RSS 2.0 FeedThursday, October 20, 2011, Weekly editorial
Time to do your homework
This week and next voters have the opportunity to watch politics up close and personal, at candidates’ forums mediated by the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization whose volunteers have been especially trained for the role of referee.
It is a great opportunity for young people to learn about civics too.
The week before Election Day, your community newspaper also plans to publish the league’s Voters’ Guide, also compiled by volunteers. Sponsored by civic-minded local businesses, it includes brief bios requested from all the candidates as well as their answers to questions about issues that are near and dear to the hearts of league members, and also most likely to our readers.
The candidates’ forum listed below is hardly in our own backyard. And only some of the candidates will be on our ballots. Still, many of the issues are the same for all of us, and the chance to see politics in actual debates before live audiences, not just sound bites or 30-second commercials, could be very enlightening. We are thankful to the league for helping keep democracy alive.
Candidates’ Forum:
Monday, October 24 – 7 p.m.
Hewlett-Woodmere Library
Sponsored by The LWV of Southwest Nassau
Candidates invited:
Town of Hempstead Supervisor
Gary B. Port (D), Kate Murray* (R, I, C, TXR)
Town of Hempstead Town Clerk
Stephen A. Anchin (D, WF), Mark Bonilla* (R, I, C, TXR)
Town of Hempstead Council District 3
Owen M. Rumelt (D, WF), James Darcy* (R, I, C, TXR)
Nassau County Legislative District 6
Anthony J. Gonzalez (D, WF), Francis X. Becker Jr.* (R, I, C)
Nassau County Legislative District 7
Adam H. Moser (D, WF), Howard J. Kopel* (R, I, C, TXR)
* Incumbent
Story of success
Last Friday the Old Mill Road School courtyard was dedicated in honor of the late Dr. June Irvin, who as principal – and later the first female schools superintendent on Long Island – loved to gaze out at it during her 19 years working there.
Noted speakers all agreed June Irvin’s life was a success story, as were the schools she nurtured like a garden. Former student and parent, Tammy McLoughlin, told how welcome June Irvin made her feel at school and later at Kiwanis, where she continued her community service after retirement. Dr. Irvin also served as associate publisher of Merrick Life, the community newspaper, and continued on the board of Keep Merrick Beautiful.
Charles Rosenblum, who has run the beautification committee since 1987, when he first met Dr. Irvin and the late Faith Laursen, former publisher of this newspaper, said he was glad to see an outpouring of love for someone who had given so much to us all. So are we!
