SUNSET CITY MEMBERSHIP DUES: Remember to support the many advertisers that offer us discounts. Check out some of the new advertisers in the back of the newsletter. Send $5.00 to Sunset City Civic Association 630 Interlaken Lane, North Babylon NY 11703 and make check payable to Sunset City Civic Association. $5.00 FOR THIS YEARS MEMBERSHIP CARDS ATTACHED TO THE MAILED NEWSLETTER DUE NOW! Thank you for your continued support.

COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE: I’d like to thank Chairwoman Andrea Tschetschot for running this years-annual garage sale. It was a big success.

This past pool season (June/July) I noticed that my pools water level was dropping, indicating a leak of some sort. My suspicion was that the leak was due to a tear in the liner somewhere. Rather than spend hours trying to locate the tear, I decided to enlist the services of professionals. I therefore contracted South Shore Pools, located on Sunrise Highway in West Islip, to locate the leak and do the necessary repairs for $97.76. To make a long story short, they claimed they came to diagnose the problem on 7/9/08 @ 11:36am and found no visible leaks.
Unfortunately, I was not home when they came. In any event the problem was not corrected – my pool still has a leak and I’m out $97.76. I want to advise the community that if they have a similar situation and are dealing with South Shore Pools, make sure that someone is home when they come to check for any leaks.

Support our advertisers, such as, Phil Sciacca, the Sprinkler Man who maintains our triangle at no cost to the civic. In addition, we have All-Pro Lawn Care and Earth Care who will be maintaining and beautifying the triangle, the new dentist in town, Dr. Yavus, DDS and last but not least Mrs. Munza’s Honey. Allergy sufferers – Honey taken from local beehives has been known to help allergy sufferers. I have taken Mrs. Munza’s honey everyday for the past year & a half and have noticed a considerable difference. The key factor is that the honey must be taken from bees near where you live.

COOL TALK ON A HOT NIGHT – BY LAURIE SEIDEN # 669-5964 - CHAIRPERSON OF THE PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE NORTH BABYLON COUNCIL OF PTA’s.

On a very warm night in June, the last Sunset City Civic meeting of the 2007 - 2008 school year was held. In attendance were members of the Civic Association as well as our Superintendent Dr. Robert Aloise, Board President Janet Meyerson, and Board Trustees Jay Shinnick and Barbara Fergusion. In addition, North Babylon Council of PTAs President Debbie Epifane was also present.

Dr. Aloise spoke about his background and elaborated on the new team(s) of people that have been assembled in various areas that will provide the foundation in order for our district to move forward. Dr. Aloise indicated a need for us to lower the number of students classified as “special education”. Dr. Aloise said there is a need to start “examining” the internal workings of our district and staffing practices K-12”.

Dr. Aloise concluded with comments dealing with the necessity for a district wide plan utilizing administrators in such a way as to broaden their responsibilities district-wide rather than to limit their responsibilities beyond their own building(s), and a call for accountability on all levels. After a short question and answer period, Dr. Aloise’s closing remarks were those of praise for our current school board. Dr. Aloise thanked them for all their hard work and tenacity.

The meeting then focused on more mundane matters, namely Vinny and Lenny’s birthday cake. Council President Debbie Epifane presented Mr. Sciacca with a Certificate of Appreciation for his efforts in reaching out to the PTAs in our district, and for making me feel a valued member of the Civic Association in my capacity as a council representative of the PTA.
It was an informative, productive and festive end to yet another school year. I look forward to seeing you all in September.

On behalf of the Civic Association, I would like to thank the PTA, and Debbie Epifane in particular, for honoring me with the Certificate of Appreciation. I would also like to thank Laurie Seiden for all of her efforts and hard work on behalf of the Civic Association and the PTA.

Steve Bellone offers to cart garbage for its entities: By Chau Lam Newsday 6/25/08

Citing the potential to reduce costs, the Town of Babylon is offering to haul away garbage generated by schools, libraries and fire districts within its borders. Town officials said the more than 30 entities could save as much as half of what they currently pay Private Carter’s.

The service to be offered by Babylon would be different, Supervisor Steven Bellone said yesterday, in that the Town would provide bins to sort paper, cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles before the waste is hauled away. "This is a win-win situation for all involved," Bellone said.
As President of our Civic Association, I have on numerous occasions marveled at Steve Bellone’s foresight in dealing with important issues facing our Town. For example beautifying Deer Park Ave. If only the DOT would do the same we would have beautiful State and County roads. Steve has done a tremendous job maintaining our beaches, pools and playgrounds. Update: The Town of Babylon has signed a contract with Verizon (FIOS, we soon will have a choice.
Steve is also in the process of having a Carbon Law which will free green-home funds (Newsday 8/7/08 By Chau Lam) Carbon is now classified as solid waste in Babylon after the town’s five-member board voted yesterday to change local laws.
The move will allow Babylon officials to use a portion of an estimated $28.7 million surplus in the town’s residential garbage district to finance Green Long Island Homes.
Babylon plans to use at least $2 million of the surplus to pay up-front costs from any homeowner in the residential district who makes such energy-efficient renovations as up-grading heating and cooling systems, officials said.
Homeowners will have up to 12 years to repay the funds, as much as $12,000 per house, at about 3 % interest, Supervisor Steve Bellone has said. Good job Steve and Board members. Keep up the good work!!

STIMULUS CHECK: I’m sorry I read in Newsday 7/10/08 Alarm over food aid. Washington – Long Island organizations that provide free meals to low-income children could be forced to make significant cutbacks this fall, experts said during a Congressional hearing yesterday.

Hello! Congress! Why did you spend $43 million to let people know their stimulus check would by arriving in three to five days? And sure enough I received my letter from the Department of Treasury (as I’m sure all of you have) Notice Date 6/30/08 telling me my stimulus check will arrive by 7/5/08. Hello! I needed to know this! I think this waste of taxpayers dollars could have been better spent by putting food in the stomachs of our hungry children. Shame on you Congress!!

BEWARE OF GAS STATIONS TAKING ADVANTAGE: My wife and I were driving along Bayshore road and saw a Valero gas station that had a large sign reading “Regular Gas $4.19 a gallon” while other gas stations where selling gas at $4.29 or higher. Naturally, there were lines at Valero, so we waited our turn. When our turn came I put my charge card in, filled up the tank, and took my receipt at which time Joann noticed that the receipt indicated the price per gallon was $4.29. To make a long story short $4.19 was for cash or a Valero credit card only. Then I noticed the small little sign that said $4.19 gallon cash only.
Newsday 7/11/08 printed an article 'Ire over credit card pricing'. Well it happens to be legal. Unscrupulous, but legal.

COMEDY SPOT: "an e-mail gone wrong"
A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during an icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday, Oct 16th with his wife flying down the following day. The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send and e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her e-mail address, and, without realizing his error, sent the e-mail.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband’s funeral. He was a minister who had a heart attack and died.
The widow decided to check her e-mail expecting messages from her relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted. The widows son rushed into the room and saw the computer screen which read:
TO: MY LOVING WIFE – SUBJECT: I ARRIVED – DATE: OCTOBER 16TH, I know you’re surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you’re allowed to send an e-mail to your loved ones. I’ve just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.
P.S. Sure is freakin' hot down here.

Pushing Kids to Be Smarter Sooner
Why the focus on preschool may be misguided.
By Rich Maloof for MSN Health & Fitness

All across the country, parents of preschoolers have been sighing in relief. Summer brought the news that more kindergarten classes would shift this fall from part-day to full-day programs.

For parents and caregivers, the advantages of this recent trend are clear. Those in dual-earner families won't need to leave work early or pay for after-school childcare. Stay-at-home parents will be able to enjoy a few extra hours of peace—or, more likely, spend additional time doing all it takes to keep a household up and running.

If you're a kindergarten student, your benefits are not so clear-cut (though, hats off to you for perusing this article!). According to a study released in July, the academic gains resulting from full-day kindergarten diminish quickly—and even tend to be reversed within the elementary-school years.... Read More Here.

Colleges around the country are ditching cafeteria trays to lower water and energy use and to prevent wasted food. "If a college is looking to go 'green,' they need to start looking in the dining facility," said Sodexo spokeswoman Monica Zimmer; the food-service company expects 230 of the 600 colleges it serves to stop using trays. Skeptics worry about broken dishes, and some students worry about balancing their plates in bustling cafeterias, but it's hard to argue with the savings. The 18,000-student Georgia Tech went trayless in response to last year's drought, saving an estimated 3,000 gallons of water each day. A 25-university study by Aramark Higher Education Food Services found that students waste 25 to 30 percent less food when trays aren't available, and cafeterias save a third- to a half-gallon of water for each tray they don't have to wash. Some advocates also believe that getting rid of trays will help reduce obesity. Sources: Associated Press, Time

By Zinie Chen Sampson

Two-year community colleges are seeing record enrollment as families squeezed by tough economic times steer high school graduates away from more expensive four-year universities.

While the shift solves one funding problem, it potentially raises another. Community college officials in some states, including Texas and Virginia, are concerned the precarious nature of their own finances -- brought about by rising costs and state government budget shortfalls -- could limit their ability to handle the anticipated influx of new students... Read More Here

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Adopt a pet at the Babylon Animal Shelter

Pushing Kids to Be Smarter Sooner Why the focus on preschool may be misguided. By Rich Maloof for MSN Health & Fitness

Pushing Kids to Be Smarter Sooner
Why the focus on preschool may be misguided.
By Rich Maloof for MSN Health & Fitness