Bids For Bruce Terrace Flood Project Up For Grabs

Construction phase to start once bids accepted for Mineola, Carle Place, Nassau County project components

What began as an idea culminated into a plan. The plan became a project, which has seen more ups and downs than, during heavy downpours, the rain-flooded streets it will affect.

Residents on the border of Mineola and Carle Place near Bruce Terrace and Fairfield Avenue have had hopes of dry streets for decades. Three municipalities have been working out the kinks to get a flood remediation plan on track. Actual construction work is just over the horizon.

East Williston, DeJana Discuss Sanitation Concerns

Village continues to negotiate with Williston Park over water rates

Two representatives from DeJana Industries, a sanitation company for the Village of East Williston attended the board of trustees meeting on Monday, July 9.  This follows their unintentional absence from the board’s meeting last month, in which the trustees were expecting them due to complaints from residents toward their services.

DeJana Executive Vice President Bill Wynperle explained that he came down with the flu in June and while he notified his assistant to inform the board, his assistant was out sick as well. Joined by Director of Business Development for DeJana John Mangano, they heard the boards concerns, which have started to affect Mayor of East Williston David Tanner directly.

Willis Avenue School Lease Finalized

Harbor Child Care to open in September

The last puzzle piece of the Mineola School District’s reconfiguration plan after years of debate, planning and implementation is in the home stretch.

The Mineola School Board of Education approved the lease of the Willis Avenue School to Herricks-based Harbor Child Care on July 5. Dissimilar to the Cross Street School lease to Solomon Schechter Day School, a K-through 12 institution, Willis Avenue will be leased to a day care center, which caters to children from 12 weeks to 12 years of age.

Concert And Fireworks Light Up Memorial Park

Mineola residents enjoy a night of music and entertainment

While the July 4th festivities may have been over for many after the patriotic holiday came to an end, Mineola residents decided to continue to celebrate just a few days later. On July 6, members of the community were treated to a free concert followed by the July 4th tradition of a fireworks spectacular at Memorial Park.

Mineola Mayor Scott Straus, president of the Habitat for Humanity of Nassau County Kay McKiernan and crowds composed of all ages were there to enjoy the night.

EPA Searching For Toxic Plumes In Mineola

Agency says it originated in New Hyde Park, water supplies for both villages not in danger

The Environmental Protection Agency is currently trying to locate a toxic plume of trichloroethylene (TCE) in Mineola, which originated in New Hyde Park. EPA reps indicated that the water supplies to Mineola, New Hyde Park and the surrounding areas have not been affected.

Project manager Kevin Willis said investigators for the agency would begin drilling holes east of Herricks Road into the month of July. He revealed that the plume was first located near Gold’s Gym on Fulton Avenue in Garden City Park.

North Hempstead Town Attorney Stepping Down In July

Since 2004, North Hempstead Town Attorney Richard Finkel has managed the town’s legal affairs, astutely representing the municipality in a variety of capacities from negotiating collective bargaining agreements to successfully suing Nassau County to repay more than $1 million in community college enrollment charge-backs.

Come July, however, Finkel, the town’s lead counsel and a fixture at every town board meeting, will be practicing in the private sector when he joins the Garden City offices of Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC as Senior Counsel. His practice will focus on labor and employment, municipal law, and land use and zoning.

John McGrath Attends His Final School Board Meeting

Trustee ends 13-year stay on Mineola School Board, Artie Barnett to be sworn in July 5

It’s been 13 years since the New York Knicks played in the NBA finals, a baker’s dozen since Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace premiered in movie theaters and 13 years since John McGrath first sat down in a seat behind the Mustang-red banner, reading, “Mineola Board of Education.”

As the Bob Dylan song goes, “The times, they are a-changin’.”

Apartment Complex Hearing Adjourned Until August

Public hearing set for August 8 on old Keyspan property rental possibilities

Mineola Properties (MP) LLC requested an adjournment for a second public hearing on its plan to build a rental complex at 250 Old Country Road. Keyspan used to occupy the building.

The meeting would have taken place last week. The Mineola Village Board set Aug. 8 as the date of hearing the changes of MP’s plan. The building is located on the north side of Old Country Road, directly across from the Nassau Legislature and Executive Building on West Street.

Seventh Senate District Race Gains A Challenger

Democrat Daniel Ross to face-off with incumbent Jack Martins for state senate seat

A relatively unknown has surfaced, igniting a battle for New York’s  7th Senate District seat, five months before Election Day.

Instead of putting a known opponent on the Democratic ticket, the Nassau County Democratic Party nabbed Daniel Ross. Ross, an automobile sales manager who recently ran for commissioner of the Manhasset-Lakeville Water and Fire District, will oppose Senator Jack Martins in the November election. Ross lost the race for commissioner last year to Andrew DeMartin.

Residents Splash Into Summer

John S. DaVanzo Community Pool Officially opens for its 51st year

The time is here again. The John S. DaVanzo Community Pool reopened for the summer on Saturday, June 16. Many residents, trustees and pool staff members, as well as John DaVanzo and Mayor Scott Strauss, gathered to celebrate.

Upon officially opening the door for the upcoming summer season, Mayor Strauss asked to commemorate a dedicated member of the Mineola community and the founder of Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Core, Joseph DiGiorgio, with a moment of silence. He passed away on June 13 at 90 years young.