Postcards Sought

To The Editor:

I am a fifth grader at Bluford Grade School in Bluford, Illinois. My class is studying the states and regions of our country.

I am writing to you in hopes that your readers might be willing to send me any information or postcards about your state and region.

My class would like to express our complete thanks to anyone who replies.

Please send them to:

Mark Law

Bluford Grade School

P.O. Box 19

Bluford, Illinois 62814

Ethics Codes

To The Editor:

In furtherance of my letter of last week, the proposed Nassau County Code of Ethics is now available and should be used as a guideline especially by Town and Villages and to some extent by School Boards.

It covers such areas as hiring relatives, the accepting of gifts, conflicts of interest, lobbying, the misuse of county funds, revolving-door issues and prohibits the disclosure of confidential information.

It also establishes a County Ethics Board consisting of seven members, five of whom will be appointed by the County Executive, subject to the confirmation of the County Legislature. This part of the Code is still being debated.

Penalties include fines up to $10,000 and/or removal or suspension from office. Town, Village Boards and School Boards are urged to review this Code and adopt its contents as appropriate to send a strong and clear message to all concerned.

Joseph A. Calamari

P.S. According to the New York Times editorial of Sunday, March 18, 2007 the special sewer districts, which have the power to tax and collect fees are wasteful and unnecessary.

P.P.S. The New LIPA Chief Executive is now pushing for the creation of a Code of Ethics for his own organization.

Spiritual Adoption Prayers

To the Editor;

Sunday, March 25th is Feast of the Annunciation. It is the day that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was told by the archangel Gabriel that she would conceive a child to be born the son of God.

Coinciding with the Annunciation feast day, St. Joseph's Parish will once again launch its annual nine-month Spiritual Adoption Prayer Crusade on Saturday and Sunday March 24/25. This will be the 17th consecutive year that the Annual Prayer Crusade will be held here in Garden City.

The purpose of the prayer program is to "spiritually adopt" newly conceived unborn babies who may be in danger of abortion and to pray for the babies and the babies' mothers and fathers for the next nine months until December 25th - Christmas Day. It is our hope that the daily prayers will help couples with "crisis pregnancies" choose life and not abortion.

We invite all Garden City residents to join in this important program to help stem the tide of abortion.

With renewed dedication and firm belief that our prayerful efforts will help in saving babies' lives, and trusting that comforting Grace from Our Heavenly Father will flow to mothers and fathers experiencing crisis pregnancies, we urge all who reverence life to join in this most worthy effort.

A Spiritual Adoption Prayer Crusade sign-up card and prayer card can be found in this weekend's parish bulletin, or at the St. Joseph's Church website - www.stjosephchurchgc.com/ - (left-click "Sunday Bulletin"). Please fill out the Sign-up Card and return it to the collection baskets at the Church or Auditorium. Please retain the Prayer Card and keep it for your daily prayers. God Bless you and your family.

At Christmas time, we will conclude this year's Prayer Crusade with another village-wide Baby Showerfor the babies and mothers at Long Island's crisis pregnancy centers.

For those who are experiencing a "crisis pregnancy" and are considering an abortion, please call Long Island Life Center at 631-243-2373 for free and confidential help. If you are a victim of abortion, please call Project Rachel - 631-722-4335 - for post-abortion counseling and healing for both women and men. These wonderful agencies open their doors and hearts to all; regardless of race or creed.

St. Joseph's Respect

Life Society