Friday, November 30, 2018
Vol. 78, No. 48
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Eighth police precinct will reopen in Levittown
Dancing their Dreams in Plainview
BY GARY SIMEONE
Dancing Dreams participants enjoy dancing classes. BY GARY SIMEONE Dancing is an art form, and a nonprofit organization that holds classes in Plainview helps disabled kids realize their dancing potential. Dancing Dreams opened in October at the American Legion Hall. Joann Ferrara, a pediatric physical therapist, helped launch the program, after a little girl in her office stated to her that she wanted to become a dancer. “One day, I had this little girl in my office, dressed in a tiara and tutu, who said to me that she wished she could become a dancer but nobody wanted her,” said Ferrara, whose practice is located in Bayside, Queens.
“I felt so sad that a 4-year-old would say such a thing. That is what prompted me to start this program.” She said that the organization has a threefold mission which includes providing dance classes and performance opportunities for children aged 3-18 with medical and physical challenges, enhancing the leadership skills of the teenage volunteers, and providing community outreach and education in the area of disability awareness and tolerance. “These kids have physical and medical disabilities that make it hard for them to move like a typical ballerina. Many of them are in a wheelchair and suffer from disorders like cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and spinal mus-
cular atrophy. Our teachers and volunteers work with them on basic skills, hoping to improve their movement and coordination.” The dance classes are held in three locations including the American Legion Hall in Plainview, at the Bayside office and at a dance studio in Manhattan. The classes usually average 10-15 students depending on the enrollment. Classes are taught by a licensed physical therapist and an assistant physical therapy teacher. Each child in the class is assigned a volunteer to help them with their dance movements. “That is what makes these
Nassau County plans to reopen two local police precincts that had been closed due to budgetary constraints. The Eighth Precinct, which is located in Levittown, and The Sixth Precinct in Manhasset, will reopen next year after County officials agreed that the move would benefit local residents. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, who was initially against the reopening of the precincts last month, said that this financial move would be in the best interest of residents. “Government is at its finest when elected officials work together in the best interests of the people,” said Curran. “This agreement finalizes our 2019 County budget and restores precincts closed by the prior administration. I’m proud of the budget agreement with the democratic caucus, and we are standing together to announce these precinct reopenings.” The two precincts had been closed since 2012 due to a county-wide consolidation plan. The plan had anticipated millions in dollars of savings and converted the buildings into lightly staffed community policing centers. In October, the county executive expressed concern about the plan to reopen the precincts, citing a lack of funds to restore the buildings, and a lack of detectives to staff them. But earlier this month, she changed course, stating it was important that residents feel safe and secure in an emergency situation. “Calling 911 is our key emergency response and turning to our precincts as a backup is part of our policing DNA and community DNA,” said Curran. “Our residents need to know that they can get the service that they have come to expect from the Nassau County Police Department in each and every precinct.” Hempstead Town Councilman Dennis Dunne said that the reopening of the Eighth Precinct will benefit local residents and will not end up strapping the county financially. “I support the reopening of the Eighth Precinct because the anticipated savings from its closure were not realized,”
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Photo by Hiroko Shono-Cheng
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