Superintendent’s Column - My Report Cards

As the first set of report cards is being readied by the teachers to be sent home, I thought it might be useful for my administration to follow a similar pattern of reporting. Every few months I intend to review what’s happening in the School District and to provide residents with an update on programs and initiatives that we’re working on. The following is my first “progress report” from the beginning of the school year.

From the Desk of Senator Craig Johnson - November 20, 2009

Johnson Announces Passage Of Legislation to Help Local Governments Reduce Costs   

Legislation that would help reduce costs for local governments passed the state Senate during last week’s extraordinary session, Senator Craig M. Johnson, (D-Nassau), announced.

The measure would allow municipalities to save money on health insurance, highway maintenance, staffing, procurement, and financing.

“This is good legislation that will help contain costs and ease tax-hiking unfunded mandates on municipalities,” Senator Johnson said. “It is my hope that this will be the first of several significant steps we take to help local governments reign in spending and reduce the burden to property taxpayers.”

Letter: Protect Nassau County Parks

As of this writing there has been a major change in the county legislature and the race for the county executive is still in doubt. We feel a key ingredient in these results is the public’s disenchantment with the privatization and misuse of the county park system. Are there other factors at work? Of course, but few issues strike with as much impact as open space, parks and preserves.

Letter: Protect Nassau County Parks

As of this writing there has been a major change in the county legislature and the race for the county executive is still in doubt. We feel a key ingredient in these results is the public’s disenchantment with the privatization and misuse of the county park system. Are there other factors at work? Of course, but few issues strike with as much impact as open space, parks and preserves.

Letter: Gross Says Thanks

Since becoming North Hempstead’s Town Clerk in April of 2007, I have come to appreciate the many responsibilities of the office — from Licensing Officer, Registrar of Vital Statistics, Recording Secretary to the Town Board, Records Management Officer, and Marriage Officer, as well as the initiator and manager of many annual public events. Thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve as your Town Clerk for another four years.

Leslie Gross

Deputy Town Clerk

 

What Do You Know About Herricks? - November 6, 2009

The Bloody Hollow Mystery, Part II:

Europeans made homes in the Herricks area 365 years ago. Over that long a period of time, some unpleasant things are bound to happen anywhere. Over the generations, notorious incidents and acts mount up. Herricks was the site of quite a few hangings on and near the grounds of the Queens County Courthouse. William Valentine was murdered in his barn during a 1785 robbery attempt, and his killer was never found. But while these and other bloody events occurred near the little valley on the south side of the High School, they didn’t happen in it. There is also strong evidence that the name “Bloody Hollow” was not in common use until the 20th century. So why did it get that colorful name?

What Every Long Islander Should Know

Hard Truths About Our Schools

Two studies were released this past month that should give Long Islanders a reality check on how we are educating our children. One provides data on student achievement, the other a close-up of five Long Island school districts.

The close-up study, conducted for The Long Island Index by Columbia University’s Teachers College, examined one wealthy, almost all-white district; one poor, minority district; and three districts with greater diversity. What the researchers found was vast inequity in education systems: in terms of teachers, academic programs, student support, and more.

From Sustainable Long Island - October 30, 2009

Housing Alternatives Would Benefit All

Housing on Long Island represents a microcosm of all the problems Long Island needs to address – from economic and social equity, smart growth, zoning challenges, and how to make fragmented government work better, inspire community action, and ensure that opportunity is more fairly distributed and readily accessible.

Long Island is made up of two highly distinguishable sets of communities. Among the dissimilarities, communities that have thriving, walkable downtowns with built-in economic opportunities, transportation options, financial services, medical care and pharmacies and a high quality of life, and communities that instead have vacant storefronts, safety challenges, or nothing at all; communities whose children learn and grow at highly reputable schools and those whose children attend schools that regularly receive negative media attention and require state intervention; communities with parks and beaches and communities with an overabundance of brownfields; communities with supermarkets and farmers markets and communities with nothing but junk-food delis; and communities with few housing options and communities with excessive designated affordable housing.

Out & About

Trata is finally open and it looks like it will be a hit! With locations in the city and the Hamptons, this fresh fish eatery promises to have a hopping bar scene as well. The beautifully redone space in the old Buonogusto has a great bar lounge and a casually chic dining area. The Village of Roslyn could use a great nightspot in the center of town. Greek Mediterranean is increasingly popular for good reason: It’s fresh, and low caloric as evidenced by the gorgeously effervescent Limani on Northern Boulevard. It’s a bit more formal: Take a group and share the entrees. During the long gray days of autumn, when the air gets chillier and the nights seem to go on forever, it’s a place that will lift your spirit.

From the Desk of Senator Craig Johnson - October 16, 2009

Hearing on State’s Non-Collection of Indian Cigarette Taxes Set for Oct. 27

The Senate Standing Committee on Investigations & Government Operations will be holding a hearing on the state’s inability to collect taxes from cigarettes sold to Non-native Americans that originate from Indian Reservations Oct. 27 at Manhattan Community College, the committee’s chairman, Senator Craig M. Johnson announced.

The hearing will begin 10:30 a.m. at the college’s Richard Harris Terrace Building, 199 Chambers St., New York.