Levittown Tribune Gets Musical with Eddie Money

It’s kind of like the show before the show. For anyone who might picture peace and quiet backstage before a concert, especially at an Eddie Money concert, better think again. Eddie Money emerges and sits down at one of the picnic tables, almost unaware of his success. He is about as approachable, down to earth and funny as they come.  Upon meeting this icon you almost forget who he is for a moment and you get the sense he might even do the same, but it isn’t possible, not here, and definitely not on Long Island. Everyone seeks an autograph, a picture, or at the very least, just wants to bask in the glow of his charismatic smile. He takes it all in stride and you get the sense he’s seen this before. After all these years one thing is certain, Eddie is still Money. The Levittown Tribune sat down with the Island Trees High School alum for a little Q & A at his recent concert at Point Lookout.

Levittown Resident Among Six People Charged With Fraud

Faces Seven Years for

Workers’ Compensation and Insurance Fraud

A Levittown resident is one of six people who were arrested and charged with stealing more than $239,000 combined in taxpayer money through workers’ compensation and insurance fraud, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice recently announced.

A sweep targeting county residents who steal undeserved workers’ compensation and insurance benefits was the result of an investigation by the District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County Attorney’s Office, New York State Insurance Department, MTA, New York State Insurance Fund, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board, Office of the Fraud Inspector General and the Social Security Administration.

Town ‘Sounds the Alarm’ for Pool Safety

Safety Brochures Available to Town Residents

Before the summer solstice marked the official start to the 2010 summer season on June 21, three Long Island children had already drowned in homeowner swimming pools. In the wake of these recent tragedies, Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray has partnered with Cablevision and King Kullen to promote pool safety and help prevent accidental drownings. The group has commenced a media campaign and will disseminate a brochure to all town residents on the subject of swimming pool alarms and pool safety.

After Litigation Fails, Able-Ride Supporters Try Other Avenues

Jacobs, Foye in Talks With MTA LI Bus to

Work Out Agreement

About three weeks after MTA Long Island Bus instituted cuts to its Able-Ride services, elected officials and private individuals have teamed up to make the most of a bad situation that has left disabled people throughout Nassau County at a loss.

On May 27, after over a month in litigation brought by disability advocates, a judge for the Federal U.S. District Court ruled that the MTA could go ahead with making cuts to its Able-Ride program as planned since March.

NuHealth System Announces First Ever Operational Surplus

At a recent press conference held at Nassau University Medical Center, the president and CEO of the NuHealth System, Arthur A. Gianelli, was all smiles. He was pleased to announce the 2009 fiscal year numbers had been tallied and crunched to show a surplus of $804,000, marking the first time NuHealth has been able to report positive operating cost outcomes in its 10-year history. The financial data was compiled and received by Ernst & Young, the independently certified public accounting firm used by the organization.

For the formerly named Nassau Health Care Corporation, which runs NUMC, the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility and several outlying clinics, the news has been a well-received change of pace. Gianelli emphasized it is important for people to recognize what got the organization to this point, and although future challenges might not always afford breaking into the black in subsequent years, this accomplishment was no small feat.

Guardrail on Wantagh Parkway Dedicated During ‘Miles for Matt’ Bike Ride

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Honors

19-Year-Old Killed by Drunk Driver

It was a bittersweet moment on June 6 as the ribbon was cut to dedicate a new guardrail on Wantagh State Parkway. The guardrail will hopefully save lives but the family of Matthew Scarpati won’t forget that their son and brother was killed there before the guardrail was put in place.

A Night of Fashion Benefits a School for Autism

Portion of Jewelry, Handbag Sale

Goes to ELIJA School in Levittown

A night of great food, stunning jewelry, and most importantly a night of awareness describes the fundraiser that Allison Elizabeth Designs held on June 3 at Mumon Restaurant in Garden City, benefiting the ELIJA School for Autism in Levittown.

Levittown School Board Agrees on New Budget for Vote on June 15

5.73 Percent Budget-to-Budget Increase;

2.63 Percent Tax Levy Increase

The Levittown School District’s Board of Education has adopted a revised budget to put forth to voters after the first proposed budget failed by 23 votes on May 18.

At a meeting on Wednesday, May 26, six of the seven board members voted in favor of presenting to the voters a budget that is a 5.73 percent increase over the 2009/10 budget. The failed budget proposed a 6.12 percent increase over this year’s budget. The estimated tax levy increase is 2.63 percent, compared to the 3.81 percent increase proposed by the budget that failed.

Trustee James Ward voted against the budget, saying he would have liked to see a budget that is $3 or $4 million less than what the board approved.

“We shouldn’t have looked at the [failed] budget and taken money out,” Ward told the Levittown Tribune. “We should have taken the current budget and increased it.”

Able-Ride Users See Services Cut, Now Must Find Alternatives

MTA: We Regret Having to Cut But

We Have to Fix Our Deficit

As of last Wednesday, May 27, users of MTA Long Island Bus Able-Ride program will have to call the service’s hotline to determine if they are still eligible for service.

A Federal U.S. District Court judge hearing lawsuit arguments against the MTA ruled last week that the transportation authority was allowed to institute the cuts that had been delayed since April.

“The judge dismissed the case, saying the regulation didn’t apply,” said Robert Shonefeld, an attorney for the plaintiffs. He had argued that an ADA regulation required the MTA to seek public participation, consult with and seek comment from people with disabilities about the proposed cuts when they were in the discussion phase. The judge ruled against the plaintiffs and the MTA was allowed to institute their cuts.

Hundreds Gather to Speak Out Against MTA’s Able-Ride Cuts

Disabled, Elected Officials

Call on MTA to Hear Alternatives

Dozens of disabled people arrived at Nassau University Medical Center in vans, wheelchair accessible buses and in Able-Ride vehicles, the subject of the very meeting they were there to attend. Their attorneys, advocates and elected officials came in cars; they don’t need handicapped vehicles to get around.

Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs organized the hearing, along with legislators Kevan Abrahams, Judi Bosworth, David Denenberg and Denise Ford at NUMC on Wednesday, May 19, giving disabled residents of Nassau County a venue to vent their frustrations and offer alternatives to cutting the MTA’s Able-Ride service.