The-Leader_1971-01-21

              LIEI^ARIAM
NA.. .A' CI. ilI3T0RlCAL M'JSEUM
c EISENHOWER PARK
SA.ST MEADOW. N Y U554
r/ie LEADER I I NASSAU'S LARGEST WEEKLY"
Freeport's
Official
Newspaper
2S,0tl0 READERS
FREEPORT
ZIo Code 11520
BALDWIN
Zlo Code 11510
MERRICK
Zip Code 11566
ROOSEVELT
Z ID Cade 11!i7§
35th YEAR, No. 38 j "' FREEPORT, NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JANUARY 14. 1970 PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY
HUD Approval Official
I
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Action shot above is that of Sig Feile, prominent Freeporter and operator of Atlantic Nurseries,
Freeport,
Sig recently participated in the NASTAR Race at Glen Ellen, Vermont wrtiich is a National Standard
race whereby a recreational skier can compete on a handicap basis against the best skiers in the world.
In spite of the fact that this was Sig's first time on skis this year, he took a bronze medal for a
perforrrwnce within 30% of a zero handicap.
Skiers interested in participating in these races, which are held every Saturday and Sunday can
contact Joe Wilson of Glen Ellen, Waitsfield, Vermont, 05673.
School Board Clarifies Teacher Charges
5.5 Million Grafifeci FrBBport for
Benningfon Park Renewal
Three hours before prc.s.s time. Ihe Lender received i\ phone
call from the office of Coiigressninn Norman F. LenI
announcing the approval by Ihe Dept, of Housing and
Urban Deveh>pmenf of the urban renewal loan grant for
the Village of Freeport. HUD aulhori/.ed expenditures of a
total of S5.5.?H.589 f(ir renovation of Ihe Bcnningt<Hi
Park Area, directly east of the busines.s district of town.
Involved in the project are M)D units of low and moderate
income housing: 80'/^ moderate. 20'^ low. with additional
public and commertial facilities.
Congressman Lent said, "HUD has informed me Ihal
the long awaited 5.5m dollars is now available to reimburse
the Village of Freeport Urban Renewal Agency for funds
expended on this project.
"One of the major concerns of every community, large
and small, is housing particularly for low and moderate
income families. Projects like this are therefore of tre­mendous
importance t(> the community they will serve.
I have expressed to Mayor Robert J. Sweeney and Mr.
John J. Salvadore, Freeport Urban Renewal Director,
my gratification that this worthwhile community im­provement
project can be completed".
The next issue of the Leader will contain more delailed
information on the entire program.
Freeport's Board of Education,
confused by P r ^ s reports which
if alleges are inaccurate and
misleading, moved to clarify the
incidents involving one of its
junior high school teachers, Mr
I^uis Pesca. In commenting on
published news reports, Harold
Levine, Board President, said,
"We are surprised and disap­pointed
that a local newspaper
would publish such false,
misleading and irresponsible
statements without carefully
checking. To all who have read
and heard these reports the
entire Board of Education wishes
lo state the following. Mr. Pesca
did not suffer a skull fracture.
Mr Pesca has not been denied his
job at the junior high school. His
sick leave has not been taken
away from him. The Board of
Education and the Ad­ministrators
have lived up to
every promise to Mr. Pesca, and
in addition, have bent over t>ack-ward
lo help him. It is par­ticularly
unfortunate that this
matter was made public at this
time, when a solution satisfac­tory
to the teacher and the school
system has almost been ac­complished.
In its treatment of
Mr Pesca, the Freeport Board of
Education has been more than
fair It has granted the teacher
his full accumulated sick leave,
extended that leave some 6 school
weeks beyond its expiration, and
created a new position to aid in
Mr Pesca's rehabilitation, To do
more would be a frivolous use of
taxpayer funds but, more im­portantly,
medical advice in­dicates
this might, indeed, im­pede
Mr. Pesca's recovery."
According to school
spokesmen, the incident began on
January 19, 1970, when Mr.
Pesca, a science teacher at the
John W Dodd Junior High
School, was struck on the head
with a stick manipulated by a
student He suffered a scalp
laceration and was taken to the
hospital Skull films were
negative, and neurological
examinations conducted on
February 5, March 17, and Oc­tober
26, 1970. failed to demon­strate
evidence of central ner­vous
system implications;
however, Mr. Pesca remained at
home on sick leave. This leave
was exhausted on Octolrer 30,
1970, and the Board of Education,
tjecause of Mr. Pesca's lengthy
service in the school district,
unanimously approved the ex­tension
of the leave at full salary.
Several conferences were held
t>etween Mr. Pesca, Mr. Russell
Terry, President of the Freeport
Teachers' Association, and the
Superintendent of Schools and his
Assistants, with the intent of
helping Mr. Pesca return to
work. At a conference on
November 24, 1970, a plan of
gradual return was suggested by
the Administrators. This plan
involved Mr. Pesca teaching one
hour a day at each elementary
school in the District. As his
strength and confidence retur­ned,
the period would gradually
be lengthened until Mr. Pesca, in
September, would he able to
return to a full teaching schedule
at the Dodd Junior High School.
His full salary would be paid
during this period. The plan was
in accordance with the doctor's
recommendations and was en­thusiastically
endorsed by Mr.
Terry and, seemingly, by Mr.
Pesca. Shortly thereafter the
District was contacted by an
attorney retained by Mr. Pesca
In a letter to Mr. Pesca on
December lOth, Mr. Donald
Costlow, Acting Superintendent,
outlined the> plan and stated
further. "Under our regulatioi\s
pursuant to Workmen's Com­pensation,
the District will
restore your full days of sick
leave when ihe case is finally
clos«l by the Workmen's Com­pensation
Board, provided that
you return to your teaching
duties. Otherwise, the con­sequences
might result in your
being on full pay in perpetuity at
the expense of the taxpayers,
(Continued on Page 5)
Nassau County Executive Ralph G. Caso (1> presents floral bouquet
to Mrs. Raymond Malone at testimonial dinner for her husband,
Raymond Malone, County Housing Coordinator. The Malone's
are residents of Freeport.
Home Aides Needed
Town residents with a few
hours of leisure can find personal
and financial rewards while
aiding the town's senior citizens
The HA-T-S-0-N (Home Aid to
Seniors of Nassaui program will
soon be training mature persons
to assist the elderly during
periods of stress or illness.
Sponsored jointly by the Hemp­stead
Town Older American
Volunteers Committee and the
Nassau Chapter of the American
Red Cross, H-A-T-S-O-N is of
fering a four-day class for
trainees to be held Jan 25-28, 1 lo
4 p.m.
The course consists of a free 12-
hour training session (four three-hour
classes* Lectures and
discussions will emphasize en­vironmental
health, nutrition,
and daily chores.
H-A-TS-0-N aides are paid $2
per hour and Ihe hours and duties
performed are arranged by
employer and employee.
Anyone interested in taking
pari in the training program can
register daily until Jan. 20 at the
office of Ihe Older American
Volunteers Commitee, Room G-
09. Old Town Hall Building, 350
FVonI St , Hempstead.
For general information phone
489-5000, Ext. 326 or 386.