Serving Port Washington, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North, Sands Point
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Friday, July 29, 2022
Vol. 7, No. 30
Port WashingtonTimes HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY
BOAT EXPLOSION IN KINGS POINT
ROP OFFICIALS ON ANTISEMITIC FLYERS
PAGES 23-26
PAGE 38
PAGE 19
MTA plans hearings on LIRR schedule
SUMMER FUN
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 reg-
istered 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 in their opposition to the proposed Continued on Page 39
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COMMUNITY CHEST OF PORT WASHINGTON
The annual Port Washington-Manhasset Bay Kayak Run was held on Saturday.
Freeport man pleads not guilty to NHP crash charges BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z A Freeport driver Monday pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and DWI in a New Hyde Park car crash earlier this year that killed three women who were leaving a family member’s Sweet 16 party, ac-
cording to officials. Dante Lennon, 22, showed up in a wheelchair at his Monday arraignment after he sustained injuries in the May 21 car crash on Jericho Turnpike, according to Newsday. Lennon faces charges of first and seconddegree vehicular manslaughter, ag-
gravated vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving as well as second and third-degree assault, according to officials. Robert Gottlieb, Lennon’s attorney, told Acting State Supreme Court Judge Tammy S. Robbins that his Continued on Page 39
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