Suozzi Concedes Election to Mangano

Says He’s Proud of Accomplishments

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi announced Dec. 1 that he would not challenge the election between him and Republican opponent Ed Mangano, ensuring that Mangano will become the next Nassau County Executive next month.

With New Name Comes New Mission

Nassau Health Care Corporation Now NuHealth System

The parent company of Nassau University Medical Center has renamed itself in hopes of connecting with its community in a new way. In September, the board of directors for the Nassau Health Care Corporation (NHCC)  – which consists of Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC), the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility and five Family Health Centers – became the NuHealth System.

Lowe Properties Granted Special Use Permit

Next Showing December 14 Before Village Zoning Board

On Nov. 19, the Westbury Village Board of Trustees granted a special use permit to Lowe Properties, the developer of the movie theater on Post Avenue. This approval now frees the applicant to proceed with an application for a parking variance from Westbury’s Zoning Board of Appeals.

Westbrook Prep Awaiting Green Light from State

Last summer, the Westbury Village Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved SCO Family of Services’ (SCO) request for a special use permit to operate a school out of St. Brigid’s vacant convent. But in December 2008, SCO announced it would not be moving forward with its application in Westbury and instead planned to explore other possibilities, including utilizing agency-owned property in Suffolk County.

theWestburyTimes.com Calendar

Family Barn Dance

Saturday, November 21

Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday, November 21

Long Island Choral Society
Sunday, November 22

New York Conference of Mayors Calls for Amendments

Westbury’s Mayor Weighs In 

The sponsors call it the “Empowerment Act” for short, but local governments are calling it the “Disenfranchisement Act” because the sweeping legislation passed this June, going into effect in March 2010, requires residents to vote to dissolve or consolidate local government before they know whether such actions will or will not save them money.

Ground Blessing Ceremony at Community Center Site

Joined by North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Councilman Robert Troiano and political representatives from the county and the state, scores of New Cassel residents reacted with excitement recently as the answer to a longtime prayer – the building of a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose community center – took its first step toward reality.

Westbury Village Building Department Executes Search Warrant

Issued in Connection With Housing Violations

In the early morning of Friday, Nov. 13, the Village of Westbury Building Department, accompanied by the Nassau County Police Department, executed a search warrant with respect to alleged multiple code violations at a home on the west side of Post Avenue.

This effort was a part of the village’s increased code enforcement efforts aimed at combating illegal housing and other health and safety code violations. It was also the culmination of an extensive investigation of the property by the building department, initiated by reports of illegal housing and other activity at the site. As a result of the search warrant, summonses were written with respect to 16 violations that were found to exist. If convicted on all counts, the owner of the premises could be subject to maximum punishment of up to $28,600 in fines and eight months in jail.

According to Westbury Village’s Senior Building Inspector Bill Mello, who participated in the raid, a search warrant is a legal process that is authorized by the Village Justice Court, enabling Westbury personnel to enter into a house or other property to investigate alleged code violations.

St. Brigid’s, SCO Reach Convent Lease Agreement

Meeting November 24

After almost a year, St. Brigid’s has agreed to enter into a lease agreement with Glen Cove-based SCO Family Services (SCO) to convert the parish’s former convent into Westbrook Academy, a residential school for children with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome.

SCO first presented its proposal to the village in 2008 and after lengthy discussions and hearings the agency’s application was approved. But, late last year SCO decided not to proceed. According to Westbury Village Mayor Peter Cavallaro that has since changed with SCO and St. Brigid’s recently reaching an agreement.

Crime in Our Communities Task Force Holds Roundtable

Local Elected Officials, Community Figures Speak Out

On Oct. 22, the New York State Assembly Minority Task Force on Crime in Our Communities held a roundtable discussion at the Levittown Public Library to discuss various matters related to crime in Nassau County. The meeting was hosted by Assemblyman David G. McDonough (R-Merrick), co-chairman of the Assembly Minority Task Force, and co-headed by fellow state Assembly members Andrew Raia, Tom McKevitt and Joseph S. Saladino.

The Task Force on Crime in Our Communities was created in 2006 by the Assembly Minority Conference for the purpose of discussing crime-related matters with politicians and community leaders, gathering information and working to incorporate its findings into subsequent state legislation. “The Task Force on Crime in Our Communities was developed to learn how communities throughout New York State are working to keep their residents safe and secure,” reads a press release issued by the Task Force. “Task Force members are charged with discerning which programs are successful – and which aren’t – and reporting back to Albany about how the Legislature can support and encourage effective measures of crime prevention.”