Dear Mr. Venditto:

As a lifelong resident of the Town of Oyster Bay and a 25-year resident of Massapequa, I wish to commend you and the Town of Oyster Bay Council for your wisdom and concern as it relates to the preservation of open space in our town, and your efforts to develop more playing fields for our schools through the SEAFund Environmental Bond issue due for vote this November.

It is wide-felt through all of the Massapequas that this program, is not only essential to our children, but an environmental and athletic must if our continued growth is to support our children athletically in the future.

You and the Council must be aware that Massapequa is the largest of all school districts within Oyster Bay and our Town tax contributions are of equal proportion. I appeal to you and all of the Town Council, that if this Bond issue passes, you make strong consideration to the needs and contributions of Massapequa as it relates to our geometric size and growing population, as well as our financial contribution, when dividing monies for the SEAFund Project.

As the largest school district, our athletic fields are in deplorable condition and they are deteriorating every year due to overuse by thousands of children all year long. Unlike most other school districts, we do not have the privilege or capability to rotate our land space in order to replenish and nourish playing fields; they are all always in use.

I can attest, as a member of the Massapequa Schools Budget and Finance Committee, that it is not from lack of trying or expense that our fields are in poor condition, but from the love and commitment of our children for athletic competition that our fields are happily needed and used to the maximum every day.

I again thank you for your commitment to this program, but most of all please realize how much Massapequa is in need of monies equal to our population, tax contribution and most of all our children's love and commitment to athletic competition.

Gary T. Bennett

Massapequa