Letters

Parking Plan Won’t Do
To The Editor:

The plan to put parking meters on the left side of the service road on Queens Boulevard has got to be the stupidest thing yet. With only the center lane available for driving, what happens when a truck makes a delivery to a store, or helps a family to move? Does the city expect drivers to sit there calmly for half an hour? This is only going to increase road rage. Furthermore, the cost of installing this junk and then removing it will be a tremendous waste of our tax dollars.

The reason Queens Boulevard is so deadly is that speeding laws are not enforced. The city certainly has the technology to build robot speed detectors that photograph offenders. Once drivers realize that they cannot speed with impunity, Queens Boulevard will be a lot safer.

Randolph Herr

Forest Hills

Ranch Rules!

To The Editor:

As a resident of Queens for the past 33 years, I feel the need to compliment one of the nicest restaurants I have been eating in. The Ranch Steak House on 31-64 21 St., Long Island City has not only impressed me with their reasonable pricing, but for their excellent service, mouth watering food and mostly for their comfortable "family-feeling" atmosphere. I feel as if I get the red carpet rolled down for me every time I step in there. It is definitely a place I highly recommend for people who want the best porterhouse steak and not to mention the surf and turf.

Not often, restaurants get the acknowledgement from customers who appreciate their exceptional service so I am contacting you for a possible publication in your newspaper.

Sincerely

Margaret Kis

Drink Wisely For Mom

To The Editor:

On Sunday, May 13, let’s honor our mothers by remembering that it was always our mothers who loved us and stood up for us when we did the right thing.

One way to make sure our mothers stay proud of us is to act responsibly. If you’re traveling this Sunday, going to or coming from a family celebration, we at Anheuser-Busch Sales & Service of New York Inc. would like you to remember to drink responsibly and choose a designated driver. Make your mother proud!

Sincerely,

C.A. Verdon

Consumer Awareness and

Education Coordinator,

Anheuser-Busch Sales &

Service Of New York, Inc.

Defends Pruning

To The Editor:

At about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 27, the annual Forest Hills Memorial Day Parade will culminate with Memorial services at the Remsen Cemetery on Trotting Course Lane in Forest Hills. Perhaps during those silent moments, as the haunting notes of "Taps" float over those assembled, we can grasp the reason for the assault on the Continental Post that took place on Apr. 11.

As Memorial Day began to approach, the Post did as it does every year at this time, cleaning and fixing the area around the Remsen Cemetery in preparation for the Memorial Day service there. Our volunteers, veterans and friends, mow the lawn, paint and repair the chain bordering the area, paint and repair the memorial statues, pick up trash, remove the prodigious amounts of dog waste and anything else required. We rely on these volunteers because we cannot afford to pay for all these services. If the cherry-blossom trees were trimmed improperly then we ask that all our neighbors understand that our intentions were honorable and we are truly sorry if the trees have been impacted. Over the years, the trees have grown so large that they block any view of the cemetery behind them, and this year, in addition to normal pruning, the decision was made to cut back one of the trees. This was done so that those who came to join in our Memorial Day services might be able to see as we paid tribute to those whose sacrifice made all of this possible. There was no thought ever given to removing all the trees, as they have become an integral part of this annual celebration of our freedom. We would do well to remember that were it not for Continental Post 1424 and its friends, there might be no historically landmarked Remsen Cemetery. While we welcome all the contributions of others who help in these efforts, it is the Legion that has taken the lead in the preservation of both the cemetery and its surrounds. The patriots buried there were the first to put liberty first, and they represent all those who have died in service to their country, our great-grandparents and our grandparents, our mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers, husband and wives. They will also, unfortunately, represent our sons and daughters, and their sons and daughters, too, because freedom is never easy or cheap.

We welcome the efforts of Assemblyman Michael Cohen and state Senator Serphin Maltese to have the state take over the site and provide the support services needed, in light of the difficulties the Legion face each year in raising the funds needed to accomplish the tasks necessary to preserve the Remsen Cemetery. We would also welcome the participation of all those who have been part of this debate, friends, neighbors or anyone who wants to be part of this celebration of our heritage and participate in the honoring of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Perhaps on that day, we will see a reporter and cameraman from Newsday, and others of the media, who will be just as anxious to put the Memorial Day Parade on the front page as they were to headline the trimming of the cherry blossom trees. We will save a spot, perhaps next to our Gold Star Mothers, or our disabled veterans, or next to our Medal of Honor recipient Robert O’Malley, so they can get a clear picture of what true sacrifice is. And we can all hope that the most recent veterans have their names added to the list that we honor on Memorial Day will be the last.

Thomas Winberry

Commander, Continental Post 1424

Forest Hills

Wants Quiet Concordes

To The Editor:

As the Assemblywoman representing the 23rd A.D., I recently wrote a letter to Jane F. Garvey, Administrator of the Federal Avaiaton Administration (FAA) to express my strong concern over the efforts of British Airways and Air France to reestablish Concorde service to JFK Airport.

I pointed out that for many years, numerous Queens residents have been forced to endure a great increase in noise, vibrations and pollution emanating from Concorde planes flying in and out of JFK up to six times a day. Although the Concordes are currently undergoing major modifications in their exterior and interior structure, no steps are being taken to reduce the noise or pollution caused by the jets.

Additionally, as a supersonic transport, the Concorde does not fall under the Stage III noise requirements. However, there are operational restrictions that limit landings and takeoffs within the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

I am now officially on record as imploring the FAA to enforce these restrictions and to consider investing in modifications that would provide relief from the noise and pollution generated by these aircraft. The safety and well being of area residents is of utmost importance to me, and I look forward to receiving the FAA’s cooperation in this regard

Sincerely,

Audrey I. Pheffer

Member of Assembly