Painter Ed Balcourt

Ed Balcourt of Port Washington is living proof that the old adage “age is just a number “ is true. He has been painting for 65 years, is now 90, and has no plans to stop.

Six-feet tall and broad-shouldered, Balcourt has a gentle demeanor, openly expressing his love and knowledge for art. Despite his age, he is sprightly, and displays vivacity. He lives by himself in a small, studio apartment in a complex near Main Street.

PBA, Brass Reach Accord

For the first time in 20 years, the Commissioners of the Port Washington Police District have successfully negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Port Washington PBA avoiding contract arbitration.  The Commissioners voted to approve the MOA on March 27 during their regular business meeting.

Dave Franklin, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, said “Coming to an agreement has saved taxpayers and the PBA approximately $35,000 each in legal fees.” He also thanked Commissioners James Duncan and Angela Lawlor-Mullens for, “doing the lion’s share of the work in negotiating on behalf of the Board. It was a team effort and a good faith effort on both sides.”

Moving Ahead With Dock

The revitalization of Morgan’s Dock, a project that has spanned more than five years and several village administrations, is beginning to move from dream to reality.

In late April, the Manorhaven Board of  Trustees will release a request for proposals (RFP) to  select a company to work on the initial phase of the restoration of this property at Bowman’s Point Road adjacent to Manorhaven Beach.

Car Fire In Plaza

A fire erupted in a car in the Delco Plaza Shopping Center Monday morning, but was quickly extinguished and there were no injuries, Port Washington officials said.

The car was parked directly in front of Country Cleaners, when passersby expressed concern that it might spread to the business. Three fire trucks and an ambulance responded quickly to the call. Linda Kropacek, Port North Deputy Village Clerk, said billowing smoke became thicker before flames erupted.

Reinventing Nassau Coliseum

How can we reinvent Nassau Coliseum to become a vital economic engine for the 21st Century? It may be too early to say, but Nassau County is currently taking suggestions.

After several discussions on the potential future of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum with the Forest City Ratner team that designed the business model for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano has announced that he is seeking requests for proposals from throughout the real estate community that would reinvent the aging facility as a new and strong economic anchor for the Hub.

Weitzman: Downtowns Are Key

Former Comptroller wants hometown feel in

Nassau County, IDA cooperation

“The comptroller is there to protect the taxpayers.”

That is what former Nassau Comptroller Howard Weitzman says is the job of a comptroller. It’s something he says he did during his eight years in the position, and it’s something that he wants to do again. Weitzman was elected to the position in 2001 and 2005 before being narrowly defeated by current Nassau County George Maragos in 2009.

Road Trip Promotes Adoptions

North Shore Animal League America launched its 13th Annual Tour For Life, which helps save the lives of animals by spreading the message of the no-kill movement across the country. Four mobile rescue and adoption units will travel through 27 states, from early March through mid-May, to strengthen the message of adopting homeless pets and to encourage people to support their local animal shelters.

At the event launch on March 6, which took place at North Shore Animal League America headquarters, 25 Davis Ave., Port Washington, President John Stevenson said, “This is our way to make no-kill a reality for a lot shelters that work with us in our cooperative adoption program around the country. It’s a chance to show our mobile units and get our message across.”

Hearts Open For Victims

Vincente Barrera didn’t know where he was gong to spend Tuesday night. His room at the Royal Inn on Northern Boulevard in Manhasset was one of eight paid for through Monday night by the Red Cross after he and other residents were displaced by the disastrous fire that roared through an 87-year-old three-story property at the corner of Main Street and Herbert Avenue on March 14. According to a Port Washington Fire Department official, there were 12 apartments above the stores in the building, with 75 people living in them.

“I don’t know where to go. Who to talk to,” the 26-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant said through an interpreter. “I have no family here.”

Write-In Candidate

Port North election is contested,
with write-in candidate

Elections in the Village of Port Washington North will not be uncontested after all.

Selwyn G. Rudnick, a resident of the condo-community Mill Pond Acres, has announced that he is running a write-in campaign for village trustee. Port Washington North Mayor Bob Weitzner and Trustees Michael Schenkler and Sherman Scheff are running for re-election on Tuesday, March 19.

Debate Over S&P Report

The current Manorhaven administration is taking credit for an upgrading by Standard & Poor’s in the municipality’s financial rating, saying the credit-watch agency based its report, released in December, on the village’s most current accounting documents.

S&P in December upgraded the village’s outlook, from negative to stable, assigning the municipality an A Plus rating.