Letters to the Rockville Centre Herald June 7, 2012

Centre Stage brings out best in South Side

To the Editor:

I had the privilege of working backstage for both the rehearsals and the May 24 performance of the South Side High School Centre Stage Production of “The Wizard of South Side.”

I would like to say that I was so impressed by the students who took part in this amazing production — from set design to choreography to weekly practice and dress rehearsals. I can’t forget to mention the mothers, who gave their time to make the beautiful costumes. 
I saw an unbelievable outpouring of love, support and dedication by all the kids involved.

The play was beautifully and creatively written and directed by Bryan Nesdill, Rick Cisario and the always-energetic Ellen White. There was a cast of around 80 students, including JV lacrosse players, Red and Blue girls and drama students. They had fun, they laughed and they were proud of each other. I was so impressed at how they got along so well and took care of each other. They made friendships that will leave lasting impressions on one another.

The auditorium was jam-packed on the night of the performance, a tribute to all the students involved in Centre Stage. The finale was amazing, with people cheering, crying and giving a standing ovation. Truly well deserved!

This program at the high school is a wonderful and loving way teenagers and young adults can bond in a way you don’t see anywhere else. South Side should be extra proud of all the students involved. I will never forget this experience. I know that I’ll be there again next year, to do whatever I have to. If you weren’t lucky enough to be there, watch it on the school channel. You’ll be glad you did.

Denise Coughlin

Rockville Centre

Rockville Centre: the blackout city

To the Editor:

Since Rockville Centre announced it was upgrading its power plant and increasing its electric rates, this village has been plagued with blackouts in the last few weeks. The latest series occurred on May 29 — I had three blackouts in one day. One individual was stuck in the elevator of the apartment building I live in. After walking up four flights of stairs, I called 911 for help and was immediately transferred to the local Fire and Rescue unit.

However, the police were slow to respond to the traffic light situation. One person said she had to wait 15 to 20 minutes before the cops arrived to direct traffic at an intersection where the traffic lights were out.

As a village resident, do I have to live in fear every time the temperature reaches 80 degrees? Living in Rockville Centre for more than 40 years, I was always proud of the fact that this village had its own power station and while other towns had blackouts, we didn’t. Too bad this is no longer true. Raise the electric rates? After this, that raise should be rescinded until next year when, hopefully, the problem is permanently resolved.

Sandra Schaub

Rockville Centre

A note of thanks

To the Editor:

What a day … sunny weather and 75. After a breakfast of bagels, coffee, cake, cereal, fruit and juice, the letter carriers of Rockville Centre were ready for the 20th annual Food Drive. This year the supervisor scheduled two postal trucks to make sweeps of the community to help pick up food.

Residents were once again outstanding. Food was left either by their mailboxes, the collection boxes near their homes or by the King Kullen supermarket. It was a great day for the food drive and for people in need. We surpassed last year’s total by more than 500 pounds. This was one of the best in the 20-year history of the food drive.

It was a hard day for the carriers. Carrier routes are much longer due to automation, but that didn’t stop them from doing their job or cost the post office any extra time. Commitment and the determination to help people in need was a big factor in allowing carriers to do their best job.

Boy Scout Troop 517 was also vital to the success of the day. The boys help with the collection of food at King Kullen and back at the post office. They helped the carriers break down the food in preparation for shipment to local food banks.

This was a joint effort by many. Thank you, everybody, for a job well done.

Richard Catapano Sr.

NALC Food Drive coordinator

Landscapers should accommodate homeowners

To the Editor:

Now that I’m semiretired and home more these days for better or worse, I’ve noticed something that is absolutely annoying and pretty much ruins most of one day each week for me: the landscapers who work in my neighborhood.

Here’s the situation. If a gardener has six or more houses, give or take, around and bordering my home, the noise begins at 8 a.m. I’m in dreamland, sleeping, and all of a sudden I’m awakened to a loud lawnmower. I guess I can’t prevent that. But with all those houses, it starts at 8 and sometimes doesn’t end until 5 p.m. So here I am, listening to this noise all day long. I have to think that something can be done about this.

I hope the village administration reads these letters because an ordinance should be developed that a landscaper cannot be in a certain area of a neighborhood for more than maybe two hours per day. They need to schedule their routes to accommodate the homeowners. That’s my take on this.

Now, as I’ve said before, we have a lot of issues these days, and this one may seem to be on the lower end of the spectrum. However, it falls under my designation of problems created by people not being accountable, showing a lack of respect, the society as whole declining, etc. This is just one more example of how we seem to have to put up with things when we really shouldn’t have to. But what else is new? Maybe it’s me. Maybe I have too much free time on my hands. But I figure after 40 years of working, I’ve

earned it.

Burton Diamond

Rockville Centre

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony rocks

To the Editor:

On May 20, I attended the performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony at St. Agnes Cathedral by the South Shore Symphony Orchestra. The opening of Beethoven’s Fifth is the most well-known musical phrase of all time, and the symphony is one of Beethoven’s most memorable, moving and powerful works. During World War II, its opening suggestion of Morse code became a powerful symbol, here in America, of “V for Victory.”

Conductor Scott Jackson Wiley gave a memorable, moving and powerful presentation that will not soon be forgotten. Over the years, the South Shore Symphony Orchestra has matured into a masterful group of harmonious musical instruments that bring pleasure to one’s ears. We here in Rockville Centre are proud to call them our own. I, for one, look forward to next year’s schedule at Molloy College, which is an acoustical treat for those who attend.

Elliott C. Winograd

Rockville Centre