Letters to the Rockville Centre Herald June 21, 2012

SSHS molds today’s learners into tomorrow’s leaders

To the Editor:

The Rockville Centre school district should be congratulated for another stellar achievement. U.S. News & World Report ranked South Side High School the 22nd best high school in the county. This amazing success is a boon for our entire community.

Merely commending the educational professionals on this accomplishment falls far short of what’s needed. Each and every student — as well as their families — played a vital role in earning this above-average rating. The countless hours teachers planned their lessons, parents worked with their children on assignments and students prepared for exams made this scenario possible.

I’m proud to have worked with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos to secure almost $200,000 in state school aid — a dramatic increase from what was initially proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. This money is in addition to a $75,000 grant secured by the Legislature for the Rockville Centre school district. These sorely needed funds help reduce the tax burden for every local taxpayer, from seniors to working families.

Schools Superintendent Dr. William Johnson and South Side Principal Dr. Carol Burris have cultivated an educational atmosphere of consistent stellar academic performance, molding today’s learners into tomorrow’s leaders — and making South Side stands out at the top of the hundreds of thousands of schools in the U.S.

Brian F. Curran

State assemblyman, 14th District

Time to revisit Memorial Day commemoration?

To the Editor:

I’m a proud Vietnam veteran who has lived in Rockville Centre for more than 60 years. I was deeply saddened as I watched the Memorial Day parade that was sponsored by the American Legion a couple of weeks ago. Maybe it’s time for a change. I have three suggestions:

Why can’t we move the parade from the customary Monday to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, or some other day? Everyone would be home from the three-day getaway. The schools in town could have their bands march, along with children from all of the various leagues and activities in Rockville Centre. People would then come out and honor the living veterans and those who gave their lives for us.

In the late 1950s and the early ’60s, the Little Leaguers sold tickets to a ball game for $1 — the game was between World War II amputees and the managers and coaches of the league’s teams. There were great crowds, and proceeds went to the Veterans’ Association. Why not have a team of managers or a combined team from the Fire Department and the Police Department play a game against members of the Wounded Warriors Project? Have a 50-50 raffle at the game, and with donations collected from merchants in the village, there could be a nice celebration afterward, giving all of us a chance to thank those heroes.

And how about the next time you’re out to eat and see someone in uniform, thank them for the job they’re doing and maybe pick up their check. Imagine how good you’ll feel, especially the next day.

I’m sure that over the years we have all seen veterans wearing T-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets with the slogan “All gave some, some gave all.” These words are even more true today.

Larry Schnabel

Rockville Centre

Let’s stop corporate political spending

To the Editor:

  Borrowing the lyrics from the musical “South Pacific” (by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein), I guess I’m just a “cockeyed optimist,” because as a concerned citizen I believe in free speech, and that our Constitution is the law of the land!

The Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling ended limits on corporate political spending. This makes possible a corporate takeover of democracy. And that’s exactly what’s happening! The corporate world is spending billions of dollars to seize control (also known as a hostile takeover) to get its people elected. 

Corporate money made it possible for Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin to win. The Koch brothers, conservative billionaires, plus others of the same ilk funded his campaign. They favor corporations over the needs of public employees and working families.  

  We must not become do-nothing Americans and see these acts happen and say, well, what can I do about it? We can all do something about it.  

  First, we can all participate in a grass roots effort to see that voting instructions are put on the ballots in key states. We can also work to have city and state resolutions call on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment regarding political spending.

  Contact your representative and let him/her know how you feel — that you want to protect democracy and that you believe in the public interest over the corporate world working for its own interests.  

Olive Ellner

Rockville Centre