Village Picks LIJ As Hospital Partner

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Village Picks LIJ As Hospital Partner

Written by Joe Scotchie: jscotchie@antonnews.com Friday, 06 April 2012 00:00

Officials cite need for urgent care facility in Massapequa

North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital has been chosen by the Village of Massapequa Park as the partner for the possible construction of a new urgent care facility in Massapequa.

The announcement was made on Thursday, March 29 after several months of negotiations. In addition to North Shore-LIJ, the village had also been in talks with Catholic Health Services.

“This has nothing to do with the quality of care,” Village of Massapequa Park Mayor James A. Altadonna told The Massapequan Observer. “We just felt North Shore was further along in developing the stand alone emergency room facility [we need].” Mayor Altadonna pointed to the fact the North Shore-LIJ is already developing a similar facility in Manhattan’s East Village.

The village must now receive the needed license from the New York State Department of Health Services before proceeding to a construction timetable.

That process may take some time, but Mayor Altadonna is confident such a license will be granted, since, he believes, it is apparent that with the closing of Brunswick Hospital in Amityville and Massapequa General, such a facility is needed.

The mayor is also confident that such a facility would not only be a boost to Massapequa Park, it could also serve as a model for similar areas nationwide where a population is underserved.

The facility, he said, would bring jobs to the Massapequa area. It would also provide ambulance services for those patients in need. “We are moving the Village of Massapequa Park forward,” the mayor concluded.

“LIJ is eager to work with local officials to move forward on solutions for improving emergency care in the area,” said Terry Lynam, a spokesman for North Shore-LIJ.

Ever since Brunswick Hospital in Amityville closed three years ago, village officials have been looking for a new facility to serve Massapequa area residents. The closest nearby hospitals that cater to urgent needs are Good Samaritan in Babylon and St. Joseph’s in Hempstead. But village officials consider those hospitals too far a distance for local patients.

In the meantime, both hospitals had performed due diligence studies on any new site. The village has also been assisted by both the offices of State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo (R – Merrick) and Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto.

It is urgent care, specifically those cases concerning heart attacks and other life threatening situations that had sent village officials into action.

In January, Mayor Altadonna told The Massapequan Observer that the hospital village officials would like to see constructed in Massapequa would include an emergency room, an urgent care facility, and one equipped with the latest in diagnosis technology.

As important, the village, Mayor Altadonna added, is looking for a long-term commitment from the hospitals in question, namely a hospital that is willing to have a long-term partnership with the village in making such a hospital a long running success. And with the choice of North Shore-LIJ, he feels the village is off to a good start in achieving those goals.

News

Massapequa High School Remembers Fallen Graduate

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Navy SEAL killed in crash was top student athlete

Jonathan Kaloust, a 23-year-old Navy SEAL who hailed from Massapequa, lost his life last Wednesday in a freak Humvee crash during a training exercise in Fort Knox, Ky.

A 2007 graduate of Massapequa High School and standout wrestler, Kaloust was recruited to Binghamton University, where he continued to wrestle while pursuing a political science degree.

Increased service will save local

commuters up to 40 minutes a day

A $40-million construction project, designed to modernize the Massapequa Station at Sunrise Highway (Route 27), just east of Broadway and Route 107, was announced by the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Long Island Railroad. The station renovations are part of a multi-phase initiative to improve infrastructure and train service at the station that serves approximately 6,000 customers every weekday.

The first phase is scheduled to begin on May 29, and the improvements are scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2015. Over the next two years, the rehabilitation project will include the sorely needed replacement of the station platform and canopy, heated platform waiting room, escalator, elevator and staircases, pedestrian walkway over Broadway, public address system, plus the addition of signage, energy-efficient platform lighting, and a decorative granite wall adjacent to ticket office. The railroad is also starting work on the installation of a pocket track just east of the station that will significantly improve train service and frequency, as well as on-board seat availability.

Sports

USTA Honors Michelle Carnovale At Annual Dinner

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Michelle Carnovale is presented with the award by Daniel Burgess, president, U.S. Tennis Association Long Island. The U.S. Tennis Association Long Island Region has recognized Michelle Carnovale of Massapequa for her tennis playing in 2012. Michelle was honored for her ranking in the Girls’ 14s on Long Island.

With more than 9,000 members, the Region promotes the growth and development of Long Island tennis and supports USTA programs including Jr. Team Tennis, National Junior Tennis and Learning, High School Tennis, College Tennis, USTA 10 and Under Tennis, USTA League Tennis, and community tennis.

The volunteer-based Board of Directors works with USTA members to create programs and activities for all the tennis players on Long Island, from small children to seniors. For more information, visit www.longisland.usta.com or email ustaonlongisland@gmail.com.

Massapequa Observer A’s Clinch Division Title

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Massapequa Observer A’s clinching title against second place Yankees. Last Wednesday the Massapequa Observer A’s had a come-from-behind victory 5-2 over the Trial Lawyer Mets, powered by key hits from Ray Anzelone, Michael Grisanti, and Jason Kopp. Evan “Mariano” Barrow came in again with no outs and the bases loaded to pick up the save.

On Saturday, the Observer A’s beat the Kleer Fax Yankees 4-2. The A’s were down 1-0 into the 4th inning due to an RBI single by Ross Mitton of the Yankees. Anthony Patullo drove in two runs with an RBI triple to give the A’s a 2-1 lead. This was followed by Brendan Castonguay driving in two runs with a double to make the score 4-1. Patullo pitched three solid innings in the start with Castonguay pitching the final three innings for the win.