Letters to the Rockville Centre Herald Dec. 9, 2010

Help those in need

To the Editor:

The 2010 Adopt-a-Family program is under way, now in its 13th year. We are still looking for volunteers to adopt families, or, if shopping isn’t your thing, you can make a monetary contribution that will be used to purchase gifts for these families.

The goal of the program remains the same: to help families in our community that, for various reasons, are facing difficult times.

If you would like to participate or have any questions, please contact Maureen Remy, at (516) 764-6938, or me, at 678-0638.  

Mary Testa

Rockville Centre

Expensive local soup

To the Editor:

I bought soup yesterday that cost me almost $40. Well, two soups, thank goodness. I drove to Paradiso to pick up the soup for my daughter and was halfway down North Village Avenue when I realized it was 1 p.m. and there was no way I would find parking in that lot.

Like most village residents, I don’t mind driving in circles 20 or 30 times in search of a parking spot, but I didn’t have time for that. So after several futile loops, I drove next door to the municipal lot. The signs clearly state that you must be an employee or resident to park there, so I knew I was breaking the law when I parked. I’m not an employee but I am a resident (without a sticker). So am I really breaking the law?

Anyway, I parked, ran in and was out within four minutes. But that was enough time for me to get a $30 ticket. These guys aren’t asleep on the job. No sirree. They’re on their game. The officer had even moved on to the next vehicle that was left running, with its driver’s-side window down, in front of the stores, in what I guess was an attempt to prove to traffic enforcement officials just how quick he or she was going to be. But to no avail: The ticket was being printed.

I really want to shop locally and support our merchants — I just don’t know if I can afford to.

Nancy M. Gough

Rockville Centre

No ordinary Joe

To the Editor:

Congratulations to all the young men of South Side High School’s boys’ varsity soccer team for winning the Nassau County Class A title — again. For the seniors to wrap up their high school soccer careers with back-to-back championships is the crowning achievement of their many years of commitment to the sport.

Nearly all the graduating Cyclones can trace their soccer roots back to the Strike travel team of the Rockville Centre Soccer League. They were fortunate to have Joe Codispoti as a coach. For countless hours over seven years, Joe tilled a fertile pitch for player development. He always treated each and every Strike player equitably. And never — regardless of the circumstances and no matter how awful the referee — did Joe lose his composure.

He inimitably instilled in his players not only the knowledge of how to play the game, but how it should be played as well. Clearly, Joe nurtured champions.

Thank you, Joe, and congratulations to you, too.

Thomas G. Kane

Rockville Centre