Curb Teen Drinking To The Editor:

The upcoming school year brings new classes, activities and often new social opportunities that may include peer pressure to experiment with underage drinking. Though resistance can be difficult for teens, as a parent, your involvement has a significant impact on your child's decisions. According to the 2008 GfK Roper Youth Report, 74 percent of 8- to 17-year-olds cite their parents as the No. 1 influence on whether they drink alcohol.

That's why Anheuser-Busch offers "Family Talk About Drinking", a free guide designed to encourage open and honest communication between parents and children to help prevent underage drinking.

Strong educational programs such as these, paired with effective law enforcement, are essential to make progress in the fight against underage drinking and teen drunk driving.

According to the Partnership for a Drug- Free America, all measures of teen alcohol use have declined since 1998. We must continue to guide and influence youth to ensure the progress persists. For a free parent guide, go to familytalkonline.com.
Sincerely,
C.A. Verdon
Consumer Social Responsibility
Coordinator
Anheuser-Busch
Sales and Service of New York, Inc.
President
Newtown Historical Society
On behalf of the residents of West Maspeth

Obama In Disarray

To The Editor:

President [Barack] Obama is in disarray and heading in many directions, thereby diluting our efforts, our energies and our resources needed to move this country forward.

It seems like President Obama is continuously hovering over us on TV, radio and the Internet in campaign mode to promote his agenda of large-scale social programs, big government, government control of domestic programs and the appeasement and enabling of our adversaries.

Obama's concurrent [sic] policies and programs include the following:

• A stimulus plan that has created on the order of a few hundred thousand jobs, because the recovery plan was poorly designed and concentrated on social welfare programs. Obama predicted the creation of 3.5 million new jobs by the end of 2010. We will be lucky if 1 to 1.5 million new jobs are created by December 2010.

• A $2 trillion deficit in FY 2010 and annual deficits of $1 trillion for many years thereafter. Our national debt will go from $11.5 trillion now to $24 trillion by 2019.

• Government involvement in private industry with huge bailouts of the automobile manufacturers, AIG and major banks.

• A government-run healthcare program with more government interference and control. It could cost $1 trillion, and to help pay for it, Obama proposes to significantly raise taxes on successful individuals and small businesses. The crushing costs could force many small businesses into bankruptcy. And Obama's healthcare opponents are being labeled by the Administration as right wing extremists.

• A $12 billion program for community colleges.

• A cap and trade policy which will hurt the U.S. economy.

• Alternative energy programs which will only provide 10 percent to 20 percent of our energy requirements. We need domestic oil and natural gas production and nuclear power plants.

• Financial regulatory reforms generating government control of private industry, and some economically unsound programs. Example: The Administration wants the net asset value of money market funds to float up and down from $1 in response to economic conditions. This will kill money market funds and the safe havens investors seek in times of financial uncertainty.

• Completely exiting Iraq by 2010. This could lead to civil war and more instability in the Middle East.

• Significantly ramping up the war in Afghanistan. We will probably have 100,000 troops there within a few years, which will continue a drain on our economy and military. This is Obama's war.

• A very timid response to the Iranian government crackdown on demonstrators, and a lackluster response to the development of Iranian nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems.

• A weak response to North Korean belligerence and its development and proliferation of nuclear weapons and long range missiles.

• A proposed new nuclear arms treaty with Russia which will significantly reduce the availability of nuclear weapons/missile delivery systems. This program is being promoted by the Obama Administration in the face of increased availability of nuclear missiles by Communist China, Communist North Korea, and Fascist Iran.

• Cozying up to and appeasing the dictators of the world. Barack Obama could be the Neville Chamberlain of the 21st century.

President Obama has his fingers in many pies. He has to start prioritizing his policies and programs, and concentrate on focused and rational domestic and global initiatives most crucial to our economy and security. He has to extricate himself from all the gooey pies, overcome his reckless arrogance and start being chief executive.
Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, New Hampshire

Wants Park In Maspeth

A copy of the following letter was received by the Gazette. Dear Borough President Marshall,

For more than 3 years, the residents of Western Maspeth have suggested that new parkland be created in their community. Thus far, their pleas have not been answered by their elected officials. The address of the proposed location for a new park is 57-40 58th St., Maspeth, NY 11378.

This site is currently completely vacant and for sale by the owner. It is 1.5 acres of open space - an entire block of land - in a community that only has 12 acres of parkland in total to serve more than 36,000 residents.

There are 1 million more people anticipated to be residing in New York City by the year 2030, many of them coming to Queens. We need to prepare now to serve their needs. Unfortunately, the needs of those currently here are not adequately being fulfilled.

The area where this empty lot is located is surrounded by homes which are not within 10 minutes walking distance of a park, which is a goal Mayor Bloomberg has created as part of PlaNYC 2030. The replanting of the close to 200 trees that were present on this property would also help further the city's million trees plan and help clean the air. Asthma is a prevalent problem in the community.

Once again, Maspeth is underserved by parks. This site is for sale and acquisition of the land by the city for use as a public park would satisfy a need for both present and future residents. This kind of opportunity to create new open space will likely never present itself again.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley is currently working on a proposal to present to the city with regards to this project and the people of Maspeth expect that you will work with her to make this a reality.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
Christina Wilkinson

Says 'No' To Bloomberg

To The Editor:

Voters beware of the Gazette's endorsing of King Bloomberg for another round.

While the Gazette praises his future acts against the MTA, the Gazette fails to mention that Bloomberg is looking to get his congesting [sic] plan back in by putting gateless tolls back on the East River crossings.

He along with those fools on the MTA [board] are [sic] already making life miserable with the tax increases on fares and the road we use.

Tax increases started last month and this month your car registration is being socked with an MTA fee $50 for 2 yr. [sic] plus other little fees tacked on.

I know because I registered my car by phone [for] which there is also a $5 fee for assistance.

I thought I was calling Ticketmaster. The final total was almost double the previous 2 yr. fee.
Frank Potocnik
Woodside

Help Comes In All Colors

To The Editor:

On July 21, I took my husband to the doctor's office. After we parked at 21st Avenue and 38th Street in Astoria, my husband fell, injuring a leg. He was in great pain, could not be got up, and I couldn't help him.

A passing car stopped after its occupants saw I was in distress. Two young men came over and picked him up. A man named Kevin and a woman also came over to help. When we had trouble reaching 911, Kevin called the 114th Precinct.

Kevin and the woman stayed until the ambulance arrived. Before the ambulance took us away, I thanked them and said I would pray for them.

The two young men and Kevin are African American; we are white. I want to thank everyone who helped us that day, but especially recognize these three men who saw two people in need of help, rather than skin color.
Sincerely,
Agnes Maniace
Astoria

Says 'No' To Obama Plan

To The Editor:

I recently had open-heart surgery. Through my Health Plan I was able to select a surgeon, get a second opinion and decide who I wanted to operate on me. I had my Aortic, Mitral and Tri-cuspid valves repaired or replaced. With Obamacare at 65 years old, I more than likely would have been written off. Thank God for Freedom of Choice. Obamacare is too expensive, takes away our right to chose and restricts our choices. It is a disguised plan of euthanasia.

The House bill provides coverage for "End of Life" consultations to discuss what life prolonging measures, if any, should be taken. That is currently covered through a Health Care Proxy or a Living Will that can be obtained free of charge on the Internet or from any hospital, if necessary.

The protests that are being held are not organized by radicals but by senior citizens and concerned citizens not Service Union International employees who have a special interest. Our interest is in proper health care, not Obamacare.

Tell him what to do with his plan.
Mary Ann Carey
Howard Beach

Hails Glen Oaks VAC

To The Editor:

I was walking the other day with my Jack Russell [terrier] named Jack when I saw [the] Glen Oaks Ambulance flying by with its siren on and [e]n route to helping someone in need.

Now that brought to mind an event with Glen Oaks Ambulance Corp[s] that occurred a few years ago and I would like to share with your readers. My wife, Eva, and myself were returning home from work and coming back to Glen Oaks Village when we were involved in a car accident on Commonwealth Blvd. To make a long story short, our cars were towed away to be repaired. I'd like to thank the police department and fire department that responded right away and were extremely helpful. Now the very next day, my wife, Eva, suffered extreme chest pains and had breathing problems so we called the Glen Oaks Ambulance [C]orp[s], who I think were there in about two minutes. They were very professional but more than that they were kind and understanding to my wife's health issues. They took her to North Shore Hospital because LIJ had no more beds or rooms available- this was due in part to two hospitals being closed down. At North Shore, they took her directly to the patient area where she could be seen as soon as possible and stayed with her till the doctor release[d] them. As I was talking to one of them, I ask[ed] him his name and he told me is was Raul. I than told him my wife and myself were extremely grateful and we wished we could do something for them for all their kindness. Raul than said to me, "Its OK, for it is what we do."

Now I was thinking since this a volunteer organization and we are in a serious recession, I would think they could use some donations considering all the good work they do. Their address is: Glen Oaks Volunteer Ambulance Corps 79-09 257th St. Floral Park, 11004. They can also be reached at 718-347-1637. I've seen this organization in action and they do a great job. To EMT Raul and his partner if they are still [sic] and that is thank you. Let me also say to the doctors and nurses at North Shore Hospital, who work long hours and yet still show kindness with all the extra patients they have to see. May I say God bless you for all you do for all of us in need. Now I wonder if this would continue if Congress and President Obama gets [sic] their way with this national health plan. I think we all could be in trouble.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Glen Oaks Village