Letters To The Editor
Email: editor@ gcnews.com

Stop Stalling

To the Editor:

The lengths to which the Committee to Save St. Paul's and its adherents will go to undermine the decision of our duly elected trustees continue to astonish us. The latest obstructionist tactic is a real doosey. A letter writer last week wants all of us to write to Sen. Kemp Hannon with our up or down vote on the future of St. Paul's and that this so-called "poll" determine the outcome. Are you laughing yet? (I'm sure Sen. Hannon is.) Is it necessary for someone to remind the gentleman that this is Garden City, not "American Idol"? The trustees have spoken. Let's stop the stalling.

John and Jeanne Nason

A Third Suggestion

To the Editor:

Let's step outside of the current either/or scenario recently presented to the village in which we must decide between total demolition of St. Paul's or the accepting of the Avalon Bay proposal. Let's consider a 3rd suggestion that has been discussed informally by many residents. Now is the time to build a new GCHS on the St. Paul's footprint. The rationale is as follows.

When you close your eyes and think of St. Paul's School, it is the front façade which holds the grandeur and appeal of the building, and it is that beautiful façade which could remain attached to a new, state of the art GCHS; a blend of the tradition and beauty of the current building with a bold and proactive step into the future.

Recently, an article appeared in the GC News regarding future middle and high school capital improvement projects which will require approximately $22 million over the next 5 years (of a $34 million capital improvement plan) to add space and improve upon the two buildings. The improvements will cost $10,948,000 for the high school and $10,389,000 for the middle school and are needed to create more space and upgrade both buildings. The article states that the engineers paint a "dreary" picture of the districts infrastructure and that the average age of our school buildings is 57 years old. The article comments that the boiler and the roof at the high school need to be replaced.

If we build a new high school on the St. Paul's footprint, we would keep control of this prime location. We would be creating a campus setting and central location for our 6-12 grades, a common approach to educational building design.

We would have the luxury of constructing the building without risk, hazard or inconvenience to the current students and staff in grades 9-12 at the high school.

Classes could continue in the current high school until we can flip a switch and start in the new facility, ideally ending the year in June of a given year and starting in the new building in September for our GCHS students and staff.

We can accommodate future enrollment shifts as needed, some middle school classes at the high school or vice versa, which is one aspect of the need for the capital improvement project. Perhaps economies with respect to administration and or instruction could be realized by having the two schools geographically next to each other.

We could create an underground crossing under Stewart Avenue so that access between the schools would not require walking across a busy street. Similar underground walkways currently exist at the Garden City and Stewart Manor Train stations.

We can keep the fields at the current high school location for continued school and community use (perhaps add stadium seating around the football field) as we sell off the current high school building for luxury condos, senior housing, or traditional building lots and ultimately help to defray the cost of building the new high school. If we take a portion of the $34 million capital improvement budget we are about to spend to upgrade the high school and add to it the sale proceeds of the current high school we could build a new GCHS at St. Paul's with a sizable part of the construction costs defrayed.

We have an opportunity to build a state of the art facility that is a fully integrated modern building without disruption to the existing high school students. A new GCHS with the architectural splendor this village and its residents deserve. Let's invest in our children and give them, as well as the dedicated professionals in our district, a world class facility in which to work. We will maintain our property values by upgrading our districts infrastructure with a new building that will be the centerpiece of the district and reflect the high standards we expect of our students and ourselves. If you agree, call your POA leaders, village trustees, school board, friends and neighbors and let's get it done before it is too late.

Christopher Peppard

GCHS Class of 1985 and Life Long Resident

Options Needed

To the Editor:

I just read your internet update that the 10/24 meeting to review proposals forSt Paul's renovation has been cancelled. I can not overemphasize how concerning this is to me, as a member of the GC community. I moved here 4 years ago because of the character and charm of this town, which is unique given its proximity to NYC. We pay a premium for that privilege and I am ex-tremely concerned that our lifestyle and the complexion of GC may be compromised if such a large and central parcel of land is allowed to be developed in a way that is incongruent with the community's expectations. As of late, this RFP process seems to be moving rapidly, in a singular direction, without input from the residents. As a taxpayer, I believe the residents should have a choice of options presented to them in sufficient detail so that an intelligent choice can be made by the residents. It is my expectation that the Village board would screen the options and provide a level of due diligence so that there are viable choices. I do not expect the Village to unilaterally make such a choice.

Based on the limited information I have, I am concerned that we are on a path to turn GC into another borough of NYC. I am also finding it very difficult to continue to stay aware and current with such an enormous issue that impacts me, St Paul's is just .25 miles from my home. The lack of public inclusion and disclosure from the Village is making it extremely frustrating and difficult to do so and as a result has created an alarming sense of malaise amongst the residents. At the very least, I'd like to see a range of options, rather than a singular choice (which isn't a choice at all).

Kristina Russo

Thanksgiving Help Needed

To The Editor:

On Thursday, November 22 nd, Thanksgiving Day, we will be preparing and delivering hot meals to homebound senior citizens, coordinating this program from our home.

We are in need of donations of desserts, individual non-carbonated beverages, mini loaves of bread or dinner rolls, turkeys, or cash in order to complete the meals. These items can be dropped off at our home at 35 Maxwell Road, Garden City. Please call us as soon as possible to coordinate a convenient drop off time.

All deliveries will begin at 12 noon on Thanksgiving Day. Each delivery is accompanied by a visit, if so welcomed by the recipient. Please call us if you are able to help with the delivery of the meals.

This project has become a special part of our family tradition for the past twelve years, and we invite you to make it part of yours, as well. Your generous donations of food, money, and time have made the deliveries a tremendous success each year. With your help, we can continue to bring a meal and a smile to those who are alone on the holiday.

Feel free to contact us at 746-8331 regarding any part of this program.

Thank you for your continued support.

Melinda and John Alford

Lack Of Will

To The Editor:

Slowly, inexorably we move toward Primary Day, not a worthy candidate in the bunch, Republican or Democrat. Almost an exact repetition of what I had written at an earlier time and still true. I believe the same observation will continue to be true in November 2008.

I must find peace within myself and it will not be achieved by refusing to acknowledge truth. Let us prepare to celebrate the rapidly approaching joyous season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, 2007. After November 2008, joy may be in short supply.

The war drags on and I am surprised and chastened that I have come to better understand why the people of the mideast hate us so, "Yankee Go Home." Do you remember that old chant, "Yankee Go Home?" For a hundred years the Crusaders marched east to do their Holy Duty as they saw it. Both before and after World War I and II, the European Powers and the U.S. entered the mideast and overstayed their welcome.

No matter what we do for or to them, Islam will not accept another bunch of occupiers in their segment of the world. The dirty little secret is out, we covet their oil. We will continue to introduce our concept of democracy to the Muslims even if they do not want it. "Eat your spinach, it's good for you."

We have become a corrupt and venal people, our government reflects what we are and what we allow. The situation would be hilarious if not so dangerous and depressing. Americans are now dysfunctional and that is the truth.

How did we reach this point in our lives? Our relentless pursuit of power and money, money and power, with a minimum of thought, has brought us to a new lower level. Trapped in a web of our own making, we have lost our way, we have forgotten how to be a person. Do I dare mention the lack of ethics in our lives? We are without morality, no sense of right or wrong, just drifting.

Why would the Muslims welcome our form of Democracy into their lives? They see us as we are and they don't like it. "Yankee Go Home." Oh yes, they will take our blood and gold, which we spend so foolishly, but in the end they will not be bought by those whom they neither respect nor fear. Perhaps it is not too late. If we clean up our act, the world may approach what I believe people of all nations seek - respect and peace. Yeah, I know, Pollyanna. Would your prefer blood, guts and tears forever?

You read the papers and watch T.V., I consider you relatively well informed. Reflect upon what you read and watch every day, clearly America has changed and not for the better. Is it possible we are no longer able to govern ourselves? We worship as icons those who are the dregs among us. We allow them to further corrupt us as they destroy what I believe was once a decent way of life and yes, a pretty good country.

We were thinking individuals, now we are groupies. Oh yes, the new mantra, the cover, is we are all sinners, we all make mistakes and since nobody cares, do your own thing man. You, the strong individuals are more important than the weak, compliant group. But, at least once, stand up and cluck your disapproval.

The Days of Empire are over, the problem of the Gordian Knot will not be solved with the sword. How do we deal with the terrorists whose goal is terror? Our borders are open to the enemy, we allow them to live among us.

In our wars prior to the mideast, going back to World War I, ninety years of war, our young men and women fought and to the political extent the politicians allowed them to fight and die, they won their wars.

Through lack of political will the pols and the American people lost the peace, such as it was. And so, once again we repeat the bloody blunders of the past. A disgraceful constant in the midst of deplorable change.

Edward Heaney