Power to the people Locals triumph over darkness in Blackout 2003

      Faced with a debilitating power outage, New Yorkers in general, and locals, in particular, proved to be more resilient, resolute and resourceful than ever. All communities pulled together and with that show of strength, that has been tested in recent years, prevailed over the darkness.

story:
Locals serve in Iraq war
photo: 88148B , Luke DeLalio
cap: Clarice Smith stares at the candle she lit in the window of her East Rockaway home. She said she would keep the candle lit until her son, Craig, 18, a Marine, comes home from the war in Iraq. Several other local families had members serving in the war in Iraq.



January


Groundhogs escape!

      With hundreds of friends, family and local dignitaries scheduled to attend their Feb. 2 wedding, a bashful Mel and Melissa tried to skip town on Jan. 21 in what is believed to be an attempt to elope.
      Groundhog handler Andre Ricaud discovered the two love hogs missing from their cage at around 5:30 p.m., when they were scheduled to pose for a Herald photographer. Ricaud later found the desirous duo between the sheet rock and outer wall of the shed where their cage was stored, after they gnawed through the wall.
      Following the couple's Malverne nuptials on Feb. 2, Mel saw his shadow, forecasting six more weeks of winter weather.

Guardino resigns as town supervisor

      Three-term Town of Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino, Jr. announced in early January that he would resign from office to become the executive dean of Hofstra University's Business Development Center and its new Center for Suburban Studies.
      Guardino's resignation, effective Jan. 28, shocked many, as he had high approval ratings with voters and was elected in 2001 with 58 percent of the vote. Later, Town Clerk Kate Murray was appointed Town Supervisor, the first woman to hold the post in the township's 350-year history.

Saying goodbye to a legend at village hall
      The benches at East Rockaway Village Hall were filled with friends, family, co-workers and villagers at the January village hall meeting. Most had come to say goodbye and offer good wishes to the village clerk and treasurer, Sandra Lee Torborg, who retired after 25 years of service.
      "It's amazing what she has done for this village," said Mayor Charles Formont. "She has been my right hand and left hand. She's just been outstanding. I thank her for all she's done."


Hale on hold

      Over nine months after fire tore through Nathan Hale Senior Village in Lynbrook, 152 former residents are growing restless, awaiting the go-ahead to reoccupy their homes, which has been delayed until late spring.
      "The people who make these decision are going home at night, meanwhile these people are waiting for a home to go into," said Lorraine Edgar, whose brother has been living with her in Lynbrook since the fire last spring left him homeless.
      A blaze on April 22, 2002 forced 152 seniors from their home at 30 Doxsey Place, damaging a number of apartments. The damages led to a $7 million restoration project for the building, including $2 million in upgrades.

February

Voices from the pews

      The Roman Catholic Church is still reeling after a Suffolk County Supreme Court grand jury report, released in February, admonished it for its direct role in covering up the sins of its priests. While the scandal has rocked the very foundation of the church, its leaders remain firm in their desire not to sensationalize what is already sadly sensational.
      Local parishioners, however, were eager to talk candidly about their anger over the priest scandal, though none wished to be identified by their full names. Debbie, a slim, blond, local business owner who has lived in Lynbrook her whole life and faithfully attends St. Raymond's with her children. She says she is hurt and angry.
      "How else can I feel?" she asked. "My child was baptized by a priest who is now serving time for molesting a young boy."

Slashing state aid

      Gov. George Pataki's proposed 2003-04 state budget, which would slash school aid $1.24 billion, left local school districts fearing the worst -- deep service cuts or big tax hikes. Under the proposed budget, East Rockaway School District would see a 13.7 percent cut, Lynbrook an 11.1 percent cut, and Malverne a 12.2 percent decrease.

Lynbrook marketing firm settles lawsuit

      The Lynbrook firm charged by the state with deceiving students from across the nation into supplying personal information through the use of phony "educational surveys" in order to sell targeted marketing lists to retailers reached a settlement with the state.
      The Student Marketing Group ,Inc. and its nonprofit arm, the Educational Research Center of America, Inc., agreed to pay $75,000 to settle the case, in which it was accused of deceptive business practices and other violations of consumer protection laws. The group was also barred from disclosing any personal information it gathers for non-educational marketing purposed in New York state, unless it provides notice to parents, students and educators prior to distributing the surveys.


Lynbrook expands pool access

      In an attempt to boost revenue, the Lynbrook Village Pool opened registration to all School District #20 residents, in addition to residents of the incorporated village. Two separate fee schedules were set up, with the school-district-resident fees slightly higher than those for village residents. The Greis Park pool facility has twin water slides and a toddler-friendly wading pool. The Lynbrook Recreation Department hoped to meet a 2003 membership goal of 1,200 residents.

      

March

Rockin' the court!

       For the first time in school history, the East Rockaway boys' basketball team won the county and Long Island championships. The Rocks ran away with a 64-51 victory over Port Jefferson on March 4 to capture the Southeast Regional Long Island Championships in front of a 400-person crowd at SUNY Old Westbury, with an enthusiastic and vocal contingent of Rock fans in the house.
      The East Rockaway girls' basketball also captured its first Long Island Championship on March with a 55-44 win over Southhold. Lady Rock Melissa Gelb was a stand-out, with 21 points in the game, including five in the final minutes of the game while the Rocks' defense held Southhold scoreless.

Malone in, Pupke out

      Malverne political newcomer and ambulance corps president William Malone edged out one-term incumbent Donald Pupke by just 40 votes for one of two trustee positions up for grabs in the village elections. Trustee James Callahan won re-election easily as the top vote-getter, with 973 votes.
      Malverne Mayor Anthony Panzarella became the first incumbent mayor since the 1980s to win re-election, with 807 votes, 93 more than current board trustee and challenger Joseph Hennessy. After the heated election battle between the two, Panzarella said, "Mr. Hennessy has been an outstanding trustee. I look forward to working with him for the next two years."
      Three village officials in East Rockaway -- Mayor Joseph Carrigan and Trustees Richard Meagher and Edward Seiban -- ran unopposed, as did the three Lynbrook village officials up for re-election -- Mayor Eugene Scarpato and Trustees William Hendrick and Thomas Miccio.

E. Rockaway's Kienke named All-Long Island

       Senior Mike Kienke, the 6-foot-4-inch center that helped lead the Rocks to a county basketball championship, was the first East Rockaway male player to be named to the All-Long Island team. Kienke averaged 17.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.

Scrimenti resigns

      Salvatore Scrimenti was sworn in as a trustee of the East Rockaway Board of Education in 1993, just three weeks after his 19th birthday. Scrimenti, the youngest board member ever in the village, tendered his resignation at the board's monthly meeting on Feb. 25, ending what has been a long and successful tenure. Scrimenti resigned to take his dream job as a presidential appointee with the U.S. Department of State working with the foreign press.
      "The real moral of my story is that I really want and whole-heartedly wish for every student in this district to someday be doing exactly what they always wanted to do," said Scrimenti.

County blasts town mailing

      A Hempstead Town mailing, which slammed Nassau County for proposing a $25 fee for challenging home assessments, drew fire from county and Democratic Party officials. Calling the mailings -- sent to roughly 250,000 homes in the town starting March 3 -- and irresponsible use of taxpayer money, officials believe its circulation was a politician stunt pitting the Republican town supervisor, Kate Murray, against the Democratic-controlled county.
      Murray maintained, however, that the mailing was sent out in protest of a fee that is patently unfair, and that it was not politically motivated. "There's absolutely no political component....This is a financial issue only," said Murray, who was up for election in November after being appointed in January to fill the vacancy when Richard Guardino resigned.

E. Rock bids farewell to former mayor

      The March 10 East Rockaway Village Board meeting drew an unusually large crowd, as local residents and politicians gathered to bid farewell to the village's mayor, Charles Formont, was replaced by Joseph Carrigan. Formont was forced to step down after two successful four-year terms as mayor because of village term limits. Formont also served on the board for eight years as a trustee. According to many well-wishers, the village enjoyed many improvements and a renewed sense of community under Formont's leadership.

Downtown fiscal feud

      For years there has been an unsettling fiscal feud between the owners of the properties on Sunrise Highway and the Business Improvement District in Lynbrook. The BID, a special government district, aims to restore and promote business activity in older, decaying downtown areas by providing improvements such as new sidewalks, landscaping, lighting and pedestrian walks.
      Merchants who agreed to participate in Lynbrook's BID were taxed for a period of five years, with that tax matched by the federal government, with no cost to local residents. As the five-year term draws to a close, some landlords on Sunrise Highway are saying the BID has not served them and they were shortchanged compared to other areas of the village, particularly Atlantic Avenue. BID President Harry Leavitt, however, says that those disgruntled landlords did not willingly participate in the BID.



April

Jim Duncan Memorial Fund established

      A memorial fund was established to benefit East Rockaway resident, Jim Duncan, a veteran of the East Rockaway Fire Department and friend to many in need. Neighbors banded together to help Duncan, who has a number of health conditions and underwent a liver transplant, and needed funds to help with the high cost of his rehabilitation.

May

Mules make history

      For the first time in the school district's history, the Malverne Mules girls' softball team made it to the county playoffs, after finishing their regular season with a 12-2 record and being crowned Conference B-IV champion.

Owls capture county crown

      Lynbrook's Adam Mahfouda led the Lynbrook Owls to its second consecutive county championship title, after the second-seeded Owls toppled the heavily favored Garden City squad. Lynbrook later fell in the Long Island championship game to Shoreham-Wading River.


Strikeout on field access

      East Rockaway residents wanting to play a pick-up game of ball at the John Street sports complex will now have to go elsewhere. The village put locks on the complex's gates, to deter unsupervised use of the property.
      Several dozen residents complained at an East Rockaway/Bay Park town meeting hosted by Town Councilman Anthony Santino and village Mayor Joseph Carrigan. Residents argue that the village has recently put harsh restrictions on field access, after it willingly gave up quality control of the field several years ago to a group of residents who volunteered to renovate the dilapidated field free of charge to the village.

Village taxes on the rise

      With the passage of all three village budgets for 2003-04 on May 1, East Rockaway, Lynbrook and Malverne residents call expect to see several-hundred-dollar increases in their tax bills. The new budgets call for a doubling of 2002-03 tax increases.
      Village officials blame the larger-than-usual tax increases on the state-mandated six-fold increase in retirement fund contributions and a 13.5 percent increase in insurance costs. Tax increases for East Rockaway were 13 percent, nearly 15 percent for Lynbrook and 10 percent for Malverne.


Mum's the word

      School district officials in the three villages declined to release tax rates, fearful that residents will see the much higher rates, owing to county reassessment, and vote down school budgets.
      While they're not required by law to release tax rates, in previous years all three districts have offered tax rates so residents could calculate their tax bills. Without a tax rate, residents are being asked to vote on a budget without a full understanding of the implications to their finances.
      While several school superintendent argued that they did not have all the information they needed to calculate a tax rate, the Nassau County Assessor's Office said the districts had all the information they needed since April.

June

Former homeless friends reunited, now with a place to live

      After months of homelessness, Richard Cooper and Eugene Loos signed a lease with the Town of Hempstead Housing Authority. The Herald chronicled the plight the East Rockaway men, who had been living out of a car for several months after being evicted from their Grand Avenue home. Loos, 73, signed a lease for a studio apartment in March, and in June, Cooper, 63, who had been at the Mayfair Care Center in Hempstead recovering from a heart problem, signed a lease for an apartment in the same facility. Though the men's predicament was solved, affordable senior housing continues to be a problem on Long Island.

OLP conviction

      Peter Troy was convicted in Nassau County Court on June 26 of the murders of the Rev. Larry Penzes and parishioner Eileen Tosner, whom he shot during a morning Mass at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Lynbrook on March 12, 2002, a crime that stunned the community and sent the parish reeling.
      After six days of testimony, the jurors took less than two hours to return guilty verdicts on two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder.
      As the verdicts were read, members of the Tosner family present in the courtroom gasped loudly, and Troy turned to look at them. The guilty verdicts were expected, as Troy refused to plead not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, against his lawyer's advice. Troy blamed his neighbor for committing the shootings and framing him.

School district budgets pass

      The "perfect storm" passed and the educational seas calmed, after all three village school districts had their budgets pass by voters.
      The Malverne School District, whose budgets faced the most vocal opposition from residents, passed its $33.1 million program, which called for a 7.63 percent tax increase, by a 1,036-to-851 margin. School board trustee Phyllis Wright, an incumbent, was also returned to her seat, and Gregory Padmore beat Thomas Grech for the second open seat.
      Lynbrook's $51.9 million budget, with an 8.309 percent tax increase, was approved with a vote of 1,252 to 672. Cathy Papandrew beat Bill Kayen, 927 to 869, for the lone contested school board seat, while incumbents Phyllis Caruso and Michael Rehns were returned to their seats.
      In East Rockaway, the district's $22.4 million budget squeaked by with only a 145-vote margin, raising taxes 4.61 percent. The board's two uncontested seats were filled by Mary Bocuzzi and Debbie Tufano, who finishes out Sal Scrimenti's vacated seat.

Wright says no to principal's job

      At a standing-room-only Malverne Board of Education meeting, board trustee Phyllis Wright announced that she would not take the position as principal of Davison Elementary School. Rumors had circulated for months that Wright, who formerly was the principal at Davison, would fill the vacancy created by Leanna Richardson's resignation, and Wright confirmed that she had been offered the job at a lucrative salary.
      Saying she had a change of heart just 10 minutes before the start of the meeting, Wright said, "This was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made."

Murder, rape convictions overturned after 17 years

      The few facts that sent Theresa Fusco's alleged murderers to prison were ultimately not strong enough to hold them there. New DNA evidence, discovered a year ago, set the three men convicted of her rape and murder free after 17 years of incarceration.
      Fusco was a pretty 16-year-old student at East Rockaway High School in 1984. The last time she was seen alive was leaving her job at Hot Skates in Lynbrook. Her nude body was discovered three weeks later alongside the railroad tracks in Lynbrook, showing signs of strangulation and sexual assault. After an intense investigation, three local men were arrested. John Kogut, 22, of Island Park, John Restivo, 27, of Lynbrook, and Dennis Halstead, 31, of Lynbrook, were tried and convicted for her rape and murder in 1986.
      The men were convicted based on strands of hair from the victim found in a van belonging to one of the men and the confession by Kogut, which the defense argued was coerced. DNA testing on seminal fluid found in the victim's body excluded the three men and pointed to another, unknown, assailant.


E. Rock waterfront revitalization on track

      Phase II of East Rockaway's Waterfront Revitalization Project got underway in June, focusing on the business areas on Atlantic Avenue. The objective of the project is to make the village waterfront the focal point of both commerce and recreation. By raising the waterfront's bulkhead, the project will also help to stop bank erosion and reduce flooding.


July

Rock on!

      A sign heralding the accomplishments of East Rockaway High School championship sports teams is unveiled on Main Street, in a testament to the Long Island Championship girls' basketball team, Long Island Championship boys' basketball team, Long Island championship girls' volleyball team and the Conference IX girls' soccer team. The sign was the brainchild of East Rockaway teacher and coach Joe Lores. Longtime resident Harry Conklin collected donations and commissioned the sign.

Former mayor dies

      Former East Rockaway mayor, Theodore (Ted) Rheinhard passed away July 11, after a six-month battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Rheinhard served as mayor from 1977 to 1987 and as chairman of the zoning board for more than 24 total years of service to his community. "He was one of the brightest, most personable, dedicated people I've ever met," said former Village Justice Jack Steingart.


Village of Lynbrook's People of the Year

      Forget about Raymond! Everybody loves Santo Barbarino, principal of Lynbrook High School and named Lynbrook's Man of the Year for 2003. An exemplary educator and principal for the last 17 years, Barbarino was praised for his commitment to the district and for his dedication to its children.
      "He is one of the kindest, most humanistic people I have ever met," said Dean Mittleman, principal of Lynbrook North Middle School. "Who he is makes the high school what it is -- a great place for students, teachers and staff."
      Maryanne Hoesel was named Lynbrook's Woman of the Year for 2003 for her tireless and creative efforts in improving the looks of her beloved village. Hoesel, the hard-working chairperson of Lynbrook's Beautification Committee, was thrilled with the distinction, but insisted that the beautification committee is a total group effort.
      "I just love doing things for the village," said Hoesel. "We are a good team and none of us is doing this for the recognition. Lynbrook is an extension of our own homes."


Malverne is watching

      The Malverne Neighborhood Watch is on duty, bringing another level of security to the village. Set up by concerned residents, in conjunction with the Malverne Police Department, the group will patrol the streets and work under the guidance of officers Robert Giacopelli and Vinny Esposito. Malverne will be divided into six zones, each with its own block captain that will help organize patrols and be the conduit for information between the group and the police.
      

Patton drops out

      Malverne resident Barbara Patton, the Democrat's top choice to challenge Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, dropped out of the race, citing the Democratic party's lack of financial and moral support.
      "It's a tremendous mystery to me," said Patton. "I confronted [the party] and they don't give you a straight answer and you get the feeling you are left out there. [The party] is almost backing away as if to say the race is not winnable."
      The former Democratic assemblywoman for the county's 18th district left the door open for Town Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby to run, but Patton said she will not support Goosby in the election and does not think she can win.

Principally speaking

      Dean Mittleman has been named principal of Lynbrook North Middle School. "I'm thrilled to take the position and excited about the challenges that lie ahead," said Mittleman.
      A graduate of C.W. Post College, Mittleman previously taught health and physical education and has been the chairperson of Lynbrook's physical education program, grades 6 - 12, for the last three years. "I am honored to join the North Middle family," he said.

Mazel Tov

      Malverne Jewish Center celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. When MJC was founded, they held their daily services at the American Legion Hall and its High Holy Day services at St. Thomas Church. The congregation broke ground at its current location on Norwood Avenue on June 6, 1954. For its 50th anniversary, former rabbis and cantors have been invited back and a series of events will mark the special day.


August

Soldiers return

      Three busloads of Marines arrived home safely from Iraq on Sunday, Aug. 10. In the ranks were the Ledwith boys of Lynbrook, brothers Timmy and Sean, and Craig Smith of East Rockaway. Waiting anxiously at the Marine base in Garden City were their families, loved ones, friends and neighbors, with American flags flying almost as high as their emotions. The men, tan and tired, fit and fitfully anxious, were greeted by tears and thanks and shouts of "Welcome Home!" as the sounds of Lee Greenwood's patriotic song, "God Bless the U.S.A.," filled the air.


Welcome home

Fifteen months after a devastating fire ripped through Nathan Hale Senior Village, tenants were welcomed home again. More than 150 residents were left homeless after the April 22, 2002 blaze at 30 Doxsey Place. The displaced seniors went to live with relatives or took short-term leases elsewhere. Most residents decided to return to Nathan Hale, but some former residents have passed away and others have chosen new permanent living arrangements. The some 25 available units were offered to seniors already on a Lynbrook Village waiting list. New to Nathan Hale was a state-of-the-art sprinkler system, new wiring, an additional parking lot and Section 8 distinction.
      "It's very emotional," said Morrey Forman, Nathan Hale board member of the residents' return to their homes. "Fifteen months in a senior's life is an eternity. They have family here. This becomes the glue of their lives."

Stop & Shop says see you later

      The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company announced plans to forever close its East Rockaway location, which serves many senior citizens in the area. Intensifying the shock was the news that there was no hope for another grocery store to take its place. Stop & Shop's lease with the property's previous owner, Foodtown, states that the store cannot be replaced with another grocer.
      In what residents called an insensitive response to their pleas to keep the store open, the doors were permanently closed on Sept. 6. Stop & Shop corporate management issued a blanket statement saying the store was not suited for modern supermarket use.
      
Bus will take E. Rock seniors shopping

      Calling the closing of East Rockaway's Stop & Shop a blow to the community, Town Councilman Anthony Santino announced that the Town of Hempstead's Department of Senior Enrichment would provide a weekly shuttle bus to take the village's senior residents grocery shopping at Pathmark store on the Oceanside border.
      

Lynbrook shops forced to evacuate

      A group of stores on the corner of Sunrise Highway and Atlantic Avenue in Lynbrook were ordered evacuated as of Aug. 1, after a building inspection found the structure in danger of collapsing. Those stores affected by the order include the Corner Cafe, O'Sullivan's Bar, the Unique 99 Cent Store, Tile-a-rama and Salon 52.
      As part of the village's Business Improvement District (BID), the owner of the properties, Elias Properties Management, Inc. of Jericho, had their contractor start work on approved building renovations in July. The contractor noted significant damage to the building's structure and hired private engineers and an architect, who confirmed the structural defects and determined the building was in danger of collapsing. A notice of evacuation was sent from the village building department to Martin, who in turn, advised tenants to vacate their stores by Aug. 1.


Distinguished neighbor dies in car crash

      James Romano, 56, of East Rockaway, died from injuries sustained in a tragic car accident on August 11, while driving south on Hempstead Avenue, Lynbrook. He was a noted Egyptologist and curator at the Brooklyn Museum of Art's department of Egyptian, Classical and Ancient Middle Eastern Art (ECAMEA). Romano joined the staff at the museum in 1976 and was named curator in 1988.
      Most recently, Romano served as project director of "Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity, a major new installation of more than 600 objects from the world renowned ancient Egyptian holdings of the Brooklyn Museum of Art. The exhibit opened to critical acclaim this past April. Romano, who grew up in Hewlett, is survived by his wife, Diana Craig Patch, an assistant curator in the department of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum, his daughter Julia Craig Romano, and his son, from a former marriage, Michael James Romano White of Washington.


SEPTEMBER

Quarterback sneak

      Michelle Corso, 13, is the quarterback for the East Rockaway Rocks Junior High School football team. Amid skepticism, she proved herself to be more than capable and doggedly determined to play football. "I knew I would have to prove myself, but I just knew I could be quarterback," said Michelle.

Murder in Lynbrook

      On Thursday, Sept. 18, Lynbrook resident Anthony Battaglia, 37, was murdered in front of his home. Police believe that Battaglia was a victim of a robbery gone awry, and say that Battaglia was perhaps the final victim in a string of robberies that began earlier in the week, hitting Oceanside, Long Beach and Rockville Centre.
      Battaglia had walked home from the Lynbrook train station at around midnight after arriving there from his job in Manhattan. Neighbors reported hearing voices at the time of the incident and of seeing four or five men in a light-colored SUV flee the area.
      Battaglia was laid to rest on Tuesday, Sept. 23. He leaves behind his wife, Caryn; his children, Richie, 14, and Stephanie, 3; his mother, Ethel; and his sister, Emi Battaglia-Sklitsis.
      

Sticker shock for drivers

       Gasoline prices have skyrocketed, leaving motorists with a bad case of sticker shock. Some stations have been selling regular gas for close to $2 per gallon, which may be the highest price in more than 20 years. Premium gas in some locations has reached $2.15 per gallon. At some stations, customers have seen prices soar 20 to 40 cents per gallon in just a two-week period.

Unity in mutiny

      Several disenchanted members of East Rockaway's Village Unity Party broke away and formed a new political group called the Village Pride Party. Headed, in part, by Francis Lenahan and Robert Keon, the party was formed in an effort to recapture the spirit of pride for the village and to be a voice for all citizens and a watchdog for village administration. The party was also formed because of dissatisfaction with the Unity Party. "We don't want to see our village go without a strong central political party which we feel doesn't exist anymore."
      The president of East Rockaway's Unity Party, Missy Pagliaro, said the formation of the new party was based on politics, and that the Unity Party was as strong and vibrant as ever. Later, Pagliaro sent a mailing to the group's members, asking for the resignation of Mayor Joseph Carrigan. The letter listed six reasons why Carrigan should leave the party, including his decision to put volunteers on "pleasure of the board," and charges that Carrigan talks down to residents. "We [the Unity Party] put him where he is today," said Pagliaro.

DA calls for retrial of Kogut

      Three months after Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon joined in a motion to vacate the conviction of three area men in Fusco's murder, he has now concluded that there is sufficient evidence to retry one of the defendants.
John Kogut, now 39, will again be tried for the rape and murder of Fusco, who was 16 at the time of her death in 1984. She was last seen on Nov. 10 of that year, leaving her job at Hot Skates on Merrick Road in Lynbrook. Her nude body was found on Dec. 5, in a wooded area at the head of Rocklyn Avenue and Park Place. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled.


In with the new

      Edward Tallon was named Malverne School District's Davison Avenue Elementary School principal, bringing with him years of experience as an educator and an administrator in the Bronx.



October

Sketches released

      The Nassau County Police Department released composite sketches of two of the four men believed to be responsible for the murder of Lynbrook resident Anthony Battaglia. The first suspect is described as a white, possibly Hispanic male, between 19 and 23 years-old, with a light complexion, a round face, dark eyes and short black hair. He is reported to be between 5 feet 7 and 5 feet 9 and was armed with a handgun. The second suspect is a white male, possibly Hispanic, between 16 and 19, with a very thin build, narrow face and medium complexion. He is between 5 feet 10 and 6 feet 1 and possibly has a mustache or goatee. A $30,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest in this case. Police are still urging anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at (800)-244-TIPS

Safer streets

      Less than a month after the brutal slaying of Anthony Battaglia, wife Caryn and son Richie, 14, joined organizer Maurice Fox for a rally that called for safer streets. The Nassau Citizens United for Safer Streets met in a municipal parking lot in Lynbrook to offer their support for local police, the Battaglia family and to take a pro-active stand against violent street crimes.
      "We must be more vigilant," said Fox. "We want criminals to know that if you get busted in Nassau County, you are going to jail."

Tidying up Tanglewood

      Work began on the 11.4 acre Tanglewood Preserve. The aquatic habitat improvement program will seek to return the preserve to a natural, environmentally sound state. The cost of the project is $1.1 million, with funding provided by capital bonds sold by Nassau County. Construction also began for Sterling-Glen, an assisted living facility which will be built on the site of the former Tanglewood Day Camp.


ER senior housing complex proposed

      An Oceanside-based development firm, Nationwide Protection, Ltd. proposed a plan to the Village of East Rockaway for a housing complex on the sight of the former restaurant Harry G's, which closed the summer of 2002. The 10-unit senior housing complex is pending approval from the village board.

ER mayor and trustees jump ship
      East Rockaway Mayor Joseph Carrigan, Deputy Mayor Richard Meagher and Village Trustee Bruno Romano jumped the Unity Party ship and hopped aboard the newly designed Village Pride Party's vessel.
      

Lawsuit shocker

      A $40 million federal lawsuit has been filed against the Village of Malverne as well as several former and current village and police officials.
      The suit, brought by former Malverne police officer John Intermor, charges that the board and police department violated his civil rights when he was fired from the force in March 2000 after he was arrested for shoplifting at an Elmont Home Depot.
      Subsequent reports indicate that Intermor, who has been living in Florida, has had two more brushes with the law in the past year - one for driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance and the other for larceny.


NOVEMBER

Election 2003

      After all the campaigning, all the advertisements and debates, all the warnings about what a legislative power shift to Republicans would mean for the county's economic resurrection, when election night ended, things stayed pretty much the way they were: The Democrats retained their slim 10-9 majority in the Legislature and the Town of Hempstead stayed securely in Republican hands.

Cheers to county champs! :X-county teams race to the top

      First-year East Rockaway cross-country coach took the helm in late August, and on Nov. 1, he led the 2003 squad to a Nassau County Class C/D Championship, earning a berth in the state championships, where East Rockaway finished ninth overall among Class D schools.

ER Volleyballs nets title

      The East Rockaway volleyball team netted their third in a row Nassau County C/D Championship title. The Rocks had a 10-2 record for the regular season.

Owls splash to victory

      The Lynbrook High School's girls varsity swim team, lead by Coach Dottie Armitrano, made history when they captured their first ever Conference III title.

Metkiff makes a tough decision

      William Metkiff struggled with the decision, knowing many people would be affected by it. But in November, Metkiff announced he would retire as the superintendent of the Lynbrook School District at the end of the school year.
      A 1966 Lynbrook High School graduate and a Nassau County basketball standout, Metkiff returned to Lynbrook High School as a business teacher in 1971, and in 1991, he was named superintendent of schools. Those who have worked with him say that he has served the district with intelligence, integrity and dedication.
      "We are very proud of what he did when he returned to his alma mater after graduating from college," said Katherine Fox, Lynbrook Kindergarten Center principal.

Youth minister sentenced in sex crimes

      Matthew Miello, 29, of Lynbrook was sentenced to one to three years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree rape. Maiello is the former youth minister at St. Raphael's in East Meadow and a former teacher at Bishop Kellenberg High School. He admitted to engaging in intercourse and oral sex with three girls and one boy from the parish between April 2000 and April 2001, with victims who were 15 and 16-years old at the time.

Growing pains

      Woodlands Nursery, on Franklin Avenue in Malverne, is as pretty as a picture, but difficulties among the owners, neighbors and the village have sullied that picture.
      The owner, Dominic Natoli and Jimmy Schimmenti, both 35, say they are the target of nit-picking politics and complain that their livelihood has been compromised by insignificant summonses and setbacks, even though they feel they are an asset to the village. The Village of Malverne, meanwhile, contends that the partners have been negligent in securing necessary permits, and that it is merely responding to complaints made against the business by area residents.

No more at-home tutoring

      The Malverne School District Board of Education passed The Twilight School Program, putting an end to at home tutoring for suspended students. The new program, created by Malverne's Director of Pupil Personnel, Thedra McCrae, will provide a more structured and stable learning environment for suspended students and a safer setting for teachers, as well as saving the district about $25,000 a year.


DECEMBER

Lynbrook couple relive tragedy, receive $7 million verdict

      The Agoados, a former Lynbrook couple, brought a medical malpractice suit against Dr. Clifford Butterman, formerly of East Rockaway, now practicing in Oceanside and three physicians at Winthrop University Hospital, Drs. Laura Nimkoff, Paul Lee and Donna Better, seeking unspecified damages for negligence in their daughter's death. Their 5-year-old daughter, Alyssa died of cardiac arrest on Dec. 31, 1999, after what her parents say was a misdiagnosis and negligent care.
      In December, the jury handed down a $7 million verdict, finding Nimkoff 65 percent responsible, Butterman 35 percent responsible, and Better 5 percent responsible. Dr. Lee was found not guilty. "Finally, four years later, someone is being held responsible," said Lisa Agoado after the trial.


Nabbed

      After five months of bank robberies ranging from East Rockaway to Great Neck, Stephen Trantel of Rockville Centre was arrested and charged with five counts of first-degree robbery. The police are actually looking into 10 robberies, including the five that Trantel has been charged with. As the investigation continues, police believe he will be linked to the other five robberies. Reportedly, Trantel had a penchant for wearing latex gloves and a baseball caps during the robberies.

Bias crime in ER

      East Rockaway High School senior, Gina Gaft, 17, was the target of a bias crime when posters with her image and anti-Semitic sayings were hung in a local strip mall and at the high school. Gaft has chosen to prosecute when those responsible are identified by police. "I have no idea who, or why someone would do this," she said. An investigation is ongoing.

ER family saved from blaze

      Dave Skellington, 19, saved his family from a blaze that started in their East Rockway home. Skellington brought his mother and two sisters to safety and then put out the fire. "If my son wasn't here, we would have all died," said his mother, Vicky.

Lynbrook woman dies in fire

      Lotty Schamroth, the 90-year-old woman who lost her life on Dec. 11 after a fire ripped through her Lynbrook home, was remembered by her family as fiercely independent and devoted to her family and community.
      Schamroth, who lived alone in the two-bedroom, one-story home at 180 Charing Cross, called 911 at 2:50 p.m. and said her kitchen was on fire. Lynbrook police officers and firefighters responded quickly to the call, and two firefighters were injured slightly in attempting to rescue Schamroth from the burning house.

Brother, can you spare $28 mill?

      The East Rockaway Board of Education proposed a $28 million bond at a community forum. The funds would be used to addressed critical infrastructure repairs and to build an addition to the high school, allowing for a separate middle school. The bond will be voted on in March 2004.

Local HS athletes honored

      A select group of local athletes was honored by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The honorees were from Malverne High School, Rodney Joseph and Megan Richford, Lynbrook High School's Timothy Vesey and Lauren Bivona and from East Rockaway High School Tommy Barone and Melissa Gelb.