Great Neck News 11.21.14

Friday, November 21, 2014

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tHe PULSe OF tHe PeNiNSULA

Vol. 89, no. 47

COUNty ‘HOLidAy eX g.N. eStAteS NASSAU FALLiNg SPeCtACULAR’ mAyOR dieS BeHiNd: mARAgOS PAGE 23

PAGE 3

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Dolan resigns as super of G.N. schools Says he will continue to serve until successor is found

By A dA m L i d g e t t To gasps of surprise, Great Neck Public Schools Superintendent Tom Dolan announced his impending retirement at Monday’s Great Neck Schools Board of Education meeting.

“I am seldom more proud than when I tell people that I am superintendent of the Great Neck Public Schools,” Dolan said. “It is my great honor to serve this community and this board.”

Even though he couldn’t announce it privately to each person as he said he wished, he still received a standing ovation from a packed room of community members in the cafeteria of the Parkville School.

Dolan said he decided to retire because he is healthy enough to do so, and that he would like to teach at a university level again and spend more time with his children and grandchildren.

“I want to be an active and in-

volved grandparent,” Dolan said.

“I want to write other chapters in my life.”

Dolan said he has taught at three or four local universities before, and that, despite the age of the students, he finds teaching invigorating.

“It’s what I call ‘mental floss,’” Dolan said. “If you have worries on your mind and you’re doing it right, you can forget about those things when you walk into a classroom.”

Dolan said he will be involved in the process of finding a new superintendent, and that there is no set date when he will officially retire.

Board President Barbara Berkowitz said that Dolan had done an excellent job as superintendent of schools, and that the district is surprised and saddened by his wish to retire.

Berkowtiz said the work of the district is ongoing and Dolan’s Continued on Page 47

Angels from above

PHOTO By BILL SAN ANTONIO

Aerial nurses and other personnel remove a stretcher from the North Shore-LIJ Health System’s new SkyHealth helicopter, which was unveiled during a press event on Thursday.

See story on page 42.

IDA approves tax breaks for Grace Ave. complex

By A dA m L i d g e t t The Nassau County Industrial Development Agency on Thursday unanimously approved various tax breaks on an application for a mixed-use complex 5-9 Grace Ave. in the

Village of Great Neck Plaza.

The IDA’s approval provides a 15-year tax break on a proposed 42,000 square foot, four-story mixed-use building at 5-9 Grace Ave. that would include two storefronts or corporate offices on the ground

level and 30 apartments on the second, third and fourth floors.

The tax breaks freeze taxes of the property for the first five years at their current level, with a 1.6 percent increase in the next five Continued on Page 58

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The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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Newcomers run for AvalonBay takes park district election next step forward Three fresh candidates join commissioner race Project in final stages of review

or,” Capece said. “We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty now.”

In February, the land was Developers from AvalonBay Communities announced Tues- rezoned by the Village of Great day they have received all nec- Neck for residential use.

The six-story building will essary approvals from the state Department of Environmental be called AvalonBay CommuniConservation and that they are ties at Great Neck.

Construction on the buildready to move forward with the more detailed aspects of the ing is slated to start next month, and tenants are expected to start 191-unit building.

Senior Development Direc- moving in by January 2016.

The building will consist of tor at AvalonBay Chris Capece said the next step in the process 81 one-bedroom units, 79 twoof building the apartment com- bedroom units and 31 threebedroom units. plex at 240 East AvalonBay has Shore Road is said they will to start cleaning up the forhey’re starting set aside 10 percent of the total mer petroleum storage facility to look at things like apartments for located at the garage entry and workforce houssite.

Capece color. We’re getting ing.Av a l o n B a y said AvalonBay is looking for a down to the nitty- was also granted a tax break contractor to do gritty now.” by the Nassau the remediation County Industriof the contamiChris Capece al Development nated site.

SeNiOR deVeLOPmeNt Agency. AvalonThe dediReCtOR At AVALONBAy Bay will make velopers are $9,278,456 in required to repayments in lieu move any contaminated soil and to treat any of taxes to the village during the contaminated soil that can’t be next 15 years.

The company said the deremoved from the property.

Capece said AvalonBay is velopment will create nine fullin the third round of architec- time jobs on site. tural review with the Village Reach reporter Adam of Great Neck Board of Trustees. He presented the trustees Lidgett by e-mail at alidgett@ Tuesday with a rendering of theislandnow.com, by phone the proposed building, which at 516.307.1045 x203 and on he said was near photo-realistic Twitter @ AdamLidgett. Also folimagery. low us on Twitter @theislandnow “They’re starting to look at and Facebook at facebook.com/ things like garage entry and col- theislandnow.

By A dA m L i d g e t t

Eileen Faulk

Jeffrey Meier Stein

Laura cohen

By A dA m L i d g e t t

Parks District Commission recently vacated by former Park Commissioner Ruth Tamarin.

She is opposed by former New York City police officer Frank Cilluffo; Sharon Epstein, the former president of the ParentTeacher Association at E.M. Baker Elementary School and founder and owner of Body Dynamics Inc.; and Eileen Falk, an insurance broker who owns her own business.

Neil Leiberman, a longtime Great Neck resident and husband of Great Neck News columnist Karen Rubin, and Jeff Meir Stein, another political newcomer who works at North Shore Décor, are challenging current park district Chairman Dan Nachmanoff for a three-year seat on the board.

Cohen said the time she and her husband spend at the parks gives her first-hand knowledge of what the parks are like and how they are used.

Her husband, Elie Cohen, coaches their son’s Little League

team and she can be frequently found with her children on the soccer fields, on the ice rinks or at the pool, she said.

Cohen said she is committed to fiscal responsibility, and wants to find new sources of revenue to help out the district taxpayers who pay for the parks.

She also said she wants to bring new life back to some of the park’s programs for users of all ages and wants to look at way to get more attendees – such as not scheduling children’s programs when some kids have to go to Hebrew school.

“I want to make the parks a top priority,” Cohen said. “I want to bring new energy to the Great Neck Park District.”

Eileen Falk, a third-generation resident of Great Neck, said she offers a different perspective than the other candidates.

“My passion is different,” Falk said. “The vision I have for the Continued on Page 58

Laura Cohen said she grew up loving the parks in the Great Neck Park District, and that love was rekindled when she moved back to Great Neck to raise her family.

“The parks are beautiful,” Cohen said. “The greenery, the facilities and the programming have been unbelievable and they are for my children now.”

Now, Cohen said, she would like to use the knowledge she has gained from using the parks with her husband and four children to make them better as a park district commissioner.

In doing so, Cohen, a former vice president of the Allenwood Park Civic Association who currently serves on the executive board of the North Shore Hebrew Academy, is joining several newcomers vying for two seats on the three-member park district board.

Cohen is running for the twoyear open seat on the Great Neck

“T

CORRECTION Photos published on Page 33 in the Nov. 7 edition of the Great Neck News under the headline “Great Neck Chamber Networking Event” went uncredited. The photos should have been attributed to Martha Gorfein of Martha Gorfein Photoconcepts (www.mgphotoconcepts. com). We regret the omission.

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The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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Former G.N. Estates mayor dies Family says Stanley Cohen a best friend to all; wasn’t in public service for accolades

By A da m L i d g e t t Former Great Neck Estates Mayor Stanley Cohen wasn’t the best friend to just one or two people – he was the best friend to his entire family say those who knew him best.

“I say he was my best friend, but my brother also says he was his best friend, and my mother says he was her best friend,” Stanley’s daughter, Jamie said.

“That’s just the kind of guy he was.”

Cohen died Oct. 29 from amyloidosis, a rare heart disease caused by an excess of amyloid in the heart. He was 75.

Cohen was mayor of Great Neck Estates from 1983 until 1989. Prior to being mayor he served as both deputy mayor and trustee of Great Neck Estates.

Jamie said her father taught her many lessons she continues to teach her own children, such as always giving support and telling your children to do the best they can.

“Kids can be mean to each other,” Jamie said. “It’s important to have someone to come

home to who says ‘you can do it, you’re terrific.’” Jamie said.

“He would always make me feel good about myself and I try to model my parenting after him.”

Jamie said she was always delighted when her parents would come to see her while she attended Lehigh University, whereas most kids wouldn’t be as accepting of their parents visiting them. She said she also looks back fondly on being able to watch her father play basketball at the parks, and proud to see him, a man in his 50s, playing alongside the younger players.

Cohen’s son, Adam, said his father grew up in Brooklyn playing basketball, but eventually moved to Great Neck when he started a family.

Adam said his life was committed to public service, but that he would have liked people to consider his legacy his family.

Adam also said that his father never did public service for the accolades – he did it because he liked to give back.

“He was always talking to people at the parks,” Adam said.

Cohen, left, died from a rare heart disease caused by an excess of amyloid in the heart. Family and friends have said he always gave to the community and never wanted or expected anything in return, “It took us 45 minutes to get from the parking lot to the pool because everyone wanted to say just a little something to him.”

Dee Campbell, who currently works for the Great Neck Estates highway department, said

she began working for Cohen right after she graduated high school, at the factory he owned 49 percent of at the time, TyzAll, a company that made vinyl winter weather windows and other plastic products. Campbell

said he was more than a boss to her for most of her life - he was a father figure.

Campbell said when she was taking out a bank loan to get her first car, she went with her parents initially to co-sign the loan.

Unfortunately, Campbell said, they primarily used cash for everything and didn’t have any credit. Cohen jumped in to help, Campbell said.

“He said ‘I’ll co-sign the loan but let your parents think they were the ones to co-sign it,” Campbell said.

Campbell said “Stan the man,” as he was known among friends, was unlike any other mayor.

“I want him to be recognized because he wasn’t just another mayor,” Campbell said. “He was unbelievably nice to everybody and he never asked for nor did he expect anything in return.”

Cohen’s children are asking people to help find a cure for amyloidosis by donating to the escrow account of Myer and Scher, IOLA at 12 Chestnut Lane, Woodbury, N.Y. 11797.

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The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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Water and fire district race heats up

BY B I LL SAN ANTONIO

Former Nassau County Legislator Lisanne Altmann was preparing to run for a Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District commissioner’s position last year when her Great Neck home caught fire, requiring the department’s assistance.

“If not for the expertise and quick response of the ManhassetLakeville Fire Department and other surrounding departments, my house probably would have burned down and I would have lost one of my dogs to the fire that night,” Altmann said in an e-mail.

The incident, she said, only made her even more determined to seek a position this year, to potentially fill the position that will be vacated by North Hempstead Public Safety Commissioner Andrew DeMartin at the conclusion of his second full term this December.

Altmann, who is now an account executive for PSEG Long Island, will be running as a Democrat against current Manhasset Park District Commissioner and Village of Munsey Park resident

Lisanne Altmann

Mark Sauvigne

Mark Sauvigne, who said last month he would serve in both roles if elected.

The Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District covers Manhasset and portions of Great Neck and north New Hyde Park.

“I think it’s important that there be a balance on the board so that the interests of the Great Neck portion of the district be adequately represented,” Altmann said.

Altmann said DeMartin, also a Great Neck resident, asked her last year if she would consider running for the position if he were to step down from the

board.

Having served as a Manhasset-Lakeville commissioner since his appointment by the Town of North Hempstead in 2008, DeMartin told Blank Slate Media last month that “there are other avenues in my life that I want to explore.”

In preparation for her campaign, Altmann began attending the water district’s bi-weekly meetings and toured the district to get a better understanding of its equipment and operations.

She was a member of the first Nassau County Legislature in 1995 and served six terms,

until 2007. Previously, she was an assistant to former U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens).

“It is clear to me that whoever represents citizens on this board should have some background and experience in issues related to the preservation of our natural resources and also a working knowledge of public safety issues and budgeting,” she said.

Sauvigne, a federal bond trader on Wall Street for the last 28 years, said in mid October that he considers himself a fiscal conservative, but would support district spending to replace equipment.

He added that the fire district would also benefit from constant recruiting and he would explore tuition-assistance programs at the county and state levels for volunteers.

“There is no reason someone can’t do a summer internship at the fire or water district and not be able to get college credit for that,” Sauvigne said. “Is this not as important as doing an internship on Wall Street?”

Sauvigne said he was approached about running for a commissioner’s position last

year, but “wasn’t sure the timing was right.”

It was only after the water district erected a 190-foot communications antenna atop its elevated water tower within the Village of Munsey Park - a project that cost more than $200,000 – and the two sides later became embroiled in litigation over the replacement of the water tower that Sauvigne said he was inspired to seek the position this year.

“It sounds to me as if they need a voice of reason to get involved,” he said.

Altmann said that based on her understanding of the project, attained through attending Manhasset-Lakeville meetings, the district came to the decision that best balanced its financial needs with those of its infrastructure and residents living in the area.

But she added that communication between the water district and the Village of Munsey Park could have been more frequent in conceiving the project.

“If you take a look at Long Island, we have so much aging infrastructure and so much govContinued on Page 47

The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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VOTE

FRANK CILLUFFO Dec. 9th • 3-9pm for GREAT NECK PARKS COMMISSIONER

VOTE 3C

VOTE FOR FRANK CILLUFFO

Frank Cilluffo, long term resident of Great Neck, Retired NYPD, Community Affairs Organizer and Public Safety Director. Currently serving on the Great Neck Open Space Committee, Restoration Committee for Stepping Stone Lighthouse and is presently participating with the Marina Fleet, Rose Garden and Tennis clubs. Frank is a familiar face at the Senior Center helping with daily events and functions. Frank coaches the Great Neck Hockey program for able and disabled youths, PAL soccer and serves on the Parkwood Rink advisory committee. He also sits on the Board of Safe Sports as the Great Neck FSC officer, Promoting Park Safety, Sports Programs, Senior Events, Bike Paths, Farmers Market, Garden Club and Green Space revitalization. Frank is married to Lisa Reisfield. and has a 11 year old daughter Francesca who attends the Great Neck Public Schools. The Cilluffo's are family members of the Great Neck Historical Society, National Arbor Society and the LI GreenBelt Trail Conference. Check out our website: frankforcommissioner.com. like us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/gnparkscommissioner.

VOTE 3C VOTE AT YOUR LOCAL POLLING LOCATIONS:

District No. 1 - Great Neck House (14 Arrandale Avenue) District No. 2 - EM Baker School (69 Baker Hill Road) District No. 3 - Great Neck Senior Center (80 Grace Avenue) District No. 4 - Manhasset-Lakeville Firehouse (Jayson Ave/Northern Blvd.)

PAID FOR BY THE FAMILY OF FRANK CILLUFFO

10 The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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Addicts aid addicts to help launch biz

BY B I LL SAN ANTONIO

In the 12 years she has been in recovery for drug and alcohol addiction, Village of Flower Hill resident Kerri Kahn had never come across heartfelt gifts for friends who reached sobriety milestones.

That is, until she decided to start making them.

Kahn is the founder of 24ave, a line of T-shirts, jewelry and accessories that can be custom designed to include the date of one’s sobriety, a sponsor’s name and the common inspirational phrases and acronyms practiced in recovery programs.

“I want to redefine sobriety for the 21st century. That’s what I want this company to do,” she said. “I want people to know. I don’t want people [in recovery] to live in the shadows and be afraid. I want to show them I got to have a do-over with my life.”

The idea first came to Kahn, who prior to succumbing to her addictions designed women’s accessories, four years ago, she said, but she didn’t have an opportunity to bring her creations to life until experiencing two chance encounters late last year.

The first took place when Kahn walked into Uptown Artworks in Port Washington to find a one-year sobriety gift for a friend and, with the help of the store’s owner, Lori Blum, customized a

Pictured from left: Francine Aulicino, Lori Blum and Kerri Khan, the founders of 24ave. tray with phrases common of recovery programs.

“We talked about the 12 and 12 – the 12 traditions and 12 steps we follow in recovery – and ODAAT, ‘one day at a time,” Kahn said. “I made up this gift for my friend and I loved it and everyone loved it. From there, [Blum] became my business partner.”

Added Blum, a Kings Point resident: “I’m actually a social worker by training, so I definitely am emphatic to any kind of suffering or people’s problems, so I un-

derstood it. I thought it was a great niche population. I also did some research and found there’s nothing really like it out there and I love designing new projects.

I was excited to be on board.”

The second happened while Kahn was leading a recovery meeting and was approached by Albertson resident Francine Aulicino, who had just completed addiction treatment at the Betty Ford Center, about becoming her sponsor.

“The more I talked to [Aulicino], I learned she had a social media back-

ground,” Kahn said. “Here I have a woman who can make gift items and a girl who asked me to be her sponsor with a huge social media background. The light bulb went off in my head.”

Over the next eight months, the trio designed their product line, website and social media pages.

The company launched earlier this year. Trunk shows displaying the company’s line are scheduled for Dec. 4 at Uptown Artworks.

“We’ve had a lot of activity on Facebook. We’ve gotten orders. People seem to love the products,” Blum said. “We’ve had some very nice customer feedback already, so I believe we’re just going to grow and grow. Fingers crossed, right?”

As the company expands, Kahn said more products will be added.

“This may sound a bit hokey, but I think this is a gift from above,” Kahn said. “I never had the right time and the right people, and all the puzzle pieces have kind of come together. I won’t forget that.”

“It’s taken a lot of work to put this together, and every single thing that we’ve done has been very deliberate,” she said.

“I don’t regret being a drug addict and an alcoholic, because it’s enabled me to do this. It’s like taking whatever was left of me and putting it together with the new me. There’s no telling what we’re going to do now.”

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18 The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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READERS WRITE

Pick Nachmanoff, Cilluffo for park district On Dec. 9 we will have an opportunity to vote to elect, separately, two commissioners of the Great Neck Park District.

I believe that park board Chairman Daniel Nachmanoff, who is seeking re-election to a second term, should be returned for another three years and that Frank Cilluffo should be elected to fill the vacant seat.

In my opinion, Commissioner Nachmanoff has been a very effective public official in preserving and improving park district programs and facilities while keeping a tight rein on costs and fostering the healthy growth of revenues from fee-based programs.

I have noted from the many

meetings I have attended that Commissioner Nachmanoff has played a very constructive role in developing and administering the district’s capital renewal program while bringing in a no-taxincrease budget for the coming year - despite the upward pressures of costs that every municipality must face.

As a former mayor and experienced public official, Mr. Nachmanoff brings a lot of experience and expertise to the job. We cannot afford to lose him.

In the election to fill the remaining term of a retired commissioner, Frank Cilluffo is being challenged by three other candidates.

Frank Cilluffo ran for a park

board seat three years ago and while he was unsuccessful he garnered a very large number of votes evidently in reflection of his strong community commitment through active involvement in park district programs with family and other residents and a strong record of community service in many other important areas.

Since then, Mr. Cilluffo has spent the last three years in regular attendance at park board meetings, has stayed active in many park programs and has continued to be involved in communitybased groups.

I believe he is sincere and knows enough to be an effective Board member early on. For these

reasons, I strongly support his election to the vacant seat.

Apart from the two candidates I have discussed above, five other individuals are seeking a seat on the park board.

Four of these individuals have not been involved either with board meetings or park issues until very recently.

They would need lengthy onthe job-training if elected, something we simply cannot afford at this time.

The remaining candidate, Neil Lieberman, who is challenging the present Park Board Chairman, has run unsuccessfully many times. In his latest campaign literature he wants to introduce a number of

programs which anyone who is familiar with park board operations would know are already being implemented by the park board.

At the budget hearing I heard Mr. Lieberman publicly state: “I’ve never seen a park district run as well as you guys . . . have “ (as reported by the G.N.Record-9-10-14). One wonders.

Polling places are the Baker School, The Grace Ave Senior Center, Great Neck House, and the Manhasset-Lakeville Firehouse.

3-9 p.m.

Leon Korobow Great Neck

Parking at LIRR Leiberman offers passion, station an issue and vision to park district I have noticed the campaigning for the Great Neck Park District commissioner position has begun.

In anticipation of the candidates sharing their vision for the future, I would appreciate each one of them addressing the chronic shortage of parking space at the Great Neck LIRR station.

The parking lots at the station are operated by the Great Neck Park District.

Currently, unless you have a parking spot by 8:15 there is no parking available, resulting in illegal and dangerous parking of vehicles in the lots.

The Village of Great Neck recently passed new zoning regulations permitting increased density of housing, and therefore, by extension, even greater demand on the limited spots available for parking at the station.

I am sure the daily Great Neck LIRR commuters would like to hear what the candidates are proposing to help resolve this issue.

Philip Berman Great Neck

I am writing to endorse Neil Leiberman for Great Neck Parks commissioner in the upcoming election.

Allow me to outline why Neil is so qualified and why my professional experience informs me that Neil Leiberman is the right man for park commissioner.

In the 24 years I know Neil as a gym and park-goer, I have never met anyone who has his passion, vision, and vigor coupled with a desire to make the Great Neck Park District respond to the needs of our diverse cultural community.

I hope we agree that the Park System we have is one of the best.

We are fortunate in Great Neck to have facilities that foster both peace of mind and health, fitness and wellbeing.

My endorsement of Neil is not enhance good programs to serve our only based on knowing him, but also community.

Please join me in voting for Neil from a 30 year career in recreational Leiberman for parks commissioner. sports.

Neil has the vision and desire to pursue a financially responsible Scott Lange attainment of new programs and Great Neck

Leiberman would get things done I have know Neil Leiberman for If you vote for Neil, you will place many years,as a hard-working get Great Neck parks in excellent hands. things done person.

He cares about all things Great Martin Kestlinger Neck and the people who live here.

Great Neck

Cilluffo understand what park district needs

Supporting Frank Cilluffo for park commissioner is the simple and easy choice. Frank has such a love and appreciation for Great Neck and all that Great Neck has to offer.

I moved to Great Neck in 2003.

My husband grew up in this town.

We now raise our four children in the same town.

Great Neck has wonderful things to offer our family and Frank’s intention is to only make

Leiberman the pick over Nachmanoff

Let’s get the record straight.

Neil Leiberman is not running against Sharon Epstein, Eileen Falk, nor Frank Cilluffo.

However, Neil has accepted an offer to debate his opponent Dan Nachmanoff.

In the spirit of democracy,

hopefully Mr. Nachmanoff will accept this offer.

I encourage park residents to vote for two candidates; and Neil Leiberman should be one of them!

Susan Lee Great Neck

it better.

I met Frank at the Parkwood Ice Rink. My son who had just turned 6 wanted to try ice hockey.

I knew absolutely nothing about the sport. Frank welcomed me and my son, he took the time to explain the sport and what we would need so that we would be prepared.

He loaned us any necessary equipment so that my son would feel “cool” and ready to go on the ice. He helped me tie my son’s shoe laces, he made sure he was safe on the ice for me, he even went to take care of my son when he was upset on the ice.

It’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

My son would not be playing hockey right now if it wasn’t for Frank.

Frank went above and beyond his job position on that first day and continues to do so every day. Frank hears us.

When a child says he doesn’t have money to get hot chocolate he buys that kid a hot chocolate and when a parent voices concerns he is the first one to try and remedy the situation. Frank continues to be attentive, responsive and pro-active.

He will implement crucial changes that would benefit everyone, like lights in the parking lot of the ice skating rink or heaters that work in the rink. These are just some examples of the ideas that Frank has.

He knows what is needed and will use his resources to make those improvements happen.

From the Steppingstone Light-

house Restoration, tennis, soccer, hockey, the rose garden and the Marina Fleet Committee Frank gets involved.

We are fortunate to have Frank here in Great Neck. He hears you and takes your concerns seriously.

We need a candidate that intimately knows our town. Frank is just that!!

I trust my children with Frank. I trust my town with Frank.

Of course, I would trust our park district with Frank.

Frank has earned my respect.

Frank has ideas that I support. Frank should be this town’s next Park Commissioner. Vote for Frank Cilluffo on Dec. 9.

Deborah Turofsky, Esq. Village of Great Neck

The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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19

READERS WRITE

Nachmanoff, Cilluffo are the right picks

At a time when developers are grabbing every open space in Great Neck it is imperative to support our Great Neck Park system.

We have been so fortunate in the past to have had three commissioners. Ivan, Ruth and the very dedicated Robert Lincoln.

We lost Ivan, who past away. Ruth, who after 15 years resigned, a difficult decision for her.

Thank goodness, we still have Robert Lincoln in charge. He works so hard to bring our parks back from disrepair. That is why we all have a duty to vote, Dec. 9.

Dan Nachmanoff is up for re-election.

He has done well in his first three years and I am sure he will do even better, now that he knows the ropes.

Two other candidates are also running for the same position.

One who has been campaigning for over a year and Jeffrey Stein who arrived at the last minute for Ruth’s unfulfilled two year term. It gets interesting four candidates.

Frank Cilluffo, who is very energetic and young enough to relate to the younger park residents, has attended for the past year all work sessions and business meetings. He sat quietly listening and learning what it takes to run a huge

operation, as the Great Neck Park District.

He is retired and spends hours at the sports complex, where he is well regarded. He has run a good clean campaign.

The three other candidates are women - Epstein, Falk and Cohen.

While it would be nice to have a women on the board, I can not endorse the three women candidates. It would be nice to know what their qualifications are so that one can make an informed comparison like Mr. Stein they have not attended work or business meetings except Ms. Epstein who attended the last three.

Which leaves me to wonder what their agenda is? I certainly hope that it is

not a one sided one.

We must elect two commissioners, who are willing to take on this task , for the good of all the park residents young and old.

Seven candidates, only two positions, choose wisely. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to have the park and recreation facility that we have today.

We cannot undo all the work, that Robert Lincoln and Ruth Tamarin have devoted years to make us one of the nation’s finest park system.

Jean Pierce Great Neck

What I have done to earn re-election as commish As most of you know, I am seeking reelection as commissioner of the Great Neck Park District. It has been a privilege to serve the Great Neck Park District residents for the past three years, alongside my colleagues, commissioners Robert Lincoln and Ruth Tamarin.

To have served as chairman of the Board of Commissioners over the past year has been a special honor.

During my term, we have managed to keep taxes within the 2 percent guidelines

and going forward into 2015, there will be no (0 percent) increase since we currently have a surplus.

This is our way of returning value to our residents.

Our 2015 budget has been passed and we are currently implementing our bond issue to build, repair, reform and improve our infrastructure for the future.

The park district continues to renovate our playgrounds, including a new indoor playscape at Steppingstone Park, which

will soon be open.

The commissioners have received positive feedback from our residents on the quality of our programs/entertainment, all of which has shown an increase in attendance and participation. Non-tax revenue has increased and we hope it continues to do so.

In conclusion, I would like to add that managing the park district with its many components, (including an approximate $17 million budget and three to four hundred employees during peak seasons), is

not all fun and games.

It requires experience, dedication and large time commitment.

I ask for your vote on Tuesday, Dec 9 between the hours of 3 and 9 p.m. so that I can continue to work to provide our residents with the type of services they have come to expect and deserve.

Thank you.

Dan Nachmanoff Great Neck

Leiberman the right choice for park district I write this letter in support of Neil Lieberman’s candidacy for the office of commissioner of the Great Neck Park District.

I have known Neil for approximately 18 years.

Many of the times when I have seen Neil over these years have been at Great Neck Park District events.

Other times have been occa-

sions when by chance, I simply met Neil in one of our parks. I know that Neil and his family have made, and continue to make, extensive use of the beautiful park resources and facilities of our Park District.

I know that Neil is someone who cares deeply about our parks and has done so for many years.

Over the years, Neil has been present at a number of the park district meetings which I attended.

Neil and I have had many discussions over these years concerning park district facilities and resources and issues of importance to the park district. He has been actively involved in park district issues and concerns over this pe-

riod of time.

I know that if elected, Neil will work tirelessly to protect and maintain our park facilities, resources and programs and that he will strive to do so without imposing undue, additional tax burdens on our homeowners. I know that as a commissioner, Neil will be open and accessible to all.

I know that as a commission-

er, Neil will listen to both sides of an issue and then utilize his intelligence, good judgment and common sense in making his decision.

For these reasons, I will be voting for Neil for park district commissioner and I urge you to do so as well.

Ted M. Rosen Great Neck

Nachmanoffi, Cilluffo Laura Cohen offers are a winning ticket district smarts, youth I am writing to endorse Dan Nachmanoff and Frank Cilluffo in the Dec. 9 Great Neck Park District election.

Dan is running for reelection against two challengers. Frank is running against three opponents for the spot left open when Ruth Tamarin retired.

I am a lifelong resident of Great Neck and I am on several advisory boards.

Besides being a tennis team captain I belong to Parkwood pool and the Steppingstone Sailing Club.

This year I joined the Memorial Day Parade Committee.

Dan Nachmanoff, a former mayor of Russell Gardens, is a great Commissioner and deserves reelection. Frank Cilluffo is the only candidate running for the other seat that has done any preparation for the job.

He is at almost every meeting, not just last week, and participates on several advisory boards.

He comes to all the budget hearings and even helped

out on last years parade. The Park District Budget is over $17 million and we have over 40 full-time employees and 300 seasonal employees.

This job is not to be taken casually.

Until last week I had never even seen three of the candidates and still have not seen one.

They may be really nice people but they are just not qualified.

Mrs. Laura Cohen is eminently qualified to serve as parks commissioner of the Great Neck Park District.

She is young, smart and gets along with people.

The fact is, I have known Laura for over 40 years and can endorse her with full sincerity.

Laura was an outstanding student and currently a practicing attorney. She knows how to speak in public and defend issues.

When I lived in the Cooky Blaha Great Neck Allenwood Park District,

Laura Cohen worked closely with the late, long time park commissioner and my personal friend and neighbor, Ivar Segalowitz.

When attending meetings Laura Cohen displayed her leadership and ability to get things done.

Laura Cohen will work well alongside the other park commissioners. She has a sparkling personality and love for our Great Neck community.

Behind her charm however, is a determined and

tenacious woman who is a leader with a creative mind.

Our Great Neck Park District has a long history of electing outstanding park commissioners.

If Mrs. Laura Cohen is elected, that enviable history will continue to the benefit of Great Neck residents.

Martin H. Sokol Great Neck Letters continued on Page 45

The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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Cities must lead climate-change fight

Did not see that coming.

With mind-bending speed, this past week the lame duck President Obama turned into a lion, taking bold, courageous steps to make the U.S. a world leader in climate action: securing a pledge from China to get the second largest polluter in the world (after the US) to cap carbon emissions; pledging $3 billion toward a Green Climate Fund and getting Japan to add $1.5 billion more (when GOP howls, they should be reminded that Bush Jr. gave $2 billion), and vowing to double the pace of reductions in carbon emissions by the U.S. “As the world’s two largest economies, energy consumers and emitters of greenhouse gases, we have a special responsibility to lead the global effort against climate change,” President Obama said in China.

“Today, I can also announce that the United States has set a new goal of reducing our net greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2025. This is an ambitious goal, but it is an achievable goal. It will double the pace at which we’re reducing carbon pollution in the United States. It puts us on a path to achieving the deep emissions reductions by advanced economies that the scientific community says is necessary to prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate change.

It will help improve public health. It will grow our economy. It will create jobs. It will strengthen our energy security, and it will put both of our nations on the path to a low-carbon economy.

“This is a major milestone in the U.S.-

China relationship, and it shows what’s year. Obama set an ambitious target to cut possible when we work together on an emissions “in the range of 17 percent beurgent global challenge. In addition, by low 2005 levels” by 2020.

This target is being met by a series of making this announcement today, together, we hope to encourage all major economies Obama initiatives: appliance efficiency to be ambitious -- all countries, developing standards that will save American consumand developed -- to work across some of ers more than $450 billion on their utilthe old divides so we can conclude a strong ity bills through 2030; standards that will increase fuel economy to the global climate agreement equivalent of 54.5 miles per next year.” gallon for cars and light-duty The GOP predictably trucks, nearly doubling fuel howled, pledged to impeach, efficiency and saving consumdeny funding and even shut ers $1.7 trillion at the pump; down the government, and released the first-ever proposin equally fast order passed al for carbon pollution stanits approval of the Keystone dards for both new and existXL Pipeline (which, if anying power plants; increased thing is the “red cape in front KAREN RUBIN electricity generation from of the bull, Keystone is to enPulse of the Peninsula solar more than ten-fold, and vironmentalists). tripled electricity production The incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch {“Coal Country”) from wind power; invested more than $80 McConnell pooh-poohed the China agree- billion in clean energy technologies.

The new emission reduction target ment, saying “It’s distressing.”

Speaker of the House John (“I’m No that the President announced in China will Scientist”) Boehner claims that reducing roughly double the pace of our carbon polcarbon emissions is “job crushing” - ex- lution reduction - from 1.2 percent per year cept that Obama has already significantly from 2005 to 2020, to 2.3-2.8 percent from reined in carbon emissions and instead of 2020 to 2025.

“This target keeps us on track to rethe “jobs crushing” of Bush (8 million jobs lost), Obama has created 10.2 million jobs. duce our carbon pollution on the order of The economy is thriving - well, except for 80 percent by 2050, and means the U.S. is doing our part to keep global temperatures paychecks for working stiffs.

When President Obama took office in from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius,” 2009, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were said John Podesta, Counselor to the Presiprojected to continue increasing indefi- dent.

The President’s actions are all the more nitely, at a rate of about 1.2 percent each

critical in light of recent reports: “Pentagon Signals Security Risks of Climate Change” and “U.N. Panel Warns of Dire Effects From Lack of Action Over Global Warming” (nothing new, they have been sounding the alarm for years, but the alarms are getting more frantic).

Oklahoma Sen. James (“Climate Change is a Hoax”) Inhofe, slated to become chairman of the Environmental Committee, stated, “The idea that our advanced industrialized economy would ever have zero carbon emissions is beyond extreme and further proof that the IPCC is nothing more than a front for the environmental left.” He also said that it is not for man to challenge God’s will, “My point is, God’s still up there. The arrogance of people to think that we, human beings, would be able to change what He is doing in the climate is to me outrageous.”

Climate action is all but dead in the Republican-controlled Congress. Even more threatening is that this Congress will actively roll back whatever progress has been made, pushing forward fossil fuels and killing investment incentives in renewables (just as their donor, the Koch Brothers, wanted).

Republican Tom Cotton, who ousted Sen. Mark Pryor in Arkansas, has vowed exactly that, declaring he would “unleash” the fossil fuel industries and continue to oppose policies like cap and trade and the EPA power rule.

And just when the US is taking the cruContinued on Page 48

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Great Neck Library Library Closings All Great Neck Library locations will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving.

Great Neck Library Closing/Cancellation Information Online Library patrons connected to the Internet are asked to check the website: www.cancellations. com for Library weather related closings/program cancellations.

In order to access this service, Library District residents can log on to cancellations.com, type in their zip code or Great Neck Library and obtain information on program cancellations or Library closings. In addition, at no charge, residents can request automatic emails from cancellations. com when the Library has

posted any information.

This is a great way for Library District residents who are connected online to be advised of weather related changes in Library hours or programs.

SAT Prep Course Registration The SAT Prep Course will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 25, Dec. 2, 9, Jan. 6, 13 and 20 at the Parkville Branch Library from 6 to 9 p.m., 10 Campbell Street (off Lakeville Road), New Hyde Park.

The SAT Prep Courses are taught by experienced NYS certified teachers. High School juniors and seniors, and those who have not taken this course in the past will be given priority. Registrants must be Great Neck School District residents. There is a $25.00

fee per student for the course (fee includes the textbook). Advanced registration is required and the course is limited to 25 students.

Contact Courtney Greenblatt, Young Adult Librarian, 466-8055 ext. 218 regarding any remaining openings for the class.

BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) Sale Books and Other Items Continues at Parkville The Buy One Get One Free sale including books and other items continues at the Parkville Branch, 10 Campbell Street (off Lakeville Road), New Hyde Park, and will run during regular Library hours through Nov. 30.

Please note that free items must be of equal or lesser value.

Great Neck Park District programs Weekend Film Friday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22 at 5 & 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. the film Winter’s Tale (2014), directed by Akiva Goldsman and starring Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay and Russell Crowe, will be shown at Great Neck House. The film is about a burglar who falls for an heiress as she dies in his arms. When he learns that he has the gift of reincarnation, he sets out to save her. It is rated PG13 and runs 118 minutes.

A park card required for admission.

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Monday - Friday. 9am-9pm Saturday & Sunday 9am-6pm

Sunday @ 3 Series: Linda Ipanema Sunday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m., Linda Ipanema, also known as the “Queen of Dixieland,” will be performing at Great Neck House. She is considered one of the foremost singers of Dixieland jazz. In addition to stage Broadway musicals she has appeared in leading films, such as, “A Bronx Tale,” “The Pope Of Greenwich Village,” “Once Upon a Time in America,” and in hit TV shows, such as, “Law & Order.” A park card is required for admission.

Bear Hockey Registration It’s never too late to register for the Bears Hockey Program! Children between the ages of 5 and

12 can have fun learning hockey all through the season. Fees will be prorated if you register mid-season. Enjoy learning hockey through exciting drills, special activities scrimmages, games and more. Reduced rate equipment packages are available. For more information call Dan at (516) 487-2976, ext. 128.

Defensive Driving Classes at Great Neck House Great Neck House continues to offer Empire Safety Council Defensive Driving Classes. The classes run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The

“The Queen of Dixieland”, Linda Ipanema will perform at Great Neck House this weekend. next class is Saturday, December 6. To sign up for a class or for more information, call Great Neck House at (516) 482-0355.

Nature Program: Long Walk Take a long walk in Kings Point Park on Sunday,

Nov. 30 at 12:30 p.m. You will get some exercise and learn about nature also, as we tour the perimeter of our own 175-acre preserve. Meet in the first lot at the Redbrook Road entrance. No registration is necessary.

Children under the age of 16 are not permitted to attend.

Thanksgiving Day Public Sessions at the Rink The rink is open on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27 during the following hours: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; 12:30 to 3 p.m.; 8 to 10 p.m. Skate rentals are available. Great Neck Park District fees apply.

The public session schedule is subject to change.

Call (516) 487-2975 or check website at www. greatneckparks.org for more information.

Great Neck Park District Election for Commissioner It is important for all Great Neck Park District residents to come out and vote for your Park Commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014 from 3 to 9 p.m. If you need to vote by absentee ballot, the Board of Commissioners will provide one to you.

Applications for absentee ballots are currently available at the Park District Office, 5 Beach Road and Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Avenue. If you are unable to pick up an application, call (516) 482-0181 to have one sent by mail.

The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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42 The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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Health system opens helipad service

BY B I LL SAN ANTONIO

The North Shore-LIJ Health System introduced its new ambulatory helicopter service on Thursday, an initiative that officials said would provide for a quicker transport of patients to hospitals throughout the Downstate area.

During a press conference at North Shore University Hospital, officials said the helicopter would be equipped similarly to an intensive care unit and travel an average of 130 miles per hour, allowing travel from Southside Hospital in Bay Shore to the health system’s helipad atop the Manhasset medical center in less than 10 minutes.

“This helicopter could mean the difference between life and death for critically ill trauma patients,” said Michael Dowling, the health system’s president and chief executive officer. “This helicopter enables us to avoid congested highways and provide the fastest hospital-tohospital transfers for our most vulnerable patients.”

The $7 million helicopter and $6.5 million helipad are part of the health system’s SkyHealth initiative, in partnership with the Yale New-Haven Health System in Connecticut.

SkyHealth, which took effect on Friday, will provide helicopter transport for patients of major trauma, heart attack, stroke and life-threatening brain injuries, officials said.

Up to 400 patients are expected to be transported using the SkyHealth program in the program’s first year, officials said.

Officials said construction to the helipad, located atop North Shore University Hospital, is expected to be completed in early December.

“Trauma care is based on the right patient, the right care and the right time,”

The health system’s SkyHealth helicopter (above) cost $7 million. said Dr. Matthew Bank, North Shore University Hospital’s trauma director.

“Although this is a simple concept, the unexpected and time-dependent nature of trauma care make it a difficult goal to achieve.”

Added Dowling: “The ability to get someone here quicker and save lives, that’s why we’re here doing this.”

Hospitals throughout the North Shore-LIJ Health System, which stretch-

es from Westchester to Suffolk counties, are equipped to accommodate helicopter landings, officials said.

Officials said the Nassau County Police Department, which has transported patients to hospitals by air since the 1930s, will also utilize the health system’s SkyHealth program.

“The upgrade will save lives, not just with the inter-hospital transport they’re talking about but also having this flight

pad available,” said Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, who added the system would be used to bring patients from New York City to North Shore University Hospital.

SkyHealth’s announcement comes on the heels of the American College of Surgeons’ announcement of North Shore University Hospital as a Level I trauma center, the first hospital in the area to receive the designation.

Library bond gets top Moody’s rating

By A da m L i d g e t t The Great Neck Public Library’s $10.4 million bond to renovate its Main Branch has been awarded a Aaa bond credit rating

by Moody’s Investors Service, the library learned this week.

Great Neck Library Business Manager Neil Zitofsky said the library was surprised to hear they were awarded

Moody’s highest rating.

“It is my understanding that they have never awarded a Aaa rating to a library before,” Zitofsky said. “Typically they peg it one notch below the school district.”

New playground scheduled to be installed at park soon

By A da m L i d g e t t

Parks Superintendent Peter Renick said the playground Installation of a new play- structure, which will be located ground at the Jonathan L. lelpi off Grace Avenue, is scheduled Firefighters’ Park is scheduled to to be delivered Monday and be begin shortly, the Great Neck construction will begin soon Parks Board of Commissioners thereafter.

Barring snow, the playground announced on Tuesday.

should be able to be used in the next few weeks. Renick said “We don’t want to wait till spring,” he said. “The kids will want to get on it soon.”

Renick said the commissioners hope to plan for some sort of opening ceremonies.

Zitofsky said one notch below Aaa would be Aa2. He also said the Great Neck Public Schools have a Moody’s rating of Aaa as well.

“When Moody’s was on the phone with us, they saw how strong our library’s finances looked and said they needed to reconsider their practice,” Zitofsky said, referring to the practice of giving a public library a lower rating than the school district.

What the high rating means for the library, Zitofsky said, is that library will save about $25,000 a year in debt services, because the high rating results in lower interest rates. Because the bond is for 20 years, the library will in the end save close to half a million dollars. The debt services are the semi-annu-

al payments to pay off the bond.

Zitofsky said Moody’s looked at the past six years of revenues and expenditure summaries, as well as the past six years of the library’s balance sheets.

According to the ratings report given to the library by Moody’s, the ratings service took into account the wealthy tax base of the area and the solid finances of the library in it’s determination of the bond’s rating.

Residents of the Great Neck library system approved the bond last November in a referendum.

The bond-financed renovations to the library’s Main Branch are scheduled to begin this month, and will include a new roof, insulated windows, a revamp of the HVAC system and new lighting.

The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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43

Senior apts. proposed in Manhasset

BY B I LL S A N A N TON I O

A developer seeking to convert more than three acres of the shuttered Mt. Olive Baptist Church property in Manhasset into a 72-unit housing complex has requested a change in the site’s zoning to market the proposed apartments strictly to senior tenants.

Representatives with G&G Acquisitions Group, LLC, which has an office in Jericho, presented plans before the North Hempstead Town Council on Tuesday that would rid the 3.19-acre property along Community Drive of various contaminants that have deemed it a “brownfield” site by state environmental agencies to allow for the construction of the apartments.

The town council tabled a vote on the proposed zoning change until after a future public hearing that it did not schedule on Tuesday.

Public comments submitted in writing will be accepted through the end of the month, officials said.

Linda Shaw, a partner with the environmental law firm Knauf Shaw LLP, said the property’s condition – contaminated with metals lead and arsenic, among other undisclosed toxins – exceed the requirements needed to qualify for the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Brownfield Cleanup Program. The program provides conditional tax incentives in exchange for the remediation and subsequent redevelopment of brownfield sites.

The site, she said, has become contaminated with metals like lead and arsenic as well as other undisclosed toxins due in part to occasional illegal dumping there.

An Environmental Impact Statement has been drafted for the project.

The church, which currently owns the

site, has a tax exemption on the property and is not required by law to remediate the contaminants.

“You can’t take every drop of contaminated soil out, but we’re going to try and clean up as much as we can,” Shaw said.

David Gallo, G&G’s representative at the hearing, said the project would not move forward without acceptance for the Brownfield Cleanup Program.

The proposal includes the construction of 48 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom rental apartments for tenants age 55 and older, Gallo said, as well as 98 parking spaces for residents, visitors and staff.

School-aged children, which Gallo defined as children up to 18 years old, will not be permitted to live in the proposed complex due to stipulations included in state housing grants that G&G will seek to help finance the development.

The total project cost was not disclosed during Tuesday’s hearing.

Tenants would be selected after an application process that Gallo said would include a criminal background check and income status.

He did not define how much each unit would cost but said applicants that make between $25,000 and $65,000 would be selected.

“We want this to be successful not just for the current residents that would be there but for the future residents there years from now,” Gallo said.

The apartment complex is expected to have minimal impact on traffic in the area, which includes Community Drive and neighboring residential roadways, said engineer Sean Mulryan, of the Garden City firm Mulryan Engineering, P.C. The proposal received the support of several members of the nearby Spinney

Verizon seeks use of tower

BY A M A N DA BERNOCCO Verizon Communications has applied to sublease the Village of Thomaston’s cell tower located at its Village Hall property, officials said Tuesday.

The cell tower is currently owned and operated by Green Tower Group. Green Tower Group currently leases the tower to AT&T and Metro PCS, trustees said.

Village of Thomaston Mayor Steven Weinberg said the proposal includes the installation of an emergency generator on site, in compliance with new federal law. “[During Superstorm Sandy] everyone was down, which is what precipitated it and they

started federal regulations,” Trustee Jill Monoson said. “The whole area was down. We lost power here for maybe 10 days.”

Efforts to reach Verizon and the Green Tower Group were unavailing.

Verizon workers would install the generator, Weinberg said, and finance its installation.

Testing to the generator would be conducted between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to avoid disrupting village operations, he said.

AT&T and Metro PCS currently do not have generators at the site, Weinberg said, adding the village would not have the capability of supporting generators from three mobile providers.

Mt. Olive Baptist Church Hill community as well as former congregants of Mt. Olive Church and North Hempstead Town Councilwoman Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck), whose 4th district includes Manhasset.

“We have an opportunity here to go ahead and address property that is deemed as brownfield while we have a developer coming in trying to clean it up not just for the Spinney Hill area but for the Manhasset community and the Great Neck community,” Kaplan said.

She added: “By looking at this change in zoning, we’re also addressing some of the concerns brought to us by our seniors, seniors who have lived in this town, raised their families, supported the schools, the parks, and now it’s our turn to give back and try to help them out and keep this place as their residence.”

Opposition to the proposal came from Manhasset resident Martin Dekom, who lives along the nearby High Street.

He said neighboring residents do not

support the construction of an affordable housing unit there and accused the town of trying “to rezone Spinney Hill out of existence.”

“There is no guarantee the remediation will even be successful,” he said.

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth denied Dekom’s allegation.

Gallo said he has met with community organizations and residents whose homes border the site and incorporated their suggestions into the plans.

In other developments: • The council approved a special-use permit for Cumberland Farms to construct a 2,719 square-foot convenience store at the Mobil gas station at 1111 Northern Blvd. in Manhasset.

• The council tabled a decision on whether to approve the installation of underground diesel storage tanks at a gas station at 80 Horace Harding Blvd. in Great Neck and a special-use permit for the conversion of the gas pumps to self-service and the construction of an overhead canopy.

The property, owned by Gray Bros. Enterprises, LTD., has operated as a gas station for more than four decades, but shifted to vehicle repair in 2012 after previous underground gas tanks were removed.

Residents on Tuesday who opposed the proposal said the property has become an eyesore in the community because of the high number of vehicles that remain on site, and that the presence of diesel fuel would lead to health hazards.

Residents who supported the proposal said the property owner should have the opportunity to once again run a gas station there and that fewer vehicles would be serviced in the future.

The council scheduled a second hearing on Dec. 9.

co m m unit y news

League of Women Voters to sponsor Constitution talk The League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset invites all to an elegant mansion and brunch to hear constitutional scholar James Coll discuss “The Constitution in America Today – Does It Still Matter?”

The occasion will be the LWV’s Fall Brunch fundraiser and the venue will be the Mansion at the Village Club of Sands Point on Sunday, Nov. 23, starting at 12 p.m.

The guest speaker will be James Coll, adjunct professor of American and Constitutional History at both Hofstra University and Nassau Community College, an NYPD detective and founder of ChangeNYS.org, a not-for-profit organization formed to educate New Yorkers about the need for non-partisan civic understanding and political reform in our state.

Coll speaks and writes often about these topics and is acclaimed for his ability to engage audiences.

The $70 fee for brunch includes a $22 tax-deductible donation to the League of Women Voters NYS Education Foundation to support future LWV education programs and voting materials.

To reserve, mail a check to the LWV NYS Education Foundation, c/o M. Bellon, 20 Briarcliff Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050. To confirm and/or ask questions, contact Anne Stokvis

at stokvisa@gmail.com or (516) 627-5011.

The Mansion is located at One Thayer Lane (off Middle Neck Road/Port Washington Boulevard/ Route 101) in Sands Point.

The League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization open to both men and women, which encourages citizens to participate in government and to influence policy through education and advocacy. lwvofportwashinton-manhasset.org

www.facebook.com/TheIslandNow

44 The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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SWAT cops help boy’s dream come true

BY B R YA N A H R E N S Zachary Cote, a 5-year-old boy battling brain cancer, had his dreams come true on Friday when three Nassau County Police Officers visited him at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park.

Lt. Tara Comiskey, and police officers David Brown and Mario Mastropierro of the Bureau of Special Operations gave Zachary the opportunity to see one of the bureau’s armored trucks. The three also gave Zachary a Special Operations hat, sweatshirt and patch.

“I haven’t seen my son smile like that in a long time,” Zachary’s mother Renee said.

Comiskey, who is Renee’s

nee said.

Renee said that the Cohen Children’s Medical Center’s treatment of Zachery in both treating him and setting up the event has been good for them.

“I’m very thankful that we landed here,” Renee said. “From the littlest thing to the biggest thing, this is the place to go to.”

Renee said that Zachery was first diagnosed with stagefour medulloblastoma, a highly malignant primary brain tumor that originates in the part of the brain, in June when they made Police officers David Brown and Mario Mastropierro with the trip from their Sound Shore Zachery. home to the Medical Center.

“We kept hearing it was allife-long friend, came up with Halloween. She said Zachary has the idea to visit Zachary after an strong interest in police offi- lergies,” Renee said.

Zachery went in for surgery Renee told her that Zachary had cers. dressed up as a SWAT officer for “It just blew my mind,” Re- on June 5, where Renee said the

surgeons believe they completely removed the cancer.

Zachary started Chemotherapy on Sept. 9., Renee said.

Renee says the cycles of therapy have been a stress on her and her husband, which have been compounded by Renee’s own medical problem. She is on disability due to being diagnosed with porphyria in 2002.

“This family couldn’t be in more need of help right now,” said Jennifer Hoffman, a family friend who started a gofundme page to support the Cotes.

Since being created five months ago the page has raised $12,675 of its $20,000 goal.

“Thank you doesn’t even seem enough for what people have contributed,” Renee said.

North Shore docs named ‘rising stars’ B i ll S an A n t on i o Two North Shore-area doctors have been deemed “Rising Stars” by a communications firm that annually publishes directories listing the region’s top health care professionals.

MSP Communications named Dr. Lee Tessler, a neurosurgeon, and Dr. Jai Grewal, a neuro oncologist, among the 2.5 percent of physicians in the New York metropolitan area to receive the distinction, according to a news release.

It was the second consecutive year that

Tessler, of Port Washington, has received the designation and the first for Grewal, of Roslyn.

Both doctors, who hold director positions with the Long Island Brain Turmor Center at Neurlogical Surgery, P.C., which has an office in Lake Success, were also recipients of the Robert Bernstein Humanitarian Award through Voices Against Brain Cancer, a national research non-profit.

“Our Long Island Brain Tumor Center at NSPC is among the nation’s best, so it is only fitting that both Dr. Tessler and Dr. Grewal have been given this elite honor,”

said Dr. Michael H. Brisman, chief executive officer of NSPC. “We congratulate them on being named to this highly selective list, which is based on peer recognition and professional achievement.”

Tessler, the center’s executive director and co-surgical director, specializes in the treatment of primary brain tumors, metastatic tumors and meningiomas.

In 2008, he was appointed assistant professor of neurosurgery at NYU Langone Medical Center, and Tessler is currently the chief of neurotrauma and chairman of Winthrop-University Hospital’s Neurosurgery

Quality Improvement Committee.

He also sits on the medical advisory boards of Voices Against Brain Cancer and VirtualTrials.org.

Grewal, the center’s co-medical director, specializes in the management of primary brain and spine tumors, central nervous system metastases and neurological complications from cancer.

He is the principal investigator of several clinical trials and is a board member of the American Cancer Society’s Nassau County division.

Research website put Police seek owners G.N. schools at the top of stolen jewelry

By A da m L i d g e t t The Great Neck Public Schools have once again been ranked as some of the top public schools in the country, this time by a website specializing in school profiles.

Niche, an Internet based research website, ranked the Great Neck Public Schools in two categories. The schools were ranked first on the list of “Best Public School Teachers in America” and sixth on the list of “Best School Districts in America.”

Niche uses reviews and opinions from students and parents as well as hard data from public databases to rank schools.

Niche said that a high teacher ranking indicates students and parents rate their teachers well, the school district provides and good environment for teaching and for teachers and that teachers themselves are invested in their students and ensure that their students’ work will have the best outcome for the students.

Niche also said that a high school district ranking indicates the schools have ex-

ceptional teachers, students and resources for learning, that the students are happy with their experiences in academics, health, sports and extracurriculars and that the schools have a diverse population and foster acceptance.

Great Neck schools also received individual rankings on the website’s “Best Public Schools in the New York City Metro Area” list.

On the list of public high schools, Great Neck South High School was ranked 11th and Great Neck North High School was ranked 34th. Some 585 public high schools were ranked.

On the list of public middle schools, Great Neck South Middle School was ranked 4th and Great Neck North Middle School was ranked 8th. A total of 1,078 middle schools were ranked.

Four schools were ranked on the list of best elementary schools in the area. E.M. Baker School was ranked third, Saddle Rock School was ranked 18th, Lakeville School was 25th and John F. Kennedy School was 66th.

By A da m L i d g e t t Nassau County Police are seeking the owners of several items discovered during an investigation of a Queens man accused of burglarizing a Lake Success home earlier this month.

Upon arresting a 29-year-old suspect idling in a car along Horizon Road, police said, they recovered a gold ring, a golden pillow sham, a gold heart and a piece of plexiglass inscribed with Chinese characters.

Police said the ring is decorated with two white horse heads, one yellow and the other silver, both with clear eyes, while the heart was encrusted with red and clear-colored stones.

The inscription on the plexiglass, when translated to English, reads, “Zeng Yan Qi, Granddaughter, College Graduation,” police said.

Police patrolling Horizon Road around 9 p.m. on Nov. 1 for a string

of recent burglaries in the area arrested the man, whose identity was not disclosed, after pulling over the silver 1998 Mercedes Benz he was driving.

The man was unable to provide a reason as to why he was parked along Horizon Street, police said.

He was charged with burglary and possession of marijuana after police discovered the drug in the vehicle.

Police said anyone with information leading to the owner of the recovered items call the department’s Third Precinct 516-573-6353 or Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800244-8477.

Reach reporter Adam Lidgett by email at alidgett@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x203 and on Twitter @ AdamLidgett. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.

The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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45

Plaza BID to sponsor scavenger hunt

By A da m L i d g e t t

A scavenger hunt scheduled for Saturday in Great Neck Plaza could lead residents to a series of shopping sprees valued between $350 and $2,500.

The scavenger hunt is sponsored by the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District and is part of American Express’ “Shop Small Business Saturday,” the business improvement district said in a release.

“Shop Small Business Saturday is a

great opportunity for our community, as well as shoppers from all our neighboring villages and towns, to celebrate our local merchants,” BID Executive Director Ron Edelson said. “There will be great sales offering shoppers fantastic value and savings, and of course a day of fun and intrigue with our first ever scavenger hunt promotion.”

Scavenger hunters will be required to find, through a series of clues - 14, 5-foot tall giraffes that will be placed in stores and on sidewalks located through-

out Great Neck Plaza’s downtown shopping district. Clues to the location of the giraffes will be on the Great Neck Plaza BID’s website starting Nov. 19.

Each of the giraffes will have a letter printed on the torso. The 14-letter, twoword phrase will have to then be deciphered in order to enter the contest to win the shopping spree.

First place is a $2,500 shopping spree, and second and third places will have a $350 shopping spree in Great Neck Plaza.

Those who wish to participate can

enter the contest at www.ShopGreatNeck. com. Shoppers can enter through Nov. 30.

All the businesses participating Saturday are within walking distance of the Long Island Railroad Great Neck station.

Parking is available on-street, in municipal parking fields and in garages.

Small business Saturday was introduced in 2010, and is a “day for both business owners and shoppers to celebrate local business,” according to the release.

READERS WRITE

Nachmanoff listens to the taxpayers

I

t is with great pleasure that I am supporting Dan Nachmanoff for re-election to the Great Neck Park Board of Commissioners.

I first met Dan three years ago at a Tuesday morning parks meeting. This was the initial meeting I attended and it was in order to recommend a performer (Delfeayo Marsalis) be signed for a summer concert.

It was the first time a resident

ever suggested a specific act to be hired. Dan thought it was exciting to have input from a local taxpayer.

The very next summer, we all enjoyed a wonderful jazz concert from Mr. Marsalis.

Dan was a driving force behind this. He listens to his constituents and encourages participation.

After all, ultimately, it is we who pay the bills. You can approach Dan at any time and he is

always courteous.

He also answers all emails promptly, which is a rarity among many public officials. As if he is not busy enough, in his “free-time,” Dan volunteers his dental expertise to needy people My conversations with Dan and watching him in action confirm the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?” Dan is obsessed with doing a good job for all of us. He is

always thinking of ways to improve our wonderful park and how we can save money, too.

Dan also tries to publicize local talent.

When he was informed that local musicians were not able to secure a booking at the Sunday concert series, that was immediately rectified.

I am very proud of our Great Neck Parks District. It is wonderful.

We have a great swimming pool, tennis courts, and ice arena.

Every summer I look forward to the outdoor concert series at Steppingstone.

Let us all continue to move forward, with Dan’s leadership.

Alan Engle Great Neck

co m m unit y news

Residents, officials team up to save lighthouse North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth teamed up with the Great Neck Historical Society and Great Neck Park District for a presentation on the importance of saving the Stepping Stones Lighthouse before hundreds of students at Great Neck JFK Elementary School on Nov. 10.

Bosworth opened up the assembly and talked about the importance of the lighthouse, what the town is doing to take care of it, how they can help in the restoration process, and why it is important to preserve the town’s history.

Great Neck Park District Commissioner Bob Lincoln and Great Neck Historical Society President Alice Kasten were also on hand for the presentation. The school has adopted the Stepping Stones Lighthouse as a school-wide project and the students have made models of the Lighthouse and created a bulletin board about the subject.

The town is currently working in conjunction with the Great Neck Park District and Great Neck Historical Society on fundraising efforts. To help save the Stepping Stones Lighthouse, log on to www.greatneckhistorical.org/news.html.

from left: Robert Lincoln, Commissioner Great Neck Park District; Alice Kasten, President of the Great Neck Historical Society; North Hempstead Town Supervisor, Judi Bosworth; and Ron Gimondo, Principal JFK Elementary School.

46 The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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school news

Schools to perform Center offers adult in state concert learning programs Sixteen Great Neck Public Schools secondary students have been accepted to perform in the New York State Band Directors Association Honor Concert Bands. A middle school student was named an alternate.

Honor Concert Band performances will be held in Syracuse, in early March 2015, and will be conducted by college wind-ensemble directors.

Students were selected for the Honor Concert Bands by a statewide panel of music educators who evaluated recordings of student performances.

High School Honor Concert Band Participating in the High School Honor Band from North High School will be Matthew Han (trumpet), Zachary Han (clarinet), and Man Yung Hon (alto saxophone).

Their music teacher is Joseph Rutkowski.

Participating from South High School will be Katelyn Chang (flute) and Maximilian Manicone (guitar). Katelyn is a student of Mark Boschen, and Max is taught by

Michael Schwartz, performing arts department head.

More than 425 applications were submitted for High School Honor Concert Band consideration. From these, 115 students were chosen to participate.

Middle School Honor Concert Band Participating in the Middle School Honor Concert Band from North Middle School will be Joshua Rothbaum (trumpet). Alexander Sum (alto saxophone) was chosen as an Alternate. Their instrumental music teacher is Matthew Trinkwald.

South Middle School’s Honor Concert Band participants will be: Jeremy Chen (oboe), Christiana Claus (flute), Michelle Foo (oboe), Andersen Gu (alto saxophone), Rachel Kim (flute), Samuel Levine (flute), Eric Madenberg (percussion), Noah Sheidlower (trumpet), Eric Yang (clarinet), and Michael Lu Zhang (clarinet). Their teacher is Alan Schwartz, music department head.

o n e a c ts

If you are an adult and you want to learn English or improve your Englishlanguage skills, or if you want to earn a high school equivalency diploma, the Great Neck Public Schools Adult Learning Center at Clover Drive offers a variety of classes—days and evenings—designed to meet your needs.

English-language classes range from beginning literacy to advanced ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). In preparation for the TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion) examination (formerly known as the GED exam), classes are available to improve math, reading, science, social studies, and writing skills.

Once enrolled, students may also take elective classes such as Crossroads Café, Citizenship, Conversational English, and English Club, to name a few, at no additional charge.

Registration for classes must be done in person at the Adult Learning

Center, 105 Clover Drive. Please allow two hours to complete the registration process. Register on Wednesday, Dec. 3, or Thursday, Dec. 4, from 9 a.m.–Noon, or from 6–9 p.m., or on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m.–Noon. Preference will be given to Great Neck residents and previous Adult Learning Center students.

The annual, non-refundable processing fee for Adult Learning Center classes is $35 for those who live or work in Great Neck (proof of residency or employment is required), and $75 for nonresidents. Payment, at time of registration, can be made in cash, or by credit card, check or money order (payable to Great Neck Public Schools).

For more information, please refer to the Adult Continuing Education catalog, phone the Adult Learning Center at (516) 441-4950, or visit the Adult Learning Center Web site at http://alc. greatneck.k12.ny.us.

Rent actor offers insight to students

Photo by Bill Cancellare

Great Neck North Middle will present an evening of One-Act plays on Nov. 25.

Great Neck North Middle School will present an evening of One-Act plays on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 7:30 p.m., in the school auditorium, 77 Polo Road.

Plays to be performed will include: The Audition, written by Carol Gladstone; The Snack Machine, written by Harry Michael Bagdasian; Barbie and Ken Break Up and Nerds in Love, written by Judy Wicklund; and Shadows: An anti-bullying dramatic experience, written by the Franklin Township Board of Education. The group will also perform The Lost Coca-Cola Card, an original play written by eighth-grader Emma Young. This charming play pokes

fun at the power of greed.

Shadows will be the featured play of the evening. It combines perspectives from three characters—the bully, the victim, and the bystander. This emotionally driven play conveys the consequences of bullying.

Marissa Dove, One-Acts director/ English teacher says, “The students’ dedication, talent, and drive, paired with the well-written skits, is sure to deliver an enjoyable evening.”

For more information, please contact Ms. Dove at (516) 441-4544, or at mdove@greatneck.k12.ny.us.

Photo by Jessica K. Vega

Actor Anthony Rapp (right) interacted with North High students during their dress rehearsal for Rent. Drama teacher Jonathan Gellert is at left.

Great Neck North High School students were recently visited by Broadway actor Anthony Rapp during their dress rehearsal for Rent. Rapp originated the role of Mark Cohen in the Broadway production of Rent in 1996, and is currently appearing in If/Then.

Rapp spoke with students about connecting during their performances by not anticipating but rather, living in the moment. He also worked with students to get

behind the language of the story, explaining how some seemingly contradicting lyrics give greater meaning to each other.

Among other significant issues, Rent deals head-on with AIDS at the height of its crisis, in the early 1990s. Rapp emphasized the importance of “living with and not dying from disease” as a metaphor for embracing and accepting challenges in life, rather than rejecting them.

The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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47

Dolan announces resignation as super Continued from Page 1 announcement will not create a disruption of work or leadership.

The search for a new superintendent began Tuesday, she said.

Board Vice President Lawrence Gross said the district plans to continue the things Dolan set in motion.

“There are many wonderful things that occur in the district

each day,” Gross said. “One of the wonderful things about this district is its reputation it earned because of the hard work of Mr. Dolan.”

Dolan has been the superintendent of the Great Neck public schools since July 2009, when he replaced Ronald Friedman, according to the district’s website.

He had worked as the superintendent of the Franklin Square

Elementary School District since 2004. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1978 with bachelors of arts in history and psychology, according to the district.

As superintendent, Dolan said he is most proud of “continuing to enhance the district despite the oppressive influence of New York state on public education.”

Dolan includes the state tax

cap, which limits the amount school districts can increase their tax levies, and the “poorly designed and administered” state tests given to students as ways the state is intruding on public education.

“Despite those attacks the Great Neck Public Schools have risen to the challenge and gotten better,” he said.

Dolan also released the pro-

posed school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year. Dolan said he was getting the calendar out early so that there will be enough time for parents in the district to review it.

The school district, Dolan said, preserved every religious holiday residents in the past have said they consider important.

Manhasset water-fire district race heats up Continued from Page 4 ernment,” she said. “There has to be a point where municipalities have to communicate with each other and come up with the most mutually-beneficial solutions to these issues, and it’s better if you don’t have to do that in court.”

“Whether [Munsey Park] has the legal right to stop this,” she said, “we’re waiting to find out what the answer’s going to be on that.”

DeMartin said the litigation

did not play in a role in his decision not to seek re-election. He said he decided against seeking a third term in June.

“I enjoy situations like that.

Controversy and hard government are not things I shy away from in any way shape or form.

I like that type of situation,” DeMartin said. “As far as I’m concerned though, [the Munsey Park tank] has been put to rest.

We prevailed legally and we’ll go forward with the elevated tank.”

“The second elevated tank is an exclamation point on my career,” he added. “It kind of brings my time with the district full circle for me.”

Sauvigne said he is running on a platform in which “accountability and transparency equals trust.”

If elected, he said he would increase transparency by listing minutes of public commissioner meetings on the district’s website and push back meetings

from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. so more residents would be able to attend.

He’d also seek to prioritize spending by designating potential capital projects as “needs,” “wants” or “desires.”

“I am not running for this office for the compensation or benefits but rather to make a difference,” he said. “I believe it is time for a change. We could use a breath of fresh air in the district.”

Altmann said she would also advocate for increased transparency between Manhasset-Lakeville and the villages it serves.

She said she plans on reaching out to each of the village mayors in the next few weeks to discuss the issues she thinks face the district.

“To me, the more public participation, the better,” Altmann said. “That’s just how I operate.”

Great Neck Community Calendar FREE ESL/CITIZENSHIP CLASSES Free access to legal counsel at St. Aloysius R. C. Church, 592 Middle Neck Rd. Great Neck. Classes run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. To register, please call (516) 867-3580.

Super-power Status.” We break for lunch at 12 p.m.

So, bring some lunch and join us! Current Events discussion will be led by Ron Ullmann. Refreshments ,coffee and tea will be served. The book club and science club meet at 1 p.m.

REAP REAP, retired, energetic, active people, meets Tuesday, Nov. 25 at the Cumberland School, 30 Cumberland Ave., Great Neck.

At 9 a.m., Les Penner will present, “Salt, Its History and Mystery.” The general meeting will commence at 10:30 a.m. “My Opinion” will be offered by Bernie Finkle. Aaron Reisfeld will discuss, “China’s Bid for

KOCHAVIM GROUP FUNDRAISER The Kochavim Group of Great Neck Hadassah is holding its biggest fundraiser for the year, a ladies night out, on Dec. 3, at Temple Beth-El, 5 Old Mill Road, Great Neck at 6:30 p.m., featuring Karen Bergreen, comedian and author, a regular at Gotham and The Comic Strip in NYC. She has appeared

on VH1, Court TV, and USA Networks. It’s a fun night to shop at exciting boutiques and includes a buffet dinner and cocktails.

Hope Gany, former Chapter and Kochavim president will be honored at the event.

Womanspace A discussion group devoted to issues concerning women. Weekly meetings are held every Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Great Neck Senior Center, at 80 Grace Ave, Great Neck. New members welcome. For more info call Joan Keppler at (516) 487-5844.

Lions club hearing aid program

The Great Neck Lions Club is pleased to announce their participation in “Lions Lend An Ear,” a program of the Nassau County district of Lions Clubs International. The program provides hearing aids and related products and services at no cost to hearing impaired individuals who qualify based on financial need and communication need. Great Neck Lions Club is asking the local places that accept donated eyeglasses to accept used hearing aids as well. Note: The hearing aids should be placed in the eyeglass collection boxes located in all the Great Neck Libraries as well as offices of the Village of Russell Gardens, Village of Great Neck Plaza

and the Village Hall on Baker Hill Road.

Free Exercise Classes Ongoing Program - FREE Silver Sneakers Exercise Classes For All Levels: Balance, agility, strengthening, endurance and osteoporosis for eligible seniors.

Monday through Saturday.

Garden City, Roslyn and Great Neck. Call for more details, including seeing if you are eligible and class times, (516) 745-8050.

LIONS CLUB OF GREAT NECK The club meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at Bevanda Restaurant, 570 Middle Neck Road at 12 p.m. If you would

like to attend or become a member of the Lions Club, contact fernweiss@aol.com or (516) 829-5192.

ROTARY CLUB MEETINGS The Rotary Club of Great Neck currently meets every Wednesday from 8 to 9 a.m. in the boardroom of TD Bank, 2 Great Neck Road. Community residents and business members are welcome to visit Club meetings and discover how meaningful and satisfying it is to give back service to the community while networking through Rotary. For further information please see: www.clubrunner.ca/ greatneck/ or call (516) 487-9392.

It’s not your standard funeral home…it’s the standard in funeral homes.

When it comes to measuring levels of service, there are all the other funeral homes, and then there is ours. Come experience our unmatched commitment to excellence and comfortable surroundings and we think you’ll agree.

2175 Jericho Turnpike • Garden City Park, NY 11040 • (516) 747-4300

48 The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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Cities must lead climate-change fight

Continued from Page 38 cial lead in the world on climate change, you have a Senate that is all but sure to refuse to ratify a climate change treaty that might come out of Paris, in December 2015, just as, under Bush, they refused to ratify Kyoto.

Action Shifts to Cities What this means is that any sort of climate action must be in the states and even more importantly, the cities, which are, by and large, democratic and progressive (which is why Republicans work so hard to disenfranchise urban voters).

As Drew Hudson of Environmental Action noted after the midterm “shellacking”, “It wasn’t all bad news: Several cities passed bans on fracking - including Denton, in the heart of Texas oil country.”

Half of the world’s 7 billion people now live in cities and cities account for 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and it is in the cities where the most effective actions to stop the progress of Climate change and mitigate impacts, can be implemented.

There is good reason for this: people in cities are more predisposed to taking collective action, and also suffering the impacts of climate change on public health and services - and are more inclined to support government action.

Gail Collins of the New York Times called this the difference between crowded places and empty places: “It’s natural.

People who live in crowded places tend to appreciate government. It’s the thing that sets boundaries on public behavior, protects them from burglars and cleans the streets....The people who live in empty places don’t see the point. If a burglar decides to break in, that’s what they’ve got guns for....Who needs government? It just makes trouble and costs money.” (Which is why Republicans adopt tactics designed to suppress or gerrymander urban voters).

This was apparent at the 2014 Clinton Global Initiative in September: mayors of Houston, Philadelphia and Los Angeles members of President Obama’s Climate Task Force and the C40 Steering Committee - showed what can be done - is being done - even in red, fossil-fuel fired states like Texas, and are proving cities can be the more effective engines to battle Climate Change.

“The reality is the work will be done in cities, mostly by mayors, and we will drive our nations’ agenda around these,” said Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.

“We believe mayors are showing climate issues can be addressed – notwithstanding the gridlock we see in Congress and the frustration of many of Obama’s initiatives.

We believe working through governments, regional governments, can make change in this area. And I said that to the President: his boots on the ground are the mayors across America, and can take the model across the world.”

Nutter also dismissed the effect at the city level of partisanship which has caused gridlock (and worse) on the federal level.

“Partisanship is at the national level and sometimes in states, but if we don’t pick up the trash or fix a pothole..... That’s what we do, the nature of our business. What we really do is run a high-quality service corporation.”

“We’re at pivotal moment,” Nutter said. “Climate change negotiations are coming up next year in Paris. You will see outpouring of support to get more US mayors involved” where the C-40 steering committee (a global organization of cities dedicated to addressing climate change) hopes to have a “parallel” gathering to pressure national leaders.

“You feel it on the streets in New York,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, at a press conference the day after the Peoples Climate March which brought nearly 400,000 to the city. “Whether drought in California, Hurricane Sandy, rising sea levels... Cities can move the world forward, make lasting and deep change.... We don’t wait for action from Washington, we take action now.”

“Things are not happening at the national level. But [mayors are like] CEOs of local corporations and we make decisions every day; we don’t wait for national action,” Houston Mayor Annise Parker declared. “70% of greenhouse gas come from cities and 50% of world’s population live in a relative handful in megacities. The population in cities will only grow. We [mayors] can tip the balance in the right direction.”

Parker boasted that Houston reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent since 2007 and pledged additional 10 percent reduction by the end of 2015 for a total 42 percent reduction.

“I know that as a city we can do more, we can do better,” Parker said. “If cities do this, we send a message to the private sector that they need to step up as well. The best part is that many of these decisions benefit not just environment, future but our cities.”

She noted that Houston retrofitted 165,000 street lights, replacing incandescent with LED, and calculated that change will save the city $23 million a year in electricity costs alone. The city is now looking into replacing traffic lights with LED, and since the LED lights last 7 times longer, she suggested calculating the additional savings in labor costs.

But where cities differ from businesses, she says, is in their willingness to share best practices. “We take our best ideas and share with our competitors [other mayors] freely, in hopes they will be adopted, adapted, improved and then shared back again.

“Houston is the world headquarters for oil and gas, yet Houston is the largest purchaser of renewables. We get 50% of our energy needs from renewables... At the local level, we tend to be pragmatists.”

What about the upfront money that cities need to make the capital improvements? What about the push back from those who oppose any increase in property taxes? I ask.

The mayors seemed to minimize this problem.

“Many of the things require initial upfront investment,” Parker responded.

“Sometimes we get assistance from the federal level – federal initiatives. Often we make decisions with our own funds, doing cost-benefit analysis. For the switch to LED lights, we made arrangement with electric utility provider, paying out of current rates against future savings.

It wasn’t an upfront cost.” The LED

lights use less energy and last seven times as long, saving that much more money on labor to change them. “The return on investment was almost immediate - our upfront investment recouped. As CEOs, we can make the decision.”

“These decisions are about leadership,” Mayor Nutter added. “Everybody wants service, they don’t want to pay. We’re executives. We switched out traffic signals, saving $1 million on electricity – that’s real money that we were paying out and now we’re not. And we get benefits from the federal government – grants, capital dollars, general fund dollars. But these are about short-term and long term decisions.

Increasingly, you will find mayors making the longer term decision on behalf of constituents. Our cities aren’t going anywhere, we will be here a long time, we have to think long term.”

No one mentioned the reality of Philadelphia public schools being starved for funds, or a major city like Detroit being allowed to go bankrupt.

The mayors offered financial mechanisms to fund climate change initiatives: “Public-private partnerships,” Nutter added. “These are more critical, in the post-recession environment – people realizing government can’t do everything. But we can benefit from the private sector, entrepreneurial spirit, and find different ways to do things. We are not our grandparents’ government. this is a new environment.”

“Commoditize. If we participate in cap and trade, we can get up front money to do the things we want to do, by making investments we are already making,” said Parker.

But, it seems, the federal government does come into play - setting policy and regulations that guide investment, laying out predictable tax policies, providing grant money to kick start projects, incentives and other supports, so apparently, the cities aren’t such “islands unto themselves” as these mayors seemed to suggest.

“It’s important to recognize localities need support,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy interjected during the press conference. “It’s great to save money on LED and hire some teachers with savings, but they also need the federal government to support that effort as best we can – share information, new technologies, grant money - and federal policies allow this innovation to continue and actually support that.

We see in the United States a groundswell - [the People’s Climate March] was an indication of that.

“President Obama has gone out in front and is challenging US to move and take action. We need to support localities and states, because if they can figure out how to make it work economically, then we should support that, and get out of the way.

It takes leadership at all levels. It is too big a burden to ask every mayor to assume the burden of climate change. Everybody has to participate...

“The EPA did a lot of soul searching to come out with a plan. Instead of dictating to states how to get the carbon reductions we need, we learned we need to set goals and allow the ingenuity to happen – the leaders at local and state level show us how they can make it work for their economies,

their energy system – as long as we allowed the flexibility.”

McCarthy added, perhaps over optimistically (this was pre-midterms, after all), “If these mayors can do it, no reason we can’t do it at federal level,” she said.

That is less likely now with Republicans in control and pledging to use their control of the purse strings to thwart Obama on everything from immigration reform to health care to climate change; the likelihood they will refuse to ratify any international treaty, and even move forward with their pledge to neuter or shut down the EPA. Activists are beginning to put climate change impacts in economic and public health terms: “Economy-climate synergy also applies to water and land pollution, specifically that arising from cities’ wastewater disposal and solid waste management,” according to the World Resources Institute.

For suburban communities like ours, the “economy-climate synergy” means more cultivation of downtowns with mixed residential and commercial use, more mass/public transportation, building codes, LED lighting, more cultivation of safe bicycle lanes, capturing waste oil for biodiesel, energy-efficient wastewater and water treatment systems, adoption of solar panels and green roofs on government buildings and incentives for commercial structures, using electric and hybrid cars in fleets and scores of other sustainable programs, wider adoption of renewables like solar, offshore wind, hydro and geothermal.

Meanwhile, you have no less a capitalist Republican than George W. Bush’s Treasury Secretary Henry (“Bank Bailout”) Paulson warning that climate change also represents a threat to the economy and to business interests.

Climate Change “is the single biggest risk to global economy today –and not just to quality of life for future generations but economic risk,” Paulson said at the Clinton Global Initiative. “Climate Change is a unique challenge – the risks posed to the world, to global society are as much economic,” Paulson is a big advocate of putting a price on carbon as necessary to reshape the economics surrounding climate change as well as “fundamental changes in US policy.”

Climate advocates are adapting “capand-trade” into a more populist “Carbon Fee & Dividend” proposal.

As George Povall, of the newly formed Queens & Nassau branch of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, explains, in this plan, there is no “cap” since the market sets the price for carbon (Republicans should like that), and the revenues raised are distributed among the people, much like Alaska does now with distributing royalties from North Slope oil (see: citizensclimatelobby.org/ carbon-fee-and-dividend).

Undeterred by the midterms, this week Citizens’ Climate Lobby are holding Congressional briefings to explain how the proposal cuts carbon emissions and boosts the economy (see: citizensclimatelobby. org/remi-report). For information, visit citizensclimatelobby.org or email queens@ citizensclimatelobby.org.

58 The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

▼ LEGALS LRGC LLC has been formed as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Art. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of New York (SSNY) on October 16, 2014. N.Y. Office Location: Nassau Co. SSNY is designated as Agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him​/​her to: 277 Northern Boulevard, Great Neck, NY 11021 Term: Indefinite Purpose​/​Character: Real Estate GNN 140713 6x 11/14, 21, 28, 12/05, 12, 19, 2014 #140713

Notice of Formation of GLANE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/14/14. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 111 Great Neck Road, Ste. 408, Great Neck, NY 11021. Purpose: any lawful activity.

GNN 140621 6x 10/31, 11/07, 14, 21, 28, 12/05, 2014 #140621

Notice of Formation of 1319 WHR LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 10/22/14. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 111 Great Neck Road, Ste. 408, Great Neck, NY 11021. Purpose: any lawful activity.

GNN 140679 6x 11/07, 14, 21, 28, 12/05, 12, 2014 #140679

INVITATION TO BIDDERS BOARD OF EDUCATION Great Neck Union Free School District PUBLIC NOTICE: is hereby given for separate sealed single Prime Contract bids for: Auditorium A/V upgrades at South Middle School. Bids will be received by the School District Buildings and Grounds department, on December 3, 2014 at 10:00 am prevailing time in the Phipps Administration Building, 345 Lakeville Road, Great Neck, NY 11020, and at said time and place publicly opened and read aloud.

The Contract Documents may be examined (NOT OBTAINED) at the following locations beginning on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.: Office of the Architect: H2M Architects & Engineers 538 Broad Hollow Road Melville, NY 11747 (631) 756-8000 Great Neck Public School District 345 Lakeville RoadPhipps Administration Building Great Neck, New York 11020 Complete sets of Bidding Documents, drawings and specifications, must be obtained from REV, 330 Route 17A, Goshen, NY 10924, (877) 272 0216 Documents may be obtained upon a deposit of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars for each complete set. Checks for deposits shall be made payable to the district: “GREAT NECK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT” and may be uncertified. The bid deposit will be returned to all plan holders submitting a proposal, upon receipt of plans and specifications, in good condition, within thirty days after bid date, except

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for the lowest responsible bidder, whose check will be forfeited upon the award of the contract.

Any bidder requiring documents to be shipped shall make arrangements with the printer and pay for all packaging and shipping costs.

Optionally, complete digital sets of Bidding Documents, drawings and specifications, are available for download at the following website: www.gnpsprojects.com under ‘public projects’. Upon accessing this site, bidders must create a user account to access the downloadable file package. Upon download of file package, the bidder will be immediately listed as a valid plan holder. Any questions regarding the use of this site can be directed to REV (877) 272- 0216.

All bid addenda will be transmitted to registered plan holders via email and will be available at www.usinglesspaper. com and www.gnpsprojects. com. Plan holders who have paid for hard copies of the bid documents will need to make the determination if hard copies of the addenda are required for their use, and coordinate directly with the printer for hard copies of addenda to be issued. There will be no charge for registered plan holders to obtain hard copies of the bid addenda.

A pre-bid meeting and walk thru is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Wednesday , November 26, 2014 at the project site. Potential bidders are asked to gather in the lobby at which time they will be escorted to the area of work. Although not mandatory, it is highly recommended that all potential bidders attend.

The Contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder or the proposals will be rejected within 45 days of the date of opening proposals.

Bids sha ll be subjec t, however, to the discretionary right reserved by the School District to waive any informalities in, accept or reject any alternatives, reject any proposals and to advertise for new proposals, if in its opinion the best interest of the School District will thereby be promoted. ach bidder may not withdraw his bid within 45 days after the formal opening thereof. A bidder may withdraw his bid only in writing and prior to the bid opening date.

Dated: November 14, 2014

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION GREAT NECK UFSD GNN 140743 1x 11/21/2014 #140743

To Place Your Ad Call: 516.307.1045

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New candidates want to change park district board Continued from Page 2 Great Neck Park District is different than any of the other candidates.”

Falk said she would like the park district to build an indoor recreation center that is open year round and to create more activities for residents 50 and older. She said she would also like the district to build an additional indoor skating facility for year-long use as well as address the high costs of pool membership.

Stein said he decided to finally get his name on the ballot after having a heated discussion with friends on the issues facing Great Neck.

He said he wants to make sure that the people who use the Great Neck parks are heard and listened to by the

commissioners.

Too many Great Neck residents, Stein said, are apathetic, which is why they don’t come out to the polls.

“It’s a no brainer to have maybe one or two times a year we invited people to come to a town hall type meeting to be heard,” he said.

Stein said his experience at North Shore Décor, where he does a lot of his own window treatment installations, and his time before that in the catering business provide him with the kind of skills needed on the park district board – planning and working with one’s hands.

Stein said he also believed the job of a park commissioner is to listen to others’ ideas and assess their feasibil-

ity and work hard on implementing measures.

Residents of the Great Neck Park District, which includes all Great Neck villages and unincorporated areas with the exception of Great Neck Estates, Harbor Hills, Lake Success, Saddle Rock and University Gardens - can cast their votes on Dec. 9 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. . at one of four polling sites.

The polling sites are Great Neck House, located at 14 Arrandale Ave., E.M. Baker Elementary School, located at 69 Baker Hill Road, Great Neck Social Center, located at 80 Grace Ave., or at the Manhasset-Lakeville Firehouse located at 97 Jayson Ave.

Developer granted tax breaks for Grace Avenue project Continued from Page 1 years, and 2.6 percent in the final five years, said Chris Coschignano, the counsel to developer Hooshang Nematzadeh. Nematzadeh, who is president of the Great Neck Chamber of Commerce and a trustee of the Village of Kings Point, filed for financial assistance in May. “Without the [tax] relief the project could not get done,” Coschignano said.

The complex, which will cost $12 million to construct, was approved in December 2013 by the Village of Great Neck Plaza’s Board of Trustees and its Board of Zoning Appeals in January.

It is the first building of its kind to fall within the village’s Business B zoning district, which allows residential units to be constructed atop storefronts and offices.

But Plaza officials joined Great Neck residents in September in expressing opposition to Nematzadeh receiving tax breaks on the development, saying that the proposed tax breaks would put a financial burden on taxpayers.

“I don’t think that’s fair,” Great Neck Plaza Trustee Gerry Schneiderman said at the time. Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender said at the time she was worried the tax breaks would take money away from the village.

Great Neck School District officials have also said they were worried about the effect the tax breaks on the project would have on school revenues.

Great Neck Public Schools Superintendent Tom Dolan, speaking in

response to the announcement about the tax breaks, said he is critical of any property being taken off the tax roll, and that it will lead to an increase in taxes.

“Such decisions need to be made with greater care,” Dolan said.

Residents have complained that tax breaks should only be allowed in cases where someone wants to build in under-developed areas, and that Grace Avenue is not an underdeveloped area.

Efforts to reach Schneiderman and Celendar were unavailing.

Joseph Kearney, the IDA’s executive director, said Nematzadeh will

be able to save up to $229,350 in total tax savings under the program In lieu of the county’s one-time improvement tax, which is instituted when construction to a property increases its value, the board approved Coschignano’s request that Nematzadeh pay the total over a 14-year period.

Kearney said the proposed complex will be attractive and consistent with the aesthetics of the village.

About 40 jobs are expected to be created for the construction, IDA officials said, including two full-time positions.

school news

GNPS show available online Two current GNPS/TV programs—South High School’s opera, The Magic Flute, and Focus on Education, an interview with Kathleen Murray, the new assistant principal at the John F. Kennedy School—are now available on demand via these Web sites: http://tv.greatneck.k12. ny.us/on-demand.html and http:// tv.greatneck.k12.ny.us/the-magicflute-at-south-high---2014.html.

Both the opera and the interview, and North Middle School’s Art Show & Choral Concert, may also be viewed on cable TV in the incor-

porated villages of Great Neck via Cablevision Channel 75 and Verizon Channel 32. The North Middle Art Show and Choral Concert airs at 9 a.m. and at 2 and 7 p.m. The Magic Flute view times are 10 a.m. and 3 and 8 p.m. Focus on Education show times are: 1 and 6 p.m.

For information about GNPS/ TV and its programs, please contact Robert Zahn, district educational cable TV producer/director, by phone at (516) 441-4676, or by e-mail at rzahn@greatneck.k12.ny.us.

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Sports

The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

59

Great Neck Bears to skate at Coliseum Great Neck Park District’s Bears Hockey Team will be making their first trip of the season, to Nassau Coliseum to watch the New York Islanders skate against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, Nov. 22.

The Bears have been invited back to participate in a between period shootout in front of the thousands of fans in atten-

dance that night.

The teammates are hoping they are permitted to watch the warm-ups from the penalty box, like they did last year. It was so exciting for them all to high-five the Islanders as they came out of their locker room.

Both the kids and their parents are anticipating what has become an exhila-

rating evening.

The Bears Hockey Team officially began their Friday night intramural games at the Andrew Stergiopoulos Ice Rink.

The 5 to 8 year olds play from 5:45-6:45 p.m. and the older players, ages 9+, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m.

Feel free to come down to be a spectator and cheer them on! Everyone is

welcome to watch these youngsters begin their hockey careers!

Registration to join the Bears is still open for those interested. We have many new players this year so you won’t feel like the new kid on the block! Please call Hockey Director Dan Marsella at (516) 487-2976, ext. 128, for more information.

BERMAN RUNS

Long time Great Neck resident Jed Berman, completed the NYC Marathon on Nov. 2, the 12thtime he had traveresed the distance. Berman ran in honor of his late father Norman Berman and father-in-law Meyer Lazar Hershkop.

60 The Great Neck News, Friday, November 21, 2014

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