Letters To The Editor

Incredible Effort

To the Editor:

We are writing to highlight the efforts of a 6-year-old cyclist, Matthew Quigley, of Garden City who rode his bicycle 13 miles in the MS Bike Tour in New YoOrk City on October 16, 2005. Matthew's grandmother died of MS and his uncle, Mark Silverman, was recently diagnosed with the disease.

Here's his mother, Susan's, account of Matthew's incredible efforts:

"This is the first year that our whole family rode. It has really family meaning to us - Mark [Quigley, Susan's husband] and I MET ON THE 1991 BIKE TOUR!

"Matthew was riding for his Uncle Mark, who was just recently diagnosed with MS (plus his Grandmother had it). Matthew rode 12 miles, barely taking a break because we were so slow and he didn't want the bus to pick him up. There's a bus that picks up the last riders who are preventing the traffic from starting again. When they made us get on the bus at the 12 mile mark, Matthew and I rested and had a snack while riding on the bus. As soon as the bus let us off at the rest stop, Matthew insisted on leaving right away so we can try to get to the finish line before the bus caught up to us again. This time we almost made it - he got 13 miles, and another mile he would have been off the highway and could have finished on his own!

"I honestly think that what made Matthew so energetic (besides just being Matthew!) is that EVERY SINGLE PERSON made an encouraging comment to Matt as they passed us! Some people heard me calling his name as he struggled up the hills, and they would start calling out "Come on Matt - you can do it!" Or they would whistle or toot their horns or yell out "great job buddy!" Any other child that age was being pulled or riding on the same bike with their parent. Matthew is on countless camera phones because people couldn't believe how much heart he had. So many people told us that Matthew was an inspiration to him - especially as he rode past adults who were walking up the hills. Even the cops and EMTs couldn't resist riding slow to stay with us a little. I felt like I was driving with the President's son - discreetly riding 10 feet behind while he spoke with his adoring fans. The only people I felt sorry for were the two women WE passed while they were riding! Anyone else we passed was standing still!

"When I asked Matt if he was tired, he said his legs hurt, but he had to get to the finish line to "meet his adoring fans." It might have been pompous if it wasn't so true. As we got to the greeting area, at least 2 dozen people saw him and came over to congratulate him on finishing. Matthew soaked up every minute of it! In fact, the MS Society has a group of volunteers who are cheering and waving pom poms as you cross the finish line. They were so enthusiastic when Matt came across that he went through the line, did a u-turn and went through again! 25 miles for a 6-year-old -- I think he deserved every minute of it!

"This was particular impressive considering how the morning started. I woke him up at 5:30 am and told him we had to get ready. He bolted upright in bed - looked out the window and said, "It's nighttime - I'm not going anywhere - I'll do it next time!" When I told him the MS Bike tour always started this early in the morning, he said I guess I'm never doing it!"

We commend the spirit and fortitude of Matthew Quigley, and encourage support of the MS Walk.

If anyone is inspired by Matthew's efforts, and wants to donate to the MS Bike Tour, donations in Matthew's name can be made on line at www.msnyc.org. Look for the MS Bike Tour section, and "sponsor a participant." Then enter Matthew Quigley and make a donation.

Eric and Margaret D. Kranz

Good Kids

To the Editor:

Recently, you published a letter from someone proposing a curfew be imposed on teenagers in Garden City because of some recent incidents. I respectfully disagree. As a Garden City resident for about 43 of my 49 years, it is my experience that our young people are generally good kids, and it would be unfair to impose group punishment. Furthermore, it is wrong to disparage them as a generation. Our teenagers should know that their co-residents are proud of them, for even in their limited number of years, so many of them have made Garden City a better place to live.

I have two teenagers of my own who both attend Garden City High School. Both of them have many friends who I have gotten to know well, through years of baseball, football, dance, soccer, church, and school activities. When I am at high school events, dozens of them say hello, ask me how I am, and are courteous, and mostly personable. Generally, our teenagers are more courteous than most adults I encounter in any setting.

On my street, Cedar Place, there are many teenagers, who go out of there way to say hello and talk to my two year old, Matthew, whenever we go by. When Matthew and I walk to Seventh Street for ice cream or for bagels, it is almost astounding how many teenagers stop us to talk, play with Matt, and are warm.

Our teenagers today are under pressures that exceed that on many of us when we were young. They know they will have to compete for jobs in much more competitive world than we did. They need more education then we did to succeed. They are inundated with media messages that are often entirely inappropriate for their ages, as the most popular radio stations targeted at their age groups promote drug use and promiscuity. Many have been traumatized by the loss of loved ones on September 11, or some have older siblings away at war. They face pressures to abuse alcohol and drugs, or to hate people of different religions or ethnicities. In spite of all this, most of our teenagers are standing down these pressures and turning out to be great kids.

It is true that a few teenagers have gotten themselves into trouble, and that is when the authorities must intervene. However, in the past year, many Garden City adults have also. Some Garden City adult residents in this past year have committed felonies, like perjury, filing false instruments, and worse. Some Garden City residents have had too much to drink and gotten behind the wheel, and our kids see this. Is your reader also calling for a curfew on all the adults in town too?

Our young people are a delight to have. Let us count ourselves lucky that we have them.

Joe Mohen

A Zoning Issue

To The Editor:

For the past 20 years I have watched as my neighbor, the Cathedral of the Incarnation, has struggled to adapt to the changing dynamics of their educational and spiritual mission. First, St. Mary's had to be closed and then St. Paul's, which I attended, was closed.

After closing St. Mary's, the Cathedral sought to move the back office operations for its Episcopal Health Services unit into the St. Mary's property. Like now, the issue was one of zoning. This would have been a commercial use in a residentially zoned neighborhood. Although the Cathedral had the support of several P.O.A's at the time, the Village decided not to allow such use. The Cathedral eventually sold the land to a property developer, receiving the funds they needed while the residential character of the neighborhood was preserved. A similar situation was presented with the St. Paul's property. Prior to its eventual sale to the Village, Cathedral higher-ups informally proposed to the Village that St. Paul's be sold to a nationally known assisted care developer and operator. The Village denied the Cathedral's request, bought the property and the rest of the story has been well documented over the past 12 years.

So here we are today. Again, seeking to obtain the biggest economic benefit on another property, the Cathedral seeks to have the zoning changed so Sunrise Assisted Care can develop a new commercial complex. Don't be duped into thinking this is anything other than a zoning issue! Additionally, the Cathedral's supporters are attempting to turn this issue of zoning into a much more political one by attaching the whole issue of assisted living to a much simpler issue of zoning. What if I sought to build an addition on my house to help care for an ailing parent? My addition and any variance would be based purely on the required zoning rules and how the addition would impact my neighbors as well as the neighborhood. All property owners in Garden City are entitled to equal fairness and consistency. My property rights are no greater or lesser than yours, no matter how noble a cause I profess at the zoning hearing. All property thorough out the Village will be economically diminished if we allow a commercial use in a residential neighborhood. Again, the issue is one of zoning and control. Thus, if the Village allows the Cathedral to lease the Cathedral House property to a publicly traded, for-profit corporation (Sunrise Assisted Living [SRZ:NYSE]) on some long term lease, the Village puts a for-profit, publicly traded commercial enterprise in our neighborhood.

If the last 20 years are any indication of the next 20 years, then the next change of zoning request by the Cathedral will be on the 20 acres contiguous to Cathedral House. Call me crazy, but am I the only resident who thinks that if we deviate from our past precedent of keeping the master plan intact and keeping what has been residential since Garden City was laid out by A.T. Stewart, the chance of seeing the remainder of the neighborhood around the Cathedral go commercial is much greater than if we simply maintain the property the way it is and always has been.

For those of my younger neighbors who have recently arrived in Garden City, be aware of the background. For the rest of us who have watched what has gone on in the Village for the past twenty to thirty years, it's again time to come forward. I feel like Paul Revere, but it's not the British I fear. We are potentially turning over 3 plus acres of prime real estate to Sunrise Assisted Living, a for-profit company trading on the New York Stock Exchange, and we do so at our own peril.

The Board of Trustees meets twice monthly. Show up and let your view be known. There are many uses the Cathedral property can have which accomplish the Cathedral's ongoing need for funding and are consistent with keeping the residential neighborhood intact. They have alternatives, so should we.

Patrick W. Kelly

Vote For Levinson

To The Editor:

This is a letter requesting you to join in what may be the most significant political change in years!

A Republican has held the office of Town Supervisor in Hempstead since 1905! Harvey Levinson, Nassau County Democrat, is planning to make a difference.

Harvey Levinson is a proven vote-getter, having successfully been elected Nassau County Assessor two years ago. As Assessor, he has worked for tax fairness for over-taxed families. He is an honest politician, with a true social conscience.

Harvey Levinson served as Chief Assistant DA with a total of 25 years in the District Attorney’s Office. His associations with Tom Suozzi have earned his respect and admiration.

Mr. Levinson’s much maligned income tax proposal has been misunderstood. It is simply a creative movement to eliminate the school property tax and replace it with a modest income tax paid by Nassau County homeowners and renters alike.

Vote for Harvey Levinson, Nassau Democrat, for town of Hempstead Supervisor on Tuesday, November 8 to help Mr. Levinson make that difference.

Lou and Rose Marie Guzzo