Letters to the Rockville Centre Herald Nov. 17, 2011

Thanks for the love and support

To the Editor:

The Rockville Centre Police Department not only protects and serves our village, it takes care of those in need. My family is forever grateful for the love and support we have received during the loss we suffered in July, when E&W/Greystone Deli was severely damaged in a fire. Gratitude means thankfulness, and we count our blessings every day for living in such a wonderful community that has supported us. Because of the community’s unwavering loyalty, we will be able to reopen our doors within the next few months and fill the void that is felt by many on North Long Beach Road.

A special thanks to Police Commissioner Chuck Gennario, Police Benevolent Association President Jim Carty and Officers Tim Seward, Mike Norwood, Chris O’Connor and Scott Lambert. Oct. 17 was a beautiful evening at Kasey’s Rooftop 32, and we would especially like to thank owners Anthony Geraci, Thomas McNichols and Brian Shields and their wonderful staff for their kindness and support in making the evening truly special — one that our entire family and E&W staff will never forget. We want to express our deepest appreciation and thanks, as we are truly blessed not only to reside in this wonderful community but to have the privilege to own a business and serve the devoted patrons of E&W Deli for many more years to come.

Will Waxon

Rockville Centre

Let’s give Ed a pass

To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Ed Oppenheimer (“Alleged search creates sparks,” Nov. 10-16). Now, some may not agree with me, but I’ve known Ed a long time. He was very active while he was a county legislator, a volunteer fireman, now as one of our trustees and even as the photographer for a time for the South Side High School football team.

I guarantee you I probably have left a lot out of Ed’s volunteer work for the village. We are living in a very politically correct world these days. In my opinion, Halloween in this town is a heinous holiday in many respects as it relates to teenagers. I have had my home and sidewalks damaged, and I’ve even had some of these kids ring and run or, worse, ring the bell and, after I didn’t give them the candy of their choice, yell obscenities as they ran away. If I wasn’t law abiding with whatever coping mechanisms I have left, you probably would have seen my picture and the notice of my arrest in the Herald.

So, OK, maybe Ed might have been a little overzealous, but he does have the village’s best interest at heart. I don’t think he needs to apologize for anything. If he did what he has been accused of doing, a personal conversation with him and the parents is enough in my opinion. Let’s give Ed a pass and not make matters worse. He’s done way more good than most people, and he deserves a break on this one. If anyone’s house is on fire or needs help with an issue, Ed would be the first one to show up to help.

Burt Diamond

Rockville Centre

Ed, take the kids out for ice cream

To the Editor:

I guess I’ve known Ed Oppenheimer for as many years as I’ve suffered from arthritis, and while both have provided me with pains in the neck and elsewhere on occasion, I do have instances of welcome relief.

If true, the allegations about Ed’s recent escapade on Halloween, I must say, are a bit bizarre. While Ed means well and has the concerns of the residents of our fair village always in mind, in his sincere eagerness to please, he sometimes launches mind-bending and outrageous solutions to minute problems. Such may have been the case on Halloween.

Allow me to offer him some friendly advice: Kids will be kids! Halloween is their time to play the part of a favorite character, pique their imaginations and shake the shackles of conformity. Trick-or-treating has been an American tradition for much longer than when I was a kid (let’s not go there), and from what I can gather, today’s kids, gathering goodies while in costume, are usually accompanied by adults or older children.

Once darkness settles in, there are rare cases of the small trick-or-treaters knocking at the door. The night hides malicious older teens who might want to egg a house or use shaving cream to do mischief, but the damage done is usually light in comparison to setting fires, stealing lawn ornaments or committing other damage to property or to people.

It would be much better, and help the village more, if Ed would travel with the Police Auxiliary each weekend and uncover the scurrilous miscreants who urinate in the streets and on the walls of downtown Rockville Centre.

We all love Ed, but I think it might be a good idea to apologize to the kids involved and buy them all some Haagen Dazs at one of our village ice cream parlors.

Mickey Clark

Rockville Centre