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EJ Lopez May 25, 2013 at 10:42 am
In our current world, with its focus on materialism, a me first mentality and overt sexuality at…Read More younger and younger ages, it's important for children to have good positive role models - straight and gay. Sexual development usually begins around 12, 13yrs. Children need to see normal, healthy same sex relationships are part of the world we live in. For to long, gay adolescents have been made to feel isolated and alone. That needs to change. The BoA decision is ridicules. Accepting gay youth, but rejecting adult scout leaders sends a very mixed message at best. The fact is that in 5 to 10 years we will be looking back at this and saying "how could we have thought this way??"
Gandalf May 25, 2013 at 10:23 am
Why does there need to be a debate in the first place? Don't we all live under the "All men…Read More (including women) are created equal..."
If one of these kids goes on to find a cure for cancer, will the discovery be challenged because he is gay? Maybe not when it suits mankind. What's next, redheads? This situation reeks of potential books and behavioral theories being presented. Let the all the kids enjoy their knots and activities. Life is too short. As my High School Biology teacher would say, "There is only one Race, the Human Race."
Tom May 25, 2013 at 10:12 am
It's only a matter of time before we start reading about abuse and problems.
Brick House Brewery May 24, 2013 at 11:57 am
No mention of the Reggae in May ? Its right here in Patchogue!
Jean May 23, 2013 at 01:59 pm
Where do you go on the new Patch to find out about volunteer opportunities?
wendy L Berman May 24, 2013 at 09:42 am
what about Hallock and the water run off and ALL the stagnant water that will become mosquito…Read More infested. Why must we always be held hostage to the Dec and the Epa??? We have a house , Not ours ,that is on culross Drive that is also condemed. Rules change when people know others. The south shore can do whatever they want. What abouut all of us here on the North Shore?? What a shame!!! Wendy Berman
Mommy Roe May 24, 2013 at 08:51 am
It's nice to see that they are helping a beach association but when Pickwick homeowners association…Read More pleaded with the town for help with their beach on the other side of RP...it fell on deaf ears. We are still waiting for the town to do something to their property (the parking lot for Pickwick's beach) so the association can work on possibly salvaging what might be left of our beach.
Rosemarie Shaw May 24, 2013 at 07:27 am
I live right next door to the house now being demolished. Taking down the house is not going to…Read More solve the problem. Everyone was notified certified mail March 2012 when the erosion was only east of the house effecting NSB ppty. Nothing was done by the assoc. or the Bank. Instead of demanding the bank to demolish the home at any time during the past 14months they should have insisted that they stabilize the bluff to protect there investment as well as NSB ppty and mine as well. I have suffered a great loss on my bluff even though I had bulkheading lower & upper. Since Dec. when I had my suvey done I have lost about 20ft.
They were concerned the house would collapse, well they should not have ignored the situation. Now they have to live with the thought of the hurricane season coming and eating away at what is left.
MP Majority May 22, 2013 at 06:43 pm
Spot on, right back at you, Thomas! And to add to what we both said -- it will be a difficult task…Read More for 1st time BOE members to go and ask for these cuts; but we need to do this to be fiscally responsible, and to remain solvent long-term. My husband is a VP for a 200-person company, and he now has to pay 55% of all healthcare costs, and he is making a lot less than the bulk of our Administration staff. Further, in a climate where we are seeing declining enrollment, we have clearly dropped in stature as a school district, and in an environment where we have an army of able-bodied administrators and teachers sitting on the sidelines unemployed (read, "excess supply"), the time is right to set the trend for all districts (and possibly collaborate with them in unison) by raising healthcare costs appreciably, and helping out the taxpayers, and the ultimate benefactors - the kids. Of course you are going to get some backlash on this, but industry demographics and the laws of supply/demand support this stance 110%. Work on this ONE BIG TICKET ITEM, and we will reduce our costs, channel more energy to creating a more robust educational environment for our kids, and begin to bridge the gap between taxpayers and unions. Short term pain for long-term gain. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU.
Thomas Lynch May 22, 2013 at 06:03 pm
spot on! Let's just get realistic and more like the market and the 2013 America we all are living…Read More in. Manspeizer at Cisco, and many MP taxpayers working for HP, IBM, CA, Hitachi, EMC, Arrow, Canon, and may many other companies and private industry etc etc etc are all on multi year NO cost of living raise status for many years. Healthcare costs are not only RISING but the corporate contributions are shrinking as a percentage of premium (my fortune 38 company is at 50% this year down from 60% last year and the premium went UP 31% with Blue Cross/Blue Sheild & UnitedHealthcare!!!!!! ) at ALL of the for profit and also publicly traded companies its the same story. If the excuse here can be this District did this or this one did that or the State made us do it for all the can't trim items.........let's put our pencils down and look at what the REAL WORLD is enduring and doing while our payroll, pension, and administration/overhead costs are double digit expanding in a shrinking job, economic, and inflationary period? I look our national ranking (768 out of 1,000) or a 23.2% and even this budget passing - 64%? as a clear flunking pair of grades (at least needing serious after school help or tutoring. At all of the companies above if you do 64% of your job, you are likley either fired or get 64% or decelerated mbo or bonus payouts? The world is pay for performance and acheivements but we are still stuck in an entitlement and seniority and contract world? Its broken and my single measurement is (even with a greivement that cost me 2 grand) is my school taxes have gone up compounded over the last 8 years about 42%? Its broken folks.......here comes another $$400 to $$800 tax increase to my family (and we can stop with the above the line and below the line shenanigans and piecing this and that - WHERE IS THE ROI?????? We keep taking a peircing like a spear right through our wallet? 64% grade on the budget passing - F or D- and i don't need a rubic to try and confuse me? Simple math from a 1/2 day kindergarten baby from the 60s. <smile>
MP Majority May 22, 2013 at 04:06 pm
Although it wasn't unexpected, I am very upset that this budget got passed as is. I know that BOE…Read More is a thankless job with long hours, but I challenge the new team and remaining members to do what is right by the kids. We need to stop punishing our children at the expense of rising administrator and teacher cost.
I already stated this on another post, but I recommend the following to the new board - do not waste your time nickel and diming over what programs can be cut and which remain. Instead, focus your time on the BIG COST ITEMS that you have the ability to control; namely, salaries and healthcare costs.
By increasing healthcare costs across the board, which are commensurate with private sector contributions and commensurate with industry rising costs, that, and that alone, can cover a significant part of your budget, which can then be spent on the kids. It is ludicrous that cap employee healthcare contributions at only 15%, when the industry norm is clearly about 50% (and higher). You will be met with objections, of course, but it is important that open people's eyes as to what is clearly and industry problem.
Go for the big ticket items during contract negotiations, and bring education back to the kids, and not the Unions and Administrators.
Thank you in advance for these efforts.
ARCH STANTON May 22, 2013 at 10:46 am
ALL I CAN SAY IS, I DON'T EVER WANT TO HEAR ANYONE COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW HIGH THEIR TAXES ARE. IT'S…Read More NOT THE TOWN, POLICE OR ALL OF THE INCIDENTAL TAXES THAT WE PAY, IT'S THE SCHOOL TAXES THAT ARE DESTROYING US.
Thomas Lynch May 22, 2013 at 06:10 pm
sadly most of the folks buying or moving in come with 1 to 3 kids attending schools which drive up…Read More the costs and teacher load. With folks like you Janet moving out with NO expenses tied to your school tax payement - as we drive more older folks out who can't afford to retire or stay here - it will be more and more expensive and difficult to balance the budget. The SPEND per child is way out of whack here on LI.
Janet May 22, 2013 at 04:44 pm
I agree and have agreed for 37 years that the LI schools are out of control. I vote no every year…Read More and no matter how ridiculous the budget is it passes. It comes down to the absent NO vote. We are moving in 2 years so it will then become all elses problem. I certainly hope I can sell my house. Who would want to buy into this district with high taxes and poor results.
ARCH STANTON May 22, 2013 at 03:00 pm
DON'T BLAME ANYONE BUT YOURSELVES. ALL I HEAR IS HOW HIGH OUR TAXES ARE ON LONG ISLAND. TWO THIRDS…Read More OF MY TAXES PAY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WITH THE REST GOING TOWARDS THE COUNTY, BROOKHAVEN, POLICE AND INCIDENTAL TAXES. THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE ANOTHER STORM LIKE SANDY, DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT SERVICES NOT RESPONDING FAST ENOUGH, WHEN THE MAJORITY OF OUR TAX MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS SCHOOLS.
ARCH STANTON May 22, 2013 at 02:47 pm
ALL I CAN SAY IS, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYONE COMPLAINING ANYMORE ABOUT HOW HIGH THEIR TAXES ARE.…Read More THE BULK OF OUR TAXES, PAYS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, NOT THE COUNTY, BROOKHAVEN, RIVERHEAD, POLICE OR ANY OTHER INCIDENTAL TAXES. THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A STORM, WIND, RAIN OR SNOW, DON'T BLAME THE TOWN, BLAME YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR NOT GETTING A FASTER RESPONSE TIME. THAT IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR TAX MONEY GOES.
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