Dan's Papers - November 21, 2008 - Honoring the Artist: Cuca Romley

Dear Editor:
The 2008 election was historic for many reasons. Most notably for the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. As the nation faces significant challenges at home and abroad, I wish the new President well.
I also wish to congratulate all of my fellow candidates who were successful in their quest for public office, as well as my good wishes to all those who made the democratic process work by seeking public office this year.
Most importantly, I want to express my humble thanks to the people of the 2nd Assembly District for returning me for an 8th term as their state representative. For those who did not vote for me, I pledge to work even harder next term to earn your trust. I was pleased to see that nearly 1/4 of all the votes I received were on 3rd party lines. This indicates my supporters came from across the political spectrum and reflected my efforts to represent the district in a truly bipartisan fashion.
The hard work of a new term is on the horizon. The challenges are substantial. I look forward to again meeting those challenges on behalf of the people of the 2nd Assembly District.

We love the job you do. - DR

Dear Dan,
Re: Your “Corks For Dogs” article, HILARIOUS! Thanks for the laughs.

Let’s open a bottle of champagne. – DR

Dear Dan,
A brief note on Bill Sokolin’s letter printed November 14, “Sooner The Better.” Facts are stubborn things. Sokolin says, “I checked 10 companies on the stock exchange in the last two months. One – only one – has gone up significantly, Haliburton, Cheney’s old company, before he was vice president.” Sokolin, blow your smoke elsewhere.
A two-second check on Yahoo reveals the following for Halliburton’s closing prices in the last few months: July 2: 52.94; August 1: 45.73; September 1: 42.74; October 1: 30.32; November 1: 19.79; close Friday November 14: 18.11. Maybe in Sokolin’s wine business going from 53 to 18 is a significant move up, but where I come from that is a 65% loss. Does the truth mean nothing to anybody any more?

Dear Dan,
Last weekend’s tragedy got me to thinking.
I grew up on Railroad Avenue in Patchogue and, although I moved away for a couple of decades, I now enjoy a somewhat obstructed view of the Patchogue River just a stone’s throw away. Patchogue has always been home. It’s richly diverse in ethnicity and alive in community spirit. Both my parents were deeply rooted in the village, my dad on the Patchogue Village Police Force and mom taking us to Shorefront Park to swing on the swings, and following their lead, I embraced our town.
While in grade school, I walked to the Patchogue Library on Lake Street all summer long. Its new home on Main Street draws me still. Friendly faces greet and I always run into someone I’ve not seen in a while.
We could always smell the spice-of-the-day rounding the corner for home at The Lace Mill. It sure was a staple at the west end of town for as long as I can remember. All these years later, the corner of Holbrook Road and Main Street remains alive in progress and I’ve frequented Ultimate Fitness regularly at 5 a.m. – there’s a loyal early a.m. following there, more diverse, friendly and hard working people that cross my path here at home on a regular basis. South Ocean Avenue Middle School came after eight years at St. Francis. It, too, is richly diverse and welcoming. There were no ice-breaking sessions like we so often have now for our young people. No pre-visit walk through to familiarize myself. I met new people on the first day and quickly built a new routine with people I would end up calling friend.
Throughout my teenage years I spent many Saturdays ‘up town’ – walking through Swezey’s, Blum’s and having a slice at Gino’s. Vinny and Millie’s son has picked up where they left off and it is still my favorite slice.
The milestones of my daughters’ lives were memorialized upstairs at the Brickhouse – my closest friends and family gathered for baptisms, communions, and birthdays. They’re young women now but always pick the Brickhouse for a dinner out.
George no longer owns Highway Cleaners, but its new owners greet me most Saturdays and after a brief chat, we wish one another a fine weekend, and I move on to my next errand.
Mark, Brian and Larry, my neighbors at The Harbor Crab, exemplify Patchogue, hard working businessmen that care about the community as well as the success of their business - the former facilitates the latter.
Time changes the names and the faces. Diversity continues to grow. Together with the local merchants, my neighbors and I have a great sense of community spirit and belonging. My home is peaceful and welcoming. Three cheers for Patchogue – still home after all these years.