Westbury BOE Addresses Increased Enrollment, Other Concerns

New Superintendent Mary Lagnado says district has 120 more students than last September

New Westbury Superintendent of Schools Mary Lagnado said that the district opened early this year on Wednesday, Aug. 29 with more students enrolling in the various schools as compared to last September.

“Our growing student enrollment continues to be a concern and we are keeping a close eye on that. As of today, our enrollment is 4,753. It’s approximately 120 more students or a 4 percent increase from last year,” said Lagnado, who was appointed as the district’s new superintendent of schools following the resignation of Dr. Constance Clark-Snead.

Westbury BID Hosting Annual Street Fair This Weekend

Casino Night, Octoberfest among highlights for ‘What a Weekend in Westbury’

According to the Westbury Business Improvement District, there’s no better place to be than Westbury this upcoming weekend, as the BID’s “What a Weekend in Westbury” festivities will feature something for everyone beginning Friday.

A Las Vegas-style Casino Night will get the party started Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Club Napoli (373 Maple Ave.), where residents can roll the dice with “funny money” and enjoy live entertainment throughout the evening. An entrance ticket $60 (or two for $100) will include $40 in funny money, a buffet from Post Avenue’s own Café Ginos, one drink ticket, one raffle ticket and the opportunity to win prizes throughout the evening. Space is limited, so contact the BID at 333-2235 if you’d like to get in on the action.

CPHS Athlete Wins Bronze At Paralympics

Steve Serio, a 2005 grad, takes home medal in wheelchair basketball

Carle Place High School alum Steve Serio took up wheelchair basketball less than 10 years ago – now he’s living in Germany and getting paid to play the sport professionally.

“I got involved with wheelchair basketball when I was 16 years old. I was looking for a racing wheelchair after seeing another athlete race and the wheelchair sales rep told me to play basketball instead,” said Serio, who was able to learn the game with the Long Island Lightning Junior Wheelchair Basketball Team.

Residents Flock To TNH Community Center Opening

Local elected officials, community members celebrate ‘Yes We Can’ complex in Westbury

Close to 2,000 onlookers cheered raucously as a decades-old dream was realized when Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Legislator Robert Troiano, Councilwoman Viviana Russell along with the North Hempstead Town Board and a host of other federal, state, county, town and village officials cut the ribbon to the North Hempstead “Yes We Can” Community Center in Westbury.

The grand opening on Sept. 8 of the 60,000 square foot community center—arguably the most environmentally advanced community center in the region—capped New Cassel’s model ongoing revitalization effort.

Westbury Inventor: 3-D Box Will ‘Change The World’

Gene Dolgoff, holder of 65 patents, making 3-D technology available, affordable

Westbury’s Gene Dolgoff, an inventor with more than 65 worldwide patents to his name, says his 2-D to 3-D conversion device, which was developed in Westbury, will change how and where consumers enjoy 3-D content.

“Our company is here in Westbury and we’re a high-tech development company and we have a very exciting product. It is an electronic box called the Instant 3-D Converter. It converts your TV into a 3DTV and you have unlimited 3-D content,” Dolgoff said.

Village Board Updates Bond Rating, Drainage

Mayor, trustees speak on public safety, Post Avenue theater renovation progress

At the Village of Westbury Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 6, Mayor Peter Cavallaro elaborated on the village’s recently announced bond rating upgrade and outlined a plan to improve road drainage in flood-prone areas of the community.

“Since the last time we met, we went through a fairly arduous process with the rating agency Standard & Poor’s, and we announced about a week-and-a-half ago that the village’s credit rating has been updated from AA- to AA,” said Cavallaro.

Court Declares MTA Payroll Tax Unconstitutional

Transportation authority to appeal decision

The Metropolitan Transit Authority stands to lose about $1.5 billion in revenue per year after a New York State Supreme Court judge ruled on Wednesday, Aug. 22 that the MTA payroll tax is unconstitutional. The MTA plans to appeal the decision made by Judge R. Bruce Cozzens Jr., according to a released statement last week.

This didn’t stop local officials from calling the ruling a “win for taxpayers” during a press conference last Thursday. Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, along with numerous members of local and state government, were out in full force to applaud the decision, and plead to the powers that be to not grant a successful MTA appeal.

CP, Mineola Flooding Meeting Held August 21

Mineola, Nassau County, town and state hash out Bruce Terrace flood remediation details

Whether it was a coincidence or perfect timing, the Aug. 21 meeting between Mineola, North Hempstead, Nassau County and New York State officials couldn’t have occurred at a better time. After the water receded on Aug. 15, the trees cleared and power restored to more than 281 village homes, discussions albeit slow and steady, have moved to the point where dates are being set for the Bruce Terrace Flood Project to finally break ground.

In the wake of a storm that blew through Mineola, a meeting was held at the Nassau County Legislature building to discuss the construction phase of the project that will overhaul storm drainage systems in Mineola and the border of Carle Place. Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss, along with members of the Village Department of Public Works, State Senator Jack Martins, County Legislator Rich Nicolello and North Hempstead Town officials attended the meeting.

Fairway Market Now Open In Westbury

Store ‘Like no other market’ providing 450-plus new jobs for area residents

Fairway Market’s 11th store opened in grand fashion in Westbury on Wednesday morning, Aug. 22 as lines of patrons awaiting the 11 a.m. opening were fairly long – extending all the way across the store’s newly renovated façade at 1258 Corporate Drive.

The 68,000-square-foot store is now open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and boasts fresh and organic foods from all over the world, including cheeses, fish and meat, kosher products, a deli and the well-known Fairway Café, which features both indoor and outdoor seating for its patrons.

TNH To Open ‘Yes We Can’ Community Center

Facility to offer recreational, educational opportunities in New Cassel

A new state-of-the-art community center in New Cassel is near completion and will soon be ready for use for all North Hempstead residents.

The “Yes We Can” Community Center, located at 141 Garden Street in Westbury, is putting the finishing touches on its two-year construction and is ready to meet the needs of its community.