Friday, December 25, 2015
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the PULSe oF the PeNiNSULa
vol. 90, no. 52
TO
GUIDE ing New Year’s Din
NeW year’S PLaZa eyeS PLaN kaiMaN eyeD DiNiNG GUiDe For CLiMate-aCtioN For LiPa Ceo 2015 • decemb er 25, tions special section / litmor publica a blank slate media
PAGEs 27-38
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Kings Point calls on state for park help
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F E s t I VA L O F L I G H t
Village urging residents to sign petition for Martins, Schimel aid By J oe N i k i C The Village of Kings Point is urging its residents to sign a petition asking state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola) and state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel’s (DGreat Neck) to support legislation that would allow the village to keep its public works building on a portion of Kings Point Park. The legislation would allow the village to avoid the demolition of the public works facility as required under a 2014 state Court of Appeals ruling that found the village had violated state law in building it there in 1946. “Kings Point residents need to show lawmakers our unified support in favor of the adoption of this state legislation,” the newsletter said. “Please don’t allow complacency to dictate an outcome that will have severe financial consequences for our community.” The newsletter, which was sent to village residents in December, presents the cost of razing the
public works building and constructing one on another site and asks that they sign the petition. Village of Kings Point attorney Stephen Limmer said it will cost the village $1 million to comply with the court’s ruling. “The cost would be to find a place for a new facility and to build the new facility and the combined cost of everything estimates to one million,” Limmer said. This, he said, does not include the demolition of the existing facility. The Great Neck Park District has jurisdiction over the park and would be responsible the cost of tearing down the building, he said. The state Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed a state Supreme Court’s 2011 ruling that the Village of King Point’s plan to raze the 5.45 acres of Kings Point Park for a department of public works building violated state law, and ordered the removal of a village salt shed on the property. The court said the salt shed, Continued on Page 52
PHOTO / © 2015 KAREN RUBiN/NEWS-PHOTOS-fEATURES.COM
Lt. fionna Boyle at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s 38th annual festival of Lights interfaith holiday celebration. see more phots on Page 47.
G.N. native takes star turn as lead in ‘The Nutcracker’ By J oe N i k i C
young age. “I was very, very shocked. After being chosen to play I was so surprised just because the lead role in the New York I felt lucky enough to be the City Ballet’s Dec. 27 produc- Dewdrop last year at 19,” said tion of “The Nutcracker,” Ash- Hod, 20, who grew up in Great ley Hod said she was surprised Neck. “I’m so young and have by her selection because of her a whole career ahead of me. It
wasn’t even on my radar to say the least.” The Sugar Plum Fairy role, she said, is typically given to one of the principal dancers, which is the highest level of dancer in the ballet. She said Continued on Page 62
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