Impressive Coverage
Dear Timothy Bolger,
I read your article in the Long Island Press about your encounter with the Secret Service [“Suppress Coverage,” Oct. 23]. In principle I agree with you. Of all the federal law enforcement agencies, none is more paranoid than they, and with damn good reason. In the past 50 years there have been three assassinations, and one attempted assassination on the president. If there is any branch of the government that has come under continual barrage from the press as well as Congress, it is they. During a visit to church, some yo-yo said something to old Slick Willie while he was still president. The Secret Service guard snatched the guy out of the pew and started going through his pockets. Now if that’s not being ridiculous, I don’t know what is. I was doubled over with laughter when I read your article. You mention the boogeyman to those guys and they’ll look in every closet to find him. I got to meet Hillary Clinton last year in Pennsylvania when I was there on Army business; she had two Secret Service agents with her. One of them was carrying a Mac-10 under his jacket. And arrogant me thought the FBI was rude—they’re pussycats compared to the U.S. Secret Service. However, don’t be too hard on the Secret Service; they’ve taken some bad-ass reamings from the press and Congress because of the Kennedy murders, as well as the attempt on Reagan. God forbid anything happens to these two guys [Obama and McCain] and heads will really roll. Today we live in a very paranoid society, and the proverbial boogeyman I mentioned before is everywhere. Anyway, I hope this helped calm you, and keep writing those good articles.
Regards,
Paul McDermott, SFC, U.S. Army (Ret.), Glen Cove

Dear Timothy Bolger,
What a great article about your experience with Secret Service agents at Hofstra on the day of the last 2008 presidential debate. For a while, I thought about taking off work and sneaking on campus that day to observe Secret Service agents in action. I changed my mind for two reasons: (1) I couldn’t afford NOT to go to work, and (2) with my luck, you and I would have definitely met in that makeshift interrogation room. I realize your encounter was frightening at times. But I wanted to thank you for your unique angle on what you’ve aptly described as “one of the most crucial presidential debates in history.” Excellent writing!
Sincerely,
Renee Gardner, Hempstead

NONNA MIA!
Dear Michael Martino,
I enjoyed your article on your grandmother [Dry Martino, “Buon Compleanno,” Oct. 23]. May God bless all of those Italian immigrants who came to America. My family’s story is similar. They also came from Campania. It’s hard to instill the old ways in our kids today. I share a lot of your sentiments. Good luck!
Sincerely,
John Medolla, Peconic

Dear Michael Martino,
A very warm, heartwarming story about your grandmother. As a person of Italian (and half Neapolitan) descent, I can certainly relate to what you said and experienced. I wish I had gotten more out of the relationships with my grandparents when I was a kid. I never really knew one grandfather, and the language barrier made in-depth conversations with the others difficult. Yes, we did speak and converse, but oh boy, the questions and conversations I would have now if I could do it over (and oh, the stories I missed!). My own children (ages 15 and 13) just lost their last three grandparents in the last 18 months, so what they had in communication with them they’ll miss in years they could have shared with them. So time and opportunity is truly precious. Enjoy it! Thanks for the article.
P.S. I think pasta fazool is actually pasta e fagioli. Your grandmother would approve!
Sincerely,
Frank J. Aimetti, Melville