By:REBECCA SHALOMOFF
Voters in five villages will head to the polls on Tuesday, June 19 to elect mayors, trustees and village justices - even though most incumbents are running unopposed.
Atlantic Beach
The only contested race is shaping up in Atlantic Beach, where two trustees, Anthony Basso and John McCrystal, are trying to defend their seats against challenger, Paul Gruskoff, for a two-year term on the Village Board of Trustees. In addition, Vincent Pirrone, the current Village Justice, seeks re-election for another four-year term against Jerome Turner, a former Village Justice.
Basso, who is running on the Atlantic Beach Good Government Party, has been a trustee for the past five years. He was appointed by Mayor Stephen Mahler to fill his seat when he became mayor.
"I am the independent voice on the board, and I'm running to be a voice for the independent people in Atlantic Beach," Basso said. "Atlantic Beach is the jewel of the South Shore and I want to keep it that way."
Basso said he supports saving the handball courts by the bridge and is against using that area to construct the Atlantic Beach Emergency Rescue Squad building. He wants to see it built across the street from the courts, on the east side of the bridge.
Mahler and the other trustees on the board not up for re-election, Janice Goorland and Sam Mevorach, represent the Atlantic Beach Integrity Party. They support the candidacies of McCrystal, Gruskoff and Turner.
McCrystal, another member of the current board, was appointed in December after Gary Connors, a former trustee, handed in his resignation a few days after he was arrested on a driving while intoxicated charge. McCrystal said that he was one of the original residents to oppose the re-opening of AJ's and Friends restaurant, a tavern which had been accused of posing a nuisance to neighbors. McCrystal serves as deputy police commissioner and Atlantic Beach Emergency Management Coordinator to prepare and safeguard residents in case a hurricane hits.
As for improving conditions in this beach town, he said, "I would like to see the water draining problem addressed. Maybe we could look at an alternative to spending millions of dollars to alleviate some of the problems. In addition, I would like to see more attention paid to senior citizens and some more beautification work."
Gruskoff is a first-time candidate of the Village Board of Trustees. For the past seven years, he has been the deputy sanitation commissioner.
"As a sanitation commissioner, I have taken the lead in enforcing our all-important sanitation laws in regard to beach clubs, commercial establishments and gardeners which are so vital to the health and beauty of our area," he said.
Gruskoff said if elected as trustee, some of his goals would be: "to prevent grouping of building lots so as to stop oversized homes from being built and to see all of our village roads repaved."
Pirrone was elected as Village Court Justice in 1997, and served as former acting Village Justice for 11 years. He was a trustee in 1967 and a member of the Atlantic Beach Properties Association, a group responsible for incorporating the Village of Atlantic Beach.
"I have always loved this village since it has been my home since 1962," Pirrone said. "I have fairly and firmly enforced the laws so as to maintain the residential nature of this community, yet I also realize that the purpose of the court is to dispense justice and not serve as a cash cow for the village coffers."
Pirrone's challenger, Turner, served as Village Court judge from 1990-97, but did not run again so that he could spend more time with his family after the death of his grandson.
For three years, Turner was the Atlantic Beach Village Court prosecutor and counsel to the Atlantic Beach Fire Department for more than 18 years.
"I firmly believe, as a judge, I was able to safeguard the rights and interests of the Village of Atlantic Beach and at the same time, be sensitive to the legal rights and constitutional protections of the persons who appeared as defendants as well," he said. "I know I will be able to continue to balance these conflicts with fairness and sensitivity."
Lawrence
In the Village of Lawrence, two trustees are running in uncontested elections. C. Simon Felder and Howard Siskind are seeking re-election to the posts.
Felder has served on the village board for five years. He stepped into the trustee post when former trustee Lawrence Blatte became mayor of Lawrence. His responsibilities on the board is in public works.
"We've done road improvements and created a park next to the Village Hall. We replaced all street lights in the past year which gives better lighting and saves the village money," Felder said. "As the community grows, it encounters new challenges to improve and fix those things that have to be fixed."
He also said that the village is in its planning stages for the uplifting of the downtown shopping district.
Felder and Siskind are both now seeking their third two year-terms. Siskind has been a trustee for the past four years. One of his responsibilities on the board is serving as commissioner of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department.
"One of the things I've achieved is a paid salaried AMT, Advanced Medical Technician, during the days when there are no volunteers available," he said. "Lawrence has tremendous emergency services that other communities don't have. We respond to emergencies in two minutes. That has given me great satisfaction."
Woodsburgh
In Woodsburgh, all three posts up for election on the board are unopposed. Susan Schlaff, who was first elected mayor in 1995, is seeking another two-year term. Trustees June Binder and Dr. Barry Sporer, who also came on the board in 1995, are running for re-election for another two-year term on the village board. In addition, Brian Ziegler is seeking re-election as village justice to a four-year term. He completed two years as village justice after he was appointed to fill an unexpired term in 1999.
Hewlett Bay Park
In Hewlett Bay Park, Andrea Soskel is running uncontested in the trustee election. Soskel was appointed to the village board when former trustee Linda Harkavy moved out of the neighborhood last year.
Soskel said she was motivated to get involved because, "I want the best for the community. I think Hewlett Bay Park is maintained beautifully, and I want to keep it a safe and happy community."
Hewlett Neck
In Hewlett Neck, Lisa Edwards seeks a two-year term as trustee. She was appointed to a seat on the board when former trustee Jeffrey Gittleson stepped down.
