Thursday, October 1, 2026
They make RVC proud
To the Editor:
Our community should be very proud of South Side High School’s girls’ varsity soccer team — New York state champions! The Lady Cyclones rode to victory in the championship match after scoring in the fourth overtime. The team’s shutout victory is a credit not only to the fine education the players have received so far, but also to their dedication to improving themselves and perfecting their playing skills.
The team’s stellar performance is truly a feather in the cap for Coach Shannon McEntee. The hard work and dedication each player gave throughout the season, both on the field and in keeping up with rigorous class work and tough exams, makes this victory even sweeter.
The Lady Cyclones’ scholar-athletes, like Julie Beyar, Katie Ford, Meghan Hines, Christina Klaum, Alexandra Reis, Victoria Reis and their teammates, performed as well on the field as they do in the classroom. And that’s exactly what we would expect from a team that has held the Nassau County title for 13 years.
This postseason win for South Side was a tremendous performance. Congratulations to all the players, their parents and coaches. Thank you for making our community proud.
Anthony J. Santino
Councilman, Town of Hempstead
Special interest trumps taxpayers
To the Editor:
Again, in “Where’s the beef, Ed?” (Dec. 1-7), another letter distorts the good works of another dedicated village volunteer and trustee in a less than factual correspondence. I take exception to the remarks made about Trustee Ed Oppenheimer.
I would put my trust in Mr. Oppenheimer at any time. I know, from my personal and professional interaction with him, that he would never put personal financial reward ahead of his public responsibilities as a trustee, as implied in the letter. I stand with Mr. Oppenheimer.
I watch the board meetings on TV, and it is clear to me that the mayor does keep Oppenheimer informed. First, there is no copy of Anthony Cancellieri’s then contract proposal and his relationship to South Nassau Communities Hospital, no copy of the new adviser’s resumes to the insurance board and no information on the discussions with SNCH regarding a parking lease deal.
I’ve noticed in the past that village administrations associated with a majority party systematically exclude minority members from decisions, then have party loyalists criticize minority members with past campaign misinformation. I have never agreed to this practice in the past, and I don’t appreciate it now, when the party in charge says publicly, “We want to be the new civilized party of change.” I agree with the letter “Let’s work things out together” (Dec. 1-7).
The mayor’s recent public entanglement with Oppenheimer was about the negotiations between Cancellieri and SCNH. Here’s how I see it, based on public information that is readily available to anyone who looks for it.
Mayor Murray does a deal with SNCH for a parking spot lease led by an SNCH board member, a paid consultant listed as an employee on the Park Strategies website, which lobbies on behalf of SNCH. (According to Open Secrets.com, Park Strategies was paid $570,000 by SNCH from 2007 to 2011, and it lists SNCH as a consultant client.) Cancellieri is the principal and only employee of a shell company called Centre Strategies. Centre Strategies is listed at a non-existent Rockville Centre mailing address with only one employee, Cancellieri, who is working for the village for an additional (unfunded) $60,000 guaranteed fee for a three-month period.
The mayor identified this cost as a small increase, predicated on the resignation of current Village Administrator Frank Quigley. He is still on the village payroll, so there is no savings there. I’m outraged at the nonprofessional way the mayor publicly discussed Mr. Quigley’s salary. That isn’t my idea of “the new civilized party of change.”
The problem that Oppenheimer correctly identified is what hat Cancellieri was wearing when he arranged the parking lease deal between the village and SNCH. On what information did he base his decision? Did he use past parking and current real-estate data? Like:
The village pays St. Agnes an average of $65,500 a year for a 10-year lease for 75 spots. So Rockville Centre, represented by Cancellieri, brings the parties together and negotiates a deal for SNCH to pay the village $45,000 a year for 150 parking spots. Based on the St. Agnes lease, I calculated that $131,000 would have been a good starting point.
I don’t know the price SNCH paid for three residential properties in Oceanside — maybe $1 million, or maybe SNCH board members know the actual price. SNCH is now applying to the Town of Hempstead to change the zoning code to use the residential properties for 79 parking spaces. Maybe that will cost another $100,000 in legal fees.
Based on some calculations, spreading the $1.1 million estimated cost over 10 years for the future 79 parking spaces at SNCH, the calculated fair cost for leasing 150 Rockville Centre parking spaces should have been $208,860 a year.
Fran Murray and SNCH think $45,000 is the right price. Based on available information, I believe that the right price is between $45,000 and $208,860. It looks like somebody made the right investment over the years. At a time when the village needs more revenue from the leasing of village-owned assets, special interests should not benefit at our expense.
Joseph Thrapp
Rockville Centre
How about a break for the rest of us?
To the Editor:
While I’m all for the village making efforts to collect the money it is due, I’m curious about the current parking ticket “amnesty” program.
Do those of us who diligently pay our parking tickets in a timely manner get anything back for following the law? A partial refund? A credit toward future infractions? Ten percent off on our next ticket? Just wondering.
Nancy Gough
Rockville Centre
May blessings come your way
To the Editor:
My wife, Kathy Burns, had her one-year transplant anniversary on Nov. 21. Thank you all for your support. May you all have a wonderful holiday season. I know I have much to be thankful for: the wonderful miracle person that I’m married to, Kathy, and all of you, for always being there for me and my family. Thank you all so very much for what you’ve done. May many blessings come your way, as they have come my way.
Brian Burns
South Hempstead
A tradition of giving
To the Editor:
During this special time in our calendar year, with an emphasis on caring for those in need, once again the Jo Maur Hair Salon, at 326 Sunrise Highway, has prepared a generous turkey dinner with all the trimmings for a family in our community. Jo-Maur’s clients contributed to this gift by bringing in their own pies, cakes, canned goods, and extras. To make things even better, the gift will be repeated at Christmas.
Special thanks go to Joe and Maureen Becora, the salon’s proprietors. With
the late Colleen O’Reilly, one of their loyal customers, and a member of
the St. Agnes Cathedral Parish Council, they started this project 15 years ago.
This tradition of giving is continued in Colleen’s memory in conjunction with the St. Agnes Cathedral Parish Outreach Program.
Elissa and Joe Metz
Rockville Centre
