Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
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Friday, July 29, 2022
Vol. 97, No. 30
HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY
POULTRY MARKET TO CLOSE
ROP OFFICIALS ON ANTISEMITIC FLIERS
PAGES 23-26
PAGE 2
PAGE 19
MTA plans hearings on LIRR schedule
C O N C E R T I N T H E PA R K
Meetings will give residents chance to speak on express train service BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials announced dates for two virtual public hearings for residents to discuss the proposed changes to the Port Washington branch, which has raised the ire of North Shore commuters and elected officials in recent weeks. The proposed changes, residents and officials said, would short change commuters throughout Port Washington, Plandome, Manhasset and Great Neck by decreasing express service. The changes are part of the MTA’s $11.2 billion East Side Access Project. While Long Island Rail Road officials maintained a majority of Port Washington line commuters would benefit from the updated schedule, saying that there will be a 70% increase in service during the morning and 43% increase during the evening, local officials and town residents said the agency should prioritize the travel time of its daily commuters. The two public hearings for residents to comment on the proposed schedule, which is not expected to go into effect until December, will be held on Aug. 4 from 6-8 p.m. and Aug. 11 during the same time frame.
LIRR officials said each meeting will feature a maximum of 250 registered speakers. Those interested in speaking during the Aug. 4 meeting can register on the MTA website beginning July 28. State Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) and state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Port Washington), who have spearheaded efforts to make residents’ voices heard, lauded those who have spoken up to ensure Nassau commuters have their express service maintained. It’s vital that “impacted residents have the opportunity to make their voices heard with the MTA before any service changes are decided upon,” Kaplan said in a statement. “I would like to thank all of the commuters, residents, and community leaders who attended the first public hearing and voiced their concerns to the Long Island Rail Road about the proposed schedule changes,” Sillitti said. “It is because of your activism that we reached capacity at the first hearing and will now be having two additional meetings in the near future.” Kaplan and Sillitti said more than 2,200 responses were submitted in a survey conducted over the past month, with an “overwhelming majority” being in opposition to the draft schedule. Nassau officials have been united Continued on Page 38
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GREAT NECK PARK DISTRICT
Grammy-winning musician Wyclef Jean. He performed at Steppingstone Park on Saturday.
Family injured in boat explosion on L.I. Sound BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
Nassau County Police Department. A 42-year-old man started A boat explosion in the Long a 2006 Four Winns Power Boat Island Sound in Kings Point Friday just after 4 p.m. off the coast of injured four family members, Steppingstone Park, officials said. according to officials from the The boat, which also contained the
man’s 41-year-old wife, 11-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son, then caught fire and exploded shortly after, officials said. A 13-year-old son was on a Jet Continued on Page 39
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