Hempstead Town Holds Sunrise Memorial Service

‘Chain of Love’ Carries Legacy Of Victims

The Town of Hempstead held their annual remembrance service on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 a.m., at Town Park, Point Lookout. Year after year, the town invites residents to the place where hundreds first gathered to mark one fateful day in the nation’s history. Residents wrote messages and names of victims on a 35-foot mural of the New York City skyline, the “Heroes of 9/11 Panorama,” set beside a 15-foot-tall shadow box image of the fallen towers.

Approximately 1,500 participants were in attendance; many of them cast white carnations into a reflecting pool located at the base of a 30-foot steel remnant from the fallen towers. Attendants included families of the victims, clergy members, firefighters, police, rescue workers and the common citizen. Also in attendance was Russell Siller, the brother of Stephen Siller, a heroic firefighter who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to reach the burning Twin Towers.

Community Remembers 9/11 At Clara H. Carlson

On the 11th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, students, teachers and community members joined together at Clara H. Carlson School in Elmont to remember those who lost their lives on that fateful day.

Principal Ken Rosner briefly addressed the school’s 870 students, explaining the importance of commemorating Sept. 11.

Happy 85th Birthday Stewart Manor

Residents gather to celebrate a community of neighbors and friends

On August 19, 2012, Stewart Manor celebrated its 85th anniversary as an incorporated village. The anniversary was celebrated on the day itself at the Stewart Manor Pool. Cake and cookies were distributed to happy children and adults alike. The highlight of the afternoon concert by Pat the Piano Man was the rousing chorus of Happy Birthday sung by partygoers.

Keeping Watch For Fares And Crimes

New program calls on taxi drivers to report suspicious activity to police

In addition to transporting people around, taxi cab drivers will also be helping the Nassau County Police Department reduce crime within the county, announced Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano at a press conference on Sept. 6. Mangano along with Police Commissioner Thomas Dale, representatives from local taxi companies and other official announced the implementation of a new program called, “Taxis on Patrol,” a voluntary program in which taxi drivers will help participate in a variation of a neighborhood watch program.

“This is a program that will help educate taxi drivers to report suspicious and unusual events directly to our police department,” said Mangano. “It will certainly help bring suspicious behavior to the attention of the police rapidly.”

America’s 9/11 Riders Take Off For 11th Anniversary

Local Floral Park residents remember heroes, volunteers and victims

For the 11th consecutive year, motorcyclists across the country revved their engines and took off for the annual America’s 9/11 Ride. A local group from Floral Park began its long trek at 5:45 a.m. on Aug. 16.

The purpose of America’s 9/11 ride is to remember the heroes, volunteers and victims who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. The annual ride takes place in August and the caravan visits each site, paying homage to the victims forever associated with them.

TVASNAC Brings The Noise To Stewart Manor

Aviation consultant provides potential solutions for aircraft noise issues

On Monday, August 27, the Village of Stewart Manor hosted a meeting of the Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC) at the Stewart Manor Country Club. While this Town of Hempstead-sponsored group regularly meets in the village of Lawrence, the site location was switched to Stewart Manor for the first time ever. A turnout of between 50 and 60 residents from different communities ranging from Floral Park and Hempstead to Ozone Park and Garden City attended. The evening’s topic centered on the benefits of conducting a Part150 study, a voluntary program that U.S. airports may undertake to seek a balance between their operational needs and the noise impact their operations have on surrounding neighborhoods. Manhasset aviation consultant Henry A.F. Young of Young Environmental Sciences, Inc. was the speaker invited to provide professional insight on the complexities of Part150 and to answer questions from the board and audience.  

Court Declares MTA Payroll Tax Unconstitutional

Transportation authority to appeal decision

The Metropolitan Transit Authority stands to lose about $1.5 billion in revenue per year after a New York State Supreme Court judge ruled on Wednesday, Aug. 22 that the MTA payroll tax is unconstitutional. The MTA plans to appeal the decision made by Judge R. Bruce Cozzens Jr., according to a released statement last week.

This didn’t stop local officials from calling the ruling a “win for taxpayers” during a press conference last Thursday. Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, along with numerous members of local and state government, were out in full force to applaud the decision, and plead to the powers that be to not grant a successful MTA appeal.

Echoing Voices: A Musical History Of America September 8

The Elmont Memorial Library will present Echoing Voices: A Musical History of America featuring Sonic Escape on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. in the Elmont Library Theatre. This performance is free and open to the public. Come watch as the story of American immigration unfolds on stage through the music of Sonic Escape, an ensemble of three young New York City-based classically trained musicians, who have created a vibrant program that reflects the nation’s cultural melting pot.

Echoing Voices presents music from the homelands of immigrants through their stories and history of coming to America. The experience and cultural impact come alive as interpreted by this innovative ensemble, composed of violinist Maria Millar, flute player Shawn Wyckoff, and cellist Michael Haas.

Islanders Hold Tryouts For 2012-13 Ice Girls

A blazingly hot August day is a great time to head to Iceworks just to cool off, but the dozens of young women who showed up to the Syosset ice rink on Sunday, Aug. 12 had something more ambitious in mind: showing off their skating skills to win one of just 10 spots on the New York Islanders 2012-13 Ice Girls Team.

With the exception of one lockout season (2004-05), the Ice Girls have been part of the show at Islanders’ games since the 2001-02 season. In addition to presenting the Islanders flag at every game, Ice Girls keep the ice clean during games, and perform an additional routine when the team wins. They also play games with the fans in the stands during time outs and distribute T-shirts. The girls must be over 18 with strong skating skills, capable of skating backwards as well as doing lunges, spirals, t-stops and power crossovers.

Barclays Tournament Tees Off At Bethpage

It’s about the length of two football fields, but for the world’s best golfers, it is 200 yards that can crush the dreams of winning a prestigious golf tournament, or propel a player into glory with an accurate tee shot and a well-executed putt. It’s the 17th hole of the Bethpage Black, where the Barclays Golf Tournament is being held this week.

The 17th hole is considered to be a signature hole of the course. During the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Open Championships, which were held at Bethpage Black, a loud and enthusiastic crowd helped to put a New York stamp on those tournaments. Barclays tournament directors are hoping for that same excitement as players arrive at the challenging hole.