75¢
HALF HOLLOW HILLS Copyright © 2012 Long Islander Newspapers, LLC.
Online at www.LongIslanderNews.com
N E W S P A P E R
VOLUME FIFTEEN, ISSUE 1
LONG ISLANDER NEWSPAPERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 24 PAGES
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012
DIX HILLS
MELVILLE
Land Swap In Park/BAPS Deal One Step Closer
216-Day Ride Boosts Charity Grad, 24, heads to California and back for terminally ill kids By Stephanie DeLuca sdeluca@longislandernews.com
Residents of Melville are one step closer to seeing Sweet Hollow Park become a reality. The first leg of a complex proposal which combines building senior housing, a park and the relocation of house of worship for the BAPS was approved last Tuesday by the Huntington Town Board. But even in its early stages, a question of density – and how it should be interpreted – has emerged. By a 4-1 vote March 13, the board approved plans to allocate $1.325 million to purchase the 8.1-acre Meyers Farm property from the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam (BAPS), a major organization within the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism. The entire parcel, which is to become Sweet Hollow Park, would have 3 acres designated for recreational use; the remaining 5
Taking only a bag of clothes, a sleeping bag, a mat and a few electronics, a Half Hollow Hills East graduate hit the open road to raise funds for sick children. John Nitti, 24, of Dix Hills, began his journey to bike across the country on Feb. 27 to raise money for the Marty Lyons Foundation, a nonprofit established in 1982, by professional football player Marty Lyons, to grant wishes for chronically and terminally ill children. “The foundation has been a part of my family for a long time. I’ve been volunteering for them since I was a little kid at the golf outings so that was an easy decision for me to do it for that cause,” he said. According to Nitti’s website, biketrip2012.org, the Dix Hills resident will bike 9,550 miles across 37 states in 216 days. After he reaches the California coast, Nitti will bike his way back to New York. The finish line will be in Little Italy in Manhattan, where he will have a homecoming dinner with his family. Due to inclement weather, Nitti’s parents drove him to Wilmington, N.C. to begin his journey. From there he traveled south through Charleston, S.C.; Savannah, Ga.;
(Continued on page A17)
(Continued on page A17)
By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandernews.com
Starting a seven-month journey to raise money for sick children, John Nitti of Dix Hills dips his bike in the Atlantic Ocean. He will do the same when he hits the Pacific Ocean.
You Must Act Now To Stay ‘In The Know’ If you live in the communities of Dix Hills and Melville, you get your news from the Half Hollow Hills Newspaper. If you don’t act now, you’re going to be left in the dark. Because unless you act now, the newspaper is going to stop coming to your door. Think of it... you’ll no longer be in the know about government and politics, about important land use and development proposals, about what’s happening in your school district, and so much more. Due to rising print and mail costs, the newspaper will no longer be free. While you can still subscribe to the print edition, we are also making the full newspaper available electronically to read on your computer or smart phone. Free copies will be
available at retail locations in your neighborhood. We are making the newspaper available three ways: 1. PICK UP A COPY You can pick up FREE copies every week at locations that you visit regularly: libraries, banks, fitness centers, drug stores and numerous retail outlets. The list of locations will be printed in future editions as well as on our website www.HalfHollowNews.com. (If you have suggested locations, please let us know.) 2. GO DIGITAL Sign up to receive the paper electronically by going to www.HalfHollowNews.com. You will receive a weekly e-mail update with that week’s edition in an easy-touse electronic reader format or PDF. (iPad and iPhone users, choose PDF.) In both cases it is the full newspaper in the format you are used to reading.
3. SUBSCRIBE If you wish to continue receiving the print version of the newspaper delivered to your mailbox, the subscription rate is $21 a year ($37 for two years; $56 for three years). Find a form inside this newspaper or send your check and subscriber information to Long Islander Newspapers, 149 Main Street, Huntington NY 11743. Whatever method you choose, we will continue working hard to bring you the news you want to read. Act now to continue enjoying the Half Hollow Hills Newspaper.
Michael Schenkler Peter Sloggatt Publisher Associate Publisher Long-Islander’s Half Hollow Hills Newspaper
LONG ISLANDER NEWSPAPERS: WINNERS OF EIGHT N.Y. PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARDS SINCE 2008
Hills Grad Signs With Mets A19
THE FOODIES DO
Rookies’ Beer Pairing A12
Hicksville, NY 11801 Permit No. 66 CRRT SORT
US Postage PAID STANDARD RATE