Week in Review: Residents Rally to Preserve La Grange Inn

Wendy Regan December 4, 2012 at 07:38 pm

YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH COMMON CORE CURRICULUM!
Teachers at all grade levels also hate the GO-MATH series that has been shoved down their troats. Pampatriot, do you know how the district ended up with GO-MATH? (please ask me, please ask me). Oh, Pampatriot....I think this is the start of a beautiful relationship between us....

pampatriot December 4, 2012 at 08:28 pm

I know they hate go-math too. How did the district end up with Go math? I'm already a fan of yours....!

Wendy Regan December 4, 2012 at 09:33 pm

I'm sure you just made several West Islipers throw up a little in their mouths!

pampatriot December 4, 2012 at 10:05 pm

Wendy, let them throw up. I'm all ears about the so called Go-math.

Rich December 4, 2012 at 10:53 pm

Very well stated Wendy.

Wendy Regan December 5, 2012 at 06:13 pm

The GoMath series was selected and purchased without the benefit, consideration, inquiry, input or polling of the teachers who would be using it to educate their students.
Wouldn’t that be like the General of the Armed Forces buying arms for the troops with no information other than what he got from watching a weapons info-mercial?

pampatriot December 5, 2012 at 09:47 pm

Wendy, you need to always bear in mind that these school district officials, they are in this for self aggrandizing reasons. This is one of the many new products headed down the pike, that these educated elite think is all about notoriety for themselves.
They want to be the one who introduces these lame products, which is all the rage, among their contemporary educators. They keep getting away with this type of thing because in every community there are empty headed individuals who follow blindly, groupies if you will. They question nothing except for where the next venue for patting each other on the back is going to be held. We can forget about the LaGrange because there won't be any West Islip affairs held there again. Where public school education is concerned, every day is groundhog day. History just repeats itself over and over again. You know what they say about not learning from the past, right?

Wendy Regan December 6, 2012 at 12:26 am

Pampatriot, did you know that the GoMath series is so hard to implement that some teachers are finding that they have to shorten other academic lessons in order to have enough time for their students to learn this NEEDLESSLY complicated way of solving mathematics? Yes, GoMath is hailed to be a “cutting edge”, “global”, “thinking outside of the box” way of teaching/learning addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The reality is that it’s just a convoluted way of solving math problems by using 10 steps instead of 3 steps. And those additional 7 steps the student has to do to solve the problem? Why that’s 7 more chances for that student to make a mistake.
For me the dead giveaway that we spent a ton of money for a dud math series was when they started using the infomercial lingo on us: “IT’S GLOBAL LEARNING!”, “it teaches kids to THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX!” The “thinking outside of the box” sound bite is my all time favorite. Is thinking INSIDE the box so bad? Should those who think INSIDE the box be ashamed? If so, why? For millions of years 2 + 2 = 4. It was clear, overtly simple and exact. GoMath teaches the OUT OF THE BOX! GLOBAL! way of solving the same problem: round 2 + 2 up to 5 + 5. The sum of 10 is then held to the side. 5 – 2 = 3. 3 + 3 = 6, so bring back the held to the side sum of 10 and subtract the 6 from it and you get your answer of 4! Can we discuss the district’s reading program next?

Rich December 6, 2012 at 12:31 am

Pampatriot, I agree with almost everything you had to say except for fate of the LaGrange. Hopefully the LaGrange can still be saved. This historic and community landmark means much more to West Islip than another CVS store. As you can read from the "Save the LaGrange" Facebook page, many our residents of many great memories of this great landmark. So log in to the Facebook page and help us try to save the LaGrange.

pampatriot December 6, 2012 at 11:37 am

Oh, believe me Rich, I know about the issue. However, if you honestly think that a landmark like LaGrange can sit, growing weeds, being ignored and looking defeated, for all these years, and then miraculously out of the woodwork comes a superman to save it, well sadly, I doubt it.
The lure of money and material gain outweighs historical preservation, otherwise the property owners would have done something selfless about it before now, and the community would have heard about it. It would be newsworthy, to note (even if attempts by the owners failed) that the preservation of LaGrange was the biggest consideration before the money. I know that's asking a bit much, but to own LaGrange property is a huge responsibility due to the pressure to maintain the integrity of the landmark itself. I mean, look at Cafe Mojo's. I'm not saying it's the same exact thing, but the new owners have so much respect for the history of that place, they desire to continue the legacy for future generations to enjoy. When the baton was passed, they only looked to make it their own, yet preserve the eatery establishment it always was. You have to appreciate that. Change is never easy for dyed in the wool community members, and then again, you don't even have to still be living here to add your two cents worth about keeping LaGrange the catering hall/restaurant it used to be. BTW, Rich did you check out the link to the Common Core Curriculum yet? What did you think?

pampatriot December 6, 2012 at 11:49 am

Wendy, believe me, I know about the idiotic Go-Math. Teachers find it idiotic! Go-Math is an obstacle course through an equation to get to the answer. I'd rather my kid solve the rubix cube for several hours in a day than be exposed to Go-Math.
It should be called Go insane Math. Go crazy Math, Go off the deep end Math. Go into convulsions Math. Go loopy Math.

Rich December 6, 2012 at 02:45 pm

Pampatriot, LaGrange has been vacant for only 2 years. These 2 years have been terrible for the entire economy as well as all real estate both commercial and residential. Plus there was an offer from Walgreens to restore and occupy the Lagrange and the community turned them down. So maybe we still can get a company like a Walgreens to restore and occupy rather than move and probably bulldoze like CVS. It worked in New Hyde Park for McDonalds, why not here. Lets preserve history and memories, not just give up and bulldoze them.

Rich December 6, 2012 at 09:36 pm

Maybe before you write LaGrange off as just another 200 year old building, you might want to consider a few things. The LaGrange was not only originally a stage coach stop but it has incredible meaning to many of our residents both past and present. It has been the restaurant that many have chosen for their weddings, reunions, family get togethers, and hundreds of other special events over the past hundred years. It is a landmark, a historic symbol, and thousands equate LaGrange with West Islip. Certainly these are important factors to be considered before it just bulldozed to make room for a bigger CVS with a 24 Drive up window.
Please visit this included web site to read some of the comments of from just some of the 1400 community members that want to Save the Lagrange. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-The-LaGrange-Inn/445573952157540?ref=ts&fref=ts

Walter Isaacs December 7, 2012 at 12:58 am

Is it? Could it be? Sounds like the has been blogger has returned.

Rich December 7, 2012 at 01:56 am

Sorry Walter but I have to disagree with you, I don't consider you a "has been blogger". You very often have something helpful to contribute. .

Paul M December 7, 2012 at 06:08 am

Lagrange could be converted into storage unit site if CVS deal falls through. West Islip only has one of those. People can even store their memories in a 5 x 10 for $69 a month. Reality takes us to the place where the George Washington that matters most is what is in a persons wallet not whether his stage coach passed within a few miles of catering hall room B. Time to take a few pictures and store them on Snap Fish and bring out the wrecking ball. CVS will be a little closer for some and there will be a lot more parking. Jamie Winkler is one sharp real estate person.

Chris December 7, 2012 at 11:51 am

CVS should build on the Zues lot, God how long do we have to look at that mess? Another 20?

Chris December 7, 2012 at 11:54 am

Zeus should be the first and only concern as far as building in this town. Once thats gone than we can worry about the other little stuff in the town

Chris December 7, 2012 at 12:06 pm

Or should i try again with Dzus. Ill get it right one of these days. Point is that For Sale sign has been up for what feels like my whole life.

pampatriot December 7, 2012 at 12:32 pm

Hi Leo, and Wendy and whoever else, below is a link to a video that for me has more to do with knowing about these issues due to applying common sense, but any way a person discovers the truth about what has been happening to our great nation, is enlightening. My senses are always firing, which is why I knew these things were happening and where they were developing from. Please watch. It's somewhat long. AGENDA DOCUMENTARY: Grinding America Down.
http://vimeo.com/52009124

WIMom December 7, 2012 at 12:33 pm

See Wendy as you can read how off course this thread is from your first comment, my original comment is true. The kids going to school during Winter Recess is no big deal.

pampatriot December 7, 2012 at 12:38 pm

The big deal is this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs-Q0JmWjj0

pampatriot December 7, 2012 at 12:42 pm

All that for the basement bargain price of over 235,000.00 a year. Unless their are multiple levels of incompetance involved here. If that is the case, the bargain price to navigate this matter goes up. Hence. "Which way did he go George, which way did he go?"

Rich December 7, 2012 at 12:55 pm

Sorry WIMom blogs change directions but that doesn't change the facts. When the Superintendent of Schools states publicly that the school calendar won't change and then totally reverses himself two weeks later, there is a big credibility gap. Plus since he canceled the winter recess after he stated that it wouldn't be canceled, many families probably went ahead and confirmed their vacation plans. And yes for many students, especially students who are marginal or struggling and particularly HS students, losing a weeks of school work can be very difficult and challenging

Rich December 7, 2012 at 01:04 pm

Pampatriot, I think you are missing the point. Just go to the "Save the Lagrange" and just read the comments. Not one refers to "George". They all refer what Lagrange meant to them and their families. The weddings, the reunions, the family dinners, and family get togethers. This helps to make LaGrange the West Islip landmark that it is. The fact that it is over 200 years old and had historic significance just adds to LaGrange's greatness.

pampatriot December 7, 2012 at 01:37 pm

Rich what are you talking about? lol. My comment was in reference to how between our highly paid Super's and (asst. Super's), plus some genius's on our BOE, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing OFTEN. Hence: Which way did he go...George...which way did he go? Click the link and you'll see an old Looney Tune that features the fox and the hound. It had nothing to do with LaGrange.

Wendy Regan December 7, 2012 at 01:52 pm

The beauty of this blog is that people can post whatever is uppermost in their mind at that particular point in time. The posters who have voiced their opinions and concerns about other subjects most certainly did not and does not invalidate the FACT that the superintendent and the boe did yet ANOTHER oooops (in their long line of oooops).
The word from 'within' is that the district is denying they said they weren't going to take any days back! How much you wanna bet the district will no longer be videotaping the BOE meetings? LOL!

pampatriot December 7, 2012 at 01:59 pm

Wendy, here is a video from the David Horowitz TV of Bill Whittle. Another great America IS AWAKE at the wheel of his own life. I hope you enjoy it.
http://youtu.be/tLoYxr8gOP4

Rich December 7, 2012 at 05:56 pm

Sorry Pampatriot, obviously I missed the point.

Gerry December 7, 2012 at 08:56 pm

It is a big deal to those who have travel plans. While I am glad I am safe and my home survived the storm, it still does present a problem for families that have plans. It is very strange that the Patch chose to ignore it until Wendy pointed it out. They usually post school news immediately.