May 9, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 961

50TH ANNIVERSARY MANHASSET

PUBLIC LIBRARY

HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today

to join with my constituents and the residents

of Manhasset as the Manhasset Public Library

celebrates its 50th anniversary. With an intense community spirit and desire to develop

neighborhood-related services, the residents

of Manhasset initiated a program in May 1945

that would provide the community with library

services for half a century.

Organized by the local branch of the American Association of University Women, the

Manhasset Library came into being in a small

rented store with an initial collection of 1,500

volumes. Its first director was Ruth Cowell,

who served in that capacity until 1972. Responding to the growth of the community and

the increasing demand for more materials, the

library grew and a new facility was constructed

to house its every-growing materials and services. Ten short years later, the library continued its expansion and a new children’s room

was added. Shortly, thereafter, the Manhasset

Public Library joined the 54 member Nassau

Library System. In 1972, Elaine Seaton assumed the position of library director. It was

during her tenure that the library’s Sunday

program was developed and the Friends of

the Library was organized. In 1983, with Sylvia

Levine serving as the director, the children’s

room was enlarged and the community room

created. During the past 8 years, under the

leadership of Marian Robertson, the library

has witnessed a rapid growth in the expansion

of computerized services, audio-visual materials, business and general reference services.

As the Manhasset community looks forward

to an additional 50 years of outstanding library

service, I ask my colleagues to join with me in

applauding its efforts to help create and maintain a truly exceptional community.

BELARUS ON THE EVE OF

fELECTIONS

HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on

Sunday, May 14, Belarus will be holding its

first parliamentary elections since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Some 2,400

registered candidates are running for 240

seats. Concerns have been raised about actions of the Belarusian Government during the

pre-election period. These concerns center primarily on restrictions on the press and the assault last month on 19 parliamentarians conducting a hunger strike in the parliamentary

chambers. Nearly 100 paratroopers, armed

with submachine guns or wearing black masks

entered the parliament, accosted the parliamentarians, beat them and dragged them

into the street. The parliamentarians were protesting President Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s initiative to hold a referendum that they felt

would violate the Belarusian Constitution.

Restrictions on the press in Belarus, Mr.

Speaker, also appear to be growing. On April

25, President Lukashenka fired the editor of a

youth newspaper—the fourth editor of a nationwide newspaper he has fired since the

Presidential election last July. Earlier, on

March 17, Lukashenka dismissed the editor of

the Belarusian parliament’s daily Narodnaja

Hazeta, for publishing a letter criticizing the

President’s pro-Russian policies. Critics are

understandably distressed about this and

other attempts to reign in the more independent voices within the state-subsidized press,

especially since the independent press remains relatively weak. In addition, according to

the newspaper Segodnya, the Belarusian

media have refrained from reporting on the

election campaign so as not to anger the

President.

Mr. Speaker, until recent months, Belarus

appeared to be making slow but steady

progress on human rights and democracy.

Last year, Belarus held presidential elections

that were generally free and fair, and Mr.

Lukashenka defeated an entrenched incumbent by a large and unexpected margin. I

have become increasingly concerned, though,

about the apparent backsliding in the democratic process in this strategic country on the

eve of parliamentary elections. It would be unfortunate if Mr. Lukashenka should turn

around and use pressure tactics to hinder free

and fair elections to the legislative branch. As

Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I urge

the Belarusian Government to respect its international human rights commitments, but most

importantly, respect its commitments to the

people of Belarus through the guarantee of

unhindered, open elections.

A TRIBUTE TO JESSE J. LEWIS,

fJR.

HON. EARL F. HILLIARD OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, Jesse J. Lewis,

Jr., was a graduate of Miles College, where he

obtained a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He continued his concern

for education throughout his life, attending numerous executive continuing education programs at colleges and universities around the

country.

Mr. Lewis began his illustrious advertising

and communications career in 1979 with

Jesse J. Lewis and Associates, where he held

several important positions. Under his direction, clients won numerous prestigious awards

for advertising, including a Telly which is

awarded for regional and local television advertising. His unrelenting dedication and leadership enabled his clients to grow and succeed.

In addition to marketing and communications expertise, Jesse worked extensively in

the production field. He was chief engineer at

the New London Record Studios, where he

supervised the production of radio spots, jingles, and custom music for local and national

clients.

As a member of the board of directors for

the police athletic team, the Alabama Ballet

Theater and the Magic City Art Connection,

Jesse was actively involved in civic and social

work throughout Alabama. He was a member

of the National Association of Marketing Developers, the Urban League, the Birmingham

Area Musicians Association, and the Metropolitan Business Association. He was also

chairman of special projects for Toys for Tots,

and chairman of the Birmingham Crime Commission.

Jesse passed away suddenly due to a tragic

car accident on February 26, 1995. He is survived by his loving mother, Helen; his devoted

father, Jesse Lewis, Sr., former President of

Lawson State Community College and Publisher of the Birmingham Times newspaper,

and his brother, James Lewis.

Jesse Lewis, Jr., contributed immeasurably

to the communications and business area of

the African-American community of Birmingham, as well as to the constructive relationships with diverse business entities for the

State of Alabama. Jesse will be greatly missed

by family and friends. However, the legacy he

leaves behind shall preserve an indelible impression for all of us who came to know and

love him.

CONGRATULATIONS TO RAYMOND

CLARKE ELLIS

f

HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

congratulate Mr. Raymond Clarke Ellis of

Setauket, Long Island, NY upon his retirement

from Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Co.

on May 15, 1995.

Mr. Ellis’ retirement is a very special occasion. It marks the conclusion of his 80 years

of service to the Phoenix Insurance Co. That’s

right. Eighty years. That’s a remarkable

amount of time for anybody to remain employed, especially at the very same company.

On June 1, 1915, Mr. Ellis joined what was

then called the Home Life Insurance Co. as an

office staff person. He spent 7 years as a field

underwriter and then became an assistant supervisor of agencies. In 1928—1 year before

the Great Depression—Mr. Ellis was named

head of the New York City agency. And Mr.

Ellis has been producing business for the

company ever since.

Raymond Ellis still commutes on the Long

Island Railroad from his home in beautiful

Setauket, Long Island to New York City. An

avid swimmer and accomplished handball

player, I’m sure that Mr. Ellis could continue

this commute for at least another 25 years.

Mr. Ellis is also an active member of his

community, serving in several charitable organizations, including the Fraternity of the Masons which he joined in 1919. As a community

leader, Mr. Ellis has proven that the strongest

people are those who serve others.

Raymond Ellis is certainly a model of hard

work and dedication. I’m confident that if we

all reflected upon the contributions that Mr.

Ellis has already given, we would all be inspired to try a little harder and give a little

more. He truly is an exemplary role model.

On behalf of the people of Long Island, I

congratulate Mr. Ellis on a job well done. We

wish him the best of luck for his retirement.