Meng, Montesano to Face Off In February 9 Special Election

15th Assembly District Seat Up for Grabs

The 15th Assembly District (A.D.) is up for grabs with Democrat Matt Meng of East Norwich and Republican Michael Montesano of Glen Head scheduled to face off in a special election on Feb. 9.

The seat, which has been held by Republican Rob Walker since May 2005, became vacant as of midnight Jan. 2 when Walker stepped down to accept a position as Nassau County’s Deputy County Executive. As a result, the winner of next week’s special election will, under state law, have to run again in November 2010, which is when the seat would normally be up for re-election.

Zoning Board Grants Theater Green Light

Project to Be Screened by Planning Board Next

On Jan. 25, the Westbury Zoning Board of Appeals granted a zoning variance to Lowe Properties, the developer of the Westbury movie theater site on Post Avenue. The variance is conditioned upon the applicant’s construction of a parking deck over the existing village parking lot on Madison Street.

“The variance is consistent with the special use permit that the board of trustees granted to Lowe Properties in November 2009, and keeps the approval process moving forward. Design work is already being done on the parking deck and it looks as if that structure will yield up to 160 spaces for the theater and other uses that are contemplated by the plan,” said Westbury Village Mayor Peter Cavallaro, adding, “The planning board still needs to review the project, but they have already commenced their hearing, and I am hopeful that the process can be completed quickly so we can meet the target for the start of construction of the deck and the renovation of the theater in the spring.”

Roger Corbin Pleads Guilty

Westbury resident and former Nassau Legislator Roger Corbin appeared in U.S. District Court in Central Islip earlier this week and before Magistrate William Wall pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges and lying to federal agents.

Corbin, who was arrested last May, pleaded guilty to seven counts, including three counts of filing false tax returns; three counts of income-tax evasion; and one count of lying to a federal agent. As of press time Monday, it appeared he would face 12 to 18 months in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

The charges against Corbin were all personal; he was not charged with abuse of the public trust, bribery or corruption of his office. “I have always taken full responsibility for my actions but continue to believe that this matter should have been resolved civilly and that I was unfairly targeted. It is time for me to move on with my life,” said Corbin in a statement issued through his attorneys Thomas F. Liotti and Jennifer L. McCann. “I will continue to serve the public in whatever capacity I am permitted to do so.”

Corbin helped form the Nassau County Legislature in the 1990s and served the 2nd District for 14 years; last year he sought re-election to an eighth term but was unsuccessful in a Democratic primary, losing to Robert Troiano.

Local Center Provides Community Lifeline

McCoy Family & Youth Center Celebrates First Anniversary

January 2010 marked the Westbury-based McCoy Family & Youth Center’s first anniversary. In the past year, the center has become a neighborhood fixture.

“It is a tremendous support for families, regardless of economic status and social concerns,” said Executive Director William Pruitt. “It’s a place to turn to, a place to go.”

Named for Shirley McCoy, 90, an active community member who owns the Prospect Avenue building, the center strives to meet those needs with a variety of initiatives, including after-school and summer day programs, teen pregnancy prevention, tutoring and a Prevention & Post Institutional Project (PPIP), which works with young people who have been involved with the criminal or family courts.

Nassau County Looks to Provide Earthquake Relief

County Executive, Legislator Announce Ways to Send Aid

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announced that the county plans on sending aid to Haiti, which was devastated by an earthquake. Mangano set up a phone number for people to call to ways in which to help the people of Haiti, many of which have ties to residents of Nassau County.

“Nassau County is prepared to assist the Haitians who are suffering from the earthquake,” said Mangano.

According to the county executive, in working with the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management and several community groups, the county is prepared to send 10,000 ready-to-eat meals and 20,000 bottles of water over to Haiti. The county will also be collecting items such as summer clothing, shoes and non-perishables such as rice, canned goods, beans, cooking oil, diapers, toothpaste, toothbrushes and toiletries.

Fundraiser in Richard Forenza’s Memory Set for January 30

Event to Benefit Firefighters Burn Center at NUMC

At 5 a. m. Nov. 5, Richard Forenza steered his 18-wheel tractor trailer eastbound on the Long Island Expressway. Suddenly, an SUV cut in front of him. Forenza, 40, lost control of the truck and flipped over on the Expressway. The cab immediately burst into flames.

Forenza, a lifelong resident of the Salisbury section of Westbury, was rushed to Nassau University Firefighters Burn Center at Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) with second and third degree burns covering 85 percent of his body. The next morning, he underwent eight hours of skin graft surgery. He was scheduled for an additional surgery a few days later, but succumbed to his injuries on Nov. 9, before the surgery could take place.

North Hempstead Town Holds Inauguration Ceremony

Taking the oath of office commencing his fourth term as North Hempstead Supervisor, Jon Kaiman declared it “a new beginning.” The New Year’s Day inauguration ceremony also included the swearing in of Town Clerk Leslie Gross and town board members Angelo Ferrara, Viviana Russell and Lee Seeman.

Kaiman, who was sworn in by United States Senator Charles Schumer, said he was ‘privileged to have been elected to another term as North Hempstead Town Supervisor.” Despite the historic difficulties confronting all levels of government, Schumer said, “This is a great day for Jon. His is a tough job, a difficult job, but he has done this better than anyone else.”

County Executive Aims to Fix Reassessment System

Says Current System Needs Reform to Ensure Fiscal Health

In an effort to reform a property tax assessment system he feels is broken, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano unveiled his plan to repair the assessment system to lessen the burden property tax refunds have on the county budget.

Property taxes are viewed as the most serious issue affecting Nassau County residents. Mangano, who took office on January 1, feels that a more accurate assessment system will lead to a decrease in assessment errors and thus a decrease in the amount of money the county pays out for property tax repayments or certioraris.

The new county executive campaigned on having to fix the assessment system and now he will get his opportunity. “It’s one of the most significant issues affecting our residents,” said Mangano.

Corrections Officer Charged With Having Sex With Female Inmates

DA: Mark Barber Used Authority in Jail to Extort Sexual Favors

On Dec. 30, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the arrest of a Nassau County Corrections officer for multiple offenses related to his involvement with female inmates at the Nassau County Correctional Center (NCCC).

According to the DA’s office, Officer Mark Barber, 47, of Levittown, was arrested and arraigned on charges of rape, forcible touching and sexual abuse of female inmates. He is charged with three counts of rape – 3rd degree; 10 counts of sexual abuse – 2nd degree; three counts of forcible touching; receiving reward for official misconduct – 2nd degree; six counts of promoting prison contraband – 2nd degree; and 35 counts of official misconduct, the DA’s office said. He faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted.

Westbury Community Loses Beloved ‘Voice’

Memorial Service for Dave Mock January 9

Westbury native Damon “Dave” Mock who, for more than two decades, was best known as the “voice” of the Green Dragons, passed away suddenly Dec. 26 from a heart attack. Mr. Mock, who had suffered a mild stroke in September 2009 that hindered his ability to communicate, was just 41 years old.

Mr. Mock had a varied media background that began some 26 years ago as a writer. In 1983, at the age of 15, Mr. Mock received his first paycheck for writing; it was at this time that he had an article published in Advertising Age magazine. Later that same year, while a sophomore at Westbury High School, Mr. Mock became a staff writer for The Westbury Times. His relationship with the newspaper would last for 10 years, including four years as editor of the Times, and earn him several state and Long Island region journalism awards. He was also the recipient of a New York Press Association Writer of the Year award during a 1997 editorship of Anton Community Newspaper’s Levittown Tribune.