Friday,January 4, 2019
Vol. 79, No. 1
$1
SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVITTOWN
Lawsuit filed against supervisor for Sandy payments
KIDS HELPING KIDS
BY GARY SIMEONE
Hicksville Middle School’s Student Council recently collected toys for two charities that benefit children diagnosed with cancer. Under the direction of advisers Janice Fitzgerald and Jennifer Presti, the group collected toy donations from Hicksville Middle School families and staff members throughout the month of December. From left are Secretary Ariana Valte, Vice President Jack Beaudette, President Daniel George, sixth-grade liaisons Matthew Kilfeather-Bonello and John Molina, and Treasurer Pariket (Ricky) Raval. Photo courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools
Time for New Year’s resolutions to ‘take shape’ Do you plan on starting the new year with a resolution to drop some pounds, eat healthier and be more physically fit? A local businesswoman and nutrition consultant, Tami Racaniello offers Syosset, Woodbury, Plainview, and Jericho residents the opportunity to get a head start with a gameplan she’s presented in front of local business associations and individuals seeking health advice.
Racaniello first presented on maintaining fitness and nutrition at the Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce’s February 2018 meeting held at Fusion Academy of Woodbury, as she is an active member with the Chamber. She’s participated in many marquee events in the community including the Syosset Street Fair in September and the Holiday Spectacular held December 9, both along Jackson
Avenue downtown. Racaniello also has met with Chamber members for monthly meetings, grand openings and networking nights as well as at the 20th Anniversary Chamber Gala at Crest Hollow Country Club in November. In the Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce, she’s also been active, while in Jericho, she has attended meetings See page 8
In September, 2018, the Housing Trust Fund Corp., a state agency, filed a lawsuit against current Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. The lawsuit was filed in regards to undisclosed homeowner’s insurance payments stemming from Superstorm Sandy damage. The agency sued the supervisor for allegedly accepting a $15,803 grant from NY Rising Housing Recovery funds in 2015, for which he was deemed ineligible. State Senator John Brooks, who represents Nassau County’s 8th District, said in a statement that the supervisor must address these serious allegations. “Serious concerns have been raised regarding the potential misappropriation of Hurricane Sandy relief funds,” said Senator Brooks in the statement. “The Supervisor has a responsibility to address these concerns and explain exactly what happened.” Saladino, who owns a home in Massapequa, said he is still trying to recover after Sandy destroyed his home. “My home was completely destroyed by Superstorm Sandy, and it is still not fully restored,” said Saladino. “Like most others, I had to spend an enormous amount of personal funds as my insurance company did not cover the cost of repairs. I struggled like others to make sense of the assistance programs at the time while I was dealing with the loss of all my belongings. In fact, I helped countless others navigate the process as an assemblyman while putting myself last.” He said he believes he was eligible and entitled to the recovery assistance payments because insurance coverage and the NY Rising program combined paid too little relative to repairs that had to be made including building costs. “I chose to resolve this legal matter rather than litigate with NY Rising for the same assistance other See page 8
Decorating the ‘Kindness Tree’ PAGE 11 ‘Home for the Holidays’ winners PAGE 4