Jazzing It Up At North High

For jazz saxophonist Sam Dillon, returning to North High School upon the invitation of Joseph Rutkowski, director of instrumental music, was an opportunity to spend time with classical music students and give them an intimate glimpse into making jazz and becoming a professional musician. He says, “It was so nice to come back to North High and see the school through more mature eyes ... Mr. Rutkowski is such an amazing teacher ... He really treats his students like professional musicians and expects them to give their best ... I can be in the middle of a gig and still hear his voice ringing in my ear.”

Kindergarten Class Wins Town Video Contest

Great Neck’s little ones were the big winners in the Town of North Hempstead’s “Plastic Ain’t My Bag” Earth Day video contest!  The youngsters in Robin Levine’s Parkville School Kindergarten class took first place in the contest’s early childhood division with their “Save Our Mascot” video entry.  Using the theme of the school’s penguin mascot (one of the animals that plastic bags can “choke and hurt”), the children sang and acted out an original song written by Parkville custodian Robert Hoffmann.

St. Aloysius Church Celebrates 100 Years

Great Neck’s beautiful, majestic St. Aloysius Church celebrates its 100th birthday this year.  On Sunday, June 23, the church hosts a centennial celebration, including a special mass and a dinner dance.  The historic church is located at 592 Middle Neck Road in the Village of Great Neck.

“Even after 100 years, many people still consider St. Aloysius one of the most beautiful churches on Long Island,” said Monsignor Brendan Riordan, pastor of St. Aloysius. “This centennial celebration is a significant milestone for our parish and we are proud that St. Aloysius has been part of the Great Neck community for so many years.” 

School District Accepts Donations

Once again the Great Neck School District received a host of gifts and donations. All were recently approved and accepted by the Board of Education at school board public action meetings.

Eight donations were received for the Robotics Club, to help offset some of the many costs associated with running a successful robotics program. Donations were sent from: the Rotary Club of Gold Coast, Cathy Sung, Stephen and Beth Wolf, Joel and Ellen Dressner, Jay and Judi Bosworth, Edith Novick and Dmitriy Tokar, Gary and Bianna Gal, Scott and Barbara Erlich and Jill A. Krieger.

School District Budget Vote May 21

Residents in the Great Neck School District vote on the proposed $209,442,904 2013-2014 school budget this coming Tuesday, May 21. In addition to the budget vote (Proposition No. 1), eligible voters also vote on the Great Neck Library budget (Proposition No. 2) and for one Board of Education trustee, Monique Bloom (who is running unopposed, having been appointed to the school board last year).

As always, by far the largest percentage of the budget is dedicated to instruction. This amounts to around 75 percent of each year’s budget.

A High-Rise On East Shore Road?

Old Village hears a proposal from AvalonBay 

An environmental clean-up and brand new apartment buildings for East Shore Road might have seemed like a far-off dream at one point, but today the Village of Great Neck is considering a proposal from AvalonBay Communities to clean up the polluted property at 240 East Shore Road and build a brand new residential luxury apartment complex. 

The initial proposal was presented by AvalonBay at the village’s May 9 meeting. There is much yet to be discussed, but, initially, the mayor and the board are interested. “Their proposal sounds like a fabulous opportunity for the village,” Mayor Ralph Kreitzman told the Great Neck Record. “It will clean up a polluted property, eliminate an eyesore, restore the bulkhead and shoreline, produce an attractive building, provide apartments for new residents, downsizing residents and our workforce, and increase our tax base.”  

Proposed 2013–14 School Budget

On Tuesday, May 21, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., at the E.M. Baker Elementary School and the William A. Shine-South High School, qualified residents of the school district will vote on the: 2013–14 School District Budget (Proposition No. 1), 2013–14 Public Library Budget (Proposition No. 2) and one Board of Education seat (trustee Monique Bloom, who was appointed to the board in 2012, is running unopposed).

2013–14 School District Budget

After extensive public discussion and input, during a lengthy and open budget process that started in our schools, the Board of Education has adopted the Proposed School Budget in the amount of $209,442,904 for the 2013–14 school year. The increase over this year’s budget is 4.85 percent. The increase in the amount to be raised by real property tax is 3.14 percent.

Historical Society Recognizes Pond Road House

Another Great Neck house has been recognized by the Great Neck Historical Society’s Heritage Recognition Program, which honors notable buildings in the Great Neck area. The house, at 50 Pond Road, has a long and fascinating history.

The home was built in 1909, a date inscribed in the cornerstone, for E.M. Scott, who has been described as “one of the most successful manufacturers in the world.” At that time, the property was 62 acres, with close to 2,000 feet of frontage on the Long Island Sound. The same numbers were recorded by North Hempstead in 1925. A 1932 map describes the property as 16 acres, a 1947 map as nine acres, and today, it is less than two acres. 

Village Helping Village

Old Village sweeping streets for Kensington

Kensington Mayor Susan Lopatkin is delighted that she is saving money by having the Village of Great Neck public works department sweep her streets. “We are saving 20 percent of what it cost us last year,” she told the Great Neck Record. “This is a win-win for everyone … thanks to a close working relationship with Mayor Ralph Kreitzman, tasks like this one are easily arranged.”

Wood Road Property

The story that won’t go away

This lot, on the corner of Arrandale Avenue and Wood Road, has been unkempt and virtually abandoned by Nassau County for years. Once in a great while, after angry complaints from neighbors, county workers would come and do a half-hearted attempt at cleaning the litter strewn parcel. Once a load of tires was dumped into the mix, making it a mosquito breeding ground.