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.”

Nassau Contracted Health Care Workers Win Full Raise

Legislature Hears Employers’ Protest -

Dismisses Plea

On July 26, a special session of the Nassau County Legislature was held to vote on the one dollar per hour salary raise promised to home health care workers employed by agencies that have contracts with the county, as per Nassau’s Living Wage Law. After debating a bill to put off the raise, legislators voted to leave the increase intact as scheduled for August.

In 2006, the Living Wage Law was unanimously passed by the Legislature. The law provided for a phased-in salary increase from $9.50 per hour to $12.50. The last one dollar increment had been scheduled to go into effect on Aug. 1, however, there has been much opposition from health care employers, who claim that the increase in cost will be unmanageable for them, and will result in layoffs.

‘Dragon Path’ Will Welcome Visitors to Athletic Complex

Student Council Encourages
Community to Order Engraved Bricks

The student council at Division Avenue High School has been working hard to fundraise for and get the word out about their “Dragon Path.” The path, as it exists right now, is just a dirt walkway leading up to the athletic complex. But give them a few more months and the student council and its advisors will have enough bricks to build the path that will welcome spectators to the new turf field.

The Dragon Path, when finished, will consist of engraved bricks with names, sayings and accomplishments of students, local businesses and anyone who calls Levittown School District their home.

All Bus Service May Be Eliminated in Nassau County

County in Lurch as MTA Talks Pulling the Plug

The roughly 102,000 Nassau County residents who rely on the bus daily to get where they need to be may have a serious problem if the MTA goes ahead with a proposal to eliminate the $40 million it has been funding annually to keep Long Island Bus’s service going. As the transit authority struggles to fix its own huge deficit, it has ended up at odds with Nassau County, threatening cuts for which there would be no easy solution. The county is either facing the elimination of all service or has to explore a solution such as the privatization of the system.

Years After They Served, Local Veterans Given Recognition

McDonough Honors Vets

From Levittown, Wantagh, Seaford

They served in Vietnam, Korea, Germany, Austria, Iraq and other countries during WWII, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and outside times of declared war, some many decades ago and some a few years ago. But when they assembled with their families at the Merrick Public Library, about a dozen veterans received an honor from New York State that State Assemblyman David McDonough said was “past due.”

McDonough held the NYS Military Service Recognition Awards Ceremony on Friday, July 16, to honor those veterans with medals from the state “to recognize the sacrifices made by the veterans who served and defended our country on behalf of our entire nation,” he said.

Thanking the Men Who Served Our Country

At the NYS Military Service Recognition Awards Ceremony on Friday, July 16, Assemblyman David McDonough honored 14 men for their selfless service to their country. Several men who were unable to attend will be given their medals at their homes or at McDonough’s office.

A New School Year Brings Fresh Faces to IT School Board

Board Swears In New Trustees, President, Vice President

At their annual reorganization meeting on Wednesday, July 7, the Island Trees Board of Education swore in its new trustees, president and vice president.

Trustees Kristen Daum and Barbara Medellin were sworn in under oath, as were Patricia Mahon and Kenneth Rochon.

An Inspired Song Leads to Open Doors For One Man

Pat Seminario’s Freedom’s Cry Motivated By, Written for American Troops

It was seven years after Pat Seminario wrote the song Freedom’s Cry that his son, also named Patrick, suggested they upload the song and accompanying video to YouTube. Now, a few months after the stirring song and slideshow appeared online a positive series of events have occurred that Seminario says he never expected.

Levittown BOE Creates Subcommittee to Search for Superintendent

Will Consider Dr. Sirois for Position Even After He Retires

At their meeting on Tuesday, July 6, the Levittown Board of Education established a three-member subcommittee to “begin the search process for identifying, recruiting and hiring a successor to Dr. Sirois, on or prior to the June 30, 2011 expiration of his contract.”

Dr. Herman Sirois, the superintendent of schools, submitted his letter of resignation to the board last July, but he said at this July 6 meeting that he was hoping he would still be considered for the position.

Turning 50 and Reuniting With Old Friends

Division Avenue High School Class Reunion, 50th Birthday Bash

The idea of turning 50 may have some people in shock but Shara Shapiro-Nagel and a high school friend, Tom Mayeski, decided not to let the number get in their way of having a good time and reuniting with old friends.

Shapiro-Nagel and Mayeski attended Division Avenue High School, graduated in 1978, are both turning the big 5-0 in October and since their high school friends will also be hitting the number soon, why not make a reunion of it?