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Vol. I No. XIII | www.StandardLI.com | News@StandardLI.com | Ph.# 516-341-0445
SERVING THE FIVE TOWNS
JUNE 17 - 23, 2011
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UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS SET TUES. FOR FOUR AREA VILLAGES
SANITATION WORKERS ARE WITHOUT NEW CONTRACT
BY SUSAN VARGHESE
Standard Associate Editor
Uncontested elections aren’t uncommon in the various villages of The Five Towns. On Tuesday June 21, there will be elections held in the Villages of Lawrence, Woodsburgh, Hewlett Bay Park, and Hewlett Neck – all uncontested. For the Village of Lawrence, incumbents Joel Mael, the current deputy mayor, and Michael Fragin, currently a trustee, are running for the two trustee slots. Once the trustees are elected, the mayor appoints the deputy mayor. Fragin a Lawrence Village resident since 1999 has served on the board since 2008, is a former member of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, and has previously worked for Governor George Pataki. Among the issues in The Village of Lawrence, the lawsuit with Temple Israel has gotten the most notoriety. Fragin commented, “It’s unfortunate that the temple has resorted going to court and I don’t see how this will help expedite the project at all. “
By JONATHAN WALTER Standard Staff Reporter
Michael Fragin
Joel Mael
On the agenda for the new term, Fragin noted, are issues such as updating building codes, and focusing on operating losses at Lawrence country club’s golf and tennis facilities. “We lost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to decline of membership,” Fragin said. “I’d like to see some more of our public property opened up like the area around Village Hall. Our current playground and park by the train station is overflowing and that’s wonderful, but we need to create some more areas. We want to continue to focus on the general issue of vil-
lage finances and keeping pace with the pension and health benefits costs that continue to escalate and rise every year, which put a strain on our budgetary positions. “ Fragin added that uncontested elections aren’t necessarily his preference. “I believe in con-
Redistricting Lawsuit Charges Plan Dilutes Minority Votes
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Graduation Day Lawrence Woodmere Academy graduates Sarah Chome with Valedictorian Aaron Rosenthal at last week’s commencement. See full coverage of area private school graduations beginning on page A3. Photo by Vanessa Canner
5 Arrested For Assault At North Lawrence Deli BY SUSAN VARGHESE
Sanitation workers in Sanitary District One are working without a new contract and have been since the end of 2010 when the old one expired. Negotiations for a new contract have not made much progress in the six months since and recent talks were canceled due to scheduling conflicts on the part of the worker’s union, CSEA. District One sanitation workers are currently working under their previous contract which expired at the end of 2010, however under the state’s Taylor Law, public employees are prohibited from striking, requiring workers to
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POLICE PBA LOBBYING PUBLIC BY SUSAN VARGHESE
Standard Associate Editor
Standard Associate Editor
A new lawsuit filed in federal court last week accused the Nassau County legislative redistricting plan of diluting the minority vote, particularly the lines proposed through northern Valley Stream and Elmont. Hempstead Attorney Fred Brewington filed a lawsuit stating that the Nassau County redistricting plan weakens the minority vote by violating the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a piece of national legislation that outlaws discriminatory voting practices. “The Voting Rights Act is in place to protect African Americans and Hispanics,” Brewington explained. “The Nassau County Legislature has adopted this plan in a hurry … and it’s negatively diluting the vote of African Americans and Hispanics. It’s hurting, not helping.” The current redistricting plan, which was passed by the Nassau Legislature on May 24, would have three legislators representing The Five Towns rather than one legislator. As previously reported, under the plan, Deputy Minority Leader John Ciotti’s Third District would gain portions of Hewlett and Woodmere, while almost all of Inwood, along with parts of Woodmere and Cedarhurst, will be moved into the new District 19, which will have a new legislator.
Five men have been arrested for the alleged May 30th violent assault of a 22-year-old man and his 43-year-old father near the Superette Food Market in Lawrence. The beating resulted in serious head injuries and hospitalizations for the victims, police said. The 22-year-old was walking to the deli after parking his car at 254 Lawrence Avenue, when one of the alleged perpetrators, Christopher Abel-Bey, 16, of Inwood, approached the victim, attempted to rob him, and began to punch and kick the victim, along with the four other alleged perpetrators. According to police, the victim’s 43-year-old father was beaten unconscious after reportedly coming out of the deli in an effort to defend his son. During
Ten percent of Nassau County residents’ total tax bill goes to police protection, according to recent advertisements on TV and in print from The Nassau County Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. “It’s 24 hours a day and you’re getting a great service for it,” defended James Carver, president of The Nassau County Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. Carver noted that they released the advertisement as a way to educate the public. “Right now public employees are front and center with the money we make and tax dollars. We just wanted to show what you’re paying and what you’re receiving. “ However, County Legislator Francis Becker voiced, “ From my point of view, that 10 per-
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By Jordan Friedman
Christopher Abel-Bey, 16
Marcell Haynes, 16
Nicholas Belen, 18
Ricky McDuffie, 23
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Large, Happy Crowd Attends Annual Kulanu Fair
By JONATHAN WALTER Standard Staff Reporter
Thousands of Five Towners made their way down to Cedarhurst Park on Sunday for the 2011 Kulanu Fair. The fair, which raises money for Kulanu, a school that provides programming and assistance to special needs children in the area, featured a variety of rides, games, shops, food and other activities for kids. “The fair was started 10 years ago as a family picnic and it has grown to an annual community
event of over 2,500 people and it raises the much-needed funds for our programs,” Mindy Rosengarten, Kulanu’s Director of Development, said. “Our programs are incredibly expensive because every child with a disability has very specialized needs and deserves and gets quality services whether it’s therapeutic, educational, social, emotional needs. This fair brings everybody together for a fabulous day no matter what age, what race, whether your Jewish or not Jewish, religious or not religious.”
Children on the merry-go-round swing at the Kulanu Fair.
Photo by Jonathan Walter
Children ranging from toddlers to middle school enjoyed the fair, spending time on rides including the large slide, the merry-go-round swing, the “scat” ride, “flying dragoon,” spinning cups ride, as well as the many inflatable play areas and slides for the younger children. “My favorite ride was the slide because it goes really fast,” young Yari Sturm from Woodmere said. There were also many games for the kids to play including hoop shot, “plinko”, shuffle
board, ring toss, bowling ball roll and “frog flinger”. “I played the basketball game and won a lot of tickets,” Rob from Cedarhurst said. The event was run by volunteers, many of whom were regulars with the Kulanu organization. “We’re here volunteering and having a lot of fun,” Jason Gelnick said while walking through the fair with his “assistant” Steven Zaslowski. “It’s a great thing
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