East Williston Superintendent’s Resignation Effective July 31

Lorna Lewis tapped to head POB schools

Usually, when one door closes, another opens. For Dr. Lorna Lewis, it’s walking out of one school district and into another one…a much bigger one.

Lewis was appointed superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage (POB) School District on April 2. The former East Williston (EW) School District helmsman will take over the 4,900-student POB district in August. East Williston enrolls approximately 1,800 students.

McGrath to Seek Re-Election for Mineola School Board

Artie Barnett vying for one of two open seats

School election and budget votes are more than one month away, but that doesn’t stop barbs from being traded among incumbents and challengers.

Mineola School District Board of Education Trustee John McGrath last week responded to recent comments made by school board candidate Artie Barnett. The two seats up for election for next school year are McGrath’s and board president Christine Napolitano. He and Napolitano said they would seek re-election.

Uncle Louie G Sets Sites On Mineola Boulevard

Ices/ice cream shop to open April 6

Uncle Louie G’s reach spans a continent and now Mineola is lucky to fall within that reach. “Feel like a kid again” is his motto and serving delicious treats to kids and that little “kid” in every adult.

Mineola residents John and Lisa Sandler of JTS & JBS Corp. will open an Uncle Louie G’s ices and ice cream store at 254 Mineola Boulevard. Cartridge World previously called that corner near Washington Avenue home.

Mineola Village Board Rejects 7-Eleven Proposal

Mineola cites traffic conditions, resident impact as reasons for denial

Déjà vu anyone? Mineola officials may be suffering a case of it.

The last time the board of trustees denied 7-Eleven Inc. the chance to plant its flag in the village, court proceedings ensued en route to the store finally opening on the corner of Mineola Boulevard and Jericho Turnpike.

NIFA Mandates County Pay Freeze

Marlin criticizes proposed sewage deal

For the second consecutive year, Nassau County workers will have their wages frozen.

The Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) made the announcement last week, citing a possible budget deficit this year of up to $100 million.

County Executive Edward Mangano praised the decision as a “stabilizing” force in the budget process. 

Is New York State Over-Assessing Assessments?

Mineola School District officials discuss Albany meetings on teacher, test evaluations

Mineola School District officials have been in Albany hammering out what could impact local districts that implement new state exams in the coming years, District Superintendent Michael Nagler revealed. Assistant superintendent Patricia Burns spent the first three days of last week in the State Capitol in meetings with state officials to discuss the approach on new testing techniques.

“The state is in a constant state of flux about the new assessments and this new APPR [Annual Professional Performance Review],” Nagler said. “It’s amazing when [Pat and] I have conversations when she comes back and how it changes from meeting to meeting and some of the thought process.”

State of the County: Mangano Warns of 13 Percent Tax Jump

Abrahams: Property tax hike is nothing more than a scare tactic

If you think government is a bit bloated these days, it has just been put on a strict “diet,” according to Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, who delivered his official State of the County address on Wed., March 14, at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

During the speech, Mangano touted his administration’s accomplishments and equally stressed the challenge of dealing with the county’s ever-increasing property taxes, warning of a potential 13-percent property-tax hike in the future.

Home Stretch for Bruce Terrace Flood Issues?

Mineola drafts agreement with North Hempstead, awaits data from town engineers

Bruce Terrace hopes for dry streets and Mineola waits with bated breath. Whether or not the call is answered and storm water runoff remains manageable is up for discussion.

The Bruce Terrace flood project came to fruition after decades of flood mitigation problems in what’s considered the lowest part of the village. Since homes were built 60 years ago, in the area of and on Bruce Terrace on the border of Mineola and Carle Place, flooding has ensued during times of heavy rainfall. The area around Bruce Terrace is essentially the funnel of all the rainfall because of flow and gravity issues.

MJFD 16th Annual Pasta Dinner

Residents come out in droves for pasta galore at Community Center

The Mineola Junior Fire Department held its 16th annual Pasta Dinner fundraiser at Village Hall this past Sunday. Inside the Mineola Fire Department, the junior fire fighters served endless pasta, salad and dessert to those in attendance. The food was catered by La Parma, Churrasqueira Bairrada, and included the over 3,000 meatballs supplied by Piccola Bussola.

Along with the dinner, there was a Chinese and a silent auction. The prizes included elaborate gift baskets all donated by the department’s families and friends. The money raised from the dinner and auction is used for the junior fire department’s events throughout the year, including their training, equipment, trips, and their donations to other organizations.

Mineola SD Presents First Draft of 2012-13 School Budget

No cuts in program, tax levy increase cannot exceed 1.93 percent

It’s that time of the year again; only now, there’s a cap on what can be done. School districts are in the mad dash to get under the inaugural 2 percent tax cap enacted by New York State. Mineola pulled out of the starting gate March 1.

Finance superintendent Jack Waters presented the first draft of the 2012-2013 school district budget at last week’s workshop meeting. Preliminary figures suggested that the Mineola School District could not exceed a 1.93 percent tax levy increase next year.