Letters To The Editor
Email: editor@ gcnews.com
Who Wants This? To the Editor:

So, after 15 years, and a couple of million dollars of taxpayers' expense, we've finally reached the last stop, the end of the line. At one of the busiest traffic intersections in town, the corner of Stewart Avenue and Rockaway Avenue, just across Stewart from our Middle School, we are going to allow the insertion of 99 living units, some within the old building, and the rest new construction on the Rockaway side. To meet the needs of the new residents, there will be a 2 story garage on Rockaway, I assume capable of holding 150 or more cars. It will be interesting to see how this new traffic will interface with school traffic (buses) during the week, and the tremendous sports traffic at the fields on weekends. The garage architecture, of course, will have to work with either the nearby homes, or the antebellum main building. (I'm sure a matching supply of reddish sandstone can be found someplace nearby.)

The project right now, is being presented as a fait-accompli, but, I do wonder, who is it that wants this? And, more importantly, how is this good for Garden City? Doesn't the ill-fated history of the preservationist efforts suggest that the failure to find an acceptable solution might mean that the objective itself is wrong? And as attempted solutions, year after year, fall by the wayside, isn't there a great likelihood that standards have dropped?

There is no question that some of out citizens feel strongly that the old building must stay in some fashion, They are entitled. I must say, though, that many expressions of reverence have been way over the top. We all know that old buildings, many of them beautiful, have been coming down all over the world, and that will continue. There almost seems to be a competition here to set apart "true believers," from ordinary folks. About 3 weeks ago a writer described how he "gasped" at the transcendent beauty of the building, which he thought was the most beautiful in Nassau County.

Now, a good "gasp" now and again, is food for the soul. The statue of Nike in the lobby of the Louvre: The Alhambra in the moonlight: "El Capitan" on a foggy sunrise: The first tentative smile of an infant granddaughter: An inside fastball to the point of the elbow: all of these phenomena are eminently gaspworthy, but, St. Paul's? Nah!

I think we are all aware that "the Committee to save etc" is a very small group, and there are only a few Trustees. Before things go much further, I think we should, again, try to find out what the rest of us think. In my opinion, pushing this through, without input from the citizenry, would be highly irresponsible. The worst work of government is often done when repetitive failure makes the task become so tiresome and annoying that the urge to do "something" becomes overpowering.

Frank Kiernan

Town Hall Meeting

To The Editor:

On Wednesday, November 28th, the Garden City PTA is hosting a "Town Hall Meeting" with Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Robert Feirsen. This event will begin at 7:30 pm in the Garden City High School library, immediately following our scheduled (7:00 pm) PTA general meeting. All parents and members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend.

Over the last year or so, our Board of Education has commissioned two important studies--a demographic forecast and a capital/facilities review -- which, in conjunction with program improvements, will dictate the school district's strategic planning for the next five to ten years. As the Board of Education and the Superintendent evaluate the future educational and capital needs of our district, we (the members of the PTA executive committee) continue to encourage all parents to take full advantage of any and all opportunities to gather information, ask questions, and voice your concerns and comments regarding the education of our students. In furtherance of this goal, Dr. Feirsen, Superintendent of Garden City Schools, has accepted the PTA's invitation to our Town Hall Meeting entitled, Building Our Youth for the Future.

The program will begin with a brief review of the status of the district's goals and initiatives presented by Dr. Feirsen, and continue with questions submitted that night from the audience. Again, the GC PTA is pleased and excited to offer what we hope will be a relevant, informative forum for all parents and residents. We look forward to seeing you on November 28th.

Angela Heineman

President

Garden City PTA

Thanks For Support

To the Editor:

In light of the recent ban by Nassau County BOCES on Newsphoto, we would like to thank the many people of Garden City who have given us their support, advice and encouragement. From the Garden City News, to the school district, to the parents and to the kids, your willingness to help us has been overwhelming and we are truly grateful.

As evidenced in this edition of the Garden City News, and on the Newsphoto site, we have continued to try and cover each Garden City playoff game to the best of our ability despite the restrictions imposed upon us by BOCES.

Phil and Lauren Davies

Newsphoto.com