CORRECTION-The population of the incorporated Village of Westbury is about 14,000. The figure given in yesterday's story about the Meadowbrook-Northern State Parkway interchange was for the larger area covered by the Westbury zip code. (1/16/90 2 NS)

To oldtimers, it is pertinent that the village (population 42,000 [CORRECTION-The population of the incorporated Village of Westbury is about 14,000. The figure given in yesterday's story about the Meadowbrook-Northern State Parkway interchange was for the larger area covered by the Westbury zip code. (1/16/90 2 NS)!) is a community where neighbors band together on civic issues, where many residents have lived almost all their lives and where the village board often explains its every move to the public. They are praising Strada for having the guts to take on the state, to insist the state follow its own rules and complete a detailed environmental report.

While many say Strada ought to be commended for putting the safety of the village first, he is instead being blamed - mostly by people outside the village - for the delay. Newsday editorials have criticized him for being parochial and overzealous. Carle Place residents say they suffer more from the stoppage than Westbury does and claim to be held "hostage" by the dispute.