On Monday, Sept. 15, the Village of Westbury issued an ultimatum to the owners of the Westbury Theater. During last week's hearing, Mayor Ernest Strada instructed Corrine Straehle, owner of the Post Avenue movie house, to begin fixing the building's leaking roof and loose shingles immediately or the village would do it themselves.

"The existing record was enhanced by observances and occurrences since the last opportunity that the village had to inspect the premises with permission of the building's owners," said the village in a prepared statement. The last time inspectors were allowed in the building was March 2002.

The statement went on to say, "While a further resolution from the board of trustees is forthcoming, the owners [were] instructed to secure loose shingles and any hazardous areas of the existing roofing structure by the close of business on Wednesday, Sept. 17. If not done to the satisfaction of the village in the interest of protecting the public, the village is prepared to have the loose shingles and precarious roof areas secured, at the expense of the building owner, prior to the arrival of [last week's] pending storm."

Village officials could not be reached at press time to determine if the theater owner complied with the request. A representative from Westbury's building department, however, said, "We did start to make it safe for the residents of the village."

The village's ultimatum was the result of an Aug. 4 decision rendered by the Supreme Court of the State of New York Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department regarding the condition and fate of the Westbury Theater. In this decision, the court ruled in favor of the village, reversing the July 2001 orders of Nassau County Supreme Court and returned the original issues regarding the safety and condition of the theater back to the Village of Westbury's board of trustees.

The record is available for review at town hall with the latest hearing transcript expected to become available in the next two weeks. According to Westbury officials, the record shall speak for itself and the village has no further comment at this time.