This weekend our area will really be on the map when American Idol contestant Robbie Rosen appears to sign autographs at the Showmobile at the Merrick KidsFest at 11 a.m. Saturday, the time traditionally designated for the Calhoun Choir to sing the National Anthem at opening ceremonies.
  
And Robbie, known for his modesty, would probably give much of the credit for his national success to the music education he received from Calhoun’s Sanford Sardo and other music educators in his schools.
  
Monies raised from the annual KidsFest, sponsored by the Merrick Chamber of Commerce at the Merrick station area, are used in part to fund the largest scholarship given to a college-bound senior at each of the three high schools served by the Bellmore-Merrick school district.
  
Our taxpayer monies and parent-teacher partnerships get them to that next step on their way to becoming productive citizens. As Hillary Clinton famously said, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
  
And our local school districts are some of the best in the country. The challenge, in this economy, is to keep them that way, so that future generations of Robbies have the same opportunities.
  
One way to help increase our tax base is to support local businesses, who help pay property taxes and contribute to sports and other school-related fundraisers. The sales tax we pay locally helps fund county programs.
  
Spring time is a good time to get out and get to know the local business districts at events such as the KidsFest in Merrick, Easter Egg Hunt in Seaford and Annual Spring Fun Hunt in Wantagh, the Easter Parade in Bellmore, the Craft Fair in Baldwin and just  strolling along the Nautical Mile in Freeport. Have fun!