March 23 Hearing Scheduled On Improvements to Plainview Water District

Proposed improvements to the Plainview Water District will be the subject of a Tuesday, March 23, public hearing by the Oyster Bay Town Board, according to Town Councilwoman Rebecca M. Alesia.

Local Resident Overcomes Stuttering Problem

Now a Speech Pathologist Specializing in Helping Children

Lori Melnitsky-Fradkin, a graduate of Plainview Old Bethpage JFK High School, overcame a severe stuttering disorder and dealt with many obstacles when she was younger. Rather than letting her disability take over her life – she took over the disability.

Melnitsky-Fradkin is a speech pathologist who specializes in stuttering therapy and has a private practice in Plainview called All Island Speech Therapy and Rehabilitation. She started the business eight years ago to educate people that there is help available for someone who stutters.

Parenting Book Tackles the Teen Years

Years ago, former Plainview resident Ellen Pober Rittberg gave birth to three children all within a three-year time span. Such an experience gave her a unique perspective on parenting. Rittberg decided to parlay that into a book, 35 Things Your Teen Won’t Tell You, So I Will.

The book, published by Turner Publishing Company, is described as a “light-hearted, mini-manifesto of pragmatic parenting advice that teaches readers how to dig deep, survive and perhaps even crack the psyche of a hormonal, temperamental and ever-changing teen.” Rittberg’s three children—-Jay, Matt, and Kim—-were raised in Plainview. All three graduated from Plainview-Old Bethpage High School.

Jewish Genealogy Society Showcases Collection At POB Library

The Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island (JGSLI), which was founded in 1985 and dedicated to encouraging and assisting the pursuit of Jewish family history, meets in Plainview once a month from June through September. Their goal is to bring together people interested in tracing their Jewish family roots.

The meetings, according to JGSLI president Roda Miller, feature international and national guest speakers and are free to attend. Meetings begin with Mispocha Mavens, Hebrew for family experts, available to answer questions and offer advice for people to get personalized help with their genealogical research.

Serenity Garden Is Plainview’s Oasis

Once an overgrown, garbage-filled lot, the corner of Old Country and Central Park roads has been transformed by the Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce into an oasis of flowers, shrubbery, ornaments, whimsy and memories. That place is Serenity Garden.

LI Decentralization Grant For the Arts Awarded To Local Artist

Funds Used to Explore Forgiveness Through Poetry

The Huntington Arts Council, Inc. recently announced that Plainview artist Gayl Teller is the recipient of an award from the 2010 Long Island Decentralization Grants for the Arts Regrant Program. The grant is for “A Poetry of Forgiveness.” The awards for both Nassau and Suffolk counties were presented at a ceremony Friday, Feb. 26 at the Walt Whitman Birthplace in Melville.

Cultural Arts Playhouse Announces New Show

Plainview’s Cultural Arts Playhouse Center, Inc. was founded in 1995 by Bruce Grossman. Named by Long Island Press as Long Island’s 2007 Best Live Theaters, the Cultural Arts Playhouse is a year-round regional, off-off Broadway theatre that has produced over 500 productions including educational and touring shows.

Town Announces Return of Kids of Distinction Program

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, together with Kids Helping Kids by Kids Way, Inc. co-Founders Robert Eslick and Philip Eslick, recently announced that their co-sponsored Kids of Distinction program is returning for 2010.

Nassau County Declares War on Heroin

At Least Four Die a Month to Use, Officials Say

The last words from a 20-year-old resident came from a text message sent to his dealer. It read, “i’m diggin’ this —— my dude, best I had in a while. 4 real. Save my number, peace.” That was sent before he was found by his mother dead in the bathtub.

“That is how his life ended and that must stop,” said Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, who along with Nassau Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey, believe that heroin use has become a very serious problem in the county. The county executive and police commissioner declared war on the problem, which they said costs the lives of at least four residents a month due to addiction, on average.

State Announces Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program

Great Appliance Swap Out Ends This Weekend

Last year, residents were able to trade in their clunker and get a credit toward a new car in the government’s cash for clunkers program.

This time, the clunker program is focusing on appliances. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is eligible to receive $18.7 million to provide cash rebates to New York residents who purchase high-efficiency appliances.