Letter: Congresswoman McCarthy Not Interested in Residents’ Views On Healthcare

As President Obama’s Healthcare Legacy Tour continues on, we are told over and over that healthcare is front and center as an issue for most Americans. It’s a “kitchen table issue,” according to White House Press Secretary and chief propagandist Robert Gibbs, unelected policy maker David Axelrod, and White House arm-twister-in-chief Rahm Immanuel.

Letter: Do Not Grant Amnesty

(The following letter is written in response to the column “From Long Island Wins,” which ran in the Feb. 17 issue of the Mineola American on page 15.)

Most Americans share good feelings about immigrants and are proud of their own immigrant ancestry. However, most Americans also have concerns about mass immigration, which has doubled U.S. population growth and radically changed the future we will bequeath to future generations.

Around the Town with Lou - March 12, 2010

Drummers of the world unite! Bill Boerner of Mineola was inducted into the “Drummers Hall of Fame.” He is a lector and sings in the choirs of both Corpus Christi and St. Aidan’s churches. Bill is in his 80s and has been performing in different capacities for 74 years. He has drummed with a number of different American Legion Posts. Bill has been the percussion instructor for eight junior corps and three senior corps, including the New York Skyliners where he served two terms as the Corps director. He is a member of the All American Judges Association in drumming and was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 1996. Bill is interested in spreading the knowledge of America’s great musical heritage. If you are interested, call Bill. He lives on Columbus Parkway.

From the Desk of Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt

Spread the Word to End the Word

The Special Olympics, Best Buddies International and other organizations are encouraging people to spread the word to stop using the “R-word.” According to the Special Olympics and Best Buddies International, they are working to “raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word.” This campaign was started by members of colleges and high schools in order to rally their schools and communities to pledge to stop using the R-word.

Letter: Keep Minds Open About Closing Schools

Many people are upset about the concept of closing some of our elementary schools. However, I believe that we need to look at what is best for the entire district. Few, if any, districts on Long Island run two elementary schools as small as Meadow Drive and Hampton Street. The consolidation of our schools will save programs for the entire district and could actually make it possible to improve some of them.

From the Desk of Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt - February 26, 2010

Stay Warm

“On Feb. 2, Punxsutawney Phil emerged before a crowd of people in Pennsylvania seeing his shadow, marking six more weeks of winter. Many times during the winter months, your bills increase as a result of trying to heat your homes.

Around the Town with Lou - February 26, 2010

Teddy Roosevelt greeted everybody who came to the Superbowl Breakfast of the County Seat Kiwanis Club. James Foot does a good job portraying our 26th president. Among those we met at the breakfast were Paul and Peggy May, Ed Schutz, Lois Hanson, Harry Peters, Diandrn Murga, Helene and Joel Harris, Town Clerk Leslie Gross, Luisa Filipe, the Kiwanis President, Dr. Ann and Rich Forte, Amelia Puro, Ed and Geraldine Solosky, Sal Cataldo, Joe DiGiorgio, Pete Owens, Ed Hajduk, Tom and Madeline Phelan, Rich and Joanne Ueland, Tom and Lillian Rumore, Dominick and Carolina De Oliveira, Antonio and Gloria Martins, Antonio Martins, Dr. Frank Johnson, Lou and Pat Santosus, Manny Grilo and his mother Maria, Joyce Gorycki, Gabe Parajos, Don Hammond, John and Jackie Carway, Joe and Kimberly Corcoran Galante, Dolores Mangold, Maddy Maffetore, Walter and Joan Hobbs, Charles Berman, the Receiver of Taxes, Margaret Fleming, Mayor Lud and Ursula Odierna, Mildred Clinton and Ed Curran. Money raised sends kids to summer camp.

From the Desk of Senator Craig Johnson - February 19, 2010

Legislation to Qualify Volunteer Firefighters, Ambulance Workers for Health Coverage Passes Senate

The New York State Senate last week passed important legislation that would allow municipalities to offer health services and insurance to volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, Senator Craig M. Johnson, (D-Nassau), announced. 

Letter: Let’s Get Our Pitchforks

Recently, I was in a conversation with a friend I hadn’t seen in about a year and the subject drifted from the state of our economy to overall taxes and then to school taxes. When he heard just how much it costs per year for a student here in Mineola, he had but one comment, “It’s a wonder that you don’t all stand at the school board with pitchforks and demand a stop to those taxes.”

Around the Town with Lou - February 12, 2010

Slander and libel were my topics as I spoke to the Leisure Club having been invited by Gerri Solosky, the program chairperson. Her husband Ed is the president. There were 117 people at the meeting. Among those I had a chance to talk to were Bill and Ann Doyle, Charles and Marjorie Bedell, Mary Creegan, Joe McCarthy, Hilda Nagler, Helen Melvin, Josephine Musico, Margaret Rooney, Mary O’Boyle, Mary Clarkin, Patricia Haddock, Mary Ann Plaia, Jeanne Scisci, Electra Gaglia, Greta Benkert, Jean Gallo, Simon and Marilyn Lemli, Anges Delaportas, Arline Cavanaugh, Lillian Barnola, Trude and Harold Pfleghardt, Leslie Kerzner, Sonia Rechcigl, Jean Cerruti, Agostina Giambalvo, Ann Hull, Enes Morello, Dorothy Rehman, Helen Minchella, Dorothy Cmielowski, Helen McCarthy, and Eileen Ferguson. The threat of slander was the reason that Mayor Martins changed the speaking format at the televised village board meetings. There was a personal attack against an unelected person that could have led to legal action. Now the mayor requires written subject matter from people wanting to address the board.