Serving The Willistons, Albertson, Herricks, Mineola, and Searingtown
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Friday, September 2, 2016
vol. 65, no. 36
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16 r 2, 20 embe • sept section special media slate nk a bla
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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PREVIEW
EW ED BOARD OKs SETTLEMENT
MARTINS, PIDOT, SUOZZI SQUARE OFF
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lirr revises scope of 3rd track review Critics remain skeptical, Floral Park opponents see no benefit By N o a h M a N s k a r The Long Island Rail Road pledged to examine how its proposed third track project will affect emergency services, parking and public health in the final “scoping document” released last Friday. The 136-page document is a revised outline of an environmental study of the project that incorporates more than 750 public comments submitted through mail, email, the project’s website and at public hearings in May, which more than 1,200 people attended. Much of the document is identical to the draft scope released in May, but the LIRR included new project details and maps showing the lines of the LIRR’s right of way, within which Gov. Andrew Cuomo has promised the project will be built to avoid taking any residential property. But it still leaves some opponents of the $1.5 billion, 9.8-mile proposal to add a track from Floral
Park to Hicksville with questions and worries that the project will do more harm than good. “As of right now I can’t see this project having any positive impact for Floral Park, and if the project’s going to go through, we have to figure out a way to get something out of this deal,” said Matthew Sexton, a Floral Park civic leader. In response to public comments, the LIRR says it will study how project construction could affect emergency service routes and the effects of potentially harmful chemical particles from trains. It will also examine the number of parking spaces the project could remove and where parking could be added. While construction details are still to come, the document includes more specifics about what work the project entails. In addition to eliminating the seven street-level railroad crossings along the corridor, it will also modify seven bridges, Continued on Page 75
PHoto CoUrtEsy of HErrICks sCHooL dIstrICt
Learning the ropes assistant superintendent for business Lisa rutkoske and Herricks High school assistant Principal bryan Hodges climbed over logs and helped each other reach the top of the obstacle during the Herricks school district’s teacher training exercises. See story on page 66.
Martins’ request to delay vote for Congress rejected B y N o a h M a N s k a r request to delay it a month.
Judge Frederick J. Scullin’s The 3rd Congressional Dis- ruling in Albany federal court trict’s general election will pro- means only a month will sepaceed as planned on Nov. 8 after rate the general election and a federal judge on Tuesday re- an Oct. 6 Republican primary jected Republican Jack Martins’ between Martins and Philip
Pidot. The winner will face Democrat Tom Suozzi. Martins, an Old Westbury state senator, wanted the election moved to Dec. 6 because the Nov. 8 date would violate Continued on Page 75
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