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Bentley Garners Senate Commendation
YOUR LOCAL NEWS
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Rich Bentley, president of the Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations, Inc. was recently recognized by New York State Senator Anna Kaplan (D–Great Neck) with a Senate Commendation. From Kaplan’s citation:
Bentley has community service in his blood. Since his 1995 arrival in Manhasset from Whitestone, Queens. Rich and his wife Patti have became proud parents of two young men, Kyle and Sean.
Bentley served as president of the Bayview Civic Association (2003 to 2005) and became a member of the Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations (aka Greater Council), serving as vice-president (2006 to 2008) and president since 2009.
Bentley’s volunteer efforts include his parish service at St. Mary’s, with 25 years as lector coordinator, training and scheduling of lectors at Masses. He spent decades coaching youth baseball teams and leading scouting activities. Professionally, he is in his 38th year as director of Administrative Services at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn and president of its Faculty Student Association. No stranger to large government educational and hospital bureaucracies, his administrative management and communication talents clearly show in all his volunteer community work.
Significant issues face Manhasset, and often include Bentley’s involvement, working with all different involved parties and government entities to reach a best solution. Manhasset has enjoyed hundreds of successes in every proposed major property development, intersection improvement, permit application, and every town code change that arose. These are not one person’s success; it’s to the credit of every resident who gets involved in civic affairs. Issues do get solved when the time and effort is invested to work with all involved, and it’s perfectly natural that not everyone is satisfied.
It’s in the process that the quality of the Manhasset community is both preserved and advanced, a process that includes much sweat, some tears, as well as joy. Times change, needs change, residents change, and the financial capacity to solve problems change. All that make community service an evolving constant and vital process.
Bentley points to a significant disappointment being Manhasset’s loss of the treasured Gold Coast historic “Inisfada” estate, where the limited time and the root financials were just too vast to overcome. However, the concurrent Christ Church Parish House historic restoration and pivoted repurposing project was an achievement, as were the successful MedMen and 7-11 battles. Bringing sewers to Manhasset’s business and residential districts is in the forefront of the civic’s efforts. The Greater Council has effectively provided the discussion/planning table for many Manhasset successes.
A colleague once described civic work in baseball terms: A win is often through many cumulative “single base hits” rather than a sole “home run.” Collect and enjoy the singles. While it includes struggles, residents chose Manhasset because it’s a great community to live and raise a family in, and it’s our collective job to keep it as such. To learn more, visit www. manhassetcivic.org. —Submitted by the Office of Senator Anna Kaplan
Richard Bentley spoke at a 2018 meeting of the Town of North Hempstead Board of Trustees regarding the banning of cannabis retail sales within the
town’s jurisdiction. (Photo by Frank Rizzo)
Bentley’s Reflections
In retrospect, I believe my best accomplishment for the long term benefit of the Manhasset community was the expansion to involve more parties at the Greater Council discussion table. While primarily a residential-based civic association and watchdog group, all too often things weren’t getting accomplished in Manhasset due to the natural multiple agendas of all the notable constituencies that were rarely, if ever, at the same discussion table. With no entity providing a forum for the substantial Manhasset community constituencies to discuss to either support or object to matters as they arose, residents were not being served as well as they could be. In municipal terms, such fractionalization often leads to reduced accomplishments.
Greater Council membership expanded, with increased “liaisons” of the relevant entities, more collaboration of goals, improved substantive agendas and improved communication that has brought far more collaboration and consensus among much broader Manhasset constituencies. As a result, the Greater Council has become a formidable and influential constituency and voice in the many affairs that impact Manhasset, at its root being a residential civic organization and far more proactive.
Maintaining quality relationships with leaders at all levels of the many municipalities has achieved more timely notification of upcoming projects so that the Greater Council has far more impact at earlier stages of any new “projects at hand” facing Manhasset. There is also the “back to basics” education in which the Greater Council provides a quality training ground for new civic leaders to emerge, each learning from each other the ins-andouts of “how to get a particular problem solved” and “who to contact.” Civic work is evolutionary...a civic’s work is never done. —Submitted by Richard Bentley
A Different Kind Of Meeting Place
The Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations, Inc. held its December meeting at the Onderdonk House and was host to Supervisor-elect Jen DeSena (who represented the North Strathmore Association) as well as North Hempstead Councilmembers Veronica Lurvey and Mariann Dalimonte. Sitting, from left: Doreen McDonough (Shorehaven), Roxanne Fitzig and Rosemary Mascali (Plandome Heights), Jennifer DeSena, Patricia Barry (North Strathmore), and Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey.
Standing, from left: Joe Abruzzi (North Strathmore), Donald O’Brien (Manhasset Park), Charles Maass (North Strathmore), Rich Bentley (Bayview), Andrew Schwenk (South Strathmore), Sue Auriemma (Munsey Park and CASA), Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte, Norman Nemec (Manhasset Park), Teresa Amato (Norgate) and Christine Roberts (North Strathmore). Absent were reps from Plandome, Plandome Manor, Strathmore Village, Strathmore Vanderbilt, and
ANTON MEDIA GROUP • JANUARY 19 - 25, 2022 5
YOUR LOCAL NEWS Town Approves 9-11 Memorial At Manhasset Valley Park
The following was an email sent to the Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations, Inc. (Greater Council) mailing list by its president, Richard Bentley.
“Just some additional clarification from Councilwoman [Veronica] Lurvey upon my inquiry. The attached shows the rendering of the 9-11 Memorial provided by the town’s 9-11 Committee and approved in the 2022 Town Capital Plan. In sum, the Manhasset Valley Park work referenced are the remaining planned 9-11 Memorial surrounding landscaping enhancements that were unable to be fully completed at the time of the site commemoration event held on September 11, 2021.
“While not ready to be included in the 2022 town Capital Plan, the remaining project items of wetland improvements and dredging of the creek running through the park (the original Park renovation project) are now being considered to be combined with similar planned work to be performed at Whitney Pond Park. A time frame is not yet available.”
The following letter was sent to the Greater Council by Councilwoman Lurvey:
“The acting commissioner of DPW has provided the following status update on the expected timeline for this project. A Request for Proposals is expected to be issued by the town early this year 2022 for the overall design of the surrounding landscape around the Memorial. This is expected to be similar to, but not exactly the same as, what was proposed by N2 Design in their rendering. A small level plaza surrounding the beam, small sitting walls, curved walkways leading to the Memorial, flags, more complex landscaping and lighting, etc.
“This is not connected to any wetland/stream/pond improvements to Manhasset Valley Park. That is an entirely separate project that is not planned for 2022. The “dredging” or restoration of the wetlands would be similar to what DPW just completed at Roslyn Pond Park. The town may consider looking into whether this work could be combined with what is proposed at Whitney Pond Park. This work takes a number of years to obtain DEC permits, as well as work to obtain stormwater and other grants to help pay for this work. Since it’s the same watershed, there may be a benefit to combining them into the same project. If that takes place, the project will be massive in undertaking and cost.”
According to the Capital Plan, “In 2019, a concrete plinth was installed at the site of the future memorial. In 2021, brackets were installed onto the concrete plinth and the beam was installed at the site. RFP to focus on future site improvements to include but are not limited to a tiered seating structure for the memorial, a remembrance wall and presentation area.”
The project is estimated to cost $500,000. —Submitted by Richard Bentley and
Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey
A rendering of the proposed 9-11 Memorial at Manhasset Valley Park.
(Town of North Hempstead)
Climate Workshop Set January 26
North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board present a virtual workshop, “What’s Your Climate Story?” on Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. via Zoom.
The Climate Stories Project links people around the globe by spotlighting how climate change is showing up in their local community through personal stories. Together, participants will examine what we care most about in our community, how it is threatened by climate change, and how we can contribute to a positive way forward.
This workshop is being facilitated by Jason Davis, founder and director of The Climate Stories Project, which brings personal stories to the sometimes-abstract nature of climate change. It will begin with a brief introduction to climate change, so no knowledge or experichange, so no knowledge or experience is necessary. Stories from this workshop will be part workshop will be part of the Town of North of the Town of North Hempstead’s Public Engagement Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate.
Everyone is welcome—families, educators, students, civics, local businesses, and more.
The Climate Stories Project encourages people across the globe to participate.
Visit NorthHempsteadNY.gov/ ClimateAction to register. —Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead
Manhasset Student Artist Celebrated At Showcase
