Suozzi Redux?

(Editor’s note: All candidates for the position of Nassau County Executive will be invited to meet with the entire editorial staff at Anton News. Thomas Suozzi was the first to respond and was interviewed on Feb. 14.)

From one day to the next, the race for leading Nassau County out of a fiscal swamp has become super-charged as the possibility of three Democrats fighting for the county executive hot spot to oppose incumbent Republican Edward Mangano in the general election takes shape.

The first Democratic candidate who filed, Adam Haber, has already charged that former county executive Thomas Suozzi, in for a rematch, failed the county due to “his tax hikes, budget deficits or back-room deals... no-show Suozzi will keep failing to lead on the issues that matter to middle class families.” The Great Neck Record reached out to Mr. Haber’s press secretary, but at press time had not yet received a response.

New LIPA Deal Can’t Promise Less Outages

LIPA and PSE&G working on transition

LIPA CFO Michael Taunton told a meeting of the Nassau County Village Officials Association Feb. 12 that the utility’s transition to a new business model with PSE&G will be “seamless,” but he was unable to offer assurances that the arrangement will mean fewer power outages or quicker restoration of services after a storm.

Taunton said that due to ongoing litigation and the Moreland Commission study, he would not be able to respond to any questions regarding Hurricane Sandy. When the Great Neck Record asked if the new contract foresees less power outages in the future. Taunton did not respond. When told that LIPA has admitted that Great Neck loses power over two times more than the average in other areas, Taunton also did not respond. These figures have been quoted in the Record several times in the past, with that information provided by Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman, NCVOA president. 

Calm Waters At Steppingstone Marina

Due to the dedication and efforts of both the board of commissioners and park district staff, the Great Neck Park District has a plethora of beautiful first-rate parks and facilities where residents can play, learn, and enjoy. The professional park district staff’s daily operations are vital to what makes the parks run as efficiently as they do. Steppingstone Marina is a fine example of that. The staff managing the marina make sure it is a well-oiled machine, running as smoothly as possible no matter what the season.

“Hairspray” Cuts It With Kids At GNAC

Arts Center class introducing the arts to children with special needs

Children with learning disabilities meet regularly at The Great Neck Arts Center for a unique class designed to introduce them to ceramics, painting, jewelry making, dance, film and other creative projects, while socializing with peers. But, when the class watched a screening of the 2007 movie Hairspray recently, they had an unexpected surprise.

Film star and Great Neck native Nikki Blonsky, who plays heroine Tracy Tumblad in the award-winning picture, paid them a surprise visit to discuss the movie with them. Following the film showing, she signed autographs and took pictures with the students.

Committee Seeks New Director

A committee composed of library administration, board members, staff and residents to search for a new library director has been approved by the library trustees. Representing the public will be Linda Burghardt, Amy Levinson and Steven Walk. Staff members will share positions on the committee. They are: Janet Fine and Diedre Good, Nickolas Camastro, Margie Chodosch and Sandy Garrison. Interim director Laura Weir and business manager Neil Zitofsky will represent the administration and all library board members will participate. Vice-president Francine Ferrante Krupski will chair the search committee. 

Linda Burghardt is an author and journalist who is an active library patron; Amy Levinson serves on the library’s building advisory committee and was chairperson of the Safety and Transportation Committee for the United Parent Teacher Council; Steven Walk, retired from a career of merchandising and marketing for large retail chains and manufacturers, has been active in leadership positions at Temple Beth El and also serves on the library nominating committee.  

The Governor Was Gracious

Great Neck mayors spend time with Governor Cuomo

“When I once again met Governor Andrew Cuomo at the Executive Mansion, I told him that while I can’t agree with all of his proposals, I do agree with many,” Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman told the Great Neck Record.” The governor’s response? He thanked Mayor Kreitzman for his honestly. 

Mayor Kreitzman and Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender traveled to Albany recently for the New York State Conference of Mayors’ winter legislative meeting. Both mayors serve on the Nassau County Village Officials Association executive board and Mayor Kreitzman is the board president. Mayor Kreitzman also serves on the NYCOM executive board.

Bullying Policy

The Great Neck school board revised its Policy on Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, Hazing and Sexting at its Feb. 11 public action meeting. New language was added to the policy based on guidance from the  district’s legal counsel. This new language clarifies the role of a dignity act coordinator (DAC) in the district. 

This revision was first proposed at the board’s December public action meeting when school board trustee Susan Healy, chair of the policy committee, explained that the revision addresses the enactment of the New York State Dignity for All students legislation that requires the establishment of a dignity act coordinator (DAC) in each school in the district. A second hearing, in January, further addressed the new language.

Moving Tech Forward, Carefully

Yet Technology progress is up-to-date 

As the Great Neck School District’s technology program progresses, the most up-to-date equipment is reviewed and, if deemed useful, a sample is purchased. But a mass purchase is avoided. 

School District Technology Director Marc Epstein presented a review of the district’s technology at the February board meeting, focusing on the iPad initiative. Seven hundred and fifty iPads were purchased, although the district waited for the second generation.

The Mayor Is Back!

Steve Kirschner serving Village of Russell Gardens once again

With true dedication and an amazing community spirit, Russell Garden’s Steve Kirschner is set to once again take the reins of his village. From 2003 until 2009, Kirschner served as mayor of the Village of Russell Gardens. After three terms he felt it was someone else’s turn even though there were no official term limits. And so Kirschner left office.

Nassau County Planning Commission Insight For County Mayors

Commission chair Jeffrey Greenfield presents information to NCVOA

Nassau County mayors and trustees had the opportunity to learn more about the Nassau County Planning Commission at the Nassau County Village Officials Association’s annual meeting on Thursday, June 28. Planning Commission Chair Jeffrey Greenfield presented an overview of his commission and offered updates on certain crucial issues.

The Nassau County Planning Commission’s vision is to “oversee the orderly growth and development of the county, seeking to balance economic growth with environmental protection and historic preservation.”