Friday, March 10, 2017
Vol. 77, No. 10
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Hundreds of people attend candlelight vigil
ROUGHRIDER SLED HOCKEY
BY GARY SIMEONE It was a frigid cold night last Thursday but that did not stop hundreds of people from coming out to the Plainview Mid-Island JCC to a candlelight vigil to denounce anti-Semitism. The vigil was held in response to a recent bomb threat against the Long Island Jewish center last Monday. Politicians such as State Senator Todd Kaminsky and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor, Joseph Saladino attended the event as well as members of the interfaith clergy and community members. Rabbi Jonathan Hecht, of the Plainview JCC, helped to organize the event and was the first to speak at the vigil in front of the crowd of onlookers who stood in support holding candles and signs that read, peace, love and united against hate, unity in our community. “There is no place for hate here in our community,” said Rabbi See page 16
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph S. Saladino (right) recently joined with the RoughRiders Sled Hockey Team at the Town of Oyster Bay’s Ice Skating Center in Bethpage. Sled Hockey provides an opportunity for differently abled ice hockey players to compete in a sport they love. Sled Hockey also promotes and encourages sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie and is specifically aimed at a juvenile and adolescent population of physically and/or mentally challenged athletes. Joining with Supervisor Saladino (left to right) were Town of Oyster Bay Hockey Program Coordinator Bernard “Buzz” Deschamps, Nick Capparelli, Bryan Bloomquist, Mathew Gagliano and Bill Capparelli. For more information about Sled Hockey, visit their website at http://www.lisledhockey.org.
Diaper Bank of LI comes to Plainview
BY GARY SIMEONE Valentine’s Day, last Tuesday, was an important day for the Allied Foundation and Pediatric Health Associates in Plainview. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the location on Manetto Hill Rd. to celebrate the opening of one of the first Diaper Banks of Long Island. The Allied Foundation will open 30 diaper banks
across Long Island which will enable members of the community to donate diapers to help parents and babies of low-income families. “We found out that people who receive social services can’t use them to buy diapers which was really something that surprised us,” said Kerry Gillick-Goldberg, Director of Marketing for the Allied Foundation. “This is some-
thing that is really needed for struggling families who have children on Long Island.” She said that diapers would be accepted at all 30 Allied locations across the Island and that the main storage area for the diapers would be located at Allied Foundation’s main headquarters in Melville. At the Plainview location, See page 16
New Oyster Bay town leaders begin roles BY GARY SIMEONE
At the Town of Oyster Bay Board meeting last Tuesday, Town Supervisor, Joseph Saladino appointed new leaders to various roles within the Town. Sworn in at the meeting was a new Deputy Supervisor, Town Attorney, Planning Commissioner and a new Commissioner of Public Works. Gregory W. Carman Jr. was appointed as Deputy Supervisor and his appointment was effective as of Feb. 7 according to a statement from the Town. Joseph Nocella was named asTown Attorney. Elizabeth Maccarone was named as Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development and Richard Lenz was appointed the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works. Nocella replaces former Town Attorney, Leonard Genova, who resigned last month. Nocella was a former counsel to the County’s Office of Housing & Community Development and worked with the law firm of Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo and Terrana based in Uniondale. He said that in his role as Town Attorney, he would be focused on transparency in government while reviewing cost saving measures for the public. “As our new town attorney I will be working to go over every single contract to make sure we put ethics and cost savings to the public,” said Nocella. See page 16
Hicksville’s standout staff and students PAGE 10 Levittown students take the challenge PAGE 18