Sandy: A Hurricane Of Historic Proportions

Glen Cove, surrounding areas get hit hard

Glen Cove, along with the rest of Long Island, was hit by the now infamous Hurricane Sandy on Monday Oct. 29. The well-known “Frankenstorm” was predicted a few days before Monday and received its nickname due to having both the characteristics of a tropical storm and features of a cold front. The storm took an unusual turn inland from the coast because of the low pressure coming from Canada, making the devastation on the North Shore both unusual and more powerful than expected. The storm was a mixture of the most uncommon elements to ever occur in the Long Island and New York City area in history.

Hurricane Sandy Brings Devastation To Long Island

Destroyed homes, power outages, and long gas lines are left in the storm’s wake

It is a scene that is devastatingly similar throughout Long Island, and particularly in waterfront areas on the north and south shores. Homeowners desperately tried to remove the water that had flooded homes by opening doors, windows, garage doors, and by using generator-powered vacuums, designed to capture water. Along curbsides, carpets, furniture, clothing, toys, and other treasured belongings were left for sanitation crews to take away. Literally, lifetimes of memories had been washed away.

The storm made landfall on Monday, October 29. Although it should have been a regular business day, anyone making their way through the heavy wind and rain realized that it was anything but an ordinary Monday. Businesses that are usually jammed with midday lunch crowds were vacant. Long Island Rail Road stations, were deserted, with not a train or a commuter to be found. Schools were closed and would remain shut for more than a week. Businesses that remained opened were hard to find, although there were a few proprietors who did brave the massive storm.

Election Results

(Unofficial Results)
* winner

U.S. President:
* Barack Obama (D)
Mitt Romney (R)

GC City Council Approves Revised Budget

An average of $56 will be added to a homeowner’s annual tax bill

The Glen Cove City Council meeting took place Tuesday, Oct. 23 to vote on the upcoming budget. The revised budget had caused concern for being a financial risk, but Mayor Ralph Suozzi confidently explained his budget plans. All of city council voted Tuesday night to approve spending that will add $56 to the average homeowner’s annual tax bill.

Residents expressed concern at the meeting about Glen Cove’s current deficit, and Mayor Suozzi’s future plans to borrow from the state. Charlie Bozzello asked the mayor if borrowing money would be wise due to Glen Cove’s current debt, and how the city will ever reach economic stability if the city continues to borrow money. The mayor explained that the Glen Cove Police Department will see about 13 police officers retiring this year, an unusually high number, he said, adding that it would be impossible to not borrow. The mayor went on to say that the money borrowed will be dedicated to paying for these retirement plans and that retirement plans “would’ve been a good idea to start 30 years ago.” Roughly 12.3 percent of the budget will go to retirement plans for police.

Superintendent Laria Submits Resignation

Board of Ed adopts district goals at Oct. 15 meeting

At the start of the Oct. 15 Glen Cove City School District Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Joseph A. Laria shocked the audience by reading a statement of resignation, which he said he had read to the board members in the executive session preceding the public meeting. His final day in the district will be June 30, 2013, and he said he made the decision for both personal and professional reasons.

“After much soul searching, I concluded that now is the time to turn the page and establish more of a balance in a new chapter of my life as I approach 70 years of age,” Dr. Laria began. “I did not come to this decision easily because my service in Glen Cove has been so very fulfilling, both personally and professionally. My notice is submitted early in the school year to give the board sufficient time to complete a superintendent search unencumbered by the pressures of time and by other important issues during the upcoming months.”

Former Mayor Left A Legacy In Glen Cove

Joseph M. Reilly, 85, former mayor and assemblyman, passed away last month

Last month, Glen Cove lost a man who helped make the city what it is today. Joseph M. Reilly, former assemblyman and mayor of Glen Cove, devoted a large part of his life to improving Glen Cove and preserving most of the green spaces residents now cherish. He died on Sept. 23, at the age of 85, after battling an illness.

“He loved Glen Cove, was born and raised here, and utilized everything it has to offer, from the parks to the golf course to the beaches,” said daughter Nassau Supreme Court Justice Margaret Reilly.

Sparks Fly In The Debate Arena

Town hall format and Obama’s performance finds president rebounding in the polls

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, Hofstra University was the site for the second of three debates between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. Hofstra had also hosted a debate between then-Democratic nominee Obama and GOP nominee Sen. John McCain back in 2008, making the school just the second university to host consecutive presidential debates. (St. Louis’ Washington University was the other.)

With Romney scoring what many considered an upset victory over Obama’s decidedly lackluster performance in the first debate, this follow-up was going to be a “deal maker or breaker in this campaign,” according to political pundit Chris Matthews, who spoke at Hofstra the prior week. Shortly after moderator Candy Crowley took the stage at 9 p.m., it was clear both candidates were prepared to come out swinging, making for a lively hour and a half that found roughly 65 million viewers tuning in to the town hall-style debate, according to the Nielsen Ratings.

City Holds Public Hearing On Proposed Budget

Final public hearing will be held at the Oct. 23 Glen Cove City Council meeting before adopting the budget

At the Oct. 9 Glen Cove City Council meeting, the first public hearing was held to discuss the proposed budget for 2013. The hearing will remain open before the council votes, and one more public hearing will be held on Oct. 23.

The proposed budget would increase taxes in Glen Cove 1.94 percent next year, a figure that Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi said was trimmed down from the original 7.42 percent he received from the city controller, Sal Lombardi. He said that, after going over the numbers with Lombardi, the budget he first presented to the council was 2.81 percent and they worked hard together to get it under 2 percent. The percentage represents a $558,087 increase in real estate taxes. The proposed budget plan totals $46,746,289, an increase of $106,182 or 0.2 percent from this year’s budget.

The Dark Side Of The Moose

Pink Floyd tribute band to perform October 20 Halloween show in Glen Cove

This weekend, fans of Pink Floyd can expect to witness a Halloween spectacle, as local tribute band Us and Floyd performs at Glen Cove Moose Lodge. The Oct. 20 event will include a costume contest, raffle prizes and free food.

A fundraiser for local filmmaker Scott Goldberg and his feature-length film project, The Three, the $25 entry fee will go toward raising money needed to produce the film. Because the film is in the dark/horror genre, Goldberg, who also sings in the band, said he felt it was appropriate to host a fundraising event around Halloween.

Federal Grant Possible For GC Waterfront

Sen. Gillibrand announces federal legislation to revitalize waterfront brownfields

On Monday, Oct. 8, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the Glen Cove Ferry Terminal and Boat Basin, joined by Mayor Ralph Suozzi and local officials, to announce new federal legislation to revitalize inactive industrial sites like the Glen Cove waterfront.

The proposed bill, The Waterfront Brownfields Revitalization Act, would award grants to local government and nonprofits that redevelop abandoned, idled or underused industrial properties on waterfronts. Senator Gillibrand said the bill would spur economic development, and that there is “no excuse” to not move forward with this opportunity.