D-Day for double-parkers

Long Beach Police issued a blizzard of tickets to illegally parked drivers over the holidays, signaling a new crackdown by the city. City Manager Bruce Nyman said the City of Long Beach had declared an open season on double parking and overtime parked cars, drawing cries of anger from merchants who must park downtown for the entire business day. Officials hoped the effort would lessen the chaos of central shopping district parking.

MLK Center fights budget cuts, apathy

Just one week before the federal holiday honoring its namesake, Long Beach's Martin Luther King Jr. Center announced how it would attempt to survive a funding crisis that has vaporized more than half of its budget. At an emergency meeting, the MLK Center's leaders revealed they were cutting jobs, canceling programs, and curtailing hours. The center's 1999 budget of $270,000 was reduced to just $130,000 for 2000.Executive Director Patrick Graham said the center would close on Saturdays, the basketball program slashed, and summer camp, the Arts and Crafts Program and choir would all be canceled. Just as discouraging was the extremely low-turnout to what officials had hoped would be a rally.

Pattern of police brutality alleged

A $10 million lawsuit filed against the City of Long Beach alleged that the Long Beach Police Department had a 'punch first, ask questions later' policy three decades ago which enabled four police officers to brutally beat a Long Beach teen without provocation, and then lie about it in court.David Pearl, now of Oceanside, blamed the attack he suffered on August 9, 1967 on a rogue group of "old school" cops who used their fists to keep their own kind of order, but the suit charged that a climate of corruption and brutality fostered a pattern of violence in the department. Mr. Pearl filed suit against the city, the LBPD, and three retired Long Beach police officers-Leo Nolan, Arthur Whitman, and Vincent Milo. Mr. Milo's confession in 1999 revived Mr. Pearl's long-dormant hopes of clearing his name. Mr. Pearl's attorney described his client's ordeal as "not a unique set of circumstances."

Fighting racism, inequality and frostbite

The spirit of hope warmed enough hearts to make a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march possible on the coldest day in three years. Though the air temperature dipped below 0 degrees every time the wind blew, dozens of marchers carried their banners proudly through the cold on Monday, January 17.Organized by the Long Beach center that bears his name, they marched on the national holiday celebrating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They just modified the songs a bit, altering "Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round" to "Ain't gonna let no cold turn me 'round." The march had been all but canceled, but local children and some of their parents insisted that they wanted to march no matter how low the mercury fell.

The King Lives!

Straight from Las Vegas, Graceland, or the nearest mall, Elvis Presley was sighted at the Long Beach Public Library, electrifying a crowded room with some of his many hits. Impersonator Steve Mitchell, who grew up in Oceanside, danced with swooning fans as he sang "Hound Dog," "Love Me Tender," and "Don't Be Cruel." Among those serenaded were twin girls Chelsea and Kayla Jones, who celebrated their first birthday the following week.

Hundreds protest Gulotta's budget cuts

The shouts of protesters demanding that Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta's debt reduction plans not slash human services were loud enough to cause people inside the legislative chamber to look out the window at the crowd five floors below on Mineola's West Street.Hundreds of demonstrators braved freezing temperatures on January 19 as they waved signs outside the County Executive Building. Representatives from various human service agencies stood side-by-side with county legislators on the front steps.Patrick Graham, Executive Director of Long Beach's Martin Luther King Jr. Center, said the cuts effect on local residents "represents a large loss in options in the little options that they do have.""I think the cuts are horrible," said Long Beach resident Liz Shawin. "I think that the people who are most in need are people who are being sacrificed in the interest of politics."Denis Devine/Herald

Surprise snow swipes city

Several unexpected inches of snow caused traffic accidents and canceled school, a day after what felt like springtime conditions in Long Beach. Pictured are Thomas Sullivan (center left) and Tara Parrington (center right) helping out their neighbors, Robert (left) and Michael Oquendo on East Harrison Street. It wasn't long before a snowball fight interrupted the shoveling.

Pt. Lookout home erupts in flames

One minute, Dennis Keenan was broiling lamp chops on his stove, watching TV in another room. The next, he was watching his family's historic Point Lookout home, stocked full of irreplaceable mementos and craftsman improvements, go up in flames.Mr. Keenan's 55 Cedarhurst Avenue home was destroyed by a fast-burning fire, as were the two cars in the driveway and next door. Billowing smoke was spotted by drivers several miles from the scene.Despite the efforts of firefighters, who braved extreme heat and cold, Mr. Keenan lost his home and the bulk of his belongings. Mr. Keenan's two Dalmatians and his girlfriend's border collie escaped unharmed, though one of the pooches took off and was missing for more than 24 hours before she was retrieved by neighbors on the lookout.

Scout leader Frederick Romanofsky dies

Frederick H. Romanofsky, a Long Beach resident for 53 years, died on January 22 at the age of 89. Born in Dnepropetrovsk, Russia, in 1911, he was 12 when he came to the U.S. with his family. He worked as a salesman in the restaurant business, and would rise to become the Commissioner of Boy Scouts in Nassau County. He made Long Beach his home after purchasing and renovating a home on Pennsylvania Avenue that had been devastated by the Hurricane of 1944.

Beach condos get Zoning OK

The Long Beach Zoning Board of Appeals approved a new addition to the city's beachfront landscape: a 45-unit condominium building proposed by developer Mozafar (David) Shokrian.Unanimous approval of the variances that were sought for the $9 million project was met by gasps from the City Hall audience, as many neighbors to the property are dismayed that the project was given a go-ahead despite questions about former City Council President Michael Zapson's role as Mr. Shokrian's attorney. A complaint filed with a judicial oversight board was stymied by the city's all-but-defunct Ethics Committee.

FEBRUARY

City, brokers tackle group rentals

The City of Long Beach teamed up with the Long Beach/Island Park Brokers Council to tackle the persistent problem of illegal group rentals in Long Beach. That quandary dominated the public comments at the February 1 City Council meeting. Out of the collaboration will come a one-page rider to be included with all leases in the city, which will explain the city's laws aimed at addressing a primary reason for much of the city's residential parking problem.

Frozen bridge breeds bad brakes

Among the host of traffic accidents caused by a surprise snowstorm was a whopper: 22 vehicles collided after some lost control on a frozen-over Point Lookout Bridge. Several vehicles slid on the ice, then were struck by other cars behind them. And so, and so...

Jets brawl saga nears end

On February 7, former New York Jets lineman Matt O'Dwyer was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $4,373.42 in restitution for his part in a July, 1999 brawl at Bogart's in Long Beach. Meanwhile, his former teammates, Jason Fabini and John (Jumbo) Elliot, were said to have reached an agreement to plead guilty only to a violation stemming from the fight that left four police officers injured.

LB senior named Intel semifinalist

Long Beach High School senior Eric Chambers was named an Intel science fair semifinalist, earning a $1,000 for his scientific research of music talent. Eric had played cello for many years and decided to study how different types of music help people study. His report provided 26 pages of scientific data.

SURF's UP!

The Long Beach City School District received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund the SURF's UP (Striving Upward through Recreation and Fundamentals) 21st Century Community Learning Center, a program designed to make the middle school a safe haven after school for approximately 200 participating students. Academic, cultural and recreational activities under adult supervision are available through the program.

Dynasty on deck

Long Beach High School's boys swim team celebrated its fourth Nassau County championship in five years on February 13, beating Great Neck North and defending champion Garden City.

LB hoops falls in quarters

After an incredible comeback victory over Baldwin in the first round of the Nassau Class A playoff tournament, the Long Beach High School boys basketball team ran into red-hot Elmont in the quarterfinal round. Elmont eliminated the Marines 68-53 in a likely learning experience for Long Beach's underclassmen-heavy roster. In the opening round, the Marines came from 15 points down in the second half to oust Baldwin, 60-54.

Lido girl, 12, mourned

On February 20, 12-year-old Claire Marie Costello died in a skiing accident in Banff, Canada, outside of Calgary. The accident cut short the life of a talented artist and writer who owned a loving nature and creative spirit. Claire was a sixth-grader at Long Beach Middle School.

MARCH

Fatal fall from sky

Meg Gargano made an unforgettable discovery while walking her dog behind the Long Beach Medical Center: a mangled dead body that likely fell from a plane landing at Kennedy Airport. Investigators theorized that the man had secreted himself inside of the wheel well of a plane's landing gear, and plummeted to the ground when the gear deployed on its descent.

Baa-aa-aad hazing on beach?

Hofstra University officials suspended a predominantly athletic fraternity after a bizarre incident on a Long Beach beach. While police officers did not observe any criminal behavior among a crowd of college students on the night of March 2, discovered in the crowd was a sheep. According to a college spokesperson, fraternity brothers initiating pledges had threatened to force them to have carnal knowledge with the unsuspecting farm animal.

Bye-bye, Nassau buses

In the latest round of devastating repercussions of Nassau County's fiscal crisis, sweeping cuts to Long Island Bus service threatened thousands of people with the loss of their only affordable means of transportation. The Long Beach barrier island was to be hit particularly hard by the proposed cuts, with one of the two bus lines-the N33-connecting to the mainland placed on the chopping block. The other line, the N15, faced severe cuts in service.

Judge calls 'cut' on 7-plex suit

A judge dismissed an Article 78 proceeding brought by nine neighbors of the proposed seven-plex movie theater at Long Beach Blvd. and Park Avenue. The suit sought to have the Long Beach Zoning Board of Appeals' approval of several variances for the developer thrown out. The neighbors and their lawyer planned to appeal the decision, saying it neglected to address any of their concerns.

LBHS hockey ices repeat

Long Beach High School's varsity hockey team avenged its only loss of the season, completing a two-game sweep of Massapequa to win the Nassau County championship for the second straight year. The Marines posted 3-2 and 5-2 victories to claim the Nassau County Cup and a bye to the state championship game.

Circulo sues city over canceled 1998 festival

Circulo de la Hispanidad, Inc., filed a suit for unspecified damages against the City of Long Beach, charging that the city violated its First Amendment rights in canceling a Hispanic cultural festival Circulo had planned for Memorial Day weekend, 1998. The lawsuit charged the city caved in to political pressure fueled primarily by racism in shutting down the festival. The city claimed its rationale was a concern for public safety due to potential gang violence brought to Long Beach by the festival.

Marineland sale a 'done deal'

The sale of the Marineland property to a developer planning a 20-unit condominium complex was finalized, even though the Long Beach Zoning Board of Appeals had not yet ruled on the application for the proposed project. Developers reportedly paid $2.4 million for the waterfront land, which includes the former Elks building at New York Ave. and Park.

APRIL

Debbie Rosen/Herald

Waldbaum's got a facelift in hopes of reviving the downtrodden shopping plaza.
Waldbaum's expansion underway

A massive renovation and expansion of the Waldbaum's supermarket in Long Beach began, with hopes of pumping some life into the shopping plaza and luring several new businesses. The new and improved Waldbaum's was slated to include a pharmacy, a gourmet meat section, and enlarged bakery, more check-outs, and self-scanning registers. The overall project was estimated at about $1.2 million.

Leroy Conyers dies

Leroy Conyers, a man many thought of as "the black mayor of Long Beach," died on April 1. He was 63. A Long Beach resident since 1958, he worked for many years for the Recreation Department and Ice Arena, and was the first director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. Even in retirement, he took an active role in the community, often taking to task the youths he saw hanging out on the streets of North Park."He wanted them to have a job," longtime friend George Mitchell said. "He didn't believe in just walking the streets, hanging out on the corner."

LB bids farewell to Komanoff, Rev. Evans

Hannah Komanoff, once one of the most powerful political leaders in Nassau, Rev. Jesse J. Evans, founding pastor of Christian Light Missionary Baptist Church, both died on April 9.Ms. Komanoff's political leadership and philanthropy played a key role in shaping the modern City of Long Beach. She represented Long Beach on the county Board of Supervisors from 1974-85. She was 89.Rev. Evans, 87, had watched over his congregation for 49 years. "He always saw the good in someone and downplayed the bad," his daughter Jessie Wilson said.

State restores bus funds

State lawmakers joined together to provide the additional $8 million needed to offset MTA Long Island Bus's current operating deficit, ensuring uninterrupted service for its 108,000 daily riders. Due to county cut-backs, Long Beach would have lost the N33 service and much of that of the N15.

MAY

Luck finds a HOME

Long Beach resident Anthony Johnson won the city's affordable housing lottery, landing a two-family home on Fulton Street. The lottery was the result of a cooperative effort between the City of Long Beach, the Long Island Housing Partnership, and the Nassau County Housing Commission. Mr. Johnson was one of 19 applicants in the lottery.

North Park zoned 'drug-free'

Nearly all of Long Beach's North Park neighborhood became a "drug-free school zone," doubling penalties for drug sale convictions. Long Beach police and neighborhood leaders hailed the move as a key step towards ridding a neighborhood on the rebound of a scourge of drugs, especially protecting the youth of the community. The declaration covers a 1,000-foot radius around the Head Start and MLK Center.

Marineland condos down in round 2

The Long Beach Zoning Board rejected an application to build 20 condominium units on the Marineland property on Park Ave., citing fears that excess boat slips called for in the project's plans would be rented out to non-residents. The decision was the second straight for developers, who had earlier plans for 23-units rebuffed by the board in October 1999.

Budgets pass, Guma wins

The race for the final trustee slot on the Long Beach City School District Board of Education came down to approximately 150 absentee ballots that could not be verified on Election Night. Incumbent Gina Guma was the only sure winner, with the three other candidates all finishing within 49 votes of eachother. Both budgets on the ballot passed, those of the school district and Long Beach Public Library.

No tax increase for LB

The City of Long Beach's budget for fiscal year 2000-01 included good news for most everyone. For the second straight year, the city was able to hold the line on taxes while expecting a third straight surplus. The city was even planning to set aside $1.2 million to begin paying off its long-term debt. Included in the budget is a raise for City Council members from $14,000 to $19,6000.

Hurlers playoff bound!

After five straight non-playoff seasons, the Long Beach High School baseball club returned to the postseason. The Marines won eight of their final nine Conference A-II games to finish second with a 10-7 conference record. They posted sweeps over Herricks and Lawrence before taking two-of-three from Mepham to close the regular season.

Absentee Ballots re-elect Alpren

Absentee ballots once again decided a Long Beach election, stirring up controversy and prompting an investigation of local election practices. When those ballots were counted on May 18, incumbent Norman Alpren had received more than 92 percent of the verified absentee vote and was returned to his seat on the school board. Janine Laskas-Gillespie and Lynn Gergen both narrowly led Mr. Alpren at the end of Election Night. The Nassau County's District Attorney's office began an investigation of the election, and subpoenaed several local records.

JUNE

Ira Lewis/Herald

Teachers from the Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association pickets outside the school board meeting to raise awareness to stalled contract talks.
Teachers picket for contract

About 200 teachers, holding signs and wearing buttons, rallied to protest their lack of a new contract outside of West School before the night's Board of Education meeting. Teachers planned the demonstration to make the community aware that the teachers' previous contract had expired in July of 1999. Teachers and administrators reached an impasse in January and began negotiations through a mediator.

LBCTA, district nail down deal

After two late night meetings, representatives of the Long Beach Classroom teachers Association and the school district reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The parties signed a memorandum of agreement shortly after midnight on June 5.

Lady Marines fall to Baldwin in final

The Long Beach high School softball squad put forth a valiant effort, but fell to unbeaten Baldwin in two straight games in the best-of-three county championship, 3-0 and 8-4. The Marines (13-12) had ended the season as hot as any in the county and nearly handed the Bruins their first loss to a county foe since 1998.

Boy drowns off Long Beach Blvd.

Less than 20 minutes after lifeguards cleared the water of swimmers and went off duty on Sunday, June 11, a 12-year-old Brooklyn boy went under and appeared to have drowned 25 years off the beach in front of Long Beach Blvd. The boy's family had come to the beach hoping for a pleasant diversion after his aunt's funeral the day before.While swimming with a white Styrofoam floatation device, Arthell McMichaels, Jr., 12, of Canarsie apparently lost control of the board in "turbulent" waves and was last seen near the rock groin at the end of Riverside Blvd. The boy's body was ashore Wednesday afternoon on Lafayette Beach. Another boy was saved by a Good Samaritan, who returned to the water to attempt to find Arthell.

School Board rejects election results

The Long Beach School Board voted 3-2 not to accept the results of the May 16 election that re-elected two of their members. New York's Education Commissioner was asked to wade into the roiling waters of the election to determine whether the election was tainted or tampered with. The election returned Gina Gum and Norman Alpren to their board seats, though Mr. Alpren's election was ensured only after the counting of 150 absentee ballots.

Rachel McGrowder Lin, RN, mourned

Rachel McGrowder Lin, a gerontological nurse at the Komanoff Center at Long Beach Memorial Hospital for more than 20 years, died in her home in Freeport after a three year battle with breast cancer. She was 53.

Beach condos get OK's...again

In an unusual move, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted on an application they had just heard minutes before. Both the application and the hearing were unusual, as well. With one abstention, the board approved the lone variance sought by developers seeking to build a 45-unit condominium at 26 West Broadway, a project that had previously been approved on March 27.

JULY

Police contract expires

The city's contract with police officers expired with the first of the month, and while the two sides prepared to begin negotiations, the police union feared that the steady tours of the past few years would be in jeopardy. City officials maintained that the popular Community Policing program would continue and residents would see no change in their police protection.

Fight breaks up hoops tourney

Organizers of the Battle of the Beach basketball tournament were dismayed that a fight they said had nothing to do with the tournament forced them to cancel the event. Throughout the day, games were held at the new park at East Pine and Riverside until a fight between two teenage girls a block away brought dozens of police and led to a stampede-like ending to the tournament. No charges were filed in the incident, police said.

3 charged in pit bull mauling

In a groundbreaking case, three young men from Long Beach were charged for allegedly allowing their pit bulls to kill a neighbor's cat. The case was the first of it's kind in Nassau County. Weeks earlier, a 5-year-old tabby cat named Jasper was ripped to shreds by three neighboring pit bulls. As East Pine St. resident Jean Heresman and her mother watched in horror, the cat she received as a Sweet 16 gift five years earlier was killed before her eyes. Gerald Burns, 16, Antonio Taylor, 18, and Lamar Thomas, 20, of W. Fulton St. were charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony offense signed into law last year by Gov. George Pataki.

Four arrested after
Minnesota's brawl

Violence interrupted a party being held at Minnesota's, resulting in four arrests. Festivities were underway when a patron, Arthur Ruiz, 30, of Ozone Park, Brooklyn, allegedly began shoving a waitress while she was working behind the bar, according to the Long Beach Police Department. Police said that when the waitress attempted to summon help, Mr. Ruiz rubbed his body against her and dismissed her with an obscenity.According to a witness, bouncers then proceeded to remove Mr. Ruiz from the premises. As Minnesota's bouncers took action, June M. Giannone, 26, of the same address as Mr. Ruiz; and sisters Angela, 26, and Toni D. Cozza, 25, of Brooklyn, joined the fray, police said. The four put up continual resistance, the witness said, fighting with Minnesota's staff for about 10 minutes before police arrived.

Surfers rescue one of their own

What began as a typical evening of surfing off Laurelton Beach on Monday, July 10, ended in a frightening moment of quick-thinking heroism for former lifeguard Joe McConnon. About 100 yards out, Mr. McConnon, a 38-year-old surfer who has lived in Long Beach for 16 years and surfed here for 25, was preparing to ride his next wave when he spotted a man to his left submerged underwater. "The only thing showing was the crown of his head and his fingertips," said Mr. McConnon. Thinking quickly, Mr. McConnon swam up alongside the drowning man to attempt a rescue. He was joined by another surfer and the two rescuers pulled the man to safety.

East bests West in
Battle of the Beach III

In a final game delayed by a fight, followed by accusations of cheating and filled with tension and high-flying, high-speed basketball, the East Side team defeated the West for the third annual Battle of the Beach tournament, 53-40. The July 12 game, played before a full house at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, decided bragging rights for the hoops crowd north of Park Avenue. The game was organized by Recreation Commissioner Norman Wilson, and originally scheduled for July 8. A fight not connected to the tournament forced him to reschedule the final showdown between teams from neighborhoods separated by the LIRR tracks.

Long Beach abstains
from sex (shops)

Looking to preserve the city's identity as a family-oriented community, and with rampant rumors of a topless bar coming to the West End, the Long Beach City Council passed a law that effectively prevents any adult business from opening through zoning restrictions. The sex shop amendment, which received a unanimous 4-0 vote at the July 18 City Council meeting-the fifth member of the council, V.P. Barbara Mosca, was absent-bars the operation of adult bookstores, adult entertainment cabarets, adult motels, adult theaters, massage establishments and peep shows within a 500-foot radius of any residential district, school, place of worship, park, playground or playing field.

AUGUST

Jaime Rodriguez,
City Highway chief, dies

As the Assistant Superintendent of the Street Maintenance Department, Jaime Rodriguez had plenty of responsibility in the City of Long Beach. Garbage, recycling, snow, ice, what have you - it was all on the shoulders of the man his many friends in City Hall knew as Jimmy. Mr. Rodriguez died on Saturday, July 29, 2000, of a pulmonary embolism. He was 46 years old."He really did everything they asked," said Kathy DiBari, Mr. Rodriguez' secretary for 15 years and a lifelong friend. "Jimmy would just say, 'Don't worry, Highway will take care of it.'"

City nearing plan for incinerator site

A preliminary plan for the multi-million dollar development of the industrial park/waterfront property along Reynolds Channel behind the railroad tracks was given to the City Council. Director of Operations Eugene Cammarato said the city is hoping to receive a Conservation And Reinvestment Act (CARA) fund grant, which the federal government gives to the state for recreation and waterfront uses. According to Rob Raab, Long Beach Commissioner of Public Works, the city is hoping to develop the site into a predominantly recreational and educational family area in the next 10 years."We want to see educational-type facilities, art-type studios, restaurants and marinas," Mr. Raab said. "You only have one waterfront, you want to make sure we make the best use of it. Anything built there is going to be better than what's there now."

Beaches close after needles
wash up on shore

Dozens of syringes washed up on the beaches of the Long Beach Barrier Island, prompting the Town of Hempstead to close down two of its beaches for the day. The syringes floated ashore with other non-medical plastic floatable waste, convincing officials charged with public safety on the beach that the trash tide had been caused by heavy storms swamping New York City's sewage system.

Budget restoration keeps
youth programs alive

Nassau County restored $3.6 million for youth services to help non-profit youth agencies remain afloat after they suffered debilitating county cuts earlier this year.Nassau Executive Thomas Gulotta ordered the cuts in December to help plug the county's budget hole. Legislator Michael Zapson (D-Long Beach) and fellow Democrats took credit for restoring the $3.6 million to the county's youth services and programs, including Long Beach Reach, the Long Beach Martin Luther King Center and Circulo de la Hispanidad, Inc.Critics note that the $3.6 million does not make up for the earlier loss of $9.8 million in funding for "discretionary contracts" to private, non-profit agencies serving the Nassau County Youth Board, the Department of Social Services, the Office of Drug and Alcohol and the Department of Mental Health.

This Moose can swim

Thursday evening, August 10, Charles (Moose) Gusler went into the ocean for the first time all summer. And when he came out, he pulled in a drowning young man who likely would have died if Mr. Gusler hadn't finally gotten wet. Mr. Gusler, 33, was on Neptune Beach helping to set up for the "Music Under the Stars" concert on the boardwalk that night. Shortly after 7 P.M., he was sitting in a city truck on the beach near the boardwalk when kids came running up to him, yelling, "Somebody's drowning!" He immediately leapt into action, dialing the Long Beach Police Department on a cell phone, and turned his truck towards the shore. En route, while talking to the police, he somehow managed to strip off his shoes and shirt. When he got to the beach at Neptune, he handed his keys and wallet to a woman he didn't know, and dashed into the surf, pulling the victim back to shore with him as police arrived.

Anti-Semitism charges, ads divide town

Charges of anti-Semitism from one side, and allegations of mistaken or corrupt zoning variances and tax exemptions on the other divided the city as some civic activists sought to stop the Mesivta of Long Beach's expansion. The controversy erupted in two full-page advertisements in the Long Beach Herald, signed by hundreds of Mesivta supporters. Dozens of readers called the Herald to express their outrage over the ad's charge of anti-Semitism.

A full deck

A two-story parking facility proposed for the LIRR commuter parking lot has got City Hall's hopes up, and has also raised neighbors' fears that it would attract crime. For the past five years, city leaders have discussed, developed and fine-tuned the idea of a double-deck parking structure between the Long Island Rail Road station and Long Beach City Hall. The Long Beach City Council has long championed the plan, and hoped to secure more than $10 million in funding for the project.

Developers discuss plans for Superblock
site at City Hall hearing

A special public hearing was held at City Hall on August 24 to discuss three preliminary proposals for the development of the Superblock site between Long Beach Road and Riverside Boulevard, from East Broadway south to the Boardwalk. The three proposals-by developers Phillips International, The Kurtz Organization and The Haberman Group-all included, with slight variances, a hotel with 90-100 rooms, a small conference center, a condominium tower and two restaurants.

Riptide claims life in second drowning of summer

A Bronx teenager drowned in Long Beach despite the heroic efforts of rescuers, who were able to safely pull the victim's brother and friend from the rough waters.Brothers Maurice, 16, and Laurse Grey, 14, both of the Bronx, and Andre Redmond, 12, of Lindenhurst, entered the ocean sometime around 7 P.M. and were swept 50-to-75 yards offshore by a strong riptide, police said. Thanks to Good Samaritans who raced into the water, Laurse and Andre were rescued along with Lawrence Epstein of Island Park. Mr. Epstein had attempted to save the boys but was pulled out by the tide. When the two boys and Mr. Epstein were brought to shore, family members told rescuers that Maurice was still under the water.At 7:28 P.M., 20 minutes after the Long Beach Fire Department received the emergency call, Maurice was found by three off-duty lifeguards. CPR and Advanced Life Support was unsuccessfully performed and he was later pronounced dead at Long Beach Medical Center.

The Death of an Angel:
Local singer dies in plane crash

John Kabelka, a longtime resident of Long Beach and the lead singer of the Johnny Angel Band, was killed in a plane crash in Virginia on Wednesday, August 29. He was 42. Mr. Kabelka was a passenger in his friend's single-engine Piper, when the plane went out of control, crashing in front of a fraternity house at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. Virginia state police said one victim jumped or fell from the aircraft.Mr. Kabelka, a musician for over 20 years, had last performed with the Johnny Angel Band on August 24 at the Long Beach boardwalk. The consummate entertainer, Mr. Kabelka was not only a singer and songwriter, but played guitar, drums, bass and keyboard, as well. He had bit movie and television roles during the mid-80's, including a small part in the hit TV series Miami Vice. He had recently been working on female boxer Kathy Collins' "Wildcat Workout" exercise and training video.

SEPTEMBER

West Enders say no to local business expansion

The battle between neighbors in the West End and a local business owner continues as plans for a two-story expansion are being considered. Neighbors say John Marsala, landlord of the Beech Service Center on 927 West Beech Street, has had a history of overstepping bounds by stepping into their backyards.The prominent realtor said he's trying to "keep the peace" with his neighbors, but talk of expanding his business by bringing out the building 25 feet and adding a second story has the already cramped West Enders up in arms.

Police Commissioner in car accident

A car accident last week involving Long Beach Police Commissioner Kenneth "K.C." Cohen resulted in a local elderly man being hospitalized, according to the police report obtained by The Herald.The incident occurred September 4 during a heavy rain storm. Commissioner Cohen was driving his police car northbound on Edwards Boulevard, going straight on the green light, when a bicyclist going east on West Park Avenue suddenly cut in front of the car causing the collision, according to the report. The man on the bicycle, Roger Conway, 67, of Long Beach, was taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, where he was treated for a concussion and lacerations to his scalp, which were sutured by plastic surgeons. Mr. Conway's most serious injury was to his right eye, which he lost vision in due to the accident, according to Doctor Basem Zeidan. Mr. Conway was released from the hospital on September 10.

Women's group pushes for
stricter voting law

The long, tainted history of absentee ballots in Long Beach had yet another entry to add to the timeline. Questionable voting procedures that led to the May 16 victory of school board trustee Norman Alpren has prompted yet another investigation by D.A. Denis Dillon, and led to an outcry from a local women's group.Ed Grilli, spokesperson for Mr. Dillon, said there was currently an investigation for criminal activity based on irregularities found in the May 16 school district election. "In years passed, dead people were voting [in Long Beach]," he said. "Some changes are being considered. The hard part is proving who is responsible beyond a reasonable doubt. It's an ongoing investigation, we'll just have to see." The case was sent before a Grand Jury and the managers of local nursing homes have received a subpoena.

Parents: school web site
not making the grade

The Long Beach City School Board meeting on September 12 became a forum for the outspoken, as first-time meeting attendee Douglas Weitz blasted the school district's web site at the podium. Douglas Weitz, a parent of four and cousin of Board President Stephen Weitz, criticized the school for paying history teacher Fred Giles an estimated $4,000 to run what he called a "stagnant" site that lacked "basic, necessary information" and is overseen by a webmaster whose qualifications are questionable, he said. Superintendent Ron Friedman shot back after Douglas Weitz made several visits to the podium, saying: "The discussion of a particular school employee and his salary have no place in a public meeting and will not be tolerated."

L.B. receives $11 million for
railroad parking project

The City of Long Beach was slated to receive nearly $11 million in state funding for a new parking facility at the rail road station, New York State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-C, Rockville Centre) and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach) announced at a joint press conference at City Hall on October 16. Of the $10,975,000 sum, Mr. Skelos successfully secured $6 million from the Senate's MTA Capital Plan allocation, and Mr. Weisenberg obtained $4 million from the Assembly's share of MTA Capital Plan Funds. The remaining $975,000 was provided through the New York State Department of Transportation in matching grants.

No change coming on
absentee ballots

Hope that procedures to insure the integrity of the absentee balloting process for disabled voters in Long Beach nursing homes would be in place in time for this November's elections faded with the decision of the Democratic Commissioner of the Nassau County Board of Elections to block their implementation.In hopes of putting an end to the absentee ballot controversy, which has long been a black eye on the face of the City, The League of Women Voters had called on the Nassau County Board of Elections to implement a provision in the election law that would protect absentee voters. While Nassau County Board of Elections (NCBE) Republican Commissioner John A. DeGrace voted for it, the Democratic Commissioner, Barbara Patton, abstained from voting, ensuring that the provision would not be applicable in the upcoming November 7 election.

Day late, letter short

The implementation of State Election Law 8-407 to ensure the integrity of the absentee balloting process for disabled voters in Long Beach was a day late and a letter short; the difference between a stamp and Federal Express. A letter sent by Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon to the Board of Elections-which read, in part, that the process by which these residents cast their absentee ballots deserves further scrutiny-was dated September 6, but wasn't received until September 8, one day after the 60-day deadline imposed by the Commissioners of Election.

OCTOBER

Fleet Bank shuttering W. End branch

The West End of Long Beach's only bank shut its doors on October 6, leaving many customers feeling like they'd been handed a note reading 'This is a stick-up.' Fleet Bank closed seven branches in Nassau County, replacing them with drive-up ATMs and shifting accounts to other branches an average of 1.4 miles away.

Backhoe busts pipe,
causing gas leak

A sub-contractor digging up curbs along Shore Road accidentally ruptured a high-pressure gas main with his backhoe, spouting natural gas six feet into the air and causing neighboring houses to be evacuated. The Long Beach Fire Department received the alarm call at 12:02 P.M., October 4, and arrived at the scene in front of 270 Shore Road two minutes later. The leak sprayed natural gas fumes for over an hour while the LBFD and the Long Beach Police Department evacuated houses in the near vicinity and set up roadblocks to prevent access to all four corner roads between Long Beach Road and Monroe Boulevard along Shore Road.

Teen found guilty in
stabbing death of friend

A Long Beach teenager who stabbed a onetime friend to death over a year ago in what he claims was an act of self-defense was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide. Salvatore Petruso, 19, faced a sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in jail in the death of Shareef Jones, 17.The stabbing occurred on April 8, 1999, after a fight between the two former friends in front of the C-Town supermarket on West Beech Street.

Homecoming Excitement for Marines

With fans in the bleachers roaring, the Long Beach Marines faced the Uniondale Knights at this year's Homecoming celebration on October 14. Led by quarterback Sean Honstetter, the Marines battled the Knights in an exciting contest that saw Long Beach up by 13-0 for most of the game, with Honstetter waltzing into the endzone on a half-back option for a touchdown.Despite the Marines' eventual fall to the Knights by a score of 20-13, the good spirits of the Long Beach fans were not defeated. "Our defense shut them down for most of the game, and the team mixed their passing and running game very well," Athletic Director Jim Petricca said.

NOVEMBER

A bar or not a bar?

West End residents told to the Long Beach Zoning Board of Appeals that the Whale's Tail is operating as a bar, not a luncheonette as its owners claim. The residents turned out to argue against the establishment's application to become a restaurant, which would enable to remain open later in the evening.

Marines claim first win

The suffering finally ended as the Long Beach High School varsity football team won its first game of the season after opening with six straight losses. The Marines topped Valley Stream Central, 19-6, to snap an overall 14-game losing streak that dated back to last year. The Marines scored all 19 of its points in the final quarter behind quarterback Sean Honstetter (164 yards rushing) and running back Kola Owodolu (122 yards).

King, Skelos, Weisenberg re-elected

Voters returned Republican Congressman Peter King and Democrat Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg to office on Election Day as both earned landslide victories. Congressman King was elected to a fifth term in Washington, while Mr. Weisenberg carried a nearly 3-1 margin of victory over his Republican challenger. State Senator Dean Skelos captured a ninth term in Albany.

The race of her life

Seven weeks after having a kidney removed after cancer was detected, Lido Beach's Helene Hines took second place honors in the hand-cycle division of the New York City Marathon. Although multiple sclerosis has left her with a debilitating numbness for most of her adult life, finally forcing her to compete for the first time in a wheel chair last year, Ms. Hines proved she is not confined in any way. She has now participated in 28 marathons.

Cold can't stop the Trot

Nearly 100 children braved cold, rainy weather conditions on November 11 to compete in the annual Turkey Trot run. Tony Serrante claimed the top prize, winning the two-mile race in 11 minutes flat. Daytona Papetti was the overall girls winner. Jim Diamond (7:02) won the "Elementary I" one-mile race, while Casey Pues claimed the girls' top trophy.

City's new top posts called 'illegal'

Five residents filed suit against the City of Long Beach to remove the city's top Democrat from his number-two position in the local government. The suit charged that Eugene Cammarato was illegally appointed Director of Operations, and that he and two subordinates would be removed from their positions and repay more than $225,000 in salaries earned since their posts were created in mid-1999.

LB mourns loss of an 'Irish Saint'

Mourners filled St. Ignatius R.C. Church to pay last respects to Mary Ellen Nelson, who lost a lengthy battle with cancer at age 60. Ms. Nelson had been a fixture in local schools for the past two decades, most recently serving as secretary to the district's superintendent. She had left her position due to her illness only one week before her death.

Fred Brand to retire

Long Beach Middle School principal Fred Brand announced his retirement after 30 years in education, effective at the and of the school year. Mr. Brand had served the middle school since 1993, and previously held that post at Long Beach high School. He had also worked as a dean, math teacher and vice principal at the middle school.

DECEMBER

No more meter men

The Long Beach City Council authorized the $1.6 million purchase and installation of new, state-of-the-art remote water meters for all local residences at its December 5 meeting. The existing meters were said to be in disrepair and frequently inaccurate. The new ones for Long Beach's 14,000 households will be read remotely by a city vehicle. The installation was set to take approximately six months.

Brady Chin
Skaters red hot at nationals

Long Beach's Brady Chin, 12, won the juvenile division gold medal at the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships in Colorado. Lido's David Weintraub, 13, placed eighth a level up in the boys intermediate division against competition several years his age. Both boys are bringing national acclaim to the Long Beach Ice Arena, where they train.

Winter weather strikes

Sub-freezing temperatures hit the barrier island in mid-December, and just wouldn't go away. Commuters were greeted by single-digit wind-chills almost every morning at the start of a winter predicted to be particularly cold and snowy for the Northeast.

Marines' QB honored

After weathering a difficult 1-7 season record, Long Beach High School varsity football quarterback Sean Honstetter was honored by the Recreation department with the Dr. Roy Ilowit Award. In his first season at quarterback, Honstetter amassed over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns: eight rushing, four passing. He also led the Marines' defense with 92 tackles and four interceptions from his safety position.

LB man critical after blaze

A Long Beach man suffered serious burns in an early-morning fire, but escaped as Long Beach firefighters arrived at his home. Neighbor Daniel Fraser, 26, a Long Beach firefighter, entered the home of Robert Westborg after being awakened by the blaze, but could not find Mr. Westborg in the thick smoke. With Mr. Fraser still calling his name and firefighters about the enter the home, Mr. Westborg came charging out the front door, having suffered second and third-degree burns.