MTA, LICHS Glad Tidings
To The Editor:

I am writing this letter to impart a note of elation in this world of sad, pessimistic news.

I heard on the radio and saw on TV that the MTA is not going to raise the subway and bus fares for 2007 due to its successful sale of properties. This is indeed good news, because already financially strapped straphangers and subway riders do not have to have added stress and concern about paying extra for increased fares.

In addition, after reading about the AP [Advanced Placement] successes of Long Island City High School students, I felt so proud. This shows that our own high school has truly smart students who will be competent leaders of the future. This article has successfully pointed out that our schools are teaching and our students are learning and these students who have succeeded are role models, and inspirations and will motivate the countless thousands of other students to succeed.

Thank you, Gazette, for featuring such an optimistic article. During this holiday season, I wish to thank you, Gazette, for being our eyes, ears and reporter of our community. Your gift of excellent reporting is deeply appreciated and one that lasts all year round. Happy holidays. Cynthia Groopman Long Island City

NATO Is UN Arm To The Editor:

At a late September meeting of the NATO defense ministers, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld agreed to place 12,000 U.S. military personnel serving in Afghanistan under the command of Britain's Lieutenant General David Richards.

NATO was begun in 1949 as a "Regional Arrangement" under the provisions of the United Nations Charter. Then Secretary of State Dean Acheson told the U.S. Senate that it was an organization "for strengthening the United Nations". The reality is that every member of our Armed Forces who has ever served in a NATO unit has actually served in a UN subsidiary. Hence it is little surprise that 12,000 of our forces now find themselves with a British general as their leader.

All who enter the U.S. military are required to swear an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution, nothing else. It is a betrayal of our patriotic men and women in uniform to transfer them to a UN command and to force them to serve under a leader from anywhere but this nation. Yours truly, Janet McCarthy Flushing

Ask 'Who's Your Bud?' To The Editor:

Just as gift-giving, resolutions and celebrations with family, friends and colleagues are time-honored holiday traditions, being a designated driver is finding its way into the heart of the season's festivities. According to a new survey conducted by Data Development Worldwide, more than 148 million American adults have used a designated driver or have been driven home by one. To put it in perspective, the number of Americans who have first-hand experience with a designated driver is nearly half of the U.S. population.

The survey also found that employers are doing the "ride thing" too. Seventy-one percent of Americans say their employer encourages the use of designated drivers at holiday office parties, along with at least one of three other tactics to encourage employees to get home safely- offering food, serving drinks responsibly or arranging free cab rides.

The good news is that our nation is making progress in the fight against drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk-driving fatalities have declined 39 percent since 1982.

Anheuser-Busch Sales & Service Of New York wants to thank all adults who choose to be or use a designated driver during the holiday season. Not only do designated drivers help save lives, using or being one shows that you care about your friends, family, colleagues and community. Demonstrate your appreciation for people you know who have been a designated driver by logging onto www.whosyourbud.com and sending an electronic "thank-you".

Anheuser-Busch Sales & Service Of New York is working hard to be part of the solution to drunk driving. As we give thanks and celebrate this holiday season with family, friends and colleagues, remembering to ask "Who's Your Bud?"-the designated driver-before celebrating will keep us all safe...because Responsibility Matters. Sincerely, C.A. Verdon H.R. Manager Anheuser-Busch Sales & Service Of New York

Has Some P.S. 6 Info

The following letter is a response to Kenny Sussman's request for information about the now defunct P.S. 6, Congregation Beth El and other locations of the Astoria of many years ago. We encourage those of our readers who have such information to correspond with us or with Mr. Sussman.

Kenny:

I heard about your article in the Gazette from my aunt and was happily surprised! I checked it out on the Internet.

My name is Roberta Donner, my maiden name is Green. We lived at 25-22 Steinway St. I was in school with your brother Richard and still remember him from Kindergarten (and the stories my mom tells me about us! eek!). I remember going to your house once. He and I were the only two kids left in the class on "Wednesday afternoons". We were also members of Beth El. I wish I had some pictures of the old school. Did you know that Richard and I were in the last graduating class? I can still see the cold lunchroom and the arched hallways for the hot lunch kids. I have to ask my mother if she has old pictures of P.S. 6--she went there too!

My family moved there in 1929, I had 3 generations of family there until 1973.

Did you know that it was a "TREAT " for my brother Mark and I to go to Sokol's? Remember George's down the block?

Please send me any photos you may have and I will try to get all that I have. (I think I still have my P.S. 6 Service badge!)

I see you're involved in the Gazette, so if you should speak to Julian Wager ("Uncle Julie"), please send my regards to him and tell him I hope he is O.K. !!

I can't wait to hear from you. Roberta Green Donner

Not Totally 'Totalitarian' To The Editor:

Reference: Arlene Philomena 11/29 Letter "New Era Dawns". I admire the equal-handed coverage which throughout the years has

been the hallmark of the Queens Gazette. Therefore I would like to comment on the Publisher's Note relevant to the conclusion of Ms. Philomena's letter. She expresses that she is pleased that the new majority Congress will now replace the prior, whose agenda was virtually one with the Executive Branch, consequently exercising no oversight whatsoever. Observing that the Judicial Branch is also predominately of a similar philosophical mind as both the Executive and Legislative Branch[es], she states that we had come "frighteningly close to being a totalitarian regime". No doubt the powerless minority party might agree with her if they base their conclusion on Webster's definition of Totalitarian: "a highly centralized government under the control of a political group which allows no representation to other parties". In truth, the minority party had indeed been rendered abjectly inconsequential.

"Totalitarian Regime", however, carries with it a terrifying connotation of enemies past and regardless of Webster, I agree with the Publisher's Note which refutes the writer's opinion saying, "America has never even remotely approached a 'Totalitarian Regime"; [Ms. Philomena's description is] far too severe. Perhaps a description such as"Totalitarian-ish" would have been a more modest and accurate assessment;...semantics. Nevertheless, let us hope that our three branches of government can once again become independent and remain that way regardless of party affiliation and personal bent and that we never again have need to consider just how "Totalitant" we are becoming.

The term may not exist, but let us hope the spirit does. Zack Pal Bayside