An article today about a family’s dog shot and killed by a bow hunter in Tackamack Park/Blauvelt State Park elicited more than a hundred responses by mid-day. Many blast all hunting, others started fingerpointing because dogs off-leash aren’t allowed in the park, where hunting, of course, is banned too.

One reader believed the hunter, or as many pointed out, poacher, should have stepped forward:

This “hunter” should be caught and prosecuted for poaching. A husky doesn’t resemble a deer or a coyote. What I find worrisome is that this person, whoever he is, did not come forward and say anything to the owners of the dog. Not “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t mean to do this.”

One hunter pointed out that it is a privilege to hunt on designated lands, which this and the adjoining state park are not:

Sadly, a situation like this overshadows hunters, such as myself, who exercise great caution and consideration for the surroundings which enable us to enjoy our chosen sport.

And this:

The person who shot this dog was no more a “hunter” than a street drug dealer is a pharmacist. Since hunting is illegal in the town park, the shooter was a poacher, not a hunter.

He was quick with a lollipop to soothe the sting of a shot. He made house calls at all hours of the night to check in on his young patients. The families he served for decades are mourning the loss of Dr. Sidney William Berezin, who died Oct. 12. He was 89.

Dr. Berezin was the first pediatrician to open a practice in Rockland, his family said. He retired just four years ago, at age 85.
Dr. Elliot Siegal, president of Clarkstown Pediatrics, said that he considered it a privilege to work with Berezin. “He was really an old-school doctor,” Dr. Siegal said today, between seeing patients. “He really loved what he did and did it very well.”

Dr. Berezin joined Clarkstown Pediatrics, one of the county’s largest practices, when he was in his mid 70s. That way, he could ease up on the night and weekend calls. In the guestbook for his obituary on LoHud, though, several remembered his house calls, and kindness (and lollipops).

One former patient wrote:

For many years as a child I was sick with asthma and had to make many trips to Dr. Berezin and every visit he made me feel better with just the way he used to make me laugh and his incredible way that he would calm my fears. … My mother and I both cried today learning of his passing.

Dr. Siegal said at his funeral last week, Dr. Berezin’s kid sister, now 85, recalled how he was always studying. He always had a sign on his bedroom door that read, ‘Be quiet, I’m studying.’ Generations of Rockland families owe a great deal to that studying.

This weekend, I got a call from Penny Jennings, who singlehandedly launched a mentoring program, Adults Caring For Teens, Inc., to tell me

she’s a delegate to this year’s Education Project, which takes place in Bahrain and addresses the future of education around the world. She’s also a presenter, joining a discussion on “Empowering Students, Parents and the Community.” Right up her alley.

Penny launched ACT in 2002, wanting a place that matched mentors with young people, no matter their age or their history of trouble. She now leads programs throughout Rockland and has lined up the honors for her hard work on behalf of young people. (She was the state Senate’s  2008 New York State Woman of Distinction, and she’s also a member of the Rockland Community College Board of Trustees — she started her higher education journey there, and finished it this year with a Ph.D. from Northeastern University in Boston. She earned the Ph.D.—no kidding, commuting to Boston from Rockland—while running all ACT’s programs.)

Now, she’s on the world stage. While it’s an amazing feat, it’s not a surprising one for those who know Penny.

Yesterday’s endorsement hearings (Rockland County Legislature District 14, Clarkstown Town Board and Nyack mayor and trustee candidates) went pretty well. We had 100 percent attendance, and informative Q&A.  See for yourself at the Editorial Spotlight archives, www.lohud.com/editorialspotlight.

Tomorrow, the Spring Valley candidates get their turn. The mayoral candidates are at 11 a.m. and trustees at noon. Watch them live, or check out the sessions later, at www.lohud.com/editorialspotlight, or check out the session later.

I asked a couple days ago if anyone wanted to submit questions for the candidates. I received some ideas for Nyack, Clarkstown and the Legislature. Now, to Spring Valley. Want to help with questions? Post them here, or e-mail them to ncutler@lohud.com.

But wait, there’s more! We’ll continue the interviews through Oct. 21. Here’s the full endorsement schedule. (Rockland’s on the second page.)

I’m prepping for the four endorsement hearings scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) and Thursday. Want to help with questions? Post them here, or e-mail them to ncutler@lohud.com. You can suggest questions for any contested race. Or, you can use Livestream during the endorsement hearings. Here’s this week’s schedule of hearings:

Tuesday, Oct. 6

1 p.m. – Rockland County Legislature District 14 

 2:30 p.m. – Clarkstown Town Board 

3:30 p.m. – Nyack Village mayor

4:30 p.m. – Nyack Village trustees

 Thursday, Oct. 8

 11 a.m. – Spring Valley mayor

12 p.m. – Spring Valley trustees

Here’s the full endorsement schedule. (Rockland’s on the second page.) Tune in to LoHud.com when the interviews are being webstreamed live, or check the Editorial Spotlight archives at anytime to review the candidates in your county, town or village at www.lohud.com/editorialspotlight.

Today, we have an editorial about Rockland Community College, which marks its 50th anniversary this week.

Last night, U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel sent out a press release announcing that the just-passed House-passed fiscal year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill contained $300,000 for RCC that the college plans to use to upgrade and replace six science labs supporting instruction in biology, engineering, and physics.

RCC President Cliff Wood said in the statement:  “It is very important for the college to have state-of-the-art science laboratories.  We have a large nursing program and it is crucial to have these upgrades in order to give them a quality education.”

The legislation is an extension of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s investment in scientific research education, Engel said in the press release.  “RCC plays such an important role in the economic development of Rockland County, as well as the educational development of Rockland’s youth,” he said.

That is true; that is what a strong two-college does for a community. It offers real access to higher education.

2004 FILE PHOTO:  John Butler of Verizon, left, talks to RCC nursing students Flo Leighton of Nanuet, and Mary Inniss of Spring Valley at the RCC Foundation leadership awards luncheon at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Suffern.