Letter: Long Island also honors forgotten veterans

I applaud your article “Unclaimed vets buried with dignity” [News, Jan. 21], about veterans who died alone in Tennessee and were buried by local veterans groups and others.

My American Legion post, No. 1244 in Greenlawn, has buried the remains of more than 300 unclaimed veterans since 2010. Other Long Island posts have joined us at these burials.

Included in our burials at Long Island National Cemetery in Pinelawn were the unclaimed cremated remains of two Civil War veterans in 2012.

This Thursday at 1:30 p.m., we will attend the funeral of Army veteran Earl Green at Calverton National Cemetery. Green appears to have been homeless in New York City and had no family. We will be his family.

Alexander Janow, Asharoken

Stress for neighbors of new vineyard

A patron of Del Vino Vineyards in Northport wrote that he is a fan of the vineyard and that the neighbors should enjoy this asset to our town [“Northport vineyard has fans,” Letters, Jan. 7].

This writer does not live across the street, as I do, and doesn’t have to put up with valet parking tickets all over the lawn, excessive lighting and loud noise, as neighbors do. When the parking lot is full, patrons park on our sidewalks, causing blind spots for residents backing out of our driveways. There are no-parking signs only on the vineyard side of Norwood Road. When there was an outdoor event, the music was so loud, I could not hear the TV inside my house.

Maybe the fan of the vineyard should buy my house and see whether he still enjoys this asset.

Susan Beuel, Northport

Local communities need young adults

Birthrates in Nassau County are declining, and few young adults are moving into our towns [“Changing face of Nassau,” News, Dec. 19]. For example, the Town of Oyster Bay shows a decrease of 25 percent in residents 25 to 44 years old since 2000.

The consequences are significant. The fiscal health of our county and towns depends on a tax and commercial base that will need young working people to drive growth.

As a 26-year-old who moved to Great Neck from the city in October, I hope to make this my home for the foreseeable future and want to see the area thrive.

Beyond the relative quiet and fresh air that Great Neck provide over city life, the community offers conveniences that should be replicated to promote the growth of a young professional population. These include a convenient commute to the city on express Long Island Rail Road trains, a walkable downtown and apartments. Such perks should be considered in local developments.

Peter Fishkind, Great Neck  

Ban food and drink on LIRR trains

Why do people have to eat and drink on the Long Island Rail Road [“The LIRR must clean up its act,” Editorial, Jan. 22]? Why does the railroad allow it? Stop the practice, and 90 percent of the garbage that slobs leave behind will be eliminated.

Carole A. Michelman, Long Beach  

Not confident in new head of the EPA

Sadly, President Donald Trump has become an expert at appointing foxes to oversee and protect our nation’s henhouses. Allowing Andrew Wheeler to head the Environmental Protection Agency is extremely disconcerting [“EPA tilts away from Americans,” Editorial, Jan. 4].

It is impossible that Wheeler, a former coal and fossil-fuels lobbyist, could extricate himself from benefiting his former clients.

Joseph M. Varon, West Hempstead

Editor’s note: The writer is a volunteer with Food & Water Watch, an advocacy organization.

Canada’s gesture was the right thing to do

I was happy to see that Canada granted asylum to Rahaf Alqunun [“Runaway Saudi lands in Canada,” News, Jan. 13].

This was the morally correct action to take for this 18-year-old woman, who said she was abused and feared death at home. Canada protected her inalienable human rights.

Why didn’t the United States take action? Was the United States government concerned with offending Saudi Arabia?

I hope that the United States will hold accountable those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident, at the Saudi consulate in Turkey in October.

I hope for a country that will grant asylum to those who justly deserve it. I hope that our citizens will vote with moral responsibility to make the United States right again. The country used to stand for the right things.

Arlene Weber, Babylon  

Already too many summer tourists on LI

I read the Jan. 18 news story “Study: LI’s attractions not well known” in disbelief. As a person who lives and pays taxes on Long Island, I am all too aware of just how crowded with tourists the summer months are here.

From June to September we can’t enjoy all of the beautiful things our taxes pay for because the roads are overrun by tourists. Please don’t allow this study to result in more money being spent on attracting tourists we don’t need.

Adrienne Bryant, Northport