Project SAFEGuard Being Introduced To Schools

The project addresses enhanced emergency preparedness

On Thursday, July 27, officials at Morrelly Homeland Security Center in Bethpage hosted Project SAFEguard, an educational program that will be rolled out to local school administration. It is a program of the Applied Science Foundation for Homeland Security (ASFHS), a member of the Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT) family of companies.

Project SAFEguard is a program developed in response to New York State’s regulations, including the “Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act” (SAVE) and revised regulations of the commissioner of education mandating schools to have sound safety plans.

Literacy Nassau Hosts Executive Breakfast With Pat LaFontaine

On July 11, Literacy Nassau hosted an executive breakfast, held at the offices of Farrell Fritz in Uniondale, featuring Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine as the special guest speaker. The attendees from the Nassau County business community got to hear LaFontaine’s perspective on giving back to the community, his support for children’s hospitals via his foundation, Companions in Courage, and his recent success in coaching the Long Island Royals junior hockey team to a national championship.

The breakfast was sponsored by Literacy Nassau, based in Freeport. Since its inception 40 years ago, when it was known as Literacy Volunteers of America – Nassau County, Literacy Nassau has had a single and unwavering mission: to promote and foster literacy in Nassau County among adult learners in need of improved skills in basic literacy and English for speakers of other languages.

Hailey Orgass Crowned Miss Wantagh 2012

Hailey Orgass, 17, was recently crowned Miss Wantagh 2012, out of eight other teen candidates, a tradition in the south shore community since 1956. She has just completed her junior year at Wantagh High School.

Her service and accomplishments include National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and Foreign Language Honor Society. She has received a scholarship from University of Rochester, including the Xerox Award of Innovation and Technology for her accomplishments in science.

NCCCA Holds Grumman Plume Meeting

Public comment period expires July 30

On Thursday, July 19, Nassau County Coalition of Civic Associations (NCCCA) hosted “Stop the Grumman/Navy Toxic Plume” presentation with the Seaford Harbor Civic Association and Massapequa Water district at the Seaford Fire Department headquarters.

Massapequa Water District Commissioner John Caruso gave a detailed presentation to approximately 100 community members and residents.  He said, “Most people, especially the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), really don’t get it when it comes to our sole source aquifer; what’s below us is our drinking water supply, broken up into three distinct aquifers.” Long Island mostly draws from middle, the Magothy aquifer, from a range of 50 to 900 feet below the earth’s surface; Massapequa water is screened from about 850 feet below the surface.

School District Reorganizes For School Year

During the July 11 board of education meeting, the Levittown School District Board of Education and administration reorganized for the official start of the 2012-13 school year.

Re-elected trustees Ed Powers and Kevin Regan took the oath of office, which was administered by school district attorney Bob Cohen of Lamb & Barnosky, LLP. In addition, the board reappointed trustees Michael Pappas and Peter Porrazzo as president and vice president, respectively.

Maragos: Bonding Failure Increases Budget Deficit

NIFA, Democratic legislators targeted for criticism

Last week, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos announced that the 2011 unaudited budget deficit would reach $50.4 million. He added that the projected deficit for 2012 is set at $45 million. However, he placed the blame on both NIFA and the Democratic Party caucus in the county legislature.

Maragos said that the failure of both NIFA and the Democratic caucus to work with County Executive Edward P. Mangano and approve $43.1 million in bonding for property tax refunds caused the deficit to balloon. With such approval, he said the deficit for 2011 would be at only $7 million and the 2012 projected budget would be nearly balanced.

Ready For Life’s Next Chapter

Division Avenue High School class of 2012 graduation

Hofstra Arena was a sea of blue and white caps and gowns as 309 graduates from the Class of 2012 celebrated a long-awaited milestone in their educational careers during Division Avenue High School’s 53rd Commencement Ceremony. Led by Superintendent of Schools Dr. James J. Grossane, High School Principal Dr. Francesco Ianni and Assistant Principal Joan Lorelli, the graduates filed in to the orchestra’s serenade of “Pomp and Circumstance,” performed under the conductorship of Mark Martufi.

Student Council President Ellen Chaleff began the ceremony by leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, after which the senior chamber singers, under the direction of conductor Andrea Galeno, sang the national anthem.

Daniel Reinharth Publishes First Mystery Novel

Dr. Daniel Reinharth, M.D., F.A.C.P., of East Meadow has recently self-published his first fiction novel, First Do No Harm. The medical mystery is the first in a series featuring the main character, the young internist Dr. David Calder, set in 1997 on Long Island.

The prologue opens with a suicide letter. Calder, 31, is positioned into obligatory treatment of his boss’s baffling ailment, in the opening chapter of a holiday office party. He is, by trait, always “on” to care for someone: his boss, Roger Stone; his autistic/epileptic sister, Rachel; his friends and co-workers. He is seemingly treating or diagnosing everyone that he comes in contact with.

East Meadow FD Wins ‘BBQ Grilling Throwdown’

Rockville Centre, Bethpage come in second and third place respectively

Firefighters were battling the flames on Friday, June 29, but of a different kind. The smoke billowing from the Nassau County Firefighters Museum emanated the aromas of grilled delight.

East Meadow, Bethpage and Rockville Centre fire departments battled in the 4th Annual “BBQ Grilling Throwdown” sponsored by Fairway Markets in Uniondale last week. The key message of the contest: holiday barbecue safety.

Comment Period For Bethpage Plume Remediation Ends July 30

Local residents weigh in at public sessions

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has indicated that cleanup of the Bethpage area plume is predicted to take more than 30 years before “groundwater” standards are achieved.

“This is one of the largest plumes I have ever seen,” and one of the most vocal communities, said Jim Harrington. Harrington is currently the director of the remedial bureau in the Division of Environmental Remediation at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). He was on-hand for the June 21 public session that was held at the Bethpage Community Center.