Not An Auxiliary Officer

To the Editor:

Please include this 'Letter to the Editor' in response to Carl Garraffo's 'Letter to the editor' that was published in the February 23rd edition of The Garden City News titled - "Unfair Ticket".

I am writing this letter to clarify several points that Mr. Carl Garraffo made in his letter to the editor last week:

1- The Village of Garden City does not have Auxiliary Police although Mr Garraffo stated that he located an Auxiliary Police SUV in the parking lot with an Auxiliary Police Officer sleeping in it.

2- The Village of Garden City does have (paid) Police Aids (who do not wear blue uniforms) and DO write parking tickets and normally operate the vehicle #379 that he stated he observed in the parking lot on the day in question.

3- A Nassau County Auxiliary Police Officer's function is to assist The Nassau County Police Department and any Village Police Department (who participate in the program)in order to protect life and property. These duties do not include "scraping ice off of a resident's car".

The Auxiliary Police in Nassau County are Professional Volunteers who must complete a 23 week training course at the Nassau County Police Academy and once graduated are certified by New York State as Part Time Peace Officers. In 2006, these dedicated members donated to the residents of Nassau County over 64,000 hours protecting Life and Property within the County away from their families.

I applaud Mr Garraffo's zeal in writing his letter but it may be wise in the future that he conducts a thorough investigation of the facts before he demoralizes a dedicated group of volunteers who had nothing to do with his ticket and most definitely were not asleep in a Village vehicle.

Inspector Neal A. Rosenblatt

Garden City Resident

Vice Chairman /

Inspector Nassau County Auxiliary

Police Executive Board

32 Year Member

Thomas Mallon

Garden City Resident

Sergeant - Nassau County Auxiliary Police

18 Year Member

Joseph Rupert

Garden City Resident

Auxiliary Police Officer-

Nassau County Auxiliary Police

10 Year Member

A Great Program

To The Editor,

I just want to say that I think the Garden City Grapplers program has been a great experience for my sons. They have learned the intricacies of the wrestling moves and point system thanks to fantastic coaching, an eagerness to learn and work hard and a genuine love for the sport. As award-winning author and screenwriter John Irving states with regard to his own wrestling, it is "my first discipline," and I am proud to see the self-discipline and sportsmanship wrestling has brought out in my own sons. I guess some readers just don't "get" the tongue in cheek articles that are written about, not just wrestling, but all the sports that go on in our town. I personally get a kick out of them!

Martha Reina

An Angel

To The Editor:

On February 11, 2007, after taking a bus to shop in town, I tripped and fell on Seventh Street in Garden City and sustained injuries. I am 82 years old.

I wish to give my tremendous thanks to a lady by the name of Angela whom I feel had to be my Guardian Angel. She mentioned she lived in Garden City, however, I didn't get her last name. Angela and her husband, along with a few other people put cold ice on my nose to try and stop the bleeding. I also want to thank the Garden City Police and whoever drove me in the ambulance to Winthrop Hospital in Mineola.

Seeing I was alone, Angela offered to meet me at the hospital.( I think it is more than a coincidence the word "Angel" is in her name.) If that wasn't enough, while there, she insisted upon giving me money for a taxi. As it turned out, I received ten stitches in my nose and a facial injury. I was kept in the hospital for several days.

Again, my gratefulness to all those who helped and may God bless you all.

Marian Kester

Thank You

To The Editor:

On Feb. 22, I inadvertently left my car running in the garage causing a build up of carbon monoxide. The Garden City Fire Department responded quickly to my call. Chief James Meehan and his crew very efficiently, quickly cleared my home of carbon monoxide. They were very courteous and caring.

I'm grateful to the Garden City Fire Department for a well trained and well equipped team. I want to thank them publicly.

Margaret Irwin