Friday, August 7, 2020
Vol. 96, No.51
FOUNDED 1923
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Social distancing?
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Veterans ‘picnic’ PAGE 42
Supervisor presses MTA to discuss poles
© 2020 DOUGLAS 110 WALT WHITMAELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. EQUAL HOU SING N ROAD, HUNTING TON STATION, NY OPPORTUNIT Y. 11746. 631.549.740 1
Western POA group examines firehouse redesign plans BY RIKKI MASSAND
Town of Hempstead Supervisor and village resident Donald X. Clavin, along with Councilmen Dennis Dunne and Thomas Muscarella (standing behind him) speaks on opposing the monster utility poles along the LIRR Third Track project in the Estates. The press conference was held on Merillon Avenue, on resident Kathy Auro’s front lawn. BY RIKKI MASSAND Town of Hempstead Supervisor and Garden City resident Donald X. Clavin has stayed aggressive in pursuing answers and eventually, the removal of the “Monster Poles” plaguing the northern end of the Estates section of the village, as Clavin will seek opportunities to talk with MTA/LIRR and PSEG Long Island officials about the placement of utilities. Just as summer began, Supervisor Clavin, former Town Supervisor Kate Murray, Councilman Thomas
Muscarella and Councilman Dennis Dunne delivered a press conference addressing the poles and the misguided project from Estates’ resident (and Garden City Civic Beautification Committee member) Kathy Auro’s front lawn on Merillon Avenue, facing the LIRR and looking into the sky at the 93-foot-tall poles. Over 100 residents were in attendance, though most were wearing masks and social distancing measures were taken. In an interview with The Garden City News on Wednesday August 5,
Supervisor Clavin said hundreds of Garden City residents had contacted Town of Hempstead offices asking for the Town Board’s involvement in fighting the placement of these poles in the neighborhood; more residents in other villages along the 9.8-mile stretch of the LIRR Third Track project have expressed concerns and disgust with the steel utility poles as well was worries about the impacts on housing and real estate values. Clavin recently reached out to MTA Chair Pat Foye request-
At July’s Village Board of Trustees’ meeting held over Zoom, architects for the proposed western firehouse presented its concept of the redesign. PKAD Architects & Design, represented by Frank Gucciardo, presented a concept of rebuilding and reconfiguring the western section firehouse, Garden City Fire Co. Station No. 2 at the corner of Stewart Avenue and Edgemere Road. In recent weeks the price tag for the project raised eyebrows among residents, and recently several western section residents presented concerns about the size, style and financial impact of the project to their WPOA representative VIllage trustees -- Deputy Mayor Robert Bolebruch and Trustee Stephen Makrinos. A new structure would remove the historic character of the existing building, and one architectural expert anticipated a total project cost exceeding $10 million. Many residents have posted comments online indicating their opinions; that high sum could be better spent on the multiple other Garden City capital projects, pandemic response and necessities. On Monday evening August 3, WPOA President RoseAnn Vernice See page 51
Village election Sept. 15th The election for members of the Garden City Board of Trustee, which was postponed in March due to the pandemic, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 15. Incumbent trustees Robert A. Bolebruch (Western section), John M. Delany (Eastern section), Colleen E.
Foley (Estates section) and Louis M. Minuto (Central section) are all running for reelection for their four seats. None are opposed. Voting will take place on September 15th at Village Hall, 351 Stewart Avenue, between the hours of 12 noon and 9 p.m.
See page 52
Drivable adventures: Historic Maine PAGE 27 Tropical storm downs trees across GC PAGE 26