A Local Painter’s Palette Page B7
Vol. I No. VII
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SERVING THE FIVE TOWNS
MAY 6-12, 2011
Osama Killing Triggers Emotions and Memories of Five Towners Lost on 9-11
Redistricting Plan Runs Into Serious Opposition By JONATHAN WALTER Standard Staff Reporter
Nassau County residents spoke their minds on the legislature’s redistricting plan proposed last week at a meeting of the Nassau County Legislature on Monday, and none had anything positive to say about it. Majority Leader Peter Schmitt, along with the rest of the Nassau County Legislator’s rules committee listened to a variety of residents from different backgrounds express their displeasure with the plan. The proposed redistricting plan will divide towns across Nassau County, from The Five Towns up to Great Neck among others. Charlene Thompson, a registered Republican and resident of Baldwin accused the Republican controlled legislature of using the plan as a tool to stay in power. “One thing that I’ve learned over the years is that those in power will do everything they can to stay in power, most often at the expense of historically disenfranchised people,” Thompson said. “Looking at what has come to be called the “Schmitt Redistricting Plan,” on it’s face we see that key communities have been carved up into what should be called an “incumbent protection plan.” There is no other rationale for the way these lines are drawn.”
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FREE EVERY FRIDAY
By SUSAN VARGHESE
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JONATHAN WALTER
Some went through overwhelming joy, and some went through unsurpassed sadness, but for many people who lost a loved one on 9-11, hearing of Osama bin Laden’s death was a mixture of both. Victor Elefante recalled hearing about Osama Bin Laden’s death on the news. He lost his cousin, Charles Peter Luciania of East Atlantic Beach on 9-11. “I went through joy that the guy was dead. I went through anger and I went through crying pains of sadness that my cousin is still not here,” Elefante said. “Ten years ago I put it in the back of my mind that when we got this guy, everything will be okay and we waited and waited. Now this guy is in the ocean and Charlie is still not here…I’m torn. “ Ethan Lahey, Chief of The Hewlett Fire Department, reminisced
Hewlett attacker Kevin Fuchs handles the ball in the Bulldog’s game against Bethpage on Tuesday. Photo by Jonathan Walter
Holocaust Victims Remembered in Lawrence By AUSTIN SYKES
Standard Staff Reporter
“My name is Yechiel Michoel Friedman. I was murdered at Auschwitz. I did not die at Auschwitz – I was murdered at Auschwitz.” This was the powerful opening statement made by noted attorney Benjamin Brafman, speaking in the perspective of his maternal grandfather during Sunday night’s annual memorial service known as Yom Ha’Shoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day at Congregation Beth Shalom in Lawrence. Sunday’s service featured many powerful tributes to the memories and lives of the six million martyrs. Along with Brafman’s speech, the more
Benjamin Brafman than 1,000 guests in attendance also heard from Holocaust survivor Roman Kent, a musical performance by musician, composer and producer Eli Gerstner, survivor video testimonies and the lighting of candles to honor those who died. Sunday’s Yom Ha’Shoah service was organized over a period of six months by a committee of 10 to 15 Five Towns residents under the direction of Sharona
Thall. For the past several years, Thall has helped organize the annual Yom Ha’shoah service. “She’s really an extraordinary leader,” said Congregation Beth Shalom Rabbi Kenneth Hain. This year, Thall said, was the first time she had ever heard a speech quite as unique and original as Brafman’s on the subject of the Holocaust. Brafman, a well-known New York City attorney, is probably best recognized standing beside his celebrity clients during press conferences - such as musician/television star P. Diddy and professional athlete Plaxico Burress. However, Sunday’s performance was much more of a personal testimony, something that, according to Brafman, hit very close to home.
“I think I’ve been preparing this speech most of my adult life,” Brafman said. Spoken from the perspective of his grandfather, Brafman told the story of how a man in his late forties – Yechial Michoel Friedman - was ripped from his family and home and murdered, with the greatest fear of all being that his life may be forgotten. “My story, like so many of yours, has a wonderful beginning, a very terrible middle and a tragic, horrible end,” Brafman said. “...although I and part of my family were brutalized and murdered, a part of my family miraculously survived – and because some did survive, my grandson is here to speak for me, to tell
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Peninsula Library Trustee and Budget Vote Set for May 17th By JONATHAN WALTER Standard Staff Reporter
Two seats are up for grabs in this year’s Peninsula Library Trustee Board election, one a one year term, and the other a five year term. Incumbent Stanley Nussbaum squares off against challenger Jeffrey Leb for the five-year term while incumbent Patricia Pope goes up against Sarah Yastrab. Residents will also vote on the library’s proposed $2.6 million budget, a 2.9 percent increase over last year’s budget. Library Director Arleen Reo says that most of the 2.9 percent increase is because of state man-
dates by the New York State retirement system.
serve book has been done away with, which added up to a signif-
Stanley Nussbaum
Jeffrey Leb
“We have no control over employee benefits, health benefits and the MTA tax,” Reo said. “Our quarter charge for every re-
icant part of our operating budget. State grants have also dried up since the state doesn’t have the funds right now.”
Reo pointed out the library’s services and encouraged residents to come out to vote yes on the library budget. “We stress our service and we’re very busy,” Reo said. We’re not cutting hours or anything like that and we’re maintaining all of our service. We are one of the few libraries in the county that are open on Sundays. I just hope that we’re looked upon favorably by our patrons.” Nussbaum has served as a library trustee since taking over as an interim replacement for Janet Schneider in 2009 and won an election to serve the remainder
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Flowers offered at Ground Zero in Manhattan this week in gratitude to the U.S. forces who brought Osama bin Laden to justice. See column about Ground Zero reflections by Miriam L. Wallach on Page A8. about a colleague and mentor, Kevin O’Rourke. “I knew Kevin since I was five years old, I grew up with his daughters… He would always walk into a room with a big smile, his moustache framing it perfectly. “ O’Rourke was a previous member of both the Hewlett and the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Departments. In his remembrance, Washington Avenue in Cedarhurst (between Broadway and Central Avenue), was renamed Firefighter Kevin O’Rourke Way. A bell outside of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, which was previously in the firehouse tower, is dedicated to O’Rourke, as well as a plaque. A Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department member noted that they too have steel from Ground Zero in a shadow box after being on the scene a few days after 9-11. Aside from being a member of the Hewlett and the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Departments, O’Rourke was also a member of the New York City Fire Department and was assigned to Rescue Company No.2 in Brooklyn. O’Rourke was killed at Ground Zero. The Hewlett F.D. arrived at Ground Zero at 4pm on 9-11, a scene that Lahey described as “surreal,” and “utter devastation.” Even though a decade has passed since the terrorist attacks, the memories of the victims remain untarnished. Lahey noted that there’s a corner reserved in Hewlett Fire Department’s member’s
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C l a s s i f i e d s B 6 • E d i t o r i a l s A 8 • E v e n t s B 2 • M o v i e s B 2 • S p o r t s A 6 • We a t h e r B 5