Five Towns Letters to the Editor

Unexpected recognition is appreciated

To the Editor:

I want to thank the Herald on behalf of myself, Annette Kaufman and Andy Lauber for the unexpected recognition you gave us last week with the special honor of People of the Year. We are very touched and appreciative. 

It is important to note that this recognition also belongs to Deena Intrator, an original founder of the i-Shine program and dedicated volunteer since its inception. Deena’s vision and hard work helped make i-Shine what it is today.

I would also like to correct something: i-Shine does not only service children who have family members suffering from cancer. It is open to children living with any medical illness in the family. Not all our families are living with terminal illness. In fact, our greatest i-Shine moments are watching our i-Shiners “graduate” once everyone at home is healthy and well.

Stacey Zrihen

I-Shine co-founder

Crediting everyone for science successes

To the Editor:

Congratulations to the hardworking team of students who won the Siemens Competition, and Dr. Terence Bissoondial, who advised them.

But, I have to say that Stephanie Gould, a former Board of Education member, seems to have had a senior moment when recounting how the science research program was established. It was the Central Council PTA that for years, had been requesting that a quality, energetic, serious science research program be set up at the high school.

She said in “Hewlett High builds a science dynasty,” (Dec. 19-25) that she “remembers hearing about neighboring Long Island high schools winning …” That is because at the board meetings, Central Council PTA members would hold up the newspaper with pictures of the winners and ask, Why we are not competing?

We were told that we could not compete with schools that had access to places like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. We were told that we could not afford an advisor. PTA answered, “We could not afford not to!”

After years of begging and cajoling, the program was implemented, and what a success it has been. If it takes a village to raise science winners, then kudos must go to the students, teachers, administrators, board members, advisors and PTA!

Roz Manor

Former Central Council PTA co-president

North Woodmere