(Continued from last week)

August

Postal Service Unveiled New Stamp

The United States Postal Service unveiled its newest stamp commemorating the accomplishments of the Long Island-built P-47 Thunderbolt fighter in a ceremony held at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

"This is an incredible honor for all the Long Islanders who worked on the manufacturing of this magnificent fighter and those who flew this plane into combat 60 years ago," Bill Wheeler of Hempstead, who flew the plane as a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during the second World War, said. "This plane was vital to our war efforts; to be remembered in this fashion pays tribute to those who gave their lives for our country and to the men and women at Republic who worked so hard to build it."

The P-47 is considered the most significant fighter aircraft of World War II. Built by Republic Aviation, the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter was the largest and most powerful single-engine fighter of the war. Production topped any other allied fighter with 15,683 P-47s, most of them manufactured at Republic Aviation in Farmingdale. The P-47 remained a vital part of the US Airforce until 1956.

Floral Park Took District 29 Senior Championship

Less than 72 hours after the Floral Park Boys Tournament had experienced "Black Saturday" with four losses in four divisions, the seniors captured the District 29 title with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over a gutsy, hard-working Elmont North Squad. The final score was 6-5 thanks to Pat Sheehan's triple to left center. Ryan Oswald's clutch two-out single kept the inning alive and Joe "Scoop" Scopelitis came in to pinch run and carried the mail all the way home in front of Sheehan's full-count blast.

Floral Park LIRR Substation Investigated

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), working with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and the LIRR's environmental consultant, developed an Investigation Work Plan and scheduled field work to investigate the nature and extent of soil and groundwater contamination at 17 LIRR substations, including one in Floral Park. Other substation sites included one in Little Neck, Queens; Mineola; Garden City (Nassau Boulevard) and Port Washington.

The work was carried out by the current owner, the LIRR, identified as the potentially responsible party for the site under the provisions of the NYSDEC Voluntary Cleanup Program.

The proposed action: an investigation of the surface soil, subsurface soil and groundwater were conducted at each site to define the nature and extent of the soil and groundwater contamination identified during preliminary investigations. The work plan for the Floral Park substation was available for review at the Floral Park Public Library (326-6330). The fieldwork was expected to start in late summer and last into fall 2005. Separate investigation reports were supposed to be generated for each site at the conclusion of the investigation activities. After reviewing the investigation reports, the NYSDEC was to determine if remediation of the sites was necessary.

Local Leaders Discussed Next Step in Fight Against Additional Track

Leaders from seven communities opposing the Metropolitan Transit Authority/Long Island Rail Road's (MTA/LIRR) Main Line Corridor Improvements Project met at Floral Park Village Hall to discuss future plans to oppose the project. Other community leaders from Mineola, Westbury and Carle Place also announced their opposition.

New Elmont School District Superintendent Congratulated

Town Councilman Ed Ambrosino presented an official Town of Hempstead Certificate of Recognition to Al Harper, the new superintendent of the Elmont School District, which encompasses Stewart Manor, at a "Moving On" celebration at the Sand Castle in Franklin Square.

Sewanhaka BOE Chose New President, VP

The Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education, which is comprised of two representatives each from Elmont, Franklin Square, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park and Floral Park-Bellerose, chose a new president and vice president of the board.

Dr. Roger Roess, a board member from the Franklin Square School District, was named the board's new president and Patricia Rudd from the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District was named the board's vice president.

"As president of the Sewanhaka Board of Education, I look forward to continuing my work with the members of this community and the board members," Dr. Roess said. "I will work hard to maintain our reputation for academic excellence."

Rudd added, "In my new role as vice president of the Sewanhaka Board of Education, my main focus is to continue my efforts to improve the quality of life for the children of this community."

Sewanhaka District Appointed Former FP Principal to Assistant Superintendent

The Sewanhaka Central High School District (SCHSD) announced the appointment of Gloria O'Connor as assistant superintendent for personnel and administration. O'Connor replaced Gerard Connors, who retired.

For five years prior to her appointment, O'Connor served as the principal of Floral Park Memorial High School and was the assistant principal for four years. O'Connor joined the district in 1993 as chairperson and director of physical education, health, athletics and driver education at Sewanhaka High School.

Law Delivered More Than $50,000 in Tax Relief to FP

With the stroke of a pen, Governor George Pataki signed legislation Assemblyman Tom Alfano authored that delivered more than $50,000 of tax relief to the Village of Floral Park.

Village officials approached Assemblyman Alfano, along with Senator Michael Balboni, to sponsor legislation that issued a tax abatement on the newly acquired Masonic Temple (now Centennial Hall). The village acquired the temple, which had outstanding tax bills associated with the property.

"This bill essentially delivers over $50,000 of tax relief to the village by removing the back taxes that were owed on the property," Alfano said, adding, "The village has great plans for the building and it will become a recreational, cultural and educational resource for generations of residents to come. I'm real happy to have been of help and working together with the village board and Mayor Phil Guarnieri; we made it a reality."

The legislation, according to Senator Balboni, authorized the village to file an application for a real property tax exemption for 26 Tulip Avenue. "This law has created a financial remedy for the taxpayer while looking toward the future of Floral Park," he said. "Centennial Hall will be a brilliant centerpiece for a community approaching its 100th birthday and I am happy to help support it."

The legislation overwhelmingly passed the legislature.

Politicians, Citizens Alike Opposed MTA/LIRR Third Track Plan

Politicians and citizens alike once again publicly criticized the Metropolitan Transportation Authority/Long Island Rail Road's (MTA/LIRR) failure to "think outside the box." They stood united against the controversial proposal to construct an additional track along the LIRR Main Line. Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray held the press conference at the Floral Park train station, Aug. 31, the deadline for filing public comments for inclusion in the official MTA third track project record.

"We have gathered here today united in our opposition to a proposed project that would literally tear apart the very fabric of our neighborhoods," Supervisor Murray said. "The MTA's ill-conceived plan to construct a third railroad track through several communities, including Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, Floral Park, New Hyde Park, Garden City Park, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury and Hicksville, is one of the most destructive proposals in recent memory."

Officials personally hand-delivered close to 10,000 petitions to LIRR President James Dermody following the press conference. In fact, President Dermody signed for them.

Assemblyman Delivered $11,000 for Heritage Park

Calling Heritage Park one of Floral Park's crown jewels, Assemblyman Tom Alfano was able to secure several grants for the Floral Park property. In total, Alfano channeled a total of $11,000 for improvements to the park and enhancements.

The grants are being used for a new fountain, landscaping enhancements, new bushes and trees as well as measures to increase security at the gazebo. Nancy McLoughlin, secretary of the Heritage Park Committee, noted, "Heritage Park really appreciates Assemblyman Alfano's work in securing these grants. Heritage Park is continuing to make improvements to enhance this beautiful property for Floral Park."

Kathleen Sottile Appointed New Principal of Floral Park Memorial

The Sewanhaka Board of Education appointed Kathleen Sottile the new principal of Floral Park Memorial High School. She succeeded Gloria O'Connor, who became assistant superintendent for personnel and administration. Sottile comes to Floral Park after a long career in the Scranton, PA school district. She served as assistant principal at Scranton High School and as district supervisor of its music program. She is a doctoral candidate in educational leadership from Marywood University and has elementary and secondary administrative certification from Temple University.

Ambrosino Honored Retired School Superintendent

Hempstead Town Councilman Edward Ambrosino presented an official Town of Hempstead certificate of recognition to Dr. William J. McDonald, former superintendent of the Floral Park-Bellerose School District, on the occasion of his retirement celebration at Westbury Manor.

Floral Park Received $10,000 for Street Paving

Assemblyman Tom Alfano congratulated the Village of Floral Park on the completion of road projects for residents through grant monies he was able to channel to Floral Park. The grant items were through the transportation portion of the state budget and CHIPS funding that go straight to maintenance and repair of village streets.

"The monies channeled to Floral Park are utilized well and residents will continue to see great improvements in streets," Assemblyman Alfano said. "Whether it's a repaving project, infrastructure repair or street cut, our village roads are receiving the funding they need to enhance our quality of life. I'm really happy to partner with the mayor and trustees in getting this important job done for our neighborhoods."

Dedicatedd, BADD Joined Victims of Drunk-driving Crashes to Promote Awareness, Raise Funds

Dedicatedd, a local organization that works to eliminate drunk-driving, and Bartenders Against Drunk Driving (BADD), joined with survivors of drunk-driving accidents and families who have relatives of alcohol-related crashes, in announcing Aug. 31 a series of efforts to raise funds and awareness as Labor Day Weekend neared.

Survivors of drunk-driving crashes and family members who lost loved ones in such tragedies were at the event, which was held at Posh Ultra Lounge inside The Garden City Hotel.

Dedicatedd president Marge Lee, a D.W.I. crash survivor and a leading voice in the anti-D.W.I. movement for the past decade, said, "All life is precious and [if we are] united, we will stop the killing and maiming of innocents."

September

Board Held Hearing on Fire Department Service Award Program

Prior to the start of the Sept. 7 village board meeting, trustees held an information hearing for the benefit of residents who may have had questions on the referendum regarding the fire department service award program. State legislation passed in 1989 established laws that, for the first time, permitted local governments to offer a service award program for their local fire and medical emergency volunteers contingent upon approval of the residents via a public referendum.

Back in 1993, Floral Park residents supported and voted for a service award program, which went into effect in 1994. The approved plan authorized an annual contribution by the village of $450 on behalf of each volunteer who earned the required service credit points, obtained by responding to calls and attending training/seminars, drills and meetings. In order to qualify, each volunteer must earn 50 points per year.

Although the program allowed for a $450 contribution, the original legislation put a cap on the amount of the annual contribution of $480 per volunteer. Legislation passed in September 2004 allowed for an increase of up to $700 per volunteer achieving the required points. Like the original law, a public referendum was required before any changes could be made.

Trustees requested an actuarial study be performed to determine what financial impact the new changes would have on residents. As a result of the study, the board and fire department agreed upon a phase-in program, which was presented to residents. Trustees adopted a resolution Aug. 16, 2005, proposing to increase the contribution in two phases - to $575 in 2006 and the maximum of $700 in 2007.

Residents Approved Changes to Fire Service Award Program

On Sept. 27, Floral Park residents voted 359 to 24 in favor of proposed changes to the current fire department service award program for volunteer firefighters, intended to help local volunteer departments attract new members and help retain existing ones.

The Floral Park Fire Department, which provides fire protection and medical response 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, is 100 percent volunteer. Five companies comprise the department: Hook & Ladder Company; Alert Engine Company; Reliance Engine Company; Active Engine Company; and Rescue Company.

FP Woman Arrested, Charged with Grand Larceny

Then Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon reported the arrest of Esther Bassoff, 77, of Floral Park. Bassoff was originally arrested by the DA's Criminal Frauds Bureau in November 2004 and had been accused of deceiving potential purchasers of businesses out of approximately $177,200. Since her arrest in November, Dillon's office had discovered additional victims. Bassoff was accused of defrauding these victims out of $89,000, which led to her arrest.

According to Dillon, Bassoff was the owner of Bass Business Brokers in Great Neck, a company in the business of arranging deals between individuals who are interested in buying and selling businesses, Dillon said. In August 2005, Bassoff was indicted by a grand jury on six counts of grand larceny in the third degree, one count of grand larceny in the second degree, and one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree, for misappropriating approximately $177,200 in binders and deposits from several potential purchasers of businesses.

Ruptured Gas Main Ignited 11-Alarm Fire in NHP

Eleven fire departments were called out to join the New Hyde Park Fire Department to battle a blaze that broke out on the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Covert Avenue in September after a ruptured gas main sparked a blazing inferno.

The fire, that ignited a building awning, quickly spread to nearby buildings and a strip of stores with apartments above them. KeySpan officials, who were present at the fire, said that a contractor who was working on the sidewalk apparently ruptured the gas main. A Stewart Manor firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.

Majority Legislators Called for Sex Offender Residency Restrictions

The county's Democratic majority proposed a law that would greatly enhance Megan's Law, placing residency restrictions on registered Level 2 and 3 - the most egregious - sex offenders. This law was an extension of legislation county lawmakers enacted that mandates the notification of moderate and high-risk convicted sex offenders' whereabouts.

The legislation, sponsored by Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead), prohibits sex offenders from establishing residence or temporary residence within a 600-foot radius of public, private, parochial or secondary schools and any county, town, village or city-run public park that contains a playground. "This is monumental legislation ... By developing this radius, our children will be able to play with other children in comfort and have the peace of mind that they are not being preyed upon," Legislator Abrahams said at a Sept. 19 press conference.

Abrahams was convinced the legislation, although it did not apply to those offenders who established a residence prior to Sept. 1, 2005, would go a long way in protecting the most vulnerable of populations. The law allows offenders 60 days to move after they have been notified. Failing to do so is punishable by a fine up to $1,000 or up to one-year imprisonment.

FP, Stewart Manor Fire Departments Tied for Best Appearance

Taking advantage of picture-perfect weather, more than 350 firefighters turned out for the Invitational Parade hosted by the Elmont Fire Department Sept. 10. The occasion, which marked the 100th anniversary of Elmont Truck Company No. 1, also included a block party. Floral Park and Stewart Manor tied for Best Appearance for departments with 26 to 35 members.

Town of Hempstead Remembered September 11, 2001

Gary Lombardo, manager of the Stop and Shop in Hempstead, joined Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray to commemorate the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Stop and Shop provided the carnations, which were deposited into the ocean in memory of those who perished. More than 1,500 Long Islanders attended the observance, which was held at Town Park in Point Lookout.

October

Stewart Manor Fire Department Received $100,976 Grant

The US Department of Homeland Security awarded the Stewart Manor Fire Department with a $100,976 grant, administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The department is using the funds toward the purchase of new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) gear.

"Since 9/11, our firefighters have been charged with new responsibilities," Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy noted. "Congress must continue to provide local fire departments with the resources to meet these new challenges."

SFP Mayor Named to Nassau County Village Officials Executive Committee

Angel Soto, mayor of the Village of South Floral Park, was appointed to the Nassau County Village Officials Association (NCVOA) Executive Committee. The NCVOA represents 64 incorporated villages with 431,000 residents. As a member of the Executive Committee, Mayor Soto assists with the organization's governance, including planning policy and advocating for issues impacting Nassau County village residents.

Upon his appointment, Mayor Soto, said, "It is an honor for me to be selected to the NCVOA Executive Committee. Village government is the government closest to the people - the most efficient and effective vehicle for delivering services to residents. The NCVOA has played an integral role in advocating for village residents. I look forward to working with all village officials in ensuring that we continue to be a strong voice for our residents, both in Nassau County and the State of New York."

Floral Park Small Businessperson of the Year Honored

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, Councilman Ed Ambrosino and Receiver of Taxes Don Clavin presented an official Town of Hempstead certificate of recognition to Floral Park Small Businessperson of the Year Jason DiCarlo of the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce. DiCarlo, the owner of J. Fallon's Tap Room, was honored at the Nassau Council of Chambers' 21st annual Small Businessperson of the Year Legislative Breakfast. Local chambers nominated the award recipients on the basis of their leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and service to the community.

Nassau-Suffolk Formed Task Force to Combat Home Invasions

Nassau and Suffolk police formed a task force to help combat the rash of home invasions hitting Long Island. The joint task force was designed to formalize the sharing of information between Nassau and Suffolk detectives working to solve these cases and increase communication flow between the two departments. More than a dozen detectives from each county were involved in tracking down leads.

Increased police patrols, both in marked and unmarked cars, assisted detectives in both counties. The increased manpower and bicounty task force came in addition to a task force that Nassau police formed weeks prior with local village police officials.

Garden City Police Commissioner Ernest Cipullo, who met with Nassau County Police Department officials Oct. 19, assured residents that everything that could be done was being done. "It's going to take good old-fashioned police work," he said.

MTA/LIRR Extended Comment Period for Main Line Corridor Project

According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) website, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) extended the public comment period regarding the Main Line Corridor Improvements Project (which ended Aug. 31) "based on the volume of comments received."

The project, among other things, proposes to construct an additional track along the Main Line and eliminate various on-grade crossings in the area. The extension was made so that "all interested parties will have more time to submit their comments." Comments postmarked by Dec. 31 were to be considered during the preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

Operation Safe Stop Targeted Key Areas in Village

As the school year began in September, the Floral Park Police Department initiated an Operation Safe Stop program throughout the village. With the assistance of local PTAs and the Floral Park-Bellerose School Transportation Office, the police department was able to target several locations where school bus stop violations were occurring.

The areas which were targeted during September included Landau Avenue, between Webster Street and Tulip Avenue; Orchid Street, between Tulip and Cisney Avenues; South Tyson Avenue, between Atlantic Avenue and Jericho Turnpike in the vicinity of John Lewis Childs School; Bryant Avenue, between North Tyson and Willis Avenues; and Larch Avenue and Floral Boulevard in the vicinity of Bellerose School.

According to Trustee Gerry Bambrick, the increased police presence in the school bus stop areas produced 86 summonses issued for the following traffic violations: failure to stop at a Stop sign; cell phone and seat belt violations; speeding in a school zone and passing a stopped school bus.

New Scholarship for EMS Disaster Training

Senator Michael Balboni established a scholarship program to help train local EMS providers to respond to disasters. The Floral Park Fire Department was to be the recipient of the first round of "Senator Balboni EMS Disaster Preparedness Scholarship Fund" awards - two $7,000 grants - that help ensure the company's EMS unit has the tools and training necessary when disaster strikes.

"EMS providers heroically respond to, care for and transport the sick and injured everyday. Those qualifications make this group of first responders a vital part of emergency preparedness plans. The extra support provided by these scholarships will allow local EMS to get the special training and protective equipment needed to respond to catastrophes," Senator Balboni said.

Senator Balboni made the scholarship announcement during the Nassau Regional EMS Council annual awards dinner Oct. 26 in Baldwin. In his remarks, the senator focused on the lack of federal funding provided to EMS units, which could leave these first responders vulnerable in times of disaster. He cited the fact that EMS units nationwide are allocated just 4 percent of federal Homeland Security dollars.

Shannon Ingram Participated in Miss Jr. Teen Pageant

Shannon Andrea Ingram of South Floral Park was selected to participate in National's 2005 Miss Jr. Teen New York pageant competition, which took place Nov. 13. Ingram submitted an application and took part in an interview session that was conducted by Patty Neidert, this year's New York pageant coordinator. Ingram was expected to compete for her share of over $20,000 in scholarships, prizes and specialty gifts that will be distributed to contestants. She was slated to compete in the Miss Jr. Teen division, one of three divisions that had young ladies between the ages of 10-19 competing in modeling routines, which included casual and formal wear. Most important, Ingram got the chance to display her personality and interviewing skills while interviewing with this year's New York judging panel. Personality is the number one aspect that each contestant is judged on during all phases of competition.

Four Village Studio Won Two First Place Awards

Four Village Studio won two first-place awards at the 2005 Alliance for Community Media, Northeast Regional Video Festival. The two honors were presented for an episode of Davidson & Co. and for the 4VS Community Board.

Producers Larry Davidson and James Green received a first-place award in the sports programming category for Davidson & Co. The subject of the winning program was an interview with author Mark Kriegel, who wrote a book chronicling the career of football legend Joe Namath.

The studio collected another first-place award in the bulletin board/videotext category. 4VS Operations Manager James Green won for producing and maintaining the look of the 4VS Community Board. The award-winning producers were acknowledged at a ceremony held at the Stratton Mountain Resort Inn in Stratton, VT, Saturday, Oct. 29.

2005 was the eighth year that Four Village Studio submitted entries to the festival; 4VS has garnered 26 awards, in a wide variety of categories, since first entering the competition.

November

Unattended Suitcase at Train Station Sparked Investigation

At 5:09 p.m. Nov. 1, police received a call for an unattended suitcase located on the north side of the Stewart Manor train station, in the vicinity of the waiting area. Garden City officers responded to the scene and as a precaution called in the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) K-9 Unit, along with the Nassau County Bomb Squad. Once sniffing dogs and the county's Bomb Squad deemed the suitcase non-hazardous, the scene was cleared shortly after 7 p.m.

McCarthy Introduced Bill to Silence Train Horns in Residential Areas

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy introduced HR 4116, legislation that would end the practice of requiring trains to sound their horns at crossings during non-rush hour periods.

McCarthy's legislation would let train drivers decide when it is appropriate to sound a horn during off-peak hours. "People who live near train tracks are willing to tolerate some noise, but let's leave it up to the driver as to when an off-peak sounding of the horn is necessary," McCarthy said. "More often than not, off-peak mandatory horn sounding is disruptive and does little in the way of public safety."

HR 4116 was sent to the House Transportation Committee for further consideration.

Residents Headed to Polls Election Day

Local residents headed to the polls Nov. 8, Election Day, to vote for the candidates of their choice in several races this year. Many of the races returned incumbents, with one exception.

Nassau County

* County Executive

Voters re-elected County Executive Tom Suozzi to his second four-year term as Nassau's head honcho.

* District Attorney

In the race for Nassau County district attorney, prosecutor Kathleen Rice bested incumbent Denis Dillon.

* County Comptroller

The race for Nassau County comptroller returned Howard Weitzman to the post for his second four-year term.

* County Clerk

Republican Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell proved to be the winner in the race for Nassau County clerk, a position vacated by Karen Murphy.

Town of Hempstead

* Town Supervisor

Republican incumbent Kate Murray bested Democrat Harvey Levinson of Garden City, current Nassau County assessor, in the race for Hempstead Town supervisor.

* Town Clerk

Republican incumbent Mark Bonilla, an attorney by profession, proved victorious in the race for Hempstead town clerk.

Town of North Hempstead

* Town Supervisor

Voters re-elected Democrat incumbent Jonathan Kaiman to his second term as North Hempstead supervisor.

Fifth Council District

Republican James McHugh of New Hyde Park proved victorious in the race for Fifth Council District, a seat vacated by Tony D'Urso.

Town Clerk

Voters returned Democrat incumbent Michelle Schimel to her fourth term as North Hempstead clerk.

Nassau County Legislature

* Third Legislative District

Republican incumbent John Ciotti held on to his post in this year's election. Ciotti received 6,503 votes while his challenger, Democrat Ali Mirza, received 5,822 votes.

* Eighth Legislative District

Republican incumbent Vincent Muscarella received 13,351 votes, while his challenger, Democrat Joan Hazleton of Franklin Square, a newcomer to the political arena, received 4,380 votes.

* Ninth Legislative District

Voters returned Republican incumbent Richard Nicolello to his fourth term as Ninth District legislator. Nicolello received 10,739 votes, while his challenger, Democrat Milton Espinoza of Williston Park, also a newcomer to the political arena, received 5,171 votes.

Tim Dalton Earned Community Service Award

When the MTA/LIRR presented their proposed Main Line Corridor Improvements Project, village residents organized and put together an action plan to fight it. One of the leaders in the forefront of that fight was Tim Dalton, owner of Dalton's Funeral Home.

In recognition of Dalton's work, advocacy and spearheading an effective community awareness and advertising campaign, Assemblyman Tom Alfano presented Dalton with a State Assembly citation and presented him with his Community Service Award. "I personally can't thank Tim enough for caring about our village and community at large," Alfano said.

Hempstead Town Honored Eileen Daly at 'Make A Difference' Ceremony

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and the town board recognized 13 extraordinary community members for contributions to their local neighborhoods at the ninth annual "Make A Difference" Awards ceremony held Nov. 15. The honorees included Eileen Daly of Floral Park.

For well over 30 years, Daly has been actively involved in many facets of community service. An unconquerable spirit and an unwavering will have enabled Daly to persevere for her family, friends and community, despite a debilitating aneurysm and a battle with breast cancer. She has long been a contributor to a local organization that assists the elderly, she worked as a 4-H leader for 30 years and she is a 25-year member of the Pastoral Care segment of Our Lady of Victory.

Daly is also a past president of the Floral Park-Bellerose PTA and a former participant in the SEPTA program at Floral Park Memorial High School. She has contributed valuable service to the MTA Bus Advisory Committee, the Board of Elections and the Floral Park Junior Woman's Club.

"Our Make A Difference Award recipients have made a profoundly positive impact on the lives of others," Supervisor Murray said. "While we can never hope to adequately repay these men and women for their efforts on behalf of those in need, we are honored to have this opportunity to thank them."

Veterans Day Parade Made Its Way Through Floral Park

A Veterans Day parade made its way through Floral Park Nov. 11. Ceremonies, like every year, followed at Memorial Park.

Floral Park Teen Dies Tragically in Elmont

A Floral Park teen died tragically while playing with friends at a home in Elmont Nov. 17. According to detectives, Julio Sanchez was playing with other 13-year-old friends at a home on Hendrickson Avenue when his head became entangled in a rope the youths had suspended from a tree. Police said one or more of the boys ran for help when their attempts to free the victim were proving unsuccessful and Sanchez was subsequently transported to Franklin Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4 p.m.

Floral Park Trustees Held Unprecedented Meeting

Unprecedented in Floral Park's history, the village board called a meeting with Magnolia Avenue residents to enable them to see and hear first hand what's on tap for a much-needed re-construction project on the block some of them have called home for 50 years.

"We have never had, previous to a road construction, a public meeting," Mayor Phil Guarnieri said. "But we felt it was important because the project is significant ... It's really the most major construction we've had since we've done Carnation Avenue."

The estimated $500,000 project intends to add a new drainage system, either through three dry wells or underground piping; re-construct the entire road; breakout and restore all driveway aprons; breakout and restore all curbs and gutters, much like what happened on Carnation Avenue; and, where applicable, breakout and restore new sidewalks, although the project is not aiming to restore every sidewalk. Besides the inconvenience the re-construction will cause to Magnolia Avenue residents, perhaps the most negative aspect of the project is the proposed loss of several healthy trees.

The construction is slated to begin March 1, 2006, weather permitting, and last 90 days from the official start date. Further, in order to ensure the project remains on schedule, a $1,000 penalty will be instituted for every day exceeding the intended 90 days. It is important to note that residents will receive written notification two days prior to the commencement of any work.

Heart Failure Caused Bellerose Runner's Unexpected Death

Stephen Quinn, 48, of Bellerose Village, who collapsed while running in the Village of Garden City's annual Turkey Trot Race Thanksgiving morning, died of heart failure shortly after he was transported to Winthrop-University Hospital.

Mr. Quinn is survived by his wife, Kathleen; his daughter, Kaitlyn; his siblings, John, Michael and Adamarie; and 18 nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass was held Nov. 28 at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church; interment followed at Mt. St. Mary's Cemetery.

December

Mayor Shed Light on LIRR Project

To help garner support in opposing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority/Long Island Rail Road's (MTA/LIRR) Main Line Corridor Improvements Project, Floral Park Mayor Phil Guarnieri shed some light on the topic at the Village of Garden City's Dec. 1 board meeting. Floral Park Trustee Tom Tweedy, liaison to Floral Park's Third Track Task Force, Dennis McEnery, a task force member; and Ginny Appel, Floral Park's village administrator, also attended the meeting.

"Garden City has been very supportive of us in this fight against the MTA/LIRR expansion," Mayor Guarnieri said. "We are extremely pleased to have [Garden City] as an ally in this great enterprise of ours."

Residents Helped Continue a Village Tradition

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, who arrived with help from the Floral Park Volunteer Fire Department, attended the Dec. 1 Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Floral Park along with numerous village residents who helped kick off the holiday season.

Bellerose Village Hosted Annual Tree Lighting

Mayor Donna Sherrer, along with Trustees Ron DeSouza and Tom Ryan, hosted the 2005 Bellerose Village tree lighting ceremony. The Floral Park Memorial High School Choral Group, directed by Rachel Fogel, and the New York Brass Choir, under the direction of Dean Karahalis, provided entertainment for the evening. Heartfelt thanks went to the Bellerose Fire Department for all its assistance during the year and for lighting the village tree. Thanks were also extended to the Junior Woman's Club of Bellerose for the flawless decorating of village hall and both village Christmas trees, as well as the donation of the hot chocolate and cookies for guests. At the end of the ceremony, a special visit from Santa Claus, arriving on Truck No. 107, was a treat for all the children. The outdoor festivities continued in village hall where everyone enjoyed refreshments and caroling.

Results of Emergency Preparedness Report Card for LI Released

Senator Michael Balboni released findings of a hearing he hosted focusing on Long Island's level of preparedness for a major hurricane or other catastrophic event. Balboni gave Nassau County a grade of F for overall preparedness because of its dismal performance on the issues critical to disaster preparedness - communications, evacuation and sheltering.

"I'm not here to point fingers, I'm here to present facts, and the fact is that Long Island is not prepared," Balboni, chair of the Senate's Committee on Homeland Security, said. "If we don't start taking this seriously, we will have failed to perform the most basic responsibility of government - to protect our citizens and their property. This report card will hopefully serve as a wake-up call that we must focus on preparedness ahead of the emergency."

The findings of the Sept. 28 hurricane preparedness hearing were to be incorporated into a report Senator Balboni is expected to release this month.

Balboni Said He'd Host 'Long Island Firefighters Summit'

Senator Michael Balboni announced in December that he would host a "Long Island Firefighters Summit" beginning this month. The summit will consist of a series of regional roundtable discussions that will provide an opportunity for fire officials from across the Island to showcase the lifesaving work they perform and to discuss issues crucial to the fire system.

"The workings of Long Island's fire system are complex and need to be studied carefully because it's literally a matter of life or death. This summit will allow fire districts and departments to come together to highlight the good work they do and to discuss strategies for sharing best practices and increasing efficiencies to the system," Senator Balboni said.

Predators Prevented From Entering School Grounds

Thanks to a new law, Level 3 sex offenders are now prohibited from entering school grounds or any facility where children are being cared for. The law, which was sponsored by Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and Assemblyman Tom Alfano, closed a loophole in current law that barred certain sex offenders from going onto school grounds and daycare facilities. Before the bill became law, only sex offenders whose victims were under the age of 18 were barred from entering school grounds. Now, any Level 3 sex offender is placed on conditional release or parole from entering school grounds. Level 3 sex offenders are determined to be high risk while Level 2 is moderate risk and Level 1 is low risk when it comes to another offense.

"Think about it. A sex offender gets out on conditional release or parole and there is nothing that says they can't go right to a schoolyard and prey upon our children. It's outrageous. That's why we passed this bill and it's now law," Alfano said. "It is a great step in the right direction in protecting children from sex offenders."

Sewanhaka Central High School District Received Grants

As student involvement and academic achievement continued to prosper at the Sewanhaka Central High School District (SCHSD), district administrators and staff were awarded for their contributions. On Dec. 9, Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union presented Dr. Williams, district superintendent, and Etta Schneiderman, president of the Sewanhaka Federation of Teachers, with two checks in the amount of $1,500 each.

The Sewanhaka Central High School District held one of the highest new member enrollment rankings from August through Nov. 15. For having such a high number of staff enrolled, SCHSD will not only be able to put these grants toward classroom enhancement, but the district can take advantage of the wonderful free benefits the Credit Union offers such as financial literacy programs for students and staff.

Corbin Looked to Unseat Jacobs as Presiding Officer

On Dec. 20, Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin and fellow Democrat Legislator Lisanne Altmann (10th L.D.) were joined by Republican Minority Leader Peter Schmitt (12th L.D.) to announce that a coalition had been formed to unseat current Presiding Officer Judith Jacobs. Additionally, in a meeting that same day, Nassau County GOP Chairman Joe Mondello also agreed to back Corbin.

The 19 legislators vote for presiding officer and minority leader. The lawmaker who receives the most votes becomes presiding officer while the one with the second most votes of a different party will be minority leader; deputy presiding officer is then appointed by the presiding officer. Through the formation of the coalition, Corbin was hoping to receive enough votes amongst Democrats and Republicans to garner the top seat and stated publicly that he would select Altmann, who has also been a Democratic lawmaker on the legislature since its inception.

But on Jan. 3, the date the vote was to take place, Jacobs won an injunction to temporarily prevent the vote from taking place and changed her party registration from Democrat to unaffiliated. Doing so, could provide Jacobs with the second-highest number of votes needed to secure the minority leader seat, but only if the remaining eight Democrats support her.

Republicans, Corbin and Altmann did not attend the legislative meeting and have refused to vote until Jacobs' party affiliation was cleared. Lawyers for Corbin and GOP lawmakers argued that since, under state law, a change in party enrollment does not become effective until after the next general election, Jacobs would remain a Democrat until then. Jacobs' lawyer, however, argued that his client has the right to change parties any time she wants.

(Please note: This issue of Floral Park Dispatch was published prior to an outcome. A full story on this issue will appear in an upcoming issue.)