Making the cut
Lauren Bivona, a senior at Lynbrook High School was one of 75 Long Island students named as semi-finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search. As a semi-finalist Bivona won $1,000 and $1,000 was donated to her school.
A change of hands
The installation of Lynbrook's Chamber of Commerce officers was held. Bill Gaylor stepped down and Polly
Talbott, owner of A la carte, was named president. Harry Levitt, owner of Mur-Lee's was sworn in as vice-president of the chamber's retail division and Harold Reese, formerly of Reese Dodge was honored by the chamber for his contribution to the village.
Penzes's memory flying high
Father Larry Penzes, Our Lady of Peace priest, who was slain in 2002 while saying Mass, had an administrative building at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey dedicated in his honor. The reverend, 50, was a United States Air Force chaplain, who during his lifetime, traveled with soldiers to the Persian Gulf offering encouragement and spiritual strength to the troops there.
Members of the 514th Air Mobility Wing, 50 members of Our Lady of Peace congregation and Penzes' brothers Bob and Ken attended the ceremony.
A commanding force
The commanding officer of the Fourth Precinct, Deputy Inspector Richard McGuire was promoted to inspector on Jan. 22. McGuire said he would continue to target quality-of-life offenses.
"The protection of life and property come first," he said.
They're listening
For the first time ever, representatives from New York state, the Town of Hempstead and Lynbrook government held a town meeting in Lynbrook Village Hall. In attendance to address resident's concerns were Assemblyman Bob Barra, Town of Hempstead Councilmen Anthony Santino, and James Darcy, Lynbrook Mayor Eugene Scarpato and the Lynbrook village trustees.
FEBRUARY
Remembering James Duncan
East Rockaway U.S. postal carrier for 38 years and volunteer fireman for 42 years, James Duncan, 62, died after a long battle with several illnesses. During his affiliation with Engine Company Hose No. 1, Duncan responded to more than 10,000 rescue calls, countless fire calls, was an advisor to the Junior Firefighters and assisted in the birth of seven babies.
Prognosticator predicts
Malverne Melissa, celebrating the one year anniversary of her marriage to Malverne Mel, saw her shadow and predicted another six weeks of winter. Unfortunately, she was right!
Give me a lift
Carl Petronio of Lynbrook was identified by police and arrested for stealing six vehicles in a three-month period, from the parking lot 7-11 on Atlantic Avenue, and driving them to his job in Inwood. According to Lynbrook Police Chief Joseph Neve, the suspect would steal the cars when customers left the cars running with the keys in the ignition. Petronio it is reported, lived next door to the 7-11. He was charged with six counts of grand larceny.
Charged in Lynbrook murder
Four members of the Latin Kings gang and a female accomplice who allegedly provided the transportation and the weapon, all from Freeport, were arrested and charged with the Sept. 2003 murder of 37-year-old Lynbrook resident Anthony Battaglia.
Police said that Nelson Zuniga, 19, shot Battaglia and Omar Delarosa, 18, stabbed him. They were charged with first-degree murder as well as first-degree attempted robbery. Janny Paez, 20, Marina Musso, 21, and Fernando Moronta, 20, were all charged with second-degree murder and first-degree attempted robbery.
Battaglia was on his way home from work and was walking from the Lynbrook Long Island Rail Road station around 11:30 p.m., when police say he was accosted by the robbers. Battaglia put up a fight, but was beaten, shot and stabbed by the robbers, who then drove away. Battaglia, who was mortally wounded, managed to crawl to his back door, where he was found by his wife. The arrests were part of a five month-long investigation. Police believe that all five arrested are responsible for a month-long robbery spree prior to the killing, including the robbery of a Rockville Centre couple three hours before Battaglia's murder and robberies that occurred in Oceanside and Long Beach earlier that week.
In August, Moronta, 20, the first of five suspects in the murder case was arraigned on charges of second-degree murder and attempted robbery. The other four were arraigned before the week's end. At his arraignment, Moronta pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was additionally charged with two counts of first-degree robbery for separate incidents according to the DA's office. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison on the murder charge alone.
We are proud to announce
Richner Communications, the parent company of Herald Community Newspapers, announced the birth of the Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald and the formation of the Malverne/West Hempstead Herald in an effort to provide more focused coverage of the communities.
Working for safer streets
With five members of the Latin Kings gang in custody for the murder of Lynbrook resident Anthony Battaglia, New York State Assemblymen Bob Barra and Tom Alfano held a round table discussion focused on implementing strategies for their Safe Neighborhood and Investment Act of 2004. The bill, in its infancy, seeks to increase penalties for gang crimes and to implement a comprehensive strategy to prevent the further recruitment of gang members. Battaglia's widow Caryn attended the conference as a guest.
Memorial for a friend
Lynbrook resident Elizabeth "Betty" Moseman was honored on the one-year anniversary of her death, by the Lynbrook Library where she worked for over 30 years. A special plaque was created in her memory and family and friends gathered to hang the inspiration memorial in the library.
MARCH
How sweet it is!
East Rockaway girls basketball team wins their second straight Nassau County Class C title. They were victorious, 53-48, over Oyster Bay in an overtime win. A week later, the Lady Rocks brought home the basketball crown - again. For the second year in a row the girls basketball team was named Long Island Champs, after handily defeating Suffolk's Center Moriches, 60-35.
To build or not to build?
Victorian Manor Development proposed the construction of a six-story apartment building, a commercial building and a single-tiered parking structure to an audience of concerned residents at a village board meeting. Lynbrook Fire Department Chief John Crowley Jr. voiced his concerns as they related to fire safety. The village board reassured the community that it would weigh both the benefits and liabilities of such a project . Although the developer down-sized his plans, he later withdrew his proposal in part due to continued community opposition.
Head of the class
East Rockaway Junior Senior High School and Lynbrook North Middle School were among those listed as the state's most improved schools. They were both cited for significant improvement in eighth-grade math test scores.
East Rockaway was named to the list a result of a more than 33 percent improvement in the New York State eighth-grade math exams. Seventy percent of the students met the standards for the 2003 math exam, compared to 37 percent in 1999. Lynbrook North Middle School had more than a 33 percent increase, as well, with 77 percent of students meeting the state standard.
Mutual support
Representatives from the villages of East Rockaway and Malverne gave a presentation explaining the inter-municipal agreement between five neighboring villages that will provide aid to each other in the event of a disaster or major emergency. The Mutual Aid Agreement is considered to be a model arrangement, having passed the scrutiny of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency.
APRIL
Clarence E. Matzen, 80, of Lyn died on April 19
Matzen graduated Lynbrook High School in 1942, joined the United States Army, was a letter carrier for the Lynbrook Post Office and a volunteer firefighter for over 50 years, at which time he was made an honorary chief of the Lynbrook Fire Department. Past recipient of Lynbrook Man of the Year honors, Matzen will be remembered for his life of community service.
Gunshots at dawn
Nine rounds from a shotgun blasted the early-morning silence in East Rockaway's Bay Park as James Savino stood on his lawn and fired the gun into the pre-dawn sky. Nassau County police officers and SWAT team members surrounded the neighborhood, evacuating families and securing the block. Three hours later the gunman was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment. No one was injured.
Some Bunny loves you
The Lynbrook Easter Egg hunt found Assemblyman Bob Barra (R-Lyn) and Recreation Director Dick Flynn
sharing a warm moment with an old friend.
The East Point Inn, an icon in East Rockaway, abruptly closed its doors after doing business for 35 years. The popular restaurant was owned and operated by the Colwell family of Lynbrook since 1969, but the family sold the business in Dec. 2002. It was reported that although the new owners tried to maintain the restaurant's high standards, business was down and a decision was made to close.
In April, without warning or a permit, a demolition crew brought down the legendary building. The owners applied for a permit the pervious week, and contend that the Village of East Rockaway was uncooperative to that end. The village went on the record to say that the owners were unreasonable in their expectations to be granted a permit in less than several days. Residents were shocked at the loss of what many referred to as a landmark of the village.
The East Rockaway Fire Department christened two new fire trucks. Truck No. 403 is a hook and ladder and No. 407 is a heavy rescue truck. Ex-captain Rocky Saldano is shown christening the trucks in the traditional way.
East Rockaway High School senior Tommy Barone was named Nassau County's first recipient of the All-American 12th Man Award for High School Football. The award is given for performance as an outstanding athlete who has overcome individual, personal challenges in making a major contribution to his football team. Barone is the only athlete in Nassau County with cerebral palsy to have played varsity football. Barone previously won the Nassau County Unsung Hero Award.
Barone is shown with the East Rockaway High School Athletic Director Dom Vulpis, left, and varsity football coach Russel Pajer who traveled to Syracuse University for the award presentation.
