New Year's Day 2004 was a day of changes for the Town of North Hempstead. After 10 years as supervisor of the town, May Newburger chose not to run again and she was succeeded by Great Neck attorney Jon Kaiman.

Of historic significance was the swearing in of the first town board elected by councilmanic districts. Instead of four council members elected townwide, there are now six, each elected from an individual district, and include Rocco Iannarelli as receiver of taxes; Michelle Schimmel, town clerk; and councilmen Robert Troiano Jr. who represents New Cassel, Westbury and Carle Place; Tom Dwyer, who represents Roslyn, Greenvale, East Williston, Williston Park, Albertson and Searingtown; Angelo Ferrara, who represents New Hyde Park, Mineola and Garden City Park; Wayne Wink, representing parts of Great Neck, Manhasset, Plandome and Roslyn; Tony D'Urso, who represents parts of Great Neck, Herricks and New Hyde Park; Fred Pollack, whose district includes Port Washington, parts of Plandome and Flower Hill.

On Jan. 8, during a regularly scheduled meeting of the Westbury Village Board of Trustees, Mayor Ernest Strada appointed Charles R. Russell, Jr. as trustee to fill a vacancy on the board. Russell is serving in the seat formerly held by Alphonse Campbell, who passed away in December 2003. In response to the substantial increase in contributions to the New York State Pension Plan, Westbury Village Mayor Ernest Strada joined other elected officials from Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties to call for an immediate reform of the pension plan. Mayor Strada is past president of the Nassau County Village Officials Association (NCVOA). On Jan. 16, the Westbury Memorial Public Library hosted a gala event to welcome the Carle Place community to the Westbury library family. This union entitles residents of the Carle Place Library District to all of the service, programs and collections available at the Westbury Library. Emily Mathews, a senior at W. Tresper Clarke High School in the East Meadow Union Free School District, was selected a semifinalist in the Intel Science Competition. Mathews is one of only 300 students nationwide to be honored in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search (STS). Her submission, "The Effects of the Racial Diversity of High School Environments on Ethnic Attitudes," was the result of several months of research under the guidance of Dr. Carol Smyth, W. Tresper Clarke High School's Science Department chairperson. The Westbury High School Girls Varsity Volleyball Team received the New York State (NYS) Team Scholar-Athlete Award for the fall 2003 season. Increasing from last year's 90.2-combined grade point average, the girls' team was presented with individual certificates of academic achievement in recognition of their awesome 92.3 average. The scholar-athletes receiving this honor included Stephanie Audain, Rosa Ayala, Kanwal Batool, Yalixa De La Cruz, Monique Midy, Michelle Ojofeitimi, Christy Romero and Roxana Ventura.

On Feb. 3, after delivering his first State of the Town address, North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman set off for a brief tour of several areas within the town, including Great Neck, Port Washington, Manhasset and New Cassel. Accompanying the supervisor on his tour was Baltimore City Mayor Martin O'Malley, an old friend and instrumental political leader who has been successful in revitalizing his own Maryland community.

During his stop in New Cassel, Kaiman, North Hempstead Buildings and Planning Commissioner David Wasserman and District 1 Councilman Robert Troiano met with representatives from the Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation (UNCCRC) and Sustainable Long Island to discuss the "Seeking a Shared Vision for New Cassel" plan. Adopted by the North Hempstead Town Board last spring, the vision plan is a collaborative effort between the town, UNCCRC and Sustainable Long Island, along with the input from community residents and leaders, clergy members, youth and business owners, which calls for revitalization through economic development and smart growth along the Prospect Avenue corridor.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy announced that they secured the commitment of the secretary of the Navy to save 250 units of military housing at the Mitchel Housing complex.

The commitment came during a meeting between Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, Senator Clinton, Congresswoman McCarthy and several other members of the Long Island Congressional delegation where they presented their case against the sale of hundreds of military housing units. Currently, 270 military families currently reside at the complex.

The announcement by the Navy was the culmination of efforts by Senator Clinton and Congresswoman McCarthy to convince the Navy to not sell off these important units of housing, especially given the region's severe housing crisis.

The Westbury Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Feb. 5 to adopt a moratorium on all development within the incorporated village's business district. With growth and development within the village's business zones at an all-time high, the temporary suspension provided the village with a chance to take the necessary steps to protect the existing residential and business populations, while encouraging positive growth for the future. The moratorium, which was implemented immediately and was originally in effect until July 1, was extended in August and is set to end in January 2005.

The village's business zone includes most areas along Post Avenue between Old Country Road and the Northern State Parkway as well as those along Maple Avenue from Post to Union and a small piece of village-zoned property on Old Country Road. As a result of the moratorium, the village's building department, planning board and other departments were prohibited from issuing building permits for new construction, adopting any approvals, issuing any resolutions of approval, or signing any plans, with the exception of facade improvements and related renovations, throughout the business district.

The moratorium, however, excluded the following projects: the construction of condominiums at both 130 Post Avenue and 242 Maple Avenue as well as the development of a vacant parcel at 289 Post Avenue, which are currently before the planning board. In addition, the hold does not apply to minor renovations or interior work on existing buildings.

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, during a visit to Albany, urged the New York State legislature to approve an Empire Zone in Nassau County, a step that will establish "tax-free" business sites to help spark new private sector investment, job creation and economic expansion for the local community.

Nassau County is seeking Empire Zone designation for six non-contiguous areas that meet the criteria for such zones set forth in the General Municipal Law. They include the Town of Hempstead communities of Elmont, Franklin Square, Inwood, Roosevelt, Uniondale and West Hempstead as well as New Cassel, Bethpage, City of Glen Cove, Village of Hempstead and the Village of Freeport.

Nassau County is seeking to attract community investment, which is key to the revitalization of the downtown areas. The county is already partnering with the City of Glen Cove to design comprehensive community and revitalization programs, which will result in an increase in job opportunities.

Those businesses that participate and invest in an Empire Zone are eligible for sales tax exemption, real property and business tax credits. The purpose of the Empire Zones Program is to give companies increasing their employment opportunity to operate on an almost "tax-free" basis for up to 10 years in designated areas of the state, with additional savings available on a declining basis in years 11 through 15.

On Feb. 23, the Carle Place Board of Education approved a $10.9 million bond issue for district-wide capital improvements in three categories: health and safety, instruction and security.

During a somber ceremony at Eisenhower Park March 11, President George Bush, flanked by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Governor George Pataki, County Executive Tom Suozzi, Ian Siegel, president of the Nassau County 9/11 Memorial Foundation, Arlene Howard, mother of the late George Howard, and Janet Wexler-Magee, wife of the late Charles Magee, helped break ground at the site of a future memorial that will honor hundreds of Nassau County 9/11 victims.

The memorial, designed by Keith Striga of Striga & Associates of Valley Stream and Phil Gavosto of Gavosto Associates, Architects of Glen Cove, focuses on two interconnected stainless steel towers that will rise 35 feet above a reflection pool. The interlocking towers will stand semi-transparent, depicting the fallen fixture of the New York City skyline.

Westbury Public Schools received a 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant from the New York State Department of Education. Among 89 school districts in New York State receiving the grant, including five on Long Island, Westbury received the fifth largest dollar amount outside New York City. A total of $4.5 million was awarded to the district to be used over five years.

The award will enable the district to fund and institute extracurricular activities and programs for Westbury's youth in the district's six schools, and will be administered by Westbury Public Schools' new program, After School Sports, Enrichment and Technology, better known as "A.S.S.E.T." Project activities will include arts and sports and will be implemented at each school. Administrators will individually plan programs with input from several established A.S.S.E.T. partners: The Long Island Tennis and Sports Foundation, The Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation, The North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Nassau BOCES, Grass Roots Hip Hop, The Fencing Center of Long Island, Junior Achievement, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Grant money will also be used for the purchase of computer equipment for early childhood programs for kindergarten through second grade; to fund academic and cultural trips, artists in residence, early college awareness including visits to local colleges; and activities to increase parental involvement in their children's education.

During a visit to Westbury High School on March 29, US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that a $497,500 federal appropriation was secured to support the Comer School Reform Project, a joint, ongoing initiative between the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University (LIU) and Westbury Public Schools. The funding will enable professors from the university's School of Education to continue working with Westbury faculty and administrators in an effort to bolster student academic achievement in literacy and language development at both the middle and high school levels.

Since its inception in 1998, the C.W. Post/Yale University/Westbury Public Schools partnership has contributed to increases in student performance, including climbing test scores and an increase in the number of Westbury teenagers attending college. The program provides comprehensive professional development for middle and high school math, science, social studies and English teachers so that they can address the special needs of these students. Staff development will focus on the implementation of specialized teaching techniques that take into consideration the need for cross-cultural communication with the goal of assisting students in better comprehending the respective subject matter.

As part of its celebration of Women's History Month, the Town of Hempstead honored nine residents at its annual Pathfinder Awards ceremony last week. Women were recognized in nine categories - arts and entertainment, business, community affairs, education, health services, high school senior, humanitarian, volunteer and town employee.

Among the nine women chosen from hundreds of applications was Westbury resident Helen Meittinis. Meittinis, who received the 2004 Pathfinder Award for Community Affairs, was also honored last week as one of Nassau County's 19 women "Trailblazers." For 20 years, Meittinis has been volunteering her time and talent, assisting a variety of community organizations and causes important to her and her hometown. She is a dedicated, reliable and devoted community leader.

The March 2004 Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation (UNCCRC) Block Captain meeting was held at the American Legion "The Post" at 887 Prospect Avenue, on March 18. The group discussed several community projects that affect the quality of life for residents. Nassau County Deputy Presiding Officer Roger Corbin, and Officer Tom Gilberti of the 3rd Precinct's Community Relations Department were the featured guest speakers.

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Town Clerk Michelle Schimel and Councilman Robert Troiano hosted the 2004 North Hempstead Women's Roll of Honor induction ceremony at Clinton G. Martin Park in New Hyde Park. Among the 18 women selected were Westbury residents Cecile Yvette Howard Long and Dr. Alverna Lewis.

Mrs. Long serves as president of the Westbury Public Library Board of Trustees and is a board member of both the Heart Council of Long Island and the Child Care Council of Nassau. As a retired librarian, she has used her abilities to start a library in her church, as well as being a member of Westbury/Carle Place chapter of AARP, where she is chairperson of the Community Service Committee.

As a volunteer with the Seniors of Westbury Center, Dr. Lewis has established the award winning Telementor Project, a partnership between the Westbury Public Schools and the Senior Citizens Center. The Telementor Project is an educational mentoring program that develops intergenerational learning communities between senior citizens and school students.

On April 13, Westbury residents voted 125 to 38 in favor of the Westbury Memorial Library's $2,934,925 budget for 2004-2005. The spending plan includes a $732,000 increase over the 2003-2004 budget of $2,202,925, but taxpayers will see a zero-percent tax increase because the total increase will be offset by the Carle Place Public Library Funding District.

In addition to the budget vote, election of trustees for the library board also took place at this time. C. Yvette Long, who ran unopposed for her second consecutive term, received 136 votes. Library trustee terms are for five years.

On April 19, residents of the Carle Place School District voted 580 to 290 in favor of a $10.9 million capital improvement bond. The bond includes $7.6 million for health and safety upgrades and improvements; $2.7 for instruction and a little over $630,000 for security improvements. Monies provided through the bond will allow for many essential capital improvements in three categories: health & safety, instruction and security. Projects will include a new Middle School/High School roof and track, a new Cherry Lane Elementary School library, a district-wide security system, and full-size generators for each school.

Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced that Marvin Osorio, a 21-year-old street gang member from Westbury, received the maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison for the Aug. 26, 2001 murder of a 14-year-old New Cassel girl.

Osorio was convicted on March 4, 2004 of murder - 2nd Degree in the shooting death of Jennifer Grimes of New Cassel. Osorio was the driver of the car from which fellow MS-13 gang member Olvin Reyes, mistaking the victim's companions for members of a rival street gang, fired the shots that killed her. Reyes, 23, of Roosevelt was convicted in October 2003 of murder - 2nd Degree. He is awaiting sentencing.

Osorio was sentenced by Nassau County Court Judge William C. Donnino. The case was prosecuted by Michael Walsh of the District Attorney's Major Offense Bureau.

A Westbury day care center's license was suspended after state officials discovered a convicted sex offender has been working there. According to police officials, Emmet Charles, a Level 2 sex offender, was employed as a handyman at Play Play Play, a home-based day care center located at 224 Garden Street in Westbury. The 51-year-old Westbury resident served one year in prison after being convicted in 1998 for engaging in several acts of sodomy with a 7-year-old boy. In addition to working at the day care, Charles was reported to have lived at 226 Garden Street - less than 50 feet away from the center.

The state Office of Children and Family Services, in a letter to Play Play Play owner Sandra Henderson, cited various violations at the center. According to published reports, Henderson allegedly did not submit the handyman's fingerprints to the state and that she did not conduct a background check; both of which are required by law. The suspension letter also alleged that Henderson failed to notify the state of changes in staff at her day care. In addition, the Nassau County Department of Social Services - which conducted an investigation as well, stated in a letter to Henderson that she allegedly failed to "fully cooperate" when asked for parental contact information for children at the day care.

On May 10, the Suffolk-based Parents for Megan's Law, along with the parents of two children who attended Play Play Play, called upon lawmakers to require day care owners to check the New York State Sex Offender Registry prior to allowing any individual entry into a day care center.

The proposal came in the wake of allegations that Sandra Henderson, owner of the Westbury-based Play Play Play day care center, hired a Level 2 sex offender and that a background check on the man was never done. Henderson allegedly never conducted the state-required background check or fingerprinting on Emmet Charles, who was convicted in 1997 and served a one-year jail sentence for sodomozing a 7-year-old boy.

On May 6, Westbury Village Justice Thomas Liotti ruled that while the incorporated village had a right to obtain a warrant to search a Princeton Street home last year, the warrant was improperly executed and over broad. As a result, the village must now observe a higher standard, set by Liotti, when obtaining and using warrants in the future.

The decision resulted from a warrant applied for by the village under Westbury Village Code § 248-291 and issued by Associate Village Justice Elizabeth D. Pessala back in September 2003 to enter a premise in an effort to determine if a Westbury home was in violation of building codes. This was the first time in the village's history that a search warrant had been obtained in such a situation.

The Westbury School District budget for the 2004-2005 school year was voted down with 716 residents voting against and 659 voting for the spending plan. The $71,184,386 budget reflected an 8.38 percent increase over the 2003-2004 budget. A proposition for continuous voter registration, however, was approved by residents with a vote of 725 to 414.

Carle Place residents voted 696 to 438 in favor of the district $33,565,722 spending plan for the 2004-2005 school year but defeated a proposition to provide transportation to seventh through 12th graders who live a distance greater than one-mile from the school during the 2004-2005 school year. A total of 626 to 436 residents voted against the transportation proposition, which would have added $21,000 to budgeted expenses during the 2004-2005 school year. In addition, residents voted 777 to 290 in favor of the district's Continuous Voter Registration Resolution, which enables residents, as they move into the community or decide they want to vote, to register at anytime rather than just before a scheduled school vote.

To end the profitability and combat the growth of the illegal conversion of single-family homes to multi-family dwellings, Nassau County Assessor Harvey Levinson unveiled an initiative to reclassify any illegal multi-family dwelling from Class I (residential) to Class 4 (commercial) property for taxation purposes. On average, the commercial property tax rate is 2 1/2 times higher than the residential rate.

Levinson, through his process of identifying and reclassifying violating properties, began working closely with the building and zoning departments of all towns, cities and villages. Any alleged violation of the local zoning law will be reviewed using common-sense objective factors and testimony. Upon receipt of written notification of the change to the commercial tax rate, the homeowner will be given the opportunity to challenge the Department of Assessment's findings and request or agree to onsite inspection of the residence by an assessor or building inspector. In some instances, the rent paid to the owners of illegal accessory apartments are cash payments that may not have been reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If a property is reclassified commercial, a report of the department's findings will be forwarded to the IRS for whatever action they may deem appropriate.

Westbury author Arthur Dobrin published his 20th book, Seeing Through Africa. The 254-page book is a memoir built around themes that take Dobrin, 60, and his family from New York to East Africa and back again. Dobrin writes about personal accounts of his life, picking out certain episodes that he wants to highlight.

Eighteen short chapters bring readers through Dobrin's life as a husband, father, humanist minister, volunteer and teacher. Through Seeing Through Africa, Dobrin discusses important themes, including race, guns, beauty and travel - all of which have enriched his life in a way that takes him back to Africa.

Dobrin's books can be purchased through Cross-Cultural Communications publishers and online at Barnes & Noble and Gotham Book Mart in Midtown West in New York.

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Councilman Robert Troiano hosted a community visioning forum on June 9 to discuss the future of the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) property on Westbury Avenue in Carle Place. The men were joined by property owner Allen Rose who stated at the meeting that no official plan has been developed for the 7.8 acre site, which presently houses the BOCES adult educational programs, but that low income housing would not, under any circumstances, be built on the property.

More than 600 concerned residents attended the meeting. Many opposed any housing at all, while some proposed senior housing or the construction of "million dollar homes." Some proposed that the town condemn the property and turn it into a park. The supervisor indicated that he would explore that possibility, but that there would be an extraordinary public cost involved, the least of which was to lose approximately $750,000 in tax revenue, over 60 percent of which goes to the Carle Place School District.

Other costs would include the purchase price of the land that is believed to be between $10 and $15 million; the remediation of the property, which would cost several million dollars; and the building of a park which would also involve substantial costs. Similar concerns exist if the property were to be condemned for the purpose of building a library or some other type of public facility.

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi joined local elected officials and community representatives on a bus tour throughout the East Meadow, Levittown and Salisbury communities to discuss ideas for economic development. In doing this, Suozzi collected input from residents, community leaders and activists and will apply their suggestions and concerns in shaping the future of local communities.

The bus tour, which began and ended at Eisenhower Park, provided community representatives on hand with an opportunity to point out key areas of concern. Among those present on the tour were Legislators Norma Gonsalves and Dennis Dunne, Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes, chamber of commerce representatives, library board trustees and other community and organization representatives.

On June 16, the Senior Citizens of Westbury held their 48th Annual Installation Luncheon at Chateau Briand in Carle Place. The ceremony honored new and existing members of the board of directors and the membership board.

The installed board of directors for 2004 through 2005 included Chairperson Jay Cabrera, Vice Chairperson Cynthia Johnson, Comptroller Al Thomas and Recording Secretary Margaret Cecere. The new membership board is comprised of President Frank Iadevia, Vice President Jo Marino, Treasurer Marie Bonn, Recording Secretary Dorothy Royal, Corresponding Secretary Marilyn Gobel, Membership Secretary Sylvia Hollar and Trip and Travel Treasurer Carmine Daddio.

Jazz musician Bob Nell took to the stage in Westbury on June 27 as part of the jazz series "New York City's Downtown Jazz/Improv Scene Comes to Long Island." Nell, an accomplished jazz musician, appeared at Mirelle's restaurant. His newest release, entitled Soft and Bronze, is a trio, with Nell on piano, Mike Bisio on bass and Brad Edwards on drums. Cathleen A. Towey, director of the Westbury Memorial Public Library, was asked to serve as one of six library leaders on the National Advisory Committee for the American Library Association/Walgreens Consumer Health Education project. Towey was asked to serve on the committee because of her expertise in public library administration. All of her expenses were paid for by the American Library Association. Nearly 200 high school seniors stood before administrators, teachers, friends and family one last time as Westbury High School's Class of 2004 at the Westbury High School Graduation Commencement. During the ceremony, the students heard from Class Valedictorian Ambar Arancibia and Class Salutatorian Irene Kong, who offered encouraging words. Members of Westbury High School's Select Choir and Band also participated in the festivities. A special tribute song, written by graduate Jean Impert and entitled It's Not Goodbye, was performed, as well as an inspirational rendition of the new American Idol song, I Believe.

Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced the arrest of two Carle Place students accused of illegally accessing confidential and sensitive information - including psychological evaluations of a number of students - from the computer network of the Carle Place School District (CPSD).

Christopher Kabacinski, 18, of Carle Place, was charged with one count of computer trespass, a Class E Felony punishable by up to four years in prison and one count each of computer tampering in the 4th degree and unauthorized use of a computer, both Class A misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail. Ryan Webb, 16, of Carle Place, was charged with one count of unauthorized use of a computer.

Paul Hewitt, a Westbury native and current head coach of the Yellow Jackets - Georgia Tech Men's Basketball Team, came to Martin "Bunky" Reid Park. Hewitt, who once coached kids at the park - which was named in honor of his former high school coach, took some time out of his busy recruiting schedule on July 12 to spend some time with area children, teaching them some of the finer points of the game. In addition, the town designated July 12 as Paul Hewitt Day.

The Town of North Hempstead, in keeping with their promise to revitalize the New Cassel community, began moving forward with plans for eight different redevelopment projects intended to bring a proper mix of residential and commercial property to the area.

The purpose of the New Cassel Revitalization Project is to develop a critical mass of commercial and residential properties that will be self-sustaining, something that had not been done in the community in over 20 years. The goal is to bring commercial redevelopment and investment to New Cassel that will be supported by a proper amount of residential construction in the immediate vicinity.

Carle Place resident Paul Mila retired from a successful career in corporate life two years ago and dipped his feet into the literary world to produce his first book, Dangerous Waters. Mila, 57, now devotes his time to writing, scuba diving and underwater photography, consequently incorporating the ocean and diving as the core of his writing and his second book, Whales' Angels, is expected to debut in early 2005.

Dangerous Waters can be ordered through Ingram's Books in Print Database, directly from the publisher at www.authorhouse.com or through the book order hotline at (888) 280-7715 or www.pjmilabooks.com. The book is also available in scuba shops, and can be purchased online at Borders, Barnes and Noble and Amazon. To contact Mila, email him at pjmila@hotmail.com.

The 21st Annual National Night Out: America's Night Out Against Crime was held on Aug. 3 at Martin "Bunky" Read Park. At this time, New Cassel and Westbury residents joined with thousands of other communities nationwide to march together to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/neighborhood partnerships; and send the message that New Cassel/Westbury is part of this national initiative, is organized and is fighting back.

North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Long Island's leading children's mental health center for more than half a century, along with New Cassel/Westbury Weed and Seed, a community-driven strategy, coordinated this event. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and supported in part by the United States Department of Justice, the event featured a special march, festivities, music, multi-cultural entertainment, sports, recreation and community information

Anne Abbadangelo, a secretary at the Westbury Recreation Department, celebrated her 75th birthday on Aug. 4. Abbadangelo was born the day Jones Beach opened and celebrated her birthday there.

Abbadangelo has worked at the recreation department for 25 years. She started as a full-time secretary, but has been working part-time for the past 10 years. She now shares her position with Kathleen Roland, and Vera Leibman currently holds the position of full-time secretary.

Allison Occhicone, a resident of Carle Place and 1996 graduate of Carle Place High School, participated in the Vytra-Tobay Triathlon on Aug. 22 in Oyster Bay. Occhicone, 25, is a member of the Long Island Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program.

Occhicone participated in this event in memory of her friend's sister, Heather, who lost her battle with lymphoma in 2003 at the age of 29. In addition to the triathlon, Occhicone has completed three Team in Training events, including the 13.1-mile Long Island Marathon in May 2003, the Vytra-Tobay Triathlon in August 2003 and the Montauk Century Ride, which is a 100-mile bike ride, in May 2004.

At a press conference held in Mineola, State Comptroller Alan Hevesi announced that four Long Island school districts would be subject to in-depth audits by Hevesi's office. The Manhasset, Lawrence, Hempstead districts in Nassau County and the Brentwood district in Suffolk were the four districts that will face comprehensive audits.

In addition to the four districts, Hevesi announced that his office planned to conduct a fifth audit, one that will examine administrative expenses in at least 15 other districts on the island, including North Shore, East Meadow, Locust Valley, Plainedge, Syosset and Westbury in Nassau County and Three Village, Central Islip and Wyandanch in Suffolk.

At the press conference, Hevesi said the auditing decisions were based complaints received on 59 separate complaints involving 130 allegations of mismanagement in at least 32 school districts in both Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The Moody's Bond Rating for the Carle Place School District was upgraded from Baa2 to A2, a notable upgrade that will bode well for taxpayers, as a better rating means the school district will have a lower interest rate when they pay back the $10.9 million bond issue that passed in April 2004. In addition to determining financial stability within the school district, Moody's also investigates the community at large, looking at factors like economic stability and the level of support for school budgets, etc.

Westbury author Richard Panchyk, 34, published American Folk Art for Kids: With 21 Activities, a 118-page book that covers many different types of folk art that are categorized under folk painting and drawing; the decorative arts; fabric sewn and stitched; chiseled, carved and hammered; found objects and scraps; and public folk art. Panchyk also discusses the origins of folk art and includes a description of each type of folk art, as well as an illustration to accompany each description.

Panchyk is also the author of World War II for Kids: A History With 21 Activities, Archaeology for Kids and the co-author of Engineering the City and has co-authored a book on computer-aided drafting with his mother. His next book, due out in the spring of 2005, is titled Galileo for Kids. American Folk Art for Kids is available at amazon.com.

Harvey Levinson, chairman of the Nassau County Board of Assessors, announced he would be reclassifying four dwellings he said were found to be illegal: multi-family dwellings in East Meadow, Franklin Square, Westbury and Elmont from Class I (residential) to Class IV (commercial) for taxation purposes.

The four homes, which were reassessed in November, are 2389 Post Street in East Meadow, 335 Princeton Street in Westbury, 16 Doris Avenue in Franklin Square and 54 Roquette Avenue in Elmont. The properties were reclassified in November, but the change in taxes was not immediate as the property owners had a right to appeal.

The Westbury Village board of trustees extended a moratorium on all development within the incorporated village's business district. The moratorium, which was implemented in early 2004 and was originally in effect until July 1, will remain in effect through January 2005. The hold was placed in an effort to provide the village with the opportunity to prompt "smart growth" within its business zone while protecting existing residential and business populations. The Village of Westbury announced the start of another façade improvement project that included 12 stores with the village's downtown Business Improvement District. Led by façade renewal of the building that houses the four-star Italian restaurant Benny's, the village announced plans for revitalization of the following stores: AFC Printing, All Seasons Transportation, Benny's Ristorante, Chinatown Kitchen, Flowers by Carol, J & B Nails, Massage Therapy, Super Convenience Store, 229 Realty Corp., We The People, Westbury Chiropractic and Westbury Valet Cleaners.

After being rabies-free for decades, it was announced that a raccoon killed by a pet dog on Aug. 6 tested positive for raccoon rabies. On Aug. 24, the NYSDOH confirmed that two additional raccoons captured in Nassau County tested positive for rabies, bringing the total to three rabid raccoon and in September, a fourth rabid raccoon was reported.

As a result, the New York State Department of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services (USDA) distributed raccoon rabies vaccine by hand and helicopter in an effort to protect residents from rabies. Veterinarians and wildlife biologists from the New York State Department of Health Zoonoses Program conducted the vaccination program in cooperation with the USDA.

The board of directors of the Nassau Health Care Corporation took important steps to ensure the institution's viability and future growth and development. Following approval of these actions, Board Chairman Lawrence Gottlieb stated that each of the steps taken will play a major role in achieving financial stability, improved operational performance and growth of programs and services at the Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC), the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility and the corporation's seven Community Health Centers.

The board of directors adopted, as a guide, the Manatt Report dated Jan. 27, 2004, and approved implementation of its major recommendations by Daniel A. Kane, newly appointed president/CEO of the Nassau Health Care Corporation. The board also approved the filing of Certificates of Need to carry out a number of program expansions and to locate the replacement facility for A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility to NUMC's East Meadow campus.

North Hempstead Councilman Robert Troiano hosted a community forum on Sept. 9 in the Park Avenue School, featuring the candidates seeking the Democratic party nomination for New York State's 13th Assembly District in the primary to be held on Sept. 14. Current Assemblyman David Sidikman of Bethpage and challenger Chuck Lavine, Glen Cove City Councilman, participated in the forum.

After more than three years of legal proceedings, the fate of the Westbury Theatre was realized. The 1927 movie house was sold during a public auction on Sept. 30. As the highest bidder, Michael Lowe of the Mineola-based Lowe Properties, LLC purchased the property during a bankruptcy sale at Central Islip Bankruptcy Court. The selling price was $1.650 million with the second highest bid coming in at $1.625 million.

The auction was the result of a ruling by the Nassau County Supreme Court in which the Westbury Village was awarded the authority to foreclose on the Post Avenue theater and place the property up for public sale. Legal proceedings between theater owners Corrine and Ron Straehle and the village began in 2001 after village officials closed the building, deeming it "unsafe." At that time, the property was being used as a twin movie theater while the Straehles focused on raising money and turning it into a performing arts theater. In the meantime, however, the building was closed to the public, with county, town and school taxes, as well as liens and abatements, accruing.

Harvey Levinson, chairman of the Nassau County Board of Assessors, held a press conference to announce that five additional properties, including two in the Westbury/New Cassel area, would be reassessed as well as to present his newest proposals in his ongoing effort to combat Nassau County's illegal housing issue. Levinson's initiatives were the result of weeks of intense investigation into the increasing numbers of illegal boarding and rooming houses operating out of single-family homes within the county.

At the press conference, Levinson presented the media with four initiatives he hopes will be put forth to combat illegal housing throughout the county. Levinson's proposals include changing the sworn affidavits landlords must sign when taking a tenant to court for either eviction or back rent purposes; preventing landlords from collecting back rent from tenants unless they produce proof the residence is a rental property; asking the New York State Department of State to discipline real estate brokers who advertise illegal apartments; and the chance of either losing their fire insurance or paying extremely high rates.

Saturday, Sept. 25 turned into a tragic day when four teenagers, including two from Westbury, were killed in a fatal car accident. According to the Homicide Squad, a 2005 Dodge Magnum, operated by 32-year-old Gerrard Ganz of New York City was traveling westbound on Old Country Road when it collided with a 1997 Honda, operated by 17-year-old Westbury resident Tiffany Hagigal, who was attempting to make a left turn from eastbound Old Country Road onto School Street.

The impact of the collision caused the Honda to strike a telephone pole and burst into flames. Four passengers in the Honda were pronounced dead as a result of the accident, including Westbury residents Guy Victor, 19 and Anelie Thelemaque, 16. Also killed in the crash were Shauna Mattison, 15 and Anna Mendoza Burgess, 16, both of the Bronx. Hagigal was transported to Nassau University Medical Center for observation and released on Sept. 28.

Ganz, who had allegedly been at two bars the night of the accident, was arrested at the scene and originally charged with DWI. He was arraigned in First District Court Sunday, Sept. 26 where he pled not guilty. On Sept. 27, Ganz posted the $150,000 bail and was released, but was re-arrested as he was leaving the jail after the Nassau County District Attorney's office upgraded the charges to include four alleged counts of manslaughter - second degree on top of driving while intoxicated.

On Oct. 1, the Westbury community experienced a great loss with the death of Alfred "Fred" Hicks. A lifelong resident of Westbury, Mr. Hicks died of complications from a rare blood disorder. He was 64 years old.

Mr. Hicks was the president of Hicks Nurseries Inc. of Westbury, the fifth generation of his family to run the business, which was founded in 1853 by his great-great-grandfather, Isaac Hicks. The roots of Fred Hicks' family in America go back to the arrival of Englishman Robert Hicks in 1622. During the 1640s, Robert's son John was among the first to settle the Hempstead Plains. In 2003, the Westbury garden nursery celebrated its 150th anniversary, making it the oldest nursery and garden center on Long Island. In addition, Hicks Nurseries is also the 71st oldest family-owned company in the United States and the oldest family-owned business on the Island, currently in its sixth generation of family ownership with Mr. Hicks' three children.

During a press conference on Oct. 4, Harvey Levinson, chairman of the Nassau County Board of Assessors, announced a proposal to eliminate the school property tax altogether and replace it with a modest income tax. In addition, the assessor announced that he would also like to see a set commercial property school tax rate created throughout the county.

Levinson proposed eliminating, completely, the school property tax and replacing it with a modest income tax that would be paid for by both owners and renters. By eliminating the school property tax, Levinson said Nassau County would also be able to eliminate the STAR program since there would be no need for STAR because there are no taxes. He also said that the money the government appropriates to STAR could then be added to state aid to offset districts that may need additional support as a result of collecting lower income taxes.

In addition, Levinson announced he was looking to establish a set commercial property school tax rate throughout the county for all school districts. Through this set rate, the assessor said tax monies collected can be redistributed to all school districts under a revenue sharing formula.

Levinson's ideas were drawn up in a proposal to be sent to Albany and reviewed by Governor George Pataki.

On Oct. 10, Carle Place resident Richard Fenster began a 450-mile walk on a quest to raise money and awareness for the Rotary Gift of Life Program, which provides life-saving heart surgery for needy children from around the world. His walk, which began in Petersburg, VA, didn't just end in Jericho, but with a wedding as well - his own.

On Oct. 24, Fenster, completed his walk at the Ronald McDonald House at Long Island Jewish Hospital and began an eight-mile run, dressed in a tuxedo, to the finish line on Jericho Turnpike near the corner of Brush Hollow Road. Upon arrival, he married his girlfriend Maria Vila-Real.

Senator Michael Balboni secured a $100,000 grant, which will go toward the village's downtown revitalization program and be used to continue enhancing the streetscape and the aesthetic appeal of the village's central "main street" attraction. The monies will enable the village to realize their goals and improve Post Avenue.

On the last stop of a 17-city national tour, an Israeli woman and a Palestinian woman came together at The Islamic Center of Long Island in Westbury on Oct. 31 to promote reconciliation and dialogue as alternatives to fear, hatred and revenge. Israeli Robi Damelin and Palestinian Nadwa Sarandah, both members of the Parents' Circle - a group of 500 Israeli and Palestinian bereaved families who have all lost family members in the conflict and work for understanding and peace, led the discussion.

Parents' Circle members advocate for an end to the violence through education and understanding of the humanity of each side. They work to shatter stereotypes and members speak in Israeli and Palestinian high schools on the need for understanding and dialogue.

The group's most recent project, The Jerusalem Candle of Hope, was featured at the Oct. 31 discussion at The Islamic Center of Long Island. The candle was lit by both women at the start of their presentation as a symbolic gesture of cooperation and understanding. The hurricane-wax candle, made with olive leaves and everlasting flowers from the region, is an unprecedented joint venture project between Israeli and Palestinian craftswomen. The revenues from the candle provide ways for Israeli and Palestinian women to support their families. A portion of the candle's proceeds also supports the Parents' Circle initiatives.

On Oct. 23, members of the Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation (UNCCRC), in cooperation with the Town of North Hempstead, performed a courtesy clean up for the business owners along Prospect Avenue.

The UNCCRC block captains, who are residents and leaders in the New Cassel community, arrived with brooms, rakes, shovels and lots of garbage bags to clean up the businesses that have not been maintained for so long. The block captains informed the business owners that this was not simply a courteous clean up, but rather an admonition that the business owners need to take better care of their properties and that any further lapse in care for the cleanliness of Prospect Avenue businesses would be met with severe consequences from the Town of North Hempstead.

At each of the targeted businesses, a representative from the community spoke with the merchant, letting him or her know about the reason for the cleanup. The representative also presented a letter, written by Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, stating that it is the merchant's responsibility to maintain a cleaner façade along Prospect Avenue, and that any further lapse in cleanliness would be met with consequences from the town.

Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced that Elwin Alcantara, 20, the New Cassel man who raped a college student in 2001 and then, in 2003, was caught having sex with a 13-year-old girl, was sentenced to nine years in prison and five-years-post-release supervision by Nassau County Court Judge Jerald Carter.

According to published reports, Alcantara was one of two men Nassau prosecutors said sexually assaulted the student, then 20, as she was walking home alone from the Westbury train station in November 2001. In addition, Alcantara was caught by an East Meadow School District security guard on Aug. 19, 2003 having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.

The two cases were combined and on Oct. 18, Alcantara pleaded guilty to first degree rape in satisfaction of both cases and in exchange, prosecutors dropped other charges, including second-degree assault, attempted robbery and escape and statutory rape.

Residents headed for the polls on Nov. 2 - Election Day 2004 - to vote for their candidates of choice. The results are were Carolyn McCarthy, 4th Congressional District; Kemp Hannon, 6th Senate District; Michael Balboni, 7th Senate District; Charles Lavine, 13th Assembly District; Donna Ferrara, 15th Assembly District; and Maureen O'Connell, 17th Assembly District. Westbury Village recently won a Bronze Community Award in the Automobile Club of New York's Traffic Safety Awards Program. The Bronze Award is given to communities that implement programs and projects that demonstrate a substantial effort to address local traffic safety issues. The village was cited for its many traffic safety efforts, including the distribution of traffic safety materials to schools and strictly enforcing shrub height regulations at intersections.

At a special ground breaking ceremony, New York State Senator Michael Balboni joined Westbury's Superintendent of Schools Dr. Constance Clark; Assistant Superintendent of Business and Management Services Mary Lagnado; Board of Education President Floyd Ewing, III; Board of Education Vice President Adelaide Brinson; board trustee Connie LoCascio; and North Hempstead Town Councilman and former Board of Education President Robert Troiano, Jr., to announce plans for a new playground at the Park Avenue School.

Since Westbury School District has been unable to fund new play facilities for Park Avenue due to budgetary constraints, Senator Balboni first announced last year that he secured the state grant totaling $150,000 for the much needed playground. The new playground will replace the more than 25-year old recreational area, which has become obsolete and decrepit over the years and now offers one swing for more than 650 students.

New York State Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that Congress approved $1.25 million for the Town of North Hempstead for the New Cassel revitalization project. The funds are listed in the Transportation, Treasury, Independent Agencies and General Government and the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies sections of the Fiscal Year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which passed Congress in November and recently sent to President George Bush for his signature. This funding came in addition to $75,000 in HUD Economic Development Initiative funds Clinton secured along with her colleagues in 2003 to support the effort. Cathleen Towey, who was appointed director of the Westbury Memorial Library in March 2001, announced she would be taking a one-year unpaid leave effective Jan. 1 in order to help with the opening of a new library on Long Island. Jessica Koening, current assistant to the director, will be leading the library during Towey's leave. Towey plans to return to Westbury in 2006.

Moody's Investment Services, a financial rating agency which compares credit worthiness of municipalities against one another, upgraded the rating of the Village of Westbury to an A1 superior grade. Only two other villages in Westbury's tier of villages in Nassau County - Valley Stream and Massapequa Park - are rated so high. Prior to the upgrade, Westbury Village's bond rating was A2. The credit upgrade will allow for the village to realize a lower cost of borrowing through a reduction of the level of mandatory insurance required for its bonds and lower interest rates.

Westbury demonstrated to Moody's that, in head-to-head comparison, no other village of similar size, operations and provision of services compared favorably with the steady, stable and sound financial performance produced by the Village of Westbury since the 1999-2000 fiscal year. During that time, each year, the village has performed equal to or better than others have.

On Dec. 8, the Westbury Library's board of trustees held its last meeting of 2004. The meeting was also Library Director Cathleen Towey's final one until her return in 2006 because of a one-year, unpaid leave granted to her, effective Jan. 1. The meeting was filled with emotion as library staff members expressed gratitude and support for Towey, many thanking her for nearly four years of dedicated leadership and service.

The meeting, however, also sparked discussion regarding whether or not trustee Larry Boes should resign due to a pending $1.2 million lawsuit, put forth by his wife, Joan, back in 2001. Mr. Boes, however, stated that he has no intention of resigning and that doing so is not an option. Boes also said that in the two years he has served as a library trustee, he has excused himself from board discussions regarding his wife's lawsuit.

In November, the library board voted 3 to 1 in favor of granting Towey the leave. Mr. Boes opposed the leave because he is "not sure she is returning," adding that he does not believe the leave is "beneficial for the library, its patrons and taxpayers."

Dec. 14 marked a new day in New Cassel as residents, civic leaders and members of various community organizations filled the First Baptist Church of Westbury to capacity in honor of the official groundbreaking ceremony for the New Cassel Revitalization Project. US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton joined Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, Supervisor Kaiman and Town Councilman Robert Troiano, along with leaders from the UNCCRC, the North Hempstead Community Development Agency and Sustainable Long Island, to officially break ground on Site "B," which is located between Siegel and Sheridan Streets along Prospect Avenue. At this time, Clinton also presented the town with a $1.25 million check.

The monies secured by Clinton will be used to support road and streetscape improvements and provide for the construction and gap financing of mixed-use buildings projects along the Prospect Avenue and Union Avenue corridors in the economically distressed hamlet of New Cassel. In December 2004, Clinton announced that Congress had approved the funding in the Transportation, Treasury, Independent Agencies and General Government and the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies sections of the Fiscal Year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. This funding comes in addition to $75,000 in HUD Economic Development Initiative funds that Clinton secured along with her colleagues last year to support the effort.