Eye on the Island: July 31, 2009

Mary Jo’s ‘Thick Skull’

Mary Jo Connery fell in love with a young man while attending Massapequa High School in the 1970s. She married him in 1977. More than two decades later, they divorced.

What Do You Know About Herricks?

The Battle of San Juan Avenue

The county and town population had increased two and a half times over during the 1920s, and one of the critical needs of new and expanded communities was how to deal with sewage and garbage. In 1929, the North Hempstead Town Board appointed a special commission to investigate how to deal with the growing amounts of refuse that was overflowing local dump sites and causing concerns about health and pollution. That fall, the commission recommended that most of the garbage generated within the town be collected and burned in one central location: At Searingtown, where Manhasset Avenue (later Searingtown Road) met San Juan Avenue.

The Mayor’s Corner: July 24, 2009

Thank you to the The Nassau POPS with Conductor Lou Panacciulli, who performed here for our residents this past week. Sponsored by the Village of Williston Park, this annual tradition brings our neighbors out to enjoy wonderful music. Thanks to our WPFD, DPW, NCPD, Cross Street School and the Mineola School District for their involvement and cooperation.

What Do You Know About Herricks?

Shelter Rock Public Library

Most of Long Island’s public libraries serve the residents of specific school districts, incorporated villages or cities. Herricks and some of the surrounding communities fell through the cracks, and it took a well-organized community campaign dedicated to learning and culture to create Shelter Rock Public Library.

County Executive’s Column: July 17, 2009

Dome Illumination to Raise Awareness of Pancreatic Cancer

This month, Nassau County, in cooperation with the Lustgarten Foundation, is hosting a ceremony and building illumination for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Over 37,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year –which is why our goal is to raise awareness in order to prevent and fight this disease. According to the National Cancer Institute, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for 1999-2005 was 5.5 percent. We must work together to thwart pancreatic cancer.

The Mayor’s Corner: July 17, 2009

Thank you to the Williston Park Fire Department for hosting our

Annual 4th of July parade through our Village of Williston Park. Trustee Darmstadt, Deputy Mayor Smith and Legislator Rich Nicolello joined me in marching through town. Thanks to all of our residents who came out to view a great parade. Happy Birthday to our wonderful USA.

The Mayor’s Corner; July 10, 2009

I hope all enjoyed their Holiday celebrations and enjoyed some sunny weather.
Our library’s summer reading program has begun. Contact the library for further information on their great programs planned for the summer. Swimming lessons at the pool have begun also. Please stop by the Pool office for schedules and further information.

Letter: Resident Speaks Out Against Bus Cancellation

Kudos to last week’s letter written by Jim Lowe. Mr. Lowe expressed the outrage and anger of many parents and students with the canceling of the late bus in the Sewanhaka school district.

letter:To the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board:

I was quite frankly shocked and annoyed as I read the Sewanhaka Central High School Budget as presented for 2009-2010. I had heard from several concerned parties that this budget called for the elimination of the “late bus program” The late bus program allows many children that participate in after school activities to do so by providing a safe and secure way to return home from school. As a point of reference, the district has in the past provided this service to all children in the district regardless of whether they attend public or private school up to a certain distance. Of course this service is not free for those that attend private schools. It is paid by the tax dollars that are collected each and every year. Those families that send their children to private school outside the district have been able to take some consolation from the fact that while they are required to pay taxes that support a public school system they do not use, they at least enjoyed bus service to and from their school.

Letter:Yatauro Calls for Leadership in State Senate

Unemployment is still rising. Businesses continue to fail. Municipal governments require assistance to avoid further slashing of vital social programs. Nassau County needs help from Albany to avoid layoffs and the closing of many of our offices, parks and facilities.

Our problems continue to mount. To make matters worse, now the New York State Senate has become embroiled in a power struggle in Albany.