Bethpage-Tribune_1970-09-03

              BETHPAGE PUBLIC UBRAW
Island Trees Serving Bethpag* - Ploinvitw - Island Trees - Plaincdg* - Seaford
Vol. 4 No. 45
Old Bethpage
An Editorial
Who is fighting for Jim Tucci's "Civil Rights"? -
Who is Jim Tucci? Why are his Civil Rights"
threatened?, '^
Jim Tucci is the former vice-president of the Island
Trees Board of Education (District 26 - bordering
Bethpage District) He is also a member of the Island
Trees library Board and at present holds dual mem­bership
on both boards. Jim Tucci was elected to the
Library Board in a public election in 1969. He won by a
substantial vote. However, he was opposed by a
minority group who were politically active against his
candidacy. Pressure was brought to bear and the
Commissioner of Education of the State of New York
was petitioned by the group to remove him from office
for alleged "conflict of interest. "The reason Tucci
sought the seat on the Library Board was because
there was no representation on that Board for those
people who backed Tucci's candidacy. Politically the
distinct wag divided and the Library Board was totally
The Commissioner handed down a decision (after
several months) that Tucci relinquish one of the
positions, that his holding both seats could be "in-compatiable."
Unfortunately the Commissioner (not being on the
local scene) was unaware of the political implications
in this case). He was playing right into the hands of the
opposition - In fact the records of the Board of
Education will show that the Board majority opposed
the Commissioner's ruling and the President of the
Board of Education accepted the official document
"under protest."
A number of people were incensed by this decision
since they felt their "Civil Rights" were also being
denied by the Commissioner's arbitrary ruling. In
essence he, by the stroke of his pen invalidated the vote
of the people who had elected Jim Tucci to represent
them— Despite the fact that dual trusteeship is not
uncommon in the State...a case in point — Membership
on a Board of Education and a BOCES Board.
The most important point here is what right does the
Commissioner of Education or for that matter anv
public servant have to deny the valid vote of ths
public? This act challenges the very foundation
of our democratic society—
State Education law requires our schools to teach the
children the history of our republic and guide them
toward a responsible adulthood and citizenship. What
kind of hypocrisy is this — when at the very helm of
this ship of learning stands a hyrannical Captain — the
Commissioner of Education of the State of New York
(Personally Commissioner Ewald B.Nyquistis a nice
person but his position is much too powerful in a
democratic society) What is happening to the rights of
the people? What good is their vote?
Does one man have such great dictororial power that
he can deny the "civil rights" of thousands of people on
the request of a few political dissidents. If this be the
case — then it is time for a change
(Continued on Page 3)
Thursday, September 3, 1970 10c per copy
Several residents of
Island Trees School
District No. 26, Levittown,
N.Y. have instituted and
appeal to the Com­missioner
of Education to
remove Lawrence J.
Berke as president and
member of the Island
Trees School Board,
charging that a conflict of
interest exists because of
Berke's dual role as a
member of a Teacher's
union in a neighboring
School District and his
position as School Board
President.
Pre-Retirement
Clinics Series
Residents of Nassau County
who are approaching retirement
age with a feeling of anxiety will
get some constructive advice1
next month from the Office for
the Aging, County Executive
Eugene H. Nickerson said today.
In cooperation with local
libraries and adult education
departments the office will
sponsor a series of pre­retirement
clinics during Sep­tember
and October, Nickerson
announced.
The clinics Will consists of five
two-hour evening sessions held
weekly.
Discussion leaders have been
recruited from the areas of
finance, social work, the law, and
medicine, and will include
toroeys acu pnysicians.
Nickerson said, "We carefuUy
phut for almost every phase at
our life, but often. push away,
because it makes us un­comfortable,
any plan for that
period in our lives which might
prove to be the most satisfying of
all-retirement. With the help of
experts and early planning,
retirement need not be the end,
but an exciting new beginning for
most adults."
.Since its inception in 1968, the
pre-retirement clinics have
become increasingly popular,
Nickerson said. The program
started with one pilot project in
Westbury and was expanded the
following year to four clinics.
This fall there will be eight clinics
offered in 23 communities in­cluding
Baldwin, Bellmore, Beth­page,
Brookville, East Meadow,
Farmingdale, Garden City, Glen
Cove, Glen Head, Glenwood
Landing, Great Neck, Hemp­stead,
Manhasset, Massapequa,
Merrick, North Bellmore, North
Merrick, Plainedge, Plainview,
Port Washington, Roslyn, Sea
Cliff, and Westbury.
Mrs. Phoebe Bailey, assistant
director of the Office for the
Aging, is coordinator. Mrs.
Marian Greene, director of the
Office for the Aging, said that
most of the people who have
attended the clinics have been in
their 50's, and that she and others
who work with the program feel
this is the best time to plan for
retirement. Her office starts the
programs in the local com­munities
and then helps get them
established as a permanent part
of local adult education
programs. This has already been
accomplished in Westbury, Great
Neck, Manhasset, Port
Washington, and Baldwin, where
advisory councils and local
coordinators are now at work.
Residents who are interested in
attending the clinics may obtain
further information about the
clinics by calling local adult
education offices, or libraries, in
their communities, or the Office
for the Aging, 535-4414. The ad­dress
is 33 Willis Ave.,
Mineola, N.Y. 11501.
Photos-in-the-News I
THE SHIELDS-U*SSN&5S»MKV*
COMMENDED: Nii«SIi d w ^ Cartptrolfer AngeJo
D. Roncallo looks at proclamation presented by the
Town of Oyster Bay observing the week of August* 31
through September 5 as "The Shields - Nassau County"
week in the township. Joining Roncallo, left to right,
are: John Ferguson, of Bethpage, Shields Vice-president;
Stan Perlmutter, of Hicksville, Shields
President and Charles Stetz, Past President of the
Nassau Police Conference. Ceremonies were held at
the Hempstead Elks Club recently.
Discussing final plans for the 17th Anniversary Dinner
Dance sponsored by the ''Plainview-Old Bethpage-
Chamber of Commerce to be held at "The Hedges" in
Hicksville on September 27,1970 are Chamber's Presi­dent
Jules Bender and Fran Schultz Director and Din­ner
Dance Chairman.
SUNDAY IN THE PARK - Mayor-Supervisor Andrew
J. DiPaola, Democratic candidate for Countv
Executive, to succeed Eugene H. Nickerson take's
advantage of sunny Sundays in the park to chat with
Nassau residents for a mutual exchange of ideas