A Young Tribute

Dear Bryan,

As we get ready to rename the Sag Harbor/North Haven Bridge November 15 to the memory of Marine Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter, who died heroically in Iraq six months ago, two very young boys offered their own tribute to Jordan this summer. It went unnoticed by the public, but I want to share that story with you. My seven year old grandson, Joe the third, was visiting us this past July with his family. Through articles and pictures in The Sag Harbor Express, which we sent to his dad, Joe Jr., in Florida, little Joe learned about Jordan’s sacrifice.

One afternoon I walked with little Joe and his new 10 year old friend Nick to Mashashimuet Park from our Jermain Avenue home. Joe the third asked:“Can we stop in the cemetery to say hello to Jordan?” At he gravesite the two boys, without any prompting, came to attention, saluted Jordan’s picture, and said “Hi Jordan.”

My grandson noticed a headstone with an American flag next to Jordan’s grave and said, Poppy is that the Marine that Jordan pushed out of the way before he died?”

I answered, “No, that’s a Civil War veteran who died 145 years ago, but he would have understood.”

Then he asked if I knew that man. I told Joe the difference in years between the wars, Civil, Korea — where I served as a Navy Seabee — and Iraq, where Jordan served as a U. S. Marine. Joe slipped his hand in mine and said, “Poppy, can we go to the park now and can we visit Jordan again before we go home?”

Joe had one final question before we left the cemetery. “Poppy, do you think Jordan knows we said hello to him?”

My answer was “Yes, and I know he was smiling at you and Nick all the time.”

I was so proud of the two boys who, on their own, honored Jordan in the most innocent a loving way.

Respectfully,

Joe Ricker, Sag Harbor

Power in Image

Dear Editor,

This memorial created by the people, for the people, is a beautiful display of love and remembrance.  If the town of Sag Harbor/Southampton were to erase this message, it would be a malicious act of injustice and misuse of power on all levels of town, state and federal government. Who’s to say that this perfectly fine memorial is unfit to represent the feelings of all of us?

There is more hard work, power and feeling expressed in this piece than the town changing the name of an already existing bridge. Certainly it is not a bad idea, rather a perfect addition to what’s already in place.    

To erase this message would be erasing the name of Jordan Haerter. 

Matt and Ingrid Liot, Sag Harbor

Lost Services

Dear Editor:

The recent change of ownership at the Harbor Heights garage and gas station is not without loss to the Sag Harbor Village community. The decision of the new owner, John Leonard, to close the garage ad only sell gas represents both a loss of automobile repair services and a probable reduction in the market value of the property.

In a free enterprise capitalist economy every capitalist or resource owner is, of course, free to do what he/she likes with such property. But it would have served the community and the new owner best to lease the enterprise to someone willing to carry it on as before. Regrettably, this has not been the case and the community has lost both income and services.

Yours sincerely,

David Carney, Sag Harbor

Cut School Budget Now

Dear Editor:

Can you believe that a Sag Harbor Elementary School librarian makes $122,400, plus an additional 30% for benefits? I was shocked when my neighbor who works in the district told me this. How can the taxpayers in Sag Harbor continue to pay for automatic step increases year after year when everyone else in government jobs and the private sector are asked to cut spending? The teachers in Sag Harbor are paid handsomely beyond what the rest of us local constituents can afford.

Look at what elected officials are saying: The Town of Southampton Supervisor Linda Kabot and the Town Board nixed a 2.5% cost of living increase for elected officials as well as union and non-union staff. Kabot froze the salaries of the administrators. On Wednesday, October 29, 2008, Sheldon Silver of the NYS Legislature said, “All of New York State must cut spending by 10% and not only children and those who need health care assistance will be affected by these cuts, but everyone will be affected.”

“Everyone,” he said. So when will the Board of Education of the Sag Harbor School District accept the current financial climate and do the same? With Wall Street’s decline and the irresponsible lending practices of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it is time for our local Board of Education to swallow a bitter-tasting pill and act responsibly. Cut the budget by 10%.

State workers and workers in the private sector must assume additional responsibilities and improve productivity to meet these cuts. Why can’t we ask our teachers to do the same? The Manorville District cut 18 teachers and teaching aides two weeks ago anticipating the cuts in state aid. Somehow the educational process will continue in Manorville without these teachers and teaching aides. Manorville and Sag Harbor have the same state mandates. Other districts have eliminated trips and consolidated bus routes mid-year. Our superintendent and board recently froze $100,000 from the current budget also in anticipation of cuts in state aid, but this will not be enough next year. It is now time for our board to plan to cut staff next year. How do teachers in other districts achieve excellent academic results by teaching larger classes? Has anyone asked that question at a public meeting? Throwing money into a school district does not mean that academic results will improve.

It is time for the board to offer a retirement incentive to the staff who are eligible to retire and to those who are not doing a good job and there to collect a paycheck. Not every vacancy should be filled. Those who will be hired should be younger educators who really have the spunk and desire to do a good job. They will also be paid less. Why not eliminate the stipend schedule for extra-curricular activities? Why not have the teachers contribute more for their health benefits? These are ways that the board can save money so we can absorb the cuts in state aid.

I asked the aforementioned questions and suggestions as an educated professional with post graduate degrees in the medical field who has had to cut expenses where I worked as an administrator. And believe me, cuts in the medical field are critical.

Just a reminder to the entire community: There are two seats up for election this May. If the two board members up for re-election do not push for increased productivity and cut the budget by 10%, they should not be re-elected.

Yours truly,

Jo Rizzo, Sag Harbor

Tribute to Veterans

Dear Mr. Boyhan:

This morning, the Sag Harbor Elementary School held its annual tribute to veterans at Morning Program. I would like to take the time to publicly thank all our veterans; specifically Mr. Larry Burns, Mr. George Burnett, Mr. Ralph Ficorelli, Mr. Fred Sobotka, Mr. William O’Connell, Mr. Robert Browngardt, Mr. Carl Browngardt, Mr. Tom Toole, Mr. John Capello, Mr. David Pharaoh and Mr. Marty Knab for joining us. Your participation in our tribute allows the students better understand why we celebrate Veterans Day. Thank you.

Best regards,

Michelle Grant, School Counselor

Thanks to Fire Department

Bryan,

As a parent, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the merchants who participated in the Pumpkin Trail.

I’d especially like to thank the Sag Harbor Volunteer Fire Department for the donation of the hot dogs. These guys purchased, prepared and served up one thousand hot dogs in two and a half hours.

There were a lot of happy children – (and parents) – who visited the hot dog stand. Hopefully they can keep this going. I don’t think these guys get the credit they deserve. They give their time for long hours at meetings, training sessions, late night and early morning alarms, helicopter landings , mutual aid calls and stand-by time at surrounding fire houses. Most hold down full time jobs and have families. Volunteer work is demanding and these guys make it seem effortless.

Thanks again to these guys who gave their time setting up, cooking, serving and cleaning up the hot dog stand.

Marla Roesel, Sag Harbor

 

 

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