East Meadow Year in Review: September/October

Building a Garden of Hope

On a sunny, autumn morning in Eisenhower Park, elected officials, community leaders and advocates gathered to dedicate a sculpture that they hope sheds light on the dangers of drinking and driving.

The sculpture, Stand Up, Speak Out, was created in 1997 by East Meadow native Michael Alfano. It officially dedicated on Oct. 17 by Nassau County and Mothers Against Drunk Driving at its new permanent location between Veterans Plaza and the Firefighters Memorial. It was originally placed at the Nassau County Courthouse in Mineola and was moved to the Nassau University Medical Center. 

Volunteers from the East Meadow Kiwanis, led by then-President Jim Mancuso and project coordinator Jay Steinmetz, worked tirelessly to construct the garden that will now serve as an important county landmark. They were assisted by the efforts of landscapers Goldberg and Rodler, Cipriano Nursery and Total Landscape Care and Design. The garden was the centerpiece of Mancuso’s Kiwanian presidential project. “Some look at this Garden of Hope and just see a garden,” Mancuso said. “I see a force of good, one that through raising awareness of drunk driving, will save lives.”

Mejias drops out of Senate race

Dave Mejias, a former county legislator who was making his bid as a candidate for the 6th Senate District seat, dropped out of the primary race on Sept. 9.

The announcement came about a week after police arrested the 39-year-old Democrat for allegedly stalking and menacing his ex-girlfriend. During a mid-morning news conference at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, Mejias, surrounded by some 20 supporters, friends and family members, told reporters he is no longer going to pursue political office.

Mejias went on to say he stands behind his former Democratic primary opponent Francesca Carlow and encouraged others to support her in the general election against Garden City Republican Sen. Kemp Hannon.

In search of ‘real jobs’ at EMHS