Nassau Democrats Unanimously Elect Abrahams As Their New Leader 

Recounts in 14th and 18th Districts To Determine Majority in Legislature

The Nassau Democrats, on Nov. 14, unanimously elected Kevan Abrahams (LD1) as the leader of the Democratic Caucus in the Legislature. After serving the areas of Uniondale, Roosevelt, Hempstead and Baldwin for nearly a decade, Abrahams will lead the Democrats in the Nassau County Legislature. Abrahams will be the first African American leader from either party in Nassau County.

The Nassau County Democratic Committee stated, “When first elected through a special election in 2002, Abrahams became the youngest legislator ever elected in Nassau County. Since taking office, he has taken on issues such as Nassau’s spiraling property taxes and more recently, Abrahams took the lead on pushing back the Republican power grab of drawing new legislative lines that would have diminished minority and Jewish representation in the Nassau County Legislature. The Republicans’ redistricting plan was deemed illegal by the New York State Court of Appeals in August.”

Four More Years…For NIFA Takeover?

After election, Nassau taxpayers and workers await news on mass layoffs, precinct closings, extended ‘control period’

After going so far as initiating a lawsuit last year to avoid a takeover of Nassau County finances by the fiscal watchdog NIFA, County Executive Edward P. Mangano is now submitting a multi-year financial plan to that group seeking four more years of the “control period” that gives it authority over Nassau’s books.

Included in the plan is Mangano’s $2.6 billion budget for 2012 - approved by the Republican majority in the Legislature on Oct. 30 and currently sitting with NIFA for approval - which has left some glaring questions that many hope will be answered now that Election Day is over. These include, an announcement on which two Nassau County Police precincts will be closed, what the future of Long Island Bus will be, and whether $150 million in labor savings will come from union “concessions” or in the form of a massive decimation of the county workforce.

Carey High School Jazz Jams for Diabetes

On a brisk, overcast fall morning, members of the H. Frank Carey High School Jazz Ensemble brought sunshine to a crowd of thousands. On Sunday, Oct. 23, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International held its annual Walk to Cure Diabetes in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens. JDRF wanted a musical act to get the participants fired up for the walk, and the Carey Jazz Ensemble delivered. The students and their director, Hope Bagley, played jazz standards and rock covers for the crowd, which was comprised of corporate and personal teams from around the New York metro area.

Elmont Fights Through Snow, Falls to Wantagh

Elmont High School Homecoming parade cancelled due to snowstorm

Decades from now, Elmont residents will likely still remember “the Homecoming Snow Bowl of 2011.”

The Spartans (5-3) valiantly fought through a wintry mix of freezing rain, ice pellets, snow and a game-time temperature of 31 degrees to carry on with their regularly scheduled Oct. 29 football game, but the weather would ultimately take its toll in a 21-8 loss to the Wantagh Warriors (7-1).

Franklin Square Horror House

The Franklin Square Horror House was in full swing on Halloween this past Monday, Oct. 31. Located on Norbay Street in Franklin Square, this Franklin Square horror was a real “fright” to see.

Detroit Developers Discuss Proposal for Belmont Racetrack

Renderings of casino displayed for local businesses

Belmont Racetrack has played host to events as large as third-leg of the Triple Crown and as small, but still of importance, as 5K charity walk/runs. If a Detroit-based hotel/casino resort development company has its way, the corridor of Elmont and a “gateway” to the rest of Long Island, will go through a considerable change.

Developer Michael Malik presented renderings of a preliminary plan to the Elmont Chamber of Commerce last Thursday, Oct. 20. Malik’s colleagues Michael McKeon, Lance Boldrey and former Hawaii Governor John Waihee accompanied him.

Town’s Bravest Honored at Firematic Award Ceremony

Twenty-four local fire members honored for their service

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and the Hempstead board honored Honorary Chief Vincent Focazio, Sr. of Elmont Fire Department, Firefighter Matt Taylor, Firefighter Connor Geraghty, and Firefighter Kevin Rugg of the Hempstead Fire Department, Lakeview Fire Department’s Ex-Chief Michael Joyce, Ex-Captain Eugene O’Brien II of the Valley Stream Fire Department, and West Hempstead Fire Department’s 1st Assistant Chief Jason LaCombe, who were among the 24 volunteer firefighters from surrounding departments at a ceremony, on Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Nathan L.H. Bennett Pavilion at the Town Hall in Hempstead.

3rd District County Legislature Candidates

Anton Newspapers asked Republican incumbent John Ciotti and Democratic challenger Carrie Solages to respond to the following questions

John Ciotti

How should the county solve its budget crisis? Should the police unions and the Civil Service Employees Association make contract concessions? Should county services be cut? Should there be a tax increase? Should the County eliminate its guarantee to refund other taxing districts’ (including school districts) share of property taxes paid in error due to County assessment errors?

Race for Town of Hempstead Council District 2

Anton Newspapers asked Republican incumbent Edward Ambrosino and Democratic challenger Patricia Locurcio to respond to the following questions

(Editor’s Note: Democratic Challenger Patricia Locurcio did not respond.)

Edward Ambrosino

1. What type of development would you like to see for the county’s 77-acres known as the “Hub,” including the Coliseum?

Everyone speaks about the mass exodus of our next generation. We also talk at length about creating “jobs.” There is a common solution to both issues. In order to sustain our economy and attract new young talent to Long Island, we must create sustainable jobs with potential for expansion and growth. The HUB is a perfect site to do that. I would like to see a corporate research and development facility that leverages the academic capital of Hofstra University, Adelphi University, Nassau Community College and surrounding Institutions such as Stony Brook. In a development similar to Reston, Virginia, the plan would include residential apartments and retail to support the workers of the R & D facility. The Research and Development Facility would be a joint effort between national, multinational corporations and academic institutions that would generate intellectual property to be allocated to the various participants. This development would create real jobs and ideas that would encourage people to move here and would result in the injection of capital to support our future growth.

Two Franklin Square Girl Scouts Collaborate on Book

Two Girl Scouts, Kiera Grassi and Hannah Mutum, of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently teamed up with Franklin Square’s historian, Paul van Wie, PhD, for their Gold Award project to create a new pictorial history book on Franklin Square. Franklin Square is the newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular “Images of America” series and has more than 200 vintage postcards and memories of the past.

“We are so proud of Kiera and Hannah for the hard work they have accomplished for their Gold Award project,” said Donna Ceravolo, executive director of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “We never expected that our Gold Award recipients would be published authors and we couldn’t be happier for these girls for achieving this accomplishment.”