Friday, April 26, 2019
Vol. 79, No. 17
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SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVITTOWN
Town explains new restrictions on vape sales
BUDDY BAGS SPREAD SMILES
BY GARY SIMEONE
Student council members from Levittown’s Abbey Lane Elementary School recently created 130 “Buddy Bags” to support The Joey Foundation, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to positively impact the lives of children. The bags will be delivered to children at Cohen Children’s Medical Hospital and underprivileged children to help bring a smile to their faces. Photo courtesy of Levittown Public Schools
Last chance to grieve your taxes
Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes James J. Stefanich reminds taxpayers of their right to challenge their property tax assessment for the 2020-2021 property tax year. Grievances may be filed with the Nassau County Assessment Review Commission during the “grievance period,” which ends on April 30, 2019. Receiver Stefanich stated, “Any taxpayer who feels an error has been made regarding their property assessment should take
advantage of this opportunity to establish a correct and fair assessment value for their home. Any taxpayer who wishes to challenge their property assessment must complete the necessary forms and return them to Nassau County Assessment Review Commission.” The Nassau County Assessment Review Commission is located at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY, 11501. Assessment challenges must be postmarked
by April 30. To receive an application in the mail, or receive assistance over the phone, The Assessment Review Commission may be contacted at (516) 5713214. . Receiver Stefanich has made applications available at his offices located at Town Hall North, 74 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay and Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa.
Tighter restrictions are coming to hookah lounges and vaping products being sold within the Town of Oyster Bay. The announcement was made at a press conference at the YES Community Counseling Center In Massapequa last Monday. “The intent of this legislation is to keep these stores out of our downtowns and away from schools and parks to protect our children,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino at the conference. “Recent studies have shown a troubling increase in the use of vaping products among our youth.” One of the statistics he cited from the New York State Health Department, showed a 160% increase in the number of young people smoking e-cigarettes in the last five years. “That’s a very frightening statistic. E-cigarettes pose a serious risk to young people and their dangers are extensive,” said Saladino. The new restrictions include all establishments that sell vaping products to post signage warning of the dangers of e-cigarette use. All hookah lounges, smoke shops and vape shops opening within town borders will only be permissible to open in an industrial zone area. “We are trying to keep them away from schools, from homes, from houses of worship in our downtowns. In addition smoke and vape shops and lounges will be restricted from opening 1,000 feet from a residential zone as well as a school, library, church, any place of worship, parks and playgrounds.” Jay, the manager of Smoke Stax Tobacco Shop in Hicksville, said that these new restrictions would have a detrimental effect on his business. “It will have an effect big time on my ability to make a living,” said Jay, who did not want his last name used. Hopefully this won’t put us out of business because products like soda and candy are not selling like they used to. There is a lot of competition out there.” Saladino said that he hopes the new initiatives will protect young people and the overall quality of life in the Town. The Town Board is expected to hold a vote on the new legislation in a town meeting in May.
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