Farewell to a Lynbrook legend
Former Lynbrook Mayor George Mangravite, 102, died on Sept. 10, of natural causes. He served as mayor from 1958 - 1967. He was originally appointed and won re-election twice. Before becoming mayor, he served as village trustee for seven years.
Playground in full swing
With Phase One complete, Hewlett Point Park in East Rockaway officially re-opened as a state of the art facility, boasting new basketball courts, tennis courts, and multi-activity play equipment. The park, which is owneed by the Town of Hempstead is a 7.3 acre park which includes a 1,000 foot bay beach, a pool complex, kiddie pool and picnic area. Phase Two of the refurbishing will address the pool area and surrounding landscape.
Suburban standoff
An East Rockaway resident, Gerald Dallek, 79, threatened suicide and subsequently held police at bay for eight hours. Police had to evacuate the man's neighbors on Talfor Road and the students at the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Center's religious school. The Nassau County Police Bureau of Special Operations was called to the scene and the hostage team negotiated with Dallek, even though it was not a hostage situation. Just after midnight Dallek came out of the house and surrendered to police.
Officer's honor
Lynbrook Police Officer John Reichert received a commendation from the Town of Hempstead for his dedication to the department and people of his community at the Police Service Awards.
Infant death
A three-month -old baby girl, Dannah Perez, was found unconscious in her crib at Kiddie Academy in Lynbrook. She was pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Centre, after being found by one of the caregivers and rushed to the hospital by police. Police said a preliminary investigation showed no signs of trauma or obstruction of the infant's airway.
Baby Dannah's brother Justin Guevara, 4, and her sister Chelsea, 3, are also enrolled at the day care center and were there at the time of the incident. In a televised press conference, the day after the death, the baby's parents expressed their belief that Kiddie Academy was not responsible for their daughter's death.
October
Busted!
Sheila Dean, 36, of East Rockaway and her boyfriend Brian Quinn, 28, of Rockville Centre were arrested in an Islandia hotel hideaway, after what police called a crime spree which began on Sept. 26. The pair were charged with robbery, larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
According to police, the lovebirds started hitting various stores which included a gas station, a smoke shop and two ice cream parlors. A robbery at the North Fork Bank in Hauppauge on Oct. 4, captured Quinn's image on a video surveillance camera, matching a picture that Nassau County detectives had of him. Officers spotted Quinn's truck in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn in Islandia and arrested the couple in the hotel lobby on their way to breakfast.
At their arraignment on Oct. 6, Quinn pleaded not guilty to first-degree robbery, three counts of third-degree robbery, larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison. Dean pleaded not guilty to two counts of third-degree robbery, and if convicted she faces up to seven years in prison.
Lynbrook drive-thru
A car made an unscheduled stop at the Bank of America on Merrick Road in Lynbrook when the driver, a 49-year-old woman collided with a vehicle. The crash caused her to lose control of her car and jump the south side curb, coming to rest only after hitting the bank building. The crash caused damage to the bank's plate glass window. The driver of the other car was transported to an area hospital to assess his injuries.
NOVEMBER
Running away with it
The Lynbrook boys cross country varsity track team drove to the finish line and captured the Nassau County Class A Cross Country Championship. And the East Rockaway cross country varsity track team won their second Nassau County Class C/D title.
D.A. slams the door
Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced the arrest of Robert Kaufman 44, of Lynbrook by the district attorney's Criminal Frauds Bureau. Kaufman, the former owner of Doors By Design Ltd., which had a showroom at 435 Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook, has been charged with one count of first-degree scheme to defraud and one count of fourth-degree grand larceny for taking deposits from 18 homeowners and failing to perform the contracted work. Both are Class E felonies punishable by up to four years in prison.
"Robert Kaufman took deposits totaling $33,195 from 18 homeowners without performing the contracted door installation work for each homeowner," said Dillon. Furthermore, according to the district attorney's office, Doors By Design Ltd. had its license suspended by Consumer Affairs on Jan. 8, but allegedly took deposits for work after that suspension.
Kaufman was arraigned in District Court in Hempstead on Nov. 10, and released on his own recognizance.
Lady Rocks rule the court
East Rockaway girls' volleyball team won the Class C Long Island title in a match against previously undefeated Port Jefferson. Additionally, junior Brittany Fuller was named to the All Island team, after being a driving force in the Lady Rocks Long Island championship.
Hometown heroes
PHOTO # 22178
The Town of Hempstead presents Police Service Medals to detectives from the Nassau County Homicide Squad who investigated the Battaglia murder case. From left are, Councilman Jim Darcy, Detective Sergeant Richard Laursen, Supervisor Kate Murray, Detective Milton Aponte, Detective James McGinn and Councilman Anthony Santino.
In conjunction with the first anniversary of the murder of Anthony Battaglia, the Town of Hempstead honored four of the detectives who worked on the complex case. Detectives Milton Aponte, James McGinn, Michael O'Leary and Detective Sergeant Richard Laursen received commendations for their efforts in apprehending the five suspects earlier this year, who are now awaiting trial in the Nassau County jail.
The detectives formed a core team investigating the Sept. 18, 2003 murder of Battaglia. Five months of detailed police work followed which included inter-agency cooperation and tips from the public. "They worked so hard on the case," said Caryn Battaglia who surprised the detectives by showing up unannounced at the ceremony. "There were so many different leads to follow and they were relentless. They just never quit."
Nina Petraro, president of the Nassau County Young Republicans tallies the votes on election night 2004.
Incumbents win big
Voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots for the incumbents in this years election. Senator Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), Assemblymen Bob Barra (R-Lynbrook), Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach), and Tom
Alfano (R-North Valley Stream) were all returned to Albany.
Karenlyn Barone/Herald
The life and death
of a true fighter
A fundraiser was held for the benefit of Daniel Callahan of Valley Stream, a 21-year-old with Down Syndrome who was in desperate need of a liver transplant. Kate Miller of Lynbrook, Sister Barbara of Our Lady of Peace Parish and the Lynbrook Knights of Columbus St. Mary's Council, turned out a benefit fit for a king. Sadly, Danny died the following week. "I said the love in the room the night of the benefit, was enough to build a stairway to heaven," said Danny's mother Marie. "And Danny climbed it."
The Knights of Columbus made Danny an honorary knight of their council and said a traditional prayer vigil in his memory. "Danny brought us together as a council in the spirit of charity, unity and fraternity," said Grand Knight Ralph Macchia. "We will always remember him."
Watch us grow
In an effort to strengthen the connection between school and the business and professional community, the Lynbrook School District launched a School Business Partnership. Organized in association with Long Island Works, it is made up of business persons, professionals, and educators and will meet periodically to address specific objectives and work toward detailed goals. The master plan will encourage career development for Lynbrook School district students and a provide a forum in which leaders in the work world can advise educators of trends and needs in the work place, allowing f for the development of activities that provide direct assistance to students making career plans.
Giving the gift of life
An Election Day Blood Drive was held in honor of East Rockaway High School eighth-grader Nick Farano who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins T-cell lymphoblasmic lymphoma in Sept. Over 150 pints of blood were collected from students, teachers, community members and friends, anxious to show their support of Nick.
December
An awarding night
The East Rockaway Chamber of Commerce held their first networking night and awarded local businesses, owners and individuals for their dedication to the community. Those honored included Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino, Michael Ragib of La Favorita Deli, Pina Silva of Villa Maria Restaurant, Rocco Anastasio of Rocco's Catering, and Dennis McCabe East Rockaway Building Department Superintendent.
Gridiron greatness
Lynbrook's David Posada and East Rockaway's T.J.Fox were named All-County for football.
A fair fare
The Lynbrook Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved an increase of 50 cents, from $3.50 to $4, for taxi fares within the village, effective yesterday. A second passenger will still cost $2 and the fare for senior citizens will remain at $2.50.
Brian T. Dessart/Herald
East Rockaway teacher Paul Collins assists his students in preparing the goods for shipment.
Sending smiles to soldiers
The East Rockaway V.F.W., Robert F. Garrison Post No. 3350, hosted the students from the school district who came to wrap and box donations they had collected for servicemen overseas during their "Make a Soldier Smile" campaign.
The students collected food, books, CD's, candy, and personal hygiene items and then brought the items to the VFW hall to get them ready to ship overseas.
Construction stopped
in East Rockaway
The village of East Rockaway declared a moratorium on new construction. Although the resolution, Local Law
No. 5, was approved unanimously, a majority of residents in attendance at Monday night's village board meeting did not agree with the decision to adopt such a law. The moratorium ceases all development in commercially zoned areas for a minimum of six months. During that time, the village board says it intends to hire a professional planner, who will make recommendations to the board regarding the type of construction that would fit the quaint atmosphere of the village.
They get the nod
In a surprise move, the Lynbrook Independent Party nominated a virtual newcomer instead of the two-term incumbent to run for a village seat in the next election.
The village's long-standing party nominated Richard Clifford, rather than incumbent Kevin Kelly, by an overwhelming majority. Clifford is a retired New York Police Department lieutenant who sits on the village's Architectural Review Board.
Along with Clifford's nomination, LIP President Gary Pazmann announced that sitting Village Trustee Morrey Forman was renominated for his position. Joining them on the LIP ticket is sitting Village Justice Maurice Ornstein, who will be running for another four-year term.
Spillage in the village
An oil tanker traveling east on Peninsula Boulevard Monday afternoon reportedly swerved to avoid hitting a car and lost control as it approached Hempstead Avenue. The truck flipped onto its side, sliding about 100 feet into The Penbrook, a four-story residential apartment building, and spilled about 1,800 gallons of oil.
Residents of 63 apartments at The Penbrook had to be evacuated because of the overpowering smell of oil and the possibility that the crash may have caused structural damage to the building. "Miraculously, no one was hurt," said Lynbrook Mayor Eugene Scarpato.
Bond rebound
On the first anniversary of the presentation of a $28 million bond proposal, which was quickly withdrawn due to residents' opposition, the East Rockaway School District made another appeal to its residents. This time, the bond the district hopes to have approved totals $21 million, with a focus on necessary infrastructure repairs.
This year's proposal, titled "Preparing to Meet the District's Facilities Needs for the 21st Century," includes what the committee calls "desperately needed infrastructure.
Last year's bond proposal was the result of year-long research done by the members of the Board of Education and the superintendent, coupled with the recommendations of an architect. This year the district assembled a Citizens Advisory Committee made up of residents who worked together for six weeks, toured each of the school buildings, met with an architect and made their recommendations to the board at a meeting on Dec. 9.
The board had no input in the study, and its members looked at the report for the first time, along with residents, at the meeting. It is now their responsibility to review the findings and recommendations of the committee and decide whether to formally present the bond to the community sometime early next year.
