Belmont Stakes Parade Garners Praise

Parade kicks off race festivities with possible Triple Crown winner looming

With the anticipation for history to be made on June 9, Belmont Stakes Week kicked off last Saturday, June 2 with the Belmont Stakes Parade. The gathering has been a staple of the race for four years. Immediately following the parade, the Key to Elmont was presented to this year’s Grand Marshal, Norma DeBartolo.

DeBartolo works for the Elmont School District as a special assistant to the superintendent of schools for community affairs. She can often be seen at many events in the Elmont community.

Long Island Mom Hits It Big In Country Music

It’s a wet and dreary morning on Long Island. A pretty, blonde woman escapes the downpour, enters a Starbucks and shakes off the raindrops. This Plainview mother of two could be a typical Long Island mom, sneaking in a cup of coffee between her errands. However, most Long Islanders have not spent the previous evening performing at the NCBY Theatre at Westbury, opening for country superstar LeAnn Rimes. Nor have they had two music videos reach No. 1 on CMT.com.

Her name is Lisa Matassa. She was born in Manhasset, and after a stay in Florida, moved to Franklin Square at age 16.  Presently she resides in Plainview with her husband, Frank, and their two children. Singing since age 6, she realized one of her ambitions by performing at Westbury where she had gone as a fan to listen to Pat Benatar, Eddie Money, Tommy James and Survivor.

Point Of No Return For Elmont School District Budget

Budget revote set for June 19

The Elmont School District (ESD) 2012-13 budget vote received more ‘yes’ than ‘no’ votes on Tuesday, May 15. Yet…it wasn’t enough.

ESD needed 60 percent of voter approval to pass its budget for next year and fell just short. The Elmont district will give it a second go around on Tuesday, June 19.

ESD is proposing a $78,560,346 budget for the 2012-13 school year for a second time on June 19. The budget calls for a 2.8 percent increase in spending over the 2011-12 budget. A 6.9 percent tax levy increase is reflected in the budget.

NBA Star Hosts SCHSD Hoops Camp

Basketball academy to be held July 9-12

San Antonio Spurs shooting guard/small forward Danny Green will be hosting Team Green Basketball Academy at Floral Park Memorial High School from July 9-12. The camp is open to children of all skill levels ages 5-18. The camp fee is $250, which includes a T-shirt, lunch, drawstring backpack and contest prizes.

Due to school district policy, the camp will be open exclusively to children of the towns of the Sewanhaka Central High School District: Floral Park, Bellerose Village, Elmont, New Hyde Park, Garden City Park and Franklin Square. Residents are invited to tell all their family and friends who live in the district about the Team Green Basketball Academy.

ESDC To Revise Belmont Park Redevelopment Study

$50,000 plan to reassess Elmont mainstay

Fifty thousand dollars in the grand scheme of things could appear un-noteworthy in New York State. However, that $50,000 could go a long way to solving the problem that is the ongoing economic development fiasco of Belmont Park.

Long Island senators secured funding for the Empire State Development Corp. (ESDC) to revise its Belmont Park Redevelopment Study conducted in December 2008 under then-Governor David Patterson. Senator Jack Martins secured the funding prior to the budget adoption.

New Chief Of Elmont Fire Department Begins Term

Twenty-three year EFD member shows longevity is key

The members of the Elmont Fire Department (EFD) recently elected its new leader, Chief of Department Angelo Chilelli, for the 2012-13 term. Chilelli has been a part of the EFD for most of his life, starting as an explorer as a teenager.

A lifelong resident of the Elmont Fire District, Chilelli is a 23-year member of the EFD, serving with Engine Company No. 3 on Meacham Avenue. Before becoming chief of department, he served as first and second lieutenant, captain of Engine Company No. 3 and most recently, assistant chief.

Local School District Budget And Election Results

Below are the results of the local school district budget and school board election votes:

Elmont School District

Yes: 1,226**
No: 937
Kevin Denehy (Incumbent): 1,134
Patrick Emeagwali (Incumbent): 1,067
Kleeve Simon: 421

Solages Holds Sewer Privatization Venting Session

Nassau County still in search for private financier for sewage treatment plants

In what can probably be called a venting session, Third District Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Elmont) held a community meeting at the Elmont Memorial Library on the proposed sewer privatization of Nassau County’s sewer treatment plants on May 15.

Solages, along with fellow Democratic Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick), chastised the county for failing to disclose contract particulars with consultant Morgan Stanley and recently announced New Jersey-based United Water (UW) as the county’s pick for the operation and maintenance of its sewage system. The two feel transparency is needed, especially in the wake of the Nassau County Legislature’s decision to close four of the county’s eight police precincts.

3-on-3 Wheelchair Basketball Game Rosters Set

Elmont to square off against Henry Viscardi School

The starting squads for the Elmont Spartans vs. Henry Viscardi Cougars wheelchair basketball game rematch were announced Saturday, May 12 in the run-up to the Martins Classic 3-on-3 Tournament on July 14. The announcement was made during a special meeting of tournament organizers, volunteers and community members at the First Church of God in Elmont. More than 200 volunteers filled the church for the meeting with Senator Jack Martins and State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

The annual basketball game is a crowd favorite each year at the Martins Classic held at the Dutch Broadway School in Elmont. This year the Viscardi-Elmont game will highlight the tournament, which will also include basketball games, 7-on-7 football, soccer games, lacrosse games, a slam dunk contest and three-point shoot out coinciding with special events.

Residents Go To Polls For Budget, School Boards May 15

Local districts face first voting year with 2 percent tax cap

Long Island residents will go to the polls on Tuesday, May 15 to vote on the proposed school budgets and school boards for the 2012-13 school year. This marks the first year district will need to get under a 2 percent tax cap.

The Elmont School District (ESD) is proposing a $78,560,346 budget for the 2012-13 school year. The budget calls for a 2.8 percent increase in spending over the 2011-12 budget. A 6.9 percent tax levy increase is reflected in the budget, which requires 60 percent voter approval to pass.