Downtown facelift to aid business
Business was growing brighter in March for merchants and professionals on a three-quarter mile stretch of East Meadow Avenue, thanks to the urging of East Meadow's Chamber of Commerce and a joint response by town and county leaders to make its business district more attractive.Revitalization efforts had been under way since last spring, when the county began its streetscape project on the west side of East Meadow Avenue from Front Street to Evergreen Avenue.Enhancements included installation of comfortable metal benches, antique sidewalk lams, improved street lights, trees, new curbs and gutters, trash cans, and redone sidewalks and brickwork.
New dynamic in county election
Tom Gullota's decision not to seek reelection as the county's chief executive has Republican and Democrat Party officials - and voters - looking at a new campaign landscape, while Nassau residents continued to hold hope they've always had: that politics would take a back seat to good governance as the county struggles to ascend from its fiscal pit.After 24 years in elective office, 14 as county executive, Gullota said in March that he'd like to "undertake new and exciting challenges." Local residents weren't surprised by Gullota's decision, and many said they welcomed the chance to put someone new into the head office of the county.
District celebrates self
After three years educating East Meadow School District parents about issues such as new state standards, members of A Community Committed to the Educational Success of Students decided that it was time to party.On March 31, Project ACCESS hosted a day-long celebration, the Festival of Learning, at East Meadow High School that featured the district's many strong points, said Yvonne Amato, a Project ACCESS member."We thought, 'Gee, wouldn't it be nice to celebrate how great our district is,'" Amato said. "It's an event to celebrate our great programs and how we all work together to make a really great school district."
A touch of green where cement rules
North Bellmore resident Richard Schary, whose favorite color must be green, in March called for a roughly five-mile "greenway" through Nassau's hub, the bustling business district around the county's Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale. A greenway, as the name implies, is a long path of green grass.Schary, who serves on the Hub Citizens Advisory Committee, said the path "would give the Hub a basic focal point for pedestrians. The idea would be to make the Hub more accessible without using a car. With this, people could walk around it, bike around it."
APRIL
Rescuing greyhounds dog at a time
Each year, 30,000 greyhounds are killed throughout the United States because they have nowhere to go once they can't race any longer. An East Meadow-based organization, however, has been doing its part for the last six years to save greyhounds one dog at a time. The non-profit Long Island Greyhound Transfer works with a New Hampshire racetrack to rescue an average of 100 dogs a year.
Battling World War II's horrors
Throughout his life, Samm Kirshner of East Meadow, now deceased, faced many challenges, including a fire that destroyed his home along North Jerusalem Road two years ago.Only one of his many life experiences, however, left him sick to his stomach. He and a team of infantrymen discovered Ohrdruf, the first concentration camp uncovered by Americans during World War II. He remembered the anniversary of this discovery April 4 and told his story, of which he never forgot one detail.
Herald take home the gold
It was a banner weekend and a banner year for the Herald as the community newspaper group heard its name called 12 times at awards ceremonies in Albany in the New York Press Association 2000 Better Newspaper Contest for journalism excellence.
Task force worries over Salisbury drive
Members of the East Meadow Civic Association's Traffic Safety Task Force moved full force to get the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County to deal with a long list of traffic concerns, especially along Salisbury Park Drive. Seven accidents have occurred in the last 11 years along the roughly three-mile-long road.
Vandals endanger bird haven
The more than 20-acre site behind Speno Park is not just a storm basin anymore. In fact, it has not been one for at least a year. Many East Meadow residents, though, are unaware that the Council of East Meadow Community Organizations adopted the county storm basin and is trying to turn it into a regional bird sanctuary.
MAY
5th firehouse on tap
The East Meadow Fire District is about to add a fifth firehouse along East Meadow Avenue at Franklin Avenue. This station will house two of the engines now based at Station One, plus the to-be-purchased hook-and-ladder truck that forced the department to build the new station house. The truck, 11-foot, 6-inches tall would not fit threw the 10-foot, 4-inch bay door at the current fire house.
Center, 2nd home for seniors
Both the East Meadow Senior Center and Mitchell Homes, a senior residential community surrounding the center, celebrated their 20-year anniversary. Many seniors said they find the community to be safe, friendly and worry free.
Protest heldat county jail
Dozens of inmates' relatives, including children, rallied at the Nassau County Correctional Facility in East Meadow demanding that visiting hours be expanded to include weekends and holidays. The relatives were joined by community and religious representatives as rowdy crowd of 150 protesters gathered quietly amid jail security and heavy police presence battling the wind with signs that read "more humane visiting days."
Remembering Pat Volino
More than 100 family members, friends, elected leaders and Little League baseball players gathered May 5 at the Salisbury Baseball field to honor Pat Volino, a man often referred to as the "the mayor of Salisbury."Volino, Central Nassau Athletic Association chief umpire, died suddenly at age 65 on Jan. 12.
McVey celebrating 50th anniversary
McVey Elementary School first opened its doors in 1951 as part of the East Meadow School District. Fifty years later, a group of McVey faculty, staff and parents came together to plan an anniversary party this year that not only remembered the school's history, but also showcased today's school.
Southern State Expressway?
To prevent the Island's roads from becoming bigger parking lots than they already are, the DOT is offering its $5-billion, 20-year Long Island Transportation Plan 2000. The proposal calls for widening of all major thoroughfares across the Island, including the Southern State Parkway in 2015.Environmentalists, however, are protesting, saying the project would destroy the natural habitat surrounding the parkway.
JUNE
Taking Pride in East Meadow
Each year, members of the East Meadow Kiwanis Club gather to help area residents celebrate the community they call home in an event known as East Meadow Pride Day.Greg Peterson of East Meadow, the former Town of Hempstead supervisor, founded the day in 1992 because he thought the community needed an event that brought people together on a positive note.It was scheduled for the weekend of June 2, but inclement weather prevented the annual festival from occurring.
St. Raphael's seeks new sanctuary
Parishioners and officials of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church in East Meadow hope that what is now a vacant lot will soon house a new church sanctuary.Planning for the church, which started three years ago at St. Raphael's, has reached final stages. The Town of Hempstead approved the plans and the church is now working with the diocese, said John Vosilla, one of more than 150 church members involved in the new church construction. St. Raphael's officials hope to soon receive building permits so that groundbreaking can take place this summer.
Preserving Salisbury basin
Along Carman Avenue in Salisbury sits about 30 acres of mostly untouched open space filled with luscious vegetation, wildlife and a little bit of controversy.Known as the Salisbury Storm Recharge Basin, a large portion of this land was recently put up for sale by the office of the Nassau County executive. This sparked residents neighboring the basin to call for its preservation from any development.
A wrecked relationship
Masters Auto Collision on Hempstead Turnpike applied to the Town of Hempstead to repeal the restrictive covenant that prohibits the business from using a small piece of property behind the shop for anything but residential use. The owner, Dean Poupis, want to turn the property into a parking lot to house wrecked cars he now parks on nearby Fourth Street, something neighbors have complained about for years.
East Meadow welcomes Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme doughnuts officially opened its newest store, the first on Long Island, in East Meadow June 5 at Newbridge Road and Hempstead Turnpike. Dozens of area residents, who could not wait to try the glazed doughnuts that have made the store well known nationwide, gathered for the official ribbon cutting.
Wal-Mart coming to town
Vacant for at least two years, the Clearmeadow Mall, at Newbridge Road and Hempstead Turnpike, was being readied for its newest tenant - Wal-Mart. Construction work was under way and was scheduled to be completed before the end of the year. Property owner, Breslin Realty Development Corp., is also constructing a new parking lot.The store's grand opening was put off to early 2002.
JULY
Task force waits on county
For several months, members of the East Meadow Civic Association's Traffic Safety Task Force have had to sit on their hands, so to speak, because nothing can be done to improve Salisbury Park Drive until Nassau County's Department of Public Works finishes its Salisbury Park Drive Safety Study.Members of the task force, including county Legis. Dennis Dunne (R-Levittown), met with county officials - including Howard Taylor, counsel for the county executive's office, and Joe Pecora, department of public works commissioner - in hopes that they could convey the importance of completing this report as soon as possible, said Richard Baggs, task force vice president."We've been waiting for the recommendations report based on their study and the recommendations we've given them," said Baggs, who studied the road in detail, combing through 10 years of accident reports.
Kids stay mentally fit during summer
In the East Meadow School District, educators realize how important it is to constantly stimulate students' brains and bodies throughout the year, even when school is out. With that in mind, district officials recommended to parents that their kids participate in summer enrichment programs that not only stretch them mentally or physically, but also prepare them for the following school year."There's a number of things we've looked at," said Dr. Allen Rauch, director of math and sciences for the East Meadow School District. "We're very aware of the importance of keeping kids actively involved in learning."
High gas prices don't deter boaters
South Shore boat owners' summer plans remained largely unaffected by rising gas prices, boaters said. Residents living on Merrick and Hempstead Bays and Baldwin Creek believed recent inclement weather was more of a hindrance than gas prices, up 50 cents from last year."Gas prices are not a big effect on travel plans, but it does put a damper on them," said Merrick boat owner Donna Arena.
Teen arrested on bomb-making charges
In mid-July, an off-duty New York City police officer spotted a car that was being driven recklessly in the parking lot of the East Meadow ball fields along Merrick Avenue near Hempstead Turnpike.The driver, Joseph Smith, 17, turned out to be carrying a box full of pipe bombs in the 1995 Honda, police said. According to officials, Smith built the bombs as a hobby and enjoyed watching them explode.
Cell tower task force on hold
Last year, cell-phone towers, some as tall as 100 feet, started popping up throughout the Town of Hempstead at a dizzying pace. Many times, the towers were proposed in residential neighborhoods, sometimes across from schools. In response, the town placed a six-month moratorium on construction of cell towers to review them. The town also formed a cell-phone-task force to study the towers' potential effects on residents.The moratorium ended last October. The task force, however, was supposed to continue its work thereafter. Much to the chagrin of its members, the task force hadn't been able to hold a meeting for six months, as of July, and they said it was because the town didn't organize one.
Neighbors hope Master's keeps word
The Town of Hempstead Board in July denied requests to expand Master's Auto Collision g and construct a parking lot on part of its land zoned residential. The board also decided to uphold a restrictive covenant the shop entered into in 1980.
District at odds over BOCES
East Meadow School District's $50-million bond issue came under attack in July by a handful of civic organizations and community members regarding plans for the Salisbury Center.As part of the 2000 bond issue, the school district proposed moving its administrative offices from East Meadow High School to a space at Salisbury Center, which is now home to the Nassau County Board of Cooperative Educational Services. BOCES was asked to vacate the space by the end of June 2002. BOCES is now looking for a new location, said Barbara Behrens, information officer for the board. In late July, area civic leaders said they knew nothing of removing BOCES from the center and felt cheated by the district. The district maintained it had informed voters about the move and that BOCES might not inhabit the building any longer.
AUGUST
Fire dept. breaks ground
At a special ceremony held the evening of July 25, about 150 East Meadow Fire Department officials and residents gathered to break ground on the community's newest fire station.A big sign let everyone in attendance know the site is "the future home of the East Meadow Fire Department Substation No. 1," which will be commonly referred to as Station No. 1. "It's an event that hasn't happened in 50 years. That was the last time we broke ground," said Commissioner Robert Beck. "It was very exciting on the basis of that because we haven't had it happen in the district in 50 years."District officials gave out small, commemorative shovels to officials and community members who made the fire station possible, Beck said. And after, they held a barbecue to celebrate.
Freeport plant to get rate increase
Freeport Electric Superintendent Hubert Bianco sought a 7.67-percent electric-rate increase from the Public Service Commission in August. The hike would generate more than $1.4 million annually for the village electric utility.Freeport residents now pay half that of Long Island Power Authority customers - 6.7 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to Freeport Electric's Web site.In his July 12 letter to the PSC, Bianco cites several reasons for the rate increase, in particular Independent Service Operator regulations requiring Freeport to maintain 98 percent of its generation capability, known in the power industry as installed capacity, on Long Island. It's called the "locational" requirement.
Local sump saved from development
After what neighboring residents said was a five-month fight, in August Salisbury Sump 51 was perpetually preserved as open space, becoming and a poster child for the county Legislature's goal to save more undeveloped land throughout Nassau.The Nassau County Legislature unanimously passed two pieces of legislation on July 30 to help preserve open space within the county. The first amended the Nassau County Preservation Law of 2001 to require that the newly formed Nassau County Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee participate in the review of any proposal for the sale of county-owned land. The second preserved in perpetuity the county-owned Sump 51 along Carman Avenue in Salisbury. The land is one of the last remaining parcels of the original terminal moraine glacial ridge more commonly known as the Hempstead Plains.
County charges contractors
Many Nassau County residents had fallen victim to an unlicensed contractor that agreed to do remodeling jobs on their homes, but had yet to complete the work or start the work in some instances."I had had a plumber come here to do some work that was recommended to me by a friend," said Cheryl Savage, a real-estate agent. "He recommended a contractor who came to my house, told me he was licensed and insured and gave me an price of $36,000 to complete the job.That contractor, Nicholas Kozer of Merrick, who operated Your Town Construction in Ozone Park, was just one of more than 20 contractors from Nassau County including ones in Bellmore, East Meadow and Westbury, that the county District Attorney's Office charged with operating a home-improvement business without a license, a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.
Festival overflows with cultural diversity
Several nations' cultures came together Aug. 3 through 5 at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow to take part in the annual International Heritage Festival.Six years ago, Nassau County's Office of Cultural Development developed the concept to bring together the many cultures in Nassau County and celebrate their diversity. Cutbacks in the county's finances led to the extinction of OCD, and the festival is now hosted by The Long Island Partnership for Cultural Development, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving cultural activities on western Long Island."It was to be an ethnic heritage festival to spotlight the similarities and differences of those in Nassau County and along Long Island," said Brenda Spiezio, with the cultural arts office. "I think the first year we had a hard time [organizing and advertising the event], but now it's a big success."
Bank robber strikes
A teller at Dime Savings Bank in East Meadow was forced to give an undetermined amount of money to a man brandishing a silver handgun on Aug. 16 in the afternoon."The man walked into the bank, displayed a gun, robbed one teller and then left," said Det. Sgt. Gary Schriffen, of the Nassau County Police Department's Robbery Squad.It was one of many bank robberies in East Meadow and surrounding areas during the late summer months.
Residents oppose Taco Bell
Regardless of any concessions corporate officials might be willing to make, residents near East Meadow Avenue and Front Street don't want to see a Taco Bell go up.That message was made clear during a recent Council of East Meadow Community Organizations meeting held at the library in mid-August. CEMCO planned the meeting to inform residents about the plans for a Taco Bell proposed for the site, which is located next to Getty Gas Station in the shopping center there. It would be a Taco Bell/Pizza Hut express with a double window drive-thru. The proposal is still pending before the Town of Hempstead.
Liftoff for student learning
At least 30 Woodland Middle School sixth-graders showed up to school almost two weeks early to get a head start on the upcoming year's schoolwork this past August.While it's possible the students wanted to show their ambition and dedication to school, it's more likely they saw stars in their future - the type that only the National Aeronautics and Space Administration could provide.The students, part of Woodland Middle School's sixth-grade cluster one, came to the school's library Aug. 24 for two hours to prepare a project that was sent up on a NASA Space Shuttle in November. The project, written by sixth-grade science teacher Richard Santer, studied the effect that the Earth's magnetosphere has on magnets and metallic objects.
E. Meadow town square in the works
New sidewalks, decorative lighting and benches have made their way to the commercial, western portion of East Meadow Avenue, from Front Street to Prospect Avenue.At the end of August, the Town of Hempstead was ready to tackle another part of an East Meadow downtown revitalization project by starting the Town Square that will be located at the southwest corner of East Meadow and Prospect avenues at Veterans Memorial Park."Working closely with town and county officials, Operation Downtown has been a great success," said James Skinner, president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce. "The transformation of Veterans Memorial Park... is in full swing. There are plans under way to create a Town Square for all of our community to enjoy."
SEPTEMBER
Democrats to choose candidate
Democrats Tom DiNapoli and Tom Suozzi tenaciously, yet diplomatically battled for months for the right to run for county executive, to replace Republican Tom Gullota who earlier this year announced he would retire. Though the party's convention delegates voted 2-1 in May for DiNapoli, Suozzi and his supporters launched a primary fight, moving the battle ground from political club meetings to neighborhoods, television and community forums.The party's registered voters were to have decided on Sept. 11 which one would compete against Bruce Bent, the Republican candidate for the position. The primary was pushed back because of the tragedy on Sept. 11 and later Suozzi was chosen as the Democratic candidate.Suozzi went on to win the primary and the county executive's seat in the general election.
Terror strikes Twin Towers
A wave of fear and despair raced across Bellmore, Merrick and East Meadow Sept. 11 after terrorists slammed two hijacked jetliners into the World Trade Center, sending the Twin Towers crumbling down into lower Manhattan.In the afternoon, surviving victims of the attack filtered into Nassau by Long Island Rail Road, like refugees from a war zone. Many, who were still shaking dusty, white debris from their clothes, were not from the area but had taken the first train they could out of the city and gotten off at the first possible stop.
Hospital stays alive, expands
In September, Bethpage's New Island Hospital unveiled two new building additions in an effort to better serve the needs of patients, many of whom come from East Meadow."Since we broke ground in October 1999, the community has witnessed the future of New Island Hospital taking shape before their eyes," read a statement in the hospital's newsletter. "Now, this ambitious modernization program, designed to serve your health care needs with expanded services, greater efficiency and increased comfort and convenience, is about to become a reality."New Island Hospital was born in 1997 out of the ashes of Mid-Island Hospital, which had filed for bankruptcy owing to financial hardships, said community-relations director Gail Carlin.
Girl dies in tragic accident
On Sept. 2, another in a line of tragic deaths hit Salisbury Park Drive when 17-year-old Michelle Lovastik, of Hicksville, died of injuries related to an auto accident along the scenic road that borders Salisbury.Lovastik had been traveling with friends Katie Lupski, 17, and Steven Jaronczyk, 18, to another friend's house that evening when Lupski's car veered off the road and crashed into a tree just north of Stewart Avenue. In this part of the road, seven others have died in fatal accidents, and the county has been working on ways to make the road safer for both drivers and pedestrians.
Search and rescue
At 11 a.m. on Sept. 11, the East Meadow Fire District's station houses found themselves overflowing with firefighters and EMTs as the whole department was put on standby and everyone responded to their respective firehouse.All this was done, said First Assistant Chief Anthony Paoliceli, to meet whatever needs came out of New York City, especially lower Manhattan. Like many fire districts throughout Long Island, East Meadow was called out as part of a cooperative effort between fire districts in the city and surrounding areas."Between 40 and 50 members went out of the district, and we still had 60 here to handle anything that happened in East Meadow," Paoliceli said. The district sent two ambulances and three trucks, including the heavy-rescue engine and team. "The last unit returned at 11 p.m. last night [Wednesday, Sept. 12]."
One Muslim shares fears of retaliation
Everyone across New York City, not to mention across the United States, had felt the impact of what took place Sept. 11 in lower Manhattan and Washington D.C. Many were looking for revenge and a retaliation by the federal government on those who are responsible.Some, however, took the law into their own hands, taking vengeance on innocent Middle Eastern and Islamic immigrants who call the United States home. According to Nasrin Ahmad, an East Meadow resident and practicing Ahmadiya Muslim, this caused many of her friends to fear for their own lives during a time when they were trying to also cope with the losses from Sept. 11."I'm worried about my community," she said. "For them, I think I should get the facts out. We are with you in this tragedy, and we are there for you. Let us grieve with you. I am a Muslim, and I identify myself as American."
Travel industry losses
Throughout the East Meadow area, travel agencies saw a dramatic drop in business since Sept. 11, with dozens of people canceling trips and others deciding not to make plans at all. It's been almost nothing but cancellations and refunds at Friendship Travel, 1914 Hempstead Tpke. in East Meadow, since the World Trade Center and Pentagon buildings were attacked Sept. 11."We're dying," said Rose Yanez, owner of Friendship Travel, which opened more than 30 years ago. "People are afraid to travel and are canceling. I don't know if I'll be in business in January."It's not even the canceling though it's that the phone doesn't ring," she continued. "I'm paying salaries and they are only working , handling cancellations. The public at large are really frightened."
Students raise funds, show support
What happened Sept. 11 shook the nation, especially New York, to its very core. Many, however, stepped up and united in a common effort to help those who involved in the relief effort.In East Meadow, school children at every grade level took an active role in helping put the nation back together again, whether it was through classes making paper flags to decorate the school walls or fundraisers for the American Red Cross."Students have been writing letters that are being sent to families through the computer teacher and her classes," said Lou Panzica, principal at Parkway Elementary School, which also recently held a candlelight vigil on its school grounds to remember those lost. "The children made this huge poster 12 feet by 4 feet that says 'Our support for our heroes,' and all the kids have signed it. The night of the vigil, the PTA had the kids make a flag with their hand prints."
OCTOBER
Salisbury Drive study ready
After months, the Nassau County Department of Public Works released a road analysis of Salisbury Park Drive in early October, which included Carman and Stewart avenues.County Public Works Commissioner Joe Pecora said the study in part confirmed the county's initial belief that Salisbury Park Drive is in good condition and that its main problem is speeding motorists."We had certain predisposed feelings," he said. "We felt the roadway was in good shape. But we got input from two community groups, so we said let's confirm that. In general, what we found is that it is in rather good shape. Even with the accident rate, we compared it to the state's average on similar roadways, and it was lower."
Veterans speak about war
With President George Bush's approval rating at an all time high, most of the American population supported the government's "War on Terrorism" stance.Even East Meadow veterans, who had fought in America's previous wars and know what this one could mean for the country, for the most part said they were behind Bush and the armed forces."I'm appalled at what they [the terrorists] did to our country," said Bill Douglas, a member and former post commander of American Legion Post 1082 in East Meadow. "Nobody likes to go to war, but I back my government 100 percent." Perhaps veterans' biggest praise for President Bush and the current strategy is that Bush is taking his time to do things right.Carrie James/Herald
This member of the color guard held the American Flag high as New York Police Department bagpipers slowly march by St. Raphael's Church. Hundreds, if not more than 1,000, officers and community members turned out for the memorial service for Mr. Richards, who was a member of the NYPD Bomb Squad.
Remembering one of NYPD's top men
Uniformed men and women lined Newbridge Road in front of St. Raphael's Catholic Church Oct. 12 in the afternoon to pay tribute to one of their fallen brothers, NYPD Det. Claude "Dan" Richards, 46, of the bomb squad.He, like many other police and firefighters, responded to the tragedy that befell the World Trade Center Sept. 11. Mr. Richards, and three others, were in the World Trade Center, Building Six looking for survivors when Tower One collapsed onto Building Six. Mr. Richards and two others were killed."It would sound very cliche to say he died as he lived, helping people," said his friend and fellow bomb squad member Det. Daniel McNally, who was the final member of the team in Building Six when Tower One collapsed. He escaped with injuries. "The guy was a New York City detective who was on the bomb squad for 15 years. He had placed his life in harm's way many, many times. This is just another time that tempted fate."His family was from East Meadow, and wanted to hold the service at their local church.
Gonsalves faces Eilenberg
The race for Nassau County's 13th Legislative District once again pitted incumbent Norma Gonsalves, a retired school teacher, against Democrat Rita Eilenberg, a retired social worker.The two ran against each other in 1999 when Democrats broke GOP control of the county Legislature, winning a 10-9 majority. That year, when popular Republicans were toppled across the county, Gonsalves retained her legislative seat handily.They faced each other again this year in the November election, and Gonsalves beat Eilenberg to retain her seat for another term.
Helping kids cope after tragedy
According to Dr. Margaret Laska, director of special education and pupil personnel services for the East Meadow School District, emotional and withdrawal reactions are normal for children who have experienced or witnessed a trauma such as that of Sept. 11. Laska, who is also a psychologist trained in crisis intervention, talked about common reactions and how parents can help their children cope during a presentation to the East Meadow PTA Council in mid-October."You as parents and your children have had major reactions to this tragedy," Laska told a roomful of parents at East Meadow High School's Little Theatre. "Most crises are sudden. They occur, and then they are over. This is a different situation; no one knows when it will end."Laska met with parents in October in hopes of giving them insight into various types of reactions to trauma, how to cope with feelings and what is going on and how to move on. Her talk was geared toward children of all ages.
Making safety a top priority
Dozens of families turned out at East Meadow Fire Department Headquarters Oct. 14 to get a dose of fire-safety information.The Fire Prevention unit works hard throughout the fire district each year to tell kids and adults about fire safety, but the Open House, now in its fourth year, brings people together and allows the fire department to disseminate a wealth of information all at once.The open house, which lasted from noon to 4 p.m., included demonstrations such as the simulation of a real accident in which firefighters used the Jaws of Life to save the vehicle's driver.Children hurried through the Smoke House, which teaches young people what to do if a smoke alarm goes off, how to exit a house and how to find an alternate exit if the first one is blocked.
Bank robber strikes again
The man who police say robbed the East Meadow branch of the Dime Savings Bank at 501 Bellmore Ave. two months ago has struck again, this time on Oct. 12. The man is thought to be responsible for robbing the Merrick branch of Roslyn Savings Bank twice since Sept. 24 and Baldwin's North Fork Savings Bank.Fleet Bank on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow was also robbed Oct. 12, but police are calling that a coincidence. The police, however, believe the other robberies were committed by the same person owing to the close proximity of the bank locations."We think he's local," said Det. Sgt. Gary Schriffen. "East Meadow, Baldwin and Merrick, that's a very confined area. A radius of just a couple miles would cover all" of the banks.
Activists fight parkway expansion
Bellmore-Merrick civic activists say they're prepared to fight state plans to widen Southern State Parkway by at least two lanes. Department of Transportation officials say a shovel won't get into the ground on the project until 2015. The activists, however, believe now is the time to voice opposition to the project.The Southern State expansion is one part of a multi-pronged, $5-billion approach to relieving Long Island's increasing traffic congestion, state officials say. The DOT outlined the entire proposal in the Long Island Transportation Plan 2000, which went to public hearings last spring.The state wants to widen the roadway along its inside median and then allocate the two new lanes for use by Rapid Transportation Vehicles, 24-passenger buses that would ferry people to and from park-and-rides.
Somber mood for Manhattan workers
Even though more than a month has passed since the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, some of those who worked in the city said they still feel the tragedy's effects. Going to work each day, while now feeling like their normal routine again, has changed."I decided to go back the next day," said Scott Stone of East Meadow, who works as an electrician at the Metlife Building, which is above Grand Central. "It was like going into work on a Sunday. The city was so quiet. Scared, yeah, I was a little scared. We did have an evacuation on the following Thursday. It's been different."That next day, Stone said, work was so slow that he, as a registered nurse, decided to go to one of the local hospitals and volunteer his time helping out the victims. Initially, those who returned to their offices in Manhattan faced difficulties traveling there both by train and automobile. Roads and bridges were closed, and some train lines were closed or limited.
Budget central to 6th Dist. race
The Town of Hempstead's big budget surplus was at the heart of Democrat Patricia Maher's campaign against Republican incumbent Gary Hudes for Town Council in the Sixth District."The reason I am running is because of a $70-million surplus in the Town of Hempstead," said Maher, a life-long East Meadow resident. "I collected 950 signatures in my petition to run, and I've hit another 400 households. If you want to ask them [voters], their central issue is that they can't afford their taxes."Maher had plans for the surplus, which she and other Democrats believed might be more than $70 million. First, she wanted to see part of it go toward a tax cut. Many residents have said they believe their property-tax bills are simply too high, said Maher. Hudes, however, said that a town tax break would not be fiscally responsible. The surplus, which he said is closer to $50 million, serves as an emergency fund in case of incidents such as natural disasters.Hudes defeated Maher in the general election.
NOVEMBER
Post office gets 1st postmaster
It's official, East Meadow now has its own U.S. Post Office, and its very first postmaster, which it got in late October."I waited a long time for this to happen," said county Legis. Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow), who thanked community organizations such as the East Meadow Civic Association for helping the East Meadow Post Office become its own office. Up until now, it had been a branch of the Hempstead Post Office. On Oct. 25, the United States Postal Service, Long Island District, held an installation and dedication ceremony to officially install Charles Knowles, 47, as Postmaster and to recognize the East Meadow Post Office as a first-class office. As a first-class office, it will provide better service to its customers and offer bulk-mail service, said Knowles. Before, bulk-mail customers had to go to Hempstead for service.
Named small businessman of the year
Decorating many of the walls of RMB Drafting Services Inc. and Electrical Inspectors offices are awards, recognitions and pictures commemorating all that owner Richard Bivone has done for the community.These "walls of fame" only depict part of what Richard Bivone has done for East Meadow as a businessperson and a community leader. And it was Bivone's dedication to East Meadow that led Chamber of Commerce president James Skinner to name Bivone East Meadow Small Businessman of the Year for the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce."He has several businesses in East Meadow for one," Skinner said. "Number two, he's an outstanding leader in the East Meadow community. He's always in the forefront, helping out. He is a successful businessman in East Meadow. Rich Bivone is a doer."
District puzzled by low test scores
In East Meadow, school district officials were scratching their heads in November when the middle-school assessment scores were released, wondering what went wrong.As a district overall, the eighth-grade math assessment passing rate dropped 5 points to 46 percent, and the English language arts assessment passing rate fell 4 points to 57 percent. Still, both were above state averages.The biggest surprise, district officials said, was with Woodland Middle School's scores. Only 41 percent of eighth-graders passed the New York State Mathematics Assessment given last May, an 8-percent drop. The same occurred with the English assessment. Only 56 percent passed, a 9-percent drop from the previous year. In both cases, Clarke Middle School's scores either stayed the same or increased slightly.
Suozzi takes county exec. seat
Democrat Tom Suozzi of Glen Clove was elected as Nassau County's new county executive. He defeated Republican Bruce Bent of Plandome. County Legis. Norma Gonsalves and Town Councilman Gary Hudes both retained their seats against Democratic challengers. Also, Town Supervisor Richard Guardino kept his position, and the Democrats retained their majority in the county Legislature.
Students pay tribute through art
Students throughout the East Meadow School District in November took part in a visual tribute to the tragic events of Sept. 11, "A Salute to Heroes," by creating artwork for a district art show."It's a kindergarten through 12th-grade exhibit," said Dr. Richard Schreiner, district art director. "This is the first time we had a theme for the art show. We asked all the kids to interpret the events of Sept. 11 in their art."Many of the more than 50 artworks referred to the World Trade Center towers or the firefighters and police officers that helped. Others depicted photos artistically displayed to pay tribute to those who fell victim in the tragedy. The reason district art instructors chose to make this year a theme, Schreiner said, was that already many kids were creating art based on their emotions from Sept. 11. Also, he thought giving students the opportunity to express themselves about Sept. 11 would help them cope with it.
Hospital budget shot down
Roughly 400 jobs within the Nassau Health Care Corporation were off the chopping block after the board of directors failed to pass its 2002 budget proposal Nov. 17.The $469-million spending plan received a 7-4 vote, which according to the board's counsel is one vote shy of what was needed to pass it. The health-care corporation includes Nassau University Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility and seven clinics throughout the county.Critics of the proposed budget, which included board members Ronald Brinn, Rita Wallace and Mitchell Sahn, fought for a majority of the two-hour discussion on the plan to convince their colleagues to consider other options and hold off on a vote for 30 days. The board later passed the budget in December, and layoffs were expected by the end of the year.
Regents acts over Roosevelt
For the first time Nov. 9, the New York State Board of Regents authorized state Education Commissioner Richard Mills to move forward with dissolving the Roosevelt School District if a review panel decides it hasn't made satisfactory progress toward solving its academic and financial problems.The panel was to report back in December, said Robert Johnson, Long Island's representative on the Board of Regents. If the Roosevelt district is dissolved, its students might be sent to neighboring school districts such as Bellmore-Merrick and East Meadow.
Man dies of West Nile Virus
Another East Meadow resident, Karl Fink, died Nov. 22 from West Nile virus after fighting the illness for more than two months. He was 77 years old.He was the second person in Nassau County to die of West Nile virus this year. The other, Adeline Bisignano, 71, also of East Meadow, died Oct. 26, according to county Department of Health officials. Now, both victims' families have discussed filing lawsuits against the county because it did not spray against infected mosquitoes.
Taco Bell proposal in limbo
The Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals heard arguments for and against a proposed Taco Bell at Front Street and East Meadow Avenue Nov. 14, but reserved its decision pending further information from both sides.Attorney William Bonesso presented the proposal to relocate the Taco Bell, now located farther west on Front Street, to a site inside the Meadow Plaza Shopping Center lot. The owners needed to apply for variances for parking and installation of a double-window, drive-thru service.Richard Bivone, vice president of the Council of East Meadow Community Organizations, said more than 30 residents turned out at the hearing to oppose the application. "We also presented a petition with 1,000 signatures in opposition," Bivone said. "We expressed our opposition to the board of appeals and said we wanted it [Taco Bell] to stay where it is."
Ramadan brings spiritual healing
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan took an entirely new meaning this year for many Muslims as they celebrated it this November and December. Traditionally, it is a time to perform charitable acts and take stock of one's spiritual life. Because many area Muslims suffered bias attacks after Sept. 11, they feared their sacred month would be disrupted."Ramadan is a time of concentration, spiritual uplifting and cleansing of the heart," said Mozaffar Partowmah, a member of a Bellmore mosque. "Turnout may be different because of Sept. 11 The peace and tranquillity isn't there."Ramadan takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar and is regarded as the time when the Quran, the sacred book of the Muslims, was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad in Mecca about 1,400 years ago.
DECEMBER
Student project heads for space - again
On television, the launch of a NASA space shuttle appears to take only minutes, but Woodland Middle School sixth-graders from cluster one know better. It could take all day, they learned. On Nov. 28, cluster-one students gathered in Woodland Middle School's little theater for a pre-launch briefing about the space shuttle Endeavor STS 108 to find out how their project, "Magnets and the Magnetosphere," would travel with the shuttle into space."We wanted to give the kids the concepts behind a lift-off and what it entails," said Richard Santer, sixth-grade science teacher for cluster one who wrote the proposal for the project that the students are sending on Endeavor. "We'll talk about what an actual flight launch is and how to watch it."The students' project studied how magnets are affected by the magnetosphere surrounding the Earth. They started research at the end of August to prepare for the Nov. 29 launch.
Chamber heads back to class
"Good Morning fellow chamber members, honored guests and parents. My name is Theresa Rodriguez, and I have been elected president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce..."No, James Skinner was not deposed as the chamber's president, but he did have a stand-in for about an hour during an event Nov. 30. Fifth-grader Theresa Rodriguez acted as chamber president during a "town-hall meeting" at McVey Elementary School that gave fifth-graders a look into what the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce does at its meetings and how the organization benefits the community."We have a youth committee, and one of the things is that we get a youth grant each year, which we use for various programs," said Ted Rosenthal, youth committee chairman. "The youth of our community are our future, but how are they going to be a part of it if they don't know who we [the chamber] are? They are at the perfect age to know who we are and what we do."
Shuffleboardteam rises to top
At a short ceremony Dec. 5, the East Meadow Senior Center's Shuffleboard team officially became the 2001 champions in the Town of Hempstead's 11-team shuffleboard league."We play fair, we rotate players," said Vinnie Scelsi, team captain. "I didn't holler. I just told them this is a game go out and have fun. Win, lose or draw, it's just a game."That laid-back attitude about shuffleboard and the competition helped the East Meadow Senior Center's team to eight wins and only two losses. Initially, they tied with two other teams for first, but the league held a playoff to determine a winner.The shuffleboard league is just one of many recreational activities offered through the Town of Hempstead's Department of Senior Enrichment, said Wayne Kelly, coordinator for the department's physical and recreational activities.
Season gives mixed reviews to retailers
This year's holiday season was it for many large retailers throughout the country. If sales weren't good enough this year, many talked about drastic measures such as shutting stores and making cutbacks.While things weren't so drastic in East Meadow, some local retailers felt the same kind of worry about the holiday season and saw their worries turn slowly into reality."It's been a little slower this year," said Marcia Krinick, owner of Aquarius Cards & Stationers Inc., a local gift shop located at 1918 Hempstead Tpke. "I think people are being more cautious and aren't buying the higher priced items. I'm hoping it will pick up in the last week before Christmas."For many businesses in East Meadow, including a local jewelry store that didn't want to be identified, business dropped at least 5 to 10 percent over last year's sales. Like Krinick at Aquarius Cards, however, they were hoping business would pick up in the last few days before Christmas.
400 layoffs planned at NUMC
After a 9-2 vote, at least 400 employees' jobs have been virtually eliminated throughout Nassau Health Care Corporation as the corporation prepares to implement its newly approved budget plan.Nassau Health Care Corporation's Board of Directors approved a $469-million budget for the next fiscal year Dec. 17. The spending plan calls for layoffs throughout the hospital, clinics and extended-care facility to help save the failing health-care system."We have to set some priorities, and our first priority is to provide good quality health care to our patients," said Richard Turan, chief executive officer of the health care corporation. "With this budget we saved probably $58 million, and of that, $23 million needed to come out of payroll expenses and personnel costs."Only board members Rita Wallace and Sam Prioleau voted against the proposed budget that almost passed in November but fell one vote short. Many employees and union members shouted their disapproval of the vote, which occurred before public opinion could be heard.
Wal-Mart schedules February opening
"Coming Soon" read a newly posted sign in mid-December on the latest business addition to East Meadow - Wal-Mart. Residents and community leaders welcomed these words."It's supposed to be ready sometime in January," said Town Councilman Gary Hudes, who had hoped the project would have been ready to open in time for the holiday season. "It would have done well, if it had been ready."The Wal-Mart, on Hempstead Turnpike in the Clearmeadow Mall, was scheduled to open by the end of 2000 in time for the holiday season, but construction delays pushed the opening into the next year. It is now scheduled for the beginning of February. Despite the delay, it still will be a nice addition to the commercial area along this busy roadway, Hudes has said, and is likely to do well and draw more business to the area.
Coming to E. Meadow in 2002
Already sidewalks have been poured, decorative lampposts and benches have been installed and a spot has been cleared for the soon-to-be-built gazebo for East Meadow's Town Square."What I see for next year is we're going to be putting up the gazebo and laying bricks and also putting up gates so that people can get to the Town Square," said Jim Skinner, president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the project. "It will give the community a place to gather and create pride."The Town Square project and additional downtown revitalization in general are what many local officials are touting as the highlight of the new year that starts in just a few days."We are deep in the revitalization of the village square," said Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes. "I'm looking forward to the next few months when that will be completed. I think that, as that is completed, it will be a gathering place for the community to come together and spend time there sitting on the old-fashioned benches or walking along the new paths."
Popular farmstand closes after 30 years
It's a little farmstand along Merrick Avenue in East Meadow, but for many, JoAnne's Farmstand is a cornerstone of the community.The farmstand, at Merrick Avenue and Luddington Road, was to close its doors Dec. 28 after providing area residents with bushels full of organic fruits, vegetables and herbs for 30 years."It started in 1971," said JoAnne DeRiso-Hamlin, owner. "My dad started it for my grandfather. He did it so my grandfather wouldn't be bored. He was a retired farmer."Even in the beginning, the farmstand fared well in the mid-Nassau County community, drawing people from near and far who wanted organic foods at fair prices.DeRiso-Hamlin, her family and farmstand staff grew and handled all of the business' operations, including growing most of the merchandise. It was this homegrown, locally sold produce that helped the business prosper.
Layoffs ripple through hospital
For about a year, social worker Irene Burk has worked in the Oncology Department of Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, providing patients with needed support and connecting them with services.Now that reports are flying that half the Social Work Department will be cut from the hospital's staff, Burk worries that she will be one of the many social workers to lose their jobs."I'm extremely upset, not only for myself, but mostly for my patients that I have been helping for the last year," Burk said. "Now that I am losing my job, who is going to help these people? The thought of leaving this office and taking my things is bad enough, but who is going to help them? "When I saw Mr. [Richard] Turan [CEO of NUMC] on television talking about how this isn't going to hurt patient care, I started to cry," she continued. "I think it's going to hurt the patients. It's got to hurt the patients."Social workers aren't the only ones worried at the medical center. Many employees, from housekeeping to nursing, are concerned about what the days before the end of the year will bring them since Nassau Health Care Corporation's Board of Directors passed the budget Dec. 17. The employees all belong to the Civil Service Employees Association Local 830.
