The first editorial is a response to an e-mail sent out to by the Civic Association to all members and people on the e-mail list. The e-mail was written advising all recipients that a new Port Washington Sentinel article was published on the website. Village Trustee Ross Altman stated the following:

(First E-mail from Ross Altman (December 8, 2000)

Hi Bob,

In the interest of fairness - why don't you reprint the article about that same Public hearing that appeared in the Port News as well??? I take issue with the notion that the whole thing is a "fait accomplis" even though I have made it very clear what my position on the matter is. I also think that the article you chose to reprint was quite one-sided. Perhaps Alice should have called it an Editorial and not a news story. I have been working very hard to try to insure that the best interests of the village are fully protected and at this moment nothing is fully settled yet. I will be happy to discuss this matter or any other with you any time you like.

Ross C. Altman (Port Washington north Board of Trustee)

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(First E-mail response from Bob Keane, Sect. of Civic Association (December 8, 2000)

Dear Ross:

This e-mail is in response to your questions and reservations.

I received permission to reprint the Sentinel's articles, I was not given permission to do the same with Port News. I sent Port News (Anton) an e-mail several months backs seeking permission to link to their articles (which they publish on their website) but never got an answer. I have not tried recently.

I would gladly list the Port News articles as well, or have a list of their articles with a link to the Anton site. I will not beg the Port News to do this.

My point is not to present, in your opinion, a one sided argument. My point is to have as much information as possible for the General Public to read. The Civic's website is a place for all residents to get some information. Our site is a form of media similar to the newspaper or magazines. All forms of media can be criticized as having some type of slant. Don't tell me that the Port News is in favor of the Civic Association. I know the ties between Anton and the Mayor and have been told about events in the past. Our goal is to have a site online 24 hours a day for all residents to read at their leisure. They can take whatever they want from it, as long as they get updated on information on the Village.

Please don't forget that I did offer to do a site (free of charge) to the Village about a year ago, only to get a letter from Tom telling me no. In fact the letter wasn't even signed by him, only his rubber stamped signature. You could have had a site with all this info as well. Making your Board even more open to the public. Quite honestly, I am not sure that Tom would want all the residents to have access to this information.

Please note that I am planning on placing all future articles from the Sentinel on the site. I am sorry that the second article (placed on the site) is not to your liking. Don't forget that our goal is to place as much info as possible.

If you have a contact for the Port News, I would gladly discuss listing their articles as well. I will even place an editorial section from you, if you want.

Please call me at any time to discuss your issues.
Bob Keane

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Response to Bob Keane's e-mail (12-10-00)

Dear Bob
I hope that you did not take offense at anything I said in my e-mail comments to you. I actually would have deleted the above line but it was too late.

I would be happy to talk to the people at the Port News as to permission to reprint their articles.. Assuming that any time an event is covered by both papers, both articles would be presented.

When I joined the Board of Trustees it was not to do the bidding of Tom [Mayor Pellegrino] or anyone else. I think that has been made clear by my words and my actions. I have immersed myself in this [Lewis Oil] situation because I sincerely believe that it is an opportunity to bring about the most significantly positive change in the profile of this community to happen in the 25 years that I live here. I find it hard to understand why there should be opposition to a plan that will make those ugly tanks go away and give the village the opportunity to prevent any new structures or businesses from being built along that portion of the waterfront and dedicate it to the use and enjoyment of the residents of the village and the Port community at large.

I feel that we are close to putting the pieces in place to 1. Acquiring the waterfront property along with a huge package of improvements that will give us a tremendous running start to move ahead from there. 2. To then move into the next phase of the project which will need to establish an advisory committee to explore all of the possibilities available to us for the development of a beautiful public facility. When we add up the value of the property itself, the money that will be given for the rebuilding of the oil dock, the very substantial cost of cleaning up the property, remediation of any contamination problems, and rehabilitating the shoreline by removing all the debris, old pilings, old bulkheading, and reshaping, replanting and stabilizing the shoreline to return it to its most natural state - plus the cost of acquiring the Belanich property and making needed improvements -- this all adds up to a very substantial dollar figure that will be used as a match for state and federal grants that are out there and available for this type of project. I have already begun to speak to people from the town and others about the availability of grants of this sort and everyone agrees that this would be a project that would be looked at with great favor by any and all concerned agencies.

I think that you should be able to understand my adverse reaction to opinions that would seek to impede the progress of this proposed project. I would hope that if and when this project moves forward, that we can enlist the aid and participation of the residents of Port North, the Civic Association, Residents for a More Beautiful PW, and the Port Washington community at large to work together toward the goal of creating a beautiful place for all to enjoy.

I look forward to talking to you or anyone else concerned about this matter.

Ross Altman

PS - I would welcome your reprinting of this letter along with a note about its evolution on your website or any newsletter.