New Logo for Local Business

Merchants on Plandome and feeder streets circle the wagons

Some people take the meaning of ‘the power of the press’ a bit too far.

“She was really mad she got a parking ticket, and asked if I could fix it since I was on the front page of the Manhasset Press,” Chamber President Les Forrai recounted as members trickled into the Plandome Road Merchants Association (PRMA) meeting held on March 28, for the first time in the afternoon, at Silva Real Estate.

New Water Main Installation in Village of Plandome Manor

Traffic flow interrupted; possible brackish water

The Manhasset-Lakeville Water District will be installing a new water main in North Plandome Road along Leeds Pond in the Village of Plandome Manor. The new main will help eliminate fire flow deficiencies and ensure a safe reliable water supply for the area. The trenching work is expected to begin on April 2. The main installation is expected to take three to four weeks. Manhasset-Lakeville Water District Superintendent Paul J. Schrader asked that residents keep in mind the following:

Proposed 2012-13 Budget Is Under 2 Percent Tax Cap

Future years bigger challenge

The buzz prior to the March 15 school board meeting was which supermarkets sell beef containing “pink slime.” One woman had done some research on her own and found the store spokesperson’s answers confusing, tempting her, she said, to buy her own grinder. (Refer to the Manhasset Press’ special report on pink slime at www.anton news.com.)

As usual the school board meeting was poorly attended with only four adults, two Boy Scouts meeting badge requirements, school personnel and the Manhasset Press.

SPECIAL REPORT: ATTACK OF THE PINK SLIME

Dangerous beef filler might be in our kids’ school cafeterias

An Anton Newspapers investigation into a national story that impacts our local schools

Have you ever wondered what’s in that hamburger patty they are serving up in your child’s school? You may be surprised to learn that it might not be pure beef, but meat with filler known as “pink slime.”

Consumer food activists and high-profile chefs have been campaigning against the use of this product often found in fast food, and McDonalds, Taco Bell and Burger King have now all discontinued using pink slime. However, this year the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has plans to purchase millions of pounds of the “Lean Finely Textured Beef” (aka pink slime) for the National School Lunch Program. This cost-cutting measure once used for prisoners is now being used for school lunches around the country.

Legislature Approves Police Retirement Incentive Program

Lawmakers seek $21 million in savings

Last Monday’s session of the Nassau County Legislature lasted from early afternoon into the evening. But it also lasted long enough for that body to approve a retirement incentive program for county police, one that lawmakers hope will result in $21 million in savings from the county budget.

Passage came after hours of negotiations between the county executive’s office and the three police unions—-Police Benevolent Association (PBA), the Nassau County Detectives Association (DAI), and the Superior Officers Association (SOA)—-in order for the majority to receive the necessary votes from Democratic lawmakers.

Congressman Ackerman Not Seeking Re-election

U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) will not seek re-election to the United States Congress next year. The announcement came late on Thursday, March 15, following the federal circuit court’s approval of Congressional district lines, a decision that Ackerman’s office called “extraordinarily favorable” to the congressman who is serving his fifteenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Announcing his decision not to run for a sixteenth term of office, Ackerman added that, if he had chosen to run again, he would have run “with the primary-free backing of the Democratic Party virtually assured.”

Ackerman currently represents the Fifth Congressional District of New York, which encompasses parts of the New York City Borough of Queens and the North Shore of Long Island, including west and northeast Queens and northern Nassau County.

Weiss Delivers State of Village Address

Thanks Fellow Trustees; Touts Village Beautification Efforts

This Tuesday, residents in the Village of Flower Hill will elect a new mayor and new members of the board of trustees.

The upheaval on the board is due to the decision by Mayor Charles W. Weiss and other members of the board—-Deputy Mayor Bill Clemency, Trustees Norman Glavas and Avery Ryan—-not to run for re-election.

Two weeks prior to the March 20 election, Mayor Weiss presided over his final BOT meeting, one where he also delivered his final State of the Village address.

Plandome Road Merchants Association Checklist

The monthly meeting of the Plandome Road Merchant’s Association was held on Feb. 27 and hosted by John Russo and Diane Harragan of Coach Realtors.

Ed Wassmer, of Young’s Fine Wines and member of the parking sub-committee, opened the meeting and an extensive discussion about parking ensued.  With the help of Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, the new revised parking signs on Orchard Street have been installed. Hopefully, this change will alleviate some of the parking problems. Additional side street parking will be discussed at another meeting.

Village Elections Are Tuesday, March 20

All Elections Are Uncontested

Elections in most Manhasset villages will take place on Tuesday, March 20 from noon to 9 p.m. Petitions to file to run for office were due by the end of the business day on Feb. 14. All elections are uncontested.

Elections will be held in June in the Village of North Hills.

In Flower Hill, incumbent Trustee Elaine Phillips is running for a two-year term as mayor. Incumbent Trustee Scott Siller is running for another two-year term. Randall Rosenbaum and Karen Reichenbach are running for two-year trustee positions. All are running unopposed. All are members of the Flower Hill Party.

Manhasset Board of Education and Teachers Reach Agreement

Two-year contract generates savings of $650,000

(Submitted by the Manhasset School District.)

The Manhasset Union Free School District and the Manhasset Education Association (MEA), the union representing the district’s teachers, have agreed on a new two-year collective bargaining agreement to be effective for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years that will generate savings for the district of $650,000 over the two years. The board of education, district administration, and MEA worked cooperatively to reach an agreement prior to the board of education’s adoption of a proposed budget for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. The timing of the agreement enables the superintendent to recommend a budget that meets the new requirements of the tax levy cap and would continue all current programs for students. The new agreement is responsive to budget pressures on multiple fronts that include restrictions resulting from imposition of the tax levy cap, the requirement to fund significant increases mandated by New York State in pension contributions, and higher health care premiums.