Great Honor

To The Editor:

It was with great pride that I read Jason Molinet's article entitled "Garden City teams are tough, and smart, too" in the September 23, 2004 edition of Newsday. Apparently, our athletic program was awarded the highest honor an athletic program can achieve outside of a state championship when the state Public High School Athletic Association recognized Garden City with its School of Distinction Award for its academic performance during the 2003-04 school year. The article noted that the criteria for the honor is about much "more than trotting out a few smart student-athletes" and confirmed that to earn the award, all of the school's varsity teams must be named a state scholar-athlete team. Incredibly enough, the cumulative academic average of a starting lineup must be 90% or better! In our very own Village, thirty varsity boys and girls teams all met the challenge.

Garden City athletic director Nancy Kalafus was quoted as commenting "It says that our program concentrates on a lot more than athletics. We stress academics, so we are proud of this award." The pride is most warranted as the award was characterized by state assistant director Lloyd Mott "one of our most prestigious awards." Garden City was one of only three schools statewide to earn the honor along with Williamsville North and Washingtonville.

This award is not just a source of pride and validation for our Village schools, educators, athletic programs, coaches, administrators and student athletes. The School of Distinction Award is also an inspiration for the large numbers of children that are out playing a variety of sports on the fields each week, some before they start kindergarten; for their parents that make sure all homework is completed before or after practice and drive to and from practice and games, often serving meals or snacks in their SUVs and for the great number of incredibly dedicated parent volunteers that juggle family and career obligations to coach the young student athletes.

As a resident, taxpayer and a member of a two-coach family where organized sports for three young children are a seven day per week routine, I was incredibly proud to learn about the great achievement of Garden City's student athletes. I have often read and heard opinions that are highly critical of our schools academic and/or sports programs. This great honor certainly helps to keep things in perspective. Simply stated, the School of Distinction Award speaks for itself.

Craig Biscone

School Newspaper Project

To The Editor:

Our 4th grade class is currently studying the regions of the United States. We are learning about each state and their landforms, environment and special places of interest. We are asking for your help. We would like people to send us postcards that show us what your state is like. This would help us get a first hand look at your state. If you would like to write a note on back it would be appreciated. We want to take this opportunity in advance to thank you for helping us make learning a fun and rewarding experience. We appreciate your help.

Hannah Romenesko

C/o Peshtigo Elementary

341 N. Emery Ave.

Peshtigo, WI 54157 Presidential Debate

To The Editor:

During the first presidential debate, John Kerry was strong, clear and convincing and he won. Kerry explained how the war in Iraq was an enormus diversion from the hunt of Osama bin Laden. At that Bush responded with anger; I don't want a president that gets angry at someone just because he disagrees.

In addition, the debate showed how Bush is out of touch with reality when he considered that things in Iraq are going just fine. Thomas Friedman, on the editorial of the New York Times (Sunday, Oct 3),explained it with great passion and details.

Chiara Sugrue