Serving New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Herricks, Garden City Park, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Floral Park
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Friday, February 19, 2016
vol. 65, no. 8
N E W H Y D E PA R K
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y 19, 2016 special section • februar
Less $$$ seen at Belmont casino
winter BLaZe
Lower revenue than Westbury projected By N o a H M a N s k a r The revelation that a video casino proposed for Belmont Park would produce less revenue there than at a different site doesn’t change much for some local backers and opponents. Opponents of Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.’s plan for a gambling hall at the Elmont racetrack’s grandstand say a Dec. 9 study showing it would produce $44.4 million less revenue there than in Westbury further proves it isn’t a suitable site. But OTB and one civic leader who supports the plan say the casino will likely capture more revenue than the study estimates. “If they do the right job at Belmont, they could far exceed those numbers,” said Patrick Nicolosi, president of Elmont’s East End Civic Association. Continued on Page 57
PHOTO BY LEE gENSER
The New Hyde Park fire department was one of four companies that had members respond to a house fire at the Whitewood condominium complex in North Hills last week. See story on page 11.
Jury convicts man in cop’s death James Ryan guilty of manslaughter, faces up to 15 years in prison By J oe N i k i c The man charged with causing the death of Nassau County police officer Joseph Olivieri on the Long Island Expressway four years ago was found guilty of manslaughter on Thursday. James Ryan, 28, of Oakdale,
faces up to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter conviction. Ryan had faced a top count of aggravated vehicular homicide, in which he would have faced up to 25 years in prison, but was not convicted on the charge. Nassau Assistant District Attorney Michael Bushwack said Ryan was a “dangerously drunk” driver who caused two crashes leading to the death of the then 43-yearold police officer.
At 4:43 a.m. on Oct. 18, 2012, a car driven by Ryan allegedly crashed into and disabled a car while he was driving drunk on the Long Island Expressway and then fled the scene, heading toward the Shelter Rock Road exit. His car then hit another car, which injured the driver and caused Ryan’s car to stop against the center divider on the highway, prosecutors said. Olivieri, a member of the Nassau County Highway Patrol
Bureau, responded to the scene. Francis Belizaire’s Cadillac Escalade hit and killed him while he was caring for injured drivers in the HOV lane. Belizaire, 50, of Bay Shore, testified in court on Jan. 25 that he did not have enough time to avoid Olivieri after seeing the police officer standing in the HOV lane of the Long Island Expressway, according to Newsday. “When I saw Officer Olivieri, I tried to brake my vehicle Continued on Page 58
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