A Bird’s Eye View: January 15, 2010

Bills Determine How Birds Eat

We humans use our hands and a variety of utensils to eat. By comparison birds have one tool: their bills. The sizes and shapes of Gulf Coast birds’ bills determine how they eat the plentiful supply of fish available to them. Last winter on Beer Can Island, Longboat Key’s northernmost tip, where my wife and I are spending our fifth winter, I watched the dining habits of an osprey, a great blue heron and a brown pelican. The osprey’s cruelly hooked bill was made to rip and tear, the great blue heron’s long bill was made to stab and to hold wriggling fish while the brown pelican’s huge ungainly bill was made to plunge into the water and trap fish.

Over 60…And Getting Younger: January 15, 2010

Prix Fixe

Four senior citizens, on a Friday night, trying to decide on a place to eat. Two couples, in a car, not knowing whether to go east or west to the dining place of choice.

View number one – “Let’s go to a diner, you can get tons of food for a reasonable price.”

View number two – “I worked all week like a dog. Let’s find a dark place with ambience and a good bar.”

View number three – “Let’s find a restaurant with a prix fixe menu. I might even have a coupon.”

View number four – “Let’s go somewhere, I’m starving.”

Needless to say, the price-fixed place was the winner.

Senator Kemp Hannon Announces New Limited Time Tax Savings for 2010

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to grab up to 80 percent of the penalty and interest on your New York State Tax debts this new year. Senator Kemp Hannon (6th Senate District) is alerting taxpayers of a simple way to receive a significant tax savings.

Over 60…And Getting Younger: January 8, 2010

Albums

“Brrr … It’s freezing outside!”

“We are definitely not going out in that weather.” Lorraine says, “Let’s spend the day putting all those loose pictures into an album. I say, “We only have 24 albums of photos. We definitely need at least three more.”

Letter: How Can Town Officials Give Themselves Raises In This Economy?

It must be really nice to give yourself a raise. (Town of Oyster Bay Board Votes to Increase Salaries, Dec. 25 issue).

Even though their last raise was in 2006, our Town of Oyster Bay officials certainly made up for it by giving themselves an average 10 percent in raise. In private industry, the average annual salary increase is between 2-4 percent. So the Town of Oyster Bay really didn’t forego anything because they made up for it this year.

Over 60…And Getting Younger: January 1, 2010

As we arise to face the day, we have to be aware that the smaller, everyday things rule our life. “Boy, that orange juice tastes good!” It wakes up your mouth, and not long after, your whole being. Coffee and half a bagel are the next order of the day. Take your five pills and you are ready to go. I get my “good morning kiss” from Lorraine and I’m off.

Letter: A Message From MADD

 

“Tis the Season” has an entirely different meaning for victims/survivors of drunk-driving crashes.

Traditionally a time of celebration, the holidays may be exceptionally hard for families who have endured the devastating effect of a drunk-driving crash. Their coping skills may be tested and the need for additional support is crucial.

During times of crisis such as a drunk-driving crash, individuals often do not know where to turn for additional support and guidance. Mothers Against Drunk Driving Long Island (MADD LI) has many services available.

If you or someone you know is a victim of a drunk-driving crash, please contact MADD LI so that we can of assistance.

The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.

MADD LI offers a variety of services at no charge to victims of drunk-driving crashes, including literature, guidance through the legal system, peer support, court accompaniment, victim support groups, assistance with the crime victim’s compensation process and referrals to support services.

Please contact MADD LI at (631) 547-6233 or for more information visit our website at www.LongIslandMADD.org.

We wish you a safe holiday season.

Mary Scala
Victim Advocate, MADD LI

Over 60…And Getting Younger: December 25, 2009

What to Serve?

The guys are coming over tonight to watch the Giants-Redskins game. What do you place in front of a group of ravenous guys who are going to watch a football game in your den?

They are usually starved when they arrive and will eat the arms off the couches if they are not fed. Somehow images of lions and gladiators in the Roman Coliseum keep popping into my mind. Watching athletic events is somehow very conducive to stirring the appetites of sports fans. Even the outrageous prices of food and beer at baseball games does not prevent fans from consuming and imbibing.

Over 60…And Getting Younger: December 18, 2009

I Remember… (Part II)

Let me continue my outstanding memories of a lifetime. It probably is more fun for me than it is for my readers. However, I ended my last column with the Bay of Tonkin in 1964. Onward…

Summer 1965 we bought a split level cathedral ceiling home in Westbury. It had a Westbury Post Office but Hicksville Schools. In that house Lorraine gave birth to three children, Cara, July 1964 – twins, November 1966. Adam survived (Thank God) but his twin sister did not – and Gregg, January 1970.

Letter: Laws Not Tough Enough

Assemblyman Charles Lavine brags that New York State’s new DWI law is now “the toughest in the country”—-but I say it’s still not tough enough. He also says that it “will make drivers who have been drinking think twice before getting behind the wheel with a child passenger, and harshly punish those who do”.