Herald courier 12 30 16

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Serving New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Herricks, Garden City Park, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Floral Park

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Friday, December 30, 2016

Vol. 65, No. 53

N E W H Y D E PA R K

‘ ‘LOST AND FOUND’ AT GOLD COAST A

NORTH SHORE’S TOP 10 STORIES

ISRAEL TO LEAD GLOBAL INSTITUTE

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City cops get more benefits than in Nassau NYPD pays health insurance in full, offers unlimited sick days for officers ent healthcare plan, the county will pay the equivalent of 85 percent of the Empire Plan toward the Although Nassau County po- alternative. The Nassau County comptrollice officers earn an average salary double that of New York Police ler’s office said as of July, there Department officers, city-based was a new Aetna Health Insurance officers receive a larger benefits plan offered to officers who started package than their suburban coun- after April 1, 2014, in which they can enroll for no cost as it is below terparts. the 85 percent cost According to of the the current NasNassau equivalent Empire Plan. sau Police BeCounty New York City nevolent Associapays the full cost tion contract with Police Nassau County, SECOND IN A SERIES of health insurance for police officers. police officers are According to the Citizens Budeligible to receive full health benefits from the state’s “Empire Plan get Commission, the cost for health insurance coverage is $17,700 for with Core Plus.” If officers elect to receive ben- a family plan and $7,280 for a sinefits from the Empire Plan, the gle employee. The Citizens Budget contract states, they contribute 15 Commission is a “nonprofit civic percent toward the cost, while the organization whose mission is to county picks up the remaining 85 achieve constructive change in the finances and services of New York percent. The contract states that if an City and New York State governContinued on Page 36 officer decides to choose a differ-

BY J OE N I K I C

PHOTO BY NOAH MANSKAR

A student swings from rings with help from an instructor during a “Ninja Athletic Warrior” class at Progressive Gymnastics East in New Hyde Park.

NHP gym program molds kids into ‘ninja warriors’ BY N O A H MANSKAR NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” draws millions of viewers each week who watch as highly trained athletes tackle the show’s notorious obstacle course. Now some of the show’s youngest fans can become “ninjas” themselves at Progressive

Gymnastics East in New Hyde Park, which has developed a physical fitness program based on the show, complete with its own obstacle course, for children ages 4 to 13. The program has grown from about 50 children when it started in October 2015 to about 250 this fall, said Wendy Cassell, the gym’s founder and director.

They love getting a chance to emulate their favorite ninjas from the show, but the program is also an engaging way to teach children how to set goals and work toward them, said Antonio Rogers, one of its head teachers. He helped develop the curriculum with Cassell’s daughter Alexis Valvis, a Great Neck Continued on Page 36

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