M-L postpones vote on ambulance building Will conduct requested traffic study

BY JOSEPH D'ANDREA

The Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department’s Board of Fire Commissioners’ vote to authorize a new ambulance unit building at 70 Cumberland Avenue in Lake Success, previously due to take place on June 6, has been delayed to a future date.

The reasoning given for the postponement is the board’s desire to conduct a traffic study in the area in which the proposed building would be built, an issue that was voiced by the public during the district’s last public hearing.

All three commissioners gave approval to conduct the traffic study, to move forward in the building’s process.

“We have no timeframe on the traffic study, but we’re working on it now,” Commissioner Mark Sauvigne told Blank Slate Media.

Unlike the large turnout last Tuesday, no attendees from the public were present Tuesday.

The board noted that they had hoped for more attendees, especially considering their announcement of the meeting to the public and coverage by the press.

If approved, the district would build a two-story, 5,168-square-foot building that has four bays, three for the unit’s ambulances and one for the first response vehicle, among other things.

Anticipated hard costs of the project, which account for the physical materials, labor and equipment that go into the construction of the building, is $9,590,544.

The fire department is part of the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District, which owns the proposed land and takes in all of Manhasset except for Plandome, half of Great Neck and some of northern New Hyde Park. The district serves approximately 45,000 customers within a service area of 10.2 square miles, according to its website.

A handful of residents expressed concerns with a project such as this one progressing without a traffic study conducted during a public meeting last week.

“I feel like this project is getting rammed down our throats,” Great Neck’s Adrienne Vaultz said during the public portion of the meeting. “They are not considering our quality of life or the safety of our children.”

Jay Chagrin, Village of Thomaston

Continued on Page 66

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Retired Navy Torpedoman Third Class Jim Morehead, a longtime Great Neck resident, expressed his gratitude for being chosen as grand marshal for the area’s 97th Memorial Day Parade Monday.

“I want to thank the Great Neck Memorial Day Committee for selecting me for this post,” Morehead said to the hundreds in attendance at the Village Green Monday morning. “I was very happy and this is been a great day.”

Morehead, who has served on the Great Neck Memorial Day Parade Committee for more than 25 years, first enlisted in the Navy in 1952. After his basic training, he reported to the USS Picking ship in Newport, R.I.

In April 1953, his ship was dispatched to the North Korean Coast.

He lived in Great Neck for more than 50 years, with all of his children are a product of the Great Neck public school system.

Morehead said he joined forces with local scouts to change out the flags at All Saints Church prior to the parade and was impressed with the senior leadership and how much everyone took the task seriously. The retired veteran thanked the committee and his roughly 20 family members in the audience for all backing and for the entire public to come out and show their support for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting foonr freedom.

The parade began at Susquehanna Avenue and South Middle Neck Road

DISPLAY ADVERTISING: Steven Blank 516-307-1045 x201 sblank@theisland360.com at 9:30 Monday before ending up at the Village Green. Both sides of Middle Neck Road were flooded with red, white and blue attire, American flags and hundreds of residents cheering for the organizations that marched.

Groups included the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy n Kings Point, the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company, the Great Neck Alert Fire Department, the Great Neck Library, the Great Neck Chinese Association and more.

The ceremony also honored former residents Lt. Col. Martha Raye and First Sergeant John H. Starkins. Raye, an honorary Special Forces member, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Bill Clinton in 1963. With two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Sue Tabakin 516-307-1045 x206 stabakin@theisland360.com

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Deborah Flynn 516-307-1045 x218

Manhasset Times: Robert Pelaez 516-307-1045 x203

Roslyn Times: Cameryn Oakes 516-307-1045 x214

Williston Times: Brandon Duffy 516-307-1045 x215 x215 • bduffy@theisland360.com rpelaez@theisland360.com coakes@theisland360.com bduffy@theisland360.com

Port Washington Times: Cameryn Oakes 516-307-1045 x214 • coakes@theisland360.com