Letters: Old Bethpage Village needs creative save
The doctor's office at Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Old Bethpage will be repaired with a $25,000 grant from The History Channel. Credit: John Dunn
Regarding "19th century village, 21st century woes" [News, Jan. 8], since moving to Long Island many years ago, my family and I have made many pleasurable visits to Old Bethpage Village Restoration. The aging buildings, with their costumed citizens, brought history to life.
My growing children loved to see how people worked and played in "the old days." The one-room schoolhouse and blacksmith's shop were favorites. The farm animals sparked my daughter's dream of becoming a veterinarian.
Monthly events, highlighted by the annual Long Island Fair, are additional attractions. With an admission price less than that of a movie, the village can still be an enticement for residents and tourists who want to spend an enjoyable day of fun and learning.
Larry Kayser, Wantagh
This is yet another eye-opener about Nassau County's inability to run anything at a profit. Recreation villages the world over are run profitably. Innovative ideas like a bed-and-breakfast, weddings and parties in the barn, bluegrass and traditional music festivals, tethered hot-air balloon rides, an old-time circus, etc., could bring in new people and new revenue.
