Letter: Tales of generosity from the LIRR
In this time of scandal and corruption, where dishonesty and selfishness seem to run riot, I'd like to call attention to my encounters with generous Long Island Rail Road train personnel ["No jail in LIRR disability scam," News, Jan. 15].
Last weekend, I missed my eastbound connection at Jamaica and was mistakenly headed to Long Beach. A ticket collector explained that he was on the last run of his shift, and he offered to drive me to where my car was parked. That's a truly generous sprit.
During the holidays, on the same train line, I left my wallet on a seat when I transferred. Again, a ticket collector went out of her way to contact personnel on the other train, who found the wallet and returned it on the platform at Jamaica. Nothing was missing.
Several years ago, in a similar occurrence, I was able to get help from train personnel, without having to wait with uncertainty for a lost item to appear at the lost and found.
A big thank-you to the men and women operating the LIRR.
James Hogarty, Mineola
Settle lawsuit over Ruland Knolls
My organization, the Huntington Township Housing Coalition, has been criticized for calling for more rental housing in Huntington because there is allegedly a concentration of rentals in Huntington Station ["Say-no mantra is holding us back," Opinion, Jan. 12].
I'm a 30-year-old mechanical engineer still living with my parents. I grew up in Huntington and recently got engaged. I would welcome affordable rental apartments anywhere in town. I have watched members of my high school graduating class flee for places with more rentals at affordable rates.
The proposed 117 units of affordable rental apartments at Ruland Knolls in Melville are within a bicycle ride of my job.
For this and other reasons, I urge the Huntington Town Board to settle the lawsuit filed by supporters of the Ruland Road proposal so that Ruland Knolls can be built and Huntington can have much-needed rental apartments outside of Huntington Station.
Harry R. Burger, Huntington Station
Editor's note: The writer is a member of the board of directors of the Huntington Township Housing Coalition, an advocacy group.
Emphasize the start of education journey
At 83, I'm retired from teaching but continue to write on education issues. I am a woman and the product of an immigrant family. Status has never been bestowed upon me -- I earned it!
Like me, each of our youngest has the innate ability to mature into participating adults in their communities, or beyond, when supported early in their educational journeys ["De Blasio: Pre-K needs tax hike," News, Jan. 30].
Blame for not succeeding is often placed when it is too late. The education community needs to assure that each child is supported, from family to community, through early education and with well-educated teachers to equalize life's hurdles.
I earned a master's degree with a specialty in early childhood education. I pride myself in having been among the first teachers in the Head Start program in Brooklyn in 1965.
It's time to reassess spending and stop the squabbling. We must unite to provide the strongest educational foundation for each child.
Betty Marie Wybenga, Center Moriches
Property should add to tax base
Whatever is built on the Cerro Wire property should provide substantial property tax relief for Syosset residents ["Mall war surrender," News, Feb. 1].
Laura Schultz, Syosset
Editor's note: The writer is president of Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset, a civic group that favored mall development.
Given the runaround to rescue cat in tree
I work at the Sycamore Avenue Elementary School in Bohemia, and we recently had a cat stuck in a tree.
First, I called my local fire department. It could not come and help. I called the town shelter. It had no equipment to go high in the tree.
I called the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It said I needed someone with a bucket truck. I called the Long Island Power Authority. It could not come because the cat was not on a wire!
I called two tree companies, with no luck. So, I called the animal shelter again. A woman there checked to see whether anyone had called in a missing cat. There was one report, and I got in touch with the cat owner, who advised me to call the Guardians of Rescue in Smithtown. They even had their own bucket truck. I called them and arranged for them to come.
Why couldn't the other shelters or town agencies have given me the name of this nonprofit pet rescue organization?
Linda Farrell, Bohemia