Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, June 25, 2021
Vol. 70, No. 26
N E W H Y D E PA R K
HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY
GERARD TERRY IS BACK?
RYDER REJECTS CALLS TO STEP DOWN
PAGE 23-26
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PAGE 6
Arrest made in alleged F.P. motel homicide Elmont’s Ruth Toussaint charged with second-degree murder BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z An Elmont woman was charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 28-year-old woman whose body was found at the Floral Park Motor Lodge, according to officials from the Nassau County Police Department. Ruth Toussaint, 38, was arrested last Wednesday in connection with the death of fellow Elmont resident Destinee Lavender, officials said. Officials said Lavender died as a result of a homicide. The murder was reported to the Floral Park Police Department after 1 p.m. on June 13. Toussaint’s arraignment was postponed from Wednesday to Monday, court records show. Efforts to reach people close to Lavender or a representative of the Floral Park Motor Lodge, located on 30 Jericho Turnpike, for comment were unavailing. Efforts to reach a Police Department representative or Toussaint’s attorney, Mindy Ellen
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HERRICKS SCHOOL DISTRICT
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NASSAU COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
34-year-old Elmont resident Ruth Toussaint was arrested in connection with the alleged homicide against Destinee Lavender on Wednesday, according to the Nassau County Police Department. Plotkin, for comment were also unavailing.
Herricks High’s class of 2021 officially began the newest chapter of their lives after graduating last Wednesday. See story on page 47.
Buckley fence project met with more oppostion BY R O S E W E L D ON
village Board of Trustees at a public meeting livestreamed to Residents of the Village of YouTube on June 16. Initially proposed in 2019, North Hills continued to oppose an application for expan- the school’s $5 million expansions and fences from Buckley sion plans drew ire at its first Country Day School before the public hearing in January
2020, with residents from the neighboring Acorn Ponds condominiums complex and nearby streets Bonny Lynn Court and Fox Ridge voicing criticism of the project and calling BuckContinued on Page 35
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