Rebuilding Together Long Island

After, Williston Park resident Joe Botkin, Massapequa resident Sol Goldstein and several friends helped finish building a house for a family 20 years ago for Habitat for Humanity, they had a question: “What do we do now?” They were all retired, had enjoyed working together and accomplishing something for a family in need, and wanted to do more. 

“I was looking for something [to do] hands-on,” said Joe Botkin, a retired principal, who had worked with Goldstein in building the home.

Village In Waiting

New Hyde Park still seeking Sandy-related FEMA reimbursements

New Hyde Park is still awaiting Superstorm Sandy FEMA reimbursements, Mayor Robert Lofaro revealed. The village operates on a budget of about $5.8 million.

Public works superintendent Tom Gannon and village clerk Cathryn Hillmann spent numerous hours on forms and expenses for storm reimbursement. Lofaro said the fund balance is tiny and that if, say $300,000 was spent, the fund needs to be replenished quickly.

Slow And Steady Wins The Race

State DOT gives go-ahead on Operation Main Street, headaches in its wake

The Village of New Hyde Park is finally accepting bids for Operation Main Street, according to trustee Donald Barbieri. The final piece of the project has been given the go-ahead by the state Department of Transportation, albeit after a tug-and-pull between the two entities.

Construction could begin in late June, early July. The board will open bids from contractors on June 6 to complete the project to upgrade the business district along Jericho Turnpike.

Audit Is Imminent

North Hempstead is cooperating with park-district audit 

The Town of North Hempstead will submit to a Nassau County financial and operational audit of the Clinton G. Martin Park District in New Hyde Park after the Court of Appeals dismissed the town’s appeal, according to court documents.

The court dismissed North Hempstead’s appeal on April 30, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos revealed. A letter was sent to the town on May 9 asking for financial documents spanning three years.

NY Ravioli Sandy Efforts Recognized

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano commended the owners of New York Ravioli & Pasta Company of New Hyde Park for donating a portion of all proceeds generated throughout May to the Nassau Hurricane Recovery Fund (NHRF). Six months after Superstorm Sandy barreled through local neighborhoods, Nassau residents are still struggling to rebuild their homes and lives.

Village Board At Full Capacity

New Hyde Park appoints trustee to fill empty seat

The Village of New Hyde Park swore Donna Squicciarino in as trustee on Tuesday, May 7. She will fill a seat vacated by Robert Lofaro, who won the mayor’s seat in March after Daniel Petruccio decided to not seek re-election.

Squicciarino is the second woman in New Hyde Park’s 86-year history to serve as trustee. Florence Lisanti was the first woman to serve on the board, whose term expired in 2001.

Two Face Off For Open School Board Seat

Reddan, Kerrane vying for spot on NHP-GCP board

Residents James Reddan and Jennifer Kerrane will be competing for the seat held by New Hyde Park Garden City Park school board Vice President Joseph Bongiorno, who will not be seeking re-election on Tuesday, May 21.

Chin In The Running

Local parent running for Herricks School Board 

Juleigh Chin, an active member of the community, will be running unopposed for trustee on the Herricks School District Board of Education.

“I feel that it is not only my calling, but my personal and civic responsibility to serve the public,” Chin says.  Election Day is May 21. 

SHS Cleans Up New Hyde Park

Members of Sewanhaka High School’s Key Club and Green Club assisted residents of the Village of New Hyde Park with its Community Clean-Up Day. The students removed litter, pulled weeds, planted a few shrubs and deposited topsoil in the area of the New Hyde Park train station.

Woman Charged With Stealing From Non-Profit

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced on April 30 that Pamela Efraimov, 39, of New Hyde Park was charged with stealing more than $200,000 from her employer and an autism awareness foundation run by her boss’ wife.

Efraimov was arrested by DA investigators and charged with second-degree grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument and first-degree falsifying business records. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Rice said that from 2005 to 2012, Efraimov was employed as the personal assistant and bookkeeper to the president/owner of Katherine Bishop, Ltd., a woman’s apparel wholesaler. After her boss’s death in June 2010, his widow kept Efraimov on so she could close the books on the business.