Republican Legislators Protest Energy Tax

Say It’s Unfair, Call for Repeal

Armed with petitions containing over 50,000 signatures of Nassau County residents, the Republican caucus of the Nassau County Legislature, led by Minority Leader Peter Schmitt, plans on calling for the repeal of the Home Energy Tax, which is being imposed on consumers to help the county close a budget deficit, if Republicans are successful in reclaiming the Nassau County Legislature on Election Day this November.

Elected Officials Announce Facelift for Hempstead Turnpike

Grant to Beautify Area Across From Belmont Racetrack

Elected officials who represent the Elmont area joined with a representative for Governor David Paterson to announce a $2.4 million grant to revitalize a portion of Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont.

The $2.412 million Restore New York III grant is being issued
 through the New York Empire State Development Corporation. The funds will be utilized to beautify storefronts and walkways along Hempstead Turnpike, across from Belmont Racetrack.

Getting Prepared for the Swine Flu

School Districts Taking Precautions

The start of a new school year can bring excitement as well as anxiety, but this school year, it is also bringing a concern over the possibility of students and staff contracting the H1N1 or “Swine Flu” virus.

The swine flu took hold during the last school year and it remains a possibility that people will contract the virus during this school year. The West Hempstead School District has posted information regarding the H1N1 virus on its website, www.westhempstead.k12.ny.us.

Hempstead Town Sets Date for Lighthouse Project Zoning Hearing

Hearing Will Be Held September 22 at Hofstra

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray has announced that she will call upon the Hempstead Town Board to schedule a much-anticipated public zoning hearing on the proposed Lighthouse Project on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The hearing will focus around the Lighthouse Group’s plan to refurbish the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and redevelop the 150 acres surrounding the aging arena.

County Executive Encourages Residents to Prepare for H1N1

H1N1 Flu Shot Ready in October

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, joined by county, village, school and health officials, announced the county has purchased refrigerators to store H1N1 vaccines, expected to be released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in October.

The county expects to receive enough vaccines for residents who fall into the “high-risk” category: pregnant women, children between the ages of six months and 24 years, individuals between the ages of 25 and 64 years with underlying health conditions, household contacts and caregivers of infants under the age of six months, health care workers and emergency medical personnel. Suozzi reminded residents to take the necessary precautions to remain healthy as schools open and the flu season kicks in.

Department of Social Services Opens Second Drop-Off Location

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi announced that the Nassau County Department of Social Services opened its second document drop-off out station at the Nassau University Medical Center’s Elmont Health Center, located at 161 Hempstead Turnpike on August 10.

“The downturn in the economy has severely impacted many residents of Nassau County,” said Suozzi. “More people are finding themselves in need of services, which have contributed to the increase in the number of visitors coming to the Health and Human Services Center located at 60 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in Uniondale. Creating a second document drop-off out station in Elmont gives people the option of going to a nearby office in order to drop off documents which saves them time and reduces travel to Uniondale.”   

Nassau County Plans on Holding 9/11 Ceremony on September 9

Nassau County is planning on holding a candlelight ceremony to remember the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The ceremony is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in Eisenhower Park Parking Field #6.

Nassau County’s 9/11 Memorial is located near the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, also near Parking Field #6. The monument features a wall with the names of the 344 Nassau residents who died in the World Trade Center and on Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville, PA.

Martins Kaye Elected to BOCES Board

Martin R. Kaye of West Hempstead was sworn in as the newest member of the Nassau BOCES Board during its Aug. 6 meeting. He won the majority of votes cast by Nassau County school boards during a special election held in July to fill the seat left vacant by the death of board vice president Iris Wolfson.

“I will do my utmost to fulfill your faith in me,” Kaye said immediately following the swearing in.

Nassau County Approves Streetscape Project for Elmont Area

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi announced plans for a major streetscape project to take place in the Elmont area. The project includes $1.9 million of additional capital funds to be allocated toward revamping Giglio Plaza and approximately one mile of Elmont Road and Dutch Broadway.

“I am pleased to announce the county will be helping to improve the quality of life for Elmont residents through this streetscape project,” said Suozzi. “The county has been working with Elmont residents in developing a visioning plan and this project is in line with the desires of the community. It will improve aesthetics and make more pedestrian-friendly some of the most commonly used roadways in Elmont.”

Wang and Supporters Say ‘Just Build It’

Support for Project Expressed at Town of Hempstead Hearing

In the movie Field of Dreams, based on the book Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella, a voice whispered to farmer Ray Kinsella, “If you build it, he will come.” “It” referred to a baseball field. In Nassau County, the “it” people are talking about these days is the Lighthouse Project, a proposed $3.7 billion project that will renovate the section of Nassau County, where the Nassau Coliseum is located. If it is built, people will not have to come; they are already there.