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THE WEEKEND - JULY 2 - 8, 2014
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EDITOR IsNAles CHIEF DITOR PUBLISHER Publisher Advertising editorEin Chief John Owens Steve Mosco Angela Susan Anton Angela Susan Anton Lee Reynolds, Wendy Kates, John Owens JillAAugugliaro editorMANAGER CLASSIFIED DVERTISING SALES & COO PRESIDENT President & Coo Larry Stahl, Christopher M. Tranchina IrisMosco Picone Michael Castonguay Steve Michael Castonguay C lAssified MAnAger C reAtive d evP of s Ales &o DESIGNER DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION CHIEF PAGEireCtor EVP OF SALES &PerAtions OPERATIONS IrisLisa Picone Tommy Von Voigt Tommy Von Voigt Schiavone Frank A. Virga Frank A. Virga exeCutive AssistAnt For circulation inquiries, email: subscribe@antonnews.com Email addresses: first initial first name by last name @antonnews.com Shari Egnasko Emailof addresses: Firstfollowed initial of first name, followed by last name, @antonnews.com
| EDITORIAL Summer Starts When The Sky Is Lit While June 21 is considered the official start of summer, the real fun doesn’t kick off until bottle rockets, firecrackers, roman candles, sparklers and jumping jacks are lighting the night sky on July 4th, honoring the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 238 years ago. Rarely does it rain on July 4th (we’re having a hard time remembering when it did), which makes the night that much more sweet. You can step out your door and find a fireworks celebration almost anywhere in Nassau County. Sitting in a lawn chair at John J. Burns Park in Massapequa for the
concert series and fireworks show (this year it’s on July 12) marks a time-honored tradition of lounging around, forgetting about the work week ahead. The cotton candy and toy cart makes its way around the perimeter of the park, while the Good Humor and Mister Softee trucks sit nearby, giving the kids a bridge between the music and firework-filled sky. The Nassau Pops put on quite a show each year. From kid smiles to adult “aaahhs,” Independence Day pushes families towards the heart of summer, one pop and sizzle at a time.
Charcoal, Lighting Fluid And ’60s Memories As a child growing up on Long Island in the late ‘60s, many memories come to mind. The most vivid ones, those that make me feel best and cause me to smile, all seem to revolve around summertime. School was out. The weather was great. It was light till nine at night. After playing all day, we would come home for dinner. Two or three times a week, we would barbeque. These days, it is called “grilling.” Meat on the fire, hot and fast. As we have come to understand now from celebrity chefs and carping foodies, barbeque is cooked “low and slow” with the flame never touching the meat. Totally different process. But back then, if it burned in the backyard, it was a barbecue.
Creating the perfect barbeque was an art form, a technique mastered by father and handed down to son. We had our barbeque pit in the backyard. It was made of brick and slate, with two built-in metal grates. They were identical, the top grate was about 10 inches above the bottom grate. The
charcoals went on the bottom grate, the top was used for food. Before lining the bottom grate with charcoal, a layer of paper had to be put down. We used newspaper. Next came coals. After layering them perfectly, they had to be doused with the right amount of lighter fluid. If too little fluid was applied, the charcoal would not burn and massive amounts of fluid had to be added. Too much fluid would not only make the food taste like lighter fluid, but also might cost you eyebrows if the fire roared and you were not quick enough to jump back. When everything was set correctly, you lit the match. First, the corners of the newspaper were lit. Next, you threw the match in the charcoal. The
fire grew as it consumed the lighter fluid and newspaper. As it subsided, it had to be fanned, usually with a folded newspaper. When the embers started to glow, it was time. First the burgers, then the dogs. Lastly the buns. Everything tasted better on the grill. There were no health concerns, no worries if the burgers were rare in the middle. Ultimately, we all survived. Our most pressing need was then finding the right stick to put the marshmallows on, sticking them right on top of the charcoal. They were hot and delicious. We couldn’t wait to do it again. Local resident Fred Steinberg was born and raised on Long Island. Email: Editorial@antonnews.com
disability. It’s bad enough that she’s only asking him to pay back $700 a month; but this is on top of her recent sentencing of another LIRR fraudster to pay back the $300,000 he stole at a mere $25 a month — meaning that it would theoretically take him 982(!) years (even though, according to the
Bible, Methusaleh himself only made it to 969-years-old). This “sentence” would be funny if it wasn’t so sad for society and the rule of law. I’d like to point out to Judge Woods (whom I’d like to sentence for judicial malpractice in my own Court of Common Sense) that the dictionary defines
a “judge” as “someone capable of making rational and wise decisions.” These recent decisions of hers could make even the famous iron statue of Lady Justice cry tears of shame underneath her blindfold. — Richard Siegelman
In The Community
FRED STEINBERG
| LETTER TO THE EDITOR A Real Court Jester Is Kimba Woods a Judge — or a joke? Queen Kimba recently gave a convicted 60-year-old thief 39 years to pay back the $300,567 in disability pension benefits that he virtually stole by faking a Long Island Rail Road
Letters to the editor are welcomed by the Massapequa Observer. We reserve the right to edit in the interest of space and clarity. All letters must include an address and daytime telephone number for verification. All material contributed to Anton Community Newspapers in any form becomes the property of the newspapers to use, modify and distribute as the newspaper staff or assigns see fit.