Bethpage-Tribune_2002-04-05

              VOL. 40 NO. 1 6 SERVING BETHPAGE, ISLAND TREES, OLD BETHPAGE, PLAINVIEW, SEAFORD AND PLAINEDGE FORTY CENTS
JFK Student Triumphs Against Odds Waste Not...Want Not
JFK Principal Bruce Jaeger (far left), Assistant Principal Kerri
McCarthy (second from left) and Guidance Counselor Marilyn Scher
(far right) congratulate Danny Stein and his mother, Patricia Stein, as
Danny recently won the gold medal in the ASPIRE skiing competition
for amputees.
When you look at Danny Stein,
he comes across like any other
friendly, mild-mannered 11 year old
boy you might meet at John F.
Kennedy Middie School in Bethpage.
When you speak to him about some
of his experiences in life, you
become particularly impressed with
his athletic abilities.
Danny began skiing at six years
old, and for the last four years has
been skiing the Black Diamond
expert slopes. He has participated in
several sports over the years,
including track, as well as numerous
roller and ice hockey leagues, and
has compiled 32 medals for his
participation in various athletic
competitions. As you speak with
Danny even further, you learn one
more important detail about his life
that solidifies not only his ability, but
his heart: Danny was born without
both legs from the knees down, and
shortened arms.
Recently, Danny added to his list
of amazing athletic achievements by
winning a gold medal in the ASPIRE
ski tournament for young amputee
athletes. JFK Principal Bruce
Jaeger, Assistant Principal Kerri
McCarthy and Danny's guidance
counselor Marilyn Scher
congratulated him and his mother,
Patricia, for this achievement.
"Danny is one of the most well-adjusted
children I have ever met,"
said Mrs. Scher. "Even greater
things are in store for him."
To date, Danny has competed in
the Para-Olympics and the New York
Games for the Physically
Challenged, and has played for the
USA Amputee Hockey Team as well
as in able-bodied hockey leagues.
His perseverance to participate in
these activities, despite his
disabilities, was evident early on. He
was fitted with his first prosthetic
legs at only eight months old. By the
time he was 17 months old, Danny
was walking on his own.
"We knew Danny was a
determined little boy - early on," said
Patricia Stein, who has seen her son
highlighted in many magazines and
television broadcasts over the years,
including News 12 Long Island and
the Discovery Channel. Danny has
also been at the forefront of
technological advances for
amputees, having piloted some of
the most advanced artificial legs
available to athletes.
As Danny approaches his teen
years, he holds the same positive
attitude that has helped him to
overcome the physical challenges he
has faced through his first 11 years.
"If I can be born without legs and still
be successful in skiing, hockey and
other sports, I feel I can do almost
anything," said Danny.
While the drinking water supply
on Long Island remains plentiful, the
New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation has
declared a "drought watch" for
Nassau, Suffolk and many other
counties throughout the state due to
low rainfall in recent months. At the
present time, the Bethpage Water
District is recommending that
customers stay conscious of ways to
conserve water, a precious natural
resource that we sometimes take for
granted.
A drought watch is declared
when a drought is in the developing
stages, yet no mandatory
restrictions are put into place. More
aggressive measures can be taken
by the state if the situation becomes
worse. While New York City utilizes
above-ground reservoirs. Long
Island relies on deep underground
aquifers for its public drinking water
so the likelihood of a drought
emergency in Nassau-Suffolk is
minimal.
But, following these tips will help
ensure an abundant supply of
drinking water for all of Long Island
in the near and distant future.
• Install low-flow showerheads
that use 2 to 3 gallons-per-minute.
Conventional showerheads use 5 to
15 gallons-per-minute.
• Check faucets for drips and
repair them promptly. Also,
remember to turn off tightly after
each use.
• Put a plastic bottle (quart-sized)
filled with water in the flush
tank of older toilets to save one quart
of water per flush. When buying a
new toilet, look for a "low-flush"
model that uses 1.6 gallons or less
per flush.
• Run the washing machine and
dishwasher only with full loads.
• Keep a pitcher of tap water in
the refrigerator to avoid running the
faucet when you want a cold drink.
A household that follows a
common sense water saving
program will be helping to protect
the public drinking water supply
today and for many generations into
the future.
The Bethpage Water District is a
member of the Long Island Water
Conference, a professional
organization of more than 45
Nassau-Suffolk public water
suppliers. Celebrating 51 years, the
group is dedicated to providing and
maintaining a safe and plentiful
public water supply on Long Island.
Members also include consulting
engineers, attorneys, water
contractors and officials from
jgovemment regulatory agencies.
Oyster Bay Town Councilmembers Joe Muscarella (fourth from left)
and Mary A. McCaffery (center) present Town citations to Bethpage
Fire Department out-going Chief John R. Sullivan (fourth from right)
and 50 year member Honorary Deputy Chief William Ellinger (third
from left) for their dedication and commitment to the department and
the Bethpage community. Also on hand (left to right) were Farmingdale
Village Mayor Joseph Trudden, Mrs. Ellinger, Mrs. Sullivan, County
Legislator Edward Mangano and State Assemblyman Marc Herbst. J