There was jubilation at 65 High Street last week as the Manhasset-Great Neck Economic Opportunity Council received the news that the courts had determined that "defendant Economic Opportunity Commission for Nassau County" has no claim or interest in certain property." In other words, 65 High Street belongs to the local EOC, just as its board of directors had claimed.

A jubilant Robin Wheat, executive director of the Manhasset-Great Neck EOC said, on hearing of the decision by Judge Bruce D. Alpert, "I couldn't stop crying. God is so good."

Eighteen months ago, the Manhasset-Great Neck EOC board of directors filed a lawsuit against the EOC of Nassau County on behalf of the Manhasset-Great Neck community. The suit alleged that in 1992, A. Jean Love, former chairperson of the EOC Nassau County, illegally transferred the title of the Manhasset-Great Neck Community Center at 65 High Street, Manhasset, from the Manhasset-Great Neck EOC to the EOC of Nassau County. The suit also alleged that the transfer of title was done without the community's consent and sought a judgment requiring that the property be reconveyed to the Manhasset-Great Neck EOC. Attorney John Brickman of the Great Neck law firm of Ackerman, Levine, Cullen & Brickman handled the suit on a pro bono basis for the Manhasset-Great Neck group. That is the suit on which Judge Alpert handed down his decision. Mr. Brickman's reaction: "I have no illusions that this is the last step. There is an appellate court, but it makes you feel good when good people win." John Kearse, Nassau County EOC executive director, has not announced any reaction to the judge's decision at this time.

The building was built in 1929 as the Manhasset Valley School. Originally racially integrated, by 1964 it was a nearly all-black school and the Federal District Court identified it as "de facto segregated." As a result of that decision, the school was closed and the children transferred to Plandome Road or Munsey Park elementary school.

The Valley School was sold by the Manhasset School District for $150,000 to the Town of North Hempstead to be used as a community service center. In 1980 the building was given by the town to the Manhasset-Great Neck EOC. At the time the town supervisor was Michael J. Tully Jr.

The building has been used over the years for after school programs for children in the community, for Head Start programs and for athletic programs, especially basketball in the gym. The building is presently in very bad condition due to a lack of maintenance over the years and the gym cannot be used. The local EOC estimates it would take about $500,000 to renovate it but the Nassau EOC Board had claimed it could take $2.5 million. After the lawsuit was filed last January, the Nassau EOC threatened to remove all furniture and equipment from the building and to have it padlocked. When Mrs. Maggie Grundman, who runs a program called "Adventures in Learning" in the building, heard of the threat, she called the Nassau County 6th Precinct. Commander George Morrish sent six officers in riot gear. When the Nassau EOC representatives arrived they identified equipment and said they would return to take it. On Jan. 30, Judge Howard Levitt signed an Order to Show Cause and issued a temporary restraining order to prevent Nassau EOC from removing property from the building.

Robin Wheat says that the last months have been an "ordeal" with the future of the building in doubt. "Because we didn't have ownership, it was hard to renovate the building," she says. "We have some commitments for funds but we have a lot more to raise." Although she hopes to apply for federal, state and local funding she prefers to to be more specific about what will be done at the present time. "It's such a benefit to the community, I feel it should be funded by pretty much everyone," she says.