Sun Shines Brightly on the 25th Annual Cellini Lodge Festival

Patrons poured into the 25th Annual New Hyde Park Cellini Lodge Festival that opened last Wednesday at Michael J. Tully Park, Evergreen Avenue, New Hyde Park.

The opening day was a little cloudy, but the rest of the week made up for it with picture perfect weather and the entire park was jammed with folks anxious to attend the legendary Cellini Fair.

The fair this year was packed with “something for everyone.”  As usual there were the delicious Italian food booths serving both marvelous pasta with red sauce and with white clam sauce.  This year all the bread was donated by Sapienza Bakery and that, too was so good, fresh and plentiful.

And, who could resist the always-magnificent Zeppoles that are made as you wait.

New Hyde Park Village Announces September 25 Date for Street Fair

At the last Village of New Hyde Park meeting, New Hyde Park Village Mayor Daniel Petruccio announced that the village would hold its annual premier street fair on Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

However, Jericho Turnpike will be closed from New Hyde Park Road to Covert Street starting at about  5 a.m. to set-up for the fair. Mayor Petruccio said he wanted to make sure that all residents were made aware of this closure so they could plan on taking an alternate route if they planned on traveling on Jericho Turnpike that day.

He also announced that that there is a strong chance that this year’s fair will also include a car show, which will be a great asset to the fair.

Heavy Rain Causes Havoc on Allen Street in Herricks

The unusually heavy rain, after a summer of draught, caused havoc and extreme damage to homes, especially on Allen Street in the Herricks section of New Hyde Park.

Allen Street, located right behind the Denton Avenue School, off Hillside Avenue, was particularly struck by the excessive rain as one house basement was so  flooded that it resulted in the side of the house caving in compromising the structure of the entire house, causing it to be evacuated.

October 12 Date Set for New Hyde Park Vote on Capital Projects

At the last New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board meeting, the board presented an outline of what is proposed in the $8.5 million capital projects plan, from monies in the capital reserve fund built up by the district over the years, and not to cost district taxpayers any monies, to be voted on by residents on Oct. 12 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Manor Oaks School, 1950 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park.

Superintendent Robert Katulak then presented the proposed plan identified by the architect and the building principals as necessary for the maintenance of the buildings and to address problematic needs.  He then explained the difference between maintenance and problematic needs.

The Chant of The Little League Girls: Are We Fired Up? We Are Fired Up!

Responding to their winning chant of “Are We Fired Up” the New Hyde Park Little League 9-10 Girls Champions, who won every single one of their 17 competitive games with no losses, marched proudly down the New Hyde Park “canyon of champions” last Saturday morning. From Applebee’s, on Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park to Nuzzi Field where they, and their coaches, received many much deserved accolades from New Hyde Park Village officials, county and state officials and very enthusiastic, screaming fans in general.

Manager Tom Donnelly was the master-of-ceremonies and he outlined, game-by-game, and player-by-player, how the girls were able to accomplish such victorious feats as they won game after game with their talents and perhaps the help of a little ladybug mascot.

School Construction Is Being Completed at a Rapid Pace

Update on School Construction

Dr. Bierwirth said, at the last meeting of the Herricks school board, as he commented on the status of the construction, that he wandered around the Herricks school district like a, “kid in a candy store” and mentioned that the High School gyms look, “so nice” with their new windows and lighting. “It is moving along all over the place very, very fast,” Dr. Bierwirth said.

Tax Levy for 2010-2011

The tax levy for 2010-2011 was established for the school year at $83,746,126. This number was approved by the board and will result in a tax increase of 3.80 percent, as previously stated.

Iraqi Boy, Waad Baktar, Saved by American Team

A nine-year Iraqi boy, Waad Baktar, who was disfigured and and maimed by a roadside bomb has a new lease on life and will be returning to Iraq this week, after four months of treatment in the states.  

He was on his way home from school, with some friends,  kicking cans as they walked along. The only problem was the can that Waad was kicking turned out to be an improvised explosive device, or roadside bomb. It detonated and he lost an eye, leg and arm and was severely burned.

He was saved through the combined efforts of Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, of the Garden City Based Long Island Surgical Group and United States Congressman Gary Ackerman, who was instrumental bringing the boy to Long Island, through the efforts of the Staten Island-based Global Medical Relief Fund and Elizza Montani.

Hearing on Incentive for New York State Retirement Program

At the outset of the last New Hyde Park Village Board meeting, Mayor Daniel Petruccio turned the meeting over to village attorney John Spellman to explain the New York State mandated retirement incentive program.

Attorney Spellman said, “From time to time New York State has passed legislation authorizing an incentive bonus retirement program.  The purpose of the program is to allow municipalities to encourage some of their senior and most highly paid employees to secure benefits and to move into a new phase of life thereby opening up the door to new people at lower salaries.

Herricks Board Approves Consultant to Implement RTI Plan

At the outset of the meeting Herricks School Board Trustee Richard Buckley was sworn in by Herricks Schools Superintendent Dr. John Bierwirth as school board vice-president. Buckley was previously school board president.

Board Approves the Appointment of Crandall for RTI Response

The Herricks School Board then voted to approve Arlene B. Crandall,  of ABCD Consulting, Inc. in Medford, to work with teachers and the administration on developing and implementing the district’s RTI (Response to Intervention), The amount she will be paid is $990 per day for a total of seven days and the consulting fee will come from the stimulus funds.

MTA and Nassau County Continue Fight Over Busing

Nassau Files Suit Over Tax,

MTA Says ‘Pay for Your Own Bus’

It became official last week that the MTA plans to cut its funding to Long Island Bus, a move that will effectively eliminate all bus service to over 100,000 Nassau County residents who rely on it daily. A war of words between Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and the MTA has now escalated to a legal battle, with the county filing suit over the controversial MTA employer payroll tax.

“I will not stand by and allow the MTA to eliminate service to the people of Nassau County,” announced Mangano. “This is the first of many steps we will take to fight the MTA on behalf of the 30 million riders who rely on bus service to get to their jobs, visit their doctors and live their lives.”