PBA Officials State Their Case Against Plan for Nassau Precincts

Say stationhouse necessities for combating crime are at risk

On the eve of a vote that could shut down four police precincts in Nassau County and convert them to community policing centers, officers with the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) once again presented their case against the proposal.

In a meeting with editors of Anton Community Newspapers, PBA President James Carver and his associates claimed that the proposed closures would result in less services at the community centers than what existed at precinct stationhouses. They also disputed claims made by Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Dale that crime has decreased in Nassau County and in general, they made the case that precinct stationhouses are essential to combating crime and performing needed services.

County Launches Film Advisory Board

Nassau is already a popular destination for the filming of movies and television shows. The movies, SALT and Man on a Ledge were both largely shot in Nassau County as were some of the scenes from The Good Shepherd. In addition USA’s Royal Pains and Fox’s Running Wilde are filmed around Nassau as are scenes from movies and television shows including The Good Wife, Unforgettable, Person of Interest, the Smurfs Movie, Arthur, White Collar, Gossip Girl, Boardwalk Empire, Wall Street II, Win-Win, Rescue Me, and Dark Horse. Mangano is looking to further expand Nassau’s presence in the filmmaking industry.

Two SHS Students Selected as U.S. Presidential Candidates

The Syosset Central School District announced that two Syosset High School students, Sida Chen and Daniel Chui, have been selected as candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program. Scholars are chosen based on outstanding academic success, artistic excellence, leadership, and involvement in school and the community.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program serves to recognize and honor the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, 3,000 candidates are named based on broad academic achievement and SAT and ACT scores.

Debate Continues on Precinct Closings

Legislators discuss public safety issues

An overflow audience packed into the Nassau County Legislative chambers on Monday, Feb.13 as that body held a public hearing on a proposal to close four police precincts in the county and transform them into community policing centers.

The hearing focused on public safety issues. It featured a long presentation by Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Dale who maintained that the plan would not compromise public safety, while noting that certain usages of advanced technologies have helped to reduce crime in the county.

Dale said the consolidation would result in a “more effective and efficient” police department, while also addressing the county’s budget situation. The precincts in question are the First, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Precincts.

Jericho School Board Honors Local Students

Board provides budget updates on curriculum, instruction, technology and transportation categories

The Jericho Board of Education opened its Feb. 8 meeting by honoring over a dozen local students who excelled in academic competitions this year.

Jericho High School students Christopher Yao, Varsha Venkatesh, Aaron Roh, David Roh and Sharon Song were honored as Lexus Eco Challenge Winners. Teacher advisor Serena McCalla and her team reached more than 19,000 people in their efforts to spread awareness about the relationship between air pollution and lung cancer. The students spoke to school and community audiences about limiting fossil fuel use, held fund-raising events and earned $10,000 and donated $1,000 for lung cancer research, and conducted high-level, elaborate research on alternative biodiesels.

Also honored at the meeting were Intel STS competition semifinalists Anirudh Chandrashekar, Jill Dolowich, April Pun, Sagar Rambhia, Anuja Shah and Christina Kim.

Lawmakers Seek Reductions in MTA Payroll Tax

Two pieces of proposed legislation to exempt villages, towns, counties, libraries from the tax

Numerous Long Island lawmakers, joined by both the Nassau and Suffolk County Executives, plus Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos were out in force last Friday, calling for further reductions in the MTA payroll tax.

The press conference, held at the Nassau County Executive & Legislative Building, introduced state legislation (S-6206), one co-authored by State Senators Jack Martins (R-Mineola) and Lee Zeldin (R,C,I-Shirley). The bill would exempt villages, towns, and counties in New York State from the MTA payroll tax. Municipalities in New York State, both lawmakers said, currently pay a .34 percent tax per $100 of payroll to pay for the MTA.

“Property taxpayers paying for village, town and county services should not have their hard-earned tax dollars diverted to subsidize the MTA through this payroll tax,” Senator Martins said. “We need to alleviate some of the burdens placed on our local governments. This legislation does that and the result will be relief for our taxpayers, something we desperately need.”

Jericho BOE Discusses Tax Cap, Budget Vote

Superintendent Grishman urges community to attend next Budget Workshop session

The Jericho Board of Education (BOE), along with dozens of other districts across Long Island, is facing the difficult task of passing the 2012-13 school budget despite New York State’s new two percent property tax cap.

The cap, which was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo in June, limits the increase in property taxes each year for school districts and local municipalities to just two percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower, excluding certain exemptions. What will all this mean for Jericho residents as they prepare to vote on their local school budget in May 2012?

For starters, there will be new terminology to understand and new ways that schools will have to present budget information in conjunction with this law. One thing seems certain- the new tax cap legislation is likely to complicate the struggle to find meaningful tax relief and to sustain world-class schools.

Schumer Pledges Support for Nassau Fire Departments

Calls on FEMA to approve grant for emergency radio upgrades

United States Senator Charles E. Schumer was given a warm welcome when he visited the Village of Floral Park Fire Department Headquarters on Monday, Jan. 27. Schumer revealed to a small crowd that more than 70 Nassau County fire departments and seven volunteer ambulance corps are facing major budget hikes in order to meet the year-end deadlines to upgrade existing radio equipment due to federal mandates.

Schumer had only the highest of praise for the volunteer firefighters who came from cities across Nassau County, including Stewart Manor, Garden City, Bellerose, New Hyde Park, Great Neck, Island Park, Valley Stream, East Williston, Port Washington, Bayville, Freeport, Wantagh, and Oceanside, Lakeview.

“As you know I care a lot about our firefighters; they are great people. Nassau County volunteer fire departments are among the best in the country,” Schumer said, adding, “They risk their lives, they don’t get paid to make us safe. It’s a great thing and everyone here in this county is blessed by the quality of the fire departments.”

Jericho High School Senior Named Intel Finalist

One of only 40 nationwide

Neil Mehta, a senior at Jericho High School was named a finalist in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search, which represents the nation’s most promising high school seniors with the greatest potential to solve pressing challenges in the world. Mehta is one of only 40 students nationwide to be named a finalist.

Mehta’s project, entitled “Co-restoration of Type III Nrg1 back signaling through depolarization: Implications for schizophrenia,” analyzed a mutation of the protein Type III Nrg1 statistically linked to schizophrenia, and how a novel tool in neurology called optogenetics, which uses light to depolarize cells, can be used to restore the defects present, ultimately implying a novel path for schizophrenia therapy.

“The idea for my project came from my Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2011 project, where I was actually partners with Savina Kim, another Intel Finalist this year from Commack,” said Mehta. “We looked at Type III Nrg1 effect on neuronal receptors. After reading, we both formed our own questions and interests, and conducted separate projects this past summer.”

Joshua Lafazan Running for Syosset School Board

Senior class president calls for major change in district function

This statement was submitted by the candidate:

“I am Josh Lafazan and I am running for the Syosset School Board of Education in the election on May 15th, 2012.  I am the current senior class president at Syosset High School, and I am the founder and CEO of Safe Ride Syosset, a community outreach program helping to keep Syosset students safe from alcohol and drug related driving dangers.  I will be attending Nassau Community College in the fall of 2012 and with the voting support of the Syosset citizenry, I intend to effect positive change from within the system.

“Please Google Joshua Lafazan or Safe Ride Syosset to learn about my commitment to making a difference in our community.  Many students have joined me in the fight to help keep our students and roads safe, but without leadership and direction there is no change.

“I intend to fill that void in our school district and be a fresh voice for the 21st century!