Babylon Supervisor: We’re Moving Forward With Transit Plan For Route 110

Rail Road Station Put on Hold; Planning for Bus System

In April, the Long Island Rail Road announced they were holding off on re-opening the proposed East Farmingdale station near Republic Airport because of budget constraints. But Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone said that doesn’t mean the transportation overhaul of Rt. 110 will be held up.

“We’re moving forward on the planning for that right now, we’re looking toward the next phase of the study,” Bellone told the Farmingdale Observer, referring to planning for the railroad station as well as a bus rapid transit system. “It makes sense and can start to be implemented at a low cost. Conceptual study for bus rapid transit concluded that it makes sense. We’ll be doing more detailed planning that will get us to the point where we’re ready for a detailed design.”

Able-Ride Users See Services Cut, Now Must Find Alternatives

MTA: We Regret Having to Cut But We Have to Fix Our Deficit

 As of last Wednesday, May 27, users of MTA Long Island Bus Able-Ride program will have to call the service’s hotline to determine if they are still eligible for service.

A Federal U.S. District Court judge hearing lawsuit arguments against the MTA ruled last week that the transportation authority was allowed to institute the cuts that had been delayed since April.

In the Sky at Jones Beach State Park, Blue Angels Stir Up Awe

Planes Grace Republic Airport and Jones Beach Last Weekend

At just about 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 27, the Blue Angels F/A-18A Hornets came roaring into Farmingdale’s Republic Airport led by Commander Greg McWherter (#1). Their arrival kicked off the Bethpage Federal Credit Union 2010 Air Show at Jones Beach that weekend and the unofficial start to the summer of 2010.

Robert F. Taylor Memorial Fundraiser June 13

In Memory of Corrections Officer, Event to Benefit Others

Before Bobby Taylor took on the courageous job of corrections officer at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, he was known by some as the “Unofficial Mayor of Farmingdale,” says his brother, Tom Taylor. He was a Farmingdale Village employee, making his daily rounds of operating the street sweeper.

Hundreds Gather to Speak Out Against MTA’s Able-Ride Cuts

Disabled, Elected Officials Call on MTA to Hear Alternatives

Dozens of disabled people arrived at Nassau University Medical Center in vans, wheelchair accessible buses and in Able-Ride vehicles, the subject of the very meeting they were there to attend. Their attorneys, advocates and elected officials came in cars; they don’t need handicapped vehicles to get around.

S. Farmingdale and Bethpage FD Participate in County Haz-Mat Drill

Several local volunteer fire departments took part in a large-scale pre-planed hazardous materials drill on Sunday, May 16. The drill, hosted by the Massapequa FD, was run by the Nassau County Police Intelligence Section of Homeland Security, and has been in the planning stage for six months.

School District Budget Passes

Proposition Two Passes, Dispersing $4 Million in Funds

On May 18 voters approved the Farmingdale School District’s budget with a 1.96 percent tax levy increase. The passed budget is a 3.27 percent increase over the 2009/10 budget. The budget received 2,121 yes votes and 1,610 no votes.

Community Newspapers Are A Growing and Vital Industry

Did you think the local newspaper industry was dead or dying? According to a recent study and New York Press Association (NYPA) campaign, your community weekly newspaper actually remains a primary way for people to get information that is important to them.

Local Alligator Hunter: Richard Waterbury

Keeping Florida Waters Safe And Enjoying the Hunt

When mentioning hunting as a sport to people living on Long Island they think quail or deer; not alligator. But Richard Waterbury, who lives in Massapequa with his wife and three children, goes to Florida to hunt during alligator season.

Nassau County’s War on Heroin Takes Three-Pronged Approach

Recent Panel Addresses Measures to Stop Heroin Sales

Growing concerns over Nassau County’s current heroin epidemic served as the main focus in a recent community forum held at the Old Bethpage/Plainview library this past Thursday evening on April 29.