All Hands On Deck For North Hempstead

Supervisor profiles towns’ storm solutions and preparedness

Long Island was hit in 2011 with a hurricane, dubbed Irene. One year later, her distant cousin, Sandy smacked the Northeast, wreaking havoc on parts of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. The island dealt with high winds, downed trees and wires as well as floods that changed the face of the south shore.

The Town of North Hempstead, specifically the heavily wooded areas, had trees that were nearly 70 years old, ripped from their roots and plunged into homes and street corners. In a conference call with reporters, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman detailed municipal initiatives in place to help residents and updated certain areas of concern like road clearance and the Nor’easter that was expected to hit the area this week.

Election Results

(Unofficial Results)
* winner

U.S. President:
* Barack Obama (D)
Mitt Romney (R)

The Birth Of A Question

Presidential debate questioner, Mineola worker talks about Libya, Debate 2012 and whom he may vote for

One question, depending on its thoroughness, weight and response could make or break the person who answers it. Whether it’s during a press conference on a drug bust, while standing in line at the supermarket or in front of millions of people on television, a question can create something.

Kerry Ladka knew the importance of a question, and when his name was called he was ready, but after the response, he wanted to know more…much more.

East Williston Looking For Other Water Suppliers

Neighboring villages among reported choices

The Village of East Williston announced during its Oct. 15 board of trustees meeting that in light of ongoing struggles with Williston Park over water rates, the village is actively looking for another water supplier.

The village has been in contact with the Albertson Water District, Village of Mineola, Old Westbury and Carle Place, holding discussions on each possibly supplying the village with 25 percent of their water. Neither of the alternative municipalities have enough water to be the village’s only provider.

Community Council Hosts Meet The Candidates Night

Assembly, senate and judicial incumbents, hopefuls address questions at forum

(Editor’s note – More information regarding the candidates mentioned in this article will appear in the upcoming Anton Community Newspapers’ Voter’s Guide, which will be published Oct. 26.) 

The Hicksville Community Council held a meet the candidates forum on Thursday evening, Oct. 4 at the Hicksville Community Center on West Carl Street that provided residents an opportunity to see who could be representing them in several different political positions come November.

Sparks Fly In The Debate Arena

Town hall format and Obama’s performance finds president rebounding in the polls

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, Hofstra University was the site for the second of three debates between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. Hofstra had also hosted a debate between then-Democratic nominee Obama and GOP nominee Sen. John McCain back in 2008, making the school just the second university to host consecutive presidential debates. (St. Louis’ Washington University was the other.)

With Romney scoring what many considered an upset victory over Obama’s decidedly lackluster performance in the first debate, this follow-up was going to be a “deal maker or breaker in this campaign,” according to political pundit Chris Matthews, who spoke at Hofstra the prior week. Shortly after moderator Candy Crowley took the stage at 9 p.m., it was clear both candidates were prepared to come out swinging, making for a lively hour and a half that found roughly 65 million viewers tuning in to the town hall-style debate, according to the Nielsen Ratings.

Court Upholds Mineola’s 7-Eleven Denial

Convenience store giant has 30 days to appeal decision

The New York State Supreme Court struck down a motion filed by 7-Eleven against the Village of Mineola, temporarily ending a battle that’s been waged since the Slurpee goliath proposed building a store on East Jericho Turnpike last October.  Garden City-based Amato Law Group (ALG) represents the convenience store and has 30 days to appeal the ruling.

7-Eleven felt the village board reached its decision based solely on local constituent outcry, rather than evidence and findings presented to the board at public hearings. Mineola denied the store’s application on March 14.

MFD Responds to Ellsworth Avenue House Fire

The Mineola Fire Department was alerted for a reported house fire on Ellsworth Avenue on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 12:28 p.m. Dispatchers reported of multiple calls confirming that this was a working house fire.  Arriving firefighters would come to recognize the involved structure as the home of one of their own, a decorated ex-chief of the Mineola Fire Department.

As Ladder 165 arrived on the scene, Lt. Carl T. Nunziata notified Firecom of the fire and also requested LIPA to go to the scene for live wires down in front of the house. Fire was engulfing the entire west side of the house as heavy smoke enveloped the neighborhood, officials said. Engine 162 arrived on scene and ex-captain Tom O’Brien manned the pump. Ex-captain Joe Neves, trustee/ firefighter Paul Cusato and firefighter Chris Goncalves stretched a supply line to the hydrant.  Firefighters Michael Scala, Danny Maghalaes, Kevin Nicoll and Eric O’Brien stretched an attack line toward the home.  

Bids Come Pouring In For Flood Project

Bruce Terrace construction bids come in for Mineola, North Hempstead

The Mineola and North Hempstead portions of the Bruce Terrace Flood Remediation project, a plan addressing flood issues in Mineola and Carle Place, have found contractors to redo drainage systems to handle flood waters. The town awarded its bid to Deer Park-based Tri-State Paving LLC on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

The town’s portion of the project encompasses drainage improvements, including installation of new catch basins and pipes on three to four streets near the border of Mineola and Carle Place. A recharge basin would be built on Mineola land located north of Westbury Avenue near Glen Cove Road.

Superintendents Join To Restore Youth Service Programs

Long Island school district leaders call on Nassau County to restore $8 million in funding

Local school district superintendents on Tuesday, Oct. 2 called on Nassau County to restore youth and family programs that were cut or eliminated from the county budget on July 5. Representatives from Elmont, Great Neck, Long Beach, Massapequa, Mineola, Uniondale and Westbury protested the decision to slash nearly $8 million in program funding that went to counseling, tutoring, crisis intervention, after school programs, among other areas.

These programs were the victim of the ongoing tug-of-war between party lines in the county concerning borrowing and redistricting. Organizations across Nassau County, like the Gateway Youth Outreach in Elmont and Mineola Youth and Family Services in Mineola were blindsided when the cut came down three months ago.