Vol. 76, No. 50
Vandals destroy Daycare Center’s mascot
“Quacker Jack,” the mascot of the Shalom Day Care Center was toppled by vandals. BY GARY SIMEONE The children who attend the Shalom Day Care Center at 81 Jamaica Avenue in Plainview were upset and disappointed last Monday morning to find their beloved school mascot, ‘Quacker Jack’ damaged and overturned in front of the school. The fiberglass yellow duck was reportedly vandalized last Saturday night by two individuals who were caught on the school’s surveillance cameras pushing over the 5 foot tall mascot. “They couldn’t understand how anyone could do something like this, said School Administrative Executive, Michele Alfano, of the children’s reaction to the vandalized statue. “We have since put it back up but it has sustained a lot of damage including crack marks on its neck and damage to its wings.” Alfano said that the Nassau County Police Department was called following the discovery of the damaged statue and they are reviewing the school’s
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Friday, December 23, 2016
video to try to identify the culprits. Two people are seen on the surveillance cameras around midnight last Saturday repeatedly trying to overturn the statue and eventually toppling it on its right side. The two individuals are wearing skirts, boots, long coats and covering their face with their hoods to conceal their identities. Alfano said the Center had just purchased the duck three weeks ago and that the children had really taken to it. “The Center had a contest to come up with a name for the duck and the winner was given a gift certificate,” said Alfano. “We gave it the name Quacker Jack and it had officially become our Center’s new mascot.” She said that the Center has been looking into trying to find someone to repair the statue but it hasn’t been an easy task. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Nassau County Police
Ex-fugitive sentenced for murder at Hicksville wedding
An international fugiStreet, Hicksville. Singh tive was sentenced on brought a 9mm firearm to December 19th to 19 years the reception and became to life in prison for the involved in an altercation 1999 murder of a 19-yearon the dance floor. After old man at a Hicksville the incident the defendant wedding. left the party and waitBalkumar Singh, ed outside for 19-year old believed to be 38 years Abzal Khan. As the victim of age, pleaded guilty on exited the temple, Singh Nov. 2 in front of Acttook his gun out and fired ing Supreme Court Jusmultiple times, striking tice Christopher Quinn Khan seven times. to murder in the 2nd Witnesses described degree (an A-I felony) and Singh as standing over assault in the 1st degree Khan’s body while shootBalkumar Singh (a B violent felony). ing him and the incident “Balkumar Singh savagely murdered was witnessed by a crowd of at least 20 an innocent young man in front of scores people. A 22-year old man, also attending of wedding guests and immediately fled the wedding, was shot in the foot and the country,” said Nassau County Dis- survived. trict Attorney Madeline Singa. “This The defendant, who had multiple defendant stayed one step ahead of the aliases, ran from the scene and fled the law for 16 years, but thanks to our law country within days of the murder. He enforcement partners from around the is believed to have traveled to Canada globe we were able to bring him to jus- and Guyana before he was apprehended tice.” in Trinidad. DA Singas said that on June 13, 1999, Singh was featured in a 2009 episode the defendant attended a wedding recep- of the America’s Most Wanted television tion at the Masonic Hall on West Nicolai show.
Package thief arrested
Nassau County Police arrested a Hicksville man for petit larceny on December 14 at 4:30 p.m. According to detectives, Second Precinct officers received a 911 call in the vicinity of Salem Gate for two men observed following a UPS truck in a Ford Explorer and removing packages from three separate houses then fleeing the scene. Officers located Martin Gonzales, 18, at his residence and placed him under arrest without incident, the
second subject has yet to be apprehended. Numerous packages that were taken from the area were located in the vehicle. The investigation is ongoing. Gonzales is charged with three counts of Petit Larceny. Detectives request anyone with information regarding this crime to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
Positive Post-It program at E. Broadway PAGE 8 The Pie Shoppe holds grand opening PAGE 4