Redistricting Committee Holds Second Public Meeting
Written by Linda Portney Goldstein: portwashington@antonnews.com Friday, 01 June 2012 00:00
Town residents ignore proceedings
The big story on the evening of Monday, May 28 was how few people were interested enough in the town redistricting process to attend the meeting of the Temporary Committee on Redistricting for the Town of North Hempstead.
At the May 7 meeting of the redistricting committee, the purpose of which was to solicit public comment about the redistricting process, a small but vocal group of residents, including two members of the local chapters of the League of Women Voters, accused the town of failing to properly notify residents of the meeting and a lack of transparency in the proceedings. The committee responded by scheduling a second meeting to solicit public comment and followed with an aggressive campaign to inform voters about the meeting on Monday, May 21. The effort included 65,000 reverse 311 calls, of which approximately 45,000 were answered, and press releases in all local newspapers, Newsday and on the town’s website and television station. In addition, the proceedings were web cast.
The result of the massive and expensive effort to publicize the meeting and invite public involvement was an increase from 12 attendees at the first meeting to 35 Monday night, and 12 people watching the web simulcast. Only five speakers came to the podium and most complimented the committee for their efforts.
When asked about the poor turnout, 35 out of 227,000 residents, North Hempstead Public Information Officer Sid Nathan said, “Most town residents expect their local government to come up with a process that meets legal standards and to draw lines that have a minimal impact on their everyday lives. They don’t want us to fight over it, they don’t want us to waste money on it – they want us to get it done in a professional, sensible manner. That is what we are doing and, ultimately, that is what will be done.”
The Temporary Committee on Redistricting is comprised of eight members and a chairperson. Each council member appointed one person to the committee and Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman appointed three. The committee is charged with analyzing town council district boundaries following the 2010 census and proposing changes to the districts so that they conform to town election laws and federal guidelines. The committee’s report is due June 15. The recommendations of the committee are not binding on the town council, which can accept, reject or modify the committee’s proposal.
The next meeting of the committee will be a work session on June 4, at 2 p.m., at Clinton G. Martin Park in New Hyde Park. The public can observe the session. Written comments will be accepted until June 1. They can be emailed to feedback@north hempstead.gov or addressed to: Temporary Redistricting Committee, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY 11030.
News
Wednesday, 22 May 2013 00:00
Submitted by Manhasset Post 304 American Legion
Matthew Falcone, commander of the Manhasset Post 304 American Legion, and James Brooks, parade chairman, have announced the parade order and schedule for the 2013 Manhasset Memorial Day Parade and Memorial Services. All Manhasset residents, their families and friends are invited to join the Legion in this remembrance of the great sacrifices of our American heroes. The theme of the parade this year, “Honoring Those Who Serve in Special Operations,” is a reminder that, while Memorial Day honors all deceased veterans, the intention is to remember service personnel engaged around the world in an effort to preserve American freedom and way of life from global terrorism.
Memorial Services
A memorial service in honor of Manhasset’s war dead will be held at the Community Reformed Church, 90 Plandome Rd., on Sunday, May 26, at 10 a.m. Pastor Steven D. Pierce will officiate. All are urged to attend and to join with the Legion in the remembrance of the great sacrifice of our military.
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
That first meeting, culminating in the May 2 ribbon-cutting for organic vegetable and herb gardens at all three Manhasset school campuses, was in September 2012.
Two organizations, both formed under the auspices of the SCA, were involved: Planet Manhasset, which under president Angela Classi and officers Merilyn Donnelly, Zari Ginsburg and Connie Parsons, spearheaded the construction of each site and Project Share, the which will distribute the produce raised to families in need. Classi, during the ribbon-cutting, told the students they were limited only by their imagination, and encouraged each one to embrace the secondary school garden as their own.
Sports
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
Gymnast Alexis Stern, an eighth-grader at Manhasset Middle School, represented New York State in the Junior Olympic National Championships held in the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, MI the weekend of May 3. Competing against the top Level 9 gymnasts in the country, Alexis took home a bronze medal on the balance beam with a 9.45 and finished 12th in the country with an impressive 36.80 all around score (bars, beam, floor, and vault). Alexis earned her spot on the Junior Olympic team with a third place finish at the Level 9 North East USAG Regional Championship held in Springfield, MASS and was also recognized as one of New York’s top Level 9 gymnasts. Alexis trains five days a week at Gold Medal Gymnastics Center in Greenlawn under the tutelage of Hall of Fame Coach Tammy Marshall.
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
On April 7, the Manhasset High School Crew Team held its first 5K Walk/Run fundraiser, which started and ended in the Flower Hill Village Park. More than 300 participants came out to race or stroll through Flower Hill, while raising funds for two great causes.
Proceeds from the event will fund additional equipment for the growing MHS crew team, with 10 percent of monies raised contributed to the Manhasset UFSD Fields Initiative, a fund created to re-turf the MHS Stadium Field and create a new field at Shelter Rock Elementary School. Barbara Thermos, who organized and coordinated the 5K event, noted, ”It was a great way for the community to come together for these causes, connecting with neighbors and friends while getting some exercise on a gorgeous, crisp sunny morning. Both causes support healthy athletic opportunities for Manhasset’s youth.”
Calendar
Ceremony And Fireworks
Saturday, May 25
MPWC Kids Fun Run
Saturday, June 8
Sunday Afternoon At The Opera
Sunday, June 9
Columns
Moving Pictures
Written by Mike Barry, MFBarry@optonline.net
Private Power Isn’t Our Only Option
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
Building Better Legislators
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
