Under the initiative, dubbed the "chamber loyalty program," people living in the 11554 zip code will be issued discount cards.
Residents can use the cards to get discounts and take advantage of special incentives at participating local stores.
Preaching sun safety
Extreme sun exposure in the first 10 to 18 years of a person's life is one of the main causes of melanoma, a very serious form of skin cancer, according to the American Melanoma Foundation.
That's why the East Meadow Little League, through the help and generosity of the East Meadow Kiwanis, the Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign, and other community leaders, launched an initiative to put roofs over 14 dugouts at its seven ballfields in the Merrick Avenue sports complex.
Diocese forms sex-abuse group
The Diocese of Rockville Centre formed a support group for victims who have been sexually abused by clergy and other church personnel in parishes throughout Long Island, including St. Raphael's in East Meadow.
The group was formed in response to victims' requests. The diocese, which comprises 134 parishes in Nassau and Suffolk counties, has come under fire in recent years, as victims have come forward alleging sexual abuse at the hands of clergy.
Remembering the tragedy
Dozens gathered at Nassau County's moment of silence in Eisenhower Park to mark the three-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and remember approximately 300 county residents who lost their lives that day.
Road to recovery
Nassau County laid out a five-point plan to keep the Nassau Health Care Corporation from going out of business, introducing initiatives that would generate millions of dollars in much-needed revenue.
The plan included a stabilization agreement that would resolve long-standing financial disputes between the county and corporation and an agreement to refund NHCC's existing bonds.
Nowhere to go
A five-member panel of experts gathered at the East Meadow Public Library to discuss the lack of affordable housing on Long Island, particularly Nassau County.
The lack of affordable housing, the panel said, is one of the most pressing issues facing residents today.
'Smoky' Moskowski dies
East Meadow lost one of its most dedicated firefighters. Ed Moskowski, the East Meadow Fire Department's longest-serving member, died Sept. 12 of complications stemming from pneumonia. He was 91.
Scores of firefighters and loved ones turned out for his funeral, paying their last respects to a man who logged 72 years with the department and was known affectionately as "Smoky."
Housing fight continues
Nassau County Assessor Harvey Levinson continued his crusade against illegal rentals, announcing more initiatives aimed at dissuading homeowners from unlawfully renting houses.
Levinson also identified five new houses in Nassau County that he reclassified as commercial properties and levied large property-tax hikes because they were being rented illegally.
Among the new measures he proposed, Levinson wanted the section of the Nassau County District Court that handles landlord-tenant disputes on back rent and evictions to require landlords' confirmations when they file petitions that the apartments they rent conform to building and zoning codes.
School district audit begins
Auditors from the New York state comptroller's office began poring over the financial records of East Meadow schools, signifying the start of the district's second audit in as many years.
Happy 145th
The United Methodist Church in East Meadow, one of the oldest houses of worship on Long Island, celebrated its 145th anniversary.
Teacher contract in dispute
Wearing red shirts in a sign of solidarity and buttons proclaiming "We're waiting," more than 300 teachers packed a East Meadow Board of Education meeting to coax the district into agreeing to a new contract.
Some 700 teaching personnel from East Meadow's nine schools have been without a contract since their five-year deal expired Aug. 31.
Though representatives of the East Meadow Teachers Association and the district met four times, beginning in May, to hammer out a new five-year contract, the two couldn't come to terms, and a mediator was brought in to facilitate the collective-bargaining process.
OCTOBER
Check out the new look!
For the first time in its three-year career, the East Meadow Herald sported a color front page.
The front photo of the Oct. 7 issue featured East Meadow High School cheerleaders carrying the Jets' banner during the annual homecoming parade.
Lending a hand
The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce planned a fund-raiser to benefit the Nassau University Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where premature and critically ill infants receive treatment.
Part of the proceeds of the chamber's second annual Culinary Delights event on Oct. 25 went toward the unit.
Kiwanis welcomes new leader
The East Meadow Kiwanis, part of Kiwanis International, a leading community service organization with membership spanning the globe, said goodbye to outgoing President Mitchell Skoller and welcomed new leader Jay Steinmetz at its installation Oct. 2.
Steinmetz's term was to span one year.
Shedding some light
New York Islanders owner Charles Wang formally unveiled his plants to rebuild the Nassau Coliseum and transform 72 acres surrounding it into a state-of-the-art community that will include a 60-story hotel-and-condominium tower.
Reports of Wang's plan began surfacing in the media weeks before, with particular attention paid to what he dubbed the Lighthouse tower.
If built, it would be the tallest building on Long Island, eclipsing the 19-story Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.
Gas spill
The Herald revealed that harmful chemical stemming from a Hempstead Turnpike gas station just yards away from homes was seeping into the surrounding groundwater.
Geological Services Corp., a Holbrook-based environmental company hired by Shell to survey its closed gas station on the corner of Carman Avenue and Third Street, found levels of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in tests.
MTBE is a fuel additive that often leaks from underground storage tanks in stations. The chemical tends to dissolve quickly through the soil and into the groundwater, often flowing along with it for considerable distances.
Top businessman honored
In recognition of his many contributions to the community, John Arigo was named the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce's small businessman of the year at a ceremony at the Crest Hollow Country Club.
As a certified public accountant and owner of Pietro's Pizza on East Meadow Avenue, Arigo has become one of the community's most active leaders.
For his bravery
Longtime East Meadow Fire Department volunteer John Thomas received the Town of Hempstead's distinguished service award posthumously at a ceremony Oct. 20.
Thomas' widow Lois accepted the award from Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray on his behalf. A well respected and dedicated volunteer, November would have been Thomas' 50th year with the department. He died in July after a long battle with leukemia.
He was 76.
NOVEMBER
Incumbents win big
As expected, incumbent candidates for local state races routed their challengers.
In the 8th Senate District, Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a Republican of Merrick, handily defeated Democrat John Lewis. Sen. Kemp Hannon, a Republican of Garden City, staved off a challenge by Democrat Charles Ferzola.
In the race for the 17th Assembly District, incumbent Republican Maureen O'Connell, an attorney and former nurse, beat Anthony Pellegrino.
Republican Donna Ferrara, the 15th District assemblywoman, defeated Richard Taubman and 19th Assembly District incumbent Republican David McDonough beat Jay Breakstone.
District, teachers go at it
The East Meadow Teachers Association made good on its promise to keep pressure on the school district until teachers have a new contract. Its members showed up en masse at a Board of Education meeting.
Scores of teachers packed the meeting room in the Salisbury Center and urged school district officials to return to the bargaining table.
East Meadow loses a forefather
Raymond Hoeffner, a lifelong East Meadow resident and patriarch of one of the neighborhood's oldest families, died of natural causes. He was 80.
For decades, the Hoeffner name has been synonymous with East Meadow. In 1914, the family purchased the inn situated in what is today the East Meadow town square.
In the years predating the park and square, the plot of land was simply known as Hoeffner's Corner.
Condos questioned
A Wantagh-based building firm revealed plans to erect 31 condominiums on a lot along Carman Avenue in Salisbury, a plan that's drew both praise and criticism from residents.
Residents opposed to the plan cite parking and traffic issues, as well as fear that building such structures will only open the door for similar projects along Carman Avenue in the future.
Those in favor, however, counter that the lot where the condominiums will potentially be built is a rat-infested eyesore desperately in need of attention.
Sticker shock
In May, East Meadow residents were told school taxes would be going up 8.9 percent under the new budget. In November they learned just what that meant in cold, hard dollars and cents as they received their school tax bills in the mail.
Some residents expressed shock at just how high their taxes have jumped, unable to grasp how the tax levy increase they were told about in May would translate onto their bills in November.
East Meadow Deputy Superintendent Leon Campo said the district usually fields phone calls from angry or confused homeowners regarding tax bills this time of year.
Campo attributed the higher than expected taxes to a shift in property values. There are four classifications of property in a community--detached homes, multi-family dwellings, utilities and commercial. The school tax burden is distributed among those classes.
A man who's made a difference
Lee Cook hasn't had much energy in the 15 years he's battled multiple sclerosis, yet he's exerted most of it helping others.
The 25-year East Meadow resident has collected toys for sick children, created a Little League division for disabled kids, and donated food and clothes for the needy through times when he was too weak to walk.
In recognition of his efforts the Town of Hempstead bestowed Cook with its 2004 Make a Difference Award. The award is presented annually to 12 individuals who selflessly give of themselves, helping their friends and neighbors.
Condos debate continues
Salisbury residents both for and against the plan to erect condominiums on Carman Avenue turned out at a Hempstead Town Board hearing to plead their cases.
The board was scheduled to vote on the requested zoning change for the roughly 1.5-acre lot on the east side of Carman Avenue, just across from Melody Lane. The change would allow condominiums to be built. Following testimony from both sides, however, the board postponed the vote.
Residents opposed to the plan cited parking and traffic issues, as well as the fear that building condominiums would open the door for similar projects in the future. Those in favor, mostly residents who live in close proximity to the property, countered that the lot is a rat-infested eyesore that would be vastly improved if condominiums were built.
DECEMBER
Ex-chief files suit
Michael Finnegan, the former first assistant chief of the East Meadow Fire Department who lost his position after he was arrested for allegedly harassing his ex-girlfriend, was in the process of filing suit against the department and considering running for fire commissioner.
Finnegan was first arrested on Aug. 17, 2003, after he allegedly placed a number of harassing phone calls to his girlfriend, Jaime Marino. He was picked up again almost two months later for allegedly violating a court order that forbade him to contact her. Charged with second-degree aggravated harassment, he was later suspended for one year from the fire department, which effectively cost him his position as first assistant chief.
Last June, however, Finnegan was cleared of all charges, and now he claims the department should have suspended him only if he had been convicted. He believes his civil rights have been violated, and is in the process of filing a law suit against the fire department.
End of an era
Peter Valente, the principal of Barnum Woods Elementary School for the past 28 years, announced he was retiring at the end of the year.
Jail audited
An audit of the Nassau County jail revealed an institution in financial disarray, with problems that include improperly authorized overtime that cost the facility $20 million in 2003, the Nassau County Comptroller said.
Covering 2002 through April 2004, the audit found that overtime was granted to correction officers without proper verification of the hours worked, and had increased 100 percent in four years. The jail paid out $10.3 million in overtime in 2000, which ballooned to $20 million in 2003, Weitzman said.
What-s more, 32 correction officers earned more than $50,000 in overtime in 2003, including one whose overtime earnings were $118,000.
Union protests NHCC cuts
Between 100 and 200 Nassau Health Care Corporation doctors, nurses and other employees gathered to protest the corporation's latest proposed round of layoffs to close its gaping financial deficit.
The Nassau Health Care Corporation, which runs the NUMC in East Meadow, the A. Holly Patterson nursing home in Uniondale and six community health clinics throughout the county, announced that it would be laying off about 300 employees. In the past two years, the corporation has laid off some 700 workers in an effort to break even.
Under its 2005 budget, the corporation hoped to cut its deficit in half by losing only $6.5 million, which would be the lowest annual loss in its six-year history. That goal would largely be achieved through layoffs.
