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THE PULSE OF THE PENINSULA
Vol. 93, No. 12
BIPARTISAN BACKING ANTI-CORRUPTION GROUP FOR GUN CONTROL PROTESTS PHILLIPS’ OFFICE PAGE 2
PAGE 6
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Uncontested elections draw few voters
N O W AY G A S T O N !
Fewer than 300 turn out to re-elect pols across six Great Neck villages BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN Races for 16 positions across the Great Neck peninsula went largely uncontested on Tuesday, with 14 incumbents facing no opponents and the other two candidates running unopposed to secure two-year terms. A total of 283 people cast ballots in the villages, which according to the U.S. Census Bureau are estimated to have a total population of 15,404. The plurality of the votes were cast in Great Neck Plaza, with an estimated population of 6,924, where incumbent Mayor Jean Celender — serving in that role since 2000 and on the board since 1984 — was re-elected with 112 votes. Deputy Mayor Ted Rosen, who has been a trustee since 1985, received 113 votes, Pam Marksheid
got 112, and there were eight write-in votes, seven of which were for trustees. Marksheid, who has served as a trustee since 2008, said it’s not uncommon for elections on the Great Neck peninsula to have low voter turnout — something she said was both “pretty shocking” and “unfortunate.” In the case of Great Neck Plaza, Marksheid said she believes it was a combination of people being content and some uninterested. But, she said, she was grateful to those who came out and looks forward to continuing to serve. “It was uncontested and I think they know that we’re dedicated for the people living in the Great Neck Plaza,” Marksheid said. Marksheid said the village board plans to change its zoning code for two of its districts to continue transit-oriented initiatives, Continued on Page 71
PHOTO BY JANELLE CLAUSEN
Belle, played by Lillian Rokshar, was not thrilled by a proposal from Gaston, who is being portrayed by former Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman. Both are members of the Temple Israel Players. See story on page 27.
Woman honored for turning trash into treasure BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN When Lida Edalati, 67, first moved to Great Neck Estates nearly three decades ago, someone who was moving away came to her with toys, clothes and an idea: being able to do-
nate them to people. “I lived in Israel for a long time and coming here, some neighbor, she wanted to leave the country,” Edalati, a Great Neck Estates resident, recalled. “She brought me some toys, clothes, and she told me, you can give them to people.”
Ever since then Edalati has been turning one person’s trash into another’s treasure, seeking to collect items and give them to people in need. Edalati keeps her garage open for people too, she said, so they can drop off and take Continued on Page 69
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