Thursday, August 24, 1967 THE FARMINGDALE POST, FARMINGDALE, N. Y. Page 7
editorial iriailuas
All letters to the editor should be no more than one page-double
spaced in length and should be written within the
bounds of good literery taste. Any letters which do not conform
to these standards may be withheld from publication.
To the Editor: *
A recent Library letter stated,
' Adequate Financing to Function
Properlyl' What Is adequate and
what Is properly? To fulfill the
Supposed and Diverse needs of
all of the types of owner- users
of District 22 would require facilities
superior to those of the
largest city and greatest University
combined. Thus, Adequate
Financing for the optimum
would require more than the
gross income of all of us in District
22. Therefore, the complete
elected Board and Professionals
must work together and Endeavor
to develop the most economical
and efficient facility
within the means of the Majority
of the owners. The elected and
hired employees should try to advise
the owner- risers, thru the
two Public Media, if they
honestly feel the District should
be on a higher Intellectual plane;
but the owners must have the vote
to say what the means and functioning
level of the District are
to be.
Dollars do not services or satisfaction
produce; nor do facilities
assure usage and, supposed,
resultant alertness, education,
or the ability to recognize
the phony from the real and
the shoddy from the perfect, as
we were recently told we so
desperately need. We, the owner-users,
must want and diligently
seek these (??) truths we have
purchased. It would be wonderful
if life was so simple that we
could just read and listen in our
Educational Institutions, Religious
Meeting Places and Professional
Society Assemblages
so that we might know the true -
truth and cease to be duped.
( Read, * None Dare Call It Treason,'
by Stormer and the many
other controversial writings,
which so many brand as Unreliable
or meer propoganda,- Unsafe
at Any Speed, The Healers,
Silent Springs, The Lawyers,
Airline Safety is a Myth, Etc. -
and investigate the facts for yourself.)
But life is not simple, easy
and clean we must also think,
ponder and calmly discuss and
intelligently endeavor to arrive
at our own sense of truth and
mental health. Thus, Education,
Reading, Degrees, Titles, Etc.,
as such do not assure intelligent
and truthful understanding, nor
does a lack of them decree that
one cannot be intelligent - it is
up to the individual.
Let's openly and calmly
discuss our problems with
honesty and humbleness so that
our District 22' s future will be
proper and a shining example.
William H. Moore, Sr.,
To the Editor:
There are two articles in the
August 16, 1967 issue of News-day
that may be of interest to
residents of the Farmingdale
area. The one on page 25 concerns
a girl charged in a pep- pill case
and the other on page 9 concerns
a man charged with assault on a
librarian.
According to the newspaper, in
the assault case, the defendant's
attorney asked Judge Julius R.
Lippman to waive bail because
of the defendant's long residence
in the community and what he
called his record of general good
citizenship. Judge Lippman refused,
saying " This defendant
cannot be treated differently than
any other defendant who has
charges pending against him."
Again, referring to the newspaper.
A girl was arraigned before
the same Judge Lippman on
the same day as the man and was
charged with selling Amphetamines
as a felony. She was released
In her mother's custody.
Since neither defendant can be
considered guilty as charged until
proven so in court, what accounts
for the difference in treatment?
The felony charge is undoubtedly
the more serious of the
two. Is there supposed to be some
kind of penalty applied for a record
of good citizenship or are
there merits earned for an alleged
illegal association with
drugs?
It's all very strange, but it
could lead one to speculate on
what position Judge Lippman
might take on a question of pornography
or how he would align
himself in a library budget controversy.
Sincerely,
Walter J. Kooker
To the Editor:
As interested parents and citizens
of this community we deplore
the fact that we and our
children have been deprived the
full use of the library facilities.
We of the Mill Lane P. T. A.
Executive Board hope that every
citizen in District # 22 will vote
in favor of the library budget,
so that the full services of the
library may be open to the public.
Respectfully,
Mrs. D. Ciapetti
President
Mill Lane Jr. High
School P. T. A.
To the Editor:
My child has been going to the
Summer Remedial Reading Program
at the South Farmingdale
Library.
He has been to six meetings. In
this short time he has shown
such improvement that I'm compelled
to write and say every
penny spent in this area is worth
it.
I know exactly what the child
needs, how to handle him, what
to expect, and why he hadn't
been performing to his ability.
The atmosphere of the library
had a lot to do with this and I'm
very sorry to hear it may not be
continued.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. G. Lanore
To the Editor:
In the short time that Mr. Gorton
has been able to exercise
his trustee- ship, he has uncovered
enough evidence to indicate
tax- dollars are benefiting special
interest groups. Witness the
full page Farmingdale Post advertisement
in last week's i s sue.
Also note, private dollars
paid for the ad., not tax- dollars.
So, too, Mr. Gorton paid
for his own campaign expenses
and this left him in a position
of independence from control by
the " behind the scenes" candidate
selectors who have been
dictating library policy in the
past. Sure, the former Library
Trustees were always in agreement
with any action taken by the
Library Director. They acted out
their part to perfection at each
Library Board meeting. Control
rested in the hands of the liberal
spenders of your tax- dollars, who
relieved their candidate of the arduous
task of putting up his own
money for campaign expenses.
This is the first time the Farmingdale
Taxpayers have a representative
on the Library Board.
Regardless of the obstacles put in
his way, Mr. Gorton will, with
firm determination, give an
honest account of his stewardship.
Therein lies his strength.
His advice to vote " NO" is based
on facts, not fatuous meander-ings
of the gravy train proponents.
Sincerely,
Francis A. Collins.
To the Editor:
I am in favor of the newly proposed
budget, and urge members
of the community to vote for
it.
I believe most of you want a
good library, open when you need
it, adequately staffed and servicing
the entire community. To my
mind this is the sole question we
are voting on a budget, not on
policy. Next year another trustee
position will be voted upon, that
is the proper time to express our
desires concerning the library
board and its influence on library
policy.
Now the sole question is, shall
the library have enough money
to be open when we need it open,
to buy the books that are needed
to be bought, staffed with the staff
it needs to service us.
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Paul Telcher
To the Editor:
A word of " Thanks" to Mr.
Rothman, Reading Specialist and
Mrs. Stoyan, Assitant Director
of our South Farmingdale Library
for a very wonderful " Reading
Program" which they had during
the summer months which I had
the pleasure of attending with my
7 year old.
This program was most beneficial
to the child not only in
reading itself, but in Instilling
the " love of reading" in a child.
The general atmosphere for the
child was a pleasant 3 hour
session, which showed that reading
can be fun and not a chore,
through movies, records and
other various methods used by
reading specialists. Mr. Rothman
gave each child individual
reading attention and in approximately
6 sessions was able to
tell the parent what was the child's
reading weakness if any. The
reading program was a 3 way
session between the reading consultant,
the child and the parent.
The meetings with the parents
were enlightening and I am sure
every parent like myself that attended
with their child found it
helpful to both. As Mr. Rothman
said, " it's the parents that should
read more."
I hope that they will be able to
continue this program and I
strongly recommend it for those
interested in the future.
Very truly yours,
Mrs. F. Thompson
To the Editor:
The most healthy human from
time to time is attacked by a
virus which causes the common
cold and it is the body's natural
resistance to the aggressive foreign
Invader that overcomes and
conquers the mischievious interloper.
Farmingdale has experienced a
touch of the CARL Virus. The
real issue on August 29 is no
longer the library budget but
whether this particular threat
will be allowed to develop into
a full fledge epidemic which will
eventually immobilize the entire
body.
I have been teaching your children
for ten years and we have
all lived through the pains and
anxieties that a growing community
endures. If the present
danger is not stopped no doubt
the schools will be the next target.
The schools are always a
target for malcontents. Your children
are receiving an excellent
education and our schools are
finally stabilizing. As matters
now stand, the cultural reputation
of the community has been
damaged due to adverse nationwide
publicity.
Use the strong natural antibiotic
" Yes" vote on August 29
to preserve healthy tranquility
and to immunize your child's
education.
Sincerely yours,
Joseph Lubell
To The Editor:
Much has been said and written
about " who is right" in the current
controversy over what should
be available to read and to whom
it should be made available in our
Farmingdale Public Libraries.
This issue is now before a court
of law.
Recently, a tape recording and
an assault issue was raised. This
issue is also before a court of
law.
Both issues involve personalities,
individual philosophies and,
from all accounts, extreme emotionalism,
( on both sides).
Our family likes some of the
statements made on both sides of
the fence. Some make good
sense. I am sure that there are
other families that feel the same.
However, the issues presented
belong where they are NOT IN A
VOTING BOOTH WHEN A
BUDGET IS BEING PRESENTED
TO THE PUBLIC. Let the court
decide those.
The yearly library budget needs
community support, if we are to
do nothing more than provide
the same physical services that
we have in the p a s t . . .
Let's all take another good look
at the issues and put each in Its
proper perspective.
Our family Is voting " Yes"
on August 29th. We Invite you to
join us.
William & Helen Becker
To the Editor:
There is an outgrowth
stemming from public controversy
and that seems to be an
interest as to what is going on
around you. And with that interest
perhaps will come an a-wareness
and seeking of the truth.
Our Library Board falls to answer
questions or else tables
them indefinitely. Mr. Gorton has
raised questions that any responsible
public servant would want to
answer. Not our illustrious
Board, however. The present
" in" group is evidently afraid
of someone they can't control.
So, If you can't control - slander
him; grand him; but don't give
him answers he is entitled to.
Need we be reminded that positive
control leads to domination
and a society of collective robots?
If it is a dictatorship you want
in Farmingdale, then go ahead
and be one of the " herd." Think
only thoughts those entrenched
in power want you to think; believe
only what they preach -
to think differently or to question
those you put into office
will be a cardinal crime for
which you shall be punished.
But if you want a healthy,
thriving community and nation
inform yourselves, question your
representatives, stop being a-fraid
to stand up and be counted
because you are not in accord
with the ruling pack. A NO vote
on this budget may prompt some
answers out of the Board. It will
certainly prove that no elected
group Is ever more important
than the people who elect them,
and that they are and ever shall
be accountable to every taxpayer
in this town.
Respectfully,
June Hansen
To the Editor:
Recent attempts have been
made to indicate that our
library pays too much for custodial
service.
The following comparison with
neighboring towns as well as
Rockville Center because its
building area is so close to ours
ought to be of interest to all
taxpayers.
Farmingdale, 16,000 sq. ft.
Custodial Cost $ 8,800; Hlcks-ville,
26,000 sq. ft. Custodial
Cost $ 18,264; Levittown, 65,340
sq. ft. Custodial Cost $ 24,170;
Massapequa, 24,000 sq. ft. Custodial
Cost $ 29,000; Rockville
Center 15,200 sq. ft. Custodial
Cost $ 18,310.
The above figures are for the
1966^) 7 year as based on statistics
complied by the Nassau
County Library Association.
Another significant figure is
that for all of Nassau County the
average that libraries expanded
on personnel costs is as 63.3%
of their budgets. We spent 51%.
Viewed another way, this leaves
us 49% of our budget for other
items such as books, magazines,
films and other materials. The
average library in Nassau
County is left with 36.7% for
such items.
I hope every reader will consider
these figures and then draw
his own conclusions as to their
implications.
Yours truly,
Paul Tilford
To the Editor:
The time is at hand to analyze
all the rhetoric and facts that
have been presented to the public
with respect to the third Library
Budget vote on Tuesday, August
29.
It is amazing that our so called
Library Board, Director, and
Community Leaders have dabbled
in empty phraseology in an attempt
to obtain my vote. Not a
so called " leader" has presented
a concrete fact in defense of the
budget. I wonder if this tact of
presenting the voter - taxpayer
with empty, meaningless
words is another example of
the paternalism and patronizing
attitude of the " professionals"
who believe the voter-* axpayer
who pays the bills, cannot comprehend
the budget nuances.
The Library Director, Orrin
B, Dow, would much rather discuss
the manner in which our
Library is cleaned than the validity
of the expenditure of $ 495
per month plus employee benefits
to an independent contractor.
In Mr. Dow's defense of the Library
Director's function, he
failed to mention anything about
his responsibility as a director
for sound fiscal management. Is
this due to his belief that taxpayers
are a bottomless well of
financial resources?
Due to the limitations of
space, it is impossible to fully
outline all the examples where
taxpayers' money has been misspent.
I urge every voter- taxpayer
to read the public record
of fiscal management and waste.
Read the Minutes of the Library
Boardl You will also find where
our Library Director proposed
that the Library hire a live
nude model for the art classes,
besides other proof of a gross
lack of respect for the voter-taxpayer.
I urge a vote for integrity
and honesty with tax- payers'
funds. I urge every voter- taxpayer
to seek out the truth and
vote against the Library Budget
as presented on August 29, 1967.
Sincerely yours,
Guy Morone
( Continued on page 10)
Postscripts
( Continued from page 6)
new home 153 Washington Street.
* * *
More than 25 members and
friends of the Nassau Chapter
Gold Star Mother's attended
the annual picnic on Wednesday,
held at the Summer home of Mrs.
Lulu Leonard.
* * *
Announcement has been made
of the birth of a daughter, Den-ise
Ann Born on August 13,
at Brunswick General Hospital,
Amityville, to Mr. and Mrs.
Mlcheal Mitchell of Hazel Street,
South Farmingdale. This is their
first child.
* * *
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bailey
of New London, Connecticut,
wish to announce the birth of a
son David Lawrence, born August
4. Mrs. Bailey is the former
Larene Kraft of farmingdale.
* * *
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Hen-del
of 7 Avenue Farmingdale are
the parents of daughter, Marilyn
Jane, born August 19 at Brunswick
General Hospital, The new
arrival joins her brother Jeffrey
and sister Karen. She is the
eighth great- grandchild of Mrs.
Herman J. Weiden of Prospect
Street.
* * *
Jack Scherer and Rich Happ
who have been spending the past
week with Jack's Uncle and Aunt,
Mr. and Mrs, Howard Scherer
of Coram, returned to their
homes in Farmingdale on Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Scherer
of Sherman Road were luncheon
guests on Friday at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. H, Scherer.
* * *
* Mr. and Mrs. Lester Harrison
of Anita Place are spending
a few weeks at their Summer cottage
at Gilgo Beach.
* * *
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Jordon
of Wellwood Avenue, Pinelawn
are spending a few weeks vacation
in Maine.
* * *
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Stuart and
sons of San Jose, California are
the house guests at the home
of Mrs. Stuarts parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Walter Kunz of Staples
Street.
* • *
Mrs. A Muller of East Meadow
has been the house guest
at the home of her daughter and
family, Mr. and Mrs. M. Mitchell
of Hazel Street.
* * *
Miss Debbie Bundow of North
( Continued on page 9)
