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GN Plaza trustees approve permits for 2 businesses

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The Island 360
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Ted Rosen. (Photo submitted by the candidate)
Ted Rosen.

By Michael J. Reistetter

Great Neck Plaza’s Trustees met at Village Hall Wednesday to consider two conditional permits for business hopefuls, four authorizations for actions involving the town and one law Wednesday. All motions were approved in 4-0 votes across the board.

Mayor Ted Rosen offered ribbon-cuttings, newsletter promotions and recommendations to join the Chamber of Commerce to two new businesses, La Blanc Spa at 4 Great Neck Road, and Natural Acupuncture Healing Clinic at 1 Barstow Road.

“It’s very much in the village’s interest to maximize available parking,” said Rosen. “If approved, you have to park in the rear; otherwise you have to park here,” he told La Blanc’s Alex Lau, referring to the two to three-block distance between Village Hall’s nearby parking and the limited spots at La Blanc’s disposal.

Natural Acupuncture owner Xiaohong Kei, a physician licensed in China who has practiced for 41 years, was similarly encouraged to have employees park elsewhere so their appointment-based clientele can park freely in and around the storefront. The clinic is permitted—but not mandated—to be open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

La Blanc’s New York City-licensed tattoo artist is registered for a Nassau exam on Sept. 17.

“Anyone who works for you who touches a client must be properly licensed, and those
licenses have to be displayed,” Rosen stipulated.

Reverting to the top of the agenda, Village Counsel Richard Gabriele said the amendment to revise Chapter 206 of the Village Code to enforce overtime parking regulations and collect parking fines within the Gardens of Great Neck would “benefit the village by making the shopping center more accessible, with more available parking.”

Though the center’s owner, Kimco, designates a two-hour parking limit, the mayor does not anticipate summonses being issued for any parkers who overstay the mark.

Rosen announced the board could agree upon the proposal at once. The approved law amendment will take effect on Oct. 1, assuming the agreement sent to the center’s owner is returned in short order.

“The mayor is particularly concerned with parking matters due to Main Street’s close
proximity to the trains,” Marnie Ives, Great Neck Chamber of Commerce vice president and
Kron Chocolatier CEO, told The Great Neck Record after the meeting.

The authorizations listed in full on greatneckplaza.net— allowing Gold Coast Arts Center to hang a banner across  Middle Neck Road, Galvin Bros. to replace the post office sidewalk and the clerk-treasurer to advertise for a public hearing on the hook and ladder agreement as well as a hearing on inspection of rental units — went through without a hitch.

The Sign Committee announced “nothing to report,” according to Building Superintendent Richard Belzini, who has helped applicants rejected in the past later earn permits by seeing that all safety regulations are honored to the fullest extent.

“We’re proud of the fact that we consider ourselves to be pro-business. We encourage business to come here,” Rosen told The Great Neck Record. “The vast majority [of conditional use applications] are approved. Most probably in one meeting but not all… the regulations and the laws of the state of New York and this village must be complied with.”

With La Blanc, the mayor added: “The issue last time was that everything must be done within the scope of their license. They went back, double-checked it, and also the exit plan. They worked on it with the management of the shopping center, so it’s completed and safe.”

Items briefly mentioned and tabled for later discussion following the conclusion of the agenda include: the Historic Preservation Commission’s rejected electric grid plan for Chase Bank’s parking lot, future historic sites that are being weighed, and a landscaping initiative
intended to clean up Village Hall’s walkway and other areas of note.

Rosen recalled  “very contentious denials” over the years when the room was completely
packed.

Wednesday night was not one of those nights.

Floral Pk-Bellerose School praised for improving its weakest point

By
Ben Fiebert
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The Floral Park-Bellrose School PTA. The PTA was recognized by the National PTA School of Excellence. (Photo courtesy of Susan Saint-Joy)

The National PTA School of Excellence recognized the Floral Park-Bellerose School for its commitment to fostering a welcoming, inclusive and empowering environment.

Through the School of Excellence recognition program, the Floral Park-Bellrose PTA completed several steps, enriching the educational experience and overall well-being of all students. After enrolling in this program about a year ago, the Floral Park-Bellrose School gathered information via surveys to then make an action plan on how to improve the school’s community.

“We sent out the survey to as many parents as possible,” Susan Saint-Joy, president of the Floral Park-Bellrose School PTA, said. “And when we saw the results of the survey, it told us which standard we were the weakest in.”

In order to receive the School of Excellence recognition, the national group needed to see that the school was working on its weakest point. Saint-Joy said this process involved a lot of accountability on the part of the PTA and school officials.

“What our weakest point was, according to the survey, was that parents said they didn’t feel like they were being educated on a lot of what their kids were learning,” Saint-Joy said.

The local PTA consulted with the National PTA on building an “excellence team,” which included John Dekams, principal of Floral Park-Bellrose School; Michael Elka, assistant principal of Floral Park-Bellrose School; Saint-Joy; and a local father. Saint-Joy said the team got together and worked on an action plan to make the weakest area in the survey stronger.

The team came up with the idea of sharing community information to help educate the parents on what the students are working on in the classroom. The community information also helped out to strengthen another weak point, which was the lack of knowledge on where to find helpful resources in the village.

“A lot of the parents that live in the area had no idea that there were actually free resources that can help them,” Saint-Joy said.

Saint-Joy said about 20 percent of the student population speaks Spanish as their first language. She tackled this language barrier by partnering with local libraries and promoting their English as a Second Language program.

“So the principal would send out a Friday footnote every Friday, and in that Friday footnote, he would have resources in the community that offered English as a Second Language, how to pay your taxes, and things that sometimes we don’t think other adults struggle with or just have no idea how it works,” Saint-Joy said.

Parents can change the weekly footnote to a different language so that they can understand it better, as there are over 100 languages available to choose from. Saint-Joy said the intention of this was to include everyone, whether they speak another language or not.

This footnote was also distributed on printouts throughout the school. On the PTA website, FPBSPTA.com, Saint-Joy said she created a tab where parents can access adult learning information.

“We made it a point of duty to make sure that these parents understood that these resources are available to them,” Saint-Joy said.

The excellence team also promoted the district’s Parent University program, where once a month speaker talks to parents and educates them on mental health and how they can help their kids. The speaker would talk about digital literacy to help keep parents up to date with the latest trends.

Saint-Joy said by the end of the school year, the National PTA saw growth and on Aug. 5, the school of excellence recognized Floral Park-Bellrose School for its improvement.

“Our journey to achieving this distinction was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the excellence team, which worked closely with families, teachers, and community members,” Saint-Joy said. “By holding regular meetings, conducting surveys, and organizing community events, we ensured that the voices of our diverse community were heard and valued. Together, we have implemented initiatives that have strengthened our school culture and enhanced the educational experience for every student.”

Saint-Joy said she will continue to foster an empowering environment for all students by introducing more inclusive programs to the school. One program, she said, is having families represent their culture through food, dance, music, or storytelling in honor of National PTA’s Take Your Family to School Week. She said this program would be a great way for students to discover how they relate to one another and learn more about each other.

Saint-Joy said she hopes the next PTA president will continue enrolling in this School of Excellence program because she said it’s a way to ensure that school officials are “servicing the school and the communities and the families the way that we are supposed to.”

Mineola couple to spend anniversary filming for hit TV show

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Ben Fiebert
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Dancers Michelle Vivona and Jerome Vivona will film a scene for the television show '1923.' (Photo courtesy of Jerome Vivona)

Michelle Vivona and Jerome Vivona will be shimmying down south to perform in a show that is watched by over 7 million people.

Michelle and Jerome, co-owners of the American Theater Dance Workshop in Mineola for the past 11 years, have been cast in the upcoming season of the Paramount+ series “1923.” The Broadway veterans and dance duo will travel to Austin, Texas, on Sept. 9 for a week to rehearse and film the episode.

“The choreographer on the show is an old friend of ours and she was looking for a group of older, experienced dancers, and she reached out to us for this episode,” Jerome said. “Once she reached out to us, we gave our materials to casting and then the director made the final decision and they liked what they saw because we were able to get cast on the show.”

Jerome said he was ecstatic that the director gave them an opportunity to work together on this show. He said the job is a “big deal” because he doesn’t know if an opportunity like this will happen again, which is why he said he and Michelle immediately jumped at the offer.

“The fact that we’ve been recognized for our ability and our experience and our knowledge, and we received a direct offer to work on a Paramount+ TV show, it’s pretty exciting,” Jerome said.

The first two days in Texas will involve costume fittings and rehearsals. Then on Sept. 12, Michelle and Jerome will be shooting their part of the episode, which happens to coincide with their 30th wedding anniversary.

“We were able to work together for many years on Broadway and on tour, doing shows together, but we haven’t worked as dancers together professionally since 1997,” Michelle said.

Jerome said being able to work with Michelle again as performers on a hit television show is “pretty outstanding,” especially during their anniversary. He said he does not know how much they will be interacting in front of the camera, but he said they will be together on the set throughout the day.

“I understand that a few of our friends and colleagues from the past will also be on set that week so it’ll be like an old home week for us, too,” Jerome said.

Michelle got her start in dancing at a young age. Her parents were dancers on Broadway in the 1950s, and on television shows like “The Perry Como Show.” She said her parents rehearsed and danced with each other every week when they were on shows together.

“I studied dance with them growing up and then once I graduated high school, I moved to New York City and started working as a professional dancer,” Michelle said.

In the city, she was part of five Broadway shows and some national tours. She also danced as a Radio City Music Hall Rockette.

“My experience and pathway is a little different,” Jerome said. “I grew up on Long Island and was mainly an athlete.”

Jerome went to North Shore High School and he said he loved doing theater there. He originally went to college to play soccer, but then “made a u-turn” and decided to study dance. Jerome then became a ballet dancer and performed in some Broadway shows.

Broadway brought the couple together in Paris 32 years ago as they were both doing a production of “West Side Story.” They married in 1994 and were in several more shows together for a few years after that. Now, with two children in their 20s, Jerome and Michelle work with students at their studio to pass on the lessons and skills they’ve learned over the years.

“We have so many students now working professionally, locally, regionally, nationally, internationally, on Broadway, on television, on film,” Jerome said. “We’re excited to see their success.”

To ensure they can fully commit to their filming schedule, the couple has decided to delay the start of their new dance season by one week. Classes will now begin on Monday, Sept. 16, and the season will be extended through June 16 to make up for the missed time.

For more information about the American Theater Dance Workshop and their upcoming season, visit AmericanTheaterDance.com or call (516) 248-6420.

Hofstra renames field hockey stadium to honor Cindy Lewis’ legacy

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The Island 360
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By LAUREN FELDMAN

The Department of Athletics at Hofstra University held a ribbon-cutting at the beginning of this month to reveal the newly renamed Cindy Lewis Stadium. The campus field hockey stadium now honors the legacy of a dedicated teacher and coach with a more than 40-year association with the university who died last year after battling cancer.

“Cindy Lewis’ commitment to Hofstra’s athletic program and her unwavering support for student-athletes will be felt for generations to come,” said Hofstra President Susan Poser. “Cindy’s passion for fostering inclusivity and equality through sports created opportunities and inspired countless individuals. Naming the field hockey stadium in her honor is a fitting tribute to a true trailblazer whose legacy will continue to empower and inspire.”

Lewis, who hailed from Massapequa, graduated from Hofstra in 1979 with a degree in physical education. She was a field hockey and women’s lacrosse student-athlete for four seasons. After earning a master’s in physical education from the University of New Hampshire in 1980, Lewis returned to her alma mater and served as head coach of both field hockey and women’s lacrosse.

Lewis also served as Hofstra’s executive associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator. During her 43-year tenure at Hofstra, she also was the department’s Title IX coordinator and handled sport administration duties for several of the Pride’s 21 athletic teams.

Lewis was a key contributor to the extensive growth of Pride Athletics, including overseeing the introduction of women’s soccer and women’s golf as intercollegiate sports. Her commitment to Title IX allowed women’s athletics at Hofstra to flourish. During her celebrated career, Lewis was inducted into the 2022 Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame and the 2020 Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame. In August 2023, she received the CAA’s John H. Randolph Inspiration Award.

She died in October 2023 at the age of 66.

According to Associate Director of Athletics Stephen Gorchov, the decision to rename the stadium in Cindy’s honor was an easy one. “If there was a Mount Rushmore of women’s athletics, Cindy would be on the top of it,” he said.

Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. added, “Cindy Lewis was, and always will be, an incredible part of what makes Hofstra Athletics such a special place. Cindy left an indelible mark on our University and the athletics community as a whole, and we are honored to recognize her.”

The dedication took place on Sunday, Sept. 1, before Hofstra took on Old Dominion University. Gorchov said he had never seen the stadium so packed.

“I went to school here and I’ve worked here for 25 years. I’ve been to quite a few field hockey games. And I’ve never seen so many people at the game on Sunday during the ceremony.”

He added, “[Cindy] was local. People have a lot of respect for her. She was in a lot of Halls of Fame during her life, so people know the value she added to the community.”

In addition to the naming of the field hockey stadium, Hofstra announced the launch of the “EmpowHER” fundraising campaign and the Cindy Lewis Fund for Women’s Athletics at Hofstra University. Contributions to these fund-raising initiatives will help honor Cindy Lewis’ legacy and will benefit Hofstra’s women’s athletics programs and female student-athletes.

 “Whether you are a strong advocate for women’s sports, a proud alumnae, a dedicated parent or friend of a current student-athlete, a friend of Cindy’s, or simply someone who believes in the power of athletics to transform lives, your contribution matters,” Gorchov said. “Together, let’s EmpowHER and honor the legacy of a trailblazing legend and invest in the future of women’s athletics at Hofstra University.”

Readers Write: LIRR service disruptions ahead with upcoming Amtrak East River Tunnel Work

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The Island 360
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0

Amtrak’s award of a construction contract to Skanska E-J Joint Venture for work on repairs to the East River Tunnels that were subject to flooding by Super Storm Sandy in 2012 resulting in significant damage is only the start of a long journey facing LIRR commuters before completion.

We need to see the detailed construction schedule submitted by the construction contractor.  It will be reviewed and approved by Amtrak.  The schedule would provide the weekly, monthly and yearly detailed construction project interim milestones, along with sequencing of work that justify the promised 2027 completion date. Don’t be surprised, if the project completion date slips into 2028 or 2029.  The budget may also increase. There will be contract change orders during construction. They may be due to unforeseen site conditions, last minute requests by Amtrak operations, maintenance or other departments, LIRR and NJ Transit.  Construction contractors sometimes submit claims for additional financial reimbursement.  These claims may be based upon additional work not included in the original contract.

 

Amtrak has previously stated that it will require one of the two tunnels damaged by Super Storm Sandy to be out of service at a time to advance project work.  The other two tunnels will also need work to bring them up to a state of good repair.  With only three of four tunnels available, there will be a 25% reduction in Penn Station access and capacity.

To preserve existing service, some LIRR rush hour trains will be canceled or combined. This results in overcrowded trains with insufficient seating capacity.  Some riders end up standing in the vestibules and aisles. Conductors are unable to walk thru trains and check tickets. Until this work is over, it will be impossible to guarantee safe and reliable on time service with the same current level of service, including a seat, during AM and PM peak trips to and from Penn Station for LIRR commuters.

 

The LIRR 1960’s motto “Line of the Dashing Dan” should be changed to “Line of the Slow Moving Sloth” when it comes to completing East River Tunnel repairs as a result of damages from 2012 Super Storm Sandy fifteen years later in 2027.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

Floral Park Board of Trustees Meeting reports continued

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The Island 360
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Floral Park Village Hall. (Photo courtesy of the Village of Floral Park)

Reports at the Sept. 3 Floral Park Village Board Meeting from Village Trustee Michael Longobardi and Village Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald:

Trustee Michael Longobardi:

Building Department report:

Structural repairs of the fire property at 266 Jericho Tpk. have been completed. Interior reconstruction has started and is expected to take up to a year.

The department is seven months into the construction of the new apartment building at 1 Carnation Ave. Lighting has been installed at the pedestrian walkway, connecting Tulip Avenue to the Spur Parking Lot and the walkway is expected to be completed at the end of this month.

Construction on the 99 Covert Ave. restaurant is expected to begin soon.

The Covert Avenue fire building site is in its final stages of funding with the IDA. The property owner has stated that construction will start soon.

A subdivision application has been received for 155 Beech St. and is expected to be on the September 25 ARB agenda for review.

Plans for a civic meeting to discuss a proposed development at South Tyson Avenue and Jericho Turnpike has been temporarily postponed and no new date has been set.

All sidewalk and driveway repairs or replacement require a permit prior to doing work to ensure the construction meets Village and Building Code standards. Call DPW or the Building Department for assistance.

Recreation and Pool report:

This past week, all summer programs and pool activities concluded for summer season of 2024.

“It was a great season at the pool with so many events and activities taking place weekly; enrollment was up this year,” Longobardi said in his report. “Thank you to Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt, Pool Director Tom Dillon, Assistant Pool Director Joe Derby, Administrative Assistant Gena King, and the entire team of lifeguards and park maintenance staff that kept it all running each day and made the recreation center such a fun place to be in town.”

Floral Park Little League will start its fall season after a successful summer program. The Indians Soccer program is set to start their fall season shortly. Titans and Titanettes are gearing up for the 2024 season.

Fall registration for all youth, adult and senior programs will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the pool building lobby. Registration for Senior Agility and Silver Sneaker programs is the same day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Session I Fall programs for kids include Zumba, gymnastics, gardening, and tennis.

Adult and Senior programs include aerobics, kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, tennis, pickleball and more.

Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC) report:

The next meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 23 at Town of Hempstead Town Hall, One Washington Street in Hempstead. If you want to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You can also go to our Village website which has the links under the TVASNAC noise complaint contact information page on our home page.

 

Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald:

“Deputy Mayor Pombonyo and Trustee Longobardi both touched upon things happening in the Village that go unnoticed,” Fitzgerald said in his report. “Even during the Summer months when you think everything is quiet, situations arise.”

Fitzgerald thanked the department heads for dealing with a number of situations over the past couple of weeks that took place outside of business hours.

“We have a great team here at the village,” Fitzgerald said. “Our village is truly a wonderful place to live. It is wonderful to know that you can call up our offices and hopefully get most things rectified within a reasonable time.”

Next Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Floral Park Lions Club, along with the Northend Civic Association is hosting the NY Citizens Preparedness Training program. The program will offer participants the tools and resources on how to prepare for any type of disaster, including hurricanes and winter storms, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to pre disaster conditions. The training will take place at the pool building at 6:30 p.m.

Anyone interested will have to register for the training. You can visit the website at FPVillage.org for more information. A reminder will be sent out in the biweekly email.

Floral Park Board of Trustees Meeting reports

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The Island 360
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The Floral Park Village Hall Building. (Courtesy of Incorporated Village of Floral Park Facebook)

Reports at the Sept. 3 Floral Park Village Board Meeting from Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo, Village Trustee Frank Chiara, and Village Trustee Jennifer Stewart:

Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo:

Police Department report:

The Floral Park Police Department was engaged in 782 incidents during the month of July. Of this number, 305 were traffic stops, 88 were aided cases involving the ambulance service and Rescue Company, 51 were suspicious person reports, 24 were parking problems, 20 were for citizens needing assistance. There were also numerous other calls for police help including traffic accidents, fire and other alarms, domestic incidents, noise complaints, and welfare checks.

Throughout July, the police issued 202 traffic summonses. Some of the most frequent violations included failure to stop at stop signs, uninspected motor vehicles, unlicensed operators, improper u-turns, inadequate headlights and taillights, and other moving/equipment violations.

Detectives also investigated July crimes involving larceny, burglary, identity theft, and fraud, along with making several arrests. Stolen and washed checks continue to play a part in some of these crimes.

The FPPD Motor Carrier Detail recorded 11 July truck stops with 56 summonses issued, 1 truck towed for unsafe tires, 4 trucks placed out of service for safety violations, and 1 driver taken out of service due to the federal ban on him operating a commercial motor vehicle.

The new Speed Alert Radar Message Signs continue to provide motorists with data relating to their own speeds, as well as transmit that data to the FPPD. This equipment has been located, along with another mobile unit, near schools where the speed of vehicles has been a concern. It will provide the FPPD with data to be used for directed patrols and speed enforcement.

Conservation Society (FPCS) report:

Great appreciation goes to all who plant and care for the Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary, including President Dennis McEnery and the Conservation Society volunteers; Superintendent Kevin Ginnane, Department of Public Works and gardening expert Larry DeCiantis; Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt, Parks Department and gardening expert Don Haug; Trustee Frank Chiara and the Beautification Committee; and Floral Park residents and businesses.

Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses report:

The two chambers of commerce are back in business for a busy fall season. Starting with the Floral Park Chamber, businesses are invited to network at BC Bistro on Jericho Turnpike on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. Register at FloralParkChamber.org.

The Covert Avenue Chamber is busy planning a Street Fair for Saturday, Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Covert Avenue.

Street Fair details to follow at the Covert Chamber’s welcome back meeting at Shintaro Asian Bistro, Covert Avenue in Stewart Manor, on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. Businesses are invited to register at CovertAvenueChamber.org.

 

Trustee Frank Chiara:

Fire Department report:

The Volunteer Fire Department will be participating in their Annual Fire Department Operations Training every Thursday in the month of September at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Bethpage. As part of the training, instructors will put the department through different realistic scenarios, enabling volunteers to hone their firefighting skills.

The Volunteer Fire Department will also be participating in two 9/11 Memorial Ceremonies. The first will be Floral Park Village 9/11 Ceremony, which will take place at 8:30 a.m. at the 9/11 Monument located in front of Village Hall. As part of the ceremony, the names of those residents that made the ultimate sacrifice will be read, honored and flowers will be placed by their names at the memorial.

A second memorial service will be held later that evening, starting at 6:30 p.m., at the Reliance Fire House on Holland Avenue. Volunteer Firefighter 1st Lt. Kieth Fabien, who lost his life while attempting to help others after the second tower collapse, will be honored.

All are welcome to attend the 9/11 ceremonies.

Library report:

The summer adult reading program, which has spanned a 6-week period, announced the winners of the weekly raffle. The weekly winners were Janet Attanasio, Linda Romero, Angel Sue, Jean Weisman, Christine Farrell, and Allie McCarthy. The Grand Prize winner was Susan Fellin.

Details on scheduled events can be found on the Library’s website at FloralParkLibrary.org.

 

Trustee Jennifer Stewart:

Cultural Arts Committee report:

This past Friday was the end of Concerts in the Park for the Summer of 2024. City Stars Orchestra performed. Frank Benvenuto and his orchestra entertained the crowd for more than two hours.

“A huge thanks to resident volunteer Alexa Ventimiglia for all her hard work bringing so many wonderfully talented music acts to our village,” Stewart said in her report. “We are already looking forward to concerts in the Summer of 2025.”

4VS report:

The 4 Village Studio has paused taping during the month of September. Much of the studio’s production and editing equipment has been disconnected and moved to a safe area while the existing air-conditioning system is being replaced. Walls and the ceiling will be painted and there will be some repairs done to the soundproofing.

The upgraded studio will open in October.

DPW report:

Over the past week, the DPW Department has completed paving 13 roads, as well as the Holland Avenue and Floral Park Library Parking Lots. All school zone crosswalks and stop bars have been refreshed with a new coat of paint and all parks have been maintained and flowers watered.

The DPW Maintenance Department installed a new door in the Fire Department Headquarters. All village buildings have been cleaned and maintained.

The Sanitation Department collected 50 tons of household waste, 14 tons of bulk rubbish, 8 tons of paper and cardboard, as well as 4 tons of plastics and glass.

 

FCA to host Senior H.O.P.E Fair

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archive.theisland360.com
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0

Family & Children’s Association, one of Long Island’s largest nonprofit health and human services organizations, with funding made possible through the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will host a free senior H.O.P.E Fair on Tuesday, September 10th from 10 am – 3 pm at the Samanea NY mall in Westbury, center court, second
floor.

H.O.P.E., which stands for Happiness, Opportunity, Positive, Energy is geared towards older adults and their families. Attendees can receive information from over 50 vendors on age-related mental health and substance abuse services.

“It’s no secret that Long Island’s population is aging,” FCA President and CEO, Dr. Jeffrey L. Reynolds, said. “Every year our senior division helps more than 10,000 seniors improve their quality of life. The H.O.P.E Fair will allow us to share these resources, and so many others, with  the greater Long Island community.”

Lisa Stern, FCA’s Assistant Vice President for Senior & Adult Services, added, “We’re thrilled to bring the H.O.P.E Fair to Long Island’s senior population and their families. We couldn’t do this without our valued community partners and are happy to have vendors from diverse backgrounds participating and offering a multitude of help and services to the senior community.”

The fair will also feature technology training for seniors in a friendly, relaxed environment, and four educational workshops held throughout the day on topics ranging from Medicare to scam prevention, mental health and substance use awareness, as well as caregiver support.

Samanea NY is located at 1500 Old Country Rd. in Westbury. Additional details on FCA’s Senior H.O.P.E Fair, including vendors and workshops, can be found on www.fcali.org.

 

My Turn: Project 2025” is a danger to democracy

By
Steven Blank Publisher
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Robert Scott

The Republican Party’s much discussed but little understood “Project 2025: The 2025 Presidential Transition Project, A Mandate for Leadership” must be engaged and rebutted.

It is a danger to democracy.

Prepared by the Heritage Foundation as a conservative roadmap for a new Trump administration, the 920-page, 180-day playbook offers a mandate for multiple changes in federal government policy. Forty-four pages, about 5%, are devoted to education.

Those pages allege a radical left-wing bias in university teaching, without evidence, and continue from there.

Project 2025, an openly right-wing agenda for America’s future, would require a selective
teaching of American history by omitting mention of race and slavery. It also would substitute religious belief for scientific evidence in studying weather forecasting and environmental change.

It would reclassify federal scientists as political appointees, subject to partisan tests. It
would substitute political tests based on a notion of Christian Nationalism for professional
expertise, stifling critical thinking and free speech.

The science of evolution would be in question. It would diminish adherence to the Freedom of Information Act that supports the public’s right to know what its government is doing.
These proposals are radical, not conservative.

While Project 2025 is positioned as guidance for a Trump presidency and he may not win the election, it is a ready-made agenda for those in the House and Senate who wish to impose their radical, authoritarian views on the country.

The project calls for the abolition of the U.S. Department of Education. It would turn over
consumer protections from predatory proprietary schools to the states and retract the
“borrower-defense” repayment provisions of the federal loan system put in place to protect
students from for-profit schools and lenders.

It would turn college student loans over to private banks, from which they were removed in the 2008 financial crisis, and move funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), in place since 1890, to the Department of Labor, which focuses on statistics not education.

Project 2025 also calls for eliminating Head Start; overhauling the educational accreditation
system, reducing its political neutrality; and rolling back Title IX protections for sexual assault survivors and LGBTQ+ students. It calls for ending all investigations into Title IX violations and for prosecuting all government agencies, colleges, corporations, and other private employers that maintain Affirmative Action or DEI policies. It provides tutorials for how rightwing activists can impose their agenda on local school boards.

Public education was established to ensure an informed citizenry, essential to a functioning
democracy. Project 2025 would deny freedom in favor of authoritarian dictates.

Instead of supporting public education, it would allow for the banning of books, restricting independent inquiry, allocating public funding to restrictive religious schools, cutting funds for the support of children with special needs, and placing a greater emphasis on free market economics than on democratic institutions.

Our history of higher education is not perfect, to be sure. However, it is a history of steadily
improving quality and equality because leaders at the campus, state and federal levels
pursued positive agendas for advancing access, excellence and affordability. Project 2025
would erode this progress without substituting positive alternatives.

Project 2025 deserves rebuttal not only for its education proposals, but for others as well. We should not remain silent or neutral. We, as educators and private citizens, should affirm the purpose and benefits of education to society and the individual; the need to protect food, water, land and air from unregulated commerce; and voting as a foundation of democracy.

We should honor community obligations as well as individual aspirations. Even entrepreneurs like judges depend on the rule of law equally applied.
Project 2025 is not conservative. It does not conserve rights and freedoms. It limits them.

It opposes inconvenient history and science deemed uncomfortable and would impose views that its authors find more comforting even if false. Only by challenging this agenda and advocating for freedom of inquiry and free speech will we preserve them and our democracy as we approach our nation’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.

Dr. Robert A. Scott, President Emeritus, Adelphi University and Ramapo College of New
Jersey; Author, How University Boards Work, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018; Co-
Author, Letters to Students: What it Means to be a College Graduate, Rowman & Littlefield, 2024

North Shore looks to get back to championship form

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Michael J. Lewis
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North Shore's Ryan Lau (left) and Charles Godfrey will be trying to lead the Vikings back to the LI championship game. Photo courtesy of North Shore H.S.

Staying on top is never easy. The climb to get there is brutally difficult as well, but maintaining your level at that height is daunting for any squad.

Especially in high school football, when roster turnover is constant and other teams are always improving and aiming for you.

The North Shore football team finished its climb to the mountain top in 2021, winning the county and Long Island championships in Conference IV.

A year later the Vikings again returned to the LIC, winning counties before falling in the final game.

The 2023 season saw a bit of a crash back down to earth. North Shore won only half of its eight regular season games, and fell to Locust Valley in the first round of the playoffs to finish with a 4-5 record.

Still, given that three of the four losses were by a touchdown or less, head coach Dan Agovino doesn’t see 2023 as much of a step back.

“We battled and competed and there were just a few situations in each game where we didn’t execute and make the plays we needed,” Agovino said. “Expectations are always high for us, whether we just got to a championship game or not.”

“We have to get back to North Shore football,” senior left tackle Chase Goldenberg said. “We don’t have as much pressure on us this year because we’re not coming in as the No.1 seed, but we put pressure on ourselves because we know we’re better than what we showed.”

The Vikings will be hoping to get back to their past form led by a couple of star running backs. Senior Gianluca Sferrazza scored 11 touchdowns in 2023, and he’ll again be joined by senior Ryan Lau. With Lau’s punishing style and Sferrazza’s outside speed, a chance for a big play is always there.

“I’ve put on more weight and really improved my hip mobility this offseason,” Sferrazza said. “I had tight hips last year, and this season it’ll be easier for me to get through tackles and avoid them.”

Under center will be sophomore James Camardella, a transfer from Chaminade, who as a baseball player has a very strong arm, Agovino said.

“He’s adjusted real well and is just a really good athlete,” Agovino said.

The offensive line will be led by Goldenberg and fellow senior George Manavazian, along with senior Marco Abouelhassan.

“George is a beast in the gym, a total beast,” said Goldenberg, a 6-foot-1, 240 pounder. “And I think going to college camps this summer like some of us have, is going to improve all of us.”

On defense North Shore will be counting on linebacker Charles Godfrey, along with Goldenberg and Manavazian on the defensive line.

Linebacker Jack Damphouse, a senior, also returns to help solidify a group that didn’t give up more than 21 points in any game last season.

As usual, North Shore’s schedule is going to be rough; Wantagh, Plainedge and No.1 preseason seed Seaford are all standing in the Vikings way.

“They call us the black and blue conference, because we’re going to all beat each other up,” Agovino said with a chuckle.

Both Agovino and the players said that while the road will be tough, there’s enough talent in the Vikings locker room to get back to its recent glorious past.

“We’ve got guys who were dying to get their shot at playing last season, and now they have their chance,” Sferrazza said. “If they all come through like I think they will, we’ll be a really good team.”

“The foundation is definitely there, it’s just a matter of executing,” Agovino said. “I really like this senior group and I think we will be right there with everyone in our league.”

North Shore Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 7, at Oyster Bay, 11 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 14, at Locust Valley 11 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21, vs. Valley Stream, 2 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 27, at Malverne, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 5, vs. Plainedge, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19, at Wantagh, 11 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26, vs. Lawrence, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2, vs. Seaford, 2 p.m.

 

 

Floral Park Board of Trustees Sept. 3 meeting reports

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Deputy Mayor Lynn Pombonyo 

Police Department

Remaining vigilant throughout the summer, our Floral Park Police Department was engaged in 782 incidents during the month of July. Of this number, 305 were traffic stops, 88 were aided cases also involving our ambulance service and Rescue Company, 51 were suspicious person reports, 24 were parking problems, 20 were for citizens needing assistance, and numerous other calls for Police help including, but not limited to, traffic accidents, fire and other alarms, domestic incidents, noise complaints, and the important welfare checks when our Police check on the safety of residents following concerns expressed by family members or neighbors.

Throughout July, our Police issued 202 traffic summonses. Some of the most frequent violations included: failure to stop at stop signs, uninspected motor vehicles, unlicensed operators, improper u-turns, inadequate headlights and taillights, and other moving/equipment violations.

Our Detectives also investigated July crimes involving larceny, burglary, identity theft, and fraud along with making several arrests. Stolen and washed checks continue to play a part in some of these crimes.

Our FPPD Motor Carrier Detail recorded 11 July truck stops with 56 summonses issued, 1 truck towed for unsafe tires, 4 trucks placed out of service for safety violations, and 1 driver taken out of service due to the federal ban on his operating a commercial motor vehicle.

Now, as our schools reopen this week, the new Speed Alert Radar Message Signs continue to provide motorists with data relating to their own speeds, as well as transmit that data to our FPPD leadership. This equipment has been located, along with another mobile unit, near schools where the speed of vehicles has been a concern. It will provide our FPPD with data to be used for directed patrols and speed enforcement.

To all, please drive safely to ensure that our children and teens are safe. They depend on us to protect them, especially in our 20mph school zones.

And, as always, a thank you to two of our Floral Park departments who collaborate and partner to resolve complex problems. That’s Commissioner McAllister, our Lieutenants, Detectives and Police Department, and Superintendent Ginnane, Supervisor Pearsall and our Department of Public Works who teamed up early Tuesday morning and all day to clean up after an act of vandalism on DPW property, restore a vital system to working order, and apprehend and arrest the perpetrator. This cooperation between FPPD and FP DPW demonstrates the success of shared expertise and effort. They are indeed impressive!

Conservation Society (FPCS)

It’s been a beautiful summer in our Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary and everywhere. The magnificent flowers, plants and trees are one reason why.

Great appreciation goes to all who plant and care for all of our gardens including President Dennis McEnery and the Conservation Society volunteers; Superintendent Kevin Ginnane, our Department of Public Works and gardening expert Larry DeCiantis; Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt, our Parks Department and gardening expert Don Haug; Trustee Frank Chiara and our dedicated, volunteer Beautification Committee; and our Floral Park residents and businesses whose green thumbs make our Village a truly beautiful floral park. We are awed, inspired and grateful.

Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses

Our two Chambers of Commerce are back in business for a busy fall season. Starting with the Floral Park Chamber, businesses are invited to network at BC Bistro, Jericho Turnpike on Thursday, September 12th at 6 PM. Register at: floralparkchamber.org

Our Covert Avenue Chamber is busy planning an exciting Street Fair for Saturday, October 5th, 11 AM to 5 PM on Covert Avenue.

Lots more Street Fair details to follow at the Covert Chamber’s welcome back meeting at Shintaro Asian Bistro, Covert Avenue in Stewart Manor, on Tuesday, September 24th at 7 PM. Businesses are invited to register at:

covertavenuechamber.org

Now, let’s welcome the new season and CELEBRATE FALL BY SHOPPING AND DINING LOCAL!

 

Trustee Frank Chiara

Fire Department

Our Volunteer Fire Department will be participating in their Annual Fire Department Operations Training every Thursday in the month of September at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Bethpage. As part of the training, instructors will put our department thru different realistic scenarios, enabling our members to hone their firefighting skills.  This is an example of the commitment on how our volunteers prepare for emergencies that might arise within our Village and the surrounding communities.  I would like to thank all our volunteers for their dedication and time put in to assist their neighbors in need.

Our Volunteer Fire Department will also be participating in two 9/11 Memorial Ceremonies.  The first will be our Village 9/11 Ceremony, which will take place at 8:30 AM at the 9/11 Monument located in front of Village Hall.  As part of the ceremony the names of those residents that made the ultimate sacrifice will be read, honored and flowers will be placed by their names at the memorial.

A second memorial service will be held later that evening, starting at 6:30 PM, at the Reliance Fire House on Holland Avenue.  Volunteer Firefighter 1st Lt. Kieth Fabien, who lost his life while attempting to help others after the second tower collapse, will be honored. Keith was a recent paramedic graduate who while working for NY Presbyterian Hospital, was on one of the first ambulances that responded to the world trade center.

All are welcome to attend the 9/11 ceremonies. Please keep these heroes and their families in your thoughts and prayers.  Keep all who lost their lives on that day and all who continued to suffer and pass from the effects of that horrible day in your prayers.  May we never forget the events of that day and hope that it will never happen again.

Library

The summer adult reading program, which has spanned a 6-week period, announced the winners of the weekly raffle.  Those who submitted a short review of a book they read, were entered in the weekly raffle and a chance at winning the grand prize of a $100 gift card to the Harrison Restaurant. The weekly winners were Janet Attanasio, Linda Romero, Angel Sue, Jean Weisman, Christine Farrell, and Allie McCarthy. The Grand Prize winner was Susan Fellin. The summer reading program was a big success.  Thank you to all who participated and to the library staff for coordinating it.

The month of September has begun and there are lots of planned activities and events taking place at the Floral Park Library:

  • On Thursday, September 5th, from 7:00 PM to 8:45 PM, on the library lawn, the Library will be showing the movie Arthur the King, a real-life story staring Mark Wahlberg. The movie is 1hr 47 minutes long and is rated PG-13. Bring a blanket or a chair to join us. Popcorn will be served.  At this time there is no rain date.
  • On Saturday, September 21st, from 10 AM to 4 PM, the Friends of the Floral Park Library is hosting their 5th Annual Lawn Sale. In case of inclement weather, the rain date is set for October 5th. Anyone wishing to reserve a space to sell their items can do so at the library circulation desk.  The fee for the space is $25.00 payable by check.

Details on these and other scheduled events can be found on the Library’s website at www.floralparklibrary.org .

Thank You to DPW for their assistance in having the Library Parking Lot repaved. Our patrons love the newly paved parking.

Trustee Jennifer Stewart

Cultural Arts Committee

This past Friday, saw the end of Concerts in the Park for the Summer of 2024. Residents were delighted by the sounds of City Stars Orchestra. Frank Benvenuto and his orchestra entertained the crowd for more than two hours, it was a fine way to end our Summer Concert Series. A huge thanks to resident volunteer Alexa Ventimiglia for all her hard work bringing so many wonderfully talented music acts to our Village. We are already looking forward to concerts in the Summer of 2025

4VS

Our 4 Village Studio has paused taping during the month of September. Much of the Studio’s production and editing equipment has been disconnected and moved to a safe area while the existing air-conditioning system is being replaced, walls and the ceiling will be painted and there will be some repairs done to the soundproofing. We look forward to using the upgraded Studio beginning in October.

DPW

Over the past week, our DPW Department has completed paving of 13 roads as well as the Holland Avenue and Library Parking Lots. All school zone crosswalks and stop bars have been refreshed with a new coat of paint, all parks have been maintained and flowers watered. The DPW Maintenance Department installed a new door in the Fire Department Headquarters. All Village buildings have been cleaned and maintained. Our Sanitation Department has collected 50 tons of household waste, 14 tons of bulk rubbish, 8 tons of paper and cardboard, as well as 4 tons of plastics and glass.

MTA/LIRR

As of today, we have not received any update regarding the MTA Bus Project. Please reach out to MTA.info with any questions or concerns regarding the LIRR/MTA.

Finally, I would like to wish all of our students and teachers a very successful 2024-2025 school year. Please be reminded that our children are walking and riding their bikes to school on these beautiful late summer days, leave early, leave yourself some extra time, pay attention, and drive safely.

Trustee Michael Longobardi

Building Department

Structural repairs of the fire property at 266 Jericho Turnpike have been completed. Interior reconstruction has started and is expected to take up to a year.  We are 7 months into the construction of the new apartment building at 1 Carnation Avenue which is progressing rapidly. Lighting has been installed at the pedestrian walkway connecting Tulip Avenue to the Spur Parking Lot and the walkway is expected to be completed at the end of this month. We will make an announcement when it will open to the public. Construction on the 99 Covert Avenue restaurant at is expected to begin soon. The Covert Avenue fire building site is in its final stages of funding with the IDA. The property owner has stated that construction will start soon. A subdivision application has been received for 155 Beech Street and is expected to be on the September 25th ARB agenda for review.

As previously announced, plans for a civic meeting to discuss a proposed development at South Tyson Avenue and Jericho Turnpike has been temporarily postponed and no new date has been set.

As a reminder, all sidewalk and driveway repairs or replacement require a permit prior to doing work to ensure the construction meets Village and Building Code standards.  Please call DPW or the Building Department for assistance.

Recreation and Pool

This past week, all summer programs and pool activities concluded for summer season of 2024.  Our pool was full yesterday for the 5:00 PM final swim; it was wonderful to see so many families and friends there to close out the season.  Today was the Annual Senior Picnic at the pool and what beautiful day it was for this event.  Deputy Mayor Pombonyo, Trustee Chiara and myself had the pleasure of spending some time talking with our seniors and provided a wonderful lunch to them.  We hope they enjoyed the day. It was a great season at the pool with so many events and activities taking place weekly; enrollment was up this year. Thank you to Superintendent Kurt Meyfohrt, Pool Director Tom Dillon, Assistant Pool Director Joe Derby, Administrative Assistant Gena King, and the entire team of lifeguards and park maintenance staff that kept it all running each day and made the recreation center such a fun place to be in town. Another example of our great recreation staff was demonstrated in a thank you we received from a resident recently whose daughter misplaced her retainer at the park. When she returned to the park it was after 8 PM and the park was already closed.  Night Supervisor Ritchie Clifford not only went through the park with her and her family, but also went through the dumpster and all the garbage bags until they found it. This is just one example of the many great people we have on our recreation staff and why it is a great Village center.  Thank you to Ritchie for this as well as all his hard work and dedication.

The fun continues as we head into Fall activities and leagues.  Floral Park Little League will start its fall season after a successful summer program. The Indians Soccer program is set to start their fall season shortly. Titans and Titanettes are gearing up for the 2024 season. Fall registration for all youth, adult and senior programs will be held on Tuesday, September 10th from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM in the pool building lobby.  Registration for Senior Agility and Silver Sneaker programs is the same day from 10 AM – 2 PM. Session I Fall programs for kids include Zumba, gymnastics, gardening, and tennis. Adult and Senior programs include aerobics, kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, tennis, pickleball and more. We look forward to seeing everyone there as the fun does not end on Labor Day.

Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC)

The next meeting will be held on Monday, September 23, 2024 at Town of Hempstead Town Hall, One Washington Street in Hempstead. If you want to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You can also go to our Village website which has the links under the TVASNAC noise complaint contact information page on our home page.

 

Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald

Deputy Mayor Pombonyo and Trustee Longobardi both touched upon things happening in the Village that go unnoticed. Even during the Summer months when you think everything is quiet, situations arise.  I would like to thank our Department Heads for dealing with a number of situations over the past couple of weeks that took place outside of business hours and took time away from their families in order to resolve. We have a great team here at the Village. Our Village is truly a wonderful place to live. It is wonderful to know that you can call up our offices and hopefully get most things rectified within a reasonable time.

Next Tuesday, September 10th the Floral Park Lions Club along with the Northend Civic Association is hosting the NY Citizens Preparedness Training program. The program will offer participants the tools and resources on how to prepare for any type of disaster, including hurricanes and winter storms, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to pre disaster conditions.  The training will take place at the pool building at 6:30 PM.  You can never get enough information on disaster preparedness and you can never be over prepared. Anyone interested will have to register for the training. You can visit our website at fpvillage.org for more information. A reminder will be sent out with your biweekly email.

 

Statements from Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Bynoe and Legislator Davis on Future of Hempstead Stop & Shop

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Statements from Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Bynoe and Legislator Davis on Future of Hempstead Stop & Shop

 

(HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.) – On Thursday, Sept. 5, Nassau County Legislature Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Siela A. Bynoe (D – Westbury) and Nassau County Legislator Scott M. Davis (D – Rockville Centre) issued the following statements:

 

“Earlier today, I was informed by Stop & Shop Government Affairs Manager Maura O’Brien – who has been in contact with me from day one of this process – that Stop & Shop is working collaboratively with Food Bazaar to ensure a supermarket will continue to operate in the heart of Hempstead Village,” Nassau County Legislature Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Siela A. Bynoe (D – Westbury) said. “I have been advised that Stop & Shop will close at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19 to make way for a seamless transition to Food Bazaar, which will open at 7 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20.”

 

“Through their actions, Stop & Shop has demonstrated true commitment and dedication to a community they have served for more than two decades,” Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Bynoe said. “As we prepare to welcome Food Bazaar, I am thankful to Stop & Shop for working so diligently to address the community’s concerns and understanding the importance of preserving nutrition access in Hempstead Village.”

 

“Today’s announcement is tremendously welcome news, and I am very appreciative of Stop & Shop’s efforts to ensure that a full-service supermarket continues to operate at 132 Fulton Avenue,” Nassau County Legislator Scott M. Davis (D – Rockville Centre) said. “I look forward to working with Food Bazaar and thank them for their commitment to providing desperately needed services for the Village of Hempstead and its surrounding communities.”

 

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