LETTERS: Cross-dressing, energy-efficient homes and more
Cross-dressing didn't warrant punishment
I agree with Ellis Henican . What type of prank would Westbury High School principal Manuel Arias have preferred to a few students cross-dressing? Chickens let loose in the high school? (Don't ask.) Graffiti on the walls? Destruction of school property?
A one-day prank such as this should hardly be deemed punishment-worthy. In fact, the second definition of prank in the American Heritage dictionary is "to decorate or dress ostentatiously or gaudily."
Beth Rose Feuerstein
Energy-efficient homes can come in all sizes
Energy-efficient construction makes sense, has a relatively fast return on investment, and sustainably gives back to our environment. While the house I built that was recently featured in the paper is a relatively large home, building this way is effective and affordable on a 1,500-square-foot home as well, and this type of construction is backed by governmental support at all levels. Additionally, a whole-house approach is mandatory to accurately evaluate the benefits and justify the additional upfront costs.
Long Island is in trouble, and we must encourage people to explore all energy-efficient building options.
Anthony A. Lauto
Editor's note: The writer is a partner in Lauto Group Logic, an Energy Star builder/partner real estate development firm that advocates energy-efficient building.
Board members deserved the boot
It's about time someone held the members of the Westbury School Board accountable to the children and the community . Showing up late for roll call, arriving as late as 10 p.m. to a meeting when voting has already started, and unexcused absences all warrant removal.
Now the remaining board members can get back to the business of the students of the Westbury school district.
R.P. Jones
Westbury
E-waste law won't help soon enough
New York's new electronic waste recycling law has been called "the most progressive, best researched e-waste bill in the country" . So what does it do? Manufacturers that sell electronic equipment in the state must establish a free and convenient e-waste recycling program based on their average market share, by weight, over three years. Also, in the spirit of keeping things simple, they must submit annual reports to the Department of Environmental Conservation, showing that they have met the guidelines. And when does this take effect? April 1, 2011. Wow . . . this is a problem that's growing by the day. New devices for consumers are introduced (and old devices made obsolete) at a mind-boggling pace. This makes for tens of millions of pieces of e-waste in need of a proper burial each year. And when will it become illegal for individuals to dispose of e-waste at landfills? Jan. 1, 2015. How can anything be considered "progressive" that won't take effect for five years?
Thomas Cullen
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
