Top Rockville Centre stories of 2010

War of words ends

Schools, village sign services-sharing, Fireman's Field agreements

Following in the footsteps of the Board of Education, the village board voted to sign two cooperative agreements with the school district. The signing of the agreements marked the end of more than a year of discussion — and threats — between the village and school district.

The municipal agreement provided for a sharing of services by the two entities — including allowing the village to use school facilities for its annual summer recreation programs, and allowing the school district to use village fields for its sports teams. It replaces a previous agreement forged some 20 years ago that won the village an award as a paradigm of municipal cooperation.

The second agreement outlined the use of parking at Fireman’s Memorial Field adjacent to South Side High School. It stated that student parking will no longer be allowed there, and also that the school district would be responsible for simple maintenance of the parking field.

When he signed the agreement on April 20, then-school board president Mark Masin said it is nearly identical to the previous agreements.

“We’re going to establish cooperative use of facilities and services, and we will certainly allow the village to run their summer recreational program,” said Masin, adding that there will be reciprocal use by the school district of village property.

When asked why it took so long for the school district and village to reach a consensus, Masin said his focus is on what the future will bring.

“I’m happy that after the time that it took us to achieve these agreements, we are able to work cooperatively together,” Masin said. “We are very happy with being able to put this behind us and move forward.”

“Reaching these agreements was not a simple matter,” said Mayor Mary Bossart when she signed the agreements at a May 3 village board meeting. “We believe we now have fair agreements in place.”

March mayhem

Scenes of devastation as villagers pick up the pieces after super storm

Rockville Centre was one of the hardest-hit areas on Long Island when hurricane-force winds from a fierce Nor’easter on March 13 toppled hundreds of trees whose root structures were compromised by rain-softened ground. Village officials estimated that 400 to 500 trees fell, along with 24 telephone poles. At the height of the storm, an estimated 800 homes were without power that in some cases, took days to restore. About 20 percent of Rockville Centre’s roads were blocked by fallen trees immediately after the storm. Despite the widespread damage, no serious injuries were reported in the village.

Barking up the wrong tree

Board approves dog ban law, and then repeals it

In a move that brought anger and outrage from dog lovers throughout the area, the Rockville Centre Board of Trustees passed a law banning residents from owning Rottweilers and pit bulls. The law did not target dogs already living in the village, but residents who did own them would have needed to register them, for no charge, at Village Hall. The new law was in addition to village laws already on the books that deal with vicious and dangerous animals.

The impetus for the law, according to village spokesman Jeff Kluewer, was twofold: residents complained about certain houses with many Rottweilers or pit bulls. Likewise, the Rockville Centre police department said it has had problems with the same houses and the animals living in them.

“The feeling was that the vicious animal code wasn’t enough help, because you had to wait for an incident, and [the board] felt that they wanted to be proactive with these breeds of dogs that were giving the police problems at those locations,” said Kluewer.

Trustee Edward Oppenheimer was the only member of the board to vote against the law. At the June meeting, Oppenheimer said he felt the village’s current vicious animal law was sufficient, and that it wasn’t right or fair to target specific breeds of dogs — a sentiment repeated by foes of the law who turned out in force to protest.

Over 100 protestors attended the board meeting on June 29. Armed with signs that read, “Ban the deed, not the breed,” they gathered to demonstrate their opposition to Local Law 9, which banned the two breeds.

After the public comments period, Mayor Mary Bossart announced that the law would be suspended until further notice and the board agreed to hold a second public hearing on repealing the ban at its next meeting, on July 20. That meeting was held in the Recreation Center instead of the usual Village hall venue to accommodate an overflow crowd of about 500 people, almost all of whom voiced opposition to the ban. Speaker after speaker called on the five board members to consider any dog restrictions on a case-by-case basis, and argued that laws already on the books were sufficient. Many also said that breed-specific legislation is ineffective and unconstitutional, violating the due process and rights of residents and dog owners, and that such legislation is ultimately costly to the municipality. After the lengthy period for public comment, the trustees voted unanimously to repeal Local Law 9.

Bossart said that controlling dogs in the village continues to be a vexing issue. “We are sworn to uphold the constitution,” she said, “and that is why I’m voting to repeal [the law].

Saved from the sea

Young village heroine honored for daring ocean rescue in September

It was the story of one village resident saving the life of another:

As Hurricane Earl headed up the East Coast, churning up the North Atlantic and creating dangerous rip currents and inclement weather, Kristen Caulfield was just another 18-year-old off-duty lifeguard.

All of that changed on Sept. 2. At around 7 p.m. that day, people were pointing to the ocean off Atlantic Beach, where a swimmer named Mike Gimpel was struggling 100 yards out from shore. Caulfield, who had just finished her lifeguarding shift, volunteered to swim out through the treacherous water to save Gimpel. Fellow lifeguards strapped a 600-foot towline around her. Once she reached him, the pair were pulled safely back to shore.

Caulfield, a second-year guard at the Atlantic Beach Club, and Gimpel, a 58-year-old New York City firefighter, were both taken to the Long Beach Medical Center as a precautionary measure.

A little over a month after the spectacular rescue, Rockville Centre Mayor Mary Bossart recognized Caulfield’s brave actions at an October village board meeting. “Under adverse circumstances, she did a splendid job,” Bossart said.

Caulfield received several awards during the Village Hall presentation. The mayor presented her with a village proclamation certificate and medal, and Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tony Brunetta gave her a plaque. Caulfield also received a community service award from the Police Department.

Caulfield, who is currently taking classes at Nassau Community College, acknowledged that she has received an overwhelming amount of publicity since the incident. “I’ve been in plenty of papers lately and I’m honored by all the press,” she told the Herald, “but I would just like to go back to being a regular person.”

Those we lost

Village loses three prominent citizens

Local businessman Michael F. Robustello, a lifelong Rockville Centre resident, died in his home on Aug. 27. His death was followed by that of a fellow lifelong village resident, Carman N. Esposito, 85, a month later — on Sept. 30.

Both World War II veterans, the men were also deeply involved in the Rockville Centre Fire Department.

Esposito was predeceased by his wife, Angelina (nee Casella) in 1962 and married Mary Corso in 1970. He leaves behind three children — Vicki (Michael) Babcock, Rose Marie and Thomas.

Esposito was also an adored grandfather, great grandfather, brother and brother-in-law. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Robustello leaves behind his wife Mary (nee Mancuso) of 64 years and his children, Barbara Pelrine and Frank and daughter-in-law Maddie. He was predeceased by a daughter, Phyllis Savarese, and son-in-law Donald Pelrine. He was the grandfather of nine and had three great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, brother-in-law, cousin and many nieces and nephews.

The family of former Mayor Eugene Murray also suffered a loss this fall, as his brother Morgan J., died on Dec. 3 at the age of 93 after a long illness. Also a veteran of World War II, Murray was a longtime village resident who was very active in the parish of St. Agnes.

Murray was predeceased by his wife, Dorothea G. and by his brothers William J., Matthew T., Edward T., John J. and Thomas M. as well as a sister, Madeline Shelley. He is survived by brothers Arthur J., Eugene J. and Paul J. and by his sisters, Sr. Mary Louise, Rosemarie Ryan and Ann Walsh. He leaves behind five children — Morgan, Joanne Riddle, John, Mary Balducci and Patricia Johnson, 13 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.