Environmental Poster Contest winners

Email: Editor@GCNews.com

Endorses Jill & Divya

To the Editor:

I have known Jill Citron for over 20 years and Divya Balachandar for over nine years, and I can say without hesitation that there isn’t anyone who is more dedicated and committed to their families and to the community and as deserving of our support to re-elected to the Jericho Board of Education as Jill and Divya .

Our community is so lucky that these two amazing women are willing to give their time, dedication, effort and care to the District. I always see each of them go the extra mile, whether it be for their families, their neighbors or their colleagues. I am so proud to endorse both Jill and Divya for re-election to the Jericho Board of Education.

Steven Katz

Vote for Jill & Divya

To the Editor:

As a parent of a 5th grader, I have been thinking a lot about my years at George A. Jackson Elementary School.

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilwoman Michele Johnson joined with contest sponsors and coordinators to congratulate the winners of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Annual Environmental Poster Contest, open to all fourthgrade students throughout the Town each year. This year’s theme, “Marine Pollution Solutions,” asked students to show the dangers that plastic litter could pose to our waterways and various ways to solve the issue, including proper recycling. This year’s winners were first prize winner Siddharth Yohan Natarajan from Jackson Elementary School in Jericho, second prize winner Chloe Lim from Glen Head Elementary School, and third prize winner Dhruvika Khanna from Central Boulevard Elementary School in Bethpage. This year’s poster contest was co-sponsored by The Waterfront Center, Friends of the Bay, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension – Suffolk County, who provided great prizes to top winners. For more information on the Environmental Poster Contest, and to view top submissions, visit oysterbaytown.com/postercontest.

Are you a professional?

When I think of Jackson, happy memories fill my heart. Being a very active member of the PTA, one of the most memorable things about this school was the kind and caring people I’ve met along the way. Two of these people are Divya Balachandar and Jill Citron. While Jill and I only had a short time together at Jackson, I have gotten to know her very well over the years. She has always been an active member of the community and a constant presence in the district. Jill continues to do so much for the community even though she doesn’t have children in the district anymore.

Divya and I have spent many years together at Jackson and her calm and nurturing presence has been something that I rely on and respect. She is a great listener and open to hearing all sides before making an informed decision. Jill and Divya are up for re-election for the Jericho Board of Education and I am more than proud to be supporting them.

When electing someone to a board position, it is important to think about what their values and morals are. How often do they volunteer? Are they involved in the community? Are they open to suggestions? Do they put chil- dren first? One of the most important questions I have is if they are a kind person. In my opinion, someone in a leadership role needs to be kind and empathetic and also respectful and a team player. These are important attributes that BOTH Divya and Jill have and what makes them a perfect fit for the Board of Education. As an active community member, I urge you to vote on May 16th for BOTH Divya and Jill!!

Fran O’Connor

Support Alzheimer’s treatment

To the Editor:

The FDA has approved two Alzheimer’s treatments, the first ones that actually treat the underlying biology of the disease. However, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has denied coverage for both of these treatments. What this means is that the drugs will be available only to those Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a clinical trial or those very few who can afford to pay the exorbitant cost outof-pocket. This is the first time CMS has denied coverage for an FDA approved medication. This was not the case with earlier drugs for cancer, HIV or other disease; as a result of this approval, these other diseases are now treatable.

My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1980 and our whole family suffered with it for over 20 years. During that time, I kept reading about research progress, which never came to fruition. Now, 40 years later, we finally have a treatment that could mean a better quality of life for those in the early stages of the disease. It would allow people more time to participate in daily life, remain independent and make future health decisions. I can’t tell you how much something like this would have meant to me and my family.

I live in New York’s Third Congressional District and would like to urge all members of Congress to reach out to CMS and demand that they change their unfair and inequitable position on coverage of FDA approved Alzheimer’s treatments. Many lives depend on it.

Kathy Distler, Jericho resident and Alzheimer’s Association Ambassador