them, and for them to see the public. A regular car’s roof prevents that.

It was wonderful to see our older veterans beaming. Because of you, they were able to participate in the parade. They were also beaming because your generous act showed them that people still do appreciate their military service and sacrifice for our country.

After the parade, I called Karp to express my gratitude. As hard as I tried, you would not let me say thank you. You kept saying that it was you and everyone else who should be thanking our veterans – and not the other way around. This is not the first time that you have been generous to our veterans. You have been so many times before. Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is a pleasure meeting all the kind and generous people at Karp.

Joseph M. Scarola

Acting Commander,

American Legion Post 303

Reconsider Sandel cuts

To the Editor:

Rockville Centre has been a haven for senior citizens for years, and they have repaid the compliment by enhancing the village. It benefits from the many dollars we spend for medical and dental care and in the restaurants, beauty parlors and shops. Just look around — there we are, all over, buying the services the village merchants provide.

We also provide services that would otherwise be expenses to the village. We donate flowers that enhance Village Hall and garden spots throughout the village. We volunteer at the hospitals and offer other services for which we ask no remuneration.

The Sandel Senior Center is the gathering place for many older village residents, most of whom have been taxpaying residents for years. We take advantage of the many mental and physical resources available to us. There is a fully licensed social worker when we need a trained ear to help us over a rough spot. There are exercise classes every day that are specifically geared to older people and that attract many who would otherwise be sedentary, at great risk to their well being. We prepare entertainment for each other, and socialization and recreation opportunities that would otherwise not exist.

These services are not free; there is a membership fee. They are available to residents of the community who are, coincidentally, taxpaying citizens, who also pay school taxes (though our children are long past school age).

We know that these are tough financial times, and the village is considering ways to help itself, but we urge it to reconsider the draconian cuts to senior services and the Sandel Center in the proposed budget. These cuts could prove self-defeating if seniors who support village businesses and are no strain on village services choose to leave.

Rockville Centre depends on support from us older citizens and we depend on support from the village. It is mutually beneficial.

Eleanor (Ellie) Lustig

Rockville Centre

Senior Center is vital for RVC

To the Editor:

I am writing as the president of the Sandel Senior Club and as a Rockville Centre resident.

I want to let residents know that:

The Senior Center budget is being slashed, which will destroy us. More than half of our program budget and more than half of our part-time staff will be gone. These people are dedicated professionals.

It would cost residents $7.50 per household for the year to put this money back into our budget.

I know that residents care about the seniors in the village. Please let the mayor and Board of Trustees know how important the Senior Center is to us, and that the seniors are worth $7.50.

You could write a letter to the mayor and board, or sign the petition the seniors are circulating. Please let them know how important the Senior Center is for this village.

Harold E. Buck Jr.

Rockville Centre